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Applied Industrial Technologies Inc (AIT -0.12%)
Q2Â 2020 Earnings Call
Jan 23, 2020, 10:00 a.m. ET
Contents:
- Prepared Remarks
- Questions and Answers
- Call Participants
Prepared Remarks:
Operator
Welcome to the Fiscal 2020 Second Quarter Earnings Call for Applied Industrial Technologies. My name is Lindsay, and I'll be your operator for today's call. [Operator Instructions] Later, we will conduct a question-and-answer session. [Operator Instructions]
I will now turn the call over to Ryan Cieslak, Director of Investor Relations and Treasury. Ryan, you may begin.
Ryan D. Cieslak -- Assistant Treasurer
Thank you, Lindsay and good morning, everyone. This morning, we issued our earnings release and supplemental investor deck detailing our second quarter results. Both of these documents are available in the Investor Relations section of our website at applied.com. A replay of today's broadcast will be available for the next two weeks.
Before we begin, just a reminder that we'll discuss our business outlook and make statements that are considered forward-looking. All forward-looking statements are based on current expectations that are subject to certain risks, including trends in sectors and geographies, the success of our business strategy and other risk factors provided in our press release, our most recent periodic report and other filings made with the SEC. These are available at the Investor Relations section of applied.com.
Actual results may differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. The company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statement. In addition, the conference call will use non-GAAP financial measures explained in our press release and supplemental presentation, which are subject to the qualifications referenced in those documents.
Today's teleconference is available to the media and general public as well as to analysts and investors, because the teleconference and its webcast are open to all constituents and prior notification has been widely and unselectively distributed, all content of the call will be considered fully disclosed. Our speakers today include Neil Schrimsher, Applied's President and Chief Executive Officer; and Dave Wells, our Chief Financial Officer.
With that, I'll turn it over to Neil.
Neil A. Schrimsher -- President and Chief Executive Officer
Thank you, Ryan and good morning, everyone. We appreciate you joining us. I'll begin with some brief thoughts, and then Dave will follow to review our financial results in more detail. Our second quarter was characterized by cost discipline, margin control and solid cash generation within a persistent soft end market backdrop. Execution in these areas is providing a path to deliver our earnings and cash commitments for the year and should support accretive growth once demand rebounds as well as capital deployment opportunities going forward. We also remain highly focused on accelerating our company-specific out growth potential regardless of the industrial cycle.
As highlighted in recent quarters, our leading technical position and service capabilities across motion control, fluid power, flow control and now automation puts us in a unique position to capture greater share organically as our customers outsource their technical MRO and production infrastructure needs. As well as through M&A, a smaller players look to partner with a leading technical platform, given increasing service, operational and capital requirements. This trend should supplement a strong cross-selling opportunity here at Applied that remains in the early innings, and is focused on expanding the reach of our fluid power, flow control, consumables and automation solutions across our embedded service center network customer base.
We also entered our second half of fiscal 2020 with a strong balance sheet, having reduced outstanding debt by $115 million over two years, post our acquisition of FCX, with net leverage down to our stated target of 2.5 times. Combined with our cash generation trajectory, we have notable flexibility for additional deleveraging, acquisitions and pursuing other opportunities to enhance shareholder returns in the back half of our fiscal year.
As it relates to the broader end market backdrop, as discussed in recent quarters and consistent with macroeconomic industrial reports, demand remains weak across our top industry verticals. After seeing some stabilization during October and November, customer activity was unusually weak during December and remained subdued with organic sales trending down in the mid-single digits year-over-year, so far in January. While softness remains broad-based declines were most notable within metals, mining, oil and gas, machinery and process-related industries.
We also saw greater weakness across our international operations during the quarter within Canada and Mexico. Some of the recent softness likely reflects demand abnormalities that occurred this time a year, given seasonality, plant shutdowns and customer budget resets, in turn making it difficult to fully gauge the underlying direction of current demand. We are also cognizant of potential positive momentum that could arise if a trade resolution can stay on track, which has the potential to positively influence trends for the balance of our fiscal 2020 and into fiscal 2021. That said, uncertainty remains, and we believe that sensible approach to our outlook remains prudent at this time.
Regardless of the direction of the cycle near term, we know how to operate to it, as our industry and recent results highlight. At the same time, there is a great understanding and commitment on the opportunity Applied has long-term as the leading technical MRO distribution and solutions provider. Our strategy is deeply focused on this opportunity and moving the company toward its long-term financial goals, providing the framework for significant earnings growth and value creation in the coming years.
At this time, I'll turn the call over to Dave for additional detail on our financial results.
David K. Wells -- Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Thanks, Neil and good morning, everyone. Before I begin, another reminder that a supplemental investor deck recapping key financial and performance talking points is available on our investors site. To summarize, we are managing effectively in a slow and uncertain end market environment with timely execution of our recent cost initiatives, continued solid gross margin performance and another positive quarter of cash generation. We expect cash generation momentum to continue into the second half of fiscal 2020 providing ample flexibility to pursue capital deployment opportunities. Overall, we believe we are well-positioned in the current environment.
Highlighting results for the quarter. Consolidated sales decreased 0.8% over the prior year quarter, excluding 3.2% growth contribution from acquisitions, sales declined 4% on an organic basis. Both selling days and foreign currency had a neutral impact this quarter. As previously highlighted, sustained weak demand across a number of key end markets remains the primary drag on sales.
Looking at our results by segment. As highlighted on Slide 6 and 7, sales in our Service Center segment declined 2.3% year-over-year or 3.5%, excluding a 1.2% incremental impact from acquisitions. Results reflect continued weak manufacturing activity and related MRO needs across our service center network as well as softer demand within our international operations in Canada, and Mexico. Segment sales were unusually weak during the month of December. As mentioned earlier, we believe part of this reflects seasonal variations that occur around the holidays as customers to take time off and adjust project and production schedules.
Within our Fluid Power and Flow Control segment, sales increased 2.7% over the prior year quarter with acquisitions adding 7.6% growth. This includes a full quarter of contribution from our August 2019 acquisition of Olympus Controls, and one remaining month of contribution from our November 2018 acquisition of Fluid Power sales.
On an organic basis, segment sales declined 4.9% reflecting weaker flow control sales and slower activity across our industrial OEM customer base, as well as the remaining year-over-year drag from the large project referenced in prior quarters. Excluding the project related drag, segment sales declined approximately 3% on an organic basis over the prior year. We note declines in this segment moderated and the daily sales rate was up modestly on a sequential basis, partially reflecting improving technology end market demand during the quarter.
Moving on to margin performance. As highlighted on Page 8 of the deck, reported gross margin of 28.9% was up 4 basis points year-over-year. Results include a non-cash LIFO charge during the quarter of approximately $1.9 million, which compared favorably to prior year LIFO expense of $2.7 million, resulting in a roughly 9 point -- basis point positive impact year-over-year. Excluding LIFO, our gross margin was down a modest 5 basis points year-over-year.
Margins were slightly pressured by an unfavorable mix impact resulting from slower growth within local accounts as compared to large national accounts in our US service center operations. This modest headwind was partially balanced by ongoing execution on pricing and other margin expansion initiatives. Over time, we continue to expect mixed benefit margins, reflecting the positive contribution of expansionary products, growth among our technical service oriented solutions and ongoing actions to expand business across our local customer base.
Turning to operating cost. On a reported basis, selling, distribution and administrative expenses were up 0.3% year-over-year, but down 3.4% on an organic basis, when adjusting out the impact of acquisitions and foreign currency translation. SD&A was 21.9% of sales during the quarter, down 15 basis points sequentially on an adjusted basis. Our teams are doing a commendable job of managing expenses in a slower environment including their timely execution of previously announced cost actions. While, we remain highly focused on managing costs in the second half of our fiscal 2020 given the current environment.
As a reminder, our SD&A expense will increase on an absolute basis sequentially into our third quarter, reflecting seasonality as well as the impact of annual merit increases and two extra selling days versus the second quarter. That said, we still expect SD&A to decline as a percent of sales into our second half relative to first half levels. EBITDA in the quarter was $74.5 million compared to $76 million in the prior year quarter, while EBITDA margin was 8.9% or 9.2% excluding non-cash LIFO expense in the quarter. Reported EPS for the quarter was $0.97 per share compared to $0.99 per share in the prior year.
Cash generated from operating activities was $34.9 million, while free cash flow was $47.9 million or approximately 126% of net income. Year-to-date free cash flow of $93 million represents 119% of adjusted net income and is up nearly 60% from the prior year. We are continuing to make good progress on our working capital initiatives in a slower demand environment. This includes ongoing traction from our shared services and other collection initiatives. We expect additional tailwinds into the second half of fiscal 2020, as inventory levels declined from the second quarter ending position.
We remain confident in our free cash flow potential for the full year, which will support our capital allocation strategy, focused on reducing outstanding debt, funding M&A opportunities, and opportunistically buying back shares. We paid down $5 million of outstanding debt during the quarter. Our debt is down nearly $115 million since financing the acquisition of FCX with net leverage at 2.5 times EBITDA at quarter end below the prior year period of 2.8 times.
As noted in our press release, today, we announced that our Board of Directors approved an increase in the quarterly cash dividend to $0.32 per common share. This represents the 11th dividend increase since 2010 and underscores our strong cash generation and commitment to delivering shareholder value.
Transitioning now to our outlook. As noted in our press release, we are updating our guidance for fiscal 2020 in light of year-to-date performance and ongoing end market uncertainty. We are narrowing our previous guidance ranges and now expect sales of down 2% to flat year-over-year or down 5% to down 3% on an organic day per day basis as well as earnings per share in the range of $4.20 to $4.40 per share. Previously, our guidance assumes sales down 5% to down 1% organically and EPS of $4.20 to $4.50 per share.
Our updated guidance assumes end market weakness seen during December and January continues in coming months with seasonal Q3 sales step up at the lower end of historical trends. At the midpoint, this implies mid-single digit organic sales declines will persist in the third quarter, with the declines easing to the low-single digits in the fourth quarter on easier comparisons. By segment, our guidance assumes mid-to low-single digit organic declines year-over-year in our service center segment during the second half and low-single digit organic declines in our Fluid Power and Flow Control segment.
Our guidance also assumes gross margins are flat to up 10 basis points for the full year, slightly below our prior guidance of up 10 basis points to 20 basis points. We continue to view 10 basis points to 20 basis points of gross margin expansion as the appropriate annual target over time, given our internal initiatives. Lastly, we reaffirm our free cash flow outlook of $200 million to $220 million, which represents a 30% increase of our fiscal 2019 at the midpoint.
With that, I will now turn the call back over to Neil for some final comments.
Neil A. Schrimsher -- President and Chief Executive Officer
Thanks, Dave. Overall, while we are executing largely to plan year-to-date, we remain prudent with our outlook, given the backdrop of uncertainty in near term industrial demand. We remained highly focused on our internal growth and margin initiatives, which in addition to potential benefits from trade resolution and ongoing cost opportunities, we see several levers that should support our earnings momentum in coming quarters if the current environment does not weaken further. Combined with our cash generation potential, we believe our position is strong and we are eagerly moving forward to realize our full potential.
With that, we'll open up the lines for your questions.
Questions and Answers:
Operator
Thank you. We will now begin the question-and-answer session. [Operator Instructions] Our first question comes from Chris Dankert with Longbow Research. Your line is open.
Chris Dankert -- Longbow Research -- Analyst
Hey. Good morning, guys. Thanks for taking my questions. I guess, first off, we did talk about electronics briefly inside of fluid power, still a slight drag on the quarter, but going forward, just any comments on what backlog in that business looks like maybe as backlog for total fluid power? Just any thoughts there would be really helpful.
Neil A. Schrimsher -- President and Chief Executive Officer
So, Chris. I'll start. I think in the quarter, we did see some positive contribution. I think, it still could be early to fully, call it, how it's going to be in the second half, but did provide some balance to fluid power and -- Fluid Power and Flow Control, but we still see some pressure in the general industry segments and some of the mobile segments today. So that leads to our view of combined, it would be down low-single digits in the second half.
Chris Dankert -- Longbow Research -- Analyst
Got it. Very helpful. Thanks, guys. And then just, if I get your initial thoughts on the sale of Eaton Hydraulics businesses to Danfoss. I mean, I assume it's probably a generally positive development, but just would love to hear how you're thinking about that change.
Neil A. Schrimsher -- President and Chief Executive Officer
Yeah. I'd start with our view, right? And don't think it's a real surprise, as Eaton has continued to work their business portfolio, I think the deal takes or will take some time. I think they were talking about toward the end of the year, but I see positives in the business, especially as we think about it going forward. I think Danfoss has described it as a once in a lifetime opportunity with complementary product portfolios and the geographic footprint. And so I think for them, right, the industrial presence, North American market is additive. Fluid conveyance is additive. And I think there is opportunities then around mobile presence and potential technical add value capabilities that really exist in both businesses around electronics.
Chris Dankert -- Longbow Research -- Analyst
Got it. If I could just sneak one more in quick and I'll turn it over. Is the expectation for the year is still for about a $7 million to $8 million LIFO headwind? I know most of that was supposed to be in the first half, a little bit light here. Just any thoughts on LIFO for the year?
David K. Wells -- Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Yeah. I mean given the kind of the continued trend that we're still calling it 6% to 7%, but that is down slightly from our $7 million to $8 million previous guidance on LIFO.
Chris Dankert -- Longbow Research -- Analyst
Perfect. Thanks, so much guys. I'll hop back in queue here.
David K. Wells -- Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
You bet.
Operator
Our next question comes from David Manthey with Baird. Your line is now open.
David Manthey -- Robert W. Baird & Co. -- Analyst
Thank you. Good morning, guys. Not to get too granular, but relative to the weakness you saw in January. I assume that you saw an incremental weakness around the midweek New Year's Day holiday, similar to the Christmas midweek holiday. Have you seen any improvement relative to historical trends over the past couple of weeks or was the -- has the weakness been more broad-based and continuing beyond just that first week of January?
Neil A. Schrimsher -- President and Chief Executive Officer
So, David, I'll start. I'd say, I think it's beyond just the early part. If I go back to December, we're probably till the 20th -- December 20 running mid-single digits decline and then greater over the -- from the 23rd on, right and pulled that probably to a high-single digits decline. And so coming in to January, we haven't seen the full snap back, bounce back, so that's where to-date through these kind of 15 or so days still mid-single digits. Now with that said, hey, the remaining seven days, we could see some movement in January and we think that's going to be more indicative than, obviously, to the third and perhaps to the back half of our fiscal years, but that's what leads us to kind of our overall view around this uncertainty in our guidance right now.
David Manthey -- Robert W. Baird & Co. -- Analyst
Okay. Thank you. And relative to the 20 of your 30 end markets you're industry verticals being down, do you have any insight in terms of how many of those are inflecting one way or another, meaning relative to the rate of change, do you track the number that are improving versus worsening in terms of the second derivative of growth?
Neil A. Schrimsher -- President and Chief Executive Officer
Well, there can be a little noise in the numbers. We will look. And then you obviously look for materiality in the change. So I think in the last period, we would have had eight positive or that's 22 down. So a little bit of a change in the overall segment. Some of the segments that would show positive trends still around food, we think about aggregate, rubber, plastics and paper. And then, [Indecipherable] [0:22:50] top of mind, I don't get at this level a lot of takeaways from big inflection changes that would lead it toward being -- one being more positive or one being more negative.
David Manthey -- Robert W. Baird & Co. -- Analyst
Okay. Great. And then final question on SD&A. Clearly, you are focused on day-to-day expense discipline. Has there been any additional cost actions taken since Q1 that would provide any step function benefits and I believe you said that the Q1 cost actions would be fully in the run rate in Q2. Just checking on that as well.
David K. Wells -- Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Largely in the Q2 run rate, but there is some slight incremental benefit which to implement on an absolute basis, we're going to see a step-up, just because of merit and the number of days and the back half. But will go to offset on a percentage of sales basis that, that back half step up. So some modest incremental benefit and continue to evaluate across various businesses just given the economic conditions where it may warrant additional actions, and we have taken those, and we'll continue to take those as appropriate.
Neil A. Schrimsher -- President and Chief Executive Officer
Yeah, David. I'd say too, right, We remained focused on and in tune with the environment. We know how to operate in that. As I think about SD&A going forward in the third quarter on an absolute basis, we will have cost actions read through, but it will be higher. We do our focal point, merit planning to start the year in January. So there will be some coming in there. There is extra selling days in, as we look forward and obviously, M&A adds to that. So if we're at the midpoint, our view from an SD&A standpoint, we're flat from a year-over-year standpoint in the third quarter.
David Manthey -- Robert W. Baird & Co. -- Analyst
Sounds good. Thanks very much guys.
Operator
Our next question comes from Adam Uhlman with Cleveland Research. Your line is now open.
Adam Uhlman -- Cleveland Research -- Analyst
Hi. Good morning, everyone. Can we start with the comments about the local business being down a bit more than the national accounts? I guess, is that just a cyclical thing that you're seeing there or could you maybe just expand your thoughts on what you're seeing with the average customer account or average order sizes, if you just expand a bit more on that? And then any kind of efforts that you have of getting that business to pick up in the second half of the year, what kind of initiatives are under way?
Neil A. Schrimsher -- President and Chief Executive Officer
Yeah. Adam, my view was a lot of that local account was December and maybe start to January, but especially December, late December into that. And I think that have kind of a carryover influence of gross margins being flattish in that period. And we think about less activity going on in December and especially over those last couple of weeks. And so we continue to have very good activities across our business and participate in the local economy. And we have cross-sell opportunities with those. So hey, we like our position, we like our focus in that segment and on that business. And so we think it's more timing of year and some of those customers choosing to take that time out.
Adam Uhlman -- Cleveland Research -- Analyst
Okay. Got you. And then Dave, could you talk a little bit more about the free cash flow outlook for the year? Usually, the fourth quarter is a big source of pickup in cash. Do you expect that to happen again this year? And then, remind me, how much inventory you expect to pick up in the second half?
David K. Wells -- Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Sure. I think I'm pleased with the sustained contraction across the year in terms of the cash generation, much more level loaded this year. But absolutely to your point, the back half does tend to be much seasonally stronger in terms of our cash flow generation profile. So we've made and I think very pleased with the progress we continue to make on reduction in past due I mean your receivables and collections. So if you look at the, the overall reduction in AR year-over-year versus the decline in sales. Certainly, you can see that progress reading through.
On the inventory side, we still got work to do in that, as I point out, will be a tailwind in the back half of the year. You're not going to hang a number on it, at this point, but certainly, we've continued to make good progress. When you look across the service center network in terms of sizing the inventories, commensurate with the -- some of the demand profile that we've seen, but have seen a bit of a build that causes inventories still to be higher year-over-year and particularly in our fluid power, flow control business just given some project timing, project delays and still some supplier constraints that impeded some shipments. So some opportunity brew in both sides of the equation, but certainly, we will continue to move the needle there will be a tailwind and that will help that stronger second half cash profile.
Adam Uhlman -- Cleveland Research -- Analyst
Okay. Thanks.
David K. Wells -- Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
You bet.
Operator
Our next question comes from Joe Mondillo with Sidoti & Company. Your line is now open.
Joe Mondillo -- Sidoti & Co -- Analyst
Hi, everyone. Good morning. Just wanted to clarify regarding the cost initiatives. David, did you say that's most of the cost initiatives were in place in the first quarter. So the run rate that we saw in the second quarter should be sort of similar in the back half, unless the environment changes at all? Is that correct?
David K. Wells -- Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
That is marginal incremental benefit from a handful of those initiatives that we did not see the full benefit in the most recent quarter. And as I indicated, we continued to take actions in some of the more challenged businesses to size of cost appropriately. So some modest incremental benefit as you think about that back half and that's part of that offset once again to the focal point merits and the incremental selling days in the quarter.
Joe Mondillo -- Sidoti & Co -- Analyst
All right. Great. Thanks. And then also just looking at the Fluid Power, Flow Control segment. Could you just give us sort of the puts and takes, what's going on there outside of the electronics business, which is really a small piece of the business? Just given sort of the OEM exposure that you have at fluid power and then with capacity utilization I think of -- some of your customers probably coming down at flow control. Just curious what the puts and takes are going over the next -- where the trends are going? Because I know sort of there was a comp sort of tough comp that you've been going up against the last couple of quarters, but now we have some -- I think some organic negative trends that are going on in some of your end markets there. So I'm just curious how you're thinking about that going forward?
Neil A. Schrimsher -- President and Chief Executive Officer
So we maybe take it from a few angles. The -- on the flow control side, right, we've had a large project that we comped against that will -- for the most part now be behind us in that area. There are some general headwinds around process related to industries, but the team looking back and somewhat expectations looking forward in this macro, while we have opportunities. It could result in kind of a low-single digit. And then, we think about fluid power, we talk about some of the electronics and technical being able to contribute. We'll see in the kind of coming months and quarters to the level.
But to your point, there are industrials and some of those mobile OEs that are seeing slowness. Now with that creates some opportunities for us to be with them working their products, working the designs, how we can grow our content, but that will contribute to us in future periods, not necessarily in the quarter that we're in or in the back half. So that kind of leads us to -- we think at our midpoint, there is a low-single digit headwind in this segment.
Joe Mondillo -- Sidoti & Co -- Analyst
Okay. Great. Thanks. And then just to touch on your guidance. Just wondering, what part of the business or what line item or margin revenue segment wise, what was really the biggest cause that sort of took off the high end of the guidance off the table?
David K. Wells -- Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Really to sum it up, it was just a softer daily sales rates that we saw, as indicated, both in December but then continuing into the month-to-date, January that, that gave us pause and just given that uncertainty, the broad-based kind of market headwinds that we've seen thought it appropriate to tug down that our brand, just a bit in terms of the relative to expectations.
Joe Mondillo -- Sidoti & Co -- Analyst
Okay. And then just lastly, the tax rate was lower than I anticipated. I didn't hear you mentioned anything in the prepared remarks, but I was just wondering what you expect I guess or maybe the back half year or the whole year?
David K. Wells -- Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
You bet. As opposed to the 25% to 26%, we previously guided. We did see some discretes that benefit us again in Q2. So as we look at the back half, we will see some upward pressure on the back half rate. But as a result of the Q2 performance in favorability would now call it 24% to 25% in terms of the overall full year effective tax rate.
Joe Mondillo -- Sidoti & Co -- Analyst
Okay. Thanks. Appreciate taking my questions.
Operator
Our next question comes from Steve Barger with KeyBanc Capital Markets. Your line is now open.
Steve Barger -- KeyBanc Capital Markets -- Analyst
Good morning, guys.
Neil A. Schrimsher -- President and Chief Executive Officer
Good morning.
Steve Barger -- KeyBanc Capital Markets -- Analyst
I wanted to go back to the broader environment. I think there is a lot of expectation that there will be a recovery in calendar two half '20. So when you say subdued demand will persist, do you have any additional thoughts about duration and what you're thinking about for catalyst to restart growth?
Neil A. Schrimsher -- President and Chief Executive Officer
So I mean, obviously, we think that continues for the half and so for the start of what will be our new fiscal year, I don't know that we're not fully into from a planning standpoint of those. Trade resolution obviously has the opportunity to help and contribute to that potentially as we think about it going forward. Also, if there is a broader infrastructure effort, but that's probably not ahead of an election cycle that perhaps occurs after an election cycle.
Steve Barger -- KeyBanc Capital Markets -- Analyst
So you think the Phase 1 deal and maybe getting USMCA sign will provide enough clarity to get businesses looking to grow again or do you need something or will they need something more specific?
Neil A. Schrimsher -- President and Chief Executive Officer
I think you can start to help from a sentiment standpoint, but that's not all into our guidance right now.
Steve Barger -- KeyBanc Capital Markets -- Analyst
Yeah. Are you -- given the environment, are you seeing any change in multiple in the private market or do you expect that will happen as trailing 12-month EBITDA numbers start to come down?
Neil A. Schrimsher -- President and Chief Executive Officer
I think for us, probably early, but from an M&A standpoint, we're active, we're busy but on those read-throughs, it's probably hard to say when they perfectly come through.
Steve Barger -- KeyBanc Capital Markets -- Analyst
Yeah. And just I guess philosophically in recent quarters, we've seen private equity take out command distribution, another one made a strong run in Anixter in the electrical distribution space. Given where public market multiples are, do you think there'll be more PE interest in public markets?
Neil A. Schrimsher -- President and Chief Executive Officer
Hey, again, it's probably better experts than I. Clearly, money is available. There is interest in some of the spaces, multiples in some of the segments. We think about Eaton those can be attractive in the side. But we have a disciplined approach as we think about it going forward and working our targets going through. So I don't know that it creates undue pressure for us in an M&A environment.
Steve Barger -- KeyBanc Capital Markets -- Analyst
All right. Thanks.
Operator
[Operator Instructions] Our next question comes from Michael McGinn with Wells Fargo. Your line is now open.
Michael McGinn -- Wells Fargo -- Analyst
Thanks. Sticking with the M&A theme. Can you give us an update on the underlying fundamentals of the robotics and automation market, specifically the growth rate you're seeing within Olympus relative to your base business?
Neil A. Schrimsher -- President and Chief Executive Officer
Well, I think you can see in the quarter that Olympus performed well. It continues to be right -- as they term it right, where innovation meets automation. So we're excited about the product offerings that are available. Our work on key projects that exist today. The broader engineered solutions and in that opportunity for us to expand that into some other markets or into -- or with some other customers in that side. So the growth or the interest in and the growth in the adoption continues to be at a good rate. So we're pleased with the performance, and in the quarter and we think it can be a nice contributor for us in the business going forward.
Michael McGinn -- Wells Fargo -- Analyst
Is it fair to say that, that growth rate -- that nice growth rate is better than the service center and where fluid power is operating right now?
Neil A. Schrimsher -- President and Chief Executive Officer
I'd say today in the cycle, yes, we would say that.
Michael McGinn -- Wells Fargo -- Analyst
Okay. And then switching gears to gross margin flat to up 10 bps still sounds relatively positive and you've never been the primary indicator for the trade war, given you're limited direct exposure to China, but can you comment on how sticky this current run rate is, if we see a broader tariff roll back in subsequent conversations with customers on pricing?
David K. Wells -- Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
For us, we think it continues to stick and stay. If I look at suppliers today, there is still incoming price increases, they moderated from the past, but there will still be some of those coming through and we will be taking them to the marketplace. And then for us, on margins, right, we will continue to work on point of sale really just reducing variation around customer groups and product groups and we think mix helps us going forward in those as well. As we provide more value content, more value-added solutions and projects to that helps us on the margin side. Over time, we think for a longer period, we still believe there is the 10 basis point to 20 basis point improvement.
Michael McGinn -- Wells Fargo -- Analyst
Okay. And then if I can sneak one more in. On the international side of your business, you called out Canada and Mexico, but left out Australia. Was the Canada and East Coast comment more tied to general industrial or West Coast comment tied to natural resources? And then if you could just size Australia sales as a percent of total, that would be helpful.
Neil A. Schrimsher -- President and Chief Executive Officer
Sure. So, I'd say Canada could be really across, right, some challenges in the western provinces, and that's predominantly resource and resource connected, but also in some of those eastern provinces around the general industry activity. And so their participation in either metals, mining, machinery, process-related industries. There's some commonality in there, maybe some uniqueness, but there's some commonality across. And then from an Australian standpoint, less than 2% of the overall.
Michael McGinn -- Wells Fargo -- Analyst
All right. Thanks a lot, I'll pass along.
Neil A. Schrimsher -- President and Chief Executive Officer
Okay.
Operator
At this time, I'm showing we have no further questions. I will now turn the call over to Mr. Schrimsher for any closing remarks.
Neil A. Schrimsher -- President and Chief Executive Officer
Thank you very much. And I just want to thank everyone for taking their time and joining us today and we look forward to talking to many of you throughout the quarter.
Operator
[Operator Closing Remarks]
Duration: 40 minutes
Call participants:
Ryan D. Cieslak -- Assistant Treasurer
Neil A. Schrimsher -- President and Chief Executive Officer
David K. Wells -- Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Chris Dankert -- Longbow Research -- Analyst
David Manthey -- Robert W. Baird & Co. -- Analyst
Adam Uhlman -- Cleveland Research -- Analyst
Joe Mondillo -- Sidoti & Co -- Analyst
Steve Barger -- KeyBanc Capital Markets -- Analyst
Michael McGinn -- Wells Fargo -- Analyst
