STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT - October 27, 2014 - Crane Co. (NYSE: CR), a diversified manufacturer of highly engineered industrial products, reported third quarter 2014 earnings of $0.47 per diluted share, compared to $0.97 per share in the third quarter of 2013. Third quarter 2014 results included Special Items of $38.7 million in after-tax charges, or $0.65 per share. Third quarter 2013 results included Special Items of $4.1 million in after-tax charges, or $0.07 per share. Excluding these Special Items in both years, third quarter 2014 earnings per diluted share increased 8% to $1.12, compared to $1.04 in the third quarter of 2013. (Please see the attached Non-GAAP Financial Measures table for additional details.)
Third Quarter 2014 Highlights:
- Excluding Special Items, earnings per diluted share (EPS) of $1.12 increased 8% compared to 2013
- GAAP EPS of $0.47 decreased 52% compared to 2013 as a result of $0.65 in after-tax Special Items
- Sales of $727 million increased 14.1% compared to 2013, with a core sales increase of 0.3%
- Reducing EPS guidance to $4.40-$4.50, excluding Special Items (revised GAAP EPS guidance of $3.43-$3.53)
Special Items in the third quarter of 2014 consisted of the following after-tax charges: $36.3 million, or $0.61 per share, reflecting an update to projected remediation costs for certain legacy environmental liabilities; $2.3 million, or $0.04 per share, related to previously disclosed repositioning activities; and $0.8 million, or $0.01 per share, related to the December 2013 acquisition of MEI. Special Items in the third quarter of 2014 also included a $0.7 million gain on a real estate divestiture, or $0.01 per share. Special Items in the third quarter of 2013 included transaction-related costs of $4.1 million, or $0.07 per share, related to the acquisition of MEI.
The Special Item related to environmental updates was comprised of two components. The Company extended its liability at its legacy Superfund Site in Goodyear, Arizona for certain site remediation and accrued costs through 2022, resulting in an increase of $31.9 million, after tax. In addition, the Company recorded a $4.4 million after tax charge related to its legacy site in Roseland, New Jersey, covering expected remediation costs through 2017.
Third quarter 2014 sales of $727.4 million increased $89.9 million, or 14.1%, compared to $637.5 million in the third quarter of 2013, resulting from a core sales increase of $1.6 million, or 0.3%; sales from acquisitions, net of divestitures, of $86.2 million, or 13.5%; and favorable foreign exchange of $2.1 million, or 0.3%.
Operating profit in the third quarter decreased 46.4% to $47.7 million, compared to $89.0 million in the third quarter of 2013. The decline in operating profit was a result of Special Items. Excluding Special Items, third quarter operating profit increased 17.6% to $108.0 million, compared to $91.9 million in the third quarter of 2013. (Please see the attached Non-GAAP Financial Measures table.)
"While overall margins were strong, third quarter results fell short of our expectations primarily as a result of lower core sales in our Fluid Handling business," said Max Mitchell, Crane Co. President and Chief Executive Officer. "We were disappointed by lower sales of process valves following solid order momentum in the second quarter. At Aerospace & Electronics, margins were expected to be lower this year as a result of incremental investment spending related to new program wins. However, margins were also impacted in the quarter by lower defense related sales, as well as a product launch that incurred temporarily higher costs which are now largely behind us. These headwinds were partially offset by a strong quarter at Payment & Merchandising Technologies where higher sales, synergy realization, and productivity initiatives contributed to results. As a result of these factors, along with increasing global economic uncertainty, we are reducing our guidance range, excluding Special Items, to a range of $4.40-$4.50, from the prior range of $4.55-$4.75." (Please see the attached Non-GAAP Financial Measures table.)
The Company also revised its 2014 earnings guidance on a GAAP basis to a range of $3.43-$3.53 per diluted share, from a range of $4.18-$4.38 per diluted share. The revision reflects the change to non-GAAP earnings guidance, as well as $0.61 per diluted share related to the environmental provision recorded during the third quarter.
Payment & Merchandising Technologies
Segment sales of $181.1 million increased $97.4 million, or 116.5%, driven primarily by $88.6 million of sales related to the MEI transaction, core sales growth of $7.9 million, or 9.4%, and favorable foreign exchange of $0.9 million, or 1.1%. Operating profit increased to $27.1 million in the quarter, primarily reflecting the impact of the MEI acquisition. Full report.
