Form: 8-K

Current report

February 5, 2019


emrlogoa02a14.jpg
Investor Contact: Tim Reeves (314) 553-2197
Media Contact: Casey Murphy (314) 982-6220

EMERSON REPORTS FIRST QUARTER 2019 RESULTS AND RAISES
FULL YEAR GUIDANCE

Net sales of $4.1 billion increased 9 percent, or 4.5 percent on an underlying basis
GAAP earnings per share were $0.74, up 21 percent versus prior year
Returned $1.1 billion to shareholders, including $0.8 billion share repurchases
Raised full-year EPS guidance on lower tax rate, lower incentive compensation and accelerated share repurchase
Closed A.E. Valves and GE Intelligent Platforms acquisitions

ST. LOUIS, February 5, 2019 – Emerson (NYSE: EMR) today reported results for the first quarter ended December 31, 2018.
First quarter net sales were up 9 percent, with underlying sales up 4.5 percent excluding unfavorable currency of 1.5 percent and a positive impact from acquisitions of 6 percent. Underlying growth reflected broad-based demand in global industrial markets, steady growth in North American air conditioning markets and favorable trends in global cold chain and professional tools markets. Emerson's trailing three-month underlying orders growth remained in the 5 to 10 percent range throughout the quarter, with December three-month underlying orders up 7 percent.
First quarter gross profit margin of 42.5 percent improved 20 basis points compared with the prior year, driven by the benefit of cost reduction actions and leverage on higher sales. Pretax margin of 14.2 percent and EBIT margin of 15.3 percent improved 100 basis points and 110 basis points, respectively, reflecting lower incentive compensation expense and prior year acquisition accounting charges, partially offset by dilution from recent acquisitions. GAAP earnings per share were $0.74 in the quarter, up 21 percent compared with the prior year.
First quarter operating cash flow was down $124 million to $323 million, due mainly to timing of accounts payable and accruals, which is expected to reverse this fiscal year. Capital expenditures of $155 million were up $59 million, due to the timing of several previously announced facility expansions and upgrades to support growth and productivity programs in the U.S., China and Southeast Asia. Free cash flow was $168 million, down $183 million.



Page 2

"Our results in the first quarter provide a solid start to 2019 and confirmed our view of the global macroeconomic backdrop we laid out during our November earnings conference call, including our 4 to 7 percent underlying sales guidance. Importantly, we continue to see strength across our global industrial end markets and demand for our technology, products and expertise. We're also pleased to have completed $0.8 billion in share repurchases in the quarter and $1 billion through January to reach our full-year target,” said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer David N. Farr.
                “As expected, our Commercial & Residential Solutions business felt the crosswinds of weakening consumer demand in China that began in the second half of 2018,” continued Farr. "We continue to watch the situation carefully, and we are optimistic our China Commercial & Residential Solutions team will achieve positive underlying orders and sales in the second half of 2019.”

Business Platform Results
Automation Solutions net sales increased 9 percent in the quarter, with underlying sales up 7 percent excluding unfavorable currency of 2 percent and a positive impact from acquisitions of 4 percent. Continued strong demand across key served markets drove 12 percent growth in the December trailing three-month underlying orders. Growth continued to reflect strong maintenance and repair (MRO) demand and brownfield investment activity focused on expansion and optimization of existing facilities. Underlying orders outpaced underlying sales growth in the quarter, resulting in modest backlog build, primarily due to timing of orders and a successful platform-wide enterprise system upgrade that resulted in the planned loss of a few shipment days in the quarter.
In the Americas, underlying sales increased 8 percent, reflecting broad-based demand and continued strong MRO and small to mid-sized brownfield projects. Investments were led by unconventional oil activity across the region, the build out of midstream infrastructure and metals and mining activity in Latin America.
In Asia, Middle East & Africa, underlying sales were up 8 percent, reflecting infrastructure build out in China and India, metals and mining investments in Australia and upstream brownfield projects in the Middle East. Investment activity continued to be driven in part by sovereign interests' trend toward greater self-sufficiency in energy, refining and chemical production.
Europe was up 3 percent, with favorable trends across most key end markets. Growth was mainly driven by upstream, chemical and midstream investment activity in Eastern Europe and Russia.
Margin decreased 50 basis points to 14.5 percent and was up 10 basis points to 15.1 percent excluding the Aventics acquisition. Profit leverage on higher sales was in line with management's expectations and consistent with Emerson's 2019 segment guidance, considering both the level and timing of engineering and sales investments to support continued growth in the business, as well as the timing of tariff mitigation actions.



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For the full year, management expects 7 to 10 percent net sales growth and 5 to 8 percent underlying sales growth.
Commercial & Residential Solutions net sales increased 7 percent in the quarter, with underlying sales down 1 percent excluding unfavorable currency of 1 percent and a positive impact from acquisitions of 9 percent. December trailing three-month underlying orders were down 2 percent due to Asia orders, which were down 24 percent against strong prior year comparisons. However, Asia orders appear to have bottomed and will be aided by easing comparisons going forward.
In the Americas, underlying sales were up 8 percent led by cold chain, residential air conditioning and professional tools markets. Europe was up 3 percent, reflecting favorable trends in professional tools and heating and air conditioning markets. Asia, Middle East & Africa was down 23 percent, with China down 30 percent, reflecting slower air conditioning and heating markets. However, the decline in China is expected to moderate in the coming months as excess channel inventory is absorbed and spending recovers against easier comparisons in the second half of the fiscal year.
Margin decreased 240 basis points to 17.7 percent and was down 150 basis points to 18.6 percent, excluding the Tools & Test acquisition, primarily due to unfavorable price-cost. We continue to expect margins to improve as recent price increases take effect and material cost pressures moderate, especially in the second half of the year.
For the full year, management continues to expect 8 to 10 percent net sales growth and 3 to 5 percent underlying sales growth.
    
2019 Outlook
The following table presents the updated 2019 guidance framework. GAAP earnings per share range is increased 5 cents to $3.60 to $3.75, which reflects lower incentive compensation expense, improvement in the estimated full-year tax rate and accelerated timing of share repurchases. Management continues to expect operations to deliver 30 percent profit leverage on incremental sales, excluding the Aventics and Tools & Test acquisitions. The updated guidance also includes estimated first year acquisition accounting charges of 3 cents for A.E. Valves, which closed in December 2018, and GE Intelligent Platforms, which closed in January 2019.
Sales Growth Guidance
 
EPS and Cash Flow Guidance
Net Sales Growth
7 – 10%
 
GAAP EPS
$3.60 – $3.75
   Acquisitions Impact
5%
 
Tax Rate
24 – 25%
   Foreign Currency Translation Impact
(2%)
 
Operating Cash Flow
~$3.2B
Underlying Sales Growth
4 – 7%
 
Free Cash Flow
~$2.5B
   Automation Solutions
5 – 8%
 
 
 
   Commercial Residential Solutions
3 – 5%
 
 
 



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“Full-year orders, underlying sales, profitability and cash flow are on track to deliver a strong 2019. In our EPS guidance, we absorbed 3 cents of acquisition charges within operations and increased the range 5 cents on a stronger first quarter than we had expected," Farr said. "We have much to accomplish in 2019 across both business platforms, and our teams around the world are poised to continue delivering value to our customers and shareholders."

Upcoming Investor Events
Today, beginning at 2 p.m. Eastern Time, Emerson management will discuss the first quarter 2019 results during an investor conference call. Participants can access a live webcast available at www.emerson.com/financial at the time of the call. A replay of the call will remain available for 90 days.
On Thursday, February 14, 2019, Emerson will host its annual investor conference in New York,
NY. The conference will begin Thursday morning with Company presentations from 8:00 a.m. ET to
approximately 2:00 p.m. ET. Access to a live webcast of the presentations will be available at
www.emerson.com/financial at the time of the event. A replay of the conference will remain available for
approximately three months.

Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements
Statements in this press release that are not strictly historical may be “forward-looking” statements, which involve risks and uncertainties, and Emerson undertakes no obligation to update any such statements to reflect later developments. These risks and uncertainties include economic and currency conditions, market demand, pricing, protection of intellectual property, cybersecurity, tariffs, competitive and technological factors, and the impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, among others, as set forth in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent reports filed with the SEC.
    


(tables attached)




Page 5

 
 
 
 
 
Table 1
EMERSON AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED OPERATING RESULTS
(AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS EXCEPT PER SHARE, UNAUDITED)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Quarter Ended December 31
 
Percent
 
2017
 
2018
 
Change
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net sales

$3,816

 

$4,147

 
9%
Costs and expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
     Cost of sales
2,202

 
2,386

 
 
     SG&A expenses
995

 
1,077

 
 
     Other deductions, net
78

 
50

 
 
     Interest expense, net
38

 
43

 
 
Earnings before income taxes
503

 
591

 
17%
Income taxes
109

 
124

 
 
Net earnings
394

 
467

 
 
Less: Noncontrolling interests in earnings of subsidiaries
2

 
2

 
 
Net earnings common stockholders

$392

 

$465

 
19%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diluted avg. shares outstanding
640.5

 
627.8

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diluted earnings per share common share

$0.61

 

$0.74

 
21%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Quarter Ended December 31
 
 
 
2017
 
2018
 
 
Other deductions, net
 
 
 
 
 
     Amortization of intangibles

$56

 

$57

 
 
     Restructuring costs
15

 
10

 
 
     Other
7

 
(17
)
 
 
          Total

$78

 

$50

 
 





Page 6

 
 
 
Table 2
EMERSON AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, UNAUDITED)
 
 
 
 
 
Quarter Ended December 31
 
2017
 
2018
Assets
 
 
 
     Cash and equivalents

$3,096

 

$1,248

     Receivables, net
2,594

 
2,733

     Inventories
1,845

 
1,980

     Other current assets
617

 
697

          Total current assets
8,152

 
6,658

     Property, plant & equipment, net
3,279

 
3,551

     Goodwill
5,616

 
6,468

     Other intangible assets
2,118

 
2,714

     Other
693

 
1,038

          Total assets

$19,858

 

$20,429

 
 
 
 
Liabilities and equity
 
 
 
     Short-term borrowings and current
 
 
 
        maturities of long-term debt

$2,093

 

$3,320

     Accounts payable
1,596

 
1,794

     Accrued expenses
2,286

 
2,288

     Income taxes
217

 
138

          Total current liabilities
6,192

 
7,540

     Long-term debt
3,375

 
2,641

     Other liabilities
1,903

 
1,972

     Total equity
8,388

 
8,276

          Total liabilities and equity

$19,858

 

$20,429


        



Page 7

 
 
 
 
Table 3
EMERSON AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, UNAUDITED)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Quarter Ended December 31
 
 
2017
 
2018
Operating activities
 
 
 
 
Net earnings
 
$394
 
$467
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
 
        Depreciation and amortization
 
187

 
202

        Changes in operating working capital
 
(160
)
 
(310
)
        Other, net
 
26

 
(36
)
            Net cash provided by operating activities
 
447

 
323

 
 
 
 
 
Investing activities
 
 
 
 
Capital expenditures
 
(96
)
 
(155
)
Purchases of businesses, net of cash and equivalents acquired
 
(513
)
 
(73
)
Divestitures of businesses
 
235

 

Other, net
 
(18
)
 
(31
)
    Cash used in investing activities
 
(392
)
 
(259
)
 
 
 
 
 
Financing activities
 
 
 
 
Net increase in short-term borrowings
 
1,061

 
1,601

Payments of long-term debt
 
(251
)
 
(403
)
Dividends paid
 
(311
)
 
(305
)
Purchases of common stock
 
(500
)
 
(786
)
Other, net
 
(30
)
 
(9
)
    Cash provided by (used in) financing activities
 
(31
)
 
98

 
 
 
 
 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and equivalents
 
10

 
(7
)
Increase (Decrease) in cash and equivalents
 
34

 
155

Beginning cash and equivalents
 
3,062

 
1,093

Ending cash and equivalents
 
$3,096
 
$1,248
 
 
 
 
 





Page 8

 
 
 
Table 4
EMERSON AND SUBSIDIARIES
SEGMENT SALES AND EARNINGS
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, UNAUDITED)
 
 
 
 
 
Quarter Ended December 31
 
2017
 
2018
Sales
 
 
 
     Automation Solutions

$2,572

 

$2,799

 
 
 
 
     Climate Technologies
922

 
880

     Tools & Home Products
330

 
458

     Commercial & Residential Solutions
1,252

 
1,338

 
 
 
 
     Eliminations
(8
)
 
10

          Net sales

$3,816

 

$4,147

 
 
 
 
Earnings
 
 
 
     Automation Solutions

$386

 

$407

 
 
 
 
     Climate Technologies
165

 
146

     Tools & Home Products
87

 
91

     Commercial & Residential Solutions
252

 
237

 
 
 
 
     Differences in accounting methods
51

 
59

     Corporate and other
(148
)
 
(69
)
     Interest expense, net
(38
)
 
(43
)
          Earnings before income taxes

$503

 

$591

 
 
 
 
Restructuring costs
 
 
 
     Automation Solutions

$10

 

$5

 
 
 
 
     Climate Technologies
5

 
3

     Tools & Home Products

 
2

     Commercial & Residential Solutions
5

 
5

 
 
 
 
          Total

$15

 

$10






Page 9

 
Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Financial Measures & Other
 
Table 5
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Reconciliations of Non-GAAP measures (denoted by *) with the most directly comparable GAAP measure (dollars in millions, except per share amounts):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Q1 2019 Underlying Sales Change
Auto Solns
 
Comm & Res
Solns
 
Emerson
 
 
Reported (GAAP)
 
9
 %
 
7
 %
 
9
 %
 
 
(Favorable) / Unfavorable FX
2
 %
 
1
 %
 
1.5
 %
 
 
Acquisitions
 
(4
)%
 
(9
)%
 
(6
)%
 
 
Underlying*
 
7
 %
 
(1
)%
 
4.5
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FY 2019E Underlying Sales Change
Auto Solns
 
Comm & Res
Solns
 
Emerson
 
 
Reported (GAAP)
 
~ 7 - 10%

 
~ 8 - 10%

 
~ 7 - 10%

 
 
(Favorable) / Unfavorable FX
~ 2%

 
~ 1%

 
~ 2%

 
 
Acquisitions
 
~ (4)%

 
~ (6)%

 
~ (5)%

 
 
Underlying*
 
~ 5 - 8%

 
~ 3 - 5%

 
~ 4 - 7%

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EBIT Margin
Q1 FY18
 
Q1 FY19
 
Change
 
 
Pretax margin (GAAP)
13.2
 %
 
14.2
 %
 
100 bps

 
 
Interest expense, net
1.0
 %
 
1.1
 %
 
10 bps

 
 
Earnings before interest and taxes margin*
14.2
 %
 
15.3
 %
 
110 bps

 
 
 
 
Automation Solutions Segment EBIT Margin
Q1 FY18
 
Q1 FY19
 
Change
 
 
Automation Solutions Segment EBIT margin (GAAP)
15.0
 %
 
14.5
 %
 
(50) bps

 
 
Aventics impact
 %
 
0.6
 %
 
60 bps

 
 
Automation Solutions Segment EBIT margin, excluding
15.0
 %
 
15.1
 %
 
10 bps

 
 
     Aventics*
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial & Residential EBIT Margin
Q1 FY18
 
Q1 FY19
 
Change
 
 
Commercial & Residential EBIT margin (GAAP)
20.1
 %
 
17.7
 %
 
(240) bps

 
 
Tools & Test impact
 %
 
0.9
 %
 
90 bps

 
 
Commercial & Residential EBIT margin, excluding
20.1
 %
 
18.6
 %
 
(150) bps

 
 
     Tools & Test*
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Q1 Cash Flow
Q1 FY18
 
Q1 FY19
 
Change
 
 
Operating cash flow (GAAP)
$
447

 
$
323

 
$
(124
)
 
 
Capital expenditures
(96
)
 
(155
)
 
(59
)
 
 
Free cash flow*
$
351

 
$
168

 
$
(183
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FY 2019E Cash Flow
FY 2019E
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating cash flow (GAAP)
~ 3,200

 
 
 
 
 
 
Capital expenditures
~ (650)

 
 
 
 
 
 
Free cash flow*
~ 2,500

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note: Underlying sales and orders exclude the impact of acquisitions, divestitures and currency translation.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
###