Crane Co. Reports Second Quarter Results

Second quarter 2013 results included Special Items of $7.3 million in after-tax charges, or $0.13 per share. Excluding these Special Items in both years, second quarter 2014 earnings per diluted share increased 9% to $1.15, compared to $1.06 in the second quarter of 2013.

Special Items in the second quarter of 2014 consisted of the following after-tax charges: $2.5 million, or $0.04 per share, related to the December 2013 acquisition of MEI; $1.4 million, or $0.02 per share, related to previously disclosed repositioning activities; $4.2 million, or $0.07 per share, related to the settlement of the previously disclosed environmental lawsuits by certain homeowners in Roseland, New Jersey; and $1.1 million, or $0.02 per share, related to the divestiture of a small business. Special Items in the second quarter of 2013 included transaction-related costs of $7.3 million, or $0.13 per share, related to the acquisition of MEI.

Second quarter 2014 sales of $750.1 million increased $101.4 million, or 15.6%, compared to $648.7 million in the second quarter of 2013, resulting from a core sales increase of $0.6 million, or 0.1%; sales from acquisitions, net of divestitures, of $93.8 million, or 14.5%; and favorable foreign exchange of $6.9 million, or 1.1%.

Operating profit in the second quarter increased 9.8% to $97.6 million, compared to $88.8 million in the second quarter of 2013. Excluding Special Items, second quarter operating profit increased 14.8% to $109.9 million, compared to $95.7 million in the second quarter of 2013.

"We are pleased to report second quarter EPS of $1.15, excluding Special Items," said Crane Co. president and chief executive officer Max Mitchell. "We were encouraged by second quarter order activity and backlog growth, particularly at Fluid Handling, and we continue to expect stronger sales growth in the second half of 2014. We believe that we remain on track to achieve our 2014 objectives, and are reaffirming our previously issued 2014 full year guidance, excluding Special Items. The MEI integration and previously announced repositioning activities are progressing smoothly and position us for solid earnings growth in 2015 and 2016. Reflecting continuing confidence in our long-term outlook, we have increased our dividend for the fifth consecutive year."

Cash Flow and Other Financial Metrics

Cash provided by operating activities for the second quarter of 2014 was $64.2 million, compared to $30.9 million in the second quarter of 2013. Cash provided by operating activities for the six months ended June 30, 2014 was $45.3 million, compared to $10.5 million in the six months ended June 30, 2013. Capital expenditures in the second quarter of 2014 were $11.3 million, compared to $6.6 million in the second quarter of 2013. The Company s cash position was $314.2 million at June 30, 2014, compared to $270.6 million at December 31, 2013. Total debt was $903.0 million at June 30, 2014, compared to $875.0 million at December 31, 2013.

Divestiture

In June 2014, the Company divested a non-core Fluid Handling business. The $1.6 million pre-tax loss on the sale is included in the "Other income / expense" section of the accompanying income statement. The divested business generated sales of approximately $15 million in 2013.

Segment Results

All comparisons detailed in this section refer to operating results for the second quarter 2014 versus the second quarter 2013, excluding Special Items.

Fluid Handling

Second quarter 2014 sales decreased $9.3 million, or -2.8%, which included a core sales decline of $10.8 million, or -3.2%, and a divestiture impact of $2.4 million, or -0.7%, partially offset by favorable foreign exchange of $4.0 million, or 1.2%. The core sales decline was driven primarily by unfavorable comparisons for nuclear project based services, although comparisons ease in the second half of this year. Operating margin was flat at 16.2% as continued productivity gains and lower pension expense offset lower volumes. Fluid Handling order backlog was $369 million at June 30, 2014; after adjusting for the impact of the divestiture, comparable backlog was $345 million at March 31, 2014, $328 million at December 31, 2013 and $346 million at June 30, 2013. The year-over-year and sequential increase in backlog was broad-based across the portfolio.

Payment & Merchandising Technologies

Sales of $184.6 million increased $99.8 million, or 117.6%, driven primarily by $96.2 million of sales related to the MEI transaction, core sales growth of $0.9 million, or 1.1%, and favorable foreign exchange of $2.7 million, or 3.1%. Operating profit increased to $21.4 million in the quarter, primarily reflecting the impact of the MEI acquisition.

Aerospace & Electronics

Second quarter 2014 sales increased $5.2 million, or 3.0%, reflecting a sales increase of $6.1 million, or 5.7%, in the Aerospace Group, and a sales decline of $0.9 million, or -1.3%, in the Electronics Group. The Aerospace Group sales increase primarily reflected stronger OEM sales activity. The decrease in Electronics Group sales was driven primarily by lower product shipments for defense applications. Operating profit increased $0.5 million, which included continuing higher levels of engineering spending and other program investments supporting new product development activities. Aerospace & Electronics order backlog was $397 million at June 30, 2014, compared to $361 million at December 31, 2013, and $403 million at June 30, 2013.

Engineered Materials

Sales of $63.4 million were 9.8% higher than the second quarter of 2013, driven by higher sales to recreational vehicle equipment manufacturers. Operating profit increased 6.5% to $9.8 million, primarily reflecting the impact of the higher sales, partially offset by negative product mix.

2014 Guidance Excluding Special Items Reaffirmed

The Company reaffirmed its 2014 guidance, excluding Special Items. Management continues to expect sales to approximate $3.0 billion, reflecting a core sales increase of 1% to 3% and earnings in a range of $4.55 - $4.75 per diluted share, excluding Special Items. Full year 2014 free cash flow (cash provided by operating activities less capital spending) is expected to be in a range of $225 to $250 million.