Patrick Ward
Analyst · Goldman Sachs
Thank you, Tom, and good morning, everyone. First quarter revenues were $3.9 billion, an increase of 56% from a year ago, reflecting strong growth across all regions and all 4 business segments. U.S. sales, which represented 39% of our first quarter revenues were up 70% from a year ago as a result of stronger demand from our on-highway markets. International sales increased by 48% from a year ago with significant growth in China, India, Brazil and Europe through increased demand in the construction, mining, power generation and truck markets. Compared to the fourth quarter of 2010, sales were down 7%. However, as we commented in our previous call, the first quarter was shorter than the fourth quarter of last year by 2 weeks, so the actual weekly run rate of revenue improved across all 4 businesses. Gross margins improved to 24.8% of sales with stronger volumes, good operating leverage and some pricing improvements offsetting the expected cost increases from warranty and material costs. Selling, admin and research and development costs were up $91 million from last year as we ramped up spending in some critical areas most notably in our investment in research and development, which increased by 40%. Joint venture income of $96 million was 26% higher than a year ago with continuing growth ranging from joint ventures in China, India, as well as through our North American distributors. Earnings before interest and tax were $532 million, doubled the amount we reported last year and reached 13.8% of sales. Compared to a record fourth quarter performance and despite the lower revenues this quarter, EBIT was virtually flat and increased as a percent of sales. Earnings per share in the first quarter were $1.75 compared to $0.75 from a year ago. Now moving on to the operating segments, let me give some more details on the first quarter performance, as well as the revised guidance for the full year. In the Engine segment, first quarter sales were $2.4 billion, up 68% from the prior year as North American markets begin to improve. The increase in North America is a result of improving economic conditions, as well as a depletion of transition engine inventory bought in advance of the 2010 emission change. We also experienced strong year-over-year growth from emerging market infrastructure spending, particularly for construction equipment in China and from commodity extraction worldwide for mining and oil and gas. Segment EBIT more than doubled from last year to a record $290 million or 12.1% of sales. This increase was driven by strong operating leverage with the increased volumes, positive price realization and higher joint venture income offsetting commodity cost inflation and higher warranty costs related to the increase in demand from new engines. As a result of the strong start for the year and our updated outlook, we are increasing both revenue and profit guidance for the Engine segment. Revenues are now forecasted to be up 35% over last year due to the strong recovery in the U.S. truck market and increased demand for our products in the construction, mining and oil and gas markets in particular. Our commodity cost will continue to act as a headwind this year and warranty cost will increase, as we see more of our next year products as we go through this year. The higher volume and continued strong operating leverage is now projected to reach an EBIT in the range of 11.5% to 12.5% of sales. Moving on to the Power Generation segment. First quarter revenue is $795 million, an increase of 54% over the prior year. Sales were up in virtually every region with significant growth in particular in Europe, the Middle East, India and in Latin America. Segment EBIT was $89 million or 11.2% of sales compared to $34 million or 6.6% of sales last year. Our stronger volumes and operating leverage, along with some price improvements, more than offset commodity cost inflation. The increasing demand for products and services is being driven by infrastructure spending in the emerging markets and commodity-related demand globally. Demand in North America and Europe has started to recover, and we now expect revenue for the Power Gen segment to be up 20% over last year with EBIT margins of between 11% and 12% of sales. In the Components segment, first quarter revenues was a record $924 million, an increase of 47% over the prior year. Revenue improved across all businesses within the Components segment driven by strong recovery in North America and Europe, as well as in our Aftermarket business and through higher product content in North America on 2010 emissionized product. China and India also showed strong growth during this period. Segment EBIT was a record $105 million or 11.4% of sales compared to $57 million or 9% of sales last year. The year-over-year improvement was driven by strong operating leverage, increased content on EPA '10 engines and productivity improvements. As a result of improved demand and stronger operating leverage, we are now forecasting the Components segment revenue to be up 35% for the year and profitability for the full year will be between 11% and 12% of sales. In the Distribution segment, first quarter revenue was $642 million, an increase of 35% over the prior year. Excluding the impact of acquisitions, the Distribution segment had organic growth of 27% over the first quarter of last year. Driving this growth were oil and gas markets in North and in Central America, increased Power Generation sales in Europe and the Middle East and stronger parts and service demand. Segment EBIT was a record $89 million or 13.9% of sales. This is an increase of 24% over the prior year as a result of the higher volumes and increased joint venture income. Also, last year we recorded a onetime gain of $12 million as a result of the consolidation of Cummins Western Canada. As a result of improving demand for industrial engines and Power Generation products we now forecast that revenue for the segment will be up 25% this year, and EBIT will be between 12% and 14% of sales. So as we look at the full year outlook for the company, we now expect revenues to grow on course to 30% this year and reach $17 billion with earnings before interest and tax of 14% of sales. As we discussed on our last call, our strong balance sheet allows for the strategic investments and increased capital expenditures necessary to achieve a period of sustained profitable growth. In the first quarter, we invested $91 million in capital expenditure projects, almost double the amount from a year ago with most of this targeted on the new product development and investing in capacity ahead of demand. We expect to invest between $600 million and $650 million for the full year. In addition to this, we expect our unconsolidated joint ventures will invest more than $300 million in capital expenditure projects, most of which is targeted at increasing our capacity. During the quarter, the company repurchased almost 3 million shares at the cost of $190 million. And as we reported in the 10-K, we completed the $500 million program announced in 2007 and have begun the repurchasing of shares under the new $1 billion program announced in February. We also announced our intention to sell the exhaust and our light-duty Filtration businesses, both of which are within the Components segment. The guidance at the right of the day considers only ongoing operations and excludes any onetime gain from the sale of these businesses. Now before we open the teleconference to questions, I would like to inform you of a transition within our Investor Relations function. As most of you know, Dean Cantrell has been moving the Investor Relations functions for the past 6 years. Dean has been terrific in his role representing Cummins extremely well with investors and with Wall Street analysts, and I know many of you in the call today will share those sentiments. He has been outstanding ambassador for the company in this role, and we are all very appreciative of what he has done. Over the next few months, Dean will be transitioning into a leading finance position within 1 of our business units. With that said, I am very pleased to announce that Mark Smith will be taking on the Investor Relations leadership role. Mark has been with Cummins for 15 years and has experience in the Power Generation business, the Engine segment, the corporate finance group, the Filtration business and for the last 5 years has been the finance leader for the Components segment. His knowledge of so many parts of the company, as well as being a strong leader in the finance function made him an excellent choice to take over in Investor Relations. Now let us open the call to your questions.