Emerson Reports Strong Second Quarter 2018 Results and Raises Full-Year Guidance

Emerson (NYSE: EMR) today announced net sales were up 19 percent in the second quarter ended March 31, 2018, with underlying sales up 8 percent excluding favorable currency of 3 percent and an impact from acquisitions and divestitures of 8 percent. The second quarter results reflect strong global economic conditions and continued favorable demand. Both mature and emerging markets delivered high-single digit underlying growth.

Margins improved versus prior year, excluding the impact of recent acquisitions, driven by leverage on higher sales and the benefit of prior year restructuring actions. Reported pretax margin of 15.5 percent and EBIT margin of 16.3 percent decreased 30 and 70 basis points, respectively. EBIT margin of 18.7 percent increased 170 basis points excluding Valves & Controls. GAAP earnings per share from continuing operations increased 31 percent to $0.76.

“Our second quarter results close out an excellent first half in which strong global markets drove underlying growth, and our businesses delivered healthy incremental margins and earnings that exceeded our expectations,” said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer David N. Farr. “Across the Company, our teams are executing well, and have positioned Emerson to deliver strong earnings and cash flow growth in 2018.”

Business Platform Results

Automation Solutions net sales increased 31 percent in the quarter, with underlying sales up 10 percent excluding favorable currency of 4 percent and an impact from acquisitions of 17 percent. Growth continued to reflect strong short cycle repair and maintenance (MRO) demand and small and mid-sized projects focused on expansion and optimization of existing facilities. Globally, the business saw growth across all key process automation market verticals, including upstream, midstream and downstream oil and gas, chemical and power generation. In addition, Emerson's global power business grew net sales and orders in the first half, despite difficult market dynamics, due to strong participation in plant retrofit opportunities and in greenfield projects for combined cycle and natural gas.

North American underlying sales were up 16 percent reflecting continued favorable trends in energy-related, chemical, life sciences and discrete markets. Asia underlying sales were up 7 percent, with China up 20 percent due to continued strong demand across process, hybrid and discrete markets. Project timing impacted Latin America negatively, down 10 percent, and Middle East/Africa positively, up 29 percent, while order trends in both regions were positive. Europe was down 1 percent, but order trends were favorable. Margin increased 20 basis points to 15.7 percent compared with the prior year. Excluding the dilutive impact of the Valves & Controls acquisition, margin increased 240 basis points to 17.9 percent, driven by leverage on higher sales and restructuring benefits. The Final Control management team continued to execute restructuring and integration plans around the Valves & Controls acquisition, which delivered strong performance in the quarter and meaningful sequential margin improvement.

Commercial & Residential Solutions second quarter net sales were up 2 percent and underlying sales increased 4 percent excluding favorable currency of 2 percent and an impact from divestitures net of acquisitions of 4 percent. Underlying sales in North America were up 1 percent as strong demand for professional tools was offset by slower than expected air conditioning demand. Underlying economics in air conditioning markets remain positive and we expect demand to accelerate in the second half. Asia grew 17 percent, driven by continued strong refrigeration and air conditioning demand in China and elsewhere in the region. Europe was up 5 percent, reflecting favorable demand in air conditioning and construction-related markets. Margin continues to run at a high level, but decreased 10 basis points to 23.6 percent compared with the prior year.

2018 Outlook

Based on favorable global demand trends and strong first half operational performance, the Company is raising full-year sales guidance to the high-end of the previously communicated range and increasing the expected earnings per share range. The updated guidance does not include the results of the recently announced $810 million Tools & Test acquisition, expected to close in the fiscal fourth quarter.

Management expects increasing capital investment in Automation Solutions' end markets, and continued steady demand in Commercial & Residential Solutions' end markets for the remainder of 2018. Total Emerson net sales growth is now expected to be approximately 13 percent, with Automation Solutions up 20 percent and Commercial & Residential Solutions up 2 percent. Excluding a 6 percent impact from acquisitions, divestitures and currency translation, total Emerson underlying sales growth is expected to be approximately 7 percent, with Automation Solutions up 8 percent and Commercial & Residential Solutions up 5 percent.

The GAAP earnings per share guidance range is increased to $3.10 to $3.20 from prior guidance of $3.05 to $3.15.

“We achieved some encouraging milestones in the first half of 2018 that give us a high degree of confidence in the strength of our businesses and end markets,” said Farr. “These achievements include strong execution in China, where underlying sales grew over 20 percent across both business platforms; the broad-based growth of Automation Solutions, up 10 percent underlying in the first half; and the outstanding integration progress and meaningful sequential margin improvement at Valves & Controls."

Upcoming Investor Events

Today, beginning at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Emerson management will discuss the second quarter results during an investor conference call. Access to a live webcast of the discussion will be available at www.emerson.com/financial at the time of the call. A replay of the conference call will remain available for 90 days.

Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements

Statements in this press release that are not strictly historical may be “forward-looking” statements, which involve risks and uncertainties, and Emerson undertakes no obligation to update any such statements to reflect later developments. These risks and uncertainties include economic and currency conditions, market demand, pricing, protection of intellectual property, competitive and technological factors, and the impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, among others, as set forth in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent reports filed with the SEC.

Table 1
EMERSON AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED OPERATING RESULTS
(AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS EXCEPT PER SHARE, UNAUDITED)
Quarter Ended March 31 Percent
20172018Change
Net sales $3,574 $4,248 19%
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales 2,017 2,423
SG&A expenses 868 1,032
Other deductions, net 83 99
Interest expense, net 41 36
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes 565 658 16%
Income taxes 181 169
Earnings from continuing operations 384 489 27%
Discontinued operations, net of tax (84 )
Net earnings 300 489
Less: Noncontrolling interests in earnings of subsidiaries 8 7
Net earnings common stockholders $292 $482 65%
Diluted avg. shares outstanding 644.8 636.0
Diluted earnings per share common stockholders
Earnings from continuing operations $0.58 $0.76 31%
Discontinued operations ($0.13 )
Diluted earnings per common share $0.45 $0.76 69%
Quarter Ended March 31
20172018
Other deductions, net
Amortization of intangibles $21 $51
Restructuring costs 13 9
Other 49 39
Total $83 $99
Table 2
EMERSON AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED OPERATING RESULTS
(AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS EXCEPT PER SHARE, UNAUDITED)
Six Months Ended March 31 Percent
20172018Change
Net sales $6,790 $8,064 19%
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales 3,868 4,618
SG&A expenses 1,690 2,024
Other deductions, net 116 187
Interest expense, net 87 74
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes 1,029 1,161 13%
Income taxes 275 278
Earnings from continuing operations 754 883 17%
Discontinued operations, net of tax (139 )
Net earnings 615 883
Less: Noncontrolling interests in earnings of subsidiaries 14 9
Net earnings common stockholders $601 $874 46%
Diluted avg. shares outstanding 644.5 638.3
Diluted earnings per share common stockholders
Earnings from continuing operations $1.14 $1.37 20%
Discontinued operations ($0.21 )
Diluted earnings per common share $0.93 $1.37 47%
Six Months Ended March 31
20172018
Other deductions, net
Amortization of intangibles $43 $107
Restructuring costs 24 24
Other 49 56
Total $116 $187
Table 3
EMERSON AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, UNAUDITED)
Quarter Ended March 31
20172018
Assets
Cash and equivalents $5,039 $2,444
Receivables, net 2,479 3,042
Inventories 1,331 1,897
Other current assets 597 342
Total current assets 9,446 7,725
Property, plant & equipment, net 2,880 3,299
Goodwill 3,891 5,821
Other intangible assets 869 2,203
Other 191 737
Total assets $17,277 $19,785
Liabilities and equity

Short-term borrowings and current maturities of long-term debt

$252 $1,833
Accounts payable 1,368 1,603
Accrued expenses 1,952 2,362
Income taxes 199 147
Total current liabilities 3,771 5,945
Long-term debt 3,816 3,357
Other liabilities 1,633 1,946
Total equity 8,057 8,537
Total liabilities and equity $17,277 $19,785
Table 4
EMERSON AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, UNAUDITED)
Six Months Ended March 31
20172018
Operating activities
Net earnings $615 $883
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax 139
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 283 378
Changes in operating working capital (126) (363)
Other, net 100 46
Cash from continuing operations 1,011 944
Cash from discontinued operations (601)
Cash provided by operating activities 410 944
Investing activities
Capital expenditures (194) (194)
Purchases of businesses, net of cash and equivalents acquired (16) (770)
Divestitures of businesses 221
Other, net (50) (42)
Cash from continuing operations (260) (785)
Cash from discontinued operations 5,051
Cash provided by (used in) investing activities 4,791 (785)
Financing activities
Net increase (decrease) in short-term borrowings (2,318) 782
Payments of long-term debt (252) (251)
Dividends paid (621) (618)
Purchases of common stock (120) (750)
Other, net 29 (6)
Cash used in financing activities (3,282) (843)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and equivalents (62) 66
Increase (Decrease) in cash and equivalents 1,857 (618)
Beginning cash and equivalents 3,182 3,062
Ending cash and equivalents $5,039 $2,444
Table 5
EMERSON AND SUBSIDIARIES
SEGMENT SALES AND EARNINGS
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, UNAUDITED)
Quarter Ended March 31
20172018
Sales
Automation Solutions $2,117 $2,771
Climate Technologies 1,058 1,128
Tools & Home Products 402 355
Commercial & Residential Solutions 1,460 1,483
Eliminations (3 ) (6 )
Net sales $3,574 $4,248
Earnings
Automation Solutions $328 $436
Climate Technologies 249 253
Tools & Home Products 96 96
Commercial & Residential Solutions 345 349
Differences in accounting methods 35 55
Corporate and other (102 ) (146 )
Interest expense, net (41 ) (36 )
Earnings before income taxes $565 $658
Restructuring costs
Automation Solutions $9 $7
Climate Technologies 3 2
Tools & Home Products
Commercial & Residential Solutions 3 2
Corporate 1
Total $13 $9
Table 6
EMERSON AND SUBSIDIARIES
SEGMENT SALES AND EARNINGS
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, UNAUDITED)
Six Months Ended March 31
20172018
Sales
Automation Solutions $4,084 $5,343
Climate Technologies 1,917 2,050
Tools & Home Products 795 685
Commercial & Residential Solutions 2,712 2,735
Eliminations (6 ) (14 )
Net sales $6,790 $8,064
Earnings
Automation Solutions $654 $822
Climate Technologies 410 418
Tools & Home Products 184 183
Commercial & Residential Solutions 594 601
Differences in accounting methods 68 106
Corporate and other (200 ) (294 )
Interest expense, net (87 ) (74 )
Earnings before income taxes $1,029 $1,161
Restructuring costs
Automation Solutions $15 $17
Climate Technologies 7 7
Tools & Home Products 1
Commercial & Residential Solutions 8 7
Corporate 1
Total $24 $24
Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Financial Measures & Other

Table 7

Reconciliations of Non-GAAP measures (denoted by *) with the most directly comparable GAAP measure (dollars in millions, except per share amounts):
Q2 2018 Underlying Sales ChangeAuto SolnsComm & Res

Solns

Emerson
Reported (GAAP) 31% 2% 19%
FX (4)% (2)% (3)%
Acquisitions/Divestitures (17)% 4% (8)%
Underlying* 10% 4% 8%
FY 2018E Underlying Sales ChangeAuto SolnsComm & Res
Solns
Emerson
Reported (GAAP) ~ 20% ~ 2% ~ 13%
FX ~ (3)% ~ (2)% ~ (2)%
Acquisitions/Divestitures ~ (9)% ~ 5% ~ (4)%
Underlying* ~ 8% ~ 5% ~ 7 %
Q2 2018 EBIT MarginsQ2 FY17Q2 FY18Change
Pretax margin (GAAP) 15.8% 15.5% (30) bps
Interest expense, net 1.2% 0.8% (40) bps
Earnings before interest and taxes margin* 17.0% 16.3% (70) bps
Valves & Controls impact —% 2.4% 240 bps
Earnings before interest and taxes margin excluding 17.0% 18.7% 170 bps
Valves & Controls*
Automation Solutions Segment EBIT MarginQ2 FY17Q2 FY18Change
Automation Solutions Segment EBIT margin (GAAP) 15.5% 15.7% 20 bps
Valves & Controls impact —% 2.2% 220 bps
Automation Solutions Segment EBIT margin excluding 15.5% 17.9% 240 bps
Valves & Controls*
Note: Underlying sales and orders exclude the impact of acquisitions, divestitures and currency translation.

Contacts:

Investor Contact:
Emerson
Tim Reeves, 314-553-2197
or
Media Contact:
For Emerson
Pat Kane, 314-982-8726

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