Eaton First Quarter Operating Earnings Per Share of $0.84 Exceed Midpoint of Guidance by 12 Percent

Updated

Eaton First Quarter Operating Earnings Per Share of $0.84 Exceed Midpoint of Guidance by 12 Percent

Cooper Industries Integration on Track
2013 Earnings Guidance Affirmed

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton Corporation plc (NYS: ETN) today announced record quarterly sales and operating profits, driven by the acquisition of Cooper Industries. Sales in the first quarter of 2013 were $5.31 billion, 34 percent above the same period in 2012. Operating earnings for the first quarter of 2013, excluding charges of $22 million to integrate recent acquisitions, were a record $400 million, an increase of 28 percent over 2012. Operating earnings per share, which exclude charges of $0.05 per share to integrate recent acquisitions, were $0.84 for the first quarter of 2013. This result is a decrease of 9 percent from the first quarter of 2012, reflecting the shares issued as part of the acquisition of Cooper Industries and the purchase price accounting charges resulting from the transaction.


Alexander M. Cutler, Eaton chairman and chief executive officer, said, "Our first quarter results are a solid start to the year, coming in above the high end of our guidance despite markets being slightly weaker than our expectations. We were able to generate attractive operating margins, reflecting our enhanced portfolio as a result of the Cooper Industries acquisition and our continued focus on productivity improvements.

"Our 34 percent sales growth in the first quarter consisted of a decline of 5 percent in core sales and a 1 percent decline from currency translation, offset by 40 percent growth from acquisitions," said Cutler. "Our markets in the first quarter were lower than a year ago, reflecting a continuation of the sluggish economic conditions experienced in many parts of the world during the second half of 2012.

"We entered 2013 expecting it would be a year of subpar global economic growth, leading to approximately 2 to 3 percent growth in our markets," said Cutler. "We continue to believe our markets will grow 2 to 3 percent in 2013, most likely toward the lower end of the range.

"We anticipate operating earnings per share for the second quarter of 2013, which exclude an estimated $25 million of charges to integrate our recent acquisitions, to be between $1.05 and $1.15," said Cutler. "There are two primary drivers of the expected increase in second quarter operating earnings per share over the first quarter: first, seasonally higher volumes, since our sales in the second quarter are typically 5 to 10 percent higher, and second, the absence of purchase price inventory expense in the second quarter related to the Cooper Industries acquisition.

"We are maintaining our guidance for full year operating earnings per share of between $4.05 and $4.45," said Cutler. "2013 is a year in which our results will depend more on our execution than on global growth. We are off to a great start this year, with our execution driving stronger than expected results in the first quarter. Based on the midpoint of our guidance, our operating earnings per share in 2013 will grow 8 percent."

Business Segment Results

Sales for the Electrical Products segment were $1.7 billion, up 87 percent over 2012, reflecting the impact of the Cooper Industries acquisition. Operating profits were $241 million. Excluding acquisition integration charges of $3 million during the quarter, operating profits were $244 million, up 76 percent over the first quarter of 2012.

"Our bookings in the Electrical Products segment were down 3 percent from the combined bookings of Eaton and legacy Cooper in the first quarter a year ago," said Cutler.

Sales for the Electrical Systems and Services segment were $1.5 billion, up 79 percent over the first quarter of 2012, reflecting the impact of the Cooper Industries acquisition. The segment reported operating profits of $210 million. Excluding acquisition integration charges of $5 million during the quarter, operating profits were $215 million, up 176 percent. Combined bookings in the quarter increased 2 percent compared to the first quarter of 2012.

"In both of our Electrical segments, our end markets were strongest in the U.S., the Middle East and Latin America, with mixed conditions in Asia Pacific and weakness in Europe," said Cutler. "We believe sales will improve during the balance of the year, in line with the normal seasonal pattern of demand."

Hydraulics segment sales were $756 million, an increase of 3 percent compared to the first quarter of 2012. Sales growth was driven by revenues from acquisitions completed in 2012, which accounted for 13 percent growth, offset by a 9 percent decline in core sales and a 1 percent decline from currency translation. Operating profits in the first quarter were $78 million. Excluding acquisition integration charges of $12 million, operating profits were $90 million, a decline of 18 percent.

"The hydraulics markets in the first quarter grew modestly compared to the fourth quarter," said Cutler. "Compared to strong conditions in the first quarter of 2012, the year-over-year comparisons are negative. Reflecting this, our bookings in the quarter declined 8 percent from the first quarter of 2012."

Aerospace segment sales were $434 million, up 1 percent over the first quarter of 2012. Operating profits in the first quarter were $62 million, an increase of 3 percent compared to a year earlier.

"Aerospace markets grew modestly in the first quarter, with strongest growth in the commercial OEM market," said Cutler.

The Vehicle segment posted sales of $939 million, down 11 percent compared to the first quarter of 2012. The segment reported operating profits in the first quarter of $132 million, a decrease of 18 percent from the first quarter of 2012.

"Continuing the trends we saw in the second half of last year, our NAFTA and European customers experienced generally weaker market conditions," said Cutler.

Notice of conference call: Eaton's conference call to discuss its first quarter results is available to all interested parties as a live audio webcast today at 10 a.m. United States Eastern time via a link on the center of Eaton's home page. This news release can be accessed under its headline on the home page. Also available on the website prior to the call will be a presentation on first quarter results, which will be covered during the call.

This news release contains forward-looking statements concerning second quarter and full year 2013 operating earnings per share, acquisition integration charges, and the performance of our worldwide markets. These statements should be used with caution and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside the company's control. The following factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements: unanticipated changes in the markets for the company's business segments; unanticipated downturns in business relationships with customers or their purchases from us; competitive pressures on sales and pricing; increases in the cost of material and other production costs, or unexpected costs that cannot be recouped in product pricing; the introduction of competing technologies; unexpected technical or marketing difficulties; unexpected claims, charges, litigation or dispute resolutions; strikes or other labor unrest; the performance of recent acquisitions; unanticipated difficulties integrating acquisitions; new laws and governmental regulations; interest rate changes; stock market and currency fluctuations; and unanticipated deterioration of economic and financial conditions in the United States and around the world. We do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

Financial Results

The company's comparative financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2013 are available on the company's website, www.eaton.com.

Eaton is a diversified power management company providing energy-efficient solutions that help our customers effectively manage electrical, hydraulic and mechanical power. A global technology leader, Eaton acquired Cooper Industries plc in November 2012. The 2012 revenue of the combined companies was $21.8 billion on a pro forma basis. Eaton has approximately 103,000 employees and sells products to customers in more than 175 countries. For more information, visit www.eaton.com.

EATON CORPORATION plc

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

Three months ended
March 31

(In millions except for per share data)

2013

2012

Net sales

$

5,310

$

3,960

Cost of products sold

3,735

2,754

Selling and administrative expense

958

702

Research and development expense

152

105

Interest expense-net

75

28

Other (income) expense-net

(10

)

3

Income before income taxes

400

368

Income tax expense

20

57

Net income

380

311

Less net income for noncontrolling interests

(2

)

Net income attributable to Eaton ordinary shareholders

$

378

$

311

Net income per ordinary share

Diluted

$

0.79

$

0.91

Basic

0.80

0.93

Weighted-average number of ordinary shares outstanding

Diluted

475.1

339.8

Basic

471.9

335.4

Cash dividends declared per ordinary share

$

0.42

$

0.38

Reconciliation of net income attributable to Eaton ordinary shareholders to operating earnings

Net income attributable to Eaton ordinary shareholders

$

378

$

311

Excluding acquisition integration charges and transaction costs (after-tax)

22

2

Operating earnings

$

400

$

313

Net income per ordinary share - diluted

$

0.79

$

0.91

Excluding per share impact of acquisition integration charges and transaction costs (after-tax)

0.05

0.01

Operating earnings per ordinary share

$

0.84

$

0.92

See accompanying notes.

EATON CORPORATION plc

BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION

Three months ended
March 31

(In millions)

2013

2012

Net sales

Electrical Products

$

1,660

$

886

Electrical Systems and Services

1,521

852

Hydraulics

756

735

Aerospace

434

430

Vehicle

939

1,057

Total net sales

$

5,310

$

3,960

Segment operating profit

Electrical Products

$

241

$

139

Electrical Systems and Services

210

76

Hydraulics

78

109

Aerospace

62

60

Vehicle

132

160

Total segment operating profit

723

544

Corporate

Amortization of intangible assets

(107

)

(42

)

Interest expense-net

(75

)

(28

)

Pension and other postretirement benefits expense

(38

)

(41

)

Inventory step-up adjustment

(33

)

(2

)

Other corporate expense-net

(70

)

(63

)

Income before income taxes

400

368

Income tax expense

20

57

Net income

380

311

Less net income for noncontrolling interests

(2

)

Net income attributable to Eaton ordinary shareholders

$

378

$

311

See accompanying notes.

EATON CORPORATION plc

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

March 31,
2013

December 31,
2012

(In millions)

Assets

Current assets

Cash

$

639

$

577

Short-term investments

397

527

Accounts receivable-net

3,685

3,510

Inventory

2,394

2,349

Deferred income taxes

459

449

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

622

432

Total current assets

8,196

7,844

Property, plant and equipment-net

3,841

3,877

Other noncurrent assets

Goodwill

14,275

14,396

Other intangible assets

6,664

6,779

Deferred income taxes

1,103

1,254

Other assets

898

1,698

Total assets

$

34,977

$

35,848

Liabilities and shareholders' equity

Current liabilities

Short-term debt

$

84

$

757

Current portion of long-term debt

569

314

Accounts payable

1,978

1,879

Accrued compensation

318

463

Other current liabilities

1,954

2,018

Total current liabilities

4,903

5,431

Noncurrent liabilities

Long-term debt

9,473

9,762

Pension liabilities

1,794

1,997

Other postretirement benefits liabilities

728

732

Deferred income taxes

2,007

2,024

Other noncurrent liabilities

862

774

Total noncurrent liabilities

14,864

15,289

Shareholders' equity

Eaton shareholders' equity

15,167

15,086

Noncontrolling interests

43

42

Total equity

15,210

15,128

Total liabilities and equity

$

34,977

$

35,848

See accompanying notes.




EATON CORPORATION plc
NOTES TO THE FIRST QUARTER 2013 EARNINGS RELEASE

Amounts are in millions of dollars unless indicated otherwise (per share data assume dilution).

This earnings release includes certain non-GAAP financial measures. These financial measures include operating earnings, operating earnings per ordinary share, and operating profit before acquisition integration charges and transaction costs for each business segment as well as corporate expense, each of which excludes amounts that differ from the most directly comparable measure calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). A reconciliation of each of these financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measure is included in this earnings release. Management believes that these financial measures are useful to investors because they exclude transactions of an unusual nature, allowing investors to more easily compare Eaton's financial performance period to period. Management uses this information in monitoring and evaluating the on-going performance of Eaton and each business segment.


Note 1. ACQUISITIONS AND SALE OF BUSINESSES

In 2012, Eaton acquired businesses in separate transactions. The Consolidated Statements of Income include the results of these businesses from the dates of the transactions. These transactions and the related annual sales prior to acquisition are summarized below:

Acquired businesses

Date of

transaction

Business

segment

Annual sales

Cooper Industries plc (Cooper)

November 30,

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