P&G reports fiscal Q3 net earnings of US$2.61B, up 1.6% from year-ago period; net sales fall 0.2% to US$20.56B

Nevin Barich

Nevin Barich

CINCINNATI , April 23, 2014 (press release) – The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) reported third quarter fiscal year 2014 core earnings per share of $1.04, an increase of five percent versus the prior year. On a currency-neutral basis, core earnings per share increased 17 percent for the quarter. Diluted net earnings per share were $0.90, an increase of two percent. P&G delivered organic sales growth of three percent for the quarter. Net sales were $20.6 billion, unchanged versus the prior year period, including a negative three percentage point impact from foreign exchange.

“P&G’s third quarter results came in as we had expected. This leaves us on track to deliver our top- and bottom-line growth objectives for the fiscal year,” said Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer A.G. Lafley. “We’re operating in a slow-growth, highly competitive environment, which places even greater importance on strong innovation and productivity improvement. We’re delivering meaningful product innovations that are attracting more consumers to our brands. We’re making good progress on our productivity plans, with cost savings and enrollment reductions ahead of going-in targets for the year. We’re confident that the cumulative benefits from these innovations and productivity improvements will lead, over time, to improved value creation for consumers, customers and shareholders.”

January – March Quarter Discussion

All-in net sales were unchanged versus the prior year at $20.6 billion in the January – March quarter, including a negative three percentage point impact from foreign exchange. Organic sales grew three percent. Organic sales were at or above year ago levels in each reporting segment. Volume grew three percent. Pricing increased sales by one percent with higher pricing in each reporting segment, and unfavorable geographic and product mix decreased sales by one percent.

Beauty segment organic sales increased two percent from innovation in Hair Care, Deodorants, and Personal Cleansing, and market growth. This was partially offset by a sales decrease in Salon Professional and Skin Care primarily in Asia.

Grooming segment organic sales increased one percent due to higher pricing and innovation on Blades & Razors and Appliances, which was partially offset by geographic and product mix and market contraction in developed regions.

Health Care segment organic sales were unchanged. Growth in Oral Care sales from innovation, geographic market expansion and market growth was offset by decreases in Personal Health Care due to lower cold and flu incidents and in Pet Care primarily behind the continuing impacts from product recalls in the previous fiscal year.

Fabric Care and Home Care segment organic sales increased six percent with growth across each business. Fabric Care was up behind new innovation, developing market growth, higher pricing and initial innovation shipments. Home Care and Personal Power sales grew behind innovation and market expansion in developing regions, and Personal Power and Professional increased sales due to distribution expansion.

Baby, Feminine and Family Care segment organic sales increased two percent. Baby Care sales were up behind product innovation and market growth in the developing regions. Feminine Care sales grew due to developing market growth and value interventions in North America. Family Care sales declined due to competitive promotional activity.

Core earnings per share, which exclude non-core restructuring charges and balance sheet revaluation charges resulting from foreign exchange policy changes in Venezuela, were $1.04, an increase of five percent versus the prior year. The core effective tax rate decreased 250 basis points versus the prior year, providing a $0.03 earnings per share benefit. Other foreign exchange impacts reduced earnings by $0.12 per share. Core earnings per share were up 17 percent on a currency-neutral basis. Diluted net earnings per share were $0.90, an increase of two percent versus the prior year.

Operating profit margin increased 30 basis points driven by a reduction in selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expense, partially offset by a lower gross margin. Gross margin decreased 140 basis points due to 150 basis points of geographic and product mix, 100 basis points from foreign exchange, and higher commodity costs, which were partially offset by manufacturing savings of approximately 200 basis points, volume leverage and pricing. SG&A as a percentage of sales decreased 170 basis points driven by 130 basis points from a combination of marketing efficiencies and overhead productivity savings.

Operating cash flow was $4.1 billion for the third quarter. The Company repurchased $1.5 billion of common stock and returned $1.7 billion of cash to shareholders as dividends. Earlier this month, the Company announced an increase to the quarterly dividend of seven percent. P&G has been paying a dividend for 124 consecutive years since its incorporation in 1890. This is the 58th consecutive year that the Company has increased its dividend.

Fiscal Year 2014 Guidance

The Company continues to expect organic sales growth of three percent to four percent. All-in sales growth is expected to be approximately one percent, including a negative foreign exchange impact of two to three percent. Core earnings per share are expected to grow three percent to five percent for the fiscal year, and reported earnings per share are expected to grow in the range of one percent to four percent.

Pet Care Divestiture

As announced earlier this month, Mars Inc. has agreed to buy a significant portion of P&G’s global Pet Care business. The transaction is expected to be completed in the second half of calendar 2014, subject to regulatory approvals. P&G said that it intends to sell the remaining portion of its Pet Care business in a separate transaction.

As a result of P&G’s decision to exit the Pet Care business, the Company said that it will begin reporting results of the global Pet Care business as discontinued operations effective with the April-June 2014 quarter. Historical quarterly and fiscal year results will be restated on the same basis. Following is a table that shows the expected impact to quarterly Core EPS results from this change for the Pet Care business.

About Procter & Gamble

P&G serves approximately 4.8 billion people around the world with its brands. The Company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Always®, Ambi Pur®, Ariel®, Bounty®, Charmin®, Crest®, Dawn®, Downy®, Duracell®, Fairy®, Febreze®, Gain®, Gillette®, Head & Shoulders®, Lenor®, Olay®, Oral-B®, Pampers®, Pantene®, SK-II®, Tide®, Vicks®, Wella® and Whisper®. The P&G community includes operations in approximately 70 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.

Industry Intelligence Editor's Note: This press release omits select charts and/or marketing language for editorial clarity. Click here to view the full report.

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