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TE Connectivity (TEL) Beats on Q4 Earnings, Lags Revenues
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TE Connectivity Ltd. (TEL - Free Report) delivered fourth-quarter fiscal 2018 adjusted earnings of $1.35 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2 cents. The figure also grew 19.5% year over year and exceeded the projected range of $1.31-$1.33 per share.
Net sales in the quarter were up 1.5% year over year to $3.51 billion. Solid segmental performance, especially in the Industrial and Communications segments, drove top-line growth in the reported quarter. Additionally, organic growth in all the segments remained positive throughout the quarter.
However, the figure lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.64 billion.
The company’s total orders grew 4% year over year but declined 8% sequentially.
The company's shares have lost 18.7% on a year-to-date basis compared to the industry's decline of 12.1%.
TopLine in Detail
TE Connectivity operates in the following three organized segments.
Transportation Solutions: The company generated $2.01 billion of sales (57.3% of net sales) in the reported quarter, up 9.1% on a year-over-year basis. This was driven by solid organic growth of 8% within the segment’s businesses – automotive, commercial transportation and sensor. Further, orders also improved 4% organically.
All these can primarily be attributed to robust performance of commercial transport, which increased 15% year over year. Additionally, strong presence in Americas and China, drove results. At present, China’s truck market accounts for 30% of TE Connectivity’s commercial transportation business.
Industrial Solutions: This segment recorded sales of $1.01 billion (28.9% of net sales) and witnessed another strong quarter, rising 6.3% from the prior-year quarter. The company witnessed organic growth of 6% in the reported quarter. Further, orders went up 3% organically. Strength in aerospace, defense and marine, as well as medical applications drove growth.
Communications Solutions: This segment generated sales of $483 million (13.8% of net sales), which increased 10.5% year over year and experienced organic growth of 12%. This was driven by strong growth in data and devices due to high-speed connectivity in data center applications and content growth from electronification trends. Moreover, organic growth in orders received was4% from the year-ago quarter.
Operating Details
Gross margin for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 was 33.7%, which expanded 70 basis points (bps) from the year-ago quarter. Adjusted operating margin was 17%, up 110 bps year over year.
Moreover, R&D expenses were $171 million, up 10.3% from the prior-year quarter and selling, general, and administrative expenses were $414 million, up 4% year over year.
Notably, the company incurred acquisition charge of $5 million compared with $1 million in the year-ago quarter.
TE Connectivity Ltd. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
As of Sep 28, 2018, TE Connectivity’s cash and cash equivalents of $848 million was less than $1,218 million as of Sep 29, 2017.
The company generated free cash flow of $922 million in the reported quarter, up 10% from the year-ago quarter. Further, TE Connectivity paid back $1.6 billion to its shareholders through share repurchases and dividend payments and used $153 million for acquisitions.
Guidance
For the fiscal first quarter of 2019, the company expects net sales in the range of $3.33 billion and $3.43 billion, reflecting growth of 3% at mid-point. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for sales is pegged at $3.63 billion.
Adjusted earnings per share are projected in the band of $1.25-$1.29. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at $1.38 per share.
Additionally, for fiscal 2019, TE Connectivity anticipates net sales of$13.9 to $14.3 billion, projecting growth of 3% year over year at the mid-point.
The company anticipates adjusted EPS to be within $5.6-$5.8, indicating low-single digit earnings expansion.
To Conclude
TE Connectivity reported mixed fourth-quarter fiscal 2018 results, beating earnings estimates but missing the same for revenues. The company’s fiscal 2019 earnings guidance and sales forecast reflects slower growth in certain end market. Moreover, the company expects revenues to decline in the first and fourth quarters of 2019.
The company’s strong efforts toward business development will continue to benefit segmental performance.
The Transportation Solutions segment is anticipated to witness growth at low single-digits organically, owing to global decline in auto production, primarily in Europe and China.
The Industrial Solutions segment is also poised to grow in mid-single digits with growth in aerospace, defense and medical.
Communications Solutions segment is also expected to grow in mid-single digits. The growth will primarily be backed by strength in data and devices unit.
Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider
TE Connectivity currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Long-term earnings growth rate for Twitter, Cadence Design and FUJITSU is projected to be 22%, 12% and 11.4%, respectively.
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TE Connectivity (TEL) Beats on Q4 Earnings, Lags Revenues
TE Connectivity Ltd. (TEL - Free Report) delivered fourth-quarter fiscal 2018 adjusted earnings of $1.35 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2 cents. The figure also grew 19.5% year over year and exceeded the projected range of $1.31-$1.33 per share.
Net sales in the quarter were up 1.5% year over year to $3.51 billion. Solid segmental performance, especially in the Industrial and Communications segments, drove top-line growth in the reported quarter. Additionally, organic growth in all the segments remained positive throughout the quarter.
However, the figure lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.64 billion.
The company’s total orders grew 4% year over year but declined 8% sequentially.
The company's shares have lost 18.7% on a year-to-date basis compared to the industry's decline of 12.1%.
TopLine in Detail
TE Connectivity operates in the following three organized segments.
Transportation Solutions: The company generated $2.01 billion of sales (57.3% of net sales) in the reported quarter, up 9.1% on a year-over-year basis. This was driven by solid organic growth of 8% within the segment’s businesses – automotive, commercial transportation and sensor. Further, orders also improved 4% organically.
All these can primarily be attributed to robust performance of commercial transport, which increased 15% year over year. Additionally, strong presence in Americas and China, drove results. At present, China’s truck market accounts for 30% of TE Connectivity’s commercial transportation business.
Industrial Solutions: This segment recorded sales of $1.01 billion (28.9% of net sales) and witnessed another strong quarter, rising 6.3% from the prior-year quarter. The company witnessed organic growth of 6% in the reported quarter. Further, orders went up 3% organically. Strength in aerospace, defense and marine, as well as medical applications drove growth.
Communications Solutions: This segment generated sales of $483 million (13.8% of net sales), which increased 10.5% year over year and experienced organic growth of 12%. This was driven by strong growth in data and devices due to high-speed connectivity in data center applications and content growth from electronification trends. Moreover, organic growth in orders received was4% from the year-ago quarter.
Operating Details
Gross margin for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 was 33.7%, which expanded 70 basis points (bps) from the year-ago quarter. Adjusted operating margin was 17%, up 110 bps year over year.
Moreover, R&D expenses were $171 million, up 10.3% from the prior-year quarter and selling, general, and administrative expenses were $414 million, up 4% year over year.
Notably, the company incurred acquisition charge of $5 million compared with $1 million in the year-ago quarter.
TE Connectivity Ltd. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
TE Connectivity Ltd. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | TE Connectivity Ltd. Quote
Balance Sheet & Cash Flow
As of Sep 28, 2018, TE Connectivity’s cash and cash equivalents of $848 million was less than $1,218 million as of Sep 29, 2017.
The company generated free cash flow of $922 million in the reported quarter, up 10% from the year-ago quarter. Further, TE Connectivity paid back $1.6 billion to its shareholders through share repurchases and dividend payments and used $153 million for acquisitions.
Guidance
For the fiscal first quarter of 2019, the company expects net sales in the range of $3.33 billion and $3.43 billion, reflecting growth of 3% at mid-point. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for sales is pegged at $3.63 billion.
Adjusted earnings per share are projected in the band of $1.25-$1.29. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at $1.38 per share.
Additionally, for fiscal 2019, TE Connectivity anticipates net sales of$13.9 to $14.3 billion, projecting growth of 3% year over year at the mid-point.
The company anticipates adjusted EPS to be within $5.6-$5.8, indicating low-single digit earnings expansion.
To Conclude
TE Connectivity reported mixed fourth-quarter fiscal 2018 results, beating earnings estimates but missing the same for revenues. The company’s fiscal 2019 earnings guidance and sales forecast reflects slower growth in certain end market. Moreover, the company expects revenues to decline in the first and fourth quarters of 2019.
The company’s strong efforts toward business development will continue to benefit segmental performance.
The Transportation Solutions segment is anticipated to witness growth at low single-digits organically, owing to global decline in auto production, primarily in Europe and China.
The Industrial Solutions segment is also poised to grow in mid-single digits with growth in aerospace, defense and medical.
Communications Solutions segment is also expected to grow in mid-single digits. The growth will primarily be backed by strength in data and devices unit.
Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider
TE Connectivity currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
A few better-ranked stocks in the broader technology sector are Twitter , Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (CDNS - Free Report) and FUJITSU GENERAL . All three stocks sporta Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Long-term earnings growth rate for Twitter, Cadence Design and FUJITSU is projected to be 22%, 12% and 11.4%, respectively.
Today's Stocks from Zacks' Hottest Strategies
It's hard to believe, even for us at Zacks. But while the market gained +21.9% in 2017, our top stock-picking screens have returned +115.0%, +109.3%, +104.9%, +98.6%, and +67.1%.
And this outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. Over the years it has been remarkably consistent. From 2000 - 2017, the composite yearly average gain for these strategies has beaten the market more than 19X over. Maybe even more remarkable is the fact that we're willing to share their latest stocks with you without cost or obligation.
See Them Free>>