The Sherwin-Williams Company Reports 2016 Year-end Financial Results

CLEVELAND, Jan. 26, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Sherwin-Williams Company (NYSE: SHW) announced its financial results for the year and fourth quarter ended December 31, 2016. Compared to the same periods in 2015, consolidated net sales increased $516.3 million, or 4.6%, to $11.86 billion in the year and increased $178.0 million, or 6.8%, to $2.78 billion in the quarter due primarily to higher paint sales volume in our Paint Stores Group and the impact of a change in revenue classification beginning in the third quarter related to grossing up third-party service revenue and related costs which were previously netted and immaterial in prior periods. The change in revenue classification increased sales in the year and quarter 1.1% and 2.2%, respectively. This prospective change primarily impacts the Paint Stores and Global Finishes Groups. This change had no impact on segment profit, but reduced segment profit as a percent to net sales of the affected groups. Unfavorable currency translation rate changes decreased consolidated net sales 1.4% in the year and 0.9% in the quarter. 

Diluted net income per common share in the year increased to $11.99 per share, including an $.86 per share charge for costs associated with the anticipated acquisition of Valspar partially offset by an increase of $.40 per share related to a reduction in the income tax provision, from $11.15 per share in 2015. Diluted net income per common share increased in the quarter to $2.15 per share, including a $.22 per share charge for costs associated with the anticipated acquisition of Valspar partially offset by an increase of $.03 per share related to a reduction in the income tax provision, compared to $2.11 per share a year ago. The increases in full year and fourth quarter diluted net income per common share were due primarily to improved operating results of the Paint Stores and Global Finishes Groups. Unfavorable currency translation rate changes decreased diluted net income per common share by $.14 per share for the year and $.03 per share in the quarter. The change in individually significant non-operating items had essentially no impact  on  full year diluted net income per common share compared to a year ago and improved diluted net income per common share in total by $.03 per share in the quarter. These items include gain on sale of assets, increased provision for environmental matters, and impairment of goodwill and trademarks.

Net sales in the Paint Stores Group increased 8.1% to $7.79 billion in the year and increased 9.8% to $1.84 billion in the quarter due primarily to higher architectural paint sales volume across all end market segments and the impact of the change in revenue classification. Net sales from stores open for more than twelve calendar months, excluding the revenue reclassification, increased 5.3% in the year and 5.5% in the quarter over last year's comparable periods. Paint Stores Group segment profit increased to $1.62 billion in the year from $1.43 billion last year and increased to $341.9 million in the quarter from $316.1 million last year due primarily to higher paint sales volume. Segment profit as a percent to net sales increased in the year to 20.8% from 19.9% in 2015 due primarily to higher paint sales volume. Segment profit as a percent to net sales decreased in the quarter to 18.6% from 18.9% last year due primarily to the change in revenue classification. Segment profit as a percent to net sales, excluding the revenue reclassification, increased to 21.2% and 19.2% for the year and quarter, respectively.

Net sales of the Consumer Group increased 0.4% to $1.58 billion in the year and increased 0.4% to $315.9 million in the quarter due primarily to higher volume sales to most of the Group's retail customers, partially offset by unfavorable currency translation rate changes. Unfavorable currency translation rate changes decreased net sales 1.1% and 1.3% in the year and quarter, respectively. Segment profit increased to $319.2 million in the year from $308.8 million last year, due primarily to improved operating efficiencies. Fourth quarter segment profit increased $4.0 million to $54.9 million from $50.9 million last year primarily due to improved operating efficiencies and reduced SG&A spending. As a percent to net external sales, segment profit increased in the year to 20.1% from 19.6% in 2015 and increased in the quarter to 17.4% from 16.2% last year.

The Global Finishes Group's net sales stated in U.S. dollars decreased 1.4% to $1.89 billion in the year and were flat at $455.0 million in the quarter. Unfavorable currency translation rate changes decreased net sales 2.6% and 1.7% in the year and quarter, respectively. Stated in U.S. dollars, segment profit increased to $239.0 million from $201.9 million last year and increased in the quarter to $62.0 million from $50.6 million last year due primarily to decreasing raw material costs and good expense control partially offset by unfavorable currency translation rate changes. Unfavorable currency translation rate changes decreased segment profit $5.8 million in the year and $0.8 million in the quarter. As a percent to net external sales, segment profit was 12.7% in 2016 compared to 10.5% in 2015 and 13.6% in the quarter versus 11.1% last year.

The Latin America Coatings Group's net sales stated in U.S. dollars decreased 7.0% to $586.9 million in the year due primarily to unfavorable currency translation rate changes and lower paint sales volume partially offset by selling price increases. Net sales in the quarter increased 8.3% to $171.8 million due primarily to selling price increases and higher paint sales volume partially offset by unfavorable currency translation rate changes. Unfavorable currency translation rate changes decreased net sales by 13.5% and 6.7% in the year and quarter, respectively. Stated in U.S. dollars, segment profit in the year decreased to a loss of $17.4 million compared to a profit of $18.5 million last year and decreased to a loss of $7.8 million in the quarter from a profit of $2.8 million last year due primarily to goodwill and trademark impairments of $10.7 million, increasing raw material costs, and unfavorable currency translation rate changes partially offset by selling price increases. Currency translation rate changes decreased segment profit $14.2 million in the year and $3.2 million in the quarter.

The Company made no open market purchases of its common stock in the twelve months ended December 31, 2016. At December 31, 2016, the Company had cash on hand of $889.8 million that will be utilized to fund the Valspar acquisition.

Commenting on the financial results, John G. Morikis, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "It is gratifying to report another year of record performances in sales, net income, earnings per share, and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.

"Over the past year, our Paint Stores Group grew architectural sales volume across every end market segment and delivered positive operating results. The Consumer Group improved its operating results through improved operating efficiencies and good SG&A controls. Our Global Finishes Group improved segment profit as a percent to sales through greater operating efficiencies and good cost control. The Latin America Coatings Group is starting to see the positive impact of previous investments partially offsetting the negative effects of currency devaluation and weak end market demand in some geographies.

"We continue to generate significant cash from operations allowing us to invest in the business and return a substantial portion to our shareholders. In 2016, we generated net operating cash flow of $1.31 billion. In 2016, we added 94 net new stores, finishing the year with 4,180 stores in operation. During the year, we increased our annual cash dividend 25% to $3.36 per common share. Our balance sheet remains flexible and is positioned well for the anticipated Valspar acquisition and other investments in our business.

"We now expect a divestiture will be required to gain approval from the FTC to complete the acquisition of Valspar. We are moving forward on a divestiture that we believe will allow us to gain approval from the FTC. The expected divestiture has revenues below the $650 million threshold, and we expect to negotiate the divestiture and complete the Valspar transaction at $113 per common share within 90 days.

"In the first quarter of 2017, we anticipate our consolidated net sales will increase a mid to high single digit percentage compared to the first quarter of 2016. At that anticipated sales level, we estimate diluted net income per common share in the first quarter of 2017 will be in the range of $1.45 to $1.55 per share compared to $1.75 per share earned in the first quarter of 2016, restated for the early adoption of a new accounting standard (ASU 2016-09). First quarter 2017 earnings per share includes costs related to the anticipated acquisition of Valspar totaling approximately $.69 per share and an increase of approximately $.11 per share related to the decrease in the income tax provision. For the full year 2017, we expect consolidated net sales to increase a mid single digit percentage compared to full year 2016. With annual sales at that level, we anticipate diluted net income per common share for 2017 will be in the range of $13.00 to $13.20 per share compared to $11.99 per share earned in 2016. Full year 2017 earnings per share includes costs related to the anticipated acquisition of Valspar totaling approximately $.80 per share and an increase of approximately $.20 per share related to the decrease in the income tax provision."

The Company will conduct a conference call to discuss its financial results for the fourth quarter and year 2016, and its outlook for the first quarter and full year 2017, at 11:00 a.m. EST on Thursday, January 26, 2017. The conference call will be webcast simultaneously in the listen only mode by Issuer Direct. To listen to the webcast on the Sherwin-Williams website, www.sherwin.com, click on About Us, choose Investor Relations, then select Press Releases and click on the webcast icon following the reference to the January 26^th release. The webcast will also be available at Issuer Direct's Investor Calendar website, www.investorcalendar.com. An archived replay of the live webcast will be available at www.sherwin.com beginning approximately two hours after the call ends and will be available until Wednesday, February 15, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. EST.

Founded in 1866, The Sherwin-Williams Company is a global leader in the manufacture, development, distribution, and sale of coatings and related products to professional, industrial, commercial, and retail customers. The company manufactures products under well-known brands such as Sherwin-Williams^®, HGTV HOME^® by Sherwin-Williams, Dutch Boy^®, Krylon^®, Minwax^®, Thompson's^® Water Seal^®, and many more. With global headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio, Sherwin-Williams^® branded products are sold exclusively through a chain of more than 4,100 company-operated stores and facilities, while the company's other brands are sold through leading mass merchandisers, home centers, independent paint dealers, hardware stores, automotive retailers, and industrial distributors. The Sherwin-Williams Global Finishes Group distributes a wide range of products in more than 115 countries around the world. For more information, visit www.sherwin.com.

Regulation G Reconciliation
Management of the Company believes that investors' understanding of the Company's operating performance is enhanced by the disclosure of diluted net income per common share excluding the Valspar acquisition costs and the reduction in income tax provision related to the adoption of a new accounting standard. This adjusted earnings per share measurement is not in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). It should not be considered a substitute for earnings per share computed in accordance with U.S. GAAP and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. The following table reconciles diluted net income per common share computed in accordance with U.S. GAAP to diluted net income per common share excluding the Valspar acquisition costs and the reduction in income tax provision related to the adoption of a new accounting standard for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2016, and anticipated diluted net income per common share computed in accordance with U.S. GAAP to anticipated diluted net income per common share excluding the Valspar acquisition costs and the reduction in income tax provision related to the adoption of a new accounting standard for the quarter ended March 31, 2017.

Additional information regarding the Company's financial condition, operating segment results and other information can be found on the Sherwin-Williams website, "www.sherwin.com", by clicking on About Us, choosing Investor Relations, then selecting Press Releases and clicking on the reference to the January 26^th release.

SOURCE The Sherwin-Williams Company