LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Herbalife Nutrition Ltd. (NYSE: HLF) today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2022.

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Herbalife Nutrition 1Q 2022 Earnings Infographic

“We have implemented several new sales initiatives across the Company designed to achieve net sales growth in the fourth quarter, while at the same time we are instituting incremental pricing actions and cost control measures,” said John Agwunobi, Chairman and CEO of Herbalife Nutrition.

HIGHLIGHTS

• First quarter 2022 net sales of $1.3 billion, an 11.0% decrease compared to the first quarter 2021. On a two-year stack basis, first quarter net sales grew 5.8% compared to the first quarter 2020.
• First quarter 2022 reported diluted EPS of $0.96 and adjusted¹ diluted EPS of $0.99, compared to first quarter 2021 reported and adjusted¹ diluted EPS of $1.33 and $1.42, respectively.
• First quarter 2022 reported net income of $98.2 million² and adjusted¹ EBITDA of $185.6 million.
• During the first quarter, the Company repurchased approximately 2.6 million shares for a total purchase price of $101.7 million.
• Updating full year 2022 net sales guidance range to down (10.0%) to (4.0%), adjusted³ diluted EPS guidance range to $3.50 to $4.00, and adjusted³ EBITDA guidance to $680 million to $740 million.
• In response to inflationary pressures, the Company announces margin improvement initiatives, including incremental pricing actions and cost control measures.

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¹ Adjusted diluted EPS and adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP measures. See Schedule A – “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for a detailed reconciliation of these measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measure, and a discussion of why we believe these non-GAAP measures are useful.

² The previously reported 2021 net income of $447.2 million was the highest since 2013.

³ Adjusted diluted EPS and adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP measures. See the “Outlook” discussion below and the related footnotes and Schedule A – “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for additional information regarding adjusted diluted EPS and adjusted EBITDA guidance.

MANAGEMENT COMMENTARY

Herbalife Nutrition reported net sales of $1.3 billion for the first quarter of 2022, a decrease of 11% compared to the prior year. Volume points for the quarter declined 7.0% compared to the prior year, which was 50 basis points below the midpoint of the Company‘s Q1 guidance range of down 9.5% to down 3.5%. The bridge between volume point and net sales guidance and results was driven by the unfavorable impact of foreign exchange rates during the quarter, as well as a shift in the geographic mix of revenue, compared to company projections.

Reported EPS for the first quarter was $0.96 and adjusted¹ earnings per diluted share was $0.99, at the high-end of the Company‘s guidance range of $0.80 to $1.00. Net income during the quarter was $98.2 million, resulting in adjusted¹ EBITDA of $185.6 million, just above the Company’s guidance range of $165 to $185 million.

Looking to the future, the Company is updating its outlook for the year. For the full year, the Company is lowering net sales guidance to be in the range of down 10.0% to down 4.0%. Despite this reduction, the Company anticipates net sales will be flat in the back half of 2022, and will return to year-over-year net sales growth in the fourth quarter.

The Company has identified that, as a group, the behavior of distributors that joined the business during the pandemic has departed from historical trends and is below the Company’s expectations. This slowdown is primarily isolated to the collective performance of that group, while distributors that joined the business pre-pandemic, and the entirety of the Company’s preferred customer base continue to order at historical levels.

The Company believes that the return of in-person events could act as a catalyst. Most of the Company‘s distributors that joined the business during the pandemic have never been to an in-person event, and there is no substitute for gathering in person for learning, collaborating and motivating.

“The interactive discussions, the face-to-face team building and the social elements that are characteristic of our in-person events are not only an important source of training, motivation, and inspiration for our distributors, but also strengthen the social fabric that our business thrives on,“ said Chairman and CEO John Agwunobi.

In addition to the return of in-person sales events, the Company has implemented numerous sales initiatives at a local level that are all aimed at driving increased engagement in the business.

The Company is also taking meaningful steps to improve margins, through both pricing actions and cost controls. The Company implemented price increases in the majority of markets in the first quarter, and will take incremental pricing actions during the second quarter in response to the dramatic increase in input and freight costs. Additionally, the Company is implementing short-term and long-term cost control measures.

These actions are in addition to the previously announced transformation program to optimize global processes for future growth, which is also expected to improve margins through productivity and efficiency enhancements within the business. As previously disclosed, the Company expects the first phase of the program to result in annual incremental savings in the range of $10 million to $15 million, with some savings beginning in 2022. The Company is also looking to accelerate the second phase of the program to begin in late 2022 with expected ongoing annualized savings in the same magnitude as phase one.

“While organic sales growth remains our top priority, we are working on multiple fronts to improve our margin profile that supports our strong operating model, which has delivered powerful cash flow over the years,” said CFO Alex Amezquita.

First Quarter 2022 Key Metrics

Regional Net Sales and Foreign Exchange (“FX”) Impact

^(a) Growth/decline in net sales excluding the effects of foreign exchange is based on “net sales in local currency,” a non-GAAP financial measure. See Schedule A – “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for a discussion of why we believe adjusting for the effects of foreign exchange is useful.

Regional Volume Point Metrics

Outlook

Following is the Company’s second quarter and updated full year 2022 guidance based on current business trends:

Currency Fluctuation in Guidance

• Guidance is based on the average daily exchange rates for the first two weeks of April 2022.
• For the second quarter 2022, net sales guidance includes a projected currency headwind of approximately 270bps, adjusted^(a)(b) diluted EPS guidance includes a projected currency headwind of approximately $0.07 per diluted share, and adjusted^(a)(b) EBITDA guidance includes a projected currency headwind of approximately $9 million, all versus the second quarter 2021.
• For the full year 2022, net sales guidance includes a projected currency headwind of approximately 230bps, adjusted^(a)(b) diluted EPS guidance includes a projected currency headwind of approximately $0.23 per diluted share, and adjusted^(a)(b) EBITDA guidance includes a projected currency headwind of approximately $29 million, all versus the full year 2021.
• Net sales, adjusted^(a)(b) diluted EPS, and adjusted^(a)(b) EBITDA represent projections translated into US dollars at currency rates equal to the average rates used to translate 2021 second quarter and full year net sales and diluted EPS and adjusted for items such as hedging gains/losses to be directly comparable to 2021 values. See our Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 and Schedule A – “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for a discussion of why we believe adjusting for the effects of foreign exchange is useful.

Share Repurchase in Guidance

• With respect to guidance, the Company has assumed $50 million in share repurchases will be completed per quarter.

^(a) Excludes the following items that cannot be accurately predicted: any future potential ongoing tax effects from the exercise or vesting of equity awards that could impact the Company's tax rate due to the stock compensation accounting standard, as well as any future potential dilution from the Company’s convertible notes due in 2024.

^(b) Adjusted diluted EPS and adjusted EBITDA guidance are non-GAAP measures and exclude potential charges or gains that may be recorded during the applicable period, such as, among other things, loss contingencies, gain/loss on debt extinguishments and refinancing, tax charges relating to tax law changes, net expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and other unanticipated charges and events. The Company does not provide reconciliations of forward-looking non-GAAP Adjusted diluted EPS and adjusted EBITDA guidance to net income, the comparable GAAP measure, because the impact and timing of these potential charges and gains cannot be determined without unreasonable efforts due to their inherent historical variability, complexity, and unpredictability. These items, which are necessary for a presentation of the reconciliation to GAAP, could have a potentially significant impact on the Company’s GAAP results.

Earnings Conference Call

Herbalife Nutrition senior management will host an investor conference call to discuss its recent financial results and provide an update on current business trends on Tuesday, May 3^rd, 2022, at 2:30 p.m. PT (5:30 p.m. ET).

The dial-in number for this conference call for domestic callers is (833) 962-1459, and (956) 394-3596 for international callers (conference ID: 8987991). Live audio of the conference call will be simultaneously webcast in the investor relations section of the Company's website at http://ir.Herbalife.com.

An audio replay will be available following the completion of the conference call in MP3 format or by dialing (855) 859-2056 for domestic callers or (404) 537-3406 for international callers (conference ID: 8987991). The webcast of the teleconference will be archived and available on Herbalife Nutrition's website.

About Herbalife Nutrition Ltd.

Herbalife Nutrition (NYSE: HLF) is a global nutrition company that has been changing people's lives with great nutrition products and a business opportunity for its independent distributors since 1980. The Company offers science-backed products to consumers in 95 markets by entrepreneurial distributors who provide one-on-one coaching and a supportive community that inspires their customers to embrace a healthier, more active lifestyle. Through the Company's global campaign to eradicate hunger, Herbalife Nutrition is also committed to bringing nutrition and education to communities around the world.

For more information, please visit IAmHerbalifeNutrition.com.

Herbalife Nutrition also encourages investors to visit its investor relations website at ir.herbalife.com as financial and other information is updated and new information is posted.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in any of our forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results or outcomes could differ materially from those projected or assumed in any of our forward-looking statements. Our future financial condition and results of operations, as well as any forward-looking statements, are subject to change and to inherent risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. Additionally, many of these risks and uncertainties are, and may continue to be, amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic. Important factors that could cause our actual results, performance and achievements, or industry results to differ materially from estimates or projections contained in or implied by our forward-looking statements include the following:

• the potential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on us; our Members, customers, and supply chain; and the world economy;
• our ability to attract and retain Members;
• our relationship with, and our ability to influence the actions of, our Members;
• our noncompliance with, or improper action by our employees or Members in violation of, applicable U.S. and foreign laws, rules, and regulations;
• adverse publicity associated with our Company or the direct-selling industry, including our ability to comfort the marketplace and regulators regarding our compliance with applicable laws;
• changing consumer preferences and demands and evolving industry standards, including with respect to climate change, sustainability, and other environmental, social, and governance, or ESG, matters;
• the competitive nature of our business and industry;
• legal and regulatory matters, including regulatory actions concerning, or legal challenges to, our products or network marketing program and product liability claims;
• the Consent Order entered into with the FTC, the effects thereof and any failure to comply therewith;
• risks associated with operating internationally and in China;
• our ability to execute our growth and other strategic initiatives, including implementation of our transformation program and increased penetration of our existing markets;
• any material disruption to our business caused by natural disasters, other catastrophic events, acts of war or terrorism, including the war in Ukraine, cybersecurity incidents, pandemics, and/or other acts by third parties;
• our ability to adequately source ingredients, packaging materials, and other raw materials and manufacture and distribute our products;
• our reliance on our information technology infrastructure;
• noncompliance by us or our Members with any privacy laws, rules, or regulations or any security breach involving the misappropriation, loss, or other unauthorized use or disclosure of confidential information;
• contractual limitations on our ability to expand or change our direct-selling business model;
• the sufficiency of our trademarks and other intellectual property;
• product concentration;
• our reliance upon, or the loss or departure of any member of, our senior management team;
• restrictions imposed by covenants in the agreements governing our indebtedness;
• risks related to our convertible notes;
• changes in, and uncertainties relating to, the application of transfer pricing, income tax, customs duties, value added taxes, and other tax laws, treaties, and regulations, or their interpretation;
• our incorporation under the laws of the Cayman Islands; and
• share price volatility related to, among other things, speculative trading and certain traders shorting our common shares.

We do not undertake any obligation to update or release any revisions to any forward-looking statement or to report any events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law.

Results of Operations

Supplemental Information

SCHEDULE A: RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

(Unaudited and unreviewed), (All tables provide Dollars in millions, except per Share Data)

Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Diluted EPS and Adjusted EBITDA

In addition to its reported results and guidance calculated in accordance with GAAP, the Company has included in this release adjusted net income, adjusted diluted EPS and adjusted EBITDA, performance measures that the Securities and Exchange Commission defines as “non-GAAP financial measures.” Adjusted net income, adjusted diluted EPS and adjusted EBITDA exclude the impact of certain unusual or non-recurring items such as non-cash interest expense and amortization associated with the Company’s convertible notes, expenses related to regulatory inquiries and legal accruals, debt issuance costs and losses on extinguishment of debt, expenses related to COVID-19 pandemic, non-income tax items, and expenses related to transformation program, as further detailed in the reconciliations below. Management believes that such non-GAAP financial measures, when read in conjunction with the Company’s reported results, calculated in accordance with GAAP, can provide useful supplemental information for investors because they facilitate a period to period comparative assessment of the Company’s operating performance relative to its performance based on reported results under GAAP, while isolating the effects of some items that vary from period to period without any correlation to core operating performance and eliminate certain charges that management believes do not reflect the Company’s operations and underlying operational performance. The Company’s definition and calculation as set forth in the tables below of adjusted net income, adjusted diluted EPS and adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies because other companies may not calculate them in the same manner as the Company does and should not be viewed in isolation from nor as alternatives to net income or diluted EPS calculated in accordance with GAAP. The Company does not provide reconciliations of forward-looking non-GAAP adjusted diluted EPS and adjusted EBITDA guidance to net income, the comparable GAAP measure, because the impact and timing of the potential charges and gains cannot be determined without unreasonable efforts due to the inherent historical variability, complexity, and unpredictability. These items, which are necessary for a presentation of a reconciliation to GAAP, could have a potentially significant impact on the Company’s GAAP results.

Currency Fluctuation

Our international operations have provided and will continue to provide a significant portion of our total net sales. As a result, total net sales will continue to be affected by fluctuations in the U.S. dollar against foreign currencies. In order to provide a framework for assessing how our underlying businesses performed excluding the effect of foreign currency fluctuations, in addition to comparing the percent change in net sales from one period to another in U.S. dollars, we also compare the percent change in net sales from one period to another period using “net sales in local currency.” Net sales in local currency is not a U.S. GAAP financial measure. Net sales in local currency removes from net sales in U.S. dollars the impact of changes in exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and the local currencies of our foreign subsidiaries, by translating the current period net sales into U.S. dollars using the same foreign currency exchange rates that were used to translate the net sales for the previous comparable period. We believe presenting net sales in local currency is useful to investors because it allows a meaningful comparison of net sales of our foreign operations from period to period. However, net sales in local currency measures should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to net sales in U.S. dollar measures that reflect current period exchange rates, or to other financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220502005984/en/

Media Contact:
Jennifer Butler
VP, Media Relations
213.745.0420

Investor Contact:
Eric Monroe
Senior Director, Investor Relations
213.745.0449

Source: Herbalife Nutrition Ltd.

Released May 3, 2022 • 4:10pm EDT