Industrials

Honeywell Earnings Buoyed by Promises of 2017 Improvement

Thinkstock

Honeywell International Inc. (NYSE: HON) reported third-quarter 2016 results before markets opened Friday. The conglomerate posted adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.67 on revenues of $9.8 billion. In the same period a year ago, the company reported GAAP EPS of $1.60 on revenues of $9.61 billion. Third-quarter results also compare to the Thomson Reuters consensus estimates for $1.70 in EPS and $9.79 billion in revenues.

On a GAAP basis, third-quarter EPS was flat at $1.60, which excludes $0.07 per share in restructuring charges. Net income for the quarter totaled $1.25 billion, down from $1.28 billion in the same period last year.

The company revised its fiscal 2016 guidance earlier this month. The top end of prior adjusted EPS guidance has been lowered from $6.70 to $6.64 while the low end remained unchanged at $6.60, about 8% to 9% higher than last year. Sales guidance decreased from a range of $40.0 billion to $40.6 billion to a new range of $39.4 billion to $39.6 billion. Operating margin guidance is now approximately 17.6% and free cash flow guidance was lowered from a range of $4.6 billion to $4.8 billion to a new range of $4.2 billion to $4.3 billion.

Honeywell’s chairman and CEO Dave Cote said:

The third-quarter results came in as we outlined on our October 7 conference call. We are well-positioned for double-digit earnings growth in the fourth quarter, leading to 8%-9% earnings growth in 2016. … [The] actions [we took] will drive more than $175 million of benefits in 2017 alone. We also intend in the fourth quarter to refinance outstanding debt maturing in 2017-2019, which will lower interest expense by approximately $60 million annually beginning in 2017.

The company repurchased $233 million in common stock and paid $453 million in dividends during the third quarter.

Honeywell’s shares closed down about 0.1% at $108.14 on Thursday and traded up about 1.8% in premarket trading Friday. The stock’s 52-week range is $93.71 to $120.02. The consensus 12-month price target was $124.06 before the report.

Take This Retirement Quiz To Get Matched With An Advisor Now (Sponsored)

Are you ready for retirement? Planning for retirement can be overwhelming, that’s why it could be a good idea to speak to a fiduciary financial advisor about your goals today.

Start by taking this retirement quiz right here from SmartAsset that will match you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area and beyond in 5 minutes. Smart Asset is now matching over 50,000 people a month.

Click here now to get started.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.