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Whirlpool Corporation (WHR - Free Report) reported dismal first-quarter 2018 results as both earnings and sales missed estimates. However, top and bottom lines improved year over year, driven by progress on its global cost-based price increases and fixed cost-reduction initiatives. With this, the company reported negative earnings in six of the last seven quarters. Moreover, this marked its fourth straight quarter of top-line miss.
Shares of this leading home-appliances manufacturer declined nearly 0.5% in the after-hours session yesterday, mainly due to the dismal results. Though this Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) stock lost 16.9% in the past year, it fared better than the industry’s decline of 29.2%.
Q1 Highlights
Whirlpool delivered adjusted earnings per share of $2.81, lagging the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.92. However, its bottom line rose 12% from $2.50 per share earned in the year-ago quarter. Bottom-line results gained from smooth progress on its global cost-based price increases and fixed cost reduction initiatives, which also boosted adjusted EBIT.
Whirlpool Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
On a GAAP basis, the company reported earnings of $1.30 per share, down 35.3% from $2.01 in the prior-year quarter.
Revenues of $4,911 million rose nearly 2.6% from the comparable year-ago quarter revenues of $4,786 million. However, the top line fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5,003 million. On a currency-neutral basis, sales declined 0.7%.
Further, adjusted operating profit (EBIT) improved 3.5% to $295 million from $285 million in the year-ago quarter. However, operating margin remained flat with last year at 6%. Apart from the aforementioned gains, operating margin was aided by favorable product price/mix and restructuring benefits, partly negated by raw material inflation, unit-volume declines and unfavorable currency.
Regional Performance
Revenues from North America rose 4.2% to $2.5 billion while it increased 2.5% on a currency-neutral basis. Adjusted operating profit margin expanded 20 bps to 11.4%. In dollar terms, operating profit grew 4.7% to $288 million. Notably, operating profit gains reflected from favorable product price/mix and unit-volume growth, which mitigated the negative impact of raw material inflation.
Revenues from Latin America declined 2.5% year over year to $898 million. Excluding currency translations, it dipped 3.2%. Adjusted operating margin of 6.3% contracted 90 bps, mainly due to raw material inflation and unfavorable cost productivity, partly neutralized by favorable product price/mix and restructuring benefits. In dollar terms, operating income declined 13.6% to $57 million.
Meanwhile, revenues from EMEA increased 10% to $1.1 billion. On a currency-neutral basis, it dropped 8.1%. Whirlpool reported adjusted operating loss of $27 million in the first quarter compared with an operating loss of $23 million in the year-ago quarter. The decline can be attributed to raw material inflation, unit-volume declines and unfavorable currency, offset by favorable product price/mix and cost productivity gains.
Revenues from Asia improved nearly 3% to $448 million from $435 million in the prior-year quarter. Excluding currency effects, revenues decreased 1.9%. Moreover, the segment reported adjusted operating profit of $19 million, down 20.8% from the year-year quarter. Further, adjusted operating margin contracted 140 bps to 4.2%. Raw material inflation and negative-currency movements were the main culprits for the decline, partly offset by the favorable impact from cost productivity.
Financial Position
Whirlpool had cash and cash equivalents of $1,041 million as of Mar 31, 2018, and long-term debt of $4,190 million.
The company used $713 million cash in operating activities in first-quarter 2018 and reported negative free cash flow of $756 million. Capital expenditures for the first quarter totaled $66 million.
Going forward, the company remains committed to its balanced capital-allocation approach. Consequently, it expects to continue buying back shares in 2018 while hoping to return more value to shareholders through its recently raised quarterly dividend.
On Apr 16, Whirlpool declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.15 per share, marking an increase of 5 cents from the previous rate of $1.10 per share. This dividend is payable on June 15, to shareholders with record as of May 18.
Guidance
Following the not-so-impressive first quarter, Whirlpool slightly lowered its GAAP earnings per share forecast while retaining adjusted earnings view for 2018. It continues to envision adjusted earnings per share of $14.50-$15.50. On a GAAP basis, it now anticipates earnings in a range of $12.30-$13.30 per share compared with $12.45-$13.45 per share expected earlier.
Further, the company revised its full-year tax-rate expectation to nearly 20%, which along with favorable product price/mix is likely to aid earnings. However, this will be partly offset by lower global-revenue growth and increased raw material inflation.
The company reiterated its forecast of generating free cash flow of $1-$1.1 billion in 2018 while operating cash flows are projected to be $1.7-$1.8 billion. This guidance includes restructured cash outlays of approximately $300 million, pension contributions of $35 million and capital expenditures of $675 million related to free cash flows.
Looking for Attractive Consumer Discretionary Stocks? Check These
Tailored Brands, with long-term earnings growth rate of 16.5%, has surged 21.5% in the last three months.
Guess? has long-term earnings growth rate of 17.5%. Moreover, it has an average positive earnings surprise of 34.7% in the trailing four quarters.
SodaStream has long-term earnings growth rate of 7.5%. Further, it has delivered an average positive earnings surprise of 40.4%.
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Image: Bigstock
Whirlpool (WHR) Q1 Earnings & Sales Miss, GAAP View Trimmed
Whirlpool Corporation (WHR - Free Report) reported dismal first-quarter 2018 results as both earnings and sales missed estimates. However, top and bottom lines improved year over year, driven by progress on its global cost-based price increases and fixed cost-reduction initiatives. With this, the company reported negative earnings in six of the last seven quarters. Moreover, this marked its fourth straight quarter of top-line miss.
Shares of this leading home-appliances manufacturer declined nearly 0.5% in the after-hours session yesterday, mainly due to the dismal results. Though this Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) stock lost 16.9% in the past year, it fared better than the industry’s decline of 29.2%.
Q1 Highlights
Whirlpool delivered adjusted earnings per share of $2.81, lagging the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.92. However, its bottom line rose 12% from $2.50 per share earned in the year-ago quarter. Bottom-line results gained from smooth progress on its global cost-based price increases and fixed cost reduction initiatives, which also boosted adjusted EBIT.
Whirlpool Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Whirlpool Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | Whirlpool Corporation Quote
On a GAAP basis, the company reported earnings of $1.30 per share, down 35.3% from $2.01 in the prior-year quarter.
Revenues of $4,911 million rose nearly 2.6% from the comparable year-ago quarter revenues of $4,786 million. However, the top line fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5,003 million. On a currency-neutral basis, sales declined 0.7%.
Further, adjusted operating profit (EBIT) improved 3.5% to $295 million from $285 million in the year-ago quarter. However, operating margin remained flat with last year at 6%. Apart from the aforementioned gains, operating margin was aided by favorable product price/mix and restructuring benefits, partly negated by raw material inflation, unit-volume declines and unfavorable currency.
Regional Performance
Revenues from North America rose 4.2% to $2.5 billion while it increased 2.5% on a currency-neutral basis. Adjusted operating profit margin expanded 20 bps to 11.4%. In dollar terms, operating profit grew 4.7% to $288 million. Notably, operating profit gains reflected from favorable product price/mix and unit-volume growth, which mitigated the negative impact of raw material inflation.
Revenues from Latin America declined 2.5% year over year to $898 million. Excluding currency translations, it dipped 3.2%. Adjusted operating margin of 6.3% contracted 90 bps, mainly due to raw material inflation and unfavorable cost productivity, partly neutralized by favorable product price/mix and restructuring benefits. In dollar terms, operating income declined 13.6% to $57 million.
Meanwhile, revenues from EMEA increased 10% to $1.1 billion. On a currency-neutral basis, it dropped 8.1%. Whirlpool reported adjusted operating loss of $27 million in the first quarter compared with an operating loss of $23 million in the year-ago quarter. The decline can be attributed to raw material inflation, unit-volume declines and unfavorable currency, offset by favorable product price/mix and cost productivity gains.
Revenues from Asia improved nearly 3% to $448 million from $435 million in the prior-year quarter. Excluding currency effects, revenues decreased 1.9%. Moreover, the segment reported adjusted operating profit of $19 million, down 20.8% from the year-year quarter. Further, adjusted operating margin contracted 140 bps to 4.2%. Raw material inflation and negative-currency movements were the main culprits for the decline, partly offset by the favorable impact from cost productivity.
Financial Position
Whirlpool had cash and cash equivalents of $1,041 million as of Mar 31, 2018, and long-term debt of $4,190 million.
The company used $713 million cash in operating activities in first-quarter 2018 and reported negative free cash flow of $756 million. Capital expenditures for the first quarter totaled $66 million.
Going forward, the company remains committed to its balanced capital-allocation approach. Consequently, it expects to continue buying back shares in 2018 while hoping to return more value to shareholders through its recently raised quarterly dividend.
On Apr 16, Whirlpool declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.15 per share, marking an increase of 5 cents from the previous rate of $1.10 per share. This dividend is payable on June 15, to shareholders with record as of May 18.
Guidance
Following the not-so-impressive first quarter, Whirlpool slightly lowered its GAAP earnings per share forecast while retaining adjusted earnings view for 2018. It continues to envision adjusted earnings per share of $14.50-$15.50. On a GAAP basis, it now anticipates earnings in a range of $12.30-$13.30 per share compared with $12.45-$13.45 per share expected earlier.
Further, the company revised its full-year tax-rate expectation to nearly 20%, which along with favorable product price/mix is likely to aid earnings. However, this will be partly offset by lower global-revenue growth and increased raw material inflation.
The company reiterated its forecast of generating free cash flow of $1-$1.1 billion in 2018 while operating cash flows are projected to be $1.7-$1.8 billion. This guidance includes restructured cash outlays of approximately $300 million, pension contributions of $35 million and capital expenditures of $675 million related to free cash flows.
Looking for Attractive Consumer Discretionary Stocks? Check These
Better-ranked stocks in the Consumer Discretionary sector include Tailored Brands Inc. , Guess? Inc. (GES - Free Report) and SodaStream International Ltd. , each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Tailored Brands, with long-term earnings growth rate of 16.5%, has surged 21.5% in the last three months.
Guess? has long-term earnings growth rate of 17.5%. Moreover, it has an average positive earnings surprise of 34.7% in the trailing four quarters.
SodaStream has long-term earnings growth rate of 7.5%. Further, it has delivered an average positive earnings surprise of 40.4%.
Will You Make a Fortune on the Shift to Electric Cars?
Here's another stock idea to consider. Much like petroleum 150 years ago, lithium power may soon shake the world, creating millionaires and reshaping geo-politics. Soon electric vehicles (EVs) may be cheaper than gas guzzlers. Some are already reaching 265 miles on a single charge.
With battery prices plummeting and charging stations set to multiply, one company stands out as the #1 stock to buy according to Zacks research.
It's not the one you think.
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