Leggett & Platt Reports 3Q EPS Of $.61 (Continuing Ops) And 6% Sales Growth

CARTHAGE, Mo., Oct. 26, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

• 3Q sales were $1.01 billion, a 6% increase versus 3Q 2016; unit volume grew 4%
• 3Q EPS from Continuing Operations was $.61
• 2017 Continuing Ops EPS guidance narrowed to $2.49 - 2.54; sales guidance narrowed to $3.95 - 4.0 billion
• 2017 adjusted¹ Continuing Ops EPS guidance narrowed to $2.45 - 2.50

Diversified manufacturer Leggett & Platt reported third quarter sales of $1.01 billion, an increase of 6% versus third quarter 2016. Organic sales grew 6% from continued strength in Automotive, Adjustable Bed, and several other businesses, along with raw material-related price inflation and currency impact. Acquisitions added 2% to sales but were offset by divestitures.

Third quarter earnings from Continuing Operations were $.61 per share, a $.06 EPS decrease versus third quarter last year. The earnings benefit from sales growth was offset primarily by higher raw material costs, including LIFO expense. EBIT and EBIT margin declined versus third quarter last year largely due to the pricing lag the company experiences when passing along commodity inflation.

As previously reported, effective August 4 the company divested the last operation within the Commercial Vehicle Products group. The sale generated a total $.06 per share tax benefit ($.04 in third quarter, $.02 in fourth quarter). The $.04 third quarter tax benefit was offset by a $.02 per share loss from the sale, and a $.02 per share unrelated impairment charge in another small business.  

CEO Comments
President and CEO Karl G. Glassman commented, "We are pleased to have delivered strong third quarter sales, with growth coming from several businesses including Automotive and Adjustable Bed. Unit volume grew 4%, and inflation and currency added 2% to sales.  As expected, earnings and margins were pressured in the quarter by higher steel costs and the timing lag we typically experience in passing along those increases. Assuming that steel costs stabilize, margins should improve by early next year.

"For a decade now our primary financial goal has been to achieve Total Shareholder Return (TSR) that ranks within the top third of the S&P 500 over rolling three-year periods. For the three-year period that began January 1, 2015, we have so far (over the last 34 months) generated TSR of 7% annually, which ranks in the middle of the S&P 500.

"We are maintaining our strong financial base. Net debt to net capital¹ was 38% at quarter end, near the top of our 30% ‑ 40% target range, reflecting working capital investment, stock repurchases, and acquisitions. At quarter end, the company's debt was 2.1 times its trailing 12-month adjusted¹ EBITDA."

Dividends and Stock Repurchases
In August, Leggett & Platt's Board of Directors declared a $.36 per share third quarter dividend, two cents higher than last year's third quarter dividend.  This marks the company's 46th annual dividend increase, a record of consecutive dividend increases that only eleven S&P 500 companies have exceeded. Leggett & Platt is proud of its dividend record and plans to extend it.

At yesterday's closing share price of $47.90, the indicated annual dividend of $1.44 per share generates a dividend yield of 3.0%, one of the highest dividend yields among the 51 stocks of the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats.

During the third quarter the company repurchased 0.9 million shares of its stock at an average price of $47.24, and issued 0.4 million shares. For the first three quarters of 2017, the company repurchased 3.3 million shares, and issued 1.6 million shares primarily via employee benefit plans and option exercises. At quarter end, 131.8 million shares were outstanding, a 1.4% decline over the last 12 months.    

2017 EPS and Sales Guidance Narrowed
2017 Continuing Operations EPS guidance is narrowed to $2.49 - 2.54, the upper half of the ten cent range announced on September 6. This guidance includes a net $.04 per share benefit from several items: divestiture of the company's last CVP operation, a small third quarter impairment charge, a gain from the October sale of real estate, and an anticipated pension settlement charge in the fourth quarter.

Adjusted¹ Continuing Operations EPS guidance is narrowed to $2.45 - 2.50, versus the prior $2.40 - 2.50 range. This guidance excludes the net $.04 of EPS benefit from the items mentioned above. Sales guidance is narrowed to $3.95 - 4.0 billion, which equates to growth of 5% - 7% for the year. Based upon this guidance, 2017 adjusted¹ EBIT margin should be approximately 12%.

Implied in full-year guidance is fourth quarter adjusted¹ EPS of $.58 - .63, on sales of $0.99 - 1.04 billion.

Cash from operations is expected to approximate $425 million in 2017, with working capital increases from sales growth and inflation being a significant use of cash. Capital expenditures should be roughly $160 million, and dividend payments are expected to approximate $185 million. Dividend payout is targeted to be 50‑60% of adjusted earnings.

The company's top priorities for use of cash are organic growth, dividends, and strategic acquisitions. After funding those priorities, if there is cash available, the company generally intends to repurchase its stock (rather than repay debt early or stockpile cash). Management has standing authorization from the Board of Directors to buy up to 10 million shares each year; however, no specific repurchase commitment or timetable has been established.

SEGMENT RESULTS – Third Quarter 2017 (versus the same period in 2016)
Change to Segment Reporting – Effective January 1, the company's segment reporting structure was modified to align with changes made to the management organizational structure. Please see the 8-K filed on April 10, 2017 for details.

Residential Products – Total sales increased $24 million, or 6%. Same location sales improved 2%, and acquisitions contributed 4% to sales growth.  Volume was flat, with growth in most businesses offset by a 2% sales decrease from lower pass-through sales of adjustable beds.  Raw material-related price inflation and currency impact increased sales by 2%.  EBIT increased $5 million primarily from higher sales.

Industrial Products - Total sales decreased $10 million, or 7%, due to divestitures completed in 2016 and a 3% reduction in same location sales. Volume declines were partially offset by steel-related price increases.  EBIT decreased $16 million due to higher steel costs (including LIFO expense), the timing lag associated with passing along inflation, lower volume, and a $5 million impairment of a small wire products operation.

Furniture Products – Total sales increased $22 million, or 8%. Same location sales increased 7%, primarily from growth in Adjustable Bed. A small acquisition in Work Furniture also added 1% to segment sales. EBIT decreased $2 million, with the benefit from sales growth in Adjustable Bed and Work Furniture more than offset by higher steel costs, including LIFO expense, in Home Furniture. 

Specialized Products – Total sales increased $9 million, or 4%.  Same location sales were up 9%, primarily from volume gains in Automotive and a favorable currency impact. The CVP divestiture reduced sales by 5%. EBIT declined $6 million, with the benefit from higher sales offset by growth-related costs, currency adjustments, and a $3 million loss on sale of the company's last remaining CVP operation.

Slides and Conference Call
A set of slides containing summary financial information is available from the Investor Relations section of Leggett's website at www.leggett.com. Management will host a conference call at 7:30 a.m. Central (8:30 a.m. Eastern) on Friday, October 27. The webcast can be accessed (live or replay) from Leggett's website. The dial-in number is (201) 689-8341; there is no passcode.

Fourth quarter results will be released after the market closes on Monday, February 5, 2018, with a conference call the next morning.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Visit Leggett's website at www.leggett.com.

COMPANY DESCRIPTION:  At Leggett & Platt (NYSE: LEG), we create innovative products that enhance people's lives, generate exceptional returns for our shareholders, and provide sought-after jobs in communities around the world. L&P is a 134 year-old diversified manufacturer that designs and produces engineered products found in most homes and automobiles. The company is comprised of 15 business units, 22,000 employee-partners, and 120 manufacturing facilities located in 19 countries.

Leggett & Platt is the leading U.S. manufacturer of: a) bedding components; b) automotive seat support and lumbar systems; c) components for home furniture and work furniture; d) carpet cushion; e) adjustable beds; f) high-carbon drawn steel wire; and g) bedding industry machinery.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: Statements in this release that are not historical in nature are "forward-looking." These statements involve uncertainties and risks, including the company's ability to achieve its longer-term operating targets and generate average annual TSR of 11%-14%, price and product competition from foreign and domestic competitors, the amount of share repurchases, changes in demand for the company's products, cost and availability of raw materials and labor, fuel and energy costs, future growth of acquired companies, general economic conditions, possible goodwill or other asset impairment, foreign currency fluctuation, litigation risks, and other factors described in the company's Forms 10-K and 10-Q. Any forward-looking statement reflects only the company's beliefs when the statement is made. Actual results could differ materially from expectations, and the company undertakes no duty to update these statements.

CONTACT:   Investor Relations, (417) 358-8131 or [email protected]
David M. DeSonier, Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Investor Relations
Susan R. McCoy, Vice President of Investor Relations
Wendy M. Watson, Director of Investor Relations

¹ Please refer to the attached tables for non-GAAP reconciliations.

SOURCE Leggett & Platt