Textron Reports Fourth Quarter 2015 Income from Continuing Operations of $0.81 per Share; Announces 2016 Financial Outlook

PROVIDENCE, R.I.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) today reported fourth quarter 2015 income from continuing operations of $0.81 per share, up 6.6 percent from $0.76 per share in the fourth quarter of 2014.

Revenues in the quarter were $3.9 billion, down 4.2 percent compared to $4.1 billion in the fourth quarter of 2014. Textron segment profit in the quarter was $378 million, down $20 million from the fourth quarter of 2014. Fourth quarter manufacturing cash flow before pension contributions was $534 million compared to $449 million during last year’s fourth quarter.

“We had good execution in the quarter with margin improvements at Aviation, Systems and Industrial and solid double digit margins at Bell,” said Textron Chairman and CEO Scott C. Donnelly. “While overall revenues were down in the quarter, we were encouraged by continued strong demand at Industrial, the ramp-up of our new Latitude business jet and the positive customer reception to our new Longitude and Hemisphere jets announced during November’s National Business Aviation Association Exhibition.”

Full-year income from continuing operations was $2.50 per share, compared to $2.15 in 2014. Full-year 2015 manufacturing cash flow before pension contributions was $631 million compared to $753 million in 2014.

Outlook

Textron is forecasting 2016 revenues of approximately $14.3 billion, up six percent, and earnings per share from continuing operations in the range of $2.60 to $2.80. The company is estimating cash flow from continuing operations of the manufacturing group before pension contributions will be between $600 and $700 million with planned pension contributions of about $60 million.

Donnelly continued, “Our outlook for 2016 reflects the success of our strategy of investing in both new product development and acquisitions. As we look to the future, we remain committed to making investments to drive growth and shareholder value.”

Fourth Quarter Segment Results

Textron Aviation

Revenues at Textron Aviation were down $32 million, primarily reflecting lower King Air and used pre-owned aircraft volumes partially offset by higher jet volume. Textron Aviation delivered 60 new jets and 33 King Airs in the quarter, compared to 55 jets and 41 King Airs in last year’s fourth quarter.

Textron Aviation recorded a segment profit of $138 million in the fourth quarter compared to $130 million a year ago. The increase is primarily due to improved performance, which included lower amortization of $8 million related to fair value step-up adjustments, partially offset by the impact of lower volumes.

Textron Aviation backlog at the end of the fourth quarter was $1.1 billion, down $308 million from the end of the third quarter.

Bell

Bell revenues decreased $36 million, primarily the result of lower commercial aftermarket volume and a change in mix of commercial aircraft delivered in the quarter partially offset by higher military deliveries. Bell delivered 8 V-22’s and 9 H-1’s in the quarter compared to 7 V-22’s and 7 H-1’s in last year’s fourth quarter and 56 commercial helicopters compared to 57 units last year.

Segment profit decreased $22 million, primarily due to unfavorable impact from the change in the mix of commercial aircraft delivered in the quarter and the lower commercial aftermarket volume partially offset by favorable performance.

Bell backlog at the end of the fourth quarter was $5.2 billion, up $76 million from the end of the third quarter.

Textron Systems

Revenues at Textron Systems decreased $158 million, primarily due to lower Unmanned Systems volume partially offset by higher Marine and Land Systems volume.

Segment profit was down $9 million, reflecting the impact of the lower volumes.

Textron Systems’ backlog at the end of the fourth quarter was $2.3 billion, down $270 million from the end of the third quarter.

Industrial

Industrial revenues increased $55 million due to higher overall volumes and the impact of acquisitions, partially offset by a $50 million unfavorable impact from foreign exchange.

Segment profit increased $6 million reflecting the impact of the higher volumes.

Finance

Finance segment revenues decreased $2 million and segment profit decreased $3 million.

Conference Call Information

Textron will host its conference call today, January 27, 2016 at 8:00 a.m. (Eastern) to discuss its results and outlook. The call will be available via webcast at www.textron.com or by direct dial at (800) 700-7860 in the U.S. or (612) 332-1210 outside of the U.S. (request the Textron Earnings Call).

In addition, the call will be recorded and available for playback beginning at 10:30 a.m. (Eastern) on Wednesday, January 27, 2016 by dialing (320) 365-3844 ; Access Code: 337222.

A package containing key data that will be covered on today’s call can be found in the Investor Relations section of the company’s website at www.textron.com.

About Textron Inc.

Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna, Beechcraft, Hawker, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, Textron Systems, and TRU Simulation + Training. For more information visit: www.textron.com.

Non-GAAP Measures

Manufacturing cash flow before pension contributions is a non-GAAP measure that is defined and reconciled to GAAP in an attachment to this release.

Forward-looking Information

Certain statements in this release and other oral and written statements made by us from time to time are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements, which may describe strategies, goals, outlook or other non-historical matters, or project revenues, income, returns or other financial measures, often include words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate,” “guidance,” “project,” “target,” “potential,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “likely” or “may” and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. In addition to those factors described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q under “Risk Factors”, among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from past and projected future results are the following: Interruptions in the U.S. Government’s ability to fund its activities and/or pay its obligations; changing priorities or reductions in the U.S. Government defense budget, including those related to military operations in foreign countries; our ability to perform as anticipated and to control costs under contracts with the U.S. Government; the U.S. Government’s ability to unilaterally modify or terminate its contracts with us for the U.S. Government’s convenience or for our failure to perform, to change applicable procurement and accounting policies, or, under certain circumstances, to withhold payment or suspend or debar us as a contractor eligible to receive future contract awards; changes in foreign military funding priorities or budget constraints and determinations, or changes in government regulations or policies on the export and import of military and commercial products; volatility in the global economy or changes in worldwide political conditions that adversely impact demand for our products; volatility in interest rates or foreign exchange rates; risks related to our international business, including establishing and maintaining facilities in locations around the world and relying on joint venture partners, subcontractors, suppliers, representatives, consultants and other business partners in connection with international business, including in emerging market countries; our Finance segment’s ability to maintain portfolio credit quality or to realize full value of receivables; performance issues with key suppliers or subcontractors; legislative or regulatory actions, both domestic and foreign, impacting our operations or demand for our products; our ability to control costs and successfully implement various cost-reduction activities; the efficacy of research and development investments to develop new products or unanticipated expenses in connection with the launching of significant new products or programs; the timing of our new product launches or certifications of our new aircraft products; our ability to keep pace with our competitors in the introduction of new products and upgrades with features and technologies desired by our customers; pension plan assumptions and future contributions; demand softness or volatility in the markets in which we do business; and cybersecurity threats, including the potential misappropriation of assets or sensitive information, corruption of data or operational disruption.

(a) Textron Aviation's segment profit includes $12 million for the twelve months ended January 2, 2016, and $8 million and $63 million for the three and twelve months ended January 3, 2015, respectively, related to fair value step-up adjustments of acquired inventories sold during the periods.

(b) Acquisition and restructuring costs for the three and twelve months ended January 3, 2015 includes $13 million and $41 million, respectively, of restructuring costs incurred related to the acquisition of Beech Holdings, LLC, the parent of Beechcraft Corporation, which was completed on March 14, 2014. Transaction costs of $11 million related to the Beechcraft acquisition are also included in the twelve months ended January 3, 2015.

(a) In the fourth quarter of 2015, we adopted a new accounting standard that requires all deferred tax assets and liabilities be classified as noncurrent. To conform with the current year presentation, $259 million of deferred tax assets at January 3, 2015 have been reclassified from Other current assets to Other assets.

Free cash flow is a measure generally used by investors, analysts and management to gauge a company’s ability to generate cash from operations in excess of that necessary to be reinvested to sustain and grow the business and fund its obligations. Our definition of Manufacturing free cash flow adjusts net cash from operating activities of continuing operations for dividends received from TFC, capital contributions provided under the Support Agreement and debt agreements, capital expenditures, proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment and contributions to our pension plans. We believe that our calculation provides a relevant measure of liquidity and is a useful basis for assessing our ability to fund operations and obligations. This measure is not a financial measure under GAAP and should be used in conjunction with GAAP cash measures provided in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.