/EINPresswire.com/ -- BELLEVUE, WA--(Marketwired - Nov 10, 2016) - Esterline Corporation (NYSE: ESL)

• Sales of $543.8 million in the fiscal fourth quarter
• Earnings from continuing operations of $52.0 million in the fiscal fourth quarter; adjusted earnings from continuing operations of $58.2 million
• GAAP earnings per diluted share from continuing operations of $1.75 in the fiscal fourth quarter; adjusted earnings per share of $1.96
• Fiscal 2016 full-year GAAP earnings per diluted share from continuing operations of $3.93, adjusted earnings per diluted share of $4.86
• Company issues fiscal 2017 guidance

Esterline Corporation (NYSE: ESL) (www.esterline.com), a leading specialty manufacturer serving the global aerospace and defense markets, today reported results for the 2016 fiscal fourth quarter and full year ended September 30, 2016. The company generated consolidated revenue of $543.8 million in the fiscal fourth quarter, which was flat compared with the prior-year recast period. The Avionics & Controls segment had strong commercial aerospace and defense sales in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2016, which were offset by a sales decrease in Advanced Materials primarily related to a previously reported temporary plant shutdown. The results for our fiscal 2015 fourth quarter and fiscal year have been recast to the three months and twelve months ended October 2, 2015, respectively, in order to provide meaningful comparisons to prior-year periods.

Curtis Reusser, Esterline's Chief Executive Officer, said, "We finished fiscal 2016 on a high note driven by strong volume and improved margins. We are pleased with the operational milestones reached during the year, including completion of the two remaining accelerated integration projects and substantial progress on our E3 initiatives. I am excited to enter a new fiscal year with a clear focus on execution, supported by solid order rates and backlog."

Earnings from continuing operations in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2016 increased 29.2% to $52.0 million, or $1.75 per diluted share, compared with $40.3 million, or $1.34 per diluted share, in the recast prior-year period results, primarily due to stronger operating earnings and receipt of a $5.0 million business interruption insurance payment. In addition, the recast prior-year period included a $9.2 million after-tax loss on early extinguishment of debt. Adjusted earnings from continuing operations for the fiscal fourth quarter of 2016 were $58.2 million, or $1.96 per diluted share. In the comparable recast period of the prior year, adjusted earnings from continuing operations were $66.0 million, or $2.20 per diluted share.

For the fiscal fourth quarter of 2016, adjusted earnings exclude $0.21 per diluted share of costs related to previously identified integration, restructuring and compliance activities (see Table 1).

Table 1: Effect of Certain Items on Fiscal 4th Quarter 2016
Earnings from Continuing Operations

		$Millions			EPS
Earnings (GAAP)		$	52.0		$	1.75
Accelerated Integration Costs			3.2			0.11
Compliance Costs			1.8			0.06
DAT Integration Costs			1.2			0.04
Adjusted Earnings (non-GAAP)		$	58.2		$	1.96

Including discontinued operations, net earnings for the fiscal fourth quarter of 2016 were $52.3 million, or $1.76 per diluted share, compared with $21.0 million, or $0.70 per diluted share, for the comparable recast period in 2015. Net earnings in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2016 included $0.2 million of earnings from discontinued operations, while the prior year included a $19.3 million loss from discontinued operations.

New orders in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2016 were $475.4 million, compared with $501.0 million in the comparable recast period of 2015. The company's book-to-bill ratio for the fiscal fourth quarter was 0.9. Backlog at the end of fiscal 2016 was $1.3 billion, compared with $1.2 billion at the end of fiscal 2015.

Gross profit in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2016 was $193.8 million, compared with $185.8 million in the prior-year recast period. Reported gross margin as a percentage of sales in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2016 was 35.6%, compared with 34.1% in the prior-year recast period. The company's adjusted gross profit, excluding the discrete items consistent with adjusted earnings, was $196.1 million, or 36.1% of sales, in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2016, compared with adjusted gross margin of $189.1 million, or 34.7% of sales, in the recast fourth quarter of 2015.

Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses during the fiscal fourth quarter of 2016 were $102.0 million, or 18.8% of sales, compared with $94.6 million, or 17.4% of sales, in the prior-year recast period. Approximately $8 million in higher year-over-year SG&A expenses in the fiscal 2016 fourth quarter were due to bad debt expense within the Avionics & Controls segment. Excluding this expense, SG&A expenses were 17.3% of sales in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016.

Research, development and engineering spending in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2016 was $23.2 million, or 4.3% of sales, compared with $25.4 million, or 4.6% of sales, in the prior-year period.

The company's income tax rate in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2016 was 17.6%, compared with 7.9% in the prior-year period. The lower tax rate in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2015 was principally the result of lower earnings and beneficial tax effects from the DAT acquisition.

For the full fiscal year ended September 30, 2016, sales were $1.99 billion, roughly flat with the prior-year period. Fiscal 2016 GAAP earnings from continuing operations were $117.0 million, or $3.93 per diluted share, compared with the prior-year period results of $127.9 million, or $4.10 per diluted share. Excluding the discrete costs described in Table 2 below, adjusted earnings from continuing operations in fiscal 2016 were $144.8 million, or $4.86 per diluted share, compared with the prior-year period results of $179.1 million, or $5.74 per diluted share.

Table 2: Effect of Certain Items on Full-Year Fiscal 2016
Earnings from Continuing Operations

		$Millions			EPS
Earnings (GAAP)		$	117.0		$	3.93
Accelerated Integration Costs			7.4			0.24
Compliance Costs			8.7			0.30
DAT Integration Costs			10.1			0.34
Long-term Contract Adjustments			1.6			0.05
Adjusted Earnings (non-GAAP)		$	144.8		$	4.86

Cash flow from operations for fiscal 2016 was $167.2 million, compared with $193.7 million in the prior-year period. After capital expenditures of $68.5 million, free cash flow for fiscal 2016 was $98.7 million. In the recast 2015 full-year period, free cash flow was $138.3 million. Capital expenditures in fiscal 2016 were higher than the prior year due to approximately $15 million used to purchase and improve the primary facility of the DAT business. Fiscal 2016 EBITDA was $269.0 million, compared with $298.8 million in the recast prior-year period.

Additional information about fiscal 2016 fourth quarter and full-year operational and financial results is available in a presentation on the company's website (www.esterline.com) in the Investor Relations section under "Presentations". The presentation is also included as Exhibit 99.2 to the company's report on Form 8-K, which is being submitted today to the SEC.

Guidance for Fiscal Year 2017

Revenues for the fiscal year ending on September 29, 2017, are expected to be in the range of $2.0 billion to $2.05 billion. Fiscal 2017 GAAP earnings from continuing operations are expected to be in the range of $4.30 to $4.70 per diluted share. Adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations, excluding certain compliance and integration costs, are expected to be in the range of $4.50 to $4.90 per diluted share. The company's tax rate is expected to increase from 16.0% in fiscal 2016 to 25.0% in fiscal 2017 driven by higher earnings, changes in international tax regulations and timing of discrete tax items. This change in effective tax rate is estimated to have an impact on fiscal 2017 earnings of ($0.55) per diluted share.

The company expects fiscal 2017 free cash flow to be in a range of $165 million to $185 million and EBITDA to be in a range of $295 million to $315 million.

Reusser said, "Our teams will continue to execute within the Esterline Operating System, or E3, and capitalize on positive trends in the marketplace in fiscal 2017. While our business environment has a level of uncertainty in the coming year and our 2017 EPS will be impacted negatively by the increase in our tax rate, I'm pleased that our outlook for EBITDA and free cash flow in fiscal 2017 shows strong improvements over 2016."

Conference Call Information

Esterline will host a conference call to discuss this announcement today at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (2:00 p.m. Pacific Time). The U.S. dial-in number is 877-307-0078; outside the U.S., use 531-289-2890. The pass code for the call is: 98000160.

Non-GAAP Financial Information

This press release and the related presentation providing supplemental financial information include non-GAAP financial measures -- adjusted earnings from continuing operations, adjusted earnings from continuing operations per diluted share, adjusted earnings before interest and tax (EBIT), operating earnings from continuing operations adjusted to exclude depreciation and amortization expense (EBITDA), adjusted gross margin, also referred to as gross profit, adjusted SG&A expense, and free cash flow -- that have not been calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. (GAAP). Adjusted earnings from continuing operations consist of earnings from continuing operations attributable to Esterline less the costs associated with certain integration activities -- including restructuring charges -- and incremental compliance costs, discrete items associated with our acquisition of the DAT business in January 2015, as well as the other items further detailed in the tables below. Adjusted earnings from continuing operations per diluted share divides each element of adjusted earnings from continuing operations by the weighted average number of shares outstanding, diluted for the periods presented. EBIT is defined as operating earnings from continuing operations. Adjusted EBIT excludes the same costs excluded from adjusted earnings from continuing operations set forth in the tables below. EBITDA is EBIT plus depreciation and amortization of $98.9 million in fiscal 2016 and $99.6 million in fiscal 2015. Fiscal fourth quarter 2016 adjusted gross margin excludes the cost of certain integration activities, which increased GAAP gross margin by $2.3 million. Adjusted gross margin in the recast fourth quarter of 2015 excludes certain integration costs and purchase accounting charges totaling $3.2 million. In accordance with the SEC's requirements, below is the reconciliation of the non-GAAP adjusted earnings from continuing operations to the comparable GAAP earnings from continuing operations and additional relevant reconciliations are included in the presentation providing supplemental financial information.

In millions, except per share amounts
			Three						Recast Three
			Months Ended						Months Ended
			September 30, 2016						October 2, 2015
						Diluted							Diluted
						EPS							EPS
Earnings from Continuing Operations Attributable to Esterline (GAAP), Net of Tax			$	52.0		$	1.75		$	40.3			$	1.34
	Accelerated Integration Costs, Net of Tax of $0.7 and $0.1			3.2			0.11			2.7				0.09
	Compliance Costs, Net of Tax of $0.5 and $0.9			1.8			0.06			6.7				0.23
	DAT Integration and Purchase Acctg Adjustments, Net of Tax of $0.4 and $1.1			1.2			0.04			7.1				0.23
	Bond Redemption Costs, Net of Tax of $1.9			-			-			9.2				0.31
Adjusted Earnings from Continuing Operations (non-GAAP), Net of Tax			$	58.2		$	1.96		$	66.0			$	2.20
In millions, except per share amounts
			Twelve						Recast Twelve
			Months Ended						Months Ended
			September 30, 2016						October 2, 2015
						Diluted							Diluted
						EPS							EPS
Earnings from Continuing Operations Attributable to Esterline (GAAP), Net of Tax			$	117.0		$	3.93		$	127.9			$	4.10
	Accelerated Integration Costs, Net of Tax of $1.3 and $2.6			7.4			0.24			12.0				0.38
	Compliance Costs, Net of Tax of $1.7 and $3.3			8.7			0.30			15.7				0.50
	DAT Integration and Purchase Acctg Adjustments, Net of Tax of $1.9 and $2.8			10.1			0.34			13.3				0.43
	Long-term Contract Adjustments, Net of Tax of $0.3 and $2.2			1.6			0.05			7.7				0.24
	DAT Closing Expenses, Net of Tax of $1.3			-			-			4.7				0.15
	Pension Expense, Net of Tax of $0.7			-			-			2.3				0.07
	Bond Redemption Costs, Net of Tax of $1.9			-			-			9.2				0.30
	Non-Income Tax Gain, Net of Tax of $4.4			-			-			(13.7	)			(0.43	)
Adjusted Earnings from Continuing Operations (non-GAAP), Net of Tax			$	144.8		$	4.86		$	179.1			$	5.74

The company provides these non-GAAP financial measures as supplemental information to the GAAP financial measures. Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures to (a) evaluate the company's historical and prospective financial performance and its performance relative to its competitors, (b) allocate resources, and (c) measure the operational performance of the company's business units.

In addition, management believes including these non-GAAP financial measures enhances investors' and financial analysts' understanding of the company's performance as well as their ability to assess and compare the company's historical results of operations.

These non-GAAP financial measures are not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the comparable GAAP measures, and free cash flow is not necessarily indicative of amounts available for discretionary use. There are limitations to these non-GAAP financial measures because they are not prepared in accordance with GAAP and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies due to potential differences in methods of calculation and items that comprise the calculation. The company compensates for these limitations by using these non-GAAP financial measures as a supplement to the GAAP measures and by providing reconciliations of the non-GAAP and comparable GAAP financial measures. The non-GAAP financial measures should be read only in conjunction with the company's consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP.

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to future events or the company's future financial performance. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "might," "plan," "potential," "predict," "should" or "will," or the negative of such terms, or other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements are only predictions based on the current intent and expectations of the management of Esterline, are not guarantees of future performance or actions, and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and may cause Esterline's or its industry's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Esterline's actual results and the timing and outcome of events may differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements due to risks detailed in Esterline's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including its most recent Transition Report on Form 10-K.

ESTERLINE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Consolidated Statement of Operations (unaudited)
In thousands, except per share amounts

				Three Months Ended								Twelve Months Ended
				Sept 30,				Oct 2,				Sept 30,				Oct 2,
				2016				2015				2016				2015
								(Recast)								(Recast)
Segment Sales
	Avionics & Controls			$	253,001			$	232,019			$	860,494			$	826,044
	Sensors & Systems				181,196				184,989				696,032				714,965
	Advanced Materials				109,555				128,241				436,105				461,784
Net Sales					543,752				545,249				1,992,631				2,002,793
Cost of Sales					349,983				359,409				1,331,386				1,323,405
					193,769				185,840				661,245				679,388
Expenses
	Selling, general and administrative				101,991				94,607				395,274				384,156
	Research, development and
	engineering				23,179				25,351				95,939				100,426
	Restructuring charges				2,443				2,081				4,873				8,143
	Insurance recovery				(5,000	)			-				(5,000	)			-
	Other expense (income)				-				241				-				(12,503	)
		Total Expenses			122,613				122,280				491,086				480,222
Operating Earnings from Continuing
	Operations				71,156				63,560				170,159				199,166
	Interest Income				(156	)			(226	)			(367	)			(632	)
	Interest Expense				7,922				8,705				30,091				33,114
	Loss on extinguishment of debt				-				11,122				-				11,451
Earnings from Continuing Operations
	Before Income Taxes				63,390				43,959				140,435				155,233
Income Tax Expense					11,177				3,481				22,535				26,911
Earnings from Continuing Operations
	Including Noncontrolling Interests				52,213				40,478				117,900				128,322
Earnings Attributable to Noncontrolling
	Interests				(168	)			(211	)			(949	)			(427	)
Earnings from Continuing Operations
	Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax				52,045				40,267				116,951				127,895
Earnings (Loss) from Discontinued Operations,
	Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax				227				(19,285	)			(15,266	)			(40,319	)
Net Earnings Attributable to Esterline				$	52,272			$	20,982			$	101,685			$	87,576
Earnings (Loss) Per Share--Basic:
	Continuing Operations			$	1.77			$	1.36			$	3.97			$	4.16
	Discontinued Operations				.01				(.65	)			(.52	)			(1.31	)
Earnings (Loss) Per Share--Basic				$	1.78			$	.71			$	3.45			$	2.85
Earnings (Loss) Per Share--Diluted:
Continuing Operations				$	1.75			$	1.34			$	3.93			$	4.10
Discontinued Operations					.01				(.64	)			(.51	)			(1.29	)
Earnings (Loss) Per Share--Diluted				$	1.76			$	.70			$	3.42			$	2.81
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding--Basic					29,410				29,543				29,490				30,729
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding--Diluted					29,691				29,901				29,764				31,215

ESTERLINE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Consolidated Sales and Earnings From Continuing Operations by Segment (unaudited)
In thousands

				Three Months Ended								Twelve Months Ended
				Sept 30,				Oct 2,				Sept 30,				Oct 2,
				2016				2015				2016				2015
								(Recast)								(Recast)
Segment Sales
	Avionics & Controls			$	253,001			$	232,019			$	860,494			$	826,044
	Sensors & Systems				181,196				184,989				696,032				714,965
	Advanced Materials				109,555				128,241				436,105				461,784
Net Sales				$	543,752			$	545,249			$	1,992,631			$	2,002,793
Earnings from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes
	Avionics & Controls			$	37,777			$	31,129			$	78,356			$	93,225
	Sensors & Systems				26,098				27,553				87,768				84,235
	Advanced Materials				22,805				25,796				74,515				91,334
		Segment Earnings			86,680				84,478				240,639				268,794
	Corporate expense				(15,524	)			(20,677	)			(70,480	)			(82,131	)
	Other income (expense)				-				(241	)			-				12,503
	Interest income				156				226				367				632
	Interest expense				(7,922	)			(8,705	)			(30,091	)			(33,114	)
	Loss on extinguishment of debt				-				(11,122	)			-				(11,451	)
Earnings from Continuing Operations
	Before Income Taxes			$	63,390			$	43,959			$	140,435			$	155,233

ESTERLINE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Consolidated Balance Sheet (unaudited)
In thousands

				September 30,			October 2,
				2016			2015
Assets
Current Assets
	Cash and cash equivalents			$	258,520		$	191,355
	Escrow cash				1,125			-
	Accounts receivable, net				422,073			380,748
	Inventories				450,206			446,768
	Income tax refundable				5,183			12,575
	Deferred income tax benefits				-			41,082
	Prepaid expenses				17,909			23,008
	Other current assets				5,322			5,427
	Current assets of businesses held for sale				15,450			27,851
		Total Current Assets			1,175,788			1,128,814
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net					338,034			309,399
Other Non-Current Assets
	Goodwill				1,024,667			1,041,991
	Intangibles, net				393,035			452,040
	Deferred income tax benefits				75,409			28,979
	Other assets				13,698			14,348
	Non-current assets of businesses held for sale				11,400			24,917
				$	3,032,031		$	3,000,488
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Current Liabilities
	Accounts payable			$	121,816		$	117,976
	Accrued liabilities				238,163			259,734
	Current maturities of long-term debt				16,774			13,376
	Federal and foreign income taxes				10,932			2,404
	Current liabilities of businesses held for sale				10,813			17,106
		Total Current Liabilities			398,498			410,596
Long-Term Liabilities
	Credit facilities				155,000			160,000
	Long-term debt, net of current maturities				698,796			701,457
	Deferred income tax liabilities				53,798			73,849
	Pension and post-retirement obligations				92,520			75,019
	Other liabilities				21,968			29,367
	Non-current liabilities of businesses held for sale				320			2,409
Total Shareholders' Equity					1,611,131			1,547,791
				$	3,032,031		$	3,000,488