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Rockwell Collins' third quarter fiscal year 2007 earnings per share increase 23% to 86 cents; revenues grow 15% to $1.11 billion
- Full year FY 2007 revenue and earnings per share guidance raised
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (July 26, 2007) - Rockwell Collins, Inc. (NYSE: COL) today reported net income of $146 million for the third quarter of fiscal year 2007 ended
on June 30, 2007, an increase of $25 million, or 21% over fiscal year 2006 third quarter net income of $121 million. Earnings
per share improved 16 cents, or 23%, to 86 cents compared to earnings per share of 70 cents last year. Earnings per share
growth exceeded the growth rate in net income due to the favorable effect of the company's share repurchase program.
Third quarter fiscal year 2007 sales increased $149 million, or 15%, to $1.113 billion compared to sales of $964 million a
year ago. Organic revenue growth was $135 million, or 14%. Incremental sales from business acquisitions completed in fiscal
year 2006, principally the Evans & Sutherland simulator visualization systems business (the E&S business) acquired in May
2006, contributed $14 million of the revenue growth.
Cash provided by operating activities for the first nine months of fiscal year 2007 totaled $298 million compared to the $313
million reported for the same period last year. The operating cash flow benefit of higher net income was more than offset
by increases in working capital to support the company's double-digit revenue growth, including initial investments related
to new aircraft programs, as well as higher income tax payments and discretionary defined benefit pension plan contributions.
"Efficiently delivering on our customer commitments led to another quarter of excellent financial results as both Government
and Commercial Systems delivered double-digit organic revenue growth and total segment operating margins approached 21%,"
said Rockwell Collins Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Clay Jones. "In addition, the numerous program awards,
new product introductions and product certifications announced during the quarter provide solid evidence of future growth
potential."
Commenting on the company's full fiscal year 2007 outlook, Jones added, "Due to particularly strong commercial aerospace market
conditions and better than anticipated third quarter Commercial Systems sales, we raised our expectations for full year Commercial
Systems and total company revenues. Our continued success at winning new program positions coupled with spending on product
line enhancements also led us to increase our forecast for full year research and development expenditures. Finally, the incremental
earnings from the higher projected revenues, which more than offsets the impact of the higher R&D investment, has allowed
us to lift our full year earnings guidance as well," concluded Jones, noting that management is now targeting fiscal year
2007 earnings per share growth of about 25%; more than double the projected organic revenue growth rate of about 11%.
Following is a discussion of fiscal year 2007 third quarter sales and earnings for each business segment.
Government Systems
Government Systems, which provides aviation electronics, navigation and precision guidance, communications and simulation
systems, products and services to the United States government, foreign militaries and manufacturers of military platforms,
achieved third quarter sales of $568 million, an increase of $69 million, or 14%, compared to the $499 million reported for
the same period last year. Organic revenues grew $60 million, or 12%, while incremental sales from acquired businesses, primarily
the E&S business, contributed $9 million of the revenue growth.
Sales of defense electronics systems and products increased $40 million, or 12%, to $375 million. Incremental revenues from
acquired businesses contributed $8 million of the sales growth while organic sales increased $32 million, or 10%. The increase
in organic sales was primarily due to higher Defense Advanced GPS Receiver (DAGR) equipment sales and higher revenues from
various rotary and fixed wing aircraft electronics systems programs. Defense communications sales increased $29 million, or
18%, to $193 million principally due to higher revenues from Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) and other networked communication
development programs as well as higher ARC-210 radio hardware and development program revenues.
Government Systems' third quarter operating earnings totaled $111 million, resulting in an operating margin of 19.5%, compared
to operating earnings of $99 million, or an operating margin of 19.8%, for the same period last year. Operating earnings were
higher as the positive impact of the higher sales, including a favorable contract termination settlement, productivity improvements,
and lower retirement benefit costs were partially offset by higher incentive compensation costs. In addition, a slightly higher
proportion of lower margin development program and acquired business revenues contributed to the nominal decline in operating
margin.
Commercial Systems
Commercial Systems, which provides aviation electronics systems, products and services to air transport, business and regional
aircraft manufacturers and airlines worldwide, achieved third quarter sales of $545 million, an increase of $80 million, or
17%, compared to sales of $465 million reported for the same period last year. Strong demand for new business and air transport
aircraft and related aftermarket activities fueled a $75 million, or 16% increase in organic revenues.
Sales to airlines and aircraft original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for new aircraft production increased $25 million,
or 10%, to $274 million due to higher air transport and business jet avionics products and systems sales. Commercial Systems'
aftermarket revenues increased $55 million, or 25%, to $271 million. Incremental E&S business revenues accounted for $5 million,
or 2 percentage points of the aftermarket growth while particularly strong growth in the areas of air transport avionics spares,
resulting from initial sales of equipment for Boeing 787 simulators, as well as business and regional and air transport avionics
service and support activities drove a $50 million, or 23% increase in organic aftermarket revenues.
Commercial Systems' third quarter operating earnings increased $19 million to $119 million, delivering an operating margin
of 21.8%, compared to operating earnings of $100 million, or an operating margin of 21.5%, for the same period a year ago.
The increase in operating earnings and operating margin was primarily due to the positive impact of the higher sales, lower
retirement benefit costs and productivity improvements, partially offset by higher research and development and incentive
compensation costs.
Financial Highlights:
During the third quarter of fiscal year 2007, the company repurchased 1.6 million shares of its common stock at a total cost
of $108 million. Total authorized share repurchases available beyond June 30, 2007 stand at $347 million.
During the third quarter of fiscal year 2007, the company paid dividends to shareholders totaling $27 million, or 16 cents
per share on its common stock.
The company made a $75 million voluntary contribution to its U.S. defined benefit pension plan during the third quarter of
fiscal year 2007. This compares to a $50 million voluntary contribution made to its U.S. defined benefit pension plan during
the same period last year.
Fiscal Year 2007 Outlook
The company has adjusted certain elements of its full fiscal year 2007 financial guidance as follows:
- Total company sales are expected to be about $4.35 billion (previously about $4.30 billion).
- Commercial Systems' full year sales are projected to increase by about 18% (previously in the range of 15% to 17%) over fiscal
year 2006 sales.
- Government Systems' full year sales are projected to increase by about 8% (previously in the range of 7% to 9%) over fiscal
year 2006 sales.
- Earnings per share are expected to be about $3.40 (previously in the range of $3.30 to $3.40).
- Research and development costs are expected to total about $815 million (previously about $800 million).
The following table is a complete summary of the company's updated fiscal year 2007 financial guidance:
| Total sales |
about $4.35 billion |
| |
|
|
| Segment sales growth:(1) |
|
| |
- Government Systems(2) |
about 8% |
| |
- Commercial Systems(3) |
about 18% |
| |
|
|
| Segment operating margins: |
|
| |
- Government Systems |
about 20% |
| |
- Commercial Systems |
about 22.5% |
| |
|
|
| Earnings per share(4) |
about $3.40 |
| |
|
|
| Cash flow from operating activities(5) |
about $600 million |
| |
|
|
| Research and development costs |
about $815 million |
| |
|
|
| Capital expenditures |
about $140 million |
(1) Projected growth rate over fiscal year 2006 actual segment sales. (2) Includes approximately 2 percentage points of revenue growth attributable to fiscal year 2006 business acquisitions, principally
the E&S business. (3) Includes approximately 1 percentage point of growth from incremental E&S business revenues. (4) Based on a projected full year effective income tax rate of approximately 31.5%. (5) Includes a $75 million discretionary contribution to the company's U.S. qualified defined benefit pension plan made in
the fiscal year 2007 third quarter.
Business Highlights:
Numerous airlines and business and regional jet original equipment manufacturers selected Rockwell Collins Commercial Systems
products and systems for installation on new and existing aircraft.
- Air Berlin selected Rockwell Collins to provide its WXR-2100 MultiScan Hazard DetectionTM System, Multi-Mode Receiver and
Passenger Address Unit for 85 new Boeing 737NG aircraft.
- Air China selected a broad range of Rockwell Collins avionics, including the WXR-2100 MultiScan Hazard Detection System, for
25 new Boeing 737NG and 24 new Airbus A320/A321 aircraft.
- Continental Airlines selected a comprehensive suite of Rockwell Collins avionics equipment, including the GLU-925 Multi-Mode
Receiver (MMR), for 103 new Boeing 737NG and two new Boeing 777 aircraft.
- GB Airways selected the company's digital programmable audio video entertainment system (dPAVES®) in-flight entertainment
system for seven A320/A321 aircraft, with the option for seven additional aircraft. The airline will be the dPAVES launch
customer for this system introduced last September.
- Lynx Aviation, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Frontier Holdings, Inc., selected the company's Head-up Guidance System
(HGS®) for its fleet of Bombardier Q400 regional aircraft.
- Singapore Airlines selected the Rockwell Collins SAT-2100 satellite communication system and HST-2110 high speed data transceiver
to facilitate high speed data services to their newly installed Electronic Flight Bag System on board 58 currently in service
Boeing 777 aircraft.
- Cessna selected Rockwell Collins' new next-generation digital cabin management system (CMS) for Cessna CJ4 aircraft. The new
CMS, which is optimized to meet the size and weight constraints of the light to super-mid jet market, is high definition-capable
and integrates a breadth of portable entertainment devices.
- Gulfstream Aerospace selected Rockwell Collins to be its fleetwide Head-Up Guidance System (HGS®) supplier. Beginning in late
2008, the Rockwell Collins HGS-6000, an all new digital display featuring advanced active-matrix LCD technology, will be standard
equipment on new Gulfstream G450 and G550 aircraft, and optional equipment on new G150, G200, G350 and G500 aircraft.
- Hawker Beechcraft selected Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics, featuring three 8-inch by 10-inch active matrix LCD displays
and the Rockwell Collins Integrated Flight Information System, for its King Air C90GT aircraft.
- The Xian Aircraft Company selected Rockwell Collins to upgrade its MA60 aircraft with Pro Line 21 avionics, featuring five
8-inch by 10-inch active matrix liquid crystal displays and is designed to provide a new level of flight crew situational
awareness, operational efficiency and dispatch reliability.
Several Rockwell Collins Commercial Systems products and systems achieved certification during the third quarter.
- The Rockwell Collins Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) Head Up Guidance System (HGS®). This new system, the HGS-5860, will debut
on the Dassault Aviation Falcon 7X bringing significant enhancements to business aviation. This represents the first certification
of an LCD HGS for business aircraft.
- The Rockwell Collins cabin management system for Dassault Aviation Falcon aircraft. The state-of-the art cabin management
system, currently standard on the F7X and F900EX/DX and offered on the F2000EX/DX/LX, is the first all-digital system available
on Dassault Aviation's Falcon aircraft.
- The Rockwell Collins model 5600 dual HGS on board Embraer 190 aircraft. The system was approved for Category III landing and
low-visibility takeoff operation. Embraer's launch customer for this system, JetBlue, will work over the next 12 to 15 months
to gain approval to operate their E190 fleet in Category III conditions - runway visibility down to 600 feet and decision
height down to 50 feet - improving schedule reliability and on-time performance.
- The Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 Integrated Display System (IDS) on a Piaggio 180 aircraft. This upgrade offers Piaggio 180
operators a path to larger informative LCD displays with new content - such as electronic charts and graphical weather available
from the company's Integrated Flight Information System.
Rockwell Collins reintroduced its eXchangeTM broadband connectivity offering that now features the ARINC SKYLinkSM network service. Under the terms to an agreement between the two companies that is subject to customary closing conditions, Rockwell Collins
will supply airborne broadband hardware and after sales support, while ARINC SKYLink will provide the Ku-band satellite service.
ARINC will continue to provide SKYLink system sales and support until the transition to Rockwell Collins eXchange hardware
is completed.
The U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Life Cycle Management Command (C-E LCMC) selected Rockwell Collins to supply Global
Positioning System (GPS) receivers for the Ground-Based GPS Receiver Application Module (GB-GRAM) program. GB-GRAM incorporates the Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM) security device and fulfills a GPS Wing initiative
to migrate to an open architecture system for ground-based embedded military applications. Under the GB-GRAM contract, Rockwell
Collins is providing a low-cost, 12-channel Miniature Precision Lightweight GPS Receiver Engine SAASM (MPETM-S) as a small,
lightweight, third-generation GPS receiver. The MPE-S offers geolocation and precise positioning capabilities for military
navigation, tactical communications and battlefield computing requirements. Additional features include the ability to reprogram
the unit in the field, dual frequencies, direct-Y acquisition and extended jamming protection. The five-year base contract
and an additional five-year option represent a total potential contract value of more than $300 million.
Singapore Technologies Aerospace selected Rockwell Collins to provide an integrated avionics communication/navigation/surveillance
and air traffic management (CNS/ATM) solution for 10 Singapore C-130 aircraft. The upgrade program for the Republic of Singapore Air Force will feature Rockwell Collins Flight2TM avionics. Flight2 avionics
augments and enhances aircraft operational capabilities by providing an open systems architecture that ensures a seamless
interface with multiple products, such as weather radar, guidance systems, and flight and situational awareness displays.
Cockpit efficiency, safety and ease of use are improved, while the system provides a plug-and-play capability that allows
for growth with evolving requirements. This award represents the latest in a number of successful CNS/ATM upgrade programs
for Rockwell Collins, including the U.S. Air Force C/KC-135 GATM aircraft fleet upgrade and several other international C-130
programs.
Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs selected Rockwell Collins to provide High Frequency (HF) radios to enhance communication
between the country's embassies located throughout the world. Selected equipment included Rockwell Collins URG-III radios, a state-of-the-art family of HF communications equipment featuring
full remote control, Automatic Link Establishment and high-speed, single-tone data transmission. Coupled with an HF contract
award last year with the China Civil Aviation Administration, this award continues to broaden Rockwell Collins' customer base
in the region.
Rockwell Collins announced the introduction of its new Software Defined Radio (SDR) Software Communications Architecture Waveform
Development System (SCA WDS). Made possible through a strategic relationship with PrismTech, the company will bundle its FlexNet Four Radio with PrismTech's
Spectra Software Defined Radio development products. This combination will allow international customers and SDR users to
develop their own SCA-compliant waveforms, either new or legacy, on operationally ready FlexNet Four Radio hardware, outside
a test or lab environment. This enhanced capability allows customers to significantly reduce transition time to port newly
developed waveforms onto operational hardware as well as to customize their SDRs to host legacy or country-unique waveforms.
Data Link Solutions LLC and the MIDS JTRS Industry and Military Team successfully demonstrated Multifunctional Information
Distribution System - Joint Tactical Radio System (MIDS JTRS) capabilities. The demonstration involved a MIDS-JTRS form-fit terminal interfacing with a legacy MIDS Low Volume Terminal (LVT) radio and
a Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN) beacon simulator. MIDS JTRS provides an incremental path for migration to an SCA compliant
architecture and adds three JTRS channels within the MIDS-LVT form factor while maintaining plug-and-play backward compatibility
with the MIDS-LVT for Link 16 and TACAN capabilities. The three additional channels will provide the capability to run other
advanced networking waveforms such as Tactical Targeting Network Technology, Wideband Networking Waveform, Soldier Radio Waveform,
and Mobile User Objective System. Data Link Solutions, a BAE Systems / Rockwell Collins joint venture company, is currently
developing design specifications and initial hardware for TTNT, and is expecting a contract award later this year to complete
the design, integration, and qualification of this early networking waveform onto MIDS JTRS hardware. The initial host platforms
for the new radio are the U.S. Navy F/A-18 and U.S. Air Force BACN.
Rockwell Collins announced the availability of a new offering, Engineering Services Solutions (ESS), that is now available
for its commercial and government customers for a broad range of aircraft. With more than 30 candidate solutions currently available, ESS provides new capabilities and increased reliability to existing
products, in addition to our proven maintenance and repair services. One notable example includes inserting newer RF technology
into older generation radar products to improve performance as well as reduce part count, power consumption, operating temperature
and maintenance complexity.
Rockwell Collins was selected to provide its EPXTM-50 image generator as part of a visual systems upgrade for the Aviation Combined Arms Tactical Trainer (AVCATT) program.
The EPX-50 image generator provides realistic scene fidelity, image quality and high performance using commercial-off-the-shelf
computing technology. AVCATT is a mobile, transportable, virtual simulation training system designed to provide Army aviation
the capability to conduct realistic, high intensity, task-loaded collective and combined arms training exercises and mission
rehearsals.
Conference Call and Webcast Details:
Rockwell Collins Chairman, President and CEO Clay Jones and Senior Vice President and CFO Patrick Allen will conduct an earnings
conference call at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time on July 26, 2007. Individuals may listen to the call and view management's supporting
slide presentation on the Internet at www.rockwellcollins.com. Listeners are encouraged to go to the Investor Relations portion of the web site at least 15 minutes prior to the call to
download and install any necessary software. The call will be available for replay on the Internet at www.rockwellcollins.com through August 24, 2007.
Rockwell Collins is a pioneer in the development and deployment of innovative communication and aviation electronics solutions
for both commercial and government applications. Our expertise in flight deck avionics, cabin electronics, mission communications,
information management and simulation and training is delivered by 20,000 employees, and a global service and support network
that crosses 27 countries. To find out more, please visit www.rockwellcollins.com.
This press release contains statements, including certain projections and business trends, that are forward-looking statements
as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those projected
as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to the potential impacts of geopolitical events;
the financial condition of our customers (including major U.S. airlines); the health of the global economy; rising interest
rates; U.S. dollar significantly strengthens; worldwide recession; the continued support for military transformation and modernization
programs; the potential adverse impact of oil prices on the commercial aerospace industry; the cost of the global war on terrorism
on U.S. government military procurement expenditures and program budgets; systematic decline in U.S. defense spending; changes
in domestic and foreign government spending, budgetary and trade policies adverse to our businesses; market acceptance of
our new and existing technologies, products and services; reliability of and customer satisfaction with our products and services;
favorable outcomes on or potential cancellation or restructuring of contracts, orders or program priorities by our customers;
customer bankruptcies and profitability; recruitment and retention of qualified personnel; regulatory restrictions on air
travel due to environmental concerns; effective negotiation of collective bargaining agreements by us and our customers; performance
of our suppliers and subcontractors; risks inherent in fixed price contracts, particularly the risk of cost overruns; risk
of significant disruption to air travel; our ability to execute to our internal performance plans such as our productivity
improvement and cost reduction initiatives; achievement of our acquisition and related integration plans; continuing to maintain
our planned effective tax rates; our ability to develop contract compliant systems and products on schedule and within anticipated
cost estimates; risk of fines and penalties related to noncompliance with export control regulations; risk of asset impairments
and government claims related to our pension plan freeze; and the uncertainties of the outcome of litigation, as well as other
risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those detailed herein and from time to time in our Securities and Exchange
Commission filings. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof and the company assumes no obligation
to update any forward-looking statement.



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