Crane Co. Reports 2018 Third Quarter Results and Raises Full-Year EPS Guidance

Crane Co. (NYSE: CR), a diversified manufacturer of highly engineered industrial products, reported third quarter 2018 earnings per diluted share (EPS) of $1.59, compared to $1.13 per diluted share in the third quarter of 2017. Excluding Special Items, third quarter 2018 EPS increased 43% to $1.62. (Please see the attached Non-GAAP Financial Measures tables for a detailed reconciliation of reported results to adjusted measures.)

Third quarter sales were a record $856 million, an increase of 23% compared to $696 million in the third quarter of 2017. The sales increase was comprised of a $132 million, or 19%, benefit from acquisitions and core sales growth of $40 million, or 6%, partially offset by $12 million, or 2%, of unfavorable foreign exchange.

Operating profit in the third quarter was $124 million, an increase of 21% compared to $102 million in the third quarter of 2017. Operating profit margin of 14.5% compared to 14.7% in the third quarter of 2017. Excluding Special Items, operating profit in the third quarter was $138 million, an increase of 31% compared to $106 million in the third quarter of 2017. Excluding Special Items, operating profit margin of 16.1% increased 90 basis points compared to the third quarter of 2017 (Please see the attached Non-GAAP Financial Measures tables for a detailed reconciliation of reported results to adjusted measures.)

Max Mitchell, Crane Co. President and Chief Executive Officer commented: "We delivered another quarter of strong operating results, with record sales and a record adjusted operating profit margin of 16.1%. With demand solid across most of our major end markets, we continue to focus on positioning Crane for the future, and we are executing on a wide range of growth initiatives as well as on our previously announced repositioning activities and the integration of Crane Currency. To date, we are tracking ahead of the midpoint of our previously issued guidance, driven by further strengthening in our Aerospace & Electronics and Crane Currency markets, along with faster repayment of short-term debt. Based on these factors, we are raising and narrowing our 2018 EPS guidance range, excluding Special Items, to $5.80-$5.90, from our prior range of $5.60-$5.80." (Please see the attached Non-GAAP Financial Measures tables for a detailed reconciliation of reported results to adjusted measures.)

Cash Flow and Other Financial Metrics

Cash provided by operating activities in the first nine months of 2018 was $222 million, compared to $174 million in the first nine months of 2017. Free cash flow (cash provided by operating activities less capital spending) was $147 million in the first nine months of 2018, compared to $140 million in the first nine months of 2017. During the third quarter 2018, the Company made a $28 million discretionary pension contribution. (Please see the attached Non-GAAP Financial Measures tables for a detailed reconciliation of reported results to adjusted measures.)

The Company's cash position was $324 million at September 30, 2018, compared to $706 million at December 31, 2017. Total debt was $1,044 million at September 30, 2018, compared to $743 million at December 31, 2017. The increase in total debt reflects the financing associated with the January 10, 2018 acquisition of Crane Currency.

Segment Results

All comparisons detailed in this section refer to operating results for the third quarter 2018 versus the third quarter 2017.

Fluid Handling

   
Third Quarter Change

(dollars in millions)

2018   2017    
Sales $ 279 $ 267 $ 12 4 %
 
Operating Profit $ 30 $ 31 (1 %)
Operating Profit, before Special Items* $ 40 $ 33 7 21 %
 
Profit Margin 10.9 % 11.5 %
Profit Margin, before Special Items* 14.4 % 12.4 %
 
*Please see the attached Non-GAAP Financial Measures tables
 

Sales increased $12 million, or 4%, driven by $18 million, or 7%, of core growth, partially offset by $3 million, or 1%, of unfavorable foreign exchange, and a small impact from a divestiture. Operating margin decreased to 10.9%, compared to 11.5% last year, primarily reflecting repositioning related costs. Excluding Special Items, operating margin increased to 14.4%, a 200 basis point increase compared to 12.4% last year, driven primarily by higher volume and productivity. Fluid Handling order backlog was $298 million at September 30, 2018, $262 million at December 31, 2017, and $269 million at September 30, 2017.

Payment & Merchandising Technologies

   
Third Quarter Change
(dollars in millions) 2018   2017    
Sales $ 327 $ 189 $ 139 74 %
 
Operating Profit $ 57 $ 41 $ 17 41 %
Operating Profit, before Special Items* $ 61 $ 41 $ 20 48 %
 
Profit Margin 17.5 % 21.6 %
Profit Margin, before Special Items* 18.7 % 22.0 %
 
*Please see the attached Non-GAAP Financial Measures tables
 

Sales increased $139 million, or 74%, driven by sales from acquisitions, with $13 million of core growth, or 7%, partially offset by a $9 million, or 5%, impact from unfavorable foreign exchange. Operating margin declined to 17.5%, from 21.6% last year, primarily reflecting the impact of the Crane Currency acquisition, and restructuring and integration related charges. Excluding Special Items, operating margins of 18.7% declined from 22.0% last year.

Aerospace & Electronics

   
Third Quarter Change
(dollars in millions) 2018   2017    
Sales $ 190 $ 172 $ 18 10 %
 
Operating Profit $ 43 $ 36 $ 7 20 %
Operating Profit, before Special Items* $ 43 $ 35 $ 8 23 %
 
Profit Margin 22.4 % 20.6 %
Profit Margin, before Special Items* 22.5 % 20.2 %
 
*Please see the attached Non-GAAP Financial Measures tables
 

Sales increased $18 million, or 10%, driven by higher core sales. Operating margin increased to 22.4%, from 20.6% last year, primarily as a result of higher volumes and productivity. Excluding Special Items, operating margin increased 230 basis points to 22.5%. Aerospace & Electronics order backlog was $445 million at September 30, 2018, $374 million at December 31, 2017, and $348 million at September 30, 2017.

Engineered Materials

   
Third Quarter Change
(dollars in millions) 2018   2017  
Sales $ 60 $ 68 $ (8 ) (12 %)
 
Operating Profit $ 9 $ 12 $ (3 ) (29 %)
Operating Profit, before Special Items* $ 9 $ 12 $ (3 ) (27 %)
 
Profit Margin 14.5 % 17.8 %
Profit Margin, before Special Items* 14.8 % 17.9 %
 
*Please see the attached Non-GAAP Financial Measures tables
 

Sales decreased $8 million, or 12%, driven primarily by lower sales to the Recreational Vehicle market. Operating margin declined to 14.5%, primarily reflecting lower volumes, partially offset by strong productivity. Excluding Special Items, operating margins declined to 14.8%.

Raising 2018 Guidance

We are raising our 2018 full year GAAP EPS guidance to a range of $5.20-$5.30, compared to the prior range of $4.90-$5.10. We now expect 2018 full year EPS, excluding Special Items, of $5.80-$5.90, compared to the prior range of $5.60-$5.80. Full year 2018 free cash flow (cash provided by operating activities less capital spending) is now expected to be in a range of $260-$290 million, compared to the prior range of $250-$280 million. (Please see the attached Non-GAAP Financial Measures tables.)

Additional Information

Additional information with respect to the Company’s asbestos liability and related accounting provisions and cash requirements is set forth in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with a copy of this press release.

Conference Call

Crane Co. has scheduled a conference call to discuss the third quarter financial results on Tuesday, October 23, 2018 at 10:00 A.M. (Eastern). All interested parties may listen to a live webcast of the call at http://www.craneco.com. An archived webcast will also be available to replay this conference call directly from the Company’s website under Investors, Events & Presentations. Slides that accompany the conference call will be available on the Company’s website.

Crane Co. is a diversified manufacturer of highly engineered industrial products. Founded in 1855, Crane Co. provides products and solutions to customers in the chemicals, oil & gas, power, automated payment solutions, banknote design and production and aerospace & defense, along with a wide range of general industrial and consumer related end markets. The Company has four business segments: Fluid Handling, Payment & Merchandising Technologies, Aerospace & Electronics and Engineered Materials. Crane Co. has approximately 12,000 employees in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. Crane Co. is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:CR). For more information, visit www.craneco.com.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on the management’s current beliefs, expectations, plans, assumptions and objectives regarding Crane Co.’s future financial performance and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Any discussions contained in this press release, except to the extent that they contain historical facts, are forward-looking and accordingly involve estimates, assumptions, judgments and uncertainties. There are a number of factors that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those addressed in these forward-looking statements. Such factors are detailed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2018, and subsequent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such reports are available on the Securities Exchange Commission’s website (www.sec.gov). Crane Co. does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements.

(Financial Tables Follow)

 
CRANE CO.
Income Statement Data

(in millions, except per share data)

   
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
September 30, September 30,
2018   2017 2018   2017
Net sales:
Fluid Handling $ 278.7 $ 266.9 $ 822.1 $ 770.3
Payment & Merchandising Technologies 327.4 188.6 944.2 582.3
Aerospace & Electronics 189.5 172.0 547.0 506.5
Engineered Materials 60.2   68.4   192.5   212.7  
Total net sales $ 855.8   $ 695.9   $ 2,505.8   $ 2,071.8  
 
Operating profit (loss):
Fluid Handling $ 30.4 $ 30.7 $ 88.0 $ 84.1
Payment & Merchandising Technologies 57.3 40.7 139.8 121.0
Aerospace & Electronics 42.5 35.5 120.0 104.9
Engineered Materials 8.7 12.2 32.4 39.4
Corporate (15.0 ) (17.0 ) (49.0 ) (48.4 )
Total operating profit 123.9 102.1 331.2 301.0
 
Interest income 0.5 0.7 1.7 1.8
Interest expense (12.3 ) (9.3 ) (39.8 ) (27.3 )
Miscellaneous, Net 5.7   3.5   13.9   9.2  
Income before income taxes 117.8 97.0 307.0 284.7
Provision for income taxes 20.7   28.5   60.6   83.6  
Net income before allocation to noncontrolling interests 97.1 68.5 246.4 201.1
Less: Noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries' earnings 0.1   0.3     0.6  
Net income attributable to common shareholders $ 97.0   $ 68.2   $ 246.4   $ 200.5  
 
Share Data:
Earnings per diluted share $ 1.59 $ 1.13 $ 4.04 $ 3.32
 
Average diluted shares outstanding 61.1 60.4 61.1 60.4
Average basic shares outstanding 59.7 59.5 59.7 59.4
 

Supplemental Data:

Cost of Sales $ 544.8 $ 441.5 $ 1,611.6 $ 1,315.3
Selling, General & Administrative 178.4 151.8 542.6 452.4
Acquisition related charges 2.1 0.5 11.3 3.1
Repositioning charges 6.6 9.1
Depreciation and Amortization * 27.8 18.5 84.1 54.0
Stock-Based Compensation Expense * 4.9 5.4 16.1 16.5
 
* Amount included within cost of sales and selling, general & administrative costs.
 
 
CRANE CO.
Condensed Balance Sheets

(in millions)

   

September 30,
2018

December 31,
2017

ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents $ 323.6 $ 706.2
Accounts receivable, net 565.0 418.4
Current insurance receivable - asbestos 25.0 25.0
Inventories, net 412.0 349.3
Other current assets 77.6   19.6
Total current assets 1,403.2 1,518.5
 
Property, plant and equipment, net 594.5 282.4
Long-term insurance receivable - asbestos 72.8 90.1
Other assets 632.5 495.6
Goodwill 1,407.0   1,206.9
 
Total assets $ 4,110.0   $ 3,593.5
 
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities
Short-term borrowings and current maturities of long-term debt $ 106.3 $ 249.4
Accounts payable 268.4 247.4
Current asbestos liability 85.0 85.0
Accrued liabilities 365.0 252.1
Income taxes 9.9   3.6
Total current liabilities 834.6 837.5
 
Long-term debt 937.5 494.1
Long-term deferred tax liability 42.8 44.9
Long-term asbestos liability 456.5 520.3
Other liabilities 309.1 348.2
 
Total equity 1,529.5   1,348.5
 
Total liabilities and equity $ 4,110.0   $ 3,593.5
 
 
CRANE CO.
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows

(in millions)

   

Three Months Ended
September 30,

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

2018   2017 2018   2017
Operating activities:
Net income attributable to common shareholders $ 97.0 $ 68.2 $ 246.4 $ 200.5
Noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries' earnings 0.1   0.3     0.6  
Net income before allocations to noncontrolling interests 97.1 68.5 246.4 201.1
Depreciation and amortization 27.8 18.5 84.1 54.0
Stock-based compensation expense 4.9 5.4 16.1 16.5
Defined benefit plans and postretirement credit (3.9 ) (2.1 ) (11.6 ) (6.3 )
Deferred income taxes 13.5 6.0 24.5 16.0
Cash provided by (used for) operating working capital 4.5 45.1 (41.3 ) (38.0 )
Defined benefit plans and postretirement contributions (39.3 ) (6.1 ) (55.8 ) (9.9 )
Environmental payments, net of reimbursements (1.2 ) (1.7 ) (5.4 ) (4.4 )
Other (0.9 ) (11.2 ) 11.8   (8.0 )
Subtotal 102.5 122.4 268.8 221.0
Asbestos related payments, net of insurance recoveries (11.5 ) (18.6 ) (46.4 ) (46.8 )
Total provided by operating activities 91.0   103.8   222.4   174.2  
 
Investing activities:
Capital expenditures (31.6 ) (13.5 ) (75.6 ) (34.3 )
Proceeds from disposition of capital assets 0.8 1.3
Payments for acquisitions, net of cash acquired 24.3   (0.7 ) (648.0 ) (54.8 )
Total used for investing activities (6.5 ) (14.2 ) (722.3 ) (89.1 )
 
Financing activities:
Dividends paid (20.9 ) (19.5 ) (62.7 ) (58.8 )
Reacquisition of shares on open market (25.0 ) (25.0 ) (25.0 )
Stock options exercised, net of shares reacquired 7.5 2.9 12.5 20.7
Debt issuance costs (5.4 )
Repayment of long-term debt (450.0 )
Repayment of short-term debt (100.0 )
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt 550.0
Proceeds from issuance of short-term debt 100.0
(Repayment of) proceeds from issuance of commercial paper (60.8 )   110.6    
Total (used for) provided by financing activities (74.2 ) (41.6 ) 130.0   (63.1 )
 
Effect of exchange rate on cash and cash equivalents (4.9 ) 14.9   (12.7 ) 40.5  
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 5.4 62.9 (382.6 ) 62.5
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 318.2   509.3   706.2   509.7  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 323.6   $ 572.2   $ 323.6   $ 572.2  
 
 
CRANE CO.
Order Backlog

(in millions)

   

September 30,
2018

June 30,
2018

March 31,
2018

December 31,
2017

September 30,
2017

Fluid Handling $ 297.7 $ 291.6 $ 281.2 $ 262.1 $ 268.8
Payment & Merchandising Technologies 359.0 * 350.5 * 301.0 * 76.4 87.6
Aerospace & Electronics 445.1 441.3 381.2 373.6 348.4
Engineered Materials 10.3   13.2   13.4   13.6   13.9
Total Backlog $ 1,112.2   $ 1,096.6   $ 976.8   $ 725.7   $

718.7

 
* Includes $252.4 million as of September 30, 2018, $248.6 million as of June 30, 2018 and $211.2 million as of March 31, 2018 of backlog pertaining to the Crane Currency business acquired in January 2018.
 
 
CRANE CO.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures

(in millions, except per share data)

       

Three Months Ended
September 30,

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

Percent
Change
September 30,
2018

Percent
Change
September 30,
2018

2018   2017 2018   2017

Three Months

Nine

Months

INCOME ITEMS

Net sales $ 855.8 $ 695.9 $ 2,505.8 $ 2,071.8 23.0 % 20.9 %
 
Operating profit 123.9 102.1 331.2 301.0 21.3 % 10.0 %
Percentage of sales 14.5 % 14.7 % 13.2 % 14.5 %

Special items impacting operating profit:

Inventory step-up and backlog amortization 0.3 8.8
Acquisition related charges 2.1 0.5 11.3 3.1
Repositioning charges 6.6 9.1
Impact from change in accounting principle* 5.3   3.3   15.7   10.0  
Operating profit before special items $ 138.2   $ 105.8   $ 376.1   $ 314.1   30.6 % 19.7 %

Percentage of sales

16.1 % 15.2 % 15.0 % 15.2 %
 
Net income attributable to common shareholders $ 97.0 $ 68.2 $ 246.4 $ 200.5
Per share $ 1.59 $ 1.13 $ 4.04 $ 3.32 40.7 % 21.6 %
 

Special items impacting net income attributable to common shareholders:

Inventory step-up and backlog amortization - Net Of Tax 0.2 6.7
Per Share $ 0.00 $ 0.11
 
Acquisition related charges - Net of Tax 1.7 0.4 8.6 2.2
Per Share $ 0.03 $ 0.00 $ 0.14 $ 0.04
 
Repositioning charges - Net of Tax 5.1 7.0
Per Share $ 0.08 $ 0.11
 
Incremental financing costs associated with acquisition - Net of Tax 2.1
Per Share $ 0.03
 
Impact of Tax Law Change (5.1 ) (5.6 )
Per Share $ (0.08 )   $ (0.09 )  
 
Net Income Attributable To Common Shareholders Before Special Items $ 98.8 $ 68.6 $ 265.1 $ 202.7 44.1 % 30.8 %
Per Share $ 1.62 $ 1.13 $ 4.34 $ 3.36 42.5 % 29.4 %
 
 

Special items impacting provision for income taxes

Provision for income taxes - GAAP Basis $ 20.7 $ 28.5 $ 60.6 $ 83.6
Tax effect of inventory step-up and backlog amortization 2.1
Tax effect of acquisition related charges 0.4 0.2 2.7 0.9
Tax effect of repositioning charges 1.5 2.1
Tax effect of incremental financing costs associated with acquisition 0.6
Impact of tax law change 5.1     5.6    
Provision for income taxes - non-GAAP basis $ 27.7   $ 28.7   $ 73.7   $ 84.5  
 
 

Segment Information:

For the three months ended September 30, 2018
 

Fluid
Handling

 

Payment &
Merchandising
Technologies

 

Aerospace
&
Electronics

 

Engineered
Materials

  Corporate  

Total
Company

Net sales $ 278.7 $ 327.4 $ 189.5 $ 60.2 $ $ 855.8
 
Operating Profit - GAAP 30.4 57.3 42.5 8.7 (15.0 ) 123.9
Inventory step-up and backlog amortization 0.3 0.3
Acquisition related charges 2.1 2.1
Repositioning charges, net of gain on property sale 5.5 0.9 0.2 6.6
Impact from change in accounting principle* 4.3   0.7     0.2   0.1   5.3  
Operating Profit before Special Items 40.2 61.3 42.7 8.9 (14.9 ) 138.2
Percentage of Sales 14.4 % 18.7 % 22.5 % 14.8 % 16.1 %
 
 

Segment Information:

For the three months ended September 30, 2017
 

Fluid
Handling

Payment &
Merchandising
Technologies

Aerospace
&
Electronics

Engineered
Materials

Corporate

Total
Company

Net sales $ 266.9 $ 188.6 $ 172.0 $ 68.4 $ $ 695.9
 
Operating Profit - GAAP 30.7 40.7 35.5 12.2 (17.0 ) 102.1
Transaction related costs 0.5 0.5
Impact from change in accounting principle* 1.9   0.7   (0.7 )   1.3   3.2  
Operating Profit before Special Items 33.1 41.4 34.8 12.2 (15.7 ) 105.8
Percentage of Sales 12.4 % 22.0 % 20.2 % 17.9 % 15.2 %
 
* Represents the impact from the change in presentation of net periodic pension and postretirement benefit costs.
 
 

CRANE CO.

Guidance

(in millions, except per share data)

 
2018 Full Year Guidance
2018 earnings per share guidance Low   High
 
Earnings per share - GAAP basis $ 5.20 $ 5.30
Repositioning costs 0.15 0.15
Acquisition integration costs 0.55 0.55
Impact of Tax Reform

 

(0.10 )

 

(0.10 )
Earnings per share - non-GAAP basis $ 5.80   $ 5.90  
 
 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months
Ended
September 30,

2018 Full Year
Guidance

2018   2017 2018 2017 Low   High
 

Cash provided by operating activities before asbestos-related payments

$ 102.5 $ 122.4 $ 268.8 $ 221.0 $ 445.0 $ 475.0

Asbestos-related payments, net of insurance recoveries

(11.5 ) (18.6 ) (46.4 ) (46.8 ) (60.0 ) (60.0 )
Cash provided by operating activities 91.0 103.8 222.4 174.2 385.0 415.0
Less: capital expenditures (31.6 ) (13.5 ) (75.6 ) (34.3 ) (125.0 ) (125.0 )
Free cash flow $ 59.4   $ 90.3   $ 146.8   $ 139.9   $ 260.0   $ 290.0  
 
Certain non-GAAP measures have been provided to facilitate comparison with the prior year.
 
The Company reports its financial results in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). However, management believes that non-GAAP financial measures which exclude certain non-recurring items present additional useful comparisons between current results and results in prior operating periods, providing investors with a clearer view of the underlying trends of the business. Management also uses these non-GAAP financial measures in making financial, operating, planning and compensation decisions and in evaluating the Company's performance.
 
In addition, Free Cash Flow provides supplemental information to assist management and investors in analyzing the Company’s ability to generate liquidity from its operating activities. The measure of Free Cash Flow does not take into consideration certain other non-discretionary cash requirements such as, for example, mandatory principal payments on the Company's long-term debt. Non-GAAP financial measures, which may be inconsistent with similarly captioned measures presented by other companies, should be viewed in addition to, and not as a substitute for, the Company’s reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP.