Lubrizol Announces Third Quarter 2010 Earnings of $3.08 per Share and Increases Full-Year Earnings Guidance

CLEVELAND, Oct. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Lubrizol Corporation (NYSE: LZ) announced that consolidated earnings for the third quarter ended September 30, 2010, were $211.8 million, or $3.08 per diluted share, including after-tax restructuring credits of $0.3 million, or less than $.01 per diluted share, primarily related to restructuring initiatives in the Advanced Materials segment.  Earnings for the third quarter of 2009 were $170.5 million, or $2.46 per diluted share, which included after-tax restructuring and impairment charges of $3.9 million, or $.06 per diluted share, primarily related to the closure of production facilities in the Advanced Materials segment and expenses associated with the company's cost reduction actions initiated in the first quarter of 2009.  

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Third Quarter Consolidated Results

Consolidated revenues for the third quarter increased 9 percent to $1.38 billion compared with $1.27 billion in the third quarter of 2009.  The year-over-year increase in revenues largely was due to a 10 percent improvement in the combination of price and product mix and 1 percent higher volume that more than offset a 2 percent impact from unfavorable currency.

Excluding the special charges in both periods, adjusted earnings were $211.5 million, or $3.08 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2010 compared with $174.4 million, or $2.52 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2009.

Adjusted earnings per share for the third quarter of 2010 increased compared with the prior-year third quarter largely due to improvement in the combination of price and product mix, a lower effective tax rate and higher volume.  These positive factors impacting earnings more than offset the effect of higher raw material costs and the favorable insurance recovery that reduced manufacturing costs in the year-earlier period.

During the third quarter of 2010, the company recorded a one-time tax benefit of $38.6 million related to its ability to utilize U.S. foreign tax credits from previous years.  This benefit reduced the company's quarterly effective tax rate to 14.4%, and favorably impacted earnings in the quarter by approximately $0.56 per diluted share.

Commenting on the results, CEO James Hambrick stated, "We are on track with where we expected to be at this point in the year, and I continue to be very pleased by our performance.  Excluding the impacts from tax benefits and the 2009 insurance recovery, we outperformed last year, which was at the time a record quarter for the company.  Last quarter we projected second half volumes to be greater than the second half of 2009, but with a more normal order pattern distribution, and so far this is the case.  The third quarter of 2009 was atypical as it benefitted from significant inventory restocking by Additives' customers, so we had a very high hurdle to meet.  Volumes for this quarter came in as planned and edged out last year's result, demonstrating steady improvement for the markets and applications we serve."

Nine Month Consolidated Results

For the first nine months of 2010, consolidated revenues increased 21 percent to $4.10 billion compared with $3.40 billion for the first nine months of 2009.  Consolidated earnings were $575.5 million, or $8.28 per diluted share, including after-tax restructuring and impairment charges of $0.6 million, or $.01 per diluted share.  Earnings for the first nine months of 2009 were $366.6 million, or $5.34 per diluted share, including after-tax restructuring and impairment charges of $18.0 million, or $.26 per diluted share.  Excluding the special charges from both periods, earnings of $8.29 per diluted share in the first nine months of 2010 compared with earnings of $5.60 per diluted share in the first nine months of 2009.    

Cash flow from operations for the first nine months of 2010 was $441 million, down from $734 million in the year-earlier period.  The decrease primarily was attributable to the change in inventory quantities between the two periods together with higher cost inventory in 2010 and higher receivables from increased revenues and the recognition of the income tax receivable associated with the foreign tax credits, partially offset by the improvement in earnings.  Capital expenditures in the first nine months of 2010 were approximately $109 million, which compared with $107 million in the prior-year period.  The company's cash balance at September 30, 2010, was $918 million compared with a cash balance of $991 million at December 31, 2009.  

Share Repurchases During the Third Quarter of 2010

As announced on October 5, 2010, the company continued its share repurchase activity during the third quarter of 2010 by purchasing 2.1 million shares for $200.5 million at an average price of approximately $95 per share.  Year-to-date 2010, the company has repurchased approximately 3.7 million shares for $326.0 million at an average price of approximately $89 per share.

Approximately 5.1 million shares remain under the existing share repurchase authorization. Through this program, Lubrizol expects to make purchases from time to time either in the open market or through private transactions.  Although the repurchase program does not include a specific timetable or price targets and may be suspended or terminated at any time, the company expects the current program will be completed by mid-2012.

Earnings Outlook

The company increased its earnings guidance that was issued on July 29.  The company's guidance for 2010 earnings is now in the range of $10.27 to $10.47 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 diluted 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 $10.35 to $10.55 per diluted share, which compares with 2009 adjusted earnings of $7.55 per diluted share.      

Key updated assumptions for this revised guidance and cash flow include:

• An effective tax rate of 28.0 percent for the year;
• The euro to average $1.35 for the remainder of the year;
• A working capital use of cash of approximately $180 million;  
• Capital expenditures for the year of approximately $170 million; and
• Average shares outstanding of approximately 68.8 million for the year.

Regarding the earnings outlook, Hambrick noted, "Our updated earnings projection continues to reflect our confidence in the performance of our businesses.  With the greater part of 2010 behind us, it is clear this will be our seventh consecutive record year of growth in operating income.  And we expect this growth to continue.  At our October 5 analyst day, we updated our longer-term growth and profitability targets and established a goal for earnings of $13.50 per share in 2013.  We outlined a very reasonable path to achieve earnings growth of 8 to 11 percent annually through the balanced contribution of our business segments and our existing share repurchase authorization."

"Our overall success ultimately is derived by satisfying our customers' needs and making their products more valued in the marketplace.  We are committed to investing in the technology and infrastructure that will help us grow to meet these needs through innovation and geographic expansion.  Our balance sheet is strong, and we will deploy it as necessary to meet our objectives.  These actions reflect our continuing commitment to reward shareholders with superior long-term returns."

Conference Call on the Web

A live audio webcast of the third quarter earnings conference call with investors will be held on October 28 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time on the Investors page of www.lubrizol.com and will be available for replay for 30 days.  Following the call, a transcript will be posted on the Investors page of the Web site in the Financial Reports section.

About The Lubrizol Corporation

The Lubrizol Corporation (NYSE: LZ) is an innovative specialty chemical company that produces and supplies technologies to customers 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 6,800 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