AKRON, Ohio, Feb. 9, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (NASDAQ: GT) today reported results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2015.

"I'm extremely pleased with our outstanding results as we delivered 18 percent growth in full-year segment operating income, exceeding $2 billion for the first time in our 117-year history," said Richard J. Kramer, chairman and chief executive officer. "Our success has enabled us to execute on all facets of our capital allocation plan, delivering long-term shareholder value.

"Fourth quarter earnings grew 16 percent in our North America business and 20 percent in Asia Pacific, both records. Earnings in Europe, Middle East and Africa recovered in the quarter despite a challenging environment," he added.

"Our record results reflect strong demand for our high-value-added Goodyear-brand tires and our focus on capturing the value of these products in the marketplace," Kramer continued.

"While economic uncertainty in the global environment will persist in 2016, we remain committed to our target of 10 to 15 percent growth in segment operating income from our ongoing operations," Kramer said. Following the deconsolidation of its Venezuelan subsidiary, the company is targeting record segment operating income of $2.1 billion to $2.2 billion for 2016.

Goodyear's fourth quarter 2015 sales were $4.1 billion, compared to $4.4 billion a year ago. Sales were impacted by $339 million in unfavorable foreign currency translation.

Tire unit volumes totaled 42.1 million, up 7 percent from 2014, due in part to the acquisition of Nippon Goodyear Ltd. (NGY) in Japan. Replacement tire shipments were up 9 percent. Original equipment unit volume was up 2 percent.

The company reported segment operating income of $476 million in the fourth quarter of 2015, up 33 percent from a year ago. The increase was driven by favorable price/mix net of raw materials and higher volume, partially offset by cost inflation and unfavorable foreign currency translation.

On a GAAP basis, Goodyear's fourth quarter 2015 net loss available to common shareholders was $380 million ($1.42 per share). Excluding certain significant items, most notably the deconsolidation of the Venezuelan subsidiary, adjusted net income was $257 million (93 cents per share). 

Goodyear's full-year effective tax rate was better than the company's guidance, driven by a lower-than-expected rate in the fourth quarter. Fourth quarter 2015 adjusted net income was impacted by $28 million of U.S. tax expense following the release of the company's $2.2 billion U.S. tax valuation allowance in 2014. This incremental tax expense was more than offset by the recognition of $55 million (20 cents per share) of U.S. foreign tax credits and research and development tax credits as a result of legislative actions in December 2015. In total, adjusted net income was impacted by a net U.S. tax benefit of $27 million (10 cents per share) in the fourth quarter. Due to tax credits and prior tax-loss carryforwards, the company does not expect to pay significant cash income taxes in the United States through 2020.

On a GAAP basis, Goodyear's fourth quarter 2014 net income available to common shareholders was $2.1 billion ($7.68 per share). Excluding certain significant items, most notably the release of the U.S. tax valuation allowance, adjusted net income was $166 million (59 cents per share). 

Full-Year Results
Goodyear's 2015 sales were $16.4 billion, compared to $18.1 billion in 2014. Sales were impacted by $1.6 billion in unfavorable foreign currency translation.

Tire unit volumes totaled 166.2 million, up 3 percent from 2014, due in part to the acquisition of NGY in Japan. Replacement tire shipments were up 2 percent. Original equipment unit volume was up 3 percent.

The company's segment operating income of $2.0 billion was up 18 percent from last year. Compared to the prior year, the increase reflects favorable price/mix net of raw materials and higher volume, partially offset by cost inflation and unfavorable foreign currency translation.

On a GAAP basis, Goodyear's 2015 net income available to common shareholders was $307 million ($1.12 per share). Excluding certain significant items, most notably the deconsolidation of the Venezuelan subsidiary, adjusted net income was $906 million ($3.32 per share).

Full-year 2015 adjusted net income was also impacted by $165 million (60 cents per share) of U.S. tax expense following the release of the company's U.S. tax valuation allowance.

On a GAAP basis, net income available to common shareholders for 2014 was $2.4 billion ($8.78 per share). Excluding certain significant items, most notably the release of the U.S. tax valuation allowance, adjusted net income was $790 million ($2.83 per share).

See the note at the end of this release for further explanation and reconciliation tables for Segment Operating Income and Margin, Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share, reflecting the impact of certain significant items on the 2015 and 2014 periods.

Business Segment Results

North America

North America's fourth quarter 2015 sales decreased 9 percent from last year to $1.9 billion. Sales reflect a 4 percent decrease in tire unit volume, primarily due to the sale of the former Goodyear Dunlop Tires North America Ltd. business (GDTNA). Replacement tire volume was down 1 percent. Original equipment unit volume was down 8 percent.

Fourth quarter 2015 segment operating income of $266 million was a 16 percent improvement over the prior year and a fourth quarter record. The improvement was primarily driven by favorable price/mix net of raw materials, as well as cost reduction actions.

The sale of GDTNA negatively impacted North America volumes by approximately 400,000 units (2 percent of the total), sales by $61 million and segment operating income by $10 million.

Europe, Middle East and Africa

While Europe, Middle East and Africa's fourth quarter tire unit volumes were up 11 percent, sales decreased 9 percent, primarily due to unfavorable foreign currency translation. Replacement tire shipments were up 12 percent. Original equipment unit volume was up 10 percent.

Fourth quarter 2015 segment operating income of $100 million was $70 million above the prior year primarily due to higher volume, partially offset by unfavorable foreign currency translation.

Asia Pacific

Asia Pacific's fourth quarter sales increased 9 percent from last year to $559 million. Sales reflect a 38 percent increase in tire unit volume, primarily due to the NGY acquisition. This improvement was partially offset by unfavorable foreign currency translation. Replacement tire shipments were up 57 percent. Original equipment unit volume was up 19 percent.

Fourth quarter segment operating income of $96 million was up 20 percent from last year and a record, driven by higher volume and lower raw material costs.

The acquisition of NGY positively impacted Asia Pacific volumes by approximately 1.6 million units (19 percent of the total) and sales by $68 million. The net favorable impact on segment operating income of the NGY acquisition and the sale of the company's 25 percent interest in Dunlop Goodyear Tires Ltd. was $1 million.

Latin America

 

Latin America's fourth quarter sales decreased 8 percent from last year to $401 million. Sales reflect unfavorable foreign currency translation and an 11 percent decrease in tire unit volume. Replacement tire shipments were down 7 percent. Original equipment unit volume was down 30 percent, primarily in Brazil.

Fourth quarter segment operating income of $14 million was down 30 percent from a year ago primarily due to cost inflation.

Operating income in Venezuela for the 2015 fourth quarter was $22 million, up $2 million from the prior year. Full-year operating income in Venezuela was $119 million, up $59 million from 2014. Full-year 2015 operating income excludes foreign currency exchange losses related to the Venezuelan bolivar fuerte of $34 million.

Venezuelan Deconsolidation
Effective December 31, 2015, the company deconsolidated the financial statements of its subsidiary in Venezuela and began reporting its results using the cost method of accounting. As a result, it recorded a one-time $646 million pre-tax charge ($577 million after-tax) in the fourth quarter of 2015. Goodyear continues to maintain manufacturing and sales operations in the country.

2016 Financial Targets
The company's 2016 financial targets are:

• Segment Operating Income growth of between 10 percent and 15 percent from ongoing operations (excludes Venezuela),
• Positive Free Cash Flow from Operations and
• An Adjusted Debt to EBITDAP ratio of 2.0x to 2.1x at year-end.

Shareholder Return Program
The company paid a quarterly dividend of 7 cents per share of common stock on December 1, 2015. The Board of Directors has declared a quarterly dividend of 7 cents per share payable March 1, 2016, to shareholders of record on February 1, 2016.

As a part of its previously announced $450 million share repurchase program, the company repurchased 3 million shares of its common stock for $100 million during the fourth quarter.

On February 4, 2016, the company's Board of Directors authorized a $650 million increase in the share repurchase program, bringing the total to $1.1 billion.

Goodyear's record performance has resulted in significant stock price appreciation during the three year period ended December 31, 2015. The company's total shareholder return over this period totaled nearly 175 percent, placing it in the 94th percentile of the S&P 500 and the highest ranked manufacturer in the automotive sector.

New Organizational Structure
On December 1, 2015, the company announced it will combine its North America and Latin America businesses into one Americas business unit, effective January 1, 2016. Stephen R. McClellan, formerly president of the North America business, will lead the new Americas business. Future segment financial reporting will be aligned with the new organizational structure and recast historical segment financial statements will be provided in the Form 10-Q for the period ending March 31, 2016.

Conference Call
Goodyear will hold an investor conference call at 9 a.m. today. Prior to the commencement of the call, the company will post the financial and other related information that will be presented on its investor relations Web site: http://investor.goodyear.com.

Participating in the conference call will be Richard J. Kramer, chairman and chief executive officer, and Laura K. Thompson, executive vice president and chief financial officer. 

Investors, members of the media and other interested persons can access the conference call on the Web site or via telephone by calling either (800) 895-1715 or (785) 424-1059 before 8:55 a.m. and providing the Conference ID "Goodyear." A taped replay will be available by calling (800) 723-7372 or (402) 220-2666. The replay will also remain available on the Web site.

Goodyear is one of the world's largest tire companies. It employs about 66,000 people and manufactures its products in 49 facilities in 22 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry. For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to www.goodyear.com/corporate.  GT-FN

Certain information contained in this press release constitutes forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. There are a variety of factors, many of which are beyond our control, that affect our operations, performance, business strategy and results and could cause our actual results and experience to differ materially from the assumptions, expectations and objectives expressed in any forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: our ability to implement successfully our strategic initiatives; actions and initiatives taken by both current and potential competitors; foreign currency translation and transaction risks; a labor strike, work stoppage or other similar event; deteriorating economic conditions or an inability to access capital markets; work stoppages, financial difficulties or supply disruptions at our suppliers or customers; the adequacy of our capital expenditures; increases in the prices paid for raw materials and energy; our failure to comply with a material covenant in our debt obligations; potential adverse consequences of litigation involving the company; as well as the effects of more general factors such as changes in general market, economic or political conditions or in legislation, regulation or public policy. Additional factors are discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. In addition, any forward-looking statements represent our estimates only as of today and should not be relied upon as representing our estimates as of any subsequent date. While we may elect to update forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so, even if our estimates change.

(financial statements follow)

 

 

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Operations

 

 

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets 

 

 

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

 

Non-GAAP Financial Measures (unaudited)
This earnings release presents Total Segment Operating Income, Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share (EPS) on a historical basis and our targeted Total Segment Operating Income growth rate for 2016 and our targeted ratio of Adjusted Debt to EBITDAP for 2016, which are important financial measures for the company but are not financial measures defined by U.S. GAAP, and should not be construed as an alternative to corresponding financial measures presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

Total Segment Operating Income is the sum of the individual strategic business units' (SBUs) Segment Operating Income as determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Management believes that Total Segment Operating Income is useful because it represents the aggregate value of income created by the company's SBUs and excludes items not directly related to the SBUs for performance evaluation purposes.

Adjusted Net Income is Goodyear's Net Income as determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP adjusted for certain significant items. Adjusted Diluted EPS is the company's Adjusted Net Income divided by Weighted Average Shares Outstanding-Diluted as determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Management believes that Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted EPS are useful because they represent how management reviews the operating results of the company excluding the impacts of rationalizations, asset write-offs, accelerated depreciation, asset sales and certain other significant items.

Adjusted Debt is the sum of our total debt and our global pension liability, each as determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP, and EBITDAP, as adjusted, represents Net Income (the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure) before interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization expense, net periodic pension cost, rationalization charges, loss on deconsolidation of the Venezuelan subsidiary and other (income) expense. We refer to the ratio of Adjusted Debt to EBITDAP because we believe it is widely used by investors as a means of evaluating a company's leverage.

We are unable to present a quantitative reconciliation of our forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures, because management cannot reliably predict all of the necessary components of those U.S. GAAP financial measures without unreasonable effort. These components could be significant to the calculation of those U.S. GAAP financial measures in the future.

It should be noted that other companies may calculate similarly-titled non-GAAP financial measures differently and, as a result, the measures presented herein may not be comparable to such similarly-titled measures reported by other companies.

See the tables below for reconciliations of historical Total Segment Operating Income, Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted EPS to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measures.

 

Total Segment Operating Income and Margin Reconciliation Table

 

 

 

Adjusted Net Income Reflecting Certain Significant Items (after tax and minority interest)

 

 

 

 

Adjusted Net Income Reflecting Certain Significant Items (after tax and minority interest)

 

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