Press Release Details

CHARLOTTE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Carlisle Companies Incorporated (NYSE:CSL) reported $650.4 million in net sales from continuing operations for the first quarter 2014, an increase of 3.3% versus the prior year. Sales growth was achieved in all segments led by strong organic growth at Carlisle Interconnect Technologies on robust aerospace demand. The positive impact on net sales from fluctuations in foreign exchange was less than 1%.

Earnings before interest and income taxes (EBIT) was $63.0 million in the first quarter 2014. EBIT grew 14% from the prior year reflecting higher sales volume and savings from the Carlisle Operating System, partially offset by lower selling prices.

Income from continuing operations was $36.5 million, or $0.56 per diluted share, in the first quarter 2014, an 18% decrease from income of $44.3 million, or $0.68 per diluted share, in the first quarter 2013. The reduction in income in the first quarter 2014 versus the prior year was primarily attributable to a discrete tax benefit in 2013 of $13.0 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, from the release of a deferred tax liability in connection with a tax election in a foreign jurisdiction.

All financial and percentage comparisons are made to the same quarter of the previous year, unless otherwise stated.

Comment

David A. Roberts , Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “Despite the severe winter weather negatively impacting the quarter, we achieved sales growth in all our segments and leveraged that growth to a 14% EBIT improvement. Our EBIT margin grew 90 basis points to 9.7% for the quarter. Highlighting the quarter was our performance at Carlisle Interconnect Technologies (CIT). CIT achieved an exceptional 20.3% EBIT margin, a record for CIT as well as the highest margin performance in any Carlisle segment since 2008.

“At CCM, first quarter sales increased 2.3% and EBIT declined 11%. CCM’s sales growth came from high demand in Europe, offset by slightly lower sales in the U.S. due to the harsh winter. CCM’s U.S. sales in January and February were down from the same prior year period primarily in the northern states. We saw a strong rebound in March as the weather improved. CCM’s EBIT declined primarily due to lower selling price as well as the negative impact of mix changes and lower capacity utilization at our two new insulation plants. We expect higher sales growth in upcoming quarters from sales that were delayed due to weather and continue to anticipate growth in U.S. commercial construction. We expect high single digit sales growth and leveraged EBIT growth at CCM for the full year.

“CIT achieved 6.9% sales growth, all of which was organic, and outstanding EBIT growth of 67%. CIT’s EBIT margin rose 730 basis points to a record 20.3%. CIT had double-digit sales growth in the aerospace market on strong IFEC (In-Flight Entertainment and Connectivity) sales as well as strong demand from the Boeing 787 program. In addition, CIT achieved excellent operating leverage through continued execution of the Carlisle Operating System. CIT commenced activities to construct a 190,000 square foot plant in Nogales, Mexico, to handle growing aerospace demand. This plant is expected to be completed later this year.

“Carlisle Brake and Friction’s (CBF) sales increased 1.5% compared to the first quarter 2013. Sequentially, sales increased 15%. CBF’s EBIT declined 16% primarily on lower selling price. Organically, CBF’s sales were flat in the first quarter versus the prior year after taking out the impact of foreign exchange fluctuations, an improvement compared to the six previous quarters of sales declines. With seven consecutive months of year-over-year order increases, as well as a growing backlog, we believe we are past the bottom in demand experienced in 2013 and expect modest sales growth at CBF in 2014.

“At Carlisle Foodservice Products (CFS), sales increased by 3.3% and EBIT grew an impressive 39%. CFS’ operating performance continues to improve despite softness experienced in the first quarter in the foodservice market, due in part to the harsh winter in the U.S.

“We remain focused on growing our businesses, expanding performance improvement initiatives through the Carlisle Operating System and investing in new products and new markets. In addition, we are committed to using our cash on hand and available liquidity to maximize shareholder value by acquiring companies that fit our long-term growth and margin profiles and returning capital to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases.”

Roberts concluded by stating, “For the full year 2014, we continue to plan for high single-digit percentage sales growth, primarily driven by growth at CCM and CIT, and expect to generate EBIT leverage from our sales growth. Capital expenditures for the year are expected to be approximately $119 million. Our balance sheet continues to be strong and we are solidly positioned to pursue our long-term growth objectives.”

Segment Results for First Quarter 2014

Carlisle Construction Materials (CCM): Net sales in the first quarter of 2014 of $347.4 million increased by 2.3%. CCM’s sales into Europe grew 63%, exclusive of a 2.1% favorable foreign exchange impact within that region, reflecting growing demand for single-ply roofing solutions, and recovering market conditions. Within the U.S., CCM’s sales declined by 2.5%, primarily reflecting harsh weather conditions in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the prior year. CCM’s overall EBIT margin of 9.2% in the first quarter of 2014 declined by 130 basis points from the prior year primarily due to lower selling price, unfavorable mix changes and lower capacity utilization at our new insulation plants. CCM also commenced startup production activities during the first quarter 2014 at its new PVC manufacturing plant in Greenville, IL and incurred plant startup expenses of $1.8 million, as compared to plant startup expenses in the first quarter of 2013 of $1.7 million.

Carlisle Interconnect Technologies (CIT): Net sales in the first quarter of 2014 grew 6.9% to $150.9 million versus the prior year. Sales in CIT’s aerospace market were up 12%, partially offset by a 14% decline in sales to the military market and a 11% decline in sales to the industrial market. CIT’s EBIT margin grew 730 basis points to a record 20.3%, primarily due to higher sales volume, savings from the Carlisle Operating System, favorable mix changes and savings from purchasing initiatives. Included in CIT’s EBIT in the first quarter 2014 was $0.9 million in other income for proceeds received in final settlement of the Thermax acquisition. By comparison, CIT’s EBIT in the first quarter of 2013 included $1.1 million of acquisition costs related to the fair valuation of acquired inventory from CIT’s purchase of Thermax.

Carlisle Brake & Friction (CBF): CBF’s first quarter 2014 net sales growth of 1.5%, to $92.2 million, primarily reflecting the positive impact of foreign exchange fluctuations from the stronger Euro and British pound. CBF’s organic sales, which exclude foreign exchange impacts, were flat versus the prior year, reflecting sales volume growth of approximately 2% offset by lower selling price. CBF’s sales into the agriculture market grew 17%. This increase was partially offset by a decline in sales to the mining and construction markets of 20% and 3%, respectively. CBF’s EBIT margin during the first quarter declined 210 basis points to 10.0%, primarily due to lower selling price.

Carlisle FoodService Products (CFS): Net sales in the first quarter of 2014 grew 3.3% to $59.9 million compared to the prior year. CFS achieved strong sales volume growth to the healthcare market of 24% primarily reflecting higher demand for retherm equipment used to reheat and maintain food temperature for meal delivery. This increase was partially offset by 8% lower sales volume to the foodservice market, which had lower demand due in part to harsh weather. CFS’ EBIT margin grew 310 basis points during the first quarter of 2014 to 11.9% primarily due to higher sales volume and savings from the Carlisle Operating System.

Income Tax Expense

The Company’s 2014 year to date provision for income taxes includes tax on ordinary earnings at an anticipated rate of approximately 33%. The 33.6% effective rate for the first quarter of 2014 also includes current quarter discrete tax expense of $0.4 million.

The Company’s first quarter 2013 effective tax rate of 5.9% reflected discrete tax benefits of $13.0 million primarily related to a tax election made in a foreign jurisdiction that resulted in the release of deferred tax liabilities. Excluding discrete items, the first quarter 2013 effective tax rate was 33.5%.

Cash Flow

Cash flow provided from operations of $51.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 increased by $13.3 million primarily reflecting lower usage of cash to fund working capital offset by a reduction in net income in 2014 versus 2013. For the first quarter 2014, average working capital (defined as the average of the quarter end balances, excluding current year acquisitions, for receivables, plus inventory less accounts payable) as a percentage of annualized sales (defined as year-to-date net sales, excluding current year acquisitions, calculated on an annualized basis) declined to 19.7%, from 20.9% in the prior year.

Capital expenditures during the first quarter of 2014 were $24.1 million versus $26.8 million in the prior year. Capital expenditures for the prior year include expenditures of $2.7 million of the divested Transportation Products business. The Company expects full year capital expenditures will be approximately $119 million.

As of March 31, 2014, the Company had $779.7 million of cash on hand and $600 million of borrowing availability under its credit facility.

Conference Call and Webcast

The Company will discuss first quarter 2014 results on a conference call at 8:00 a.m. ET today. The call may be accessed live by going to the Investor Relations section of the Carlisle website (http://www.carlisle.com/investor-relations/events-and-webcasts/default.aspx), or the taped call may be listened to shortly following the live call at the same website location. A PowerPoint presentation will accompany the call and can be found on the Carlisle website as well.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally use words such as “expect,” “foresee,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “project,” “should,” “estimate,” “will,” “plans”, “forecast” and similar expressions, and reflect our expectations concerning the future. It is possible that our future performance may differ materially from current expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements, due to a variety of factors such as: increasing price and product/service competition by foreign and domestic competitors, including new entrants; technological developments and changes; the ability to continue to introduce competitive new products and services on a timely, cost-effective basis; our mix of products/services; increases in raw material costs which cannot be recovered in product pricing; domestic and foreign governmental and public policy changes including environmental regulations; threats associated with and efforts to combat terrorism; protection and validity of patent and other intellectual property rights; the successful integration and identification of our strategic acquisitions; the cyclical nature of our businesses; and the outcome of pending and future litigation and governmental proceedings. In addition, such statements could be affected by general industry and market conditions and growth rates, the condition of the financial and credit markets, and general domestic and international economic conditions including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations. Further, any conflict in the international arena may adversely affect general market conditions and our future performance. We refer you to the documents we file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, such as our reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K, for a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from our current expectations and from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

About Carlisle Companies Incorporated

Carlisle Companies Incorporated is a global diversified company that designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of products that serve a broad range of niche markets including commercial roofing, energy, agriculture, mining, construction, aerospace and defense electronics, foodservice, healthcare and sanitary maintenance. Through our group of decentralized operating companies led by entrepreneurial management teams, we bring innovative product solutions to solve the challenges facing our customers. Our worldwide team of employees, who generated $2.9 billion in net sales in 2013, is focused on continuously improving the value of the Carlisle brand by developing the best products, ensuring the highest quality and providing unequaled customer service in the many industries we serve. Learn more about Carlisle at www.carlisle.com.

Source: Carlisle Companies Incorporated