Ecolab Meets, Charges Hurts Profit - Analyst Blog
25 Octubre 2011 - 7:24AM
Zacks
Leading cleaning and sanitation products maker Ecolab
Inc’s (ECL) third-quarter fiscal 2011 adjusted (excluding
special gains/charges and tax-related adjustments) earnings of 75
cents a share matched the Zacks Consensus Estimate while exceeded
the year-ago adjusted earnings of 66 cents. The results met the top
end of the company’s guidance of 73-75 cents.
Net income (attributable to Ecolab) for the quarter slipped 11%
year over year to $154.3 million (or 65 cents a share). The bottom
line was hit by roughly $28 million in charges, mainly associated
with the Minnesota-based company’s European restructuring program
and costs related to its $8 billion acquisition of Illinois-based
water treatment company Nalco Holding Company
(NLC), which offset double-digit growth in revenues.
Net sales spiked roughly 11% year over year (up 6% in constant
currency) to $1,736.1 million, essentially in line with the Zacks
Consensus Estimate. Sales were boosted by healthy growth at the
company’s Food & Beverage business coupled with the
contributions from Asia-Pacific, Canada and Latin American
operations, backed by acquisitions and new products.
Segment Highlights
Revenues from Ecolab’s core U.S. Cleaning & Sanitizing
division climbed 6% year over year to $763 million, led by Food
& Beverage and Healthcare sub-segments. The U.S. Other Services
segment revenues moved up 2% to $120 million. Revenues (at constant
currency) from the company’s International operations rose 6% year
over year to $797 million with emerging markets contributing to the
growth.
Margins
Operating margin declined to 13.8% from 15.7% a year-ago,
impacted by the hefty restructuring and acquisition-related
charges. Gross margin fell to 49.4% from 51.1% a year ago as a
result of a 15% hike in cost of sales, in part, due to the special
restructuring charges.
Gross margin was also impacted by higher-than-anticipated raw
material costs. Ecolab is employing effective pricing strategies to
offset the raw material inflation and expects the impact to ease in
the fourth quarter.
Financial Health
Ecolab ended the third quarter with cash and cash equivalents of
$207.3 million, up 23% year over year. Long-term debt increased
roughly 8% year over year to $700.2 million.
Guidance and Recommendation
Ecolab has narrowed its adjusted earnings per share target for
fiscal 2011 to between $2.53 and $2.55 (a 13%-14% year-over-year
growth) from its earlier forecast of $2.52 and $2.56. The adjusted
earnings exclude charges associated with the acquisition of Nalco
Holding. Ecolab continues to expect the transaction to close in
fourth-quarter 2011.
For the fourth quarter, Ecolab forecast adjusted earnings
between 69 cents and 71 cents a share. The forecast assumes a
dilution of roughly 20 cents a share, primarily associated with
merger and integration costs related to the Nalco buyout. The
current Zacks Consensus Estimates for the fourth quarter and fiscal
2011 are 71 cents and $2.55, respectively.
Adjusted gross margin for the fourth quarter is expected in the
range of 50%-51%. Moreover, Ecolab expects improved year-over-year
revenue growth in the quarter.
We are encouraged by Ecolab’s strong international exposure and
recovery across its end-markets. However, the company is faced with
aggressive competition from the likes of Clorox
(CLX) and Church & Dwight (CHD). Moreover, raw
material price hikes represent a headwind for Ecolab and its
aggressive acquisition strategy has inherent integration risks. We
are currently Neutral on the stock.
CHURCH & DWIGHT (CHD): Free Stock Analysis Report
CLOROX CO (CLX): Free Stock Analysis Report
ECOLAB INC (ECL): Free Stock Analysis Report
NALCO HLDG CO (NLC): Free Stock Analysis Report
Zacks Investment Research
Nalco (NYSE:NLC)
Gráfica de Acción Histórica
De Abr 2024 a May 2024
Nalco (NYSE:NLC)
Gráfica de Acción Histórica
De May 2023 a May 2024