GRACO INC (GGG) FY 2024 MD&A

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis reviews significant factors affecting the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial condition and liquidity. This discussion should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and the accompanying notes to the financial statements. A discussion of changes in our financial condition and the results of operations from the year ended December 29, 2023 compared to December 30, 2022 can be found in Part II, Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 29, 2023. The discussion is organized in the following sections:

•Overview

•Results of Operations

•Segment Results

•Financial Condition and Cash Flow

•Critical Accounting Estimates

Overview

Graco designs, manufactures and markets systems and equipment used to move, measure, control, dispense and spray fluid and powder materials. The Company specializes in equipment for applications that involve difficult-to-handle materials with high viscosities, materials with abrasive or corrosive properties and multiple-component materials that require precise ratio control. Graco sells primarily through independent third-party distributors worldwide to industrial and contractor end users. Graco’s business is classified by management into three reportable segments: Contractor, Industrial and Process. Each segment is responsible for product development, manufacturing, marketing and sales of their products.

Graco’s key strategies include developing and marketing new products, leveraging products and technologies into additional, growing end-user markets, expanding distribution globally and completing strategic acquisitions that provide additional channels and technologies. Long-term financial growth targets accompany these strategies, including our objectives of 10 percent revenue growth and 12 percent consolidated net earnings growth per annum. We continue to develop new products in each operating division that are expected to drive incremental sales growth, as well as continued refreshes and upgrades of existing product lines. Graco has made a number of strategic acquisitions that expand and complement organically developed products and provide new market and channel opportunities.

Manufacturing is a key competency of the Company. Our management team in Minneapolis provides strategic manufacturing expertise and is also responsible for factories not fully aligned with a single division. Our largest manufacturing facilities are in the U.S. We also manufacture some of our products in Switzerland (Industrial segment), Italy (Industrial and Contractor segment), the P.R.C. (all segments), India (Contractor segment), Belgium (all segments) and Romania (Industrial segment). Our primary distribution facilities are located in the U.S., Belgium, Switzerland, United Kingdom, P.R.C., Japan, Italy, South Korea, India, Australia and Brazil.

Results of Operations

A summary of financial results follows (in millions except per share amounts):

(1)     Excludes impacts of business reorganization charges, excess tax benefits from stock option exercises, impairment charges, contingent consideration fair value adjustments, pension settlement losses and certain non-recurring tax

23

Table of Contents

provision adjustments. See Financial Results Adjusted for Comparability below for a reconciliation of adjusted non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP.

24

Table of Contents

Certain events in the last two years caused fluctuations in financial results. Excess tax benefits related to stock option exercises reduced income taxes by $15 million in 2024 and $10 million in 2023. Business reorganization charges reduced operating earnings in 2024 by $8 million. Other expense for 2023 included a $42 million non-cash pension settlement loss. In 2023, the Company recorded a goodwill impairment and contingent consideration adjustment related to an acquisition that was not material to the financial statements. Other benefits from tax planning activities further reduced income taxes in 2023. Excluding the impacts of those items presents a more consistent basis for comparison of financial results. A calculation of the non-GAAP adjusted measurements of operating earnings, earnings before income taxes, income taxes, effective income tax rates, net earnings and diluted earnings per share follows (in millions except per share amounts):

25

Table of Contents

Components of Net Earnings as a Percentage of Sales:

The following table presents an overview of components of net earnings as a percentage of net sales:

Net Sales

The following table presents net sales by geographic region (in millions):

(1)     North, Central and South America, including the U.S. Sales in the U.S. were $1,149 million in 2024 and $1,162 million in 2023.

(2)    Europe, Middle East and Africa.

The following table presents the components of net sales change by geographic region:

In 2024, net sales declined in all regions and in most end markets compared to 2023. Declines in global semiconductor markets drove sales lower in the Americas and Asia Pacific. Reduced project activity for automotive, electronics and e-mobility end markets, especially in China, furthered sales declines in Asia Pacific. In the Americas, strong finishing system sales were unable to offset soft residential and non-residential construction markets. In EMEA, decreased industrial activity in Western Europe led to lower sales in 2024.

Gross Profit

26

Table of Contents

The gross profit margin rate for 2024 increased slightly as the favorable effects of realized pricing more than offset unfavorable product and channel mix, lower sales volume and higher product costs.

Operating Expenses

Total operating expenses increased $38 million (7 percent) for 2024 compared to 2023. Operating expenses for 2024 included $13 million in incremental litigation costs associated with a trial that concluded in December of 2024, $13 million of investments in new product development and other growth initiatives, $7 million of business reorganization costs and $7 million of expenses from acquired operations. Reductions in volume and earnings-based expenses of $14 million for the year partially offset the increase in operating expenses. Investment in new product development in 2024 was $87 million, approximately 4 percent of sales.

Operating Earnings

Sales declines and increased operating expenses led to a 12 percent decrease in operating earnings. Operating earnings expressed as a percentage of sales in 2024 decreased approximately 3 percentage points compared to 2023 as lower sales, higher product costs and higher expenses impacted profitability for the year.

Interest & Other Expense

Interest expense was $2 million lower for 2024 compared to 2023 as private placement debt was repaid in the third quarter of 2023. Excluding a prior year pension settlement loss of $42 million, other income increased $13 million for 2024, largely due to increased interest income.

Income Taxes

The effective income tax rate for 2024 was 18 percent, up 1 percentage point from 2023. The increase in 2024 was largely due to non-recurring tax benefits in 2023, variations in excess tax benefits from stock option exercises and the unfavorable effects of foreign earnings taxed at higher rates than the U.S.

Segment Results

The Company has five operating segments which are aggregated into three reportable segments: Contractor, Industrial and Process. Refer to Part I Item 1. Business, for a description of the Company’s three reportable segments. Management assesses the performance of segments by reference to operating earnings excluding unallocated corporate expenses and asset impairments.

The following table presents net sales and operating earnings by reporting segment (in millions):

(1)    Unallocated corporate (expense) includes such items as stock compensation, certain acquisition transaction items, bad debt expense, charitable contributions, and certain facility expenses.

27

Table of Contents

Contractor Segment

The following table presents net sales and operating earnings as a percentage of sales for the Contractor segment (dollars in millions):

The following table presents the components of net sales change by geographic region for the Contractor segment:

Contractor segment sales in 2024 were flat compared to 2023. Incremental sales from acquired operations, increased sales of protective coatings equipment and favorable response to new product offerings offset declines in North American construction markets. The operating margin rate for this segment was 2 percentage points lower than last year due to higher product costs on lower sales volumes, the unfavorable effects of lower margin rates of acquired operations and litigation costs associated with a trial that concluded in December of 2024.

Sales in the Americas represent the majority of sales for the Contractor segment. Management regularly reviews economic and financial indicators for North America, including levels of residential, commercial and institutional construction, remodeling rates and interest rates. Management also reviews gross domestic product for the regions and the level of the U.S. dollar versus the euro and other currencies.

Industrial Segment

The following table presents net sales and operating earnings as a percentage of sales for the Industrial segment (dollars in millions):

28

Table of Contents

The following table presents the components of net sales change by geographic region for the Industrial segment:

Industrial segment sales decreased 7 percent for 2024 as finishing system sales in the Americas were unable to offset reduced project activity for automotive, e-mobility and electronic projects in Asia Pacific and weakened industrial activity in EMEA. The operating margin rate for this segment decreased 2 percentage points for the year due to higher product costs from lower sales volumes, business reorganization expenses and the unfavorable effects of product and channel mix.

In this segment, sales in each geographic region are significant, and management looks at economic and financial indicators in each region, including gross domestic product, industrial production, capital investment rates, automobile production, building construction and the level of the U.S. dollar versus the euro, the Swiss franc, the Canadian dollar, the Chinese renminbi and various other Asian currencies.

Process Segment

The following table presents net sales and operating earnings as a percentage of sales for the Process segment (dollars in millions):

The following table presents the components of net sales change by geographic region for the Process segment:

Process segment sales decreased in 2024 in all regions mainly due to decline in semiconductor end markets. Other end markets, such as mining, oil and gas, industrial pumps and vehicle services were weaker in 2024 compared to 2023. The operating margin rate for this segment decreased approximately 2 percentage points for the year as price realization was not enough to offset unfavorable expense leverage on lower sales volume.

Although the Americas represent the majority of sales for the Process segment, management monitors indicators such as levels of gross domestic product, capital investment, industrial production, oil and natural gas markets and mining activity worldwide.

29

Table of Contents

Financial Condition and Cash Flow

Working Capital. The following table highlights several key measures of asset performance (dollars in millions):

Higher cash and cash equivalent balances primarily drove increases in working capital in 2024. Decreased receivables from lower sales activity were more than offset by the incremental effect of acquired operations. An effort to reduce inventory levels in 2024 more than offset the effect of acquired inventory. As inventory purchases decreased, trade accounts payable decreased. The current ratio increased in 2024 in line with the changes in working capital.

Capital Structure. At December 27, 2024, the Company’s capital structure included current notes payable of $29 million and shareholders’ equity of $2,584 million. At December 29, 2023, the Company’s capital structure included current notes payable of $30 million and shareholders’ equity of $2,224 million.

Shareholders’ equity increased by $360 million in 2024. The increase provided by current year earnings of $486 million was primarily offset by dividends of $176 million and share repurchases of $31 million. Other increases in shareholders' equity included share issuances, stock compensation and other comprehensive income of $81 million.

Liquidity and Capital Resources. The Company evaluates liquidity as its ability to generate cash to fund its operating, investing and financing activities. Historically the Company has funded cash requirements for working capital, capital expenditures, businesses acquisitions, repayment of debt obligations, retirement plans, dividends, and common stock repurchases, all as applicable, through cash provided by its operations. The Company's other primary source of liquidity includes funds available through various debt financing arrangements.

As of December 27, 2024, the Company had available liquidity of $1,453 million, including cash held in deposit accounts of $675 million, of which $144 million was held outside of the U.S., and available credit under existing committed credit facilities of $778 million.

Internally generated funds and unused financing sources are expected to provide the Company with the flexibility to meet its liquidity needs in 2025, including its capital expenditure plan of approximately $60 million, planned dividends estimated at $186 million, share repurchases and acquisitions. If acquisition opportunities increase, the Company believes that reasonable financing alternatives are available for the Company to execute on those opportunities. The Company has no significant off-balance sheet debt or other unrecorded obligations. The Company believes it has the ability to meet its long-term cash requirements by using available cash and internally generated funds and to borrow under its committed and uncommitted credit facilities.

In December 2024, the Board of Directors increased the Company’s regular quarterly dividend from $0.255 to $0.275 per share, an increase of 8 percent.

Cash Flow. A summary of cash flow follows (in millions):

Cash Flows From Operating Activities. Net cash provided by operating activities was $622 million in 2024, down $29 million compared to 2023, due primarily to lower net earnings. Fewer inventory purchases in 2024 as part of an inventory

30

Table of Contents

reduction program, as well as other decreases in working capital partially offset the effects of lower net earnings on cash provided by operating activities.

Cash Flows Used in Investing Activities. Cash flows used in investing activities totaled $343 million in 2024, including $242 million for business acquisitions and $107 million for capital additions. Cash flows used in investing activities totaled $185 million in 2023, including $185 million for capital additions.

Cash Flows Used in Financing Activities. Cash flows used in financing activities totaled $140 million in 2024 and included dividends of $172 million and share repurchases of $31 million, partially offset by net proceeds from share issuances of $66 million.

Cash flows used in financing activities totaled $268 million in 2023 and included share repurchases of $102 million (partially offset by net proceeds from share issuances of $60 million), dividends of $158 million, and net payments on long-term debt and outstanding lines of credit of $65 million.

On December 7, 2018, the Board of Directors authorized the purchase of up to 18 million shares of common stock, primarily through open market transactions. The authorization is for an indefinite period of time or until terminated by the Board. As of December 27, 2024, approximately 13 million shares remain available for purchase under the authorization.

The Company repurchased and retired 0.4 million shares in 2024, 1.4 million shares in 2023 and 3.6 million shares in 2022. The Company has made and may continue to make opportunistic share repurchases in 2025 via open market transactions or short-dated accelerated share repurchase programs.

31

Table of Contents

Critical Accounting Estimates

The Company prepares its consolidated financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). The Company’s most significant accounting policies are disclosed in Note A (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) to the consolidated financial statements. The preparation of the consolidated financial statements, in conformity with U.S. GAAP, requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual amounts will differ from those estimates. The Company considers the following policies to involve the most judgment in the preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Retirement Benefits. The measurements of the Company’s pension and postretirement medical obligations are dependent on a number of assumptions including estimates of the present value of projected future payments, taking into consideration future events such as salary increases and demographic experience. These assumptions may have an impact on the expense and timing of future contributions.

The assumptions used in developing the required estimates for pension obligations include discount rate, inflation, salary increases, retirement rates, expected return on plan assets and mortality rates. The assumptions used in developing the required estimates for postretirement medical obligations include discount rates, rate of future increase in medical costs and participation rates.

For U.S. plans, the Company establishes its discount rate assumption by reference to a yield curve published by an actuary and projected plan cash flows. For plans outside the U.S., the Company establishes a rate by country by reference to highly rated corporate bonds. These reference points have been determined to adequately match expected plan cash flows. The Company bases its inflation assumption on an evaluation of external market indicators. The salary assumptions are based on actual historical experience, the near-term outlook and assumed inflation. Retirement rates are based on experience. The investment return assumption is based on the expected long-term performance of plan assets. In setting this number, the Company considers the input of actuaries and investment advisers, its long-term historical returns, the allocation of plan assets and projected returns on plan assets. For 2025, the Company will use an investment return assumption of 7.3 percent for the funded U.S. plan. The 2024 rate assumed was 7.6 percent for the funded U.S. plan. Mortality rates are based on current common group mortality tables for males and females.

At December 27, 2024, a one-half percentage point decrease in the indicated assumptions would have the following effects (in millions):

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. The Company performs impairment testing for goodwill annually in the fourth quarter or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. The Company estimates the fair value of the reporting units using a present value of future cash flows calculation cross-checked by an allocation of market capitalization approach. The goodwill impairment test is performed by comparing the fair value of the relevant reporting unit with its carrying amount. An impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value.

The Company’s primary identifiable intangible assets include customer relationships, trademarks, trade names, proprietary technology and patents. Finite lived intangibles are amortized and are evaluated for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Indefinite lived intangibles are reviewed for impairment annually in the fourth quarter, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate the asset might be impaired.

A considerable amount of management judgment and assumptions are required in performing the impairment tests. Management makes several assumptions, including earnings and cash flow projections, discount rate, product offerings and market strategies, customer attrition, and royalty rates, each of which have a significant impact on the estimated fair values. Though management considers its judgments and assumptions to be reasonable, changes in these assumptions could impact the estimated fair value.

32

Table of Contents

We completed our annual impairment test of goodwill and other intangible assets in the fourth quarter of 2024. No impairment charges were recorded as a result of that review. In 2023, the Company recognized a goodwill impairment related to the reorganization of a business acquired in 2020 that was not material to the consolidated financial statements.

Income Taxes. In the preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements, management calculates income taxes. This includes estimating current tax liability as well as assessing temporary differences resulting from different treatment of items for tax and financial statement purposes. These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are recorded on the balance sheet using statutory rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. These assets and liabilities are analyzed regularly, and management assesses the likelihood that deferred tax assets will be recoverable from future taxable income. A valuation allowance is established to the extent that management believes that recovery is not likely. Liabilities for uncertain tax positions are also established for potential and ongoing audits of federal, state and international issues. The Company routinely monitors the potential impact of such situations and believes that liabilities are properly stated. Valuations related to amounts owed and tax rates could be impacted by changes to tax codes and the Company’s interpretation thereof, changes in statutory rates, the Company’s future taxable income levels and the results of tax audits.