Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co GT

Consumer Cyclical Auto Parts

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company is a tire company. The Company develops, manufactures, distributes, and sell tires for various applications. It also manufactures and sells rubber-related chemicals for various applications. It is an operator of commercial truck service and tire retreading centers. It operates approximately 950 retail outlets where it offers its products for sale to consumer and commercial customers and provides repair and other services. It manufactures its products in 55 manufacturing facilities in 22 countries. The Company's segments represent its regional tire businesses: Americas; Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), and Asia Pacific. It manufactures and sells numerous lines of rubber tires for automobiles, trucks, buses, aircraft, motorcycles, earthmoving and mining equipment, farm implements, industrial equipment, and various other applications. Its brands include Goodyear, Cooper, Dunlop, Kelly, Debica, Sava, Fulda, Mastercraft and Roadmaster, and others.

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Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co

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Post by bc4uon Feb 12, 2013 8:46am

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Goodyear Reports Fourth Quarter, Full-Year Results

- North American Tire earnings top 2013 target, set records for fourth quarter, year
- Segment Operating Income of $272 million up 39% for quarter despite weakness in Europe
- Free cash flow from operations of more than $700 million for 2012
- Announces strategy to fund U.S. pension plans
- Plans to close factory in France, exit farm tire business in Europe, Middle East and Africa
- Announces EMEA profit improvement plan to return margins to historical levels

AKRON, Ohio, February 12, 2013 – The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company today reported results for the fourth quarter and full-year of 2012.

"Our 2012 performance marks the second consecutive year we have exceeded $1.2 billion in segment operating income in a low-volume environment," said Richard J. Kramer, chairman and chief executive officer. "These results have been driven by North American Tire's performance, which has momentum and, more importantly, sustainability," he added.

"In addition, we are beginning to see the benefits of the strategic investments we are making in China," Kramer said.

"We feel very positive about the progress made in our North American, Latin American and Asia Pacific businesses in 2012 and are confident in our ability to continue delivering improved profitability," he said. "As a result of our view of continued weakness in the European economy and its effects on the auto and tire industries, we are reducing our 2013 segment operating income expectation and are taking actions to ensure long-term competitiveness in the region."

Goodyear's fourth quarter 2012 sales were $5 billion, down 11 percent from 2011, reflecting $338 million in lower tire unit volumes, $221 million in lower sales in other tire related businesses, most notably third party chemical sales in North America, and $85 million in unfavorable foreign currency translation. Tire unit volumes totaled 40 million, down 7 percent from 2011, primarily reflecting lower volumes in Europe.

Sales benefitted from price/mix improvements, which drove revenue per tire up 1 percent over the 2011 quarter, excluding the impact of foreign currency translation.

The company reported segment operating income of $272 million in the fourth quarter of 2012. This was up 39 percent from the year-ago quarter, reflecting $191 million in lower raw material costs (before the benefit of cost savings actions), improved price/mix of $20 million and the results of cost-reduction activities, partially offset by $57 million in lower tire volume and associated unabsorbed overhead costs of $119 million. See the note at the end of this release for further explanation and a segment operating income reconciliation table.

Goodyear's breakeven fourth quarter 2012 net income available to common shareholders was down from $18 million (7 cents per share) in the 2011 quarter. All per share amounts are diluted.

The 2012 fourth quarter included total charges of $85 million (34 cents per share) due to rationalizations, asset write-offs and accelerated depreciation, primarily related to the announced closure of the Amiens North factory in France; $9 million (4 cents per share) due to discrete tax charges; $6 million (2 cents per share) resulting from a strike in South Africa; and $5 million (2 cents per share) due to charges relating to labor claims with respect to a previously closed facility in Europe; and gains of $6 million (2 cents per share) in insurance recoveries related to flooding in Thailand, and $2 million (1 cent per share) from asset sales. All amounts are after taxes and minority interest.

See the table at the end of this release for a list of significant items impacting the 2012 and 2011 quarters.

Full-Year Results

Goodyear's 2012 annual sales were $21 billion, down 8 percent from $22.8 billion a year ago. Sales reflect strong price/mix performance, which drove revenue per tire up 8 percent year-over-year, excluding the impact of foreign currency translation. Unfavorable unit volume and foreign currency translation reduced sales by $1.6 billion and $766 million, respectively. Lower sales in other tire related businesses, most notably third party chemical sales in North America reduced 2012 sales by $489 million.

The company's segment operating income of $1.2 billion was down $120 million from last year. Compared to the prior year, the decline in 2012 segment operating income primarily reflects weakness in Europe, partially offset by improvement in North American Tire.

Compared to the prior year, 2012 also benefitted from $1 billion in improved price/mix, which more than offset $576 million in higher raw material costs. Raw material costs reflect $249 million in actions taken to reduce their impact.

Goodyear's 2012 net income available to common shareholders of $183 million (74 cents per share) compares to $321 million ($1.26 per share) in 2011. All per share amounts are diluted.

The company's free cash flow from operations totaled $701 million for 2012. See the note at the end of this release for further explanation and a free cash flow from operations reconciliation table.

Business Segment Results

See the note at the end of this release for further explanation and a segment operating income reconciliation table.