P&G Delivers First Quarter Core EPS of $1.05, Organic Sales Up 4%

The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) reported first quarter fiscal year 2014 diluted net earnings per share of $1.04, up eight percent versus the prior year. Core earnings per share were $1.05, a decrease of one percent versus the prior year. On a currency-neutral basis, core earnings per share increased eight percent for the quarter. Net sales were $21.2 billion, an increase of two percent, including a negative two percentage point impact from foreign exchange. Organic sales grew four percent for the quarter.

“P&G’s first quarter results were consistent with our plans and expectations, putting us on track to deliver our goals for the fiscal year,” said Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer A.G. Lafley. “We have good market share momentum, a number of strong innovations coming to market over the balance of the year, and cost savings from productivity efforts that will continue to build. We remain focused on driving innovation and productivity. We continue to improve operating discipline and execution every day to create value for consumers and shareowners.”

July – September Quarter Discussion

Net sales increased two percent to $21.2 billion in the July – September quarter, including a negative two percentage point impact from foreign exchange. Organic sales grew four percent. Organic sales were in-line or higher versus the prior year in all reporting segments. Organic volume also grew four percent. Pricing was unchanged versus the prior year.

* Other includes the sales mix impact from acquisitions/divestitures and rounding impacts necessary to reconcile volume to net sales.

• Beauty segment organic sales increased one percent driven by innovation in Hair Care, Deodorants, Cosmetics and Personal Cleansing, coupled with market growth. This was partially offset by a decrease in Skin Care sales and unfavorable geographic and product mix.
• Grooming segment organic sales increased one percent due to higher pricing and innovation on Blades & Razors and Appliances, which were partially offset by unit volume market contraction in developed regions.
• Health Care segment organic sales were in line with the prior year, as an increase in Personal Health Care was offset by a decrease in Pet Care. Pet Care sales were negatively impacted by the Natura product recalls. Segment earnings were down versus the prior year due to the impact of the Natura recalls and Oral Care geographic expansion investments.
• Fabric Care and Home Care segment organic sales increased six percent with strong growth in each product category. Personal Power grew mid-single-digits driven by new distribution for Duracell batteries.
• Baby, Feminine and Family Care segment organic sales increased six percent behind product innovation in North America on Baby Care and Family Care, as well as strong Baby Care market growth in developing regions.

Core earnings per share, which exclude non-core restructuring charges, were $1.05, a decrease of one percent versus the prior year. Foreign exchange reduced earnings by $0.09 per share, resulting in an eight percent increase in core earnings per share on a currency-neutral basis. Diluted net earnings per share were $1.04, an increase of eight percent versus the prior year.

Core operating profit margin decreased 70 basis points driven by a lower gross margin, partially offset by a reduction in SG&A as a percentage of net sales. Reported operating profit margin increased 50 basis points due to the scale benefits of increased sales and lower restructuring spending, partially offset by the lower gross margin. Gross margin decreased due to foreign exchange, geographic and product mix, higher commodity costs, and manufacturing start-up costs which were partially offset by manufacturing savings of 160 basis points. SG&A as a percentage of sales decreased due to productivity savings of 40 basis points, lower restructuring spending and marketing spending efficiencies.

Operating cash flow was $2.0 billion for the first quarter. The Company repurchased $2.5 billion of common stock and returned $1.7 billion of cash to shareholders as dividends.

Fiscal Year 2014 Guidance

P&G reiterated fiscal year 2014 guidance. The Company continues to expect organic sales growth of three percent to four percent. All-in sales growth is estimated in the range of one percent to two percent, including a negative foreign exchange impact of approximately two percent. Core earnings per share are expected to grow five percent to seven percent for the fiscal year, and reported earnings per share are expected to grow in the range of seven percent to nine percent.

P&G reminded investors that second quarter EPS growth rates will be impacted by a gain of $0.07 per share in the base period from the divestiture of the Western Europe bleach business. Also, the Company noted that it expects the second quarter negative earnings impact from foreign exchange to be similar to what it was in the first quarter.

The Company expects strong earnings growth in the second half of its fiscal year behind continued top-line growth, productivity savings that will continue to build throughout the year and more favorable foreign exchange base period comparisons.

*Core excludes incremental restructuring charges and 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 result,” 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 particularly key employees, especially in key growth markets where the availability of skilled or experienced employees may be 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, but not limited to, 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, import authorization or pricing controls, such as Venezuela, Argentina, China, India and Egypt); (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 the positive reputation of 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 4.8 billion people around the world with its brands. The Company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Ace®, Always®, Ambi Pur®, Ariel®, Bounty®, Charmin®, Crest®, Dawn®, Downy®, Duracell®, Fairy®, Febreze®, Fusion®, Gain®, Gillette®, Head & Shoulders®, Iams®, Lenor®, Mach3®, Olay®, Oral-B®, Pampers®, Pantene®, Prestobarba®, SK-II®, Tide®, Vicks®, Wella® and Whisper®. The P&G community includes operations in approximately 70 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.

The Procter & Gamble Company

Exhibit 1: Non-GAAP Measures

In accordance with the SEC’s Regulation G, the following provides definitions of the non-GAAP measures used in the earnings release and the reconciliation to the most closely related GAAP measure.

Organic Sales Growth: Organic sales growth is a non-GAAP measure of sales growth excluding the impacts of acquisitions, divestitures and foreign exchange from year-over-year comparisons. We believe this provides investors with a more complete understanding of underlying sales trends by providing sales growth on a consistent basis. Organic sales is also one of the measures used to evaluate senior management and is a factor in determining their at-risk compensation.

The reconciliation of reported sales growth to organic sales is as follows:

*Acquisition/Divestiture Impact includes volume and mix impacts of acquired and divested businesses, as well as rounding impacts necessary to reconcile net sales to organic sales.

Core EPS: This is a measure of the Company’s diluted net earnings per share excluding charges in both years for incremental restructuring due to increased focus on productivity and cost savings and charges in the prior year related to the European legal matters. We do not view these items to be part of our sustainable results. We believe the Core EPS measure provides an important perspective of underlying business trends and results and provides a more comparable measure of year-on-year earnings per share growth. Core EPS is also one of the measures used to evaluate senior management and is a factor in determining their at-risk compensation. The table below provides a reconciliation of diluted net earnings per share to Core EPS:

Note – All reconciling items are presented net of tax. Tax effects are calculated consistent with the nature of the underlying transaction.

Currency-neutral Core EPS: This is a measure of the Company’s Core EPS excluding the impact of foreign exchange. We believe the currency-neutral Core EPS measure provides a more comparable view of year-on-year earnings per share growth.

Note – All reconciling items are presented net of tax. Tax effects are calculated consistent with the nature of the underlying transaction.

Core Operating Profit Margin: This is a measure of the Company’s Operating Margin adjusted for the current and prior year charges related to incremental restructuring due to increased focus on productivity and cost savings and the prior year charges for European legal matters:

Free Cash Flow: Free cash flow is defined as operating cash flow less capital spending. We view free cash flow as an important measure because it is one factor in determining the amount of cash available for dividends and discretionary investment. The reconciliation of free cash flow is provided below (amounts in millions):

Free cash flow productivity: Free cash flow productivity is defined as the ratio of free cash flow to net earnings. The Company’s long-term target is to generate annual free cash flow at or above 90 percent of net earnings. Free cash flow productivity is also a measure used to evaluate senior management and is a factor in determining their at-risk compensation. The reconciliation of adjusted free cash flow productivity is provided below (amounts in millions):