P&G Delivers First Quarter Core EPS of $1.06, +5%

P&G Delivers First Quarter Core EPS of $1.06, +5%

CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Procter & Gamble Company (NYS: PG) increased core earnings per share by five percent to $1.06 for the July-September quarter. Diluted net earnings per share from continuing operations were $0.96, a decrease of five percent due to non-core charges of $0.10. Organic sales grew two percent. Net sales were $20.7 billion, a decrease of four percent versus the prior year period including a negative six percent impact from foreign exchange. The Company continued to deliver broad-based organic sales growth, with four of five business segments increasing versus the prior year.

P&G said it held or grew market share in businesses representing over 45% of sales in the July - September quarter, as measured on a constant currency value basis. In the U.S. market, P&G held or grew value share in businesses representing nearly 60% of sales.

"Our first quarter results put us on track to deliver our commitments for the fiscal year. Results were at the high end of expectations on the top line and ahead of plan on operating profit, earnings per share and cash," said Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Bob McDonald. "We are continuing to focus on executing our growth and productivity strategy - maintaining momentum in developing markets, strengthening our core developed market business, building a strong innovation pipeline, and aggressively driving cost savings and productivity improvements. We're confident that this strategy will enable P&G to generate superior levels of shareholder return in both the short- and long-term."

Executive Summary

• Organic sales increased two percent for the quarter at the top end of the guidance range.

• Organic sales growth was broad-based, with four of five business segments increasing organic sales.

• Core net earnings per share increased by five percent to $1.06.

• Core gross margin increased 80 basis points due to the impact of higher pricing and manufacturing cost savings, partially offset by unfavorable geographic and product mix. Reported gross margin, including restructuring, increased 30 basis points.

• Core selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A) as a percentage of net sales decreased 10 basis points. Including incremental restructuring and other non-core charges, reported SG&A increased 90 basis points.

• Core operating profit increased one percent. Reported operating profit, including non-core charges, decreased seven percent.

• Operating cash flow was $2.8 billion for the quarter. The Company repurchased $2.6 billion of shares during the quarter and returned $1.6 billion of cash to shareholders as dividends.

Fiscal Year 2013 Guidance

P&G maintained its organic sales growth guidance in the range of two percent to four percent for the fiscal year. Foreign exchange is expected to reduce sales growth by two percent to three percent, resulting in guidance for all-in net sales growth of in-line to up one percent versus the prior year.

The Company also maintained its core earnings per share guidance in the range of $3.80 to $4.00, down one percent to up four percent versus prior year core EPS of $3.85. P&G raised its all-in GAAP earnings per share guidance by $0.17 per share to a range of $3.78 to $4.02, equating to growth of three percent to 10% versus prior year GAAP EPS of $3.66. The $0.17 per share increase is the estimated non-core holding gain resulting from P&G's purchase of the balance of P&G's Baby Care and Feminine Care joint venture in Iberia, which was completed on October 22, 2012. The transaction is expected to be roughly neutral to core EPS results this fiscal year as the ongoing benefits from full ownership of the business will be offset by one-time transitional costs. The all-in EPS range also includes non-core restructuring investments of $0.15 to $0.19 per share, consistent with the Company's prior outlook.

October - December 2012 Quarter Guidance

P&G is estimating organic sales growth in the range of one percent to three percent for the October - December quarter. Foreign exchange is expected to reduce sales by two percent, resulting in all-in sales guidance in the range of down one percent to up one percent versus year ago.

The Company expects December quarter core EPS in the range of $1.07 to $1.13, down two percent to up four percent compared to prior year core EPS of $1.09. On an all-in basis, P&G is forecasting earnings per share in the range of $1.18 to $1.25, an increase of 111% to 123% versus prior year EPS from continuing operations of $0.56. Prior year all-in results included $0.53 of non-core costs, primarily related to impairment charges. Current year all-in EPS guidance includes non-core restructuring charges in the range of $0.05 to $0.06 per share and the estimated $0.17 per share non-core gain from the transaction described above.

Business Segment Discussion

Beauty Segment

In the Salon Professional and Prestige businesses, organic sales increased versus the prior year driven by strong innovation on the Wella, Dolce & Gabbana, and Gucci brands. All-in sales were down in both categories due to significant negative impact from foreign exchange. Hair Care and Beauty Care sales were down on both an all-in and organic basis due to negative foreign exchange impacts and market share softness resulting from high levels of competitive activity.

Grooming Segment

Shave Care organic sales increased versus the prior year as solid growth in developing markets behind Fusion ProGlide and Prestobarba innovation and market expansions were partially offset by market contraction in Western Europe. All-in Shave Care net sales were down due to foreign exchange impacts. Organic and all-in sales in Appliances were down versus prior year due to competitive activity and market contraction.

Health Care Segment

Oral Care organic sales grew as price and mix benefits more than offset lower volume levels in North America and Greater China. Feminine Care organic sales increased driven by mix benefits from premium innovations such as Always and Tampax Radiant in the U.S., Always/Fairy Pinkcess in Brazil and China, and Always Platinum in Russia and pricing. All-in sales were down in both categories due to significant negative impact from foreign exchange. All-in and organic sales in Personal Health Care grew as price increases and positive mix more than offset lower volume due to Vicks initiatives in the base period and lower Prilosec OTC sales.

Fabric Care and Home Care Segment

Fabric Care organic sales increased low single digits due to positive pricing and product mix from initiatives such as Tide Pods in the U.S. Home Care delivered higher organic sales, led by growth of the Cascade, Dawn and Fairy dish care brands and Febreze and Ambi Pur air care brands. All-in sales were down in Fabric Care and in Home Care due to significant negative impact from foreign exchange. Batteries organic and all-in sales were down as growth in North America behind the Duralock innovation was more than offset by market contraction and competitive activity in Western Europe.

Baby Care and Family Care Segment

Baby Care organic sales grew as higher pricing and strong growth in developing markets were partially offset by market contraction in developed regions. Baby Care all-in net sales were down due to a significant foreign exchange impact. Family Care all-in and organic sales increased behind new innovations on Charmin and Bounty.

*Core excludes incremental restructuring charges and charges related to the European legal matters.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this release or presentation, other than purely historical information, including estimates, projections, statements relating to our business plans, objectives, and expected operating results, and the assumptions upon which those statements are based, are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words "believe," "project," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "strategy," "future," "opportunity," "plan," "may," "should," "will," "would," "will be," "will continue", "will likely results," and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectation and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties which may cause results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise.

Risks and uncertainties to which our forward-looking statements are subject include: (1) the ability to achieve business plans, including growing existing sales and volume profitably and maintaining and improving margins and market share, despite high levels of competitive activity, an increasingly volatile economic environment, lower than expected market growth rates, especially with respect to the product categories and geographical markets (including developing markets) in which the Company has chosen to focus, and/or increasing competition from mid- and lower tier value products in both developed and developing markets; (2) the ability to successfully manage ongoing acquisition, divestiture and joint venture activities to achieve the cost and growth synergies in accordance with the stated goals of these transactions without impacting the delivery of base business objectives; (3) the ability to successfully manage ongoing organizational changes and achieve productivity improvements designed to support our growth strategies, while successfully identifying, developing and retaining key employees, especially in key growth markets where the availability of skilled employees is limited; (4) the ability to manage and maintain key customer relationships; (5) the ability to maintain key manufacturing and supply sources (including sole supplier and plant manufacturing sources); (6) the ability to successfully manage regulatory, tax and legal requirements and matters (including product liability, patent, intellectual property, price controls, import restrictions, environmental and tax policy), and to resolve pending matters within current estimates; (7) the ability to resolve the pending competition law inquiries in Europe within current estimates; (8) the ability to successfully implement, achieve and sustain cost improvement plans and efficiencies in manufacturing and overhead areas, including the Company's outsourcing projects; (9) the ability to successfully manage volatility in foreign exchange rates, as well as our debt and currency exposure (especially in certain countries with currency exchange controls, such as Venezuela, China and India); (10) the ability to maintain our current credit rating and to manage fluctuations in interest rate, increases in pension and healthcare expense, and any significant credit or liquidity issues; (11) the ability to manage continued global political and/or economic uncertainty and disruptions, especially in the Company's significant geographical markets, due to a wide variety of factors, including but not limited to, terrorist and other hostile activities, natural disasters and/or disruptions to credit markets, resulting from a global, regional or national credit crisis; (12) the ability to successfully manage competitive factors, including prices, promotional incentives and trade terms for products; (13) the ability to obtain patents and respond to technological advances attained by competitors and patents granted to competitors; (14) the ability to successfully manage increases in the prices of commodities, raw materials and energy, including the ability to offset these increases through pricing actions; (15) the ability to develop effective sales, advertising and marketing programs; (16) the ability to stay on the leading edge of innovation, maintain a positive reputation on our brands and ensure trademark protection; and (17) the ability to rely on and maintain key information technology systems and networks (including Company and third-party systems and networks), the security over such systems and networks, and the data contained therein. For additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to materially differ from those projected herein, please refer to our most recent 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K reports.

About Procter & Gamble

P&G serves approximately 4.6 billion people around the world with its brands. The Company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Pampers®, Tide®, Ariel®, Always®, Whisper®, Pantene®, Mach3®, Bounty®, Dawn®, Fairy®, Gain®, Charmin®, Downy®, Lenor®, Iams®, Crest®, Oral-B®, Duracell®, Olay®, Head & Shoulders®, Wella®, Gillette®, Braun®, Fusion®, Ace®, Febreze®, Ambi Pur®, SK-II®, and Vicks®. The P&G community includes operations in approximately 75 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest new