Lubrizol Announces Earnings of $2.32 per Share for the First Quarter of 2010

USA - English

• USA - English

CLEVELAND, April 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --

• First quarter revenues of $1.32 billion increased 30 percent from prior year largely due to increased volume

• Guidance for 2010 EPS increased to a range of $8.32 to $8.72, including restructuring charges of $.08, and $8.40 to $8.80 excluding these charges

• Share repurchases in the quarter totaled $60 million

The Lubrizol Corporation (NYSE: LZ) announced that consolidated earnings for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010, were $162.3 million, or $2.32 per diluted share, including after-tax restructuring charges of $0.6 million, or $.01 per diluted share, primarily related to restructuring initiatives in the Advanced Materials segment.  Comparable earnings for the first quarter of 2009 were $64.2 million, or $0.95 per diluted share, which included after-tax restructuring charges of $7.6 million, or $.11 per diluted share, primarily related to company-wide cost reduction actions implemented in the first quarter of 2009.  

First Quarter Consolidated Results

Consolidated revenues for the first quarter increased 30 percent to $1.32 billion compared with $1.01 billion in the first quarter of 2009.  This increase largely was due to 28 percent higher volume and a 2 percent favorable currency impact, while the combination of price and product mix was unchanged.

Excluding the restructuring charges in both periods, adjusted earnings were $162.9 million, or $2.33 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2010 compared with $71.8 million, or $1.06 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2009.  

Compared with the prior-year first quarter, the increase in adjusted earnings per share largely was attributable to higher shipment volumes, sustained margins and improved utilization of production facilities.  These favorable factors to earnings more than offset the impact of $20.7 million of increased performance-based compensation expense and a higher effective tax rate.  The higher effective tax rate primarily was a result of a $3.7 million non-cash charge from the change in tax treatment of the Medicare subsidy under the new healthcare legislation, the expiration of the U.S. research tax credit and foreign tax law changes.

Remarking on the results, CEO James Hambrick stated, "As expected, all product lines and all geographic markets experienced higher volumes compared with last year's first quarter.  The increased volumes generally reflected a combination of demand recovery, some continued inventory restocking and favorable order patterns, depending on the product line.  Our Additives segment also experienced the benefit of favorable product mix as the driveline and industrial additives product line grew at a higher rate compared with the engine additives product line due to increased OEM build rates.  Our Advanced Materials segment experienced another record quarter for operating income, as they – like Additives – continue to focus on delivering technologies and materials with demonstrated value to their customers.  Having reset operating budgets to lower levels in 2009, we continue to manage discretionary costs very closely while ensuring that we properly fund and invest for growth.  I am very pleased with our ongoing strong performance."

Cash flow from operations was $99.0 million for the first three months of 2010 compared with $165.6 million in the year-earlier period.  The decrease in cash flow largely was the result of   increased working capital investment in receivables because of increased revenues, which partially was offset by higher earnings.  Capital expenditures in the first quarter of 2010 were approximately $30 million compared with $44 million in the first quarter of 2009.  Also in the quarter, the company repurchased 800,000 shares for $60.2 million at an average price of $75.22 per share.  The company's cash balance at March 31, 2010, was $942 million compared with $991 million at December 31, 2009.  

Dividend Increase

As announced on April 27, the Board of Directors declared a regular dividend of 36 cents per share payable June 10, 2010, to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 10, 2010.  The new dividend represents a 16 percent increase compared with the prior dividend rate

of 31 cents per share and reflects the company's confidence in its earnings and cash flow performance.

Earnings Outlook

The company increased its guidance for earnings that was issued on February 4.  The company's guidance for 2010 earnings is now in the range of $8.32 to $8.72 per diluted share, including restructuring charges of $.08 per diluted share primarily related to the closing of a Canadian additives blending facility and restructuring initiatives in the Advanced Materials segment.  For 2009, the company reported earnings of $7.26 per share, including restructuring and impairment charges of $.29 per share.  Excluding the special charges from both years, the company projects 2010 adjusted earnings in the range of $8.40 to $8.80 per diluted share, which compares with 2009 adjusted earnings of $7.55 per diluted share.      

Updates to key assumptions for this guidance include:

• Consolidated volume growth of approximately 9 to10 percent compared with 2009;
• Consolidated gross margins of approximately 32 percent;
• STAR expenses of approximately 13 percent of revenues;
• An effective tax rate of 32.6 percent for the year;
• The euro to average $1.35 for the remainder of the year;
• An increase in working capital of approximately $35 million;
• Capital expenditures of approximately $250 million;
• Full-year dividend payments of approximately $97 million; and
• 70 million shares outstanding.

Regarding the earnings outlook, Hambrick added, "As our customers' end markets recover, we are well aligned in providing the valued technologies and materials that will make them successful.  Even with our revised volume outlook for the year, we do not expect full recovery to our 2008 volume level until 2011.  Also, as the year progresses, we expect tight supply conditions for some of our raw materials that will result in upward cost pressure.  We are positioned properly with our customers to take appropriate actions.  

"Earlier this year, we released our longer-term targets for growth and profitability, including a goal for 2012 earnings of $10.00 per share.  We are confident in our ability to meet these goals based on solid execution of our core strategies for organic growth, margin sustainability and portfolio enhancement.  Our increased guidance for 2010 provides a good trajectory for achieving our targeted results."

Conference Call on the Web

An audio webcast of the first quarter earnings conference call with investors will be available today live at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time on the investor earnings release page of www.lubrizol.com and will be archived for 30 days.  Following the call, a transcript will be posted on the investor earnings release page of the Web site.

About The Lubrizol Corporation

The Lubrizol Corporation (NYSE: LZ) is an innovative specialty chemical company that produces and supplies technologies that improve the quality and performance of our customers' products in the global transportation, industrial and consumer markets. These technologies include lubricant additives for engine oils, other transportation-related fluids and industrial lubricants, as well as fuel additives for gasoline and diesel fuel. In addition, Lubrizol makes ingredients and additives for personal care products and pharmaceuticals; specialty materials, including plastics technology and performance coatings in the form of specialty resins and additives. Lubrizol's industry-leading technologies in additives, ingredients and compounds enhance the quality, performance and value of customers' products, while reducing their environmental impact.

With headquarters in Wickliffe, Ohio, The Lubrizol Corporation owns and operates manufacturing facilities in 17 countries, as well as sales and technical offices around the world. Founded in 1928, Lubrizol has approximately 6,700 employees worldwide. Revenues for 2009 were $4.6 billion. For more information, visit www.lubrizol.com.

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws.  As a general matter, forward-looking statements relate to anticipated trends and expectations rather than historical matters.  Forward-looking statements are subject to uncertainties and factors relating to the company's operations and business environment that are difficult to predict and may be beyond the control of the company.  Such uncertainties and factors may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements.  Uncertainties and risk factors that could affect the future performance of the company and cause results to differ from the forward-looking statements in this release include, but are not limited to, the company's ability to manage margins in an environment of volatile raw material costs; conditions affecting the company's customers, suppliers and the industries that it serves; competitors' responses to the company's products; changes in accounting, tax or regulatory practices or requirements; and other factors that are set forth in management's discussion and analysis of the company's most recently filed reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The forward-looking statements contained herein represent the company's judgment as of the date of this release and it cautions readers not to place undue reliance on such statements.  The company assumes no obligations to update the statements contained in this release.  

SOURCE The Lubrizol Corporation