Fluor Reports Third Quarter Results

IRVING, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fluor Corporation (NYSE: FLR) today announced financial results for its third quarter ended September 30, 2015. Net earnings attributable to Fluor from continuing operations were $176 million, or $1.21 per diluted share, compared to $183 million, or $1.15 per diluted share a year ago. Consolidated segment profit for the quarter was $240 million, down 28 percent from $335 million in the third quarter of 2014. Revenue for the third quarter was $4.4 billion, down from $5.4 billion a year ago, mainly due to lower contributions from the Oil & Gas and Industrial & Infrastructure segments.

New awards for the quarter were $5.3 billion, including $3.6 billion in Oil & Gas, $926 million in Industrial & Infrastructure, $534 million in Power and $277 million in Government. Consolidated backlog at the end of the quarter was $41.7 billion, compared to $41.6 billion last quarter and $42.3 billion a year ago.

"Even in a tough environment, strong awards this quarter demonstrate that customers are still moving forward with major awards," said David Seaton, chairman and chief executive officer. "It is also evidence that, as a result of our focus on our integrated solutions offering and cost optimization, we are well positioned to win additional work from our customers across all of the end markets we serve."

Corporate G&A expense for the third quarter of 2015 was $35 million, comparable with a year ago. During the quarter, the Company repurchased $145 million worth of Fluor shares, and paid out $31 million in dividends to shareholders. Fluor’s cash and marketable securities balance at the end of the third quarter was $2.3 billion.

Ending backlog was reduced by approximately $1.1 billion as a result of the strong dollar. Foreign exchange rates did not have a significant impact on earnings for the third quarter.

U.S. Defined Benefit Pension Plan

On October 29, 2014, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the termination of the U.S. defined benefit pension plan effective December 31, 2014. In the third quarter, the Company recorded a pre-tax settlement expense of $9 million, or $0.04 per diluted share after-tax, related to the pension plan. Excluding this expense, which is not included in Company guidance, EPS from continuing operations would be $1.25 per diluted share. The full settlement of the plan is expected to occur in the fourth quarter.

Outlook

The Company is narrowing its 2015 guidance for EPS from continuing operations to a range of $4.05 to $4.20 per diluted share, from the previous range of $4.05 to $4.35 per diluted share, excluding all pension settlement-related charges. For 2016, the Company is establishing its initial EPS guidance at a range of $3.50 to $4.00 per diluted share.

Business Segments

Fluor’s Oil & Gas business reported segment profit of $190 million, compared to $178 million a year ago. Segment profit results were also favorably impacted by higher margin engineering activities. Revenue for the quarter was $2.4 billion, a 26 percent decline from the third quarter of 2014, due to certain large upstream projects progressing to completion. Third quarter new awards for the segment totaled $3.6 billion, including a refinery project in Kuwait and a refinery reconfiguration project in the United States. Ending backlog for the Oil & Gas segment was $29.1 billion, up 9 percent from $26.6 billion a year ago.

In addition to the Oil & Gas results above, the Company also recognized a $68 million pre-tax non-operating gain, or $0.30 per diluted share after-tax, related to the sale of 50% of the Company’s ownership interest in a Spanish subsidiary to create a new joint venture.

The Industrial & Infrastructure group reported segment profit of $45 million, compared with $101 million in the third quarter of 2014. Revenue for the quarter was $928 million, down from $1.2 billion a year ago. Revenue and segment profit results reflect lower contributions from the mining and metals and infrastructure business lines. New awards for the third quarter were $926 million, including a highway project in Texas. Backlog for the quarter was $6.6 billion, down from $8.6 billion a year ago.

The Government group reported segment profit of $30 million, comparable to a year ago. Revenue for the quarter was $661 million, up from $615 million a year ago. New awards in the third quarter totaled $277 million, and ending backlog was $3.8 billion, compared with $5.2 billion a year ago.

Segment profit for Global Services was $9 million in the third quarter, which compares to $21 million a year ago. Revenue declined to $120 million from $140 million a year ago. Lower results in the quarter were mainly driven by reductions in the equipment business line’s activities.

Fluor’s Power group reported a segment loss of $34 million, compared to a segment profit of $6 million a year ago. Excluding NuScale expenses of $29 million in the third quarter and $17 million a year ago, the group reported a segment loss of $5 million this quarter and a segment profit of $22 million a year ago. Segment results for the quarter reflect cost increases on a gas-fired facility that is nearing completion. Revenue for the quarter was $269 million, up from $237 million a year ago. New awards for the quarter were $534 million, including a full notice to proceed on a gas-fired power plant in Florida, and compares with $382 million in the third quarter of 2014. Ending backlog was $2.2 billion, compared with $1.8 billion a year ago.

Third Quarter Conference Call

Fluor will host a conference call at 5:30 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday, October 29, which will be webcast live on the Internet and can be accessed by logging onto http://investor.fluor.com. A supplemental slide presentation will be available shortly before the call begins. The webcast and presentation will be archived for 30 days following the call. Certain non-GAAP financial measures, as defined under SEC rules, are included in this press release and may be discussed during the conference call. A reconciliation of these measures is included in this press release which will be posted in the investor relations section of the Company’s website.

About Fluor Corporation

Fluor Corporation (NYSE: FLR) is a global engineering and construction firm that designs and builds some of the world's most complex projects. The Company creates and delivers innovative and integrated solutions for its clients in engineering, procurement, fabrication, construction, maintenance and project management on a global basis. For more than a century, Fluor has served clients in the energy, chemicals, government, industrial, infrastructure, mining and power market sectors. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, Fluor ranks 136 on the FORTUNE 500 list. With 40,000 employees worldwide, the company's revenue for 2014 was $21.5 billion. For more information, visit www.fluor.com or follow us on Twitter @FluorCorp.

Forward-Looking Statements: This release may contain forward-looking statements (including without limitation statements to the effect that the Company or its management "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "plans" or other similar expressions). These forward-looking statements, including statements relating to future backlog, revenue and earnings, expected performance of the Company's business and the outlook of the markets which the Company serves are based on current management expectations and involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially as a result of a number of factors, including, among other things, the cyclical nature of many of the markets the Company serves, including the Company’s commodity-based business lines, and the Company’s vulnerability to downturns; the Company's failure to receive anticipated new contract awards and the related impact on revenue, earnings, staffing levels and costs; difficulties or delays incurred in the execution of contracts, resulting in cost overruns or liabilities, including those caused by the performance of the Company’s clients, subcontractors, suppliers and joint venture or teaming partners; client cancellations of, or scope adjustments to, existing contracts, and the related impacts on staffing levels and cost; intense competition in the global engineering, procurement and construction industry, which can place downward pressure on the Company’s contract prices and profit margins; failure of our joint venture partners to perform their venture obligations; current economic conditions affecting our clients, partners, subcontractors and suppliers, which may result in decreased capital investment or expenditures by the Company’s clients or other financial difficulties by our partners, subcontractors or suppliers that may increase costs or delay project schedules; foreign economic and political uncertainties or changes that could lead to project disruptions, increased costs and potential losses; the Company’s failure, or the failure of our agents or partners, to comply with laws, including anti-bribery laws, international trade laws or environmental, health and safety laws or regulations; failure to obtain favorable results in existing or future litigation or dispute resolution proceedings or claims; client delays or defaults in making payments; failure to meet timely completion or performance standards that could result in higher costs, reduced profits or, in some cases, losses on projects; risks or uncertainties associated with acquisitions, dispositions and investments; liabilities arising from faulty services; risks or uncertainties associated with events outside of our control, such as the effects of severe weather, which may result in project delays, increased costs, liabilities or losses on projects; the potential impact of certain tax matters including, but not limited to, those from foreign operations and ongoing audits by tax authorities; possible information technology interruptions, security breaches or inability to protect intellectual property; foreign exchange risks; the inability to hire and retain qualified personnel; failure to maintain safe worksites and international security risks; the availability of credit and restrictions imposed by credit facilities, both for the Company and our clients, suppliers, subcontractors or other partners; possible limitations on bonding or letter of credit capacity; the Company’s ability to secure appropriate insurance; and restrictions on possible transactions imposed by the Company’s charter documents and Delaware law. Caution must be exercised in relying on these and other forward-looking statements. Due to known and unknown risks, the Company’s results may differ materially from its expectations and projections.

Additional information concerning these and other factors can be found in press releases as well as the Company's public periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the discussion under the heading "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in the Company's Form 10-K filed on February 18, 2015. Such filings are available either publicly or upon request from Fluor's Investor Relations Department: (469) 398-7070. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation other than as required by law to update its forward-looking statements in light of new information or future events.