Johnson Controls reports strong start to the fiscal year and reaffirms full year guidance

CORK, Ireland, Jan. 31, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson Controls International plc (NYSE: JCI) today reported fiscal first quarter 2020 GAAP earnings per share ("EPS") from continuing operations, including special items, of $0.21.  Excluding these items, adjusted EPS from continuing operations was $0.40, up 54% versus the prior year period (see attached footnotes for non-GAAP reconciliation).

Sales of $5.6 billion increased 2% compared to the prior year and grew 3% organically.     

GAAP earnings before interest and taxes ("EBIT") was $308 million and EBIT margin was 5.5%. Adjusted EBIT was $448 million and adjusted EBIT margin was 8.0%, up 70 basis points over the prior year.  Excluding the impact of M&A and foreign currency, the underlying adjusted EBIT margin increased 80 basis points.

"Our first quarter results reflect a strong start to fiscal 2020, marking the fifth consecutive quarter of organic double-digit adjusted EBIT growth as a pure-play buildings technology company.  Our performance in the quarter reflects a continued commitment to solid execution and to improving the underlying fundamentals of our business, which is shared throughout the organization," said George Oliver, chairman and CEO.  "We deliver the safest, most secure and sustainable solutions for our customers given our robust portfolio of products and services.  This, along with our strong balance sheet, positions us well to continue to deliver long-term shareholder value," Oliver added. 

Income and EPS amounts attributable to Johnson Controls ordinary shareholders
($ millions, except per-share amounts)

The financial highlights presented in the tables below are in accordance with GAAP, unless otherwise indicated. All comparisons are to the fiscal first quarter of 2019.  The results of Power Solutions are reported as discontinued operations in all periods presented.

Organic sales growth, organic EBITA growth, segment EBITA, adjusted segment EBITA, EBIT, adjusted EBIT, adjusted EPS from continuing operations and adjusted free cash flow are non-GAAP financial measures. For a reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures and detail of the special items, refer to the attached footnotes.  A slide presentation to accompany the results can be found in the Investor Relations section of Johnson Controls' website at http://investors.johnsoncontrols.com.

BUSINESS RESULTS

Building Solutions North America

Sales in the quarter of $2.2 billion, increased 2% versus the prior year.  Organic sales increased 3% versus the prior year led by strength in Fire & Security and, to a lesser extent, HVAC & Controls.  This growth was partially offset by a decline in Performance Solutions.         

Orders in the quarter, excluding M&A and adjusted for foreign currency, decreased 1% year-over-year off a strong prior year and due to timing between quarters.  Backlog at the end of the quarter of $5.8 billion increased 7% year-over-year, excluding M&A and adjusted for foreign currency.

Adjusted segment EBITA was $259 million, up 2% versus the prior year. Adjusted segment EBITA margin of 12.0% was consistent with the prior year as favorable volume leverage as well as productivity savings and cost synergies, were offset by Retail mix. 

Building Solutions EMEA/LA (Europe, Middle East, Africa/Latin America)

Sales in the quarter of $928 million increased 2% versus the prior year.  Organic sales grew 7% versus the prior year driven by strong growth in project installations and service.  Growth was positive across all regions and across HVAC & Controls, Fire & Security and Industrial Refrigeration. 

Orders in the quarter, excluding M&A and adjusted for foreign currency, increased 4% year-over-year.  Backlog at the end of the quarter of $1.7 billion increased 8% year-over-year, excluding M&A and adjusted for foreign currency.

Adjusted segment EBITA was $90 million, up 17% versus the prior year. Adjusted segment EBITA margin of 9.7% expanded 120 basis points over the prior year, including a 10 basis point headwind related to foreign currency.  Adjusting for foreign currency, the underlying margin improved 130 basis points driven by favorable volume leverage as well as the benefit from productivity savings and cost synergies.  

Building Solutions Asia Pacific

Sales in the quarter of $629 million increased 3% versus the prior year.  Organic sales also increased 3% versus the prior year driven by growth in project installations, particularly in Fire & Security.

Orders in the quarter, excluding M&A and adjusted for foreign currency, increased 1% year-over-year.  Backlog at the end of the quarter of $1.6 billion increased 2% year-over-year, excluding M&A and adjusted for foreign currency.

Adjusted segment EBITA was $72 million, up 9% versus the prior year. Adjusted segment EBITA margin of 11.4% expanded 60 basis points over the prior year driven by favorable volume leverage and the benefit of productivity savings and cost synergies.    

Global Products

Sales in the quarter of $1.9 billion increased 1% versus the prior year. Organic sales increased 2% versus the prior year led by strong growth in Building Management Systems and, to a lesser extent, Specialty Products. Sales of HVAC & Refrigeration Equipment were consistent with the prior year.     

Adjusted segment EBITA was $204 million, up 5% versus the prior year. Adjusted segment EBITA margin of 11.0% expanded 40 basis points over the prior year, including a 10 basis point headwind related to foreign currency.  Adjusting for foreign currency, the underlying margin improved 50 basis points driven by positive price/cost as well as the benefit of productivity savings and cost synergies. 

Corporate

Adjusted Corporate expense was $81 million in the quarter, a decrease of 13% compared to the prior year, driven primarily by continued productivity savings and cost synergies, as well as cost reductions related to the Power Solutions sale.

OTHER ITEMS

• As expected during the quarter, the Company received an income tax refund of $0.6 billion.
• Cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations was $0.5 billion and capital expenditures were $0.1 billion in the quarter, resulting in free cash flow from continuing operations of $0.4 billion. Adjusted free cash flow was an outflow of $0.1 billion, which excludes net cash inflows of $0.4 billion primarily related to an income tax refund partially offset by integration costs.
• During the quarter, the Company repurchased approximately 15 million shares for $651 million.
• During the quarter, the Company recorded a pre-tax restructuring and impairment charge of $111 million primarily related to workforce reductions, plant closures and asset impairments.
• During the quarter, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 842, Leases, which resulted in an increase to other noncurrent assets of $1.1 billion, other current liabilities of $0.3 billion and other noncurrent liabilities of $0.8 billion.

About Johnson Controls:

At Johnson Controls, we transform the environments where people live, work, learn and play. From optimizing building performance to improving safety and enhancing comfort, we drive the outcomes that matter most. We deliver our promise in industries such as healthcare, education, data centers, and manufacturing. With a global team of 105,000 experts in more than 150 countries and over 130 years of innovation, we are the power behind our customers' mission. Our leading portfolio of building technology and solutions includes some of the most trusted names in the industry, such as Tyco^®, YORK^®, Metasys^®, Ruskin^®, Titus^®, Frick^®, PENN^®, Sabroe^®, Simplex^®, Ansul^® and Grinnell^®. For more information, visit www.johnsoncontrols.com or follow us @johnsoncontrols on Twitter

Johnson Controls International plc Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Johnson Controls International plc has made statements in this communication that are forward-looking and therefore are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements in this document other than statements of historical fact are, or could be, "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In this communication, statements regarding Johnson Controls' future financial position, sales, costs, earnings, cash flows, other measures of results of operations, synergies and integration opportunities, capital expenditures and debt levels are forward-looking statements. Words such as "may," "will," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "should," "forecast," "project" or "plan" and terms of similar meaning are also generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. However, the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Johnson Controls cautions that these statements are subject to numerous important risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, some of which are beyond Johnson Controls' control, that could cause Johnson Controls' actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, among others, risks related to: any delay or inability of Johnson Controls to realize the expected benefits and synergies of recent portfolio transactions such as the merger with Tyco and the disposition of the Power Solutions business, changes in tax laws (including but not limited to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act enacted in December 2017), regulations, rates, policies or interpretations, the loss of key senior management, the tax treatment of recent portfolio transactions, significant transaction costs and/or unknown liabilities associated with such transactions, the outcome of actual or potential litigation relating to such transactions, the risk that disruptions from recent transactions will harm Johnson Controls' business, the strength of the U.S. or other economies, changes to laws or policies governing foreign trade, including increased tariffs or trade restrictions, energy and commodity prices, the availability of raw materials and component products, currency exchange rates, maintaining the capacity, reliability and security of our information technology infrastructure, the risk of infringement or expiration of intellectual property rights, work stoppages, union negotiations, labor disputes and other matters associated with the labor force, the outcome of litigation and governmental proceedings and cancellation of or changes to commercial arrangements.  A detailed discussion of risks related to Johnson Controls' business is included in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Johnson Controls' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 2019 fiscal year filed with the SEC on November 21, 2019, which is available at www.sec.gov and www.johnsoncontrols.com under the "Investors" tab. Shareholders, potential investors and others should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements and should not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements included in this communication are made only as of the date of this document, unless otherwise specified, and, except as required by law, Johnson Controls assumes no obligation, and disclaims any obligation, to update such statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this communication.

Non-GAAP Financial Information

The Company's press release contains financial information regarding adjusted earnings per share, which is a non-GAAP performance measure. The adjusting items include restructuring and impairment costs, transaction costs, integration costs, net mark-to-market adjustments, and discrete tax items. Financial information regarding organic sales, EBIT, EBIT margin, segment EBITA, adjusted segment EBITA, adjusted organic segment EBITA, adjusted segment EBITA margin, free cash flow and adjusted free cash flow, are also presented, which are non-GAAP performance measures. Adjusted segment EBITA excludes special items such as transaction costs and integration costs because these costs are not considered to be directly related to the underlying operating performance of its business units.  Management believes that, when considered together with unadjusted amounts, these non-GAAP measures are useful to investors in understanding period-over-period operating results and business trends of the Company. Management may also use these metrics as guides in forecasting, budgeting and long-term planning processes and for compensation purposes. These metrics should be considered in addition to, and not as replacements for, the most comparable GAAP measure.  For further information on the calculation of thee non-GAAP measures and a reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures, refer to the attached footnotes.

SOURCE Johnson Controls

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