BENTON HARBOR, Mich., Feb. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) announced today fourth-quarter net earnings of $205 million, or $2.62 per diluted share, compared to net earnings of $171 million, or $2.19 per diluted share reported during the same period last year.  

Fourth-quarter sales in 2011 were $4.9 billion, compared to $5.0 billion reported in the fourth quarter of 2010.  Improving price/mix was offset by unfavorable currency and lower industry demand.

Fourth-quarter operating profit totaled $205 million compared with $202 million in the prior year-period.  Results were positively impacted by continued improvement in price mix and cost productivity.  In particular, the focused actions yielded a substantial improvement in the profitability of the North America region partially offset by weak economic conditions in Europe.  Higher raw material costs, lower production to adjust inventories to weak global industry demand, unfavorable currency and lower monetization of Brazilian (BEFIEX) tax credits adversely impacted results during the quarter.  Results also included significantly higher restructuring expense and the positive impact from a previously disclosed supplier quality recovery and a benefit plan curtailment gain. Operating profit for the year totaled $792 million compared with $1.0 billion in 2010 largely driven by significantly higher material and oil-related costs.

Full-year 2011 sales reached $18.7 billion, up 2 percent from the prior year.  Net earnings for the year were $4.99 per diluted share compared to $7.97 per diluted share reported for 2010.  

During the fourth quarter, on an adjusted basis, diluted earnings per share,(1) excluding unusual items, restructuring expense, Brazilian (BEFIEX) tax credits and U.S. energy tax credits, totaled $0.32 compared to $0.43 in the prior year. For the full year, on an adjusted basis, diluted earnings per share,(1) excluding unusual items, restructuring expense, Brazilian (BEFIEX) tax credits and U.S. energy tax credits, totaled $2.05, compared to $4.47 in the prior year.  

"As we enter 2012, we are executing strong actions to continue to improve operating margins through our cost and capacity reduction initiatives, ongoing productivity programs and previously announced price increases," said Jeff M. Fettig, Whirlpool Corporation chairman and chief executive officer.  "We exit 2011 with improving product price/mix, significantly lower inventory levels and strong new product innovation.  These initiatives are the key drivers to improving our operating margins throughout 2012."

During the twelve-months ended December 31, 2011, the company reported cash flow provided by operating activities of $530 million, compared to cash flow provided by operating activities of $1.1 billion in the prior-year period.  Full-year 2011 results include $298 million in pension contributions and $301 million for the first of two payments related to the Brazilian collection dispute settlement.  On a year-to-date basis, Whirlpool Corporation reported free cash flow(2) of $(55) million compared to $502 million in the prior-year period.

OUTLOOK

For 2012, Whirlpool Corporation expects to report full-year diluted earnings per share of $5.00 to $5.50.  On an adjusted basis (excluding restructuring charges and Brazilian (BEFIEX) tax credits), the company expects to report full-year adjusted diluted earnings(1) per share of $6.50 to $7.00.

For the full-year 2012, Whirlpool Corporation expects to generate free cash flow(2) between $100 million and $150 million.  Included in this guidance is the $275 million final installment to settle the Brazilian collection dispute, $110 million for antitrust resolutions, pension contributions of approximately $250 million and restructuring cash outlays of $279 million.  Strong cash generation from our business is expected to more than offset these legacy liabilities, fund our cost and capacity reduction initiatives and new product innovation.

"We are assuming relatively flat to slightly improving industry demand during the year and have planned our business accordingly," said Fettig.  "The cadence of strong product innovation, price/mix momentum entering the year, recently announced cost-based price increases, benefits from our cost and capacity reduction initiatives and on-going productivity programs are expected to improve our results in the coming year and show significant progress towards our long-term financial goals.  As illustrated by the operating profit improvement we've seen in our North America business, we are beginning to yield a strong improvement in our operating results."

FOURTH-QUARTER REGIONAL REVIEW

Whirlpool North America

Fourth-quarter sales of $2.6 billion increased 1 percent from the prior year.  Overall, North America unit shipments decreased approximately 3 percent, with U.S. industry unit shipments of major appliances (T7)(3) also decreasing approximately 3 percent.

The North America region reported operating profit of $202 million for the quarter compared to $53 million in the previous year.  Current year results include $96 million from a previously disclosed supplier quality recovery and benefit plan curtailment gain.  Operating results were favorably impacted by the implementation of previously announced price increases and improved product mix which more than offset lower industry volumes, higher material costs and the impact from lower production volumes.

Based on the current economic outlook, the company expects full-year 2012 U.S. industry unit shipments to increase in the range of 0 to 3 percent.

Whirlpool Europe, Middle East and Africa

Whirlpool Europe, Middle East and Africa reported fourth-quarter sales of $848 million, an 8 percent decrease from the prior year.  Unit shipments for the region decreased 4 percent. Excluding currency translation, sales decreased approximately 7 percent.

An operating loss totaling $32 million in the fourth quarter was down from $29 million in operating profit during the prior-year period.  Results were adversely affected by the ongoing European financial crisis which led to weak consumer demand across the euro zone, material costs, lower production to adjust to lower industry demand in the region and product price/mix.

The company expects full-year 2012 industry unit shipments to decrease in the range of 2 to 5 percent.

Whirlpool Latin America

Whirlpool Latin America reported fourth-quarter sales of $1.3 billion, a decrease of 5 percent from the prior year.  Latin America unit shipments were down 4 percent from the prior-year period.  Excluding currency translation, sales decreased approximately 1 percent.

The region reported operating profit of $155 million compared to $193 million in the previous year.  Favorable product price/mix was offset by lower monetization of tax credits, higher material costs, unfavorable currency and reduced production levels.

The company expects full-year 2012 appliance industry shipments in the Latin America region to increase in the range of 2 to 5 percent.

Whirlpool Asia

Whirlpool Asia reported fourth-quarter sales of $200 million, a decrease of 2 percent from the prior year.  Asia unit shipments remained flat year-over-year. Excluding the impact of currency, sales increased approximately 4 percent.

Operating profit totaling $2 million in the fourth quarter was down from $4 million in the prior-year period.  Favorable product price/mix was offset by higher material costs and weak consumer demand in India.

The company expects full-year 2012 industry unit shipments in Asia to increase approximately 2 to 4 percent.

(1)  Ongoing business operations earnings per share/adjusted diluted earnings per share are non-GAAP financial measures which exclude items that may not be indicative of, or are unrelated to, results from our ongoing business operations.  A reconciliation of ongoing business operations EPS/adjusted diluted earnings per share to reported diluted earnings per share, the most comparable GAAP measure, and other important information, begins below.

(2)  A reconciliation of free cash flow, a non-GAAP financial measure, to cash provided by / (used in) operating activities, the most comparable GAAP measure, and other important information, appears below.

(3) T7 refers to the following household appliance categories: washers, dryers, refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, ranges and compactors.

FOURTH-QUARTER 2011 PRODUCT LAUNCHES

Whirlpool North America Region launched:

• The Whirlpool brand Cabrio Platinum laundry pair that help protect fabrics while providing the industry's largest capacity and fastest cleaning performance in a top-load pair. The CEE Tier 3-rated washer and high-efficiency dryer are the industry's most resource efficient top-load pair, using up to 75 percent less water and up to 79 percent less energy, compared to a conventional top-load washer and dryer pair.

• The KitchenAid brand 13-Cup Food Processor with ExactSlice System that utilizes a newly designed cutting system together with variable speeds. The highest end models are the first to incorporate an external blade control that allows cooks to raise and lower blades with the shift of a lever.

• Gladiator GarageWorks brand introduced the EZ Ready-To-Assemble cabinets. The new, efficient EZ design allows cabinets to be assembled in half the time with fewer parts and pieces, without compromising durability or aesthetics.

Whirlpool Europe, Middle East and Africa Region launched:

• The Whirlpool brand Max Limited Edition microwave with intuitive text-assisted interface that guides the consumer through the programming, highlighting only the relevant options for each step.

• The Bauknecht brand suite of built-in ovens with Nano technology applied to the inner side of the ovens and special enamel coating enabling the cavity to be cleaned simply using water, requiring 95 percent less energy than cleaning using the conventional cleaning cycle.

• The Bauknecht brand induction cooktop offering maximum flexibility and efficiency during cooking with 50 percent more cooking area compared to a standard cooktop.

• A suite of Bauknecht brand built-in dishwashers featuring technology that adjusts the program to the load and degree of soiling. The special Microban® antibacterial material protection in the self-cleaning filter makes for a hygienically clean machine.

Whirlpool Latin America Region launched:

• The Brastemp brand environmentally sustainable Inverse Viva! refrigerator. It is the world's first dual volt refrigerator that provides a 25 percent reduction in energy consumption and has an 80 percent recyclable rate of all materials.

Whirlpool Asia Region launched:

• The Whirlpool brand Mini ACE washer that can be moved easily to any location yet provides superior wash performance and takes less space in the home.

• The Ceres 500 Whirlpool brand washer with the quadruple wash process that provides superior cleaning.

• The Whirlpool brand Ares washing machine that cleans even heavy loads. The washing machine features an inverter motor, larger drum capacity and special tumble fresh cycle.

FOURTH-QUARTER 2011 AWARDS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Whirlpool Corporation was named to the 2011 list of Top Companies for Leaders, ranking ninth globally, sixth in North America, ninth in Asia Pacific. The Global Top Companies for Leaders is the most comprehensive study of organizational leadership in the world.

• Whirlpool Corporation was named to the 2011-2012 Ocean Tomo 300 Patent Index™ for the sixth consecutive year. This is the first equity index based on the value of corporate intellectual property. 

• For the third year in a row, Whirlpool Corporation was recognized as one of the top 500 U.S. companies in Newsweek magazine's Green Rankings.

• Whirlpool Corporation received a score of 100 from the Human Rights Campaign on the 2012 Corporate Equality Index for the eighth consecutive year.

• Whirlpool Latin America was named a Most Admired Company in Brazil for the Appliances sector by Carta Capital magazine for the 14th consecutive time.

• Whirlpool Latin America was named the 2011 Best Innovator Company in Brazil by Epoca Negocios magazine and A.T. Kearney Consulting for the second consecutive year.

About Whirlpool Corporation

Whirlpool Corporation is the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances, with annual sales of approximately $19 billion in 2011, 68,000 employees, and 66 manufacturing and technology research centers around the world.  The company markets Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, Jenn-Air, Amana, Brastemp, Consul, Bauknecht and other major brand names to consumers in nearly every country around the world.  Additional information about the company can be found at http://www.whirlpoolcorp.com.

Whirlpool Additional Information:

This document contains forward-looking statements about Whirlpool Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries ("Whirlpool") that speak only as of this date. Whirlpool disclaims any obligation to update these statements. Forward-looking statements in this document may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding expected earnings per share, cash flow, productivity and material and oil-related prices. Many risks, contingencies and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from Whirlpool's forward-looking statements. Among these factors are: (1) intense competition in the home appliance industry reflecting the impact of both new and established global competitors, including Asian and European manufacturers; (2) Whirlpool's ability to continue its relationship with significant trade customers and the ability of these trade customers to maintain or increase market share; (3) changes in economic conditions which affect demand for our products, including the strength of the building industry and the level of interest rates; (4) inventory and other asset risk; (5) global, political and/or economic uncertainty and disruptions, especially in Whirlpool's significant geographic regions, including uncertainty and disruptions arising from natural disasters or terrorist attacks;  (6) The impact of the European debt crisis;  (7) the ability of Whirlpool to achieve its business plans, productivity improvements, cost control, price increases, leveraging of its global operating platform, and acceleration of the rate of innovation;  (8) fluctuations in the cost of key materials (including steel, oil, plastic, resins, copper and aluminum) and components and the ability of Whirlpool to offset cost increases;  (9) litigation and legal compliance risk and costs, especially costs which may be materially different from the amount we expect to incur or have accrued for; (10)  product liability and product recall costs;  (11) the effects and costs of governmental investigations or related actions by third parties; (12) Whirlpool's ability to obtain and protect intellectual property rights; (13)  the ability of suppliers of critical parts, components and manufacturing equipment to deliver sufficient quantities to Whirlpool in a timely and cost-effective manner;  (14) health care cost trends, regulatory changes and variations between results and estimates that could increase future funding obligations for pension and post retirement benefit plans;  (15) information technology system failures and data security breaches; (16) the impact of labor relations; (17) our ability to attract, develop and retain executives and other qualified employees; (18) changes in the legal and regulatory environment including environmental and health and safety regulations; and (19) the ability of Whirlpool to manage foreign currency fluctuations.  Additional information concerning these and other factors can be found in Whirlpool Corporation's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the most recent annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and current reports on Form 8-K.

We supplement the reporting of our financial information determined under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) with certain non-GAAP financial measures, which we refer to as "ongoing business operations" measures, including adjusted operating profit, adjusted earnings (loss) before income taxes and other items (hereafter referred to as "adjusted earnings (loss) before tax"), adjusted diluted earnings per share available to Whirlpool common stockholders (hereafter referred to as "adjusted diluted earnings per share"), adjusted operating profit by segment (hereafter referred to as "adjusted segment operating profit"), and free cash flow.  Ongoing business operations measures exclude items that may not be indicative of, or are unrelated to, results from our ongoing business operations.  We believe that these non-GAAP measures provide meaningful information to assist stockholders in understanding our financial results and assessing our prospects for future performance.  Management believes adjusted operating profit, adjusted earnings before tax, adjusted diluted earnings per share and adjusted segment operating profit are important indicators of our operations because they exclude items that may not be indicative of or are unrelated to our core operating results, and provide a better baseline for analyzing trends in our underlying businesses.  Management believes that free cash flow provides stockholders with a relevant measure of liquidity and a useful basis for assessing the company's ability to fund its activities and obligations.  Because non-GAAP financial measures are not standardized, it may not be possible to compare these financial measures with other companies' non-GAAP financial measures having the same or similar names.  These adjusted financial measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for reported operating profit, earnings before income taxes and other items, diluted net earnings per share available to Whirlpool common stockholders and cash provided by operating activities, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.  These non-GAAP financial measures reflect an additional way of viewing aspects of our operations that, when viewed with our GAAP results and the below reconciliations to corresponding GAAP financial measures, provide a more complete understanding of our business.  We strongly encourage investors and stockholders to review our financial statements and publicly-filed reports in their entirety and not to rely on any single financial measure. 

Ongoing Business Operations Measures - Adjusted Operating Profit, Adjusted Earnings Before Tax, Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share

The reconciliation provided below reconciles the non-GAAP financial measures adjusted operating profit, adjusted earnings before tax and adjusted diluted earnings per share, with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, reported operating profit, earnings before income taxes and other items, and diluted earnings per share available to Whirlpool common stockholders, for the three-months ended December 31, 2011.

The reconciliation provided below reconciles the non-GAAP financial measures adjusted operating profit, adjusted earnings before tax and adjusted diluted earnings per share, with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, reported operating profit, earnings before income taxes and other items, and diluted earnings per share available to Whirlpool common stockholders, for the twelve-months ended December 31, 2011.

Ongoing Business Operations Base Business Measures - Adjusted Operating Profit, Adjusted Earnings Before Tax, Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share

The reconciliation provided below reconciles the non-GAAP financial measures adjusted operating profit, adjusted earnings before tax and adjusted diluted earnings per share, with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, reported operating profit, earnings before income taxes and other items, and diluted earnings per share available to Whirlpool common stockholders, for the three-months ended December 31, 2010.

The reconciliation provided below reconciles the non-GAAP financial measures adjusted operating profit, adjusted earnings before tax and adjusted diluted earnings per share, with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, reported operating profit, earnings before income taxes and other items, and diluted earnings per share available to Whirlpool common stockholders, for the twelve-months ended December 31, 2010.

Ongoing Business Operations Measures - Adjusted Segment Operating Profit    

The reconciliation provided below reconciles the non-GAAP financial measure adjusted segment operating profit with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, reported segment operating profit, for the three-months ended December 31, 2011.

The reconciliation provided below reconciles the non-GAAP financial measure adjusted segment operating profit with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, reported segment operating profit, for the three-months ended December 31, 2010.

Free Cash Flow (Actual and 2012 Outlook)

As defined by the company, free cash flow is cash provided by operating activities after capital expenditures and proceeds from the sale of assets/businesses.  The reconciliation provided below reconciles twelve-month actual 2011 and 2010 and projected 2012 full-year free cash flow with actual and projected cash provided by / (used in) operating activities, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.

Footnotes:

(a)  Pursuant to a settlement agreement, a supplier reimbursed Whirlpool Corporation $61 million related to a prior quality issue on December 20, 2011. The diluted earnings per share impact for the period is calculated based on an income tax impact of approximately $23 million.

(b)  During 2010 and 2011, we recognized curtailment gains of $62 million and $35 million, respectively, related to a retiree healthcare plan. The diluted earnings per share impact is calculated based on an income tax impacts of approximately $23 million and $13 million, respectively.

(c)  During 2010 and 2011, we earned U.S. energy tax credits of $225 million and $366 million respectively. The diluted earnings per share impact is calculated based on an income tax impacts of $225 million and $366 million, respectively.

(d)  During 2010 and 2011, we recorded restructuring charges of $74 million and $136 million respectively. The diluted earnings per share impact is calculated based on an income tax impacts of $26 million and $48 million, respectively.

(e)  During 2010 and 2011, we monetized Brazilian tax credits (BEFIEX) of $225 million and $266 million respectively. BEFIEX credits recognized are not subject to income taxes. The diluted earnings per share impact is calculated based on an income tax impact of $0 million.

(f)  During 2010, we recognized expenses of approximately $146 million related to a previously disclosed Brazilian collection dispute and accruals related to the antitrust resolutions. During 2011, we recognized expenses of approximately $528 million related to the settlement of a previously disclosed Brazilian collection dispute and increased accruals related to the antitrust resolutions. The diluted earnings per share impact is calculated based on an income tax impact of approximately $18 million for 2010 and $149 million for 2011.

(g)  During 2010, we recognized an accrual for $75 million related to a product recall of dishwashers. During the first quarter of 2011, we revised the total cost of this recall to $68 million as a result of lower than expected costs. The diluted earnings per share impact is calculated based on an income tax impact of approximately $28 million for 2010 and $3 million for 2011.

(h)  During the fourth quarter of 2010, we recognized a gain of $10 million, related to the sale of a brand. The diluted earnings per share impact for the period is calculated based on an income tax impact of approximately $4 million.

SOURCE Whirlpool Corporation