Colgate-Palmolive Q4 net sales down 4.5%
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Global unit volume decreased 5.5%, pricing increased 2.5% and foreign exchange was negative 1.5%. Excluding the impact of the deconsolidation of the company's Venezuelan operations, unit volume decreased 1.0%.
Organic sales (Net sales excluding the impact of foreign exchange, acquisitions, divestments and the deconsolidation of the company's Venezuelan operations) grew 1.5%.
Net income and Diluted earnings per share in fourth quarter 2016 were $606 million and $0.68, respectively.
Net income in fourth quarter 2016 included $54 million ($0.06 per diluted share) of aftertax charges resulting from the company's Global Growth and Efficiency Program (the "2012 Restructuring Program") and an aftertax charge of $7 million ($0.01 per diluted share) for a previously disclosed litigation matter.
Net income (loss) and Diluted earnings (loss) per share in fourth quarter 2015 were $(458) million and $(0.51), respectively.
Net income (loss) in fourth quarter 2015 included a $1,058 million ($1.18 per diluted share) aftertax charge resulting from the deconsolidation of the company's Venezuelan operations, $41 million ($0.04 per diluted share) of aftertax charges resulting from the 2012 Restructuring Program and an aftertax charge of $14 million ($0.02 per diluted share) for a previously disclosed litigation matter.
Excluding charges resulting from the 2012 Restructuring Program and previously disclosed litigation matters in both periods and the charge for the deconsolidation of the company's Venezuelan operations in 2015, Net income in fourth quarter 2016 was $667 million, an increase of 2% versus fourth quarter 2015, and Diluted earnings per share in fourth quarter 2016 was $0.75, an increase of 3% versus fourth quarter 2015.
Excluding these items in both periods, as applicable, and excluding Venezuela's operating results in both periods, Diluted earnings per share increased high-single-digit on a currency-neutral basis.
Gross profit margin was 60.4% in fourth quarter 2016 versus 58.8% in fourth quarter 2015. Excluding charges from the 2012 Restructuring Program in both periods, Gross profit margin was 60.8% in fourth quarter 2016, an increase of 180 basis points versus the year ago quarter.
This increase was primarily driven by cost savings from the company's funding-the-growth initiatives and the 2012 Restructuring Program, and higher pricing, partially offset by higher raw and packaging material costs, which included foreign exchange transaction costs and the impact of the deconsolidation of the company's Venezuelan operations effective December 31, 2015.
Selling, general and administrative expenses were 33.7% of Net sales in fourth quarter 2016 versus 33.0% of Net sales in fourth quarter 2015.
Excluding charges from the 2012 Restructuring Program in both periods, Selling, general and administrative expenses increased by 40 basis points to 32.9% of Net sales in fourth quarter 2016, primarily due to higher overhead expenses, partially offset by a decrease in advertising investment, in part reflecting a shift in advertising investment to in-store promotional activities.
Worldwide advertising investment decreased 8% to $297 million versus $323 million in the year ago quarter.
Operating profit (loss) increased to $955 million in fourth quarter 2016 compared to $(139) million in fourth quarter 2015.
Excluding charges resulting from the 2012 Restructuring Program and previously disclosed litigation matters in both periods and the charge for the deconsolidation of the company's Venezuelan operations in 2015, Operating profit was $1,038 million in fourth quarter 2016, an increase of 2% versus fourth quarter 2015. Operating profit margin was 25.7% in fourth quarter 2016 versus (3.6)% in fourth quarter 2015.
Excluding the above noted items in both periods, as applicable, Operating profit margin was 27.9% in fourth quarter 2016, an increase of 190 basis points versus the year ago quarter.
Net cash provided by operations year-to-date was $3,141 million compared to $2,949 million in the comparable 2015 period, reflecting strong operating earnings and the timing of income tax payments, partially offset by the impact of the deconsolidation of the company's Venezuelan operations effective December 31, 2015 and a voluntary contribution to an employee postretirement plan.
Working capital as a percentage of Net sales was negative 2.2% compared to 0.5% in the year ago period, reflecting the company's continued tight focus on working capital and the impact of reclassifying current deferred tax assets to noncurrent deferred tax assets upon the early adoption of a new accounting standard.
For the full year 2016, worldwide Net sales were $15,195 million, a decrease of 5.0% versus full year 2015.
Global unit volume decreased 3.0%, pricing increased 2.5% and foreign exchange was negative 4.5%. Excluding divested businesses and the impact of the deconsolidation of the company's Venezuelan operations, unit volume increased 1.5%. Organic sales grew 4.0%.
Net income and Diluted earnings per share for full year 2016 were $2,441 million and $2.72, respectively. Full year 2016 results include $168 million ($0.19 per diluted share) of aftertax charges resulting from the 2012 Restructuring Program, a $63 million ($0.07 per diluted share) aftertax gain on the sale of land in Mexico, $35 million ($0.04 per diluted share) of benefits from previously disclosed tax matters and aftertax charges of $11 million ($0.01 per diluted share) from a previously disclosed litigation matter.
Net income and Diluted earnings per share for full year 2015 were $1,384 million and $1.52, respectively.
Full year 2015 results included aftertax charges of $1,292 million ($1.42 per diluted share) and an aftertax gain of $120 million ($0.13 per diluted share) resulting from the items described in Table 9.
Excluding the above noted items in both periods, as applicable, Net income for full year 2016 decreased 1% versus full year 2015, and Diluted earnings per share were even with full year 2015.
Excluding the above noted items in both periods, as applicable, and excluding Venezuela's operating results in both periods, Diluted earnings per share for full year 2016 increased double digit on a currency-neutral basis.
Gross profit margin was 60.0% for full year 2016 versus 58.6% for full year 2015. Excluding the above noted items in both periods, as applicable, Gross profit margin was 60.3% in full year 2016, an increase of 160 basis points versus full year 2015.
This increase was primarily driven by cost savings from the company's funding-the-growth initiatives and the 2012 Restructuring Program, and higher pricing, partially offset by higher raw and packaging material costs, which included foreign exchange transaction costs and the impact of the deconsolidation of the company's Venezuelan operations effective December 31, 2015. ■