Goodyear qtrly sales up 10% to record $4.9bn

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The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company today reported record first quarter sales and its highest first quarter net income in several years. Goodyear's first quarter 2008 sales were $4.9 billion, a 10 percent increase compared with the 2007 quarter, offsetting lower volumes with higher prices, a richer product mix and favorable currency translation. 

 

Improved pricing and product mix in all four businesses drove revenue per tire up 7 percent over the 2007 quarter, reflecting the company's successful strategy to focus on high-value-added tires. Lower volume primarily resulted from weak original equipment markets in North America as well as soft consumer replacement demand in North America and Europe, particularly for low-value-added tires.

 

"Our excellent first quarter results demonstrate the success of our strategies to grow our higher-margin premium product lines, reduce costs and pay down debt," said Robert J. Keegan, chairman and chief executive officer. "Each of our four businesses improved margins and operating income as we capitalized on attractive growth opportunities in targeted market segments," he said.

 

"While the economy remains a concern, we continue to be confident about the opportunities we see in the market and our ability to take advantage of them," Keegan said.  "Over the last five years, our strategic decisions have better positioned Goodyear to face an economic downturn and to emerge as a stronger competitor."  Goodyear said it made additional progress during the first quarter on its plan to achieve $1.8 billion to $2 billion in gross cost savings by the end of 2009.  "We have now achieved more than $1.2 billion in savings since beginning this plan and remain on target to reach our four-year goal," Keegan said.

 

Segment operating income set a first quarter record at $367 million in 2008, up 62 percent from $226 million in the strike-affected 2007 first quarter.  Gross margin was 19.9 percent for the 2008 first quarter compared to 16.8 percent last year. Segment operating income benefited from improved pricing and product mix of $157 million, which more than offset increased raw material costs of $13 million. Favorable currency translation positively impacted sales by $341 million and segment operating income by $27 million in the quarter.

 

First quarter 2008 net income from continuing operations was $147 million (60 cents per share).  This compares to a loss from continuing operations of $110 million (61 cents per share) in the year-ago quarter.  Including discontinued operations, Goodyear had a net loss of $174 million (96 cents per share) in 2007's first quarter.  All per share amounts are diluted.

 

The 2008 quarter included after-tax financing fees related to debt repayment of $43 million (18 cents per share), $13 million (5 cents per share) in after-tax rationalization charges, an after-tax gain on asset sales of $33 million (13 cents per share) and an after-tax gain on an excise tax settlement in Latin America of $8 million (3 cents per share). The 2007 quarter was impacted by after-tax charges of $64 million (35 cents per share) due to salaried benefit plan changes, an estimated $34 million (19 cents per share) related to the 2006 United Steelworkers strike and $31 million (17 cents per share) in rationalization and accelerated depreciation charges.

 

All three of the company's businesses outside of North America achieved record sales for any quarter during the 2008 first quarter as the emerging markets businesses continued to grow.

 

Segment operating income increased in all four businesses.  Segment operating income for the Latin America and Asia Pacific businesses were records for any quarter.  Segment operating income for the Europe, Middle East and Africa business was a first quarter record.

 

Asia Pacific Tire's first quarter sales were a record for any quarter and up 21 percent over last year due to favorable currency translation, higher volume and improved pricing and product mix.

 

Segment operating income increased 69 percent and was a record for any quarter.  The improvement was due to improved pricing and product mix of $13 million, which more than offset $4 million in increased raw material costs, as well as higher volume, favorable currency translation and lower selling, administrative and general expenses.

 

"Goodyear in Asia Pacific continues to build on a strong momentum," said Pierre E. Cohade, president, Asia Pacific Region.  "As of the first quarter of 2008, we have now established 13 consecutive quarters of year-over-year growth in sales, earnings and profitability." "Riding on the wings of a strong Asian economy, our success in the region is being driven by focusing on innovations in and out of the product stream," said Cohade.  "We have been introducing more relevant, game-changing products into the marketplace - the latest of which is new Goodyear Assurance with ArmorGrip Technology for mid-size passenger cars.

 

"We have also made great strides in strengthening the Goodyear brand by increasing our  marketing investment by advocating safety through our corporate social responsibility initiatives," he added.  "We thank our valued customers for their continuous trust in Goodyear and dedicated associates across Asia for making all these possible."   

 

Sourced From: Corporate Voice|Weber Shandwick