Emerson Hits 1Q Expectations

ST. LOUIS — Emerson today reported results for the first quarter ended December 31, 2019 and announced updated guidance for the fiscal year.

First quarter net sales were flat and underlying sales were flat excluding unfavorable currency of 1 percent and a positive impact from acquisitions net of divestitures of 1 percent. Growth was in-line with management’s expectations for Commercial & Residential Solutions but somewhat below expectations for Automation Solutions due mainly to slower North American upstream oil and gas markets and a global decline in discrete end market demand. First quarter trailing three-month underlying orders were up 1 percent including several key liquefied natural gas (LNG) project wins, an encouraging early indication for greenfield LNG investment. Refer to Emerson’s January 27, 2020 Form 8-K release for more information about first quarter trailing three-month orders.

First quarter gross profit margin of 42.4 percent was approximately flat compared with the prior year, reflecting favorable price-cost offset by unfavorable mix primarily within the Automation Solutions business, as sales of some of the company’s more profitable businesses declined in North America. Pretax margin of 10.2 percent and EBIT margin of 11.0 percent were down 4.0 and 4.3 percentage points, respectively. Adjusted EBIT margin, which excludes restructuring and related charges, was 13.7 percent, down 1.8 percentage points, reflecting an unfavorable impact of 2.2 percentage points from foreign currency transaction losses, higher pension expense due to lower discount rates, and higher stock compensation charges due to a higher stock price.

GAAP earnings per share were $0.53 and adjusted earnings per share, which excludes $0.14 of restructuring and related charges ($110 million in total), were $0.67, in-line with management’s expectations due to a favorable impact from prior period restructuring actions, despite lower sales.

Operating cash flow was $424 million, up $101 million, and free cash flow was $310 million, up $142 million, reflecting free cash flow conversion of 94 percent in the quarter.

“Our first quarter results provide a solid start to the year,” said Emerson Chairman and CEO David N. Farr. “Even with slightly lower-than-expected sales, we delivered in-line adjusted earnings per share as our teams executed well and we realized benefits from the 2019 restructuring actions. Throughout the year, we plan to prioritize driving higher margins in a no-growth environment.

“Sales and underlying orders were slightly below our expectations in the first quarter as North American upstream operators further slowed investment spending and demand from distributors serving discrete manufacturing was weak in December,” Farr continued. “However, we booked the first phases of key LNG projects that had been delayed from the second half of fiscal 2019, an encouraging early indication. We will continue to closely monitor the health of the capital spending cycle.

“As a foundational step in the previously announced Board of Directors’ operational review, our teams all over the world initiated $97 million of restructuring actions in the quarter – well above the $70 million target discussed on the fourth quarter earnings call. We look forward to laying out details of our long-term plan at our February Investor Conference.”

Business Platform Results

Automation Solutions net sales increased 2 percent, with underlying sales up 1 percent excluding unfavorable currency of 1 percent and a positive impact from acquisitions of 2 percent. December trailing three-month underlying orders were up 2 percent, reflecting several LNG project wins and continued growth across most key end markets, and sequential backlog grew 7 percent to $4.9 billion, compared to the prior quarter. Underlying sales and orders were somewhat below management’s expectations due to slower North American upstream investment activity and a decline in global discrete demand late in the quarter.

Overall, underlying sales growth reflected steady demand in most key process and hybrid end markets in the Americas and Europe and strong demand in Asia, Middle East & Africa. Long-cycle businesses continued steady growth, with both the Final Control and Systems businesses up mid-single digits.

In the Americas, underlying sales were down 1 percent, below management’s expectations, reflecting slow discrete end markets and upstream oil and gas activity. The Industrial Solutions business, which primarily serves discrete manufacturing end markets, was down mid-single digits on an underlying basis, reflecting continued soft short-cycle demand and some inventory destocking. Our Flow Solutions business, which has significant upstream oil and gas exposure, was down more than 20 percent, against 30 percent growth in the same quarter of fiscal 2019. Regarding the long-cycle businesses, Systems grew mid-single digits and Final Control grew low single digits.

Europe underlying sales were down 1 percent, as low single digit growth in process and hybrid markets was more than offset by high single digit declines in discrete manufacturing end markets. Asia, Middle East & Africa underlying sales were up 6 percent, supported by continued infrastructure investment, led by China, and strong growth in Middle East & Africa.

Segment margin decreased 360 basis points to 10.9 percent and adjusted segment EBITDA margin, which excludes restructuring charges, was down 60 basis points, reflecting a 50 basis point unfavorable impact from foreign currency transaction losses as well as unfavorable mix from the year-over-year decline in the more profitable North American upstream and discrete markets. Excluding these impacts, the business delivered improved adjusted segment EBITDA margin on lower-than-expected sales, reflecting favorable benefits from the 2019 restructuring actions.

In the quarter, restructuring actions totaled $83 million across the platform. These actions, together with approximately $30 million of incremental actions in the second half of 2019, are expected to support improved full-year adjusted segment margins on expected flat to slightly positive net and underlying sales.

Commercial & Residential Solutions net sales decreased 3 percent with underlying sales down 1 percent excluding unfavorable currency of 1 percent and the impact of divestitures, two small non-core businesses, which subtracted another 1 percent. December trailing three-month underlying orders were down 1 percent as growth in Asia and Europe was more than offset by slower North American HVAC markets and global professional tools and cold chain markets.

In the Americas, underlying sales were down 3 percent, reflecting slower markets in the U.S. somewhat offset by moderate growth in Latin America. Europe was up 1 percent, and Asia, Middle East & Africa was up 5 percent, reflecting favorable mid-single digit growth across the region.

Segment margin increased 50 basis points to 18.2 percent and adjusted segment EBITDA margin, which excludes restructuring charges, was up 90 basis points, reflecting favorable price-cost and the benefit of prior year restructuring actions.

In the quarter, restructuring actions totaled $10 million across the platform. These actions, together with approximately $5 million of incremental actions in the second half of 2019, are expected to support improved full-year adjusted segment margins on expected flat to slightly negative net and underlying sales.

2020 Outlook

Management has updated the fiscal year 2020 outlook to reflect the expected costs and benefits of full year restructuring plans. GAAP earnings per share guidance is $3.27 to $ 3.52. Adjusted earnings per share, which excludes approximately $215 million of planned restructuring actions and $13 million of related costs for the year, is $3.55 to $3.80 compared to prior guidance of $3.48 to $3.72. This increase reflects the favorable impact of expected savings from the restructuring actions. Our expectation for full year cash flow remains largely unchanged.

We expect to present additional detail surrounding the outcomes of the Board of Directors’ review of operational, capital allocation and portfolio initiatives during our Investor Conference on February 13^th.

The following table presents the updated 2020 guidance framework, which excludes any potential impact from the coronavirus:

“We continue to plan for a challenging economic environment for the remainder of fiscal 2020,” Farr said. “Although we’ve seen some progress with trade resolution, we still expect broad-based corporate focus on cost cutting, the U.S. presidential election, and tensions in the Middle East to pressure industrial markets in the near term.

“Our Board of Directors has largely completed its review of operational, capital allocation and portfolio initiatives, and our teams have worked hard to initiate nearly $100 million of restructuring in the quarter. As a result, we are raising the fiscal year 2020 guidance, and expect to fully outline our plans and reset our long-term outlook at our upcoming Investor Conference on February 13^th.

“I want to personally thank our Board of Directors, shareholders, company leadership, employees, and customers for their dedication and efforts as we continue to navigate macroeconomic uncertainty and position the company for long-term value creation and success.”