Jacuzzi Brands Reaffirms Guidance and Announces Preliminary Quarterly Results
18 Januar 2007 - 10:33PM
Business Wire
Jacuzzi Brands, Inc. (NYSE: JJZ), a leading global producer of
branded bath and plumbing products for the residential, commercial
and institutional markets, today reaffirmed its 2007 guidance and
announced selected preliminary financial results for the fiscal
2007 first quarter ended December 30, 2006. Net sales for the first
quarter of fiscal 2007 are estimated to be approximately $272
million compared to $267.1 million in the first quarter of fiscal
2006. Operating income is estimated to be $18 million compared to
$21.1 million for the same period one year ago. Net income from
continuing operations for the first quarter of fiscal 2007 is
estimated to be $0.06 per diluted share which included $0.02 per
share of net charges for merger and other costs described below.
This compares to net income from continuing operations of $0.16 per
diluted share in the first quarter of fiscal 2006 which included
$0.08 per share of net gains for items described below. The
increase in estimated sales was the result of increased sales at
the Plumbing Products segment (�Zurn�) of approximately 12%
partially offset by a 4% decrease sales in Bath Products. Zurn�s
sales growth was driven by improved sales of existing products,
including PEX products, specification drains, commercial brass, and
Wilkins� brand products, as well as higher sales of new products.
Increased sales at Zurn also reflected price increases that
partially offset higher raw materials costs. Bath Products sales
declined due to weak demand for U.S. whirlpool baths and spas in a
challenging domestic operating environment characterized by ongoing
sluggishness in both new residential housing sales and the
remodeling market. U.S. whirlpool bath sales were also adversely
affected by destocking programs implemented by several major
customers in response to current market conditions. The decline in
estimated operating income was primarily due to an approximately
40% drop in income in the Bath segment due to operating losses at
the U.S. whirlpool bath operations. The operating losses at the
U.S. whirlpool bath operations resulted from the decline in sales
noted above and unfavorable manufacturing absorption variances
generated from the resulting decline in production. Zurn�s
operating income increased 3% over the prior period. While
operating income at Zurn increased in dollars, operating margin for
the first quarter of fiscal 2007 declined from the same period last
year due primarily to the inability to recover higher copper
prices. Corporate expenses in the first quarter of fiscal 2007
included $1.2 million of additional pension income versus the prior
year period. Estimated net earnings from continuing operations in
first quarter of fiscal 2007 included restructuring charges of $0.7
million, a $0.6 million gain from the sale of real estate, and
merger-related expenses of $2.3 million which reduced net earnings
per share by a total of approximately $0.02 per share. Net earnings
from continuing operations in first quarter of fiscal 2006 included
restructuring charges of $1.6 million, a $1.7 million gain from the
settlement of a property tax liability, and a $9.3 million gain
from the recognition of deferred profit on the sale of real estate
which increased earnings per share by a total of $0.08 per share.
The Company is reaffirming its December forecast of fiscal 2007
earnings of $0.75 per share from continuing operations. This
forecast includes $0.04 per share of income from the sale of
surplus properties. The Company noted that its first fiscal quarter
has historically reflected its seasonal low point in sales. The
Company forecasts that the recent weakness in the US whirlpool bath
operations will be offset by increased sales in its primary selling
season as a result of new product introductions and improving
market conditions, including a pick-up in the renovation markets.
This forecast is a �forward-looking statement�, and accordingly is
subject to the qualifications noted below. The major assumptions
for the forecast include the successful execution of business
strategies to outperform the residential housing market, which the
Company expects to decline but moderate while the renovation market
improves; continued growth in domestic commercial and institutional
construction activity; successful new product introductions driving
sales and profit margins for the Bath segment, which has
experienced increasingly difficult trading conditions; successful
marketing initiatives and dealer enhancements to increase spa
market share, in a significantly declining domestic market,
together with increased penetration of European markets; continued
conversion of copper plumbing to PEX, consistent with recent
industry trends, sufficient to overcome both increased competition
and a declining residential construction market; the return to
profitability of the U.K. operations following a 2-year trend of
increasing losses; product price increases to offset continued
overall inflationary cost pressures on commodities including
energy; continued reductions of corporate overhead costs; and
increased non-cash pension income, primarily due to a higher
discount rate. About Jacuzzi Brands Jacuzzi Brands, Inc., through
its subsidiaries, is a global manufacturer and distributor of
branded bath and plumbing products for the residential, commercial
and institutional markets. These include whirlpool baths, spas,
showers, sanitary ware and bathtubs, as well as professional grade
drainage, water control, commercial faucets and other plumbing
products. Our products are marketed under our portfolio of brand
names, including JACUZZI�, SUNDANCE�, ZURN� and ASTRACAST�. Learn
more at www.jacuzzibrands.com. Business Risks This press release
contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as
�expects,� �intends,� �anticipates,� �plans,� �projects,�
�probably,� �believes,� �estimates,� �may,� �will,� �should,�
�shall,� and similar expressions typically identify such
forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements
include, but are not limited to, the Company�s estimated (1) net
sales, operating income, net income from continuing operations and
earnings per share in the first quarter of fiscal 2007; (2) results
of the Company�s operating segments for such quarter and (3)
highlighted charges and other items in such quarter. Each of these
estimates is based on preliminary information about the first
quarter of fiscal 2007. Although the quarter is now completed, the
Company is still in the process of performing its standard
financial reporting closing procedures. Accordingly, as the Company
completes its quarter-end closing processes, actual results could
differ from these preliminary estimates. Even though the Company
believes the expectations reflected in its forward-looking
statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no
assurance that its expectations will be attained. In addition to
the factors noted above, various economic and competitive factors,
including those outside our control, such as interest rates,
foreign currency exchange rates, inflation rates, instability in
domestic and foreign financial markets, acts of war, terrorist
acts, outbreaks of new diseases, consumer spending patterns, energy
costs and availability, freight costs, availability of consumer and
commercial credit, adverse weather, levels of residential and
commercial construction, changes in raw material and component
costs, and the credit worthiness of our customers, insurers, and
investees, and other factors contained in the Company�s filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission could cause our actual
results to differ materially from those expressed in this press
release.
Jacuzzi (NYSE:JJZ)
Historical Stock Chart
Von Okt 2024 bis Nov 2024
Jacuzzi (NYSE:JJZ)
Historical Stock Chart
Von Nov 2023 bis Nov 2024