Ingersoll-Rand (IR) Q4 Earnings & Revenues Lag, Bookings Dip
Ingersoll-Rand plc IR reported weaker-than-expected fourth-quarter 2019 results.
Adjusted earnings were $1.40 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.42. However, the bottom line grew 6.1% from the year-ago quarter figure of $1.32 on strong revenue growth.
In 2019, Ingersoll-Rand’s adjusted earnings were $6.37 per share, up 14% from $5.61 in 2018.
Segmental Performance Drives Revenues
Ingersoll-Rand’s net sales were $4,151 million in the fourth quarter, reflecting 7% growth from the year-ago quarter. Organic sales grew 5% year over year.
The company’s top line marginally missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4,153 million.
Bookings in the quarter declined 4% year over year to $3,975 million.
Ingersoll-Rand PLC (Ireland) Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Ingersoll-Rand PLC (Ireland) price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Ingersoll-Rand PLC (Ireland) Quote
The company reports revenues under two market segments. A brief discussion of the quarterly results is provided below:
Climate generated revenues of $3,183.7 million, accounting for roughly 76.7% of net revenues in the reported quarter. Sales grew 6.1% year over year on 7% growth in organic sales. Healthy growth in Commercial heating, ventilation and air conditioning business boosted organic sales.
The segment’s bookings fell 7% year over year (or down 6% organically) to $3,057 million.
Industrial’s revenues totaled $967.2 million, representing 23.3% of net revenues in the quarter. On a year-over-year basis, the segment’s revenues grew 8.2% on gains from solid demand for small electric vehicles, offset by continued weakness in the industrial short cycle markets. Organic revenues were down 2% in the quarter.
The segment’s bookings in the quarter grew 6% year over year (or down 4% organically) to $918 million.
Operating Margin
In the fourth quarter, Ingersoll-Rand’s cost of sales rose 5.8% year over year to $2,904.3 million. Cost of sales was 70% of the quarter’s net sales compared with 70.5% in the year-ago quarter. Selling & administrative expenses rose 16.7% to $821.2 million. It represented 19.8% of net sales in the reported quarter.
Adjusted operating profit grew 7.1% year over year to $501.6 million. Margin grew 10 bps to 12.1%.
Interest expenses rose 29.2% year over year to $63.3 million. Adjusted effective tax rate in the quarter was 20%.
Balance Sheet & Cash Flow
Exiting the fourth quarter, Ingersoll-Rand had cash and cash equivalents of $1,303.6 million, up 44.3% from $903.4 million recorded as on Dec 31, 2018. Long-term debt was $4,922.9 million, up 31.6% on a year-over-year basis.
In 2019, the company generated net cash of $1,956.3 million from continuing operating activities, roughly 32.6% above the 2018 level. Capital expenditure totaled $254.1 million compared with $365.6 million in the previous year. Free cash flow rose 60% to $1,838.7 million.
During 2019, the company distributed $510.1 million as dividend payouts and repurchased shares worth $750.1 million.
Outlook
Earlier, Ingersoll-Rand had announced that its climate company will be known as Trane Technologies plc. This climate company will come into existence in early 2020 after Ingersoll-Rand completes the divestment of its Industrial segment to Gardner Denver Holdings.
For 2020, Ingersoll-Rand anticipates revenues to increase 3-5% year over year for Trane Technologies.
Zacks Rank & Key Picks
Ingersoll-Rand currently carries a Zacks Rank #3(Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks are Cintas Corporation CTAS, Emerson Electric Co. EMR and Crane Company CR. All these companies carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Cintas delivered positive earnings surprise of 8.50%, on average, in the trailing four quarters.
Emerson delivered positive earnings surprise of 3.03%, on average, in the trailing four quarters.
Crane’s positive earnings surprise in the last reported quarter was 0.64%.
Looking for Stocks with Skyrocketing Upside?
Zacks has just released a Special Report on the booming investment opportunities of legal marijuana.
Ignited by new referendums and legislation, this industry is expected to blast from an already robust $6.7 billion to $20.2 billion in 2021. Early investors stand to make a killing, but you have to be ready to act and know just where to look.
See the pot trades we're targeting>>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
Crane Company (CR) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Cintas Corporation (CTAS) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Emerson Electric Co. (EMR) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Ingersoll-Rand PLC (Ireland) (IR) : Free Stock Analysis Report
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
