AKRON, Ohio, April 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (NASDAQ: GT) today reported higher earnings for the first quarter of 2013 compared to the year-ago quarter.

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"Despite a tough economic environment, we continue to achieve solid earnings improvement," said Richard J. Kramer, chairman and chief executive officer.  "Our first quarter earnings demonstrate that our strategic focus on improving productivity and selling innovative products in targeted market segments where our brands add value is working, especially in North America, where our business continues to outperform expectations."

Three of Goodyear's four regional businesses posted higher earnings with North America and Asia Pacific posting record first quarter operating income.  Asia Pacific and Latin America achieved both increased tire unit volume and higher operating income.

"In Europe, we are taking steps to address weak industry demand brought about by recessionary conditions that continue to impact the auto and tire industries.  We are executing a three-point plan to address profitability in this region," Kramer added.

"We remain confident in our full-year outlook and continue to expect global segment operating income of $1.4 billion to $1.5 billion in 2013, which would be up more than 12 percent from 2012 and a record," he said.  The company continues to target positive cash flow in 2013, excluding pension pre-funding.

Goodyear's first quarter 2013 sales were $4.9 billion, compared to $5.5 billion a year ago.  First quarter 2013 sales reflect $364 million in lower tire unit volumes; $178 million in lower sales in other tire related businesses, most notably third party chemical sales in North America, and $115 million in unfavorable foreign currency translation.  Tire unit volumes totaled 39.5 million, down 8 percent from 2012, primarily reflecting lower volumes in Europe.

The company reported segment operating income of $302 million in the first quarter of 2013.  This was up 3 percent from the year-ago quarter, reflecting $230 million in lower raw material costs (before the benefit of cost savings actions) and cost-reduction activities that exceeded inflation, partially offset by $138 million in lower tire volume and associated unabsorbed overhead costs, lower price/mix of $71 million and $17 million in unfavorable foreign currency translation.  See the note at the end of this release for further explanation and a segment operating income reconciliation table.

Goodyear's first quarter 2013 net income available to common shareholders was $26 million (10 cents per share), compared to a net loss of $11 million (5 cents per share) in the 2012 quarter.  All per share amounts are diluted.

The 2013 first quarter included a $92 million (37 cents per share) net foreign currency remeasurement loss resulting from the devaluation of the Venezuelan bolivar fuerte; $9 million (4 cents per share) in rationalizations, asset write-offs and accelerated depreciation; a loss of $2 million (1 cent per share) from asset sales; and net gains of $12 million (5 cents per share) due primarily to tax law changes and $6 million (2 cents per share) from insurance recoveries related to the impact of the 2011 Thailand flood.  All amounts are after taxes and minority interest.

The company's free cash flow from operations was a use of $276 million for the first quarter of 2013.  See the note at the end of this release for further explanation and a free cash flow from operations reconciliation table.

See the table at the end of this release for a list of significant items impacting the 2013 and 2012 quarters.

First Quarter Business Segment Results

North America's first quarter 2013 sales decreased 13 percent from last year to $2.2 billion.  Sales reflect a 6 percent decrease in tire unit volume and lower price/mix.  Original equipment unit volume was flat.  Replacement tire shipments were down 9 percent, reflecting weak industry demand and decreased sales of lower-value consumer tires.  

First quarter 2013 segment operating income of $127 million was a 59 percent improvement over the prior year and a first quarter record.  Segment operating income was positively impacted by $163 million in lower raw material costs.  This was partially offset by $58 million resulting from decreased volume and unabsorbed overhead from related production cuts, $47 million in lower price/mix and $18 million primarily due to lower third party chemical sales.

Europe, Middle East and Africa's first quarter sales decreased 17 percent from last year to $1.6 billion.  Sales reflect a 16 percent decrease in tire unit volume, primarily due to economic weakness in the region, as well as unfavorable foreign currency translation of $38 million.  Original equipment unit volume was down 12 percent.  Replacement tire shipments were down 18 percent.  

First quarter 2013 segment operating income of $31 million was $59 million below the prior year.  Lower raw material costs of $89 million were offset by the $83 million impact of reduced volume and unabsorbed overhead from related production cuts and $62 million in lower price/mix.

Latin America's first quarter sales decreased $8 million from last year to $513 million.  Sales were negatively impacted by $62 million in unfavorable foreign currency translation and $33 million related to the sale of the bias truck tire business.  These were partially offset by a 5 percent increase in tire unit volume and improved price/mix.  Original equipment unit volume decreased 5 percent. Replacement tire shipments were up 11 percent. 

First quarter segment operating income of $60 million was up 9 percent from a year ago. Price/mix improvements of $45 million benefited segment operating income and lower raw material costs added $4 million.  Segment operating income was negatively impacted by higher conversion costs of $33 million, primarily due to cost inflation, and $11 million in unfavorable currency translation.

The devaluation of the Venezuelan bolivar fuerte against the U.S. dollar in February 2013 and weak economic conditions in that country negatively impacted segment operating income by approximately $16 million in the first quarter of 2013. 

Asia Pacific's first quarter sales decreased $10 million from last year to $567 million.  Sales were negatively impacted by $15 million in lower sales in other tire-related businesses and $14 million in unfavorable foreign currency translation.  Original equipment unit volume was up 5 percent.  Replacement tire shipments were up 4 percent.

First quarter segment operating income of $84 million was up 25 percent from last year and a first quarter record.  Segment operating income was positively impacted by $31 million in lower raw material costs.  It was negatively impacted by $7 million in lower price/mix, $3 million in unfavorable foreign currency translation and the impact of inflation on wages and other costs.

Compared with the year-ago quarter, segment operating income improved by $4 million due to insurance recoveries for costs resulting from flood disruption in Thailand. 

Outlook

Goodyear is now forecasting its 2013 tire unit volumes to be essentially at 2012 levels as a result of weak industry conditions, especially in Europe.

For the full year of 2013 in North America, Goodyear now expects consumer replacement to be at essentially 2012 levels.  The company's full year 2013 outlook in other North American market segments is unchanged.  It expects consumer original equipment volumes to be up approximately 5 percent, while commercial replacement and original equipment are both expected to remain at about 2012 levels.

For the full year in Europe, Middle East and Africa, Goodyear now expects consumer replacement to be at essentially 2012 levels.  The company's full year 2013 outlook in other Europe, Middle East and Africa market segments is unchanged.  It expects consumer original equipment volumes to be down approximately 5 percent, commercial replacement to be up approximately 5 percent and commercial original equipment to be flat to up 5 percent. 

Due to continued weakness in the European economy and to ensure the company's long-term competitiveness in the region, Goodyear is implementing a three-point plan to return its business to historical margin levels.  In addition to its announced exit from the farm tire business in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region and closure of a manufacturing plant in France, over the next three years Goodyear is focusing on 1) increasing its share in targeted market segments, 2) growth in emerging markets and 3) additional productivity improvements across the region totaling $75 million to $100 million.

2013 Financing Action

During the first quarter, Goodyear successfully issued $900 million in 6.5% senior notes due 2021.  The net proceeds were used to fully fund the company's frozen U.S. pension plans.  Following this, the company changed its target asset allocation for these plans to a portfolio of fixed income securities designed to offset the future impact of discount rate movements on the plans' funded status.

Conference Call

Goodyear will hold an investor conference call at 9 a.m. today.  Approximately 45 minutes 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 Web site: http://investor.goodyear.com.

Participating in the conference call will be Richard J. Kramer, chairman and chief executive officer, and Darren R. Wells, executive vice president and chief financial officer. 

Investors, members of the media and other interested persons can access the conference call on the Web site or via telephone by calling either (800) 895-1085 or (785) 424-1055 before 8:55 a.m. and providing the Conference ID "Goodyear."  A taped replay will be available by calling (800) 283-4593 or (402) 220-0872.  The replay will also remain available on the Web site.

Goodyear is one of the world's largest tire companies.  It employs about 69,000 people and manufactures its products in 52 facilities in 22 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.

Certain information contained in this press release may constitute 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 strategic initiatives; pension plan funding obligations; 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; 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

This earnings release presents total segment operating income and free cash flow from operations, on a historical basis, which are important financial measures for the company but are not financial measures defined by U.S. GAAP.

Total segment operating income is the sum of the individual strategic business units' segment operating income as determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP.  Management believes that total segment operating income is useful because it represents the aggregate value of income created by the company's SBUs and excludes items not directly related to the SBUs for performance evaluation purposes. 

Free cash flow from operations is the company's cash flow from operations as determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP before pension contributions and direct payments and rationalization payments, less capital expenditures.  Management believes that free cash flow from operations is useful because it represents the cash generating capability of the company's ongoing operations, after taking into consideration capital expenditures necessary to maintain its business and pursue growth opportunities.

See the tables below for reconciliations of historical total segment operating income and free cash flow from operations to the most directly comparable GAAP measures.  This earnings release also presents total segment operating income on a forward-looking basis.  The company is unable to reconcile forward-looking total segment operating income without unreasonable efforts because management cannot predict, with sufficient certainty, the various elements necessary to provide such a reconciliation.

 

 

 

 

 

First Quarter Significant Items (after tax and minority interest)

 

2013

• Net foreign currency remeasurement loss resulting from the devaluation of the Venezuelan bolivar fuerte, $92 million (37 cents per share).
• Rationalizations, asset write-offs and accelerated depreciation charges, $9 million (4 cents per share).
• Net loss on asset sales, $2 million (1 cent per share).
• Net gain resulting from tax law changes, $12 million (5 cents per share).
• Net insurance recoveries resulting from the impact of the 2011 Thailand flood, $6 million (2 cents per share).

2012

• Charges resulting from the early redemption of senior notes, $86 million (35 cents per share).
• Rationalizations, asset write-offs and accelerated depreciation charges, $14 million (6 cents per share).
• Discrete tax charges, $3 million (1 cent per share).
• Net insurance recoveries resulting from the impact of the 2011 Thailand flood, $5 million (2 cents per share).
• Net gains on asset sales, $3 million (1 cent per share).

 

 

SOURCE The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company