Boeing Reports Fourth-Quarter Results and Provides 2016 Guidance

CHICAGO, Jan. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Fourth-Quarter 2015

• Core EPS (non-GAAP)* of $1.60 on revenue of $23.6 billion; GAAP EPS of $1.51
• Strong operating cash flow of $3.1 billion on solid core operating performance

Full Year 2015

• Record revenue of $96.1 billion on record commercial deliveries
• Operating cash flow increased to $9.4 billion; strong liquidity of $12.1 billion in cash and marketable securities
• Backlog remains strong at $489 billion, including $83 billion of net orders during the year

Outlook for 2016

• 2016 Core EPS* guidance of between $8.15 and $8.35; GAAP EPS guidance of between $8.45 and $8.65
• Revenue guidance of between $93 and $95 billion reflects commercial deliveries of between 740 and 745
• Reaffirming planned production rate increases over the next several years
• Operating cash flow guidance of approximately $10 billion

 

The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] reported fourth-quarter revenue of $23.6 billion and core earnings per share (Non-GAAP)* of $1.60 (Table 1). Fourth quarter 2015 results reflect the previously announced $569 million after-tax charge ($0.84 per share) on the 747 program as a result of a slow recovery in the air cargo market which was partially offset by solid core operating performance across the company. GAAP earnings per share was $1.51.

Revenue rose 6 percent in the full year to a record $96.1 billion reflecting record commercial deliveries. Core earnings per share (Non-GAAP)* totaled $7.72 for the full year, reflecting the KC-46 Tanker (2Q) and 747 program (4Q) charges ($1.61 per share) partially offset by strong core operating performance across the company. GAAP earnings per share totaled $7.44 for the full year.

Core earnings per share (non-GAAP)* guidance for 2016 is set at between $8.15 and $8.35, while GAAP earnings per share is established at between $8.45 and $8.65. Revenue guidance is between $93 and $95 billion, including commercial deliveries of between 740 and 745. Operating cash flow is expected to be approximately $10 billion.

"Building on our foundation of solid core operating performance and customer focus, Boeing extended its leadership of the aerospace industry in 2015 with record deliveries and revenues in commercial airplanes, and solid sales and healthy margins in our defense and space business. We also generated significant cash flow to fuel investments in innovation and our people, and provide compelling returns to our shareholders," said Boeing President and Chief Executive Officer Dennis Muilenburg.  "With clear strategies and strong positions in our markets, a large and diverse order backlog worth nearly $500 billion, and multiple additional production rate increases planned yet this decade, we are well positioned for profitable growth and higher cash flow as we move into our second century in business."

"Our priorities for 2016 and beyond are to build on our existing strengths to deliver on current plans and commitments, and to stretch beyond them by accelerating progress on key enterprise growth and productivity initiatives, investing in our team, and creating more value and opportunity for our customers, shareholders and employees," Muilenburg said.

Operating cash flow in the quarter was $3.1 billion, reflecting commercial airplane production rates, solid core operating performance and the timing of receipts and expenditures in the prior period (Table 2). During the quarter, the company repurchased 5 million shares for $0.8 billion and paid $0.6 billion in dividends. For the full year, the company repurchased 47 million shares for $6.8 billion and paid $2.5 billion in dividends. Based on strong cash generation and outlook, in December, the board of directors raised the share repurchase authorization to $14 billion, replacing the authorization approved in 2014 of which $5.3 billion was remaining, and increased the quarterly dividend 20 percent. Share repurchases under the new authorization are expected to be made over the next two to three years.

Cash and investments in marketable securities totaled $12.1 billion, up from $9.9 billion at the beginning of the quarter, primarily due to the timing of cash flows. Debt was $10.0 billion, up from $9.0 billion at the beginning of the quarter, primarily due to the issuance of new debt (Table 3).

Total company backlog at quarter-end was $489 billion, up from $485 billion at the beginning of the quarter, and included net orders for the quarter of $28 billion. Net orders for the full year totaled $83 billion.

Segment Results

Commercial Airplanes

Commercial Airplanes fourth-quarter revenue decreased slightly to $16.1 billion on lower delivery volume (Table 4). Fourth-quarter operating margin was 3.5 percent, reflecting the previously announced $885 million pre-tax charge on the 747 program and higher R&D partially offset by strong performance on production programs.

During the quarter, Commercial Airplanes won orders for 203 737 MAX airplanes. The 737 program has captured nearly 3,100 orders for the 737 MAX since launch. Also during the quarter, the company completed detailed design for the 787-10 Dreamliner, final systems definition on the 777X, and rolled out the first 737 MAX airplane.

Commercial Airplanes booked 321 net orders during the quarter and 768 net orders in 2015. Backlog remains strong with nearly 5,800 airplanes valued at $432 billion.

Defense, Space & Security

Defense, Space & Security's fourth-quarter revenue was $7.8 billion with an operating margin of 12.4 percent (Table 5).

Boeing Military Aircraft (BMA) fourth-quarter revenue increased to $3.2 billion and operating margin increased to 13.7 percent, reflecting higher volume and delivery mix. During the quarter, BMA was awarded a contract for 15 EA-18G Growlers and Japan selected the KC-46 tanker to meet their tanker requirement.

Network & Space Systems (N&SS) fourth-quarter revenue was $2.0 billion, reflecting lower satellite volume. Operating margin was 8.3 percent, reflecting lower performance on a development program. During the quarter, NASA awarded Boeing its second commercial contract for a human spaceflight mission as part of the existing Commercial Crew contract.

Global Services & Support (GS&S) fourth-quarter revenue increased to $2.6 billion, reflecting the timing of Airborne Surveillance, Command and Control deliveries. Operating margin was 13.8 percent reflecting program mix. During the quarter, GS&S delivered the final AEW&C aircraft to Turkey.

Backlog at Defense, Space & Security was $58 billion, of which 40 percent represents orders from international customers.

Additional Financial Information

At quarter-end, Boeing Capital's net portfolio balance was $3.4 billion, unchanged from the beginning of the quarter. Unallocated items and eliminations revenue totaled $408 million at quarter end, up from $112 million in the same period of the prior year, primarily due to the timing of eliminations for intercompany aircraft deliveries. Total pension expense for the fourth quarter was $529 million, down from $772 million in the same period of the prior year. The company's income tax expense was $73 million in the quarter, compared to $464 million in the same period of the prior year.

Outlook

The company's 2016 financial and delivery guidance (Table 7) reflects continued solid performance across the company.

Non-GAAP Measures Disclosures

We supplement the reporting of our financial information determined under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) with certain non-GAAP financial information. The non-GAAP financial information presented excludes certain significant items that may not be indicative of, or are unrelated to, results from our ongoing business operations. We believe that these non-GAAP measures provide investors with additional insight into the company's ongoing business performance. These non-GAAP measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the related GAAP measures, and other companies may define such measures differently. We encourage investors to review our financial statements and publicly-filed reports in their entirety and not to rely on any single financial measure. The following definitions are provided:

Core Operating Earnings, Core Operating Margin and Core Earnings Per Share

Core operating earnings is defined as GAAP earnings from operations excluding unallocated pension and post-retirement expense. Core operating margin is defined as core operating earnings expressed as a percentage of revenue. Core earnings per share is defined as GAAP diluted earnings per share excluding the net earnings per share impact of unallocated pension and post-retirement expense. Unallocated pension and post-retirement expense represents the portion of pension and other post-retirement costs that are not recognized by business segments for segment reporting purposes. Management uses core operating earnings, core operating margin and core earnings per share for purposes of evaluating and forecasting underlying business performance. Management believes these core earnings measures provide investors additional insights into operational performance as they exclude unallocated pension and post-retirement costs, which primarily represent costs driven by market factors and costs not allocable to government contracts. A reconciliation between the GAAP and non-GAAP measures is provided on page 14.

Operating Cash Flow Before Pension Contributions

Operating cash flow before pension contributions is defined as GAAP operating cash flow without pension contributions. Management believes operating cash flow before pension contributions provides additional insights into underlying business performance. Management uses operating cash flow before pension contributions as a measure to assess both business performance and overall liquidity. Table 2 provides a reconciliation between GAAP operating cash flow and operating cash flow before pension contributions.

Free Cash Flow

Free cash flow is defined as GAAP operating cash flow without capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment additions. Management believes free cash flow provides investors with an important perspective on the cash available for shareholders, debt repayment, and acquisitions after making the capital investments required to support ongoing business operations and long term value creation. Free cash flow does not represent the residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures as it excludes certain mandatory expenditures such as repayment of maturing debt. Management uses free cash flow as a measure to assess both business performance and overall liquidity. Table 2 provides a reconciliation between GAAP operating cash flow and free cash flow.

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "may," "should," "expects," "intends," "projects," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "targets," "anticipates," and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements include statements relating to our future financial condition and operating results, as well as any other statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions, which may not prove to be accurate. These statements are not guarantees and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from these forward-looking statements. Among these factors are risks related to: (1) general conditions in the economy and our industry, including those due to regulatory changes; (2) our reliance on our commercial airline customers; (3) the overall health of our aircraft production system, planned production rate increases across multiple commercial airline programs, our commercial development and derivative aircraft programs, and our aircraft being subject to stringent performance and reliability standards; (4) changing budget and appropriation levels and acquisition priorities of the U.S. government; (5) our dependence on U.S. government contracts; (6) our reliance on fixed-price contracts; (7) our reliance on cost-type contracts; (8) uncertainties concerning contracts that include in-orbit incentive payments; (9) our dependence on our subcontractors and suppliers, as well as the availability of raw materials, (10) changes in accounting estimates; (11) changes in the competitive landscape in our markets; (12) our non-U.S. operations, including sales to non-U.S. customers; (13) potential adverse developments in new or pending litigation and/or government investigations; (14) customer and aircraft concentration in Boeing Capital's customer financing portfolio; (15) changes in our ability to obtain debt on commercially reasonable terms and at competitive rates in order to fund our operations and contractual commitments; (16) realizing the anticipated benefits of mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures/strategic alliances or divestitures; (17) the adequacy of our insurance coverage to cover significant risk exposures; (18) potential business disruptions, including those related to physical security threats, information technology or cyber-attacks, epidemics, sanctions or natural disasters; (19) work stoppages or other labor disruptions; (20) significant changes in discount rates and actual investment return on pension assets; (21) potential environmental liabilities; and (22) threats to the security of our or our customers' information.

Additional information concerning these and other factors can be found in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and we assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

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