AKRON, Ohio, Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (NASDAQ: GT) today reported results for the fourth quarter and full-year of 2016.

"We delivered solid net income and record core segment operating income in 2016, driven by strong performance in our Americas and Asia Pacific consumer tire businesses," said Richard J. Kramer, chairman and chief executive officer. "Our results demonstrate continued sustainable earnings growth and disciplined execution of our strategy.

"While we expect raw material inflation to be a significant headwind in 2017, the combination of Goodyear's innovation leadership, award-winning products and strong global brand creates an industry-leading value proposition and competitive advantage," Kramer said. "We've demonstrated that we have been able to successfully offset raw material inflation over time.

"We remain confident in our strategy of capturing profitable growth in key segments of the market and in delivering our 2020 targets."

Goodyear's fourth quarter 2016 sales were $3.7 billion, down from $4.1 billion a year ago, with the decrease driven by the deconsolidation of the company's subsidiary in Venezuela.

Tire unit volumes totaled 41.1 million, down 2 percent from 2015. Replacement tire shipments were down 1 percent. Original equipment unit volume was down 7 percent, driven in part due to weakness in the U.S. commercial truck market.

Goodyear's fourth quarter 2016 net income was $561 million ($2.14 per share), compared to a net loss of $380 million ($1.42 per share) in the year-ago quarter. The prior year was negatively impacted by a charge to deconsolidate Venezuela. Fourth quarter 2016 adjusted net income was $249 million (95 cents per share), compared to $257 million (93 cents per share) in 2015. Per share amounts are diluted.

The company reported fourth quarter segment operating income of $479 million in 2016, compared to $480 million a year ago. Segment operating income in 2016 benefited from net cost savings, which was more than offset by lower price/mix net of raw material costs, lower volume and the deconsolidation of Venezuela. Core segment operating income, which excludes Venezuela, was $458 million in the year-ago quarter.

Full-Year Results

Goodyear's 2016 sales were $15.2 billion, down 8 percent from 2015, primarily reflecting the deconsolidation of Venezuela and unfavorable foreign currency translation.

Tire unit volumes totaled 166.1 million, essentially unchanged from 2015. Replacement tire shipments were up 2 percent. Original equipment unit volume was down 4 percent. Excluding the impact of the deconsolidation of Venezuela, unit volumes increased 1 percent.

Goodyear's 2016 net income of $1.3 billion ($4.74 per share) is up from $307 million ($1.12 per share) in 2015. The increase was driven by a charge in 2015 to deconsolidate Venezuela and a decrease in 2016 income tax expense due to the release of foreign tax valuation allowances. Full-year adjusted net income was $1.1 billion ($4.00 per share), up from $906 million ($3.32 per share) in 2015. Per share amounts are diluted.

The company reported 2016 segment operating income of $2.0 billion, down 2 percent from a year ago. The decrease was more than explained by the deconsolidation of Venezuela. Core segment operating income, which excludes Venezuela, was $1.9 billion in 2015.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

See the note at the end of this release for further explanation and reconciliation tables for Segment Operating Income and Margin; Adjusted Net Income; and Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share, reflecting the impact of certain significant items on the 2016 and 2015 periods.

Business Segment Results

Americas

 

Americas' fourth quarter 2016 sales decreased 11 percent from last year to $2.1 billion. Sales reflect a 5 percent decrease in tire unit volume and the deconsolidation of Venezuela. Replacement tire shipments were down 3 percent. Original equipment unit volume was down 12 percent. Excluding the impact of the deconsolidation of Venezuela, unit volume decreased 3 percent.

Fourth quarter 2016 segment operating income of $295 million was up 4 percent from the prior year and a record. The increase was driven by strong performance in the consumer tire business, which was partially offset by weakness in the commercial truck tire business and the deconsolidation of Venezuela. Cost reduction actions and strong price/mix net of raw material costs were partially offset by the impacts of lower volume.

The deconsolidation of Venezuela negatively impacted fourth quarter volumes by 0.3 million units, sales by $167 million and segment operating income by $22 million.

Europe, Middle East and Africa

 

Europe, Middle East and Africa's fourth quarter sales of $1.1 billion were down 5 percent from the prior year reflecting unfavorable currency translation and a 1 percent decrease in sales volume.  Replacement tire shipments were up 1 percent. Original equipment unit volume was down 5 percent.

Fourth quarter 2016 segment operating income of $81 million was 19 percent below the prior year driven by lower price/mix net of raw materials, foreign currency translation and the impact of lower volume.

Asia Pacific

 

Asia Pacific's fourth quarter 2016 sales decreased 2 percent from last year to $548 million. Sales reflect unfavorable foreign currency translation, which more than offset a 1 percent increase in tire unit volume. Replacement tire shipments were up 3 percent. Original equipment unit volume was down 2 percent.

Fourth quarter 2016 segment operating income of $103 million was up 7 percent from last year and a record, driven by lower conversion costs and higher volume, which were partially offset by lower price/mix net of raw material costs.

Financial Targets

As a result of the continued escalation of raw material costs and the timing of the corresponding contractual adjustments to pricing with certain of its customers, the company expects flat year-over-year segment operating income in 2017 compared to 2016.

The company has confirmed its 2020 financial targets and capital allocation plan, which were announced on September 15, 2016.

See the note at the end of this release for further explanation of forward-looking total segment operating income.

Shareholder Return Program

The company paid a quarterly dividend of 10 cents per share of common stock on December 1, 2016. The Board of Directors has declared a quarterly dividend of 10 cents per share payable March 1, 2017, to shareholders of record on February 1, 2017.

As a part of its previously announced $1.1 billion share repurchase program, the company repurchased 9.8 million shares of its common stock for $300 million during 2016's fourth quarter. For the full year, the company repurchased 16.7 million shares for $500 million.

Since 2014, purchases under the program total 31.2 million shares for $913 million.

On February 2, 2017, the Board of Directors authorized a $1.0 billion increase in the share repurchase program, bringing the total authorization to $2.1 billion.

Conference Call

Goodyear will hold an investor conference call at 9 a.m. today. Prior to the commencement of the call, the company will post the financial and other related information that will be presented on its investor relations website: http://investor.goodyear.com.

Participating in the conference call will be Richard J. Kramer, chairman, chief executive officer and president; and Laura K. Thompson, executive vice president and chief financial officer. 

Investors, members of the media and other interested persons can access the conference call on the website or via telephone by calling either (800) 895-1715 or (785) 424-1059 before 8:55 a.m. and providing the Conference ID "Goodyear." A taped replay will be available by calling (800) 839-4897 or (402) 220-2683. The replay will also remain available on the website.

Goodyear is one of the world's largest tire companies. It employs about 66,000 people and manufactures its products in 48 facilities in 21 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry. For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to www.goodyear.com/corporate.  GT-FN

Certain information contained in this press release constitutes forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. There are a variety of factors, many of which are beyond our control, that affect our operations, performance, business strategy and results and could cause our actual results and experience to differ materially from the assumptions, expectations and objectives expressed in any forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: our ability to implement successfully our strategic initiatives; actions and initiatives taken by both current and potential competitors; increases in the prices paid for raw materials and energy; a labor strike, work stoppage or other similar event; foreign currency translation and transaction risks; deteriorating economic conditions or an inability to access capital markets; work stoppages, financial difficulties or supply disruptions at our suppliers or customers; the adequacy of our capital expenditures; our failure to comply with a material covenant in our debt obligations; potential adverse consequences of litigation involving the company; as well as the effects of more general factors such as changes in general market, economic or political conditions or in legislation, regulation or public policy. Additional factors are discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. In addition, any forward-looking statements represent our estimates only as of today and should not be relied upon as representing our estimates as of any subsequent date. While we may elect to update forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so, even if our estimates change.

(financial statements follow)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-GAAP Financial Measures (unaudited)

This earnings release presents Total Segment Operating Income and Margin, Core Segment Operating Income, Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share (EPS), which are important financial measures for the company but are not financial measures defined by U.S. GAAP, and should not be construed as alternatives to corresponding financial measures presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

Total Segment Operating Income is the sum of the individual strategic business units' (SBUs') Segment Operating Income as determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Total Segment Operating Margin is Total Segment Operating Income divided by Net Sales as determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Management believes that Total Segment Operating Income and Margin are useful because they represent the aggregate value of income created by the company's SBUs and exclude items not directly related to the SBUs for performance evaluation purposes.

Core Segment Operating Income is Total Segment Operating Income excluding the operating income from our Venezuelan subsidiary, which we deconsolidated on December 31, 2015. Management believes that Core Segment Operating Income is useful because it represents Total Segment Operating Income from the company's ongoing reported operations.

The most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure to Total and Core Segment Operating Income is Goodyear Net Income and to Total Segment Operating Margin is Goodyear Net Income as a percent of Sales (which is calculated by dividing Goodyear Net Income by Net Sales).

Adjusted Net Income is Goodyear Net Income as determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP adjusted for certain significant items. Adjusted Diluted EPS is the company's Adjusted Net Income divided by Weighted Average Shares Outstanding-Diluted as determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Management believes that Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted EPS are useful because they represent how management reviews the operating results of the company excluding the impacts of rationalizations, asset write-offs, accelerated depreciation, asset sales and certain other significant items.

It should be noted that other companies may calculate similarly-titled non-GAAP financial measures differently and, as a result, the measures presented herein may not be comparable to such similarly-titled measures reported by other companies.

The company is unable to present a quantitative reconciliation of its forward-looking non-GAAP financial measure, Total Segment Operating Income, to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure, Goodyear Net Income, because management cannot reliably predict all of the necessary components of Goodyear Net Income without unreasonable effort. Goodyear Net Income includes several significant items that are not included in Total Segment Operating Income, such as rationalization charges, other (income) expense, pension curtailments and settlements, and income taxes. The decisions and events that typically lead to the recognition of these and other similar non-GAAP adjustments, such as a decision to exit part of the company's business, acquisitions and dispositions, foreign currency exchange gains and losses, financing fees, actions taken to manage the company's pension liabilities, and the recording or release of tax valuation allowances, are inherently unpredictable as to if or when they may occur. The inability to provide a reconciliation is due to that unpredictability and the related difficulty in assessing the potential financial impact of the non-GAAP adjustments. For the same reasons, the company is unable to address the probable significance of the unavailable information, which could be material to the company's future financial results. 

See the tables below for reconciliations of historical Total Segment Operating Income and Margin, Core Segment Operating Income, Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted EPS to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures.

 

 

 

 

 

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SOURCE The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company