Brunswick Corporation saw net earnings from continuing operations of $34.3 million, or 38 cents per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2007, compared with net earnings from continuing operations of $74.1 million, or 77 cents per diluted share, for the year-ago quarter. Diluted earnings per share include 3 cents and 13 cents of tax-related benefits in the first quarters of 2007 and 2006, respectively.
Commenting on the first quarter, Brunswick chairman and CEO Dustan E. McCoy said, “We are pleased with our results for the quarter, demonstrating our ability to produce good earnings despite challenging marine market conditions. Helping to mitigate the effects of a soft domestic marine market were strong sales contributions from our international marine operations and fitness segment, growth in marine parts and accessories, and incremental sales from acquired businesses. Given that we are at the start of the marine selling season, and considering our pipeline inventories and production schedules for the remainder of the year, we are affirming our earnings expectations for 2007, which we have previously stated were in the range of $1.65 to $2.00 per diluted share.”
First Quarter Results
The company said that sales in the first quarter of 2007 totaled $1,386.1 million, down 2% from $1,413.3 million for the year-ago quarter. Excluding sales from businesses acquired subsequent to the first quarter of 2006, sales declined 3% quarter-over-quarter. Operating earnings in the first quarter of 2007 totaled $53.0 million, compared with $98.2 million a year ago. The company reported net earnings from continuing operations of $34.3 million, or 38 cents per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2007, versus $74.1 million, or 77 cents per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter. Diluted earnings per share include 3 cents and 13 cents of tax-related benefits in the first quarters of 2007 and 2006, respectively.
During the first quarter of 2007, the company repurchased 1.0 million shares of its common stock for approximately $33.4 million. Fully diluted common shares totaled 92.0 million in the first quarter of 2007, compared with 96.6 million shares in the same period of 2006.
Discontinued Operations
In April 2006, the company announced its decision to pursue the sale of substantially all of its Brunswick New Technologies (BNT) business unit, which is being accounted for as a discontinued operation. During the quarter, the company completed the sale of BNT's marine electronics and portable navigation device businesses in separate transactions. Sale of the final piece of BNT, the wireless fleet tracking business, is progressing. For the first quarter of 2007, the company reported net earnings from discontinued operations of 12 cents per diluted share, compared with a loss of 7 cents per diluted share for the first quarter of 2006. Results for 2007 were primarily due to gains on the sale of the two businesses and tax-related benefits.
Boat Segment
The Brunswick Boat Group comprises the Boat segment and produces fiberglass and aluminum boats and marine parts and accessories, as well as offers dealer management systems. The Boat segment reported sales for the first quarter of 2007 of $699.0 million, down 7% compared with $751.0 million for the first quarter of 2006. Excluding incremental sales from acquired businesses, segment sales declined 9%. Operating earnings were $19.5 million, down from $48.4 million for the quarter, and operating margins were 2.8% compared with 6.4% in the prior year.
“Sales benefited from gains in Boat Group parts and accessories and increased sales outside of the United States, which helped offset declines in domestic boat shipments to reduce pipeline inventories,” McCoy explained. “Operating earnings were affected by lower sales, reduced fixed-cost absorption from production cuts, costs associated with previously announced restructuring efforts, as well as by increased discounts offered to spur retail demand. At the end of the quarter, boat pipeline inventories stood at 34 weeks of supply compared with 32 weeks of supply a year ago. While up, we are making progress. The two-week inventory build year-over-year was below the three-week build we saw at the end of the December quarter. Pipeline reductions were particularly pronounced in fiberglass boats.”
Marine Engine Segment
The Marine Engine segment, consisting of the Mercury Marine Group, reported sales of $572.6 million in the first quarter of 2007, up 3% from $555.0 million in the year-ago first quarter. Operating earnings in the first quarter declined to $34.7 million versus $44.9 million, and operating margins were 6.1% compared with 8.1% for the same quarter in 2006.
“Similar to our boat business, the engine segment reported strong sales growth from areas outside the United States as well as from Mercury's parts and accessories business,” McCoy explained. “These gains helped to offset declines in domestic engine sales, reflecting continuing difficult market conditions. The decline in operating earnings was due in large part to lower fixed-cost absorption resulting from reduced production rates and a shift in product mix. At the end of the quarter there were 31 weeks of supply of engines in the pipeline, up from 28 weeks a year ago. The increase was partially due to higher shipments to customers who made purchases in advance of a systems conversion at Mercury.”
Fitness Segment
The Fitness segment is comprised of the Life Fitness Division, which manufactures and sells Life Fitness, Hammer Strength and ParaBody fitness equipment. For the first quarter of 2007, segment sales increased 8% to $145.0 million, up from $134.0 million in the year-ago quarter. Segment operating earnings were down 9% for the first quarter of 2007, totaling $8.1 million compared with $8.9 million for the year-ago quarter. Operating margins were 5.6% versus 6.6% a year ago.
“Sales growth was driven by strength in international markets, where growth rates exceeded those in the United States,” McCoy said. “Increased spending on research and development for a number of new products reduced operating earnings in the quarter. These investments, however, will enable Life Fitness to continue to outpace the competition with new and innovative products.”
Bowling & Billiards Segment
The Bowling & Billiards segment is comprised of the Brunswick retail bowling centers; bowling equipment and products; and billiards, Air Hockey and foosball tables. Segment sales in the first quarter of 2007 totaled $105.8 million, down from $114.7 million in the year-ago quarter. Operating earnings were $8.3 million in the first quarter versus $12.8 million in the year-ago quarter. Operating margins were 7.8% as compared with 11.2% in 2006.
“The sales decline was primarily in our bowling products and coin-operated billiards businesses. Sales from our retail bowling centers were off slightly due to a fewer number of centers operating than in the year-ago quarter,” McCoy said. “On a 'same-center' basis, sales increased quarter-over-quarter. We also continued to invest in new Brunswick Zone XL retail bowling centers, and we will add at least three more to our portfolio this year. Operating margins were affected by costs associated with the transition of bowling ball manufacturing from Michigan to Mexico, as well as relocating our commercial billiards table manufacturing from Texas to Mexico.”
Brunswick Corporation
Comparative Consolidated Statements of Income
(in millions, except per share data)
(unaudited)
Three Months Ended
March 31, April 1,
2007 2006 % Change
Net sales $1,386.1 $1,413.3 -2%
Cost of sales 1,089.7 1,099.9 -1%
Selling, general and administrative
expense 209.9 184.7 14%
Research and development expense 33.5 30.5 10%
Operating earnings 53.0 98.2 -46%
Equity earnings 6.3 5.2 21%
Other expense, net (0.4) (0.1) NM
Earnings before interest and income
taxes 58.9 103.3 -43%
Interest expense (13.6) (13.6) 0%
Interest income 1.8 2.9 -38%
Earnings before income taxes 47.1 92.6 -49%
Income tax provision 12.8 18.5
Net earnings from continuing
operations 34.3 74.1 -54%
Discontinued operations:
Earnings (loss) from discontinued
operations, net of tax 3.4 (6.7) NM
Gain on disposal of discontinued
operations, net of tax 7.9 -
Net earnings (loss) from
discontinued operations 11.3 (6.7) NM
Net earnings $45.6 $67.4 -32%
Earnings per common share:
Basic
Earnings from continuing operations $0.38 $0.78 -51%
Earnings (loss) from discontinued
operations 0.12 (0.07) NM
Net earnings $0.50 $0.71 -30%
Diluted
Earnings from continuing operations $0.38 $0.77 -51%
Earnings (loss) from discontinued
operations 0.12 (0.07) NM
Net earnings $0.50 $0.70 -29%
Weighted average number of shares
used for computation of:
Basic earnings per share 91.4 95.6 -4%
Diluted earnings per share 92.0 96.6 -5%
Effective tax rate (1) 27.2% 20.0%
Supplemental Information
Diluted earnings from continuing
operations $0.38 $0.77 -51%
Non-recurring tax benefits (1) (0.03) (0.13) NM
Diluted earnings from continuing
operations, as adjusted $0.35 $0.64 -45%
Diluted earnings (loss) from
discontinued operations $0.12 $(0.07)
Gain on disposal of discontinued
operations (0.09) -
Diluted earnings (loss) from
discontinued operations, as adjusted $0.03 $(0.07)
(1) The increase in the effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2007
was primarily due to lower non-recurring tax benefits of $2.3 million,
compared with $12.4 million in the first quarter of 2006.
