Arconic Reports First Quarter 2019 Results

Arconic Inc. (NYSE: ARNC) today reported first quarter 2019 results, for which the Company reported revenues of $3.5 billion, up 3% year over year. Organic revenue¹ was up 9% year over year on strong volumes across all segments and all key markets, primarily in the aerospace, defense, commercial transportation, automotive, packaging, and building and construction end markets, as well as favorable aerospace pricing.

Net income in the first quarter 2019 was $187 million, or $0.39 per share, versus $143 million, or $0.29 per share, in the first quarter 2018. Net income excluding special items was $208 million, or $0.43 per share, in the first quarter 2019, versus $169 million, or $0.34 per share, in the first quarter 2018. Special items in the first quarter 2019 were $21 million, principally related to charges associated with cost reduction initiatives, partially offset by a credit associated with the elimination of certain postretirement benefits.

First quarter 2019 operating income was $374 million, up 12% year over year. Operating income excluding special items was $397 million, up 15% year over year, as higher volumes and favorable product pricing more than offset the impact of transitioning Tennessee Packaging to industrial products.

Arconic Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John Plant said, "In the first quarter 2019, the Arconic team improved revenue, expanded margins, improved adjusted free cash flow year over year, and delivered the highest quarterly adjusted operating income, adjusted earnings per share and RONA since 2016 separation. We expect this positive trend to continue in the second quarter. As plans for separation move forward, we are also acting swiftly to reduce costs to be in line with industry leading peers and are targeting the sale of certain businesses that are non-core to either of the future entities. These actions will help drive the margin performance of the company.”

Arconic ended the first quarter 2019 with cash on hand of $1.3 billion. Cash used for operations was $258 million, driven by typical seasonal first-quarter build in working capital and semi-annual interest payments; cash used for financing activities totaled $741 million, reflecting the impact of the accelerated share repurchase program of $700 million; and cash provided from investing activities was $42 million. Adjusted Free Cash Flow for the quarter was negative $266 million, up $151 million year over year principally due to lower pension contributions. In the first quarter 2018, cash used for operations was $436 million; cash used for financing activities totaled $542 million; and cash provided from investing activities was $29 million.

First Quarter 2019 Segment Performance

In the first quarter 2019, the Company transferred its aluminum extrusions operations from the Engineered Products and Solutions (EP&S) segment to the Global Rolled Products (GRP) segment, based on synergies with GRP including similar customer base, technologies and manufacturing capabilities. Prior period information has been recast to conform to current year presentation.

Engineered Products and Solutions (EP&S)

EP&S reported revenue of $1.5 billion, an increase of 5% year over year. Organic revenue¹ was up 7%, driven by aero engine and defense growth. Segment operating profit was $253 million, up $44 million or 21% year over year, driven by volume increases in high growth aerospace and defense markets, favorable aerospace pricing and cost reductions, partially offset by aero engines new product introductions. Segment operating margin was 16.8%, up 210 basis points year over year.

Global Rolled Products (GRP)

GRP reported revenue of $1.5 billion, an increase of 1% year over year. Organic revenue¹ was up 10%. Segment operating profit was $107 million, down $17 million or 14% year over year, driven by the Tennessee plant transition from packaging to industrial products and operational headwinds in aluminum extrusions. These impacts were partially offset by higher volumes in packaging, commercial transportation, and aerospace, as well as favorable price increases in industrial and commercial transportation. Segment operating margin was 7.1%, down 130 basis points year over year.

Transportation and Construction Solutions (TCS)

TCS reported revenue of $535 million, relatively flat year over year. Organic revenue¹ was up 7%. Segment operating profit was $87 million, up $20 million or 30% year over year, driven by higher volume in commercial transportation and building and construction, as well as net cost savings. Segment operating margin was 16.3%, up 380 basis points year over year.

Updated Full Year 2019 Guidance*

Arconic is adjusting its full year 2019 guidance:

Arconic expects second quarter 2019 earnings per share excluding special items to be in a range of $0.46 to $0.51.

* Arconic has not provided reconciliations of the forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures, such as earnings per share excluding special items and adjusted free cash flow, to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. Such reconciliations are not available without unreasonable efforts due to the variability and complexity with respect to the charges and other components excluded from the non-GAAP measures, such as the effects of foreign currency movements, equity income, gains or losses on sales of assets, taxes and any future restructuring or impairment charges. These reconciling items are in addition to the inherent variability already included in the GAAP measures, which includes, but is not limited to, price/mix and volume. Arconic believes such reconciliations would imply a degree of precision that would be confusing or misleading to investors.

Actions Underway to Reduce Operating Costs

Arconic has increased the annualized cost reduction target to save approximately $230 million on a run-rate basis, versus its initial $200 million target that was announced in February 2019. As a result of taking quick action in the first quarter, the Company expects to capture approximately $120 million of savings in 2019.

Share Buyback of $700 Million is Complete

The share buyback of $700 million of common stock announced on February 19, 2019, is complete. Arconic received 31.9 million shares on February 21, 2019, and an additional 4.5 million shares on April 29, 2019. The average share price was approximately $19.21. Three hundred million dollars remains authorized for share repurchases through the end of 2020. Total shares outstanding as of April 29, 2019 are approximately 449 million.

Portfolio of Each Post-Separation Company Defined

The Arconic Separation Project Team has fixed the business perimeters of the two public companies that will be headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA. Global Rolled Products will comprise rolled aluminum products and aluminum extrusions. The Engineered Products & Forgings business will include engine components, fastening systems and engineered structures. The businesses of the current Transportation and Construction Solutions segment will be divided – the Building and Construction Systems business will be retained and included in Global Rolled Products, and forged aluminum wheels will become part of Engineered Products & Forgings. The Company is targeting the initial filing of a Form 10 in the fourth quarter 2019 and the completion of the Separation in the second quarter 2020.

Arconic Reduced Quarterly Common Stock Dividend

The Arconic Board of Directors approved the reduction of the quarterly common stock dividend from $0.06 cents to $0.02 cents per share.

Arconic will hold its quarterly conference call at 10:00 AM Eastern Time on April 30, 2019, to present first quarter 2019 financial results. The call will be webcast via www.arconic.com. Call information and related details are available at www.arconic.com under "Investors”; presentation materials will be available at approximately 8:00 AM Eastern Time on April 30.

About Arconic

Arconic (NYSE: ARNC) creates breakthrough products that shape industries. Working in close partnership with our customers, we solve complex engineering challenges to transform the way we fly, drive, build and power. Through the ingenuity of our people and cutting-edge advanced manufacturing techniques, we deliver these products at a quality and efficiency that ensure customer success and shareholder value. For more information: www.arconic.com. Follow @arconic: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Dissemination of Company Information

Arconic intends to make future announcements regarding Company developments and financial performance through its website at www.arconic.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains statements that relate to future events and expectations and as such constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include those containing such words as "anticipates," "believes," "could," "estimates," "expects," "forecasts," "goal," "guidance," "intends," "may," "outlook," "plans," "projects," "seeks," "sees," "should," "targets," "will," "would," or other words of similar meaning. All statements that reflect Arconic’s expectations, assumptions or projections about the future, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, forecasts and expectations relating to the growth of the aerospace, defense, automotive, industrials, commercial transportation and other end markets; statements and guidance regarding future financial results or operating performance; statements regarding future strategic actions, including share repurchases, which may be subject to market conditions, legal requirements and other considerations; and statements about Arconic's strategies, outlook, business and financial prospects. These statements reflect beliefs and assumptions that are based on Arconic’s perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors Arconic believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by these statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: (a) uncertainties regarding the planned separation, including whether it will be completed pursuant to the targeted timing, asset perimeters, and other anticipated terms, if at all; (b) the impact of the separation on the businesses of Arconic; (c) the risk that the businesses will not be separated successfully or such separation may be more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected, which could result in additional demands on Arconic’s resources, systems, procedures and controls, disruption of its ongoing business, and diversion of management’s attention from other business concerns; (d) deterioration in global economic and financial market conditions generally; (e) unfavorable changes in the markets served by Arconic; (f) the inability to achieve the level of revenue growth, cash generation, cost savings, improvement in profitability and margins, fiscal discipline, or strengthening of competitiveness and operations anticipated or targeted; (g) competition from new product offerings, disruptive technologies or other developments; (h) political, economic, and regulatory risks relating to Arconic’s global operations, including compliance with U.S. and foreign trade and tax laws, sanctions, embargoes and other regulations; (i) manufacturing difficulties or other issues that impact product performance, quality or safety; (j) Arconic’s inability to realize expected benefits, in each case as planned and by targeted completion dates, from acquisitions, divestitures, facility closures, curtailments, expansions, or joint ventures; (k) the impact of potential cyber attacks and information technology or data security breaches; (l) the loss of significant customers or adverse changes in customers’ business or financial conditions; (m) adverse changes in discount rates or investment returns on pension assets; (n) the impact of changes in aluminum prices and foreign currency exchange rates on costs and results; (o) the outcome of contingencies, including legal proceedings, government or regulatory investigations, and environmental remediation, which can expose Arconic to substantial costs and liabilities; and (p) the other risk factors summarized in Arconic’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 and other reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Market projections are subject to the risks discussed above and other risks in the market. The statements in this release are made as of the date of this release, even if subsequently made available by Arconic on its website or otherwise. Arconic disclaims any intention or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether in response to new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Some of the information included in this release is derived from Arconic’s consolidated financial information but is not presented in Arconic’s financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). Certain of these data are considered "non-GAAP financial measures” under SEC rules. These non-GAAP financial measures supplement our GAAP disclosures and should not be considered an alternative to the GAAP measure. Reconciliations to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures and management’s rationale for the use of the non-GAAP financial measures can be found in the schedules to this release.

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¹ Organic revenue is U.S. GAAP revenue adjusted for Tennessee Packaging (due to its completed phase-down as of year-end 2018), divestitures, and changes in aluminum prices and foreign currency exchange rates relative to prior year period.

In the first quarter of 2019, the Company transferred its aluminum extrusions operations from the Arconic Engineered Structures business unit within the Engineered Products and Solutions segment to the Global Rolled Products segment. Prior period financial information has been recast to conform to current year presentation. Segment performance under Arconic’s management reporting system is evaluated based on a number of factors; however, the primary measure of performance is Segment operating profit. Arconic’s definition of Segment operating profit is Operating income excluding Special items. Special items include Restructuring and other charges. Segment operating profit includes the impact of LIFO inventory accounting, metal price lag, intersegment profit eliminations, and derivative activities. Differences between certain segment totals and consolidated Arconic are in Corporate.

Net income excluding Special items and Diluted EPS excluding Special items are non-GAAP financial measures. Management believes that these measures are meaningful to investors because management reviews the operating results of Arconic excluding the impacts of Restructuring and other charges, Discrete tax items, and Other special items (collectively, "Special items”). There can be no assurances that additional special items will not occur in future periods. To compensate for this limitation, management believes that it is appropriate to consider both Net income determined under GAAP as well as Net income excluding Special items.

Operational tax rate is a non-GAAP financial measure. Management believes that this measure is meaningful to investors because management reviews the operating results of Arconic excluding the impacts of Special items. There can be no assurances that additional Special items will not occur in future periods. To compensate for this limitation, management believes that it is appropriate to consider both the Effective tax rate determined under GAAP as well as the Operational tax rate.

Organic revenue is a non-GAAP financial measure. Management believes this measure is meaningful to investors as it presents revenue on a comparable basis for all periods presented due to the impact of the ramp-down of Arconic's North American packaging business at its Tennessee operations (completed in December 2018), the sale of the forgings business in Eger, Hungary (divested in December 2018), the sale of Latin America extrusions (divested in April 2018), and the impact of changes in aluminum prices and foreign currency fluctuations relative to the prior year periods.

There has been no change in the net cash funding in the sale of accounts receivable program in the first quarter of 2019. It remains at $350.

Adjusted free cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure. Management believes that this measure is meaningful to investors because management reviews cash flows generated from operations after taking into consideration capital expenditures (due to the fact that these expenditures are considered necessary to maintain and expand Arconic’s asset base and are expected to generate future cash flows from operations), as well as cash receipts from net sales of beneficial interest in sold receivables. It is important to note that Adjusted free cash flow does not represent the residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures since other non-discretionary expenditures, such as mandatory debt service requirements, are not deducted from the measure.

Net debt is a non-GAAP financial measure. Management believes that this measure is meaningful to investors because management assesses Arconic’s leverage position after factoring in available cash that could be used to repay outstanding debt.

Operating income and Operating income margin, excluding Special items are non-GAAP financial measures. Management believes that these measures are meaningful to investors because management reviews the operating results of Arconic excluding the impacts of Special items. There can be no assurances that additional Special items will not occur in future periods. To compensate for this limitation, management believes that it is appropriate to consider both Operating income determined under GAAP as well as Operating income excluding Special items.

RONA is a non-GAAP financial measure. RONA is calculated as Net income excluding Special items divided by working capital and net PP&E. Management believes that this measure is meaningful to investors as RONA helps management and investors determine the percentage of net income the company is generating from its assets. This ratio tells how effectively and efficiently the company is using its assets to generate earnings.

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