Parker Reports Fiscal 2016 First Quarter Results

• First quarter EPS $1.41 as reported, or $1.52 adjusted for business realignment
• Sales decreased 12 percent, impacted by currency and weakness in global end markets
• Simplification efforts drive excellent margin performance
• Company revises fiscal 2016 full year guidance

CLEVELAND, Oct. 22, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Parker Hannifin Corporation (NYSE:PH), the global leader in motion and control technologies, today reported results for the fiscal 2016 first quarter ended September 30, 2015.  Fiscal 2016 first quarter sales were $2.87 billion, compared with $3.27 billion in the prior year quarter. Net income was $195.0 million compared with $280.2 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2015.  Fiscal 2016 first quarter earnings per share were $1.41, compared with $1.85 in the prior year quarter.  Adjusted earnings per share were $1.52, compared with $1.89 in the prior year quarter.  A reconciliation of reported to adjusted earnings per share is included with the financial tables in this news release.

“Despite ongoing headwinds from a strong dollar and further weakness in key end markets that pressured sales, we delivered adjusted segment operating margins of 15.3 percent.” said Chief Executive Officer, Tom Williams. “This type of margin performance is unprecedented in our recent history during previous down cycles and reflects the benefit of our prior year restructuring initiatives, rapid response on cost controls and savings resulting from our Simplification initiatives. Our previously announced restructuring initiatives for this year are underway to align costs with current demand and will position us well as the business environment improves. Simplification initiatives continue to expand as part of a broader effort to reduce complexity, increase speed, reduce costs and better serve our customers.  We also introduced the new Win Strategy^TM, designed to take Parker’s performance to the next level as we target actions aimed at driving increased sales growth and achieving segment operating margins of 17 percent in the next five years.”

During the first quarter of fiscal 2016, the company repurchased $310 million in Parker shares.  A total of $1.6 billion worth of shares have been purchased under a previously announced authorization to repurchase between $2 billion and $3 billion in shares over two years, beginning in October 2014.

Segment Results
Diversified Industrial Segment: North American first quarter sales decreased 13 percent to $1.3 billion, and operating income was $212.7 million compared with $264.2 million in the same period a year ago.  International first quarter sales decreased 18 percent to $1.0 billion, the majority of the decline in sales was the result of foreign currency rate changes. International operating income was $129.3 million compared with $189.8 million in the same period a year ago.

Aerospace Systems Segment: First quarter sales increased 2 percent to $544.6 million, and operating income was $74.0 million compared with $65.3 million in the same period a year ago.

Orders
Parker reported a decrease in orders of 11 percent for the quarter ending September 30, 2015, compared with the same quarter a year ago.  The company reported the following orders by business: 

• Orders decreased 12 percent in the Diversified Industrial North America businesses compared with the same quarter a year ago.
• Orders decreased 8 percent in the Diversified Industrial International businesses compared with the same quarter a year ago.
• Orders decreased 16 percent in the Aerospace Systems segment on a rolling 12-month average basis.

Outlook
For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016, the company has revised guidance for earnings from continuing operations to the range of $5.30 to $5.90 per share, or $5.80 to $6.40 per share on an adjusted basis.   Fiscal year 2016 guidance is adjusted for expected business realignment expenses of approximately $0.50 per share, of which $0.30 per share relates to the company’s Simplification initiatives.

Williams added, “The change in our guidance largely reflects continued weakening in our end markets as evidenced by deteriorating order trends. We also do not expect any meaningful recovery in our markets through the end of our fiscal year.  Aggressive actions are well underway to align our costs with the realities of current conditions.  Looking forward, the continued execution of the new Win Strategy^TM will help to position us to achieve new financial and operational performance targets designed to positively impact our customers and our shareholders."

NOTICE OF CONFERENCE CALL: Parker Hannifin's conference call and slide presentation to discuss its fiscal 2016 first quarter results are available to all interested parties via live webcast today at 10:00 a.m. ET, on the company's investor information web site at www.phstock.com.  To access the call, click on the "Live Webcast" link. From this link, users also may complete a pre-call system test and register for e-mail notification of future events and information available from Parker.  A replay of the conference call will also be available at www.phstock.com for one year after the call.

With annual sales of approximately $13 billion in fiscal year 2015, Parker Hannifin is the world's leading diversified manufacturer of motion and control technologies and systems, providing precision-engineered solutions for a wide variety of mobile, industrial and aerospace markets.  The company employs approximately 55,000 people in 50 countries around the world.  Parker has increased its annual dividends paid to shareholders for 59 consecutive fiscal years, among the top five longest-running dividend-increase records in the S&P 500 index.  For more information, visit the company's website at www.parker.com, or its investor information website at www.phstock.com.

Note on Orders
Orders provide near-term perspective on the company's outlook, particularly when viewed in the context of prior and future quarterly order rates. However, orders are not in themselves an indication of future performance. All comparisons are at constant currency exchange rates, with the prior year restated to the current-year rates. All exclude acquisitions until they can be reflected in both the numerator and denominator. Aerospace comparisons are rolling 12-month average computations. The total Parker orders number is derived from a weighted average of the year-over-year quarterly percent change in orders for Diversified Industrial North America and Diversified Industrial International, and the year-over-year 12-month rolling average of orders for the Aerospace Systems segment.

Note on Non-GAAP Numbers
This press release contains references to (a) earnings per share without the effect of business realignment expenses; (b) the effect of business realignment expenses on forecasted earnings from continuing operations per share; and (c) segment operating margins without the effect of business realignment expenses. The effects of business realignment expenses are removed to allow investors and the company to meaningfully evaluate changes in earnings per share and segment operating margins on a comparable basis from period to period.

Forward-Looking Statements
Forward-looking statements contained in this and other written and oral reports are made based on known events and circumstances at the time of release, and as such, are subject in the future to unforeseen uncertainties and risks. All statements regarding future performance, earnings projections, events or developments are forward-looking statements. It is possible that the future performance and earnings projections of the company, including its individual segments, may differ materially from current expectations, depending on economic conditions within its mobile, industrial and aerospace markets, and the company's ability to maintain and achieve anticipated benefits associated with announced realignment activities, strategic initiatives to improve operating margins, actions taken to combat the effects of the current economic environment, and growth, innovation and global diversification initiatives. A change in the economic conditions in individual markets may have a particularly volatile effect on segment performance. Among other factors which may affect future performance are: changes in business relationships with and purchases by or from major customers, suppliers or distributors, including delays or cancellations in shipments, disputes regarding contract terms or significant changes in financial condition, changes in contract cost and revenue estimates for new development programs and changes in product mix; ability to identify acceptable strategic acquisition targets; uncertainties surrounding timing, successful completion or integration of acquisitions and similar transactions; the ability to successfully divest businesses planned for divestiture and realize the anticipated benefits of such divestitures; the determination to undertake business realignment activities and the expected costs thereof and, if undertaken, the ability to complete such activities and realize the anticipated cost savings from such activities; ability to implement successfully the Company’s capital allocation initiatives, including timing, price and execution of share repurchases; increases in raw material costs that cannot be recovered in product pricing; the company's ability to manage costs related to insurance and employee retirement and health care benefits;  threats associated with and efforts to combat terrorism and cyber-security risks; uncertainties surrounding the ultimate resolution of outstanding legal proceedings, including the outcome of any appeals; competitive market conditions and resulting effects on sales and pricing; and global economic factors, including manufacturing activity, air travel trends, currency exchange rates, difficulties entering new markets and general economic conditions such as inflation, deflation, interest rates and credit availability. The company makes these statements as of the date of this disclosure, and undertakes no obligation to update them unless otherwise required by law.

Contact:

Media –
Aidan Gormley, Director, Global Communications and Branding
216/896-3258
aidan.gormley@parker.com

Financial Analysts –
Robin J. Davenport, Vice President, Corporate Finance
216/896-2265
rjdavenport@parker.com

Released October 22, 2015