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Curtiss-Wright Reports 2005 Financial Results

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CURTISS-WRIGHT REPORTS 2005 FINANCIAL RESULTS

February 09, 2006

Full Year and Fourth Quarter Sales up 18% and 13%, Respectively

Full Year and Fourth Quarter Net Earnings up 16% & 24%, Respectively

Tenth Consecutive Year of Revenue Growth

Backlog at Record Level

ROSELAND, N.J., Feb. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Curtiss-Wright Corporation (NYSE: CW) today reports financial results for the full year and quarter ended December 31, 2005. The highlights are as follows:

FOURTH QUARTER 2005 OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS

  • Net sales for the fourth quarter of 2005 increased 13% to $317.9 million from $281.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2004.
  • Operating income in the fourth quarter of 2005 increased 31% to $44.9 million from $34.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2004. In the fourth quarter of 2004, the Company incurred approximately $4.4 million of costs related to the increase in an environmental reserve for a superfund site.
  • Net earnings for the fourth quarter of 2005 increased 24% to $25.3 million, or $1.15 per diluted share, from $20.4 million, or $0.94 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2004. The net earnings for the fourth quarter of 2004 included nonrecurring tax benefits of $1.2 million (approximately $0.06 per diluted share).
  • New orders received in the fourth quarter of 2005 were $373.2 million, up 18% compared to the fourth quarter of 2004.

FULL YEAR 2005 OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS

  • Net sales for the full year 2005 increased 18% to $1,130.9 million from $955.0 million in 2004.
  • Operating income in 2005 increased 25% to $138.0 million from $110.3 million in 2004. Operating income in 2005 includes a gain of $2.8 million related to the sale of non-operating property. The Company incurred approximately $0.5 million and $1.7 million of consulting costs related to compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 in 2005 and 2004, respectively.
  • Net earnings in 2005 increased 16% to $75.3 million, or $3.44 per diluted share, from $65.1 million, or $3.02 per diluted share, in 2004. The increase in the 2005 net earnings included a $5.1 million after-tax increase in interest expense (approximately $0.23 per diluted share). The net earnings for 2004 included nonrecurring tax benefits of $3.4 million (approximately $0.16 per diluted share).
  • New orders received in 2005 were $1,261.2 million, up 26% compared to 2004. Backlog increased 28% to a new record high of $805.6 million at December 31, 2005 from $627.7 million at December 31, 2004.

"We are pleased to report our tenth consecutive year of revenue growth along with higher operating income and earnings in 2005," commented Martin R. Benante, Chairman and CEO of Curtiss-Wright Corporation. "We also experienced strong overall organic operating income growth, led by our Metal Treatment segment at 21%, followed by the Motion Control and Flow Control segments which grew 15% and 10%, respectively, in 2005. Our diversification strategy has provided growth in 2005 for both our defense markets, which grew 19%, and commercial and industrial markets, which grew 17%, over the prior year period. Our backlog is at a new record level, which provides us with good momentum heading into 2006. Over the last five years, Curtiss-Wright has delivered a compounded annual growth rates of 28% in sales, 17% in operating income, and 11% in earnings per share. During this same time, our total shareholder return was 20%, which has outperformed the broad market indices and was one of the top performances in the aerospace and defense industry. Achievement of these results during a time in which we acquired over 30 businesses is a strong indication of our ability to integrate acquisitions quickly and profitably."

SALES

Sales growth in 2005 for the fourth quarter and full year as compared to 2004 was driven by organic growth in most of our base businesses and by contributions from acquisitions. Overall organic growth was 8% for both the quarter and full year ended December 31, 2005 over the prior year periods. The organic sales growth in the fourth quarter of 2005 was spread equally across all of our segments, with Flow Control at 8% and Metal Treatment and Motion Control both at 7%. Acquisitions made in 2004 and 2005 contributed $15.8 million and $100.5 million in incremental sales for the quarter and full year ended December 31, 2005, respectively, over the comparable periods in 2004.

In our base businesses, higher sales from our Flow Control segment to the oil and gas and U.S. Navy markets, higher sales from our Motion Control segment to the global ground defense, aerospace defense, and global commercial aerospace markets, and higher sales from our Metal Treatment segment of global shot peening services, all contributed to the organic growth. In addition, foreign currency translation unfavorably impacted sales by $3.3 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2005 and favorably impacted sales by $1.2 million for the full year ended December 31, 2005, as compared to the prior year periods.

OPERATING INCOME

Operating income in 2005 for the fourth quarter and full year increased 31% and 25%, respectively, over the 2004 prior year periods. The increases were due to higher sales volumes, previously implemented cost control initiatives, and favorable sales mix. Overall, organic operating income growth was 30% and 21% for the quarter and full year ended December 31, 2005, respectively, compared to the prior year periods. The strong quarterly operating income performance was led by our Motion Control and Metal Treatment segments, which produced organic growth of 23% and 22%, respectively, while the Flow Control segment grew organically by 12%, as compared to the prior year period.

On a consolidated basis, our operating margin was 14.1% in the fourth quarter of 2005 versus 12.2% in the prior year. All segments posted operating margin improvement in the fourth quarter of 2005 versus the prior year, led by our Metal Treatment segment. Our full year consolidated operating margin was 12.2% for 2005, up considerably from 11.6% in 2004, however, we experienced favorable results in 2005 as compared to 2004 from lower environmental remediation costs of $4.5 million, a gain on the sale of property for $2.8 million, and lower costs associated with Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 compliance. These favorable impacts were partially offset by increased pension expense and additional infrastructure costs incurred to support our business growth. The overall segment operating margins were flat year-over-year at 12.3%. In addition to the strong organic operating income growth in the segments, foreign currency translation unfavorably impacted operating income by $0.6 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2005 and favorably impacted operating income by $0.2 million for the full year ended December 31, 2005, compared to the prior year periods.

NET EARNINGS

Net earnings increased 24% and 16% for the quarter and full year ended December 31, 2005, respectively, over the comparable prior year periods. This improvement was achieved by strong operating income from our business segments, which increased $7.7 million and $22.0 million for the quarter and full year ended December 31, 2005, respectively, over the prior year periods.

These improvements were offset by higher interest expense associated with the debt incurred to fund our acquisition program and from higher interest rates. Net earnings for 2004 included nonrecurring tax benefits totaling $3.4 million.

SEGMENT PERFORMANCE

Flow Control - Sales for the fourth quarter of 2005 were $130.7 million, up 10% over the comparable period last year, principally due to solid organic growth of 8% in the base businesses, and contribution from the fourth quarter 2004 acquisition. The improvement in sales was mainly due to higher sales to the oil and gas market, led by the higher demand for our coker valve products. Higher sales of electronic products, such as the digital signal processing cards used on Naval ships, and JP-5 valve and ball valve products used on aircraft carriers and submarines, respectively, also contributed to the organic growth in 2005. Foreign currency translation had minimal impact on sales in the fourth quarter of 2005 as compared to the prior year period.

Operating income for this segment increased 13% in the fourth quarter of 2005 compared to the prior year period. The improvement was due to strong organic growth of 12%, lead by higher sales volume and favorable sales mix of our oil and gas products, higher volume of our U.S. Navy products, and previously implemented cost reduction initiatives.

Motion Control - Sales for the fourth quarter of 2005 of $137.3 million increased 18% over last year, principally due to the contribution from the 2005 acquisition, which contributed $12.9 million of incremental sales in the fourth quarter of 2005. Sales from the base businesses increased 7% in the fourth quarter of 2005 as compared to the prior year period. This organic growth was due to higher electronic sales to the global ground defense market, led by higher sales of spares for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle and higher drive systems spares to the European defense market. New orders for the AN-APR 39 Radar Warning System and production work on the F-22 drove sales increases in our defense aerospace market. Higher commercial aerospace aftermarket sales from our repair and overhaul and integrated sensors businesses also contributed to the organic growth. In addition, foreign currency translation unfavorably impacted sales of this business segment by $2.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2005 as compared to the prior year period.

Operating income for this segment increased 25% for the fourth quarter of 2005 compared to the prior year period. The improvement was driven by higher sales volume previously mentioned, favorable sales mix within our European drive system business, and previously implemented cost control initiatives.

Metal Treatment - Sales for the fourth quarter of 2005 of $49.9 million were 7% higher than the comparable period last year. The improvement, all of which was organic, was driven by higher global shot peening revenues due mainly to production work on wing skin components to the commercial aerospace market. This segment also experienced organic growth in the coatings and heat treating businesses due to improved economic conditions. Foreign currency translation unfavorably impacted sales by $1.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2005 as compared to the prior year period.

Operating income increased 22% for the fourth quarter of 2005 as compared to the prior year period. Operating income improved due to increased sales volume in our shot peening division, favorable sales mix in our coatings division, and general administrative cost reduction programs. Foreign currency translation negatively impacted operating income for the fourth quarter of 2005 as compared to the prior year period.

2006 MANAGEMENT GUIDANCE

For the full year 2006, management expects to achieve total revenues to be in the range of $1.225 billion and $1.250 billion, an increase of 8 to 10 percent over 2005. We anticipate operating income in the range of $155 million to $162 million, including $5 million of pension expense, which is a 12 to 17 percent increase over 2005. We are forecasting earnings per share on a pre-split basis between $3.60 and $3.80 per fully diluted share, or 5 to 10 percent EPS growth. Our EPS guidance assumes an average of 22.5 million shares outstanding. In addition, we are expecting free cash flow, defined as cash flow from operations less capital expenditures, to be between $65 million and $70 million in 2006.

Mr. Benante concluded, "In 2005, we continued to demonstrate our ability to generate long-term shareholder value by growing our sales and earnings. Over the past several years, our operating income has been growing faster than our sales while we executed a very active, yet disciplined, acquisition program. Our strong performance in 2005 once again demonstrates our ability to execute our strategy and achieve our financial targets. Our successful growth is the result of our diversification and ability to deliver the high performance, technologically advanced products for which Curtiss-Wright is world renowned. We continue to experience increasing demand for our new technologies, many of which are only at the beginning of their life cycles, which should continue to provide strong returns to our shareholders into the future. Our diversification strategy, the continued successful integration of our acquisitions, and ongoing emphasis on technology should continue to generate growth opportunities in each of our three business segments in 2006 and beyond."

The Company will host a conference call to discuss the 2005 results at 9:00 EST Friday, February 10, 2006. A live webcast of the call can be heard on the Internet by visiting the company's website at http://curtisswright2014.q4web.com and clicking on the investor information page or by visiting other websites that provide links to corporate webcasts.

                 CURTISS-WRIGHT CORPORATION and SUBSIDIARIES
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
                    (In thousands, except per share data)


                                     Three Months Ended  Twelve Months Ended
                                        December 31,         December 31,
                                       2005      2004       2005       2004


    Net sales                        $317,893  $281,104  $1,130,928  $955,039
    Cost of sales                     206,964   180,067     740,416   624,536
      Gross profit                    110,929   101,037     390,512   330,503


    Research & development expenses     9,369     9,416      39,681    33,825
    Selling expenses                   18,054    16,511      69,687    61,648
    General and administrative
     expenses                          38,467    35,199     144,982   118,270
    Environmental remediation and
     administrative expenses, net         (26)    4,794         818     5,285
    Loss (Gain) on sale of real
     estate and fixed assets, net         189       823      (2,638)    1,134


      Operating income                 44,876    34,294     137,982   110,341


    Other income (expenses), net          720       143         299       443
    Interest expense                   (5,990)   (3,613)    (19,983)  (12,031)


    Earnings before income taxes       39,606    30,824     118,298    98,753
    Provision for income taxes         14,302    10,411      43,018    33,687


    Net earnings                      $25,304   $20,413     $75,280   $65,066


    Basic earnings per share            $1.16     $0.95       $3.48     $3.07
    Diluted earnings per share          $1.15     $0.94       $3.44     $3.02


    Dividends per share                 $0.12     $0.09       $0.39     $0.36


    Weighted average shares outstanding:
       Basic                           21,740    21,418      21,635    21,196
       Diluted                         21,996    21,762      21,914    21,547



                                           Three Months       Twelve Months
                                              Change             Change
                                            $        %         $         %


    Net sales                            $36,789    13.09%  $175,889   18.42%
    Cost of sales                         26,897    14.94%   115,880   18.55%
      Gross profit                         9,892     9.79%    60,009   18.16%


    Research & development expenses          (47)   -0.50%     5,856   17.31%
    Selling expenses                       1,543     9.35%     8,039   13.04%
    General and administrative expenses    3,268     9.28%    26,712   22.59%
    Environmental remediation and
     administrative expenses, net         (4,820) -100.54%    (4,467) -84.52%
    Loss (Gain) on sale of real estate
     and fixed assets, net                  (634)  -77.04%    (3,772) 332.63%


      Operating income                    10,582    30.86%    27,641   25.05%


    Other income (expenses), net             577   403.50%      (144) -32.51%
    Interest expense                      (2,377)   65.79%    (7,952)  66.10%


    Earnings before income taxes           8,782    28.49%    19,545   19.79%
    Provision for income taxes             3,891    37.37%     9,331   27.70%


    Net earnings                          $4,891    23.96%   $10,214   15.70%


    Basic earnings per share
    Diluted earnings per share


    Dividends per share


    Weighted average shares outstanding:
       Basic
       Diluted


    Certain prior year information has been reclassified to conform to current
presentation.




                 CURTISS-WRIGHT CORPORATION and SUBSIDIARIES
                         CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                (In thousands)


                                    December 31, December 31,     Change
                                        2005         2004       $         %
    Assets
      Current Assets:
      Cash and cash equivalents        $59,021     $41,038   $17,983    43.8%
      Receivables, net                 244,689     214,084    30,605    14.3%
      Inventories, net                 146,297     115,979    30,318    26.1%
      Deferred income taxes             28,844      25,693     3,151    12.3%
      Other current assets              11,615      12,460      (845)   -6.8%


        Total current assets           490,466     409,254    81,212    19.8%
      Property, plant, and
       equipment, net                  274,821     265,243     9,578     3.6%
      Prepaid pension costs             76,002      77,802    (1,800)   -2.3%
      Goodwill, net                    388,158     364,313    23,845     6.5%
      Other intangible assets, net     158,267     140,369    17,898    12.8%
      Other assets                      12,571      21,459    (8,888)  -41.4%

        Total Assets                $1,400,285  $1,278,440  $121,845     9.5%


    Liabilities
      Current Liabilities:
      Short-term debt                     $885      $1,630     $(745)  -45.7%
      Accounts payable                  80,460      65,364    15,096    23.1%
      Accrued expenses                  74,252      63,413    10,839    17.1%
      Income taxes payable              22,855      13,895     8,960    64.5%
      Other current liabilities         43,051      52,793    (9,742)  -18.5%


        Total current liabilities      221,503     197,095    24,408    12.4%


      Long-term debt                   364,017     340,860    23,157     6.8%
      Deferred income taxes             53,570      40,043    13,527    33.8%
      Accrued pension & other
       postretirement benefit costs     74,999      80,612    (5,613)   -7.0%
      Long-term portion of
       environmental reserves           22,645      23,356      (711)   -3.0%
      Other liabilities                 25,331      20,860     4,471    21.4%


        Total Liabilities              762,065     702,826    59,239     8.4%


    Stockholders' Equity
      Common stock, $1 par value        25,493      16,646     8,847    53.1%
      Class B common stock, $1 par
       value                               -         8,765    (8,765) -100.0%
      Additional paid in capital        59,806      55,885     3,921     7.0%
      Retained earnings                667,892     601,070    66,822    11.1%
      Unearned portion of
       restricted stock                    (12)        (34)       22   -64.7%
      Accumulated other
       comprehensive income             20,655      36,797   (16,142)  -43.9%
                                       773,834     719,129    54,705     7.6%
      Less:  cost of treasury stock    135,614     143,515    (7,901)   -5.5%


        Total Stockholders' Equity     638,220     575,614    62,606    10.9%


        Total Liabilities and
         Stockholders' Equity       $1,400,285  $1,278,440  $121,845     9.5%





                 CURTISS-WRIGHT CORPORATION and SUBSIDIARIES
                             SEGMENT INFORMATION
                                (In thousands)


                                                  Three Months Ended
                                                     December 31,
                                                                         %
                                               2005         2004       Change
    Sales:
    Flow Control                             $130,683     $118,335      10.4%
    Motion Control                            137,271      115,927      18.4%
    Metal Treatment                            49,939       46,842       6.6%


    Total Sales                              $317,893     $281,104      13.1%


    Operating Income:
    Flow Control                              $17,604      $15,521      13.4%
    Motion Control                             20,154       16,162      24.7%
    Metal Treatment                             8,923        7,290      22.4%


    Total Segments                             46,681       38,973      19.8%
    Corporate & Other                          (1,805)      (4,679)    -61.4%


    Total Operating Income                    $44,876      $34,294      30.9%


    Operating Margins:
    Flow Control                                13.5%        13.1%
    Motion Control                              14.7%        13.9%
    Metal Treatment                             17.9%        15.6%
    Total Curtiss-Wright                        14.1%        12.2%




                                                   Twelve Months Ended
                                                       December 31,
                                                                        %
                                                2005        2004      Change
    Sales:
    Flow Control                              $466,546    $388,139     20.2%
    Motion Control                             465,451     388,576     19.8%
    Metal Treatment                            198,931     178,324     11.6%


    Total Sales                             $1,130,928    $955,039     18.4%


    Operating Income:
    Flow Control                               $54,509     $44,451     22.6%
    Motion Control                              50,485      44,893     12.5%
    Metal Treatment                             34,470      28,111     22.6%


    Total Segments                             139,464     117,455     18.7%
    Corporate & Other                           (1,482)     (7,114)   -79.2%


    Total Operating Income                    $137,982    $110,341     25.1%


    Operating Margins:
    Flow Control                                 11.7%       11.5%
    Motion Control                               10.8%       11.6%
    Metal Treatment                              17.3%       15.8%
    Total Curtiss-Wright                         12.2%       11.6%


ABOUT CURTISS-WRIGHT

Curtiss-Wright Corporation is a diversified company headquartered in Roseland, New Jersey. The Company designs, manufactures and overhauls products for motion control and flow control applications and provides a variety of metal treatment services. The firm employs approximately 6,000 people. More information on Curtiss-Wright can be found at http://curtisswright2014.q4web.com.

Certain statements made in this release, including statements about future revenue, organic revenue growth, annual revenue, net income, organic operating income growth, future business opportunities, and cost saving initiatives, and future cash flow from operations, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements present management's expectations, beliefs, plans and objectives regarding future financial performance, and assumptions or judgments concerning such performance. Any discussions contained in this press release, except to the extent that they contain historical facts, are forward-looking and accordingly involve estimates, assumptions, judgments and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward- looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: a reduction in anticipated orders; an economic downturn; changes in competitive marketplace and/or customer requirements; a change in government spending; an inability to perform customer contracts at anticipated cost levels; and other factors that generally affect the business of aerospace, defense contracting, electronics, marine, and industrial companies. Such factors are detailed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004 and subsequent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

This press release and additional information is available at http://curtisswright2014.q4web.com.

SOURCE Curtiss-Wright Corporation
CONTACT:
Alexandra M. Deignan,
+1-973-597-4734, or
[email protected]