NYSE$AYI

Acuity Inc. · Q1 2021 earnings

Q1 2021 earnings · · Investor relations

Briefing

Acuity Brands reported first quarter results for fiscal year 2021, achieving strong free cash flow and accelerating share repurchases.

Acuity Brands' first quarter net sales were $792 million, a decrease of 5.1% compared with the prior-year period. Net income was $60 million, an increase of 4.6% compared with the prior-year period. The company generated free cash flow of $113 million and deployed $255 million of cash to repurchase shares.

  • Net sales decreased by 5.1% compared to the prior-year period, totaling $792 million.
  • Operating profit margin increased by 80 basis points, while adjusted operating profit margin decreased by 110 basis points compared to the prior-year period.
  • Net income increased by 4.6% compared to the prior-year period, reaching $60 million.
  • The company generated free cash flow of $113 million and used $255 million to repurchase shares.

Headline financials

Total Revenue

$792M

Previous: $835M-5.1%
EPS (adj)

$2.03

Previous: $2.13-4.7%
Capital Expenditures

-$11.4M

Previous: -$11.6M+1.7%
Free Cash Flow

$48.2M

No prior period
Net Income

$59.6M

Previous: $57M+4.6%
Operating Income

$85.7M

Previous: $83.6M+2.5%
Gross Profit

$332M

Previous: $356M-6.6%
Cash & Equivalents

$507M

No prior period
Total Assets

$3.39B

No prior period

Revenue & EPS history

Acuity Brands · Revenue · Quarterly

$792M

Q1 2021-5.1%vs Q1 2020
Beat estimate in 11 of 16 quarters(69%)
ActualEstimate

Revenue by segment

Acuity Brands · $1.21B total across 2 segments · Q3 2026

  • Acuity Brands Lighting
    $905M
  • Acuity Intelligent Spaces
    $304M

Forward guidance

Acuity Brands plans to continue investing in its business to expand its technology and product portfolios in lighting, lighting controls, and intelligent buildings. While the recovery in the economic environment remains uncertain, the company is cautiously optimistic about returning to stability in its end markets in calendar year 2021.

Tailwinds

  • Continued investment in business to expand technology and product portfolios
  • Focus on lighting, lighting controls, and intelligent buildings
  • Drive transformation to expand service capabilities
  • Cautiously optimistic about returning to stability in end markets in calendar year 2021
  • Will continue to use strong cash generation to prioritize growth investments and share repurchases

Headwinds

  • Recovery in the economic environment remains uncertain
  • Impacts of the pandemic continue
  • Challenging market environment
  • Lower volume in independent sales network
  • Weakness in large industrial projects affecting direct sales network

Historical earnings impact

How earnings announcements have historically affected this stock's price.

Avg. return before/after earnings

Based on 18 quarterly earnings reports · overlaid with Q1 2021

Historical avgQ1 2021

-0.1%

Avg return

Earnings day

-1.4%

Avg return

5 days after

+0.5%

Avg return

30 days after

51%

34 / 67 earnings

Positive

+20.6%

Q1 2014

Best reaction

-16.5%

Q2 2017

Worst reaction

Earnings price reactions
QuarterReport dateReaction (Day 0)+5 days+30 days
Q3 2026
Q2 2026-7.6%+4.2%
Q1 2026-12.9%-11.9%-11.2%
Q4 2025+5.2%+2.0%+6.0%
Q3 2025-2.0%-0.8%+8.4%
Q2 2025-3.4%-16.2%-5.1%
Q1 2025+0.5%+0.8%+6.5%
Q4 2024+9.0%+11.4%+9.2%
Q3 2024+0.7%+1.7%+3.6%
Q2 2024+1.0%+2.3%-2.8%
Q1 2024+12.4%+9.8%+18.2%
Q4 2023+6.9%+8.0%+1.9%
Q3 2023+1.5%+1.6%+3.4%
Q2 2023-11.8%-13.5%-15.5%
Q1 2023+3.6%+2.4%+12.9%
Q4 2022+6.1%-1.5%+11.3%
Q3 2022+1.3%+0.1%+17.1%
Q2 2022-9.2%-8.8%-6.8%
Q1 2022-2.9%-1.3%-11.0%
Q4 2021+13.0%+16.7%+22.3%
Q3 2021-4.4%-9.1%-6.2%
Q2 2021+16.0%+17.8%+27.4%
Q1 2021-9.6%-7.4%-5.6%
Q4 2020-12.0%-14.4%-15.8%
Q3 2020+3.1%+0.2%+13.1%
Q2 2020-7.0%+7.2%+2.0%
Q1 2020-15.3%-17.1%-17.8%
Q4 2019-7.2%-7.7%-2.7%
Q3 2019-4.1%-7.3%-7.1%
Q2 2019+10.5%+12.8%+17.1%
Q1 2019+1.3%+0.8%+4.2%
Q4 2018-12.9%-17.0%-15.7%
Q3 2018+7.7%+9.7%+15.9%
Q2 2018-1.2%-3.9%-16.8%
Q1 2018-14.4%-14.5%-21.7%
Q4 2017+3.6%+0.9%-4.5%
Q3 2017+13.1%+13.0%+13.6%
Q2 2017-16.5%-15.2%-11.9%
Q1 2017-12.0%-9.3%-11.9%
Q4 2016-4.3%-4.4%-11.2%
Q3 2016+1.3%+2.3%+7.3%
Q2 2016+10.4%
Q1 2016-7.8%
Q4 2015+11.1%
Q3 2015+5.0%
Q2 2015-0.9%
Q1 2015+7.8%
Q4 2014+13.0%
Q3 2014-13.6%
Q2 2014+0.1%
Q1 2014+20.6%
Q4 2013+2.2%
Q3 2013+7.8%
Q2 2013+6.6%
Q1 2013-4.6%
Q4 2012-5.1%
Q3 2012+17.1%
Q2 2012-11.3%
Q1 2012+15.1%
Q4 2009-6.2%
Q4 2011-6.2%
Q3 2010-0.2%
Q3 2011-0.2%
Q2 2010+4.7%
Q2 2011+4.7%
Q1 2011-7.6%
Q1 2010-7.6%
Q4 2010-7.6%

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