News Press Releases

NewMarket Corporation Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2016 Results

NEU | January 31, 2017

NewMarket Corporation Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2016 Results

Fourth Quarter EPS of $3.86 Per Share; Full Year EPS of $20.54 Per Share, Up 5.6%
Petroleum Additives Fourth Quarter Operating Profit of $75.6 Million; Full Year Operating Profit of $384.9 Million, Up 2.7%
Petroleum Additives Full Year Shipments Up 1.1%
Ongoing Investments to Fuel Long-Term Growth

NewMarket Corporation (NYSE:NEU) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Thomas E. Gottwald, released the following earnings report of the Company’s operations for the fourth quarter and full year 2016.

Net income for the fourth quarter of 2016 was $45.7 million, or $3.86 per share, compared to net income of $53.9 million, or $4.50 per share, for the fourth quarter of 2015. Net income for 2016 was $243.4 million, or $20.54 per share, compared to net income of $238.6 million, or $19.45 per share, for 2015.

Sales for the petroleum additives segment for the fourth quarter of 2016 were $500.0 million, up 4.9% versus the same period last year, due to higher shipments and product mix, partially offset by changes in selling prices. Petroleum additives operating profit for the fourth quarter of 2016 was $75.6 million, about even with fourth quarter operating profit last year of $75.3 million.

For the year, petroleum additives sales were $2.0 billion compared to sales in 2015 of $2.1 billion, a decrease of 4.3%. This decrease was primarily due to changes in selling prices and foreign currency exchange, partially offset by higher shipments and product mix. Operating profit for petroleum additives for 2016 increased 2.7% to $384.9 million, compared to $374.9 million for 2015. The increase was mainly due to higher sales volume, product mix, and lower raw material and conversion costs, partially offset by changes in selling prices and foreign currency exchange.

Petroleum additives shipments for the fourth quarter of 2016 were up from the same period last year. This increase was primarily due to increases in lubricant additives shipments in Europe and Asia Pacific and fuel additives shipments in North America and Latin America. For the year, shipments increased 1.1% versus 2015, primarily due to increases in fuel additives shipments in North America and Asia Pacific that were partially offset by a decrease in Europe. Lubricant additives shipments also increased between the years mainly due to increases in Asia Pacific and Europe which were largely offset by lower shipments in North America and Latin America.

The effective income tax rate for the fourth quarter of 2016 was 28.6%, up from the rate of 20.3% in the same period last year. The effective rate for 2016 was 29.1%, down slightly from the rate in 2015 of 29.6%. The rate in the fourth quarter of 2015 was lower primarily due to decreases in tax rates for certain of our foreign subsidiaries and an increase in tax benefits associated with our research and development activities in the U.S. and Europe. The research and development tax credit in the U.S. was passed during the fourth quarter of 2015, retroactive to the beginning of the year.

Our business continues to generate strong cash flows. During the year, we paid dividends of $75.8 million, funded capital expenditures of $142.9 million, and repurchased 98,867 shares of our common stock for a total of $35.8 million, or an average cost per share of $362.25. In January 2017, we issued $250 million of fixed rate long-term debt in a private placement transaction. The proceeds were used to repay amounts outstanding under our revolving credit facility, with the remainder available for financing working capital needs and general corporate purposes.

We are continuing to use our capital to achieve our long-term growth plans. In December 2016, we announced our intent to acquire Aditivos Mexicanos, S.A. de C.V. (“AMSA”). AMSA is a petroleum additives manufacturing, sales and distribution company based in Mexico City, Mexico. We expect to close the transaction in the first half of 2017, pending a regulatory review in Mexico. In addition, construction continues on phase two of our manufacturing facility in Singapore which is expected to be completed in the second half of 2017, and we are continuing to invest in research and development in order to meet our customers’ ever-changing business needs.

Our investments in 2016 together with our plans for 2017 reinforce our view that we are making decisions to promote the greatest long-term value for our shareholders and customers, and we remain focused on our long-term objectives. We believe the fundamentals of how we run our business - a long-term view, safety-first culture, customer-focused solutions, technology-driven product offerings, and world-class supply chain capability - will continue to be beneficial for all our stakeholders. As we look forward to 2017 and beyond, we believe the fundamentals of the industry as a whole remain unchanged, with the petroleum additives market growing at 1% to 2% annually for the foreseeable future. We continue to believe that we will exceed that growth rate.

Sincerely,

Thomas E. Gottwald

The Company has included the non-GAAP financial measure EBITDA in this earnings release. A schedule following the financial statements included in this earnings release is provided reflecting the calculation of EBITDA, defined as income from continuing operations before the deduction of interest and financing expenses, income taxes, depreciation and amortization. The Company believes that even though this item is not required by or presented in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), this additional measure enhances understanding of the Company’s performance and period to period comparability. The Company believes that this item should not be considered an alternative to net income determined under GAAP.

As a reminder, a conference call and Internet webcast is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. EST on Wednesday, February 1, 2017 to review fourth quarter and year-end 2016 financial results. You can access the conference call live by dialing 1-877-407-9210 (domestic) or 1-201-689-8049 (international) and requesting the NewMarket conference call. To avoid delays, callers should dial in five minutes early. A teleconference replay of the call will be available until February 8, 2017 at 11:59 p.m. EST by dialing 1-877-481-4010 (domestic) or 1-919-882-2331 (international). The replay ID number is 10200. The call will also be broadcast via the Internet and can be accessed through the Company’s website at www.NewMarket.com or www.investorcalendar.com. A webcast replay will be available for 30 days.

NewMarket Corporation, through its subsidiaries Afton Chemical Corporation and Ethyl Corporation, develops, manufactures, blends, and delivers chemical additives that enhance the performance of petroleum products. From custom-formulated additive packages to market-general additives, the NewMarket family of companies provides the world with the technology to make engines run smoother, machines last longer, and fuels burn cleaner.

Some of the information contained in this press release constitutes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Although NewMarket’s management believes its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions within the bounds of its knowledge of its business and operations, there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from expectations.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include, but are not limited to, the availability of raw materials and distribution systems; disruptions at manufacturing facilities, including single-sourced facilities; the ability to respond effectively to technological changes in our industry; failure to protect our intellectual property rights; failure to attract and retain a highly-qualified workforce; hazards common to chemical businesses; competition from other manufacturers; sudden or sharp raw material price increases; the gain or loss of significant customers; the occurrence or threat of extraordinary events, including natural disasters and terrorist attacks; risks related to operating outside of the United States (including the additional risks and uncertainties introduced by the recent referendum on the United Kingdom’s membership in the European Union); the impact of fluctuations in foreign exchange rates; an information technology system failure; political, economic, and regulatory factors concerning our products; future governmental regulation; resolution of environmental liabilities or legal proceedings; our inability to consummate a proposed acquisition transaction due to a lack of regulatory approval or the failure of one or more parties to satisfy conditions to closing; our inability to realize expected benefits from investment in our infrastructure or future acquisitions or our inability to successfully integrate future acquisitions into our business; and other factors detailed from time to time in the reports that NewMarket files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risk factors in Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of our 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is available to shareholders upon request.

You should keep in mind that any forward-looking statement made by NewMarket in the foregoing discussion speaks only as of the date on which such forward-looking statement is made. New risks and uncertainties come up from time to time, and it is impossible for us to predict these events or how they may affect the Company. We have no duty to, and do not intend to, update or revise the forward-looking statements in this discussion after the date hereof, except as may be required by law. In light of these risks and uncertainties, you should keep in mind that the events described in any forward-looking statement made in this discussion, or elsewhere, might not occur.


NEWMARKET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
SEGMENT RESULTS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION
(In thousands, except per-share amounts, unaudited)

	Fourth Quarter Ended December 31,						Twelve Months Ended December 31,
	2016			2015			2016			2015
Revenue:
Petroleum additives	$	499,985		$	476,683		$	2,034,645		$	2,124,995
All other (a)		1,642			2,939			14,806			15,835
Total	$	501,627		$	479,622		$	2,049,451		$	2,140,830
Segment operating profit:
Petroleum additives	$	75,601		$	75,342		$	384,906		$	374,934
All other (a)		(1,434	)		850			530			4,372
Segment operating profit		74,167			76,192			385,436			379,306
Corporate unallocated expense		(5,387	)		(6,028	)		(21,783	)		(22,779	)
Interest and financing expenses		(4,323	)		(3,716	)		(16,785	)		(14,652	)
Other income (expense), net		(483	)		1,164			(3,660	)		(2,904	)
Income before income tax expense	$	63,974		$	67,612		$	343,208		$	338,971
Net income	$	45,672		$	53,914		$	243,441		$	238,603
Earnings per share - basic and diluted	$	3.86		$	4.50		$	20.54		$	19.45

Notes to Segment Results and Other Financial Information
(a)		"All other" includes the results of our tetraethyl lead (TEL) business, as well as certain contracted manufacturing and services associated with Ethyl Corporation.


NEWMARKET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In thousands, except per-share amounts, unaudited)

	Fourth Quarter Ended December 31,				Twelve Months Ended December 31,
	2016		2015		2016			2015
Net sales	$	501,627	$	479,622	$	2,049,451		$	2,140,830
Cost of goods sold		352,217		326,317		1,368,690			1,461,774
Gross profit		149,410		153,305		680,761			679,056
Selling, general, and administrative expenses		40,936		43,320		161,112			164,082
Research, development, and testing expenses		40,308		39,602		156,959			158,254
Operating profit		68,166		70,383		362,690			356,720
Interest and financing expenses, net		4,323		3,716		16,785			14,652
Other income (expense), net		131		945		(2,697	)		(3,097	)
Income before income tax expense		63,974		67,612		343,208			338,971
Income tax expense		18,302		13,698		99,767			100,368
Net income	$	45,672	$	53,914	$	243,441		$	238,603
Earnings per share - basic and diluted	$	3.86	$	4.50	$	20.54		$	19.45
Cash dividends declared per share	$	1.60	$	1.60	$	6.40		$	5.80


NEWMARKET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands except share amounts, unaudited)

	December 31, 2016			December 31, 2015
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	192,154		$	93,424
Trade and other accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts ($710 - 2016; $487 - 2015)		306,916			287,967
Inventories		311,512			351,631
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		26,301			35,370
Total current assets		836,883			768,392
Property, plant, and equipment, at cost		1,264,957			1,128,989
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization		761,212			726,543
Net property, plant, and equipment		503,745			402,446
Prepaid pension cost		25,800			20,430
Deferred income taxes		29,063			44,729
Intangibles (net of amortization) and goodwill		10,436			10,907
Deferred charges and other assets		10,509			39,345
Total assets	$	1,416,436		$	1,286,249
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	141,869		$	128,745
Accrued expenses		104,082			99,511
Dividends payable		17,478			17,594
Income taxes payable		17,573			12,773
Other current liabilities		13,588			5,057
Total current liabilities		294,590			263,680
Long-term debt		507,275			490,920
Other noncurrent liabilities		131,320			144,085
Total liabilities		933,185			898,685
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock and paid-in capital (without par value); issued and outstanding shares - 11,845,972 in 2016 and 11,948,446 in 2015		1,603			0
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(182,510	)		(144,526	)
Retained earnings		664,158			532,090
Total shareholders' equity		483,251			387,564
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$	1,416,436		$	1,286,249


NEWMARKET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
SELECTED CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW DATA
(In thousands, unaudited)

	Twelve Months Ended December 31,
	2016			2015
Net income	$	243,441		$	238,603
Depreciation and amortization		44,893			42,265
Cash pension and postretirement contributions		(25,898	)		(26,813	)
Noncash pension and postretirement expense		12,829			22,037
Working capital changes		22,815			(23,262	)
Deferred income tax expense		19,185			150
Capital expenditures		(142,874	)		(126,499	)
Net borrowings under revolving credit facility		11,000			131,000
Repurchases of common stock		(35,815	)		(194,924	)
Dividends paid		(75,829	)		(70,763	)
All other		24,983			(1,373	)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	$	98,730		$	(9,579	)


NEWMARKET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION
(In thousands, unaudited)

	Fourth Quarter Ended December 31,				Twelve Months Ended December 31,
	2016		2015		2016		2015
Net Income	$	45,672	$	53,914	$	243,441	$	238,603
Add:
Interest and financing expenses, net		4,323		3,716		16,785		14,652
Income tax expense		18,302		13,698		99,767		100,368
Depreciation and amortization		11,884		10,615		43,808		41,178
EBITDA	$	80,181	$	81,943	$	403,801	$	394,801