Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Reports Increased Earnings, All-Time Record Sales
Fourth Quarter Highlights
- All-time record sales, year-over-year increase of 15 percent
- Net income increased 20 percent
- Earnings per share of 38 cents increased 19 percent
- Earnings per share net of restructuring charges increased 30 percent
- Tire Group sales increased 14 percent, setting a fourth quarter record
- Automotive Group sales increased 16 percent, setting a fourth quarter record
- Automotive Group operating profit increased 47 percent
FINDLAY, Ohio, Feb. 5 -- Cooper Tire & Rubber Company today reported all-time record high sales of $967 million and a 20 percent increase in net income in the quarter ended December 31, 2003. The record sales represent a 15 percent increase compared to the same period a year earlier. Net income increased by 20 percent to $28 million compared to $23 million in the fourth quarter of 2002. Basic and diluted earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 2003 were 38 cents or 19 percent higher than the earnings per share of 32 cents reported in the fourth quarter of 2002. These results include restructuring charges of 5 cents per share in the fourth quarter of 2003 and 1 cent per share in the fourth quarter of 2002. Excluding the restructuring charges, the Company's basic and diluted earnings per share in the fourth quarter of 2003 would have been 43 cents compared to 33 cents in the fourth quarter of 2002.
For the year ended December 31, 2003, the Company recorded net income of $74 million or $1.00 diluted earnings per share on net sales of $3.5 billion. By comparison, net income in 2002 was $112 million and earnings per share were $1.51. These full-year results include restructuring charges of $15 million or 13 cents per share in 2003 and $5 million or 4 cents per share in 2002.
Commenting on these results, Cooper chairman, president and chief executive officer Thomas A. Dattilo said, "This was our second consecutive record setting quarter and we are extremely pleased with our strong sales performance as we have once again significantly outpaced the growth rate of our industries. Our Automotive Group's sales and operating profit improved significantly on the strength of new business ramping up and improved operational efficiency. Our full year results were hampered by difficult market conditions in the first half of the year but our results in the last two quarters are much more representative of what we see moving forward."
Tire Group Operations
Sales for Cooper's tire operations were a fourth quarter record $519 million, an increase of 14 percent compared to the $458 million achieved in the fourth quarter of 2002. This increase was driven by an 8 percent increase in tire unit volumes, improving customer and product mix and an improved pricing environment. The Company's sales of high performance and ultra-high performance tires increased by more than 50 percent during the quarter. Sales of P-Metric SUV tires increased by 40 percent and winter tire sales increased by 25 percent compared to the prior year period.
Operating profit was $24 million in the fourth quarter compared to $29 million last year. Increasing raw material costs and higher expense for various sales rebates and customer programs had a negative impact on operating profit which was only partially offset by increasing sales volumes, the positive results from lean initiatives and improved price and product mix.
For the full year, the Tire Group had record sales of $1.9 billion compared to $1.8 billion last year, an increase of nearly 6 percent. Tire unit sales were up 2 percent overall with units shipped to the regional retailer channel up more than 14 percent and Cooper brand units in North America improving by 3 percent. Tire Group operating profit for the year was $88 million, compared to $136 million in 2002 with the decline being the result of lower sales volumes in the first half, the resulting operating inefficiencies and dramatic increases in the cost of raw materials throughout the year.
Automotive Group Operations
In the fourth quarter of 2003, sales for Cooper-Standard Automotive reached a record $453 million, an increase of more than 16 percent over the fourth quarter of 2002. New business launches in both North America and Europe were the primary drivers of the revenue growth, contributing $59 million to total sales. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates added $32 million. The Company's strategic positioning as a supplier to certain light truck and SUV platforms that continued to sell well during the quarter was also a positive factor. Automotive Group operating profit for the quarter increased 45 percent to reach $36 million. This compares to $25 million in the same period last year. The significant increase was the result of operating improvements and cost savings from restructuring, lean initiatives and increased production volume driven by new business on key platforms. Savings from lean manufacturing initiatives were $21 million in the fourth quarter.
For the full year 2003, Cooper-Standard Automotive sales were $1.7 billion and were also a company record on the basis of continuing operations. By comparison, sales for the full year 2002 were $1.6 billion. The increase of nearly 5 percent was driven by $140 million in new business and a $91 million impact from foreign currency exchange rates.
In both the quarter and the year, the effect of new business and foreign exchange rates on sales combined to more than offset the negative impact of lost and runout business, particularly with Daimler Chrylser as discussed in previous quarters, and the impact of pricedowns.
Automotive Group operating profit for the full year 2003 was $96 million compared to $117 million in 2002.
During the quarter Cooper-Standard Automotive was awarded contracts for $19 million in annualized net new business. This brings the total net new business awarded in 2003 to $95 million, which will begin production and phase in over the next 3 to 5 years.
Outlook
"As the economy continues its comeback, we expect replacement tire demand to remain healthy for the industry as a whole, and light vehicle production should remain solid," Dattilo said. "In tires, the new business we announced last quarter should enable us to outpace the industry growth again. However, rising raw material costs continue to be a challenge for the tire industry. Significantly higher raw material costs, perhaps as much as $15 - $20 million higher, will exert pressure on our Tire Group operating margins in the first quarter. But tire price increases to be implemented in February should provide some relief in the second quarter and beyond. Additionally, higher sales volumes, continued growth in the profitable high performance and specialty light truck tire market segments, the successful implementation of our lean initiatives and our Asian strategy should have a significant positive impact on our results as the year progresses."
"Automotive production schedules look pretty good, right from the start of the year," Dattilo continued. "Demand remains strong for our key platforms in North America and we are expecting solid growth again in our European automotive components business. Still, we will continue to restructure and streamline our operations where it makes sense in order to get the most out of our opportunities in 2004 and beyond."
"The first quarter of 2004 is likely to be the toughest of the year with earnings anticipated in the range of 24 - 28 cents due to the impact of raw materials, increased operational complexity during tire plant expansions and the introduction and ramp-up of new business. But we are confident that, just as in 2003, our results will be much stronger in subsequent quarters. Our automotive group is well positioned and will remain solid in spite of challenging industry conditions and pricing pressures. The tire group will drive much of the sequential improvement as they offset increasing costs with higher volumes, better pricing and mix and operating improvements. So we are optimistic that our results in 2004 will significantly exceed what we accomplished in 2003."
Company Description
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, headquartered in Findlay, Ohio, specializes in the manufacture and marketing of products for the global automotive industry. Products include automotive, motorcycle and truck tires, inner tubes, tread rubber and equipment, as well as sealing, trim, NVH control systems and fluid handling systems. Cooper has more than 20,000 employees and 51 manufacturing facilities in 13 countries. For more information, visit the Company's web site at: www.coopertireandrubber.com .
Forward-Looking Statements
This report contains what the Company believes are "forward-looking statements," as that term is defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, regarding projections, expectations or matters which the Company anticipates may happen with respect to the future performance of the industries in which the Company operates, the economies of the United States and other countries, or the performance of the Company itself, which involve uncertainty and risk. Such "forward-looking statements" are generally, though not always, preceded by words such as "anticipates," "expects," "believes," "projects," "intends," "plans," "estimates," and similar terms that connote a view to the future and are not merely recitations of historical fact. Such statements are made solely on the basis of the Company's current views and perceptions of future events, and there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be true. It is possible that actual results may differ materially from those projections or expectations due to a variety of factors, including but not limited to:
- changes in economic and business conditions in the world, especially
the continuation of the global tensions and risks of further terrorist
incidents which currently exist,
- increased competitive activity, including the inability of the Tire
segment to obtain price increases to offset higher production or
material costs,
- the failure to achieve expected sales levels,
- consolidation among the Company's competitors and customers,
- technology advancements,
- unexpected costs and charges, including those associated with new
vehicle launches,
- fluctuations in raw material and energy prices, including those of both
crude petroleum and natural gas and the unavailability of such raw
materials or energy sources,
- changes in interest and foreign exchange rates,
- increased pension expense resulting from investment performance of the
Company's pension plan assets and changes in discount rate and expected
return on plan assets assumptions,
- government regulatory initiatives, including the proposed and final
regulations under the TREAD Act,
- the cyclical nature and overall health of the global automotive
industry, and the impact of the inability of the Company's customers to
meet their sales and production goals,
- changes in the Company's customer relationships, including loss of
particular business for competitive or other reasons,
- the impact of labor problems, including a strike brought against the
Company or against one or more of its large customers,
- litigation brought against the Company,
- an adverse change in the Company's credit ratings, which could increase
its borrowing costs and/or hamper its access to the credit markets,
- the inability of either segment to execute the cost reduction/Asian
strategies outlined by each for the coming year,
- the impact of reductions in the insurance program covering the
principal risks to the Company, and other unanticipated events and
conditions.
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company
Consolidated Statements of Income
(Dollar amounts in thousands except per share amounts)
Quarter Ended Twelve Months Ended
December 31 December 31
2002 2003 2002 2003
Net sales $841,628 $966,753 $3,329,957 $3,514,399
Cost of products sold 723,271 840,926 2,839,757 3,078,761
Gross profit 118,357 125,827 490,200 435,638
Selling, general and
administrative 63,208 61,642 237,239 247,416
Adjustment to class action
warranty - - - (3,900)
Restructuring charges 1,683 5,847 4,565 14,992
Operating profit 53,466 58,338 248,396 177,130
Interest expense 18,298 16,077 75,587 67,936
Other - net (1,791) (503) (4,388) (4,916)
Income before taxes 36,959 42,764 177,197 114,110
Provision for taxes 13,464 14,590 65,352 40,274
Net Income $23,495 $28,174 $111,845 $73,836
Basic earnings per share $0.32 $0.38 $1.53 $1.00
Diluted earnings per share $0.32 $0.38 $1.51 $1.00
Weighted average shares
outstanding
Basic 73,554 73,862 73,327 73,688
Diluted 73,772 74,777 74,039 74,203
Depreciation $48,330 $50,145 $177,867 $185,295
Amortization of intangibles $1,463 $1,113 $4,959 $4,439
Capital expenditures $47,881 $48,295 $141,393 $154,778
Segment information
Net Sales
Tire $457,588 $519,369 $1,769,058 $1,872,873
Automotive 389,082 452,726 1,585,953 1,662,244
Eliminations (5,042) (5,342) (25,054) (20,718)
Segment profit
Tire 29,695 24,182 137,403 87,664
Automotive 24,562 36,199 117,473 95,719
Unallocated corporate
charges and eliminations (791) (2,043) (6,480) (6,253)
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
December 31
2002 2003
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $44,748 $66,426
Accounts receivable 460,879 613,269
Inventories 280,641 282,352
Prepaid expenses, deferred
income taxes and other 73,030 55,813
Total current assets 859,298 1,017,860
Property, plant and equipment 1,197,975 1,207,898
Goodwill 427,895 429,792
Intangibles and other assets 225,811 211,232
$2,710,979 $2,866,782
Liabilities and Stockholders'
Equity
Current liabilities:
Notes payable $21,956 $2,770
Trade payables and accrued
liabilities 396,300 465,357
Income taxes 96 -
Current portion of debt 14,994 3,015
Total current liabilities 433,346 471,142
Long-term debt 875,378 871,948
Postretirement benefits other
than pensions 205,630 220,723
Other long-term liabilities 241,137 259,080
Deferred income taxes 13,772 13,500
Stockholders' equity 941,716 1,030,389
$2,710,979 $2,866,782