Spirit AeroSystems Reports Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2020 Results

WICHITA, Kan., Feb. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --

• Completed acquisition of select assets of Bombardier to diversify Spirit's business
  
  
• Raised $2.1 billion of senior secured debt and terminated 2018 credit facility during the year; Paid off $1.2 billion in debt during the year; Ended year with cash balance of $1.9 billion
  
  
• Reduced commercial aviation employees by 8,000 and cut annualized costs of $1 billion to align to lower rates of production

Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. [NYSE: SPR] ("Spirit" or the "Company") reported fourth quarter and full-year 2020 financial results.

"2020 was one of the most challenging years in aviation history. For Spirit, the 737 MAX grounding and the COVID-19 pandemic created a dual-crisis. Our response focused on five critical actions: protecting employees, restructuring our cost base, strengthening our liquidity, implementing productivity projects, and diversifying the business with our planned acquisitions," said Tom Gentile, Spirit AeroSystems President and Chief Executive Officer. "With these actions, we worked to stabilize our liquidity and ended the year with $1.9 billion in cash while positioning Spirit to continue playing a leadership role in the aviation industry."

During the fourth-quarter and full-year 2020 earnings call, management will address the preliminary assessment of the purchase accounting treatment related to the Bombardier acquisition.

Revenue

Spirit's fourth quarter of 2020 revenue was $877 million, down from the same period of 2019, primarily due to the significantly lower 737 MAX production resulting from the grounding of the program and the impacts of COVID-19. Deliveries decreased to 231 shipsets during the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to 452 shipsets in the same period of 2019, including Boeing 737 MAX deliveries of 19 shipsets compared to 153 shipsets in the same period of the prior year. Revenue for the full-year decreased to $3.4 billion, primarily due to the significantly lower Boeing 737 MAX production resulting from the grounding of the program and the impacts of COVID-19. Full-year deliveries decreased to 920 shipsets during 2020 compared to 1,791 shipsets in 2019, including Boeing 737 MAX deliveries of 71 shipsets compared to 606 shipsets in the prior year. 

Spirit's backlog at the end of the fourth quarter of 2020 was approximately $34 billion, with work packages on all commercial platforms in the Boeing and Airbus backlog.

Earnings

Operating loss for the fourth quarter of 2020 was $101 million, down compared to operating income of $96 million in the same period of 2019. Included in the fourth quarter 2020 operating loss were excess capacity costs of $50.1 million and forward loss charges of $28.1 million, primarily driven by the lower production rates announced by Boeing and Airbus on the 787 and A350 programs. In comparison, during the fourth quarter of 2019, Spirit recorded $41.7 million of net forward loss charges and $13.5 million of unfavorable cumulative catch-up adjustments. Operating loss for the full-year of 2020 was $813 million, down compared to operating income of $761 million in 2019. Included in the 2020 operating loss were excess capacity costs of $278.9 million, abnormal costs related to COVID-19 of $33.7 million, and forward loss charges of $370.3 million, primarily driven by the lower production rates announced by Boeing and Airbus on the 787 and A350 programs. In comparison, during 2019, Spirit recorded $63.5 million of net forward loss charges. Additionally, during 2020, Spirit recognized restructuring expenses of $73.0 million for cost-alignment and headcount reductions and non-cash expenses of $86.5 million as a result of the voluntary retirement program ("VRP") offered during 2020.

Fourth quarter EPS was $(2.85), compared to $0.65 in the same period of 2019. Fourth quarter 2020 adjusted EPS* was $(1.31), which excluded the impacts from the Bombardier acquisition, now-terminated Asco acquisition, restructuring costs, the VRP offered during 2020, and the $150.2 million deferred tax asset valuation allowance established during the fourth quarter of 2020. During the same period of 2019, adjusted EPS* was $0.79, which excluded the impact of the Asco acquisition and the VRP offered during 2019. Full-year 2020 EPS was $(8.38), compared to $5.06 in 2019. Full-year 2020 adjusted EPS* was $(5.72), which excluded the impacts from the Bombardier acquisition, now-terminated Asco acquisition, restructuring costs, VRP offered during 2020, and the deferred tax asset valuation allowance. In comparison, full-year 2019 adjusted EPS* was $5.54, which excluded the impact of the Asco acquisition and the VRP offered during 2019.  (Table 1)  

Cash

Cash from operations in the fourth quarter of 2020 was $(132) million, down from $204 million in the same quarter last year, primarily due to negative impacts of working capital requirements and significantly lower production deliveries, partially offset by favorable cash tax. Free cash flow* in the fourth quarter of 2020 was $(181) million, down compared to $91 million in the same period of 2019. Full-year cash from operations was $(745) million, down from $923 million in 2019, primarily due to negative impacts of working capital requirements, significantly lower production deliveries and restructuring costs of $73 million, partially offset by $215 million received as a result of the February 2020 MOA with Boeing as well as favorable cash taxes. Full-year free cash flow* was $(864) million, down compared to $691 million in 2019. Cash balance at the end of 2020 was $1.9 billion, compared to $2.4 billion at the end of 2019. (Table 2)

Segment Results

Fuselage Systems

Fuselage Systems segment revenue in the fourth quarter of 2020 decreased 59 percent from the same period last year to $426 million, primarily due to lower production volumes on the Boeing 737, 787 and Airbus A350 programs. Operating margin for the fourth quarter of 2020 decreased to (4.7) percent, compared to 5.8 percent during the same period of 2019. This decrease was primarily due to forward losses recognized on the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 programs as well as lower profit recognized on the Boeing 737 program due to excess capacity costs of $31.2 million with significantly fewer deliveries. In the fourth quarter of 2020, the segment recorded pretax $0.2 million of favorable cumulative catch-up adjustments and $14.0 million of net forward losses. In the fourth quarter of 2019, the segment recorded pretax $4.2 million of unfavorable cumulative catch-up adjustments and $24.1 million of net forward losses.

Propulsion Systems

Propulsion Systems segment revenue in the fourth quarter of 2020 decreased 59 percent from the same period last year to $219 million, primarily due to lower production volumes on the Boeing 737 program. Operating margin for the fourth quarter of 2020 decreased to 0.6 percent, compared to 18.7 percent during the same period of 2019, primarily due to lower margin recognized on the Boeing 737 program due to excess capacity costs of $10.3 million with significantly fewer deliveries. In the fourth quarter of 2020, the segment recorded pretax $0.7 million of favorable cumulative catch-up adjustments and $2.7 million of net forward losses. In the fourth quarter of 2019, the segment recorded pretax $6.3 million of unfavorable cumulative catch-up adjustments and $12.0 million of net forward losses.

Wing Systems

Wing Systems segment revenue in the fourth quarter of 2020 decreased 45 percent from the same period last year to $216 million, primarily due to lower production volumes on the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 and A350 programs. Operating margin for the fourth quarter of 2020 decreased to (7.4) percent, compared to 10.0 percent during the same period of 2019, primarily due to forward losses recognized on the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 programs as well as lower margin recognized on the Boeing 737 program due to excess capacity costs of $8.7 million with significantly fewer deliveries. In the fourth quarter of 2020, the segment recorded pretax $3.7 million of unfavorable cumulative catch-up adjustments and $11.4 million of net forward losses. In the fourth quarter of 2019, the segment recorded pretax $3.0 million of unfavorable cumulative catch-up adjustments and $5.6 million of net forward losses.

Contact information:

Investor Relations: Ryan Avey or Aaron Hunt (316) 523-7040
Media:  Molly Edwards (316) 523-2479
On the web: http://www.spiritaero.com

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" that may involve many risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "aim," "anticipate," "believe," "could," "continue," "estimate," "expect," "goal," "forecast," "intend," "may," "might," "model," "objective," "outlook," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "seek," "should," "target," "will," "would," and other similar words, or phrases, or the negative thereof, unless the context requires otherwise. These statements are based on circumstances as of the date on which the statements are made and they reflect management's current views with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown. Our actual results may vary materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements. We caution investors not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements.

Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in such forward-looking statements and that should be considered in evaluating our outlook include, but are not limited to, the following:

• the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and operations, including on the demand for our and our customers' products and services, on trade and transport restrictions, on the global aerospace supply chain, on our ability to retain the skilled work force necessary for production and development, and generally on our ability to effectively manage the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business operations;
• demand for our products and services and the general effect of economic or geopolitical conditions, or other events, such as pandemics, in the industries and markets in which we operate in the U.S. and globally;
• the timing and conditions surrounding the full worldwide return to service (including receiving the remaining regulatory approvals) of the B737 MAX, future demand for the aircraft, and any residual impacts of the B737 MAX grounding on production rates for the aircraft;
• our reliance on Boeing and Airbus for a significant portion of our revenues;
• the business condition and liquidity of our customers and their ability to satisfy their contractual obligations to the Company;
• the certainty of our backlog, including the ability of customers to cancel or delay orders prior to shipment;
• our ability to accurately estimate and manage performance, cost, margins, and revenue under our contracts, and the potential for additional forward losses on new and maturing programs;
• our accounting estimates for revenue and costs for our contracts and potential changes to those estimates;
• our ability to continue to grow and diversity our business, execute our growth strategy, and secure replacement programs, including our ability to enter into profitable supply arrangements with additional customers;
• the outcome of product warranty or defective product claims and the impact settlement of such claims may have on our accounting assumptions;
• our dependence on our suppliers, as well as the cost and availability of raw materials and purchased components;
• our ability and our suppliers' ability to meet stringent delivery (including quality and timeliness) standards and accommodate changes in the build rates of aircraft;
• our ability to maintain continuing, uninterrupted production at our manufacturing facilities and our suppliers' facilities;
• competitive conditions in the markets in which we operate, including in-sourcing by commercial aerospace original equipment manufacturers;
• our ability to successfully negotiate, or re-negotiate, future pricing under our supply agreements with Boeing, Airbus and other customers;
• our ability to effectively integrate the acquisition of select assets of Bombardier along with other acquisitions that we pursue, and generate synergies and other cost savings therefrom, while avoiding unexpected costs, charges, expenses, and adverse changes to business relationships and business disruptions;
• the possibility that our cash flows may not be adequate for our additional capital needs;
• any reduction in our credit ratings;
• our ability to access the capital markets to fund our liquidity needs, and the costs and terms of any additional financing;
• our ability to avoid or recover from cyber or other security attacks and other operations disruptions;
• legislative or regulatory actions, both domestic and foreign, impacting our operations, including the effect of changes in tax laws and rates, and our ability to accurately calculate and estimate the effect of such changes;
• our ability to recruit and retain a critical mass of highly skilled employees;
• our relationships with the unions representing many of our employees, including our ability to avoid labor disputes and work stoppages with respect to our union employees;
• spending by the U.S. and other governments on defense;
• pension plan assumptions and future contributions;
• the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting;
• the outcome or impact of ongoing or future litigation, arbitration, claims, and regulatory actions or investigations, including our exposure to potential product liability and warranty claims;
• adequacy of our insurance coverage;
• our ability to continue selling certain receivables through our supplier financing programs; and
• the risks of doing business internationally, including fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, impositions of tariffs or embargoes, trade restrictions, compliance with foreign laws, and domestic and foreign government policies.

These factors are not exhaustive and it is not possible for us to predict all factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in our forward-looking statements. These factors speak only as of the date hereof, and new factors may emerge or changes to the foregoing factors may occur that could impact our business. As with any projection or forecast, these statements are inherently susceptible to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Except to the extent required by law, we undertake no obligation to, and expressly disclaim any obligation to, publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. You should review carefully the section captioned "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for a more complete discussion of these and other factors that may affect our business.

Appendix

In addition to reporting our financial information using U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), management believes that certain non-GAAP measures (which are indicated by * in this report) provide investors with important perspectives into the company's ongoing business performance. The non-GAAP measures we use in this report are (i) adjusted diluted earnings per share and (ii) free cash flow, which are described further below. The company does not intend for the information to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the related GAAP measures. Other companies may define and calculate the measures differently than we do, limiting the usefulness of the measures for comparison with other companies.

Adjusted Diluted (Loss) Earnings Per Share. To provide additional transparency, we have disclosed non-GAAP adjusted diluted (loss) earnings per share (Adjusted EPS). This metric excludes various items that are not considered to be directly related to our operating performance. Management uses Adjusted EPS as a measure of business performance and we believe this information is useful in providing period-to-period comparisons of our results. The most comparable GAAP measure is diluted earnings per share.

Free Cash Flow. Free Cash Flow is defined as GAAP cash from operating activities (generally referred to herein as "cash from operations"), less capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment. Management believes Free Cash Flow provides investors with an important perspective on the cash available for stockholders, debt repayments including capital leases, 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. The most comparable GAAP measure is cash provided by operating activities. Management uses Free Cash Flow as a measure to assess both business performance and overall liquidity. 

The tables below provide reconciliations between the GAAP and non-GAAP measures.

SOURCE Spirit AeroSystems

Related Links

http://www.spiritaero.com