McGraw Hill Financial Reports 4th Quarter And Full-Year 2013 Results

NEW YORK, Feb. 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- McGraw Hill Financial, Inc. (NYSE: MHFI) today reported fourth quarter and full-year 2013 results.  The Company reported fourth quarter 2013 revenue of $1.25 billion, an increase of 2% compared to the same period last year.  Net income and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations were $173 million and $0.62, respectively.  For the full year, revenue increased 10% to $4.88 billion and net income and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations were $812 million and $2.90, respectively.

Excluding the impact of one-time costs related to restructuring, the pending sale of a data center, and lease terminations as the Company consolidates office space, adjusted net income from continuing operations for the quarter increased 9% to $223 million, and adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations increased 12% to $0.81.  For the full year, adjusted net income from continuing operations increased 19% to $931 million and adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations increased 21% to $3.33.

"2013 has been a momentous year for the Company as we transformed McGraw Hill Financial into a more profitable, more growth-oriented company.  These actions drove the record results delivered today with 10% revenue growth and 21% adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations growth," said Douglas L. Peterson, president and chief executive officer of McGraw Hill Financial.  He continued, "My focus will be on enhancing our customers' experience, thoughtfully broadening our presence in international markets, and delivering strong financial performance based both upon revenue growth and cost control."

The Outlook:  "We are introducing 2014 revenue guidance of mid single-digit growth and adjusted diluted EPS guidance of $3.75 to $3.85 – essentially targeting mid-teen EPS growth.  In addition, our free cash flow guidance for 2014 is approximately $1 billion.  During the fourth quarter, we continued to evaluate our cost structure, particularly in light of recent divestitures, and identified several new cost savings opportunities.  We began addressing some of these during the fourth quarter by reducing our real estate footprint, particularly in New York City, and streamlining various management structures."

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services:  Fourth quarter revenue was the second highest of 2013.  However, facing the most difficult comparison of the year, fourth quarter 2013 revenue decreased 2% to $574 million and operating profit decreased 10% to $221 million.  Adjusted operating profit decreased 9% to $231 million.  The adjusted operating profit margin decreased to 40.2% in the quarter.

2013 revenue increased 12% to $2.27 billion.  Operating profit increased 18% to $1.0 billion.  Adjusted operating profit increased 15% to $993 million compared to 2012.  For the second straight year, adjusted operating profit margin increased, rising 120 basis points to 43.7%.

Transaction revenue decreased 12% to $257 million during the quarter primarily due to lower U.S. corporate issuance, particularly high yield. 

U.S. corporate and public issuance were down 18% and 19%, respectively, driven by the government shutdown, interest rate volatility, and economic uncertainty.  U.S. structured issuance was flat with strength in commercial mortgage-backed securities offset by weak residential mortgage-backed securities and collateralized debt obligations (predominately collateralized loan obligations).

European corporate issuance was flat with a 9% decrease in investment-grade issuance offset by a 71% increase in high-yield issuance.  Improved economic conditions drove a 25% increase in European structured issuance.

Non-transaction revenue increased 8% in the fourth quarter and represented 55% of Standard & Poor's Ratings' total revenue compared to 50% for the same period last year. Non-transaction growth was driven primarily by increased entity credit rating activity, particularly in Europe.

International revenue increased 8% and represented 50% of Standard & Poor's Ratings' total fourth quarter revenue.  This is the highest percentage of international revenue since 4Q 2008. 

S&P Capital IQ:  Revenue increased 4% to $301 million in the fourth quarter of 2013.  Excluding ongoing portfolio rationalization, organic growth accounted for 5%.  Quarterly operating profit decreased 5% to $46 million.  Adjusted operating profit increased 1% to $54 million.

Full-year 2013 revenue increased 4% to $1.17 billion.  Operating profit increased 1% to $211 million.  Adjusted operating profit decreased 2% to $224 million.

In the fourth quarter, Desktop Solutions, Enterprise Solutions, and Ratings IP all delivered mid single-digit revenue growth while Proprietary Research revenue declined mid single-digit.

During the fourth quarter, and throughout the year, S&P Capital IQ has been building new products and adding new data sets.  The first sale of its new Portfolio Risk Analytics product recently took place with a five-year agreement.   

S&P Dow Jones Indices:  Revenue increased 18% to $130 million in the fourth quarter of 2013.  Quarterly operating profit decreased 21% to $50 million.  Adjusted operating profit attributable to the Company decreased 26% to $37 million.  Operating profit decreased due to a $26 million non-cash impairment charge associated with an intangible asset acquired through the formation of our S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC joint venture.

2013 revenue increased 27% to $493 million.  2013 organic revenue, which excludes the Dow Jones Indexes for the first half of 2013, increased 12% to $435 million.  Operating profit increased 31% to $278 million.  Adjusted operating profit attributable to the Company increased 4% to $205 million.

The primary driver of revenue growth was the growth in assets under management (AUM) in exchange-traded funds based on S&P Dow Jones Indices.  AUM increased 43% to $668 billion at the end of the fourth quarter compared with the end of 2012, with almost half of this increase as the result of inflows.  In addition, licensing revenue from derivative trading increased primarily due to SPX and VIX trading volumes, which increased 11% and 19%, respectively.

Late in the fourth quarter of 2013, we made the final payment to acquire the intellectual property for the S&P GSCI^® enabling the Company to eliminate applicable royalty obligations going forward.

Commodities & Commercial Markets:  Revenue increased 2% to $264 million and operating profit increased 41% to $76 million in the fourth quarter of 2013.  Adjusted operating profit also increased by 41% to $84 million in the fourth quarter, compared to the same period last year.

For 2013, revenue increased 4% to $1.01 billion.  Operating profit increased 25% to $311 million.  Adjusted operating profit increased by 19% to $310 million.

Platts capped another strong year with 10% revenue growth to $141 million for the fourth quarter.  During the quarter, Metals & Agriculture and Petrochemicals product subscription growth overtook Petroleum as the primary drivers of double-digit growth.  For the full-year 2013, Platts' revenue grew 13% to a record $550 million.

Commercial Markets' revenue decreased 6% for the quarter.  Excluding the sale of Aviation Week, organic revenue grew 4% for the quarter.  J.D. Power delivered its second consecutive year of record revenue; however, this was partially offset by a modest decline at Construction.

Unallocated Expense:  Unallocated expense includes corporate functions and centrally-managed costs.  Adjusted unallocated expense decreased 7% to $58 million in the fourth quarter.  Full-year 2013 adjusted unallocated expense increased $1 million to $203 million.

Adjustments to Continuing Operations:  During the fourth quarter, there were $77 million of one-time charges primarily associated with three items:

- $36 million non-cash impairment charge related to the pending sale of a data center

- $28 million restructuring charge associated with streamlining the Company's management structure and shutting down a small unprofitable business

- $13 million charge primarily related to terminating various leases as the Company reduced its real estate footprint

Return of Capital:  During 2013, share repurchases totaled approximately $1 billion with a volume weighted average price of $58.52 per share.  In addition, regular quarterly dividends totaled approximately $300 million bringing the total return of capital to $1.3 billion.  On January 29, the Board of Directors increased the regular quarterly dividend by 7.1%.  This action marks the Company's forty first year of annual dividend increases and demonstrates McGraw Hill Financial's long-term commitment to deploying capital to build total shareholder return.  Having completed its existing authorization, in December 2013 the Company announced a new 50 million share buyback authorization.  In 2014, the Company anticipates continuing its share repurchase program, subject to market conditions.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow:  Cash and short-term investments at the end of the fourth quarter were $1.56 billion, up from $761 million at the end of 2012.  For the full year, free cash flow from continuing operations was $624 million, a decrease of $2 million from the same period in 2012.

Comparison of Adjusted Information to U.S. GAAP Information:  Adjusted diluted earnings per share, adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations, adjusted net income, adjusted operating profit, adjusted unallocated expense and free cash flow are non-GAAP financial measures contained in this earnings release that are derived from the Company's continuing operations.  This information is provided in order to allow investors to make meaningful comparisons of the Company's operating performance between periods and to view the Company's business from the same perspective as Company management.  These non-GAAP measures may be different than similar measures used by other companies.  Reconciliations for the differences between non-GAAP measures used in this earnings release and comparable financial measures calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP are attached as Exhibits 5 and 8.

Investor Day Scheduled for March 18, 2014:  McGraw Hill Financial will host an Investor Day on March 18, 2014 in New York City.  Douglas Peterson, president and chief executive officer, and other members of senior management will provide greater insight into the new McGraw Hill Financial.  Discussions may include forward-looking information.  The event is by invitation only to attend in person.  The Company will video Webcast all the presentations and will make them available, live and in replay, for all interested parties at http://investor.mhfi.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=96562&p=irol-EventDetails&EventId=5094779.

4Q 2013 Earnings Conference Call/Webcast Details:  The Company's senior management will review the fourth quarter earnings results on a conference call scheduled for this morning, February 4, 2014, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time.  This call is open to all interested parties.  Discussions may include forward-looking information.  Additional information presented on the conference call may be made available on the Company's Investor Relations Website at http://investor.mhfi.com.

The Webcast of the 4Q 2013 earnings call will be available live and in replay at
http://investor.mhfi.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=96562&p=irol-EventDetails&EventId=5082927.  (Please copy and paste URL into Web browser.)

Telephone access is available.  Domestic participants may call (888) 391-6568; international participants may call +1 (415) 228-4733 (long distance charges will apply).  The passcode is "MHFI" and the conference leader is Douglas Peterson.  A recorded telephone replay will be available approximately two hours after the meeting concludes and will remain available until March 4, 2014.  Domestic participants may call (800) 945-2458; international participants may call +1 (203) 369-3946 (long distance charges will apply).  No passcode is required.

The forward-looking statements in this news release involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various important factors, including worldwide economic, financial, liquidity, political and regulatory conditions; the health of debt (including U.S. residential mortgage-backed securities and collateralized debt obligations) and equity markets, including possible future interest rate changes; the health of the economy; the successful marketing of competitive products; and the effect of competitive products and pricing.

About McGraw Hill Financial:  McGraw Hill Financial is a leading financial intelligence company providing the global capital and commodity markets with independent benchmarks, credit ratings, portfolio and enterprise risk solutions, and analytics. The Company's iconic brands include  Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, S&P Capital IQ, S&P Dow Jones Indices, Platts, CRISIL, J.D. Power and McGraw Hill Construction. The Company has approximately 17,000 employees in 27 countries. Additional information is available at www.mhfi.com

Investor Relations:  http://investor.mhfi.com

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Release issued:  February 4, 2014

Contact:

Investor Relations:
Chip Merritt
Vice President, Investor Relations
(212) 512-4321 (office)
[email protected]

News Media:
Jason Feuchtwanger
Director, Corporate Media Relations
(212) 512-3151 (office)
[email protected]

        N/M - not meaningful

        Note - % change in the tables throughout the exhibits are calculated off of the actual number, not the rounded number presented.

(a)   Includes one of our data centers as of December 31, 2013 and McGraw-Hill Education as of December 31, 2012.

N/M - not meaningful

Note - Totals presented may not sum across due to rounding.

(a)   The three months includes restructuring charges across the segments and, additionally, the twelve months primarily includes a gain on the sale of an equity investment held by CRISIL at S&P Ratings; a loss on the sale of Financial Communications at S&P Capital IQ; and a gain on the sale of Aviation Week at Commodities & Commercial Markets.

(b)  Includes restructuring charges and S&P Dow Jones Indices also includes transaction costs associated with our S&P Dow Jones LLC joint venture.

(c)   Includes Growth and Value Plan related costs necessary to enable the separation of MHE and reduce our cost structure, which primarily includes professional fees, restructuring charges and other non-recurring costs. 2013 also includes pre-tax legal settlements of approximately $77 million, a $36 million non-cash impairment charge related to the pending sale of a data center and $13 million related to terminating various leases as we reduce our real estate portfolio. 2012 also includes a charge related to our lease commitments and $52 million related to a vacation accrual reversal. 

(a)    Non-transaction revenue is primarily related to annual fees for frequent issuer programs and surveillance, while transaction revenue is related to ratings of publicly-issued debt, bank loan ratings and corporate credit estimates. Non-transaction revenue also includes an intersegment revenue elimination, which mainly consists of the royalty of $18 million and $72 million for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2013, respectively and $18 million and $69 million for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2012, respectively, charged to S&P Capital IQ for the rights to use and distribute content and data developed by S&P Ratings.

(b)   Subscription revenue is related to credit ratings-related information products, S&P Capital IQ platform, investment research products and other data subscriptions, while non-subscription revenue is related to certain advisory, pricing and analytical services.

(c)    Subscription revenue is related to data subscriptions, which support index fund management, portfolio analytics and research, while non-subscription revenue relates to fees based on assets underlying exchange-traded funds, as well as certain advisory, pricing and analytical services.

(d)   Subscription revenue is related to Platts real-time news, market data, and price assessments, along with other print and digital information products, while non-subscription revenue is related to licensing of our proprietary market price data and price assessments to commodity exchanges, conference sponsorship, consulting engagements, and events.

(e)    Subscription revenue is related to print and digital information products primarily serving automotive and construction markets, while non-subscription revenue is related to syndicated and proprietary research studies, advertising, consulting engagements and events.

¹    2013 revenue related to acquisitions is removed for those comparable periods in 2012 where we did not own the acquired business.

SOURCE McGraw Hill Financial