Carpenter Technology Corporation reported net income attributable to Carpenter of $39.2 million for the quarter ended 30 September 2012.

"Our strong first quarter results demonstrate that we are continuing to execute well against our strategic plan," said William A. Wulfsohn, President and CEO. "While there are some areas, particularly in lower value products, where customer demand has softened recently, our overall business continues to be well positioned in attractive end markets with strong demand for our ultra-premium and premium products. This is evident in our strong top line growth, and continuing positive spread between our revenue and volume growth rates.

"Latrobe results, after seven months of ownership, remain strong and we are still tracking ahead of our deal economics, with the acquisition expected to be at least 10% accretive this fiscal year. The teams are doing an outstanding job delivering operational synergies from the combined operation that will lead to higher volumes, improved costs and a richer mix. The first new VAR furnace recently began operation with two more to come on-line in the near future. We are accelerating use of the Latrobe assets for additional premium products, which will enable us to continue improving mix and our average mill profit per pound.

"We also continue to identify opportunities, as part of the Latrobe integration, to optimize asset utilization across the total mill operation. There are several small, near-term consolidation opportunities that we have begun to execute, and we continue to evaluate other potential opportunities to optimize our system assets. In addition, we have completed a study that identifies significant inventory reduction opportunities across the mill system, which we will begin to implement.

"We remain on track to achieve the financial targets we set for our full fiscal year and expect strong 2nd half shipment levels. Strong customer demand for the ultra-premium and premium parts of our product line, combined with our large backlog is consuming our full available premium capacity."

First Quarter Results
Net sales for the first quarter were $544.9 million, up 32 percent from the prior year. Excluding surcharge revenue, net sales were $440.8 million, up 41 percent from a year ago on 36 percent higher volume. Excluding the Latrobe impact, first quarter revenue excluding surcharge was up 9 percent on 4 percent higher volume.

Specialty Alloy Operations (SAO) segment sales without surcharge increased 16 percent on 7 percent higher volume compared with the fiscal year 2012 first quarter. Most of this growth occurred in the highest value ultra-premium and premium products. SAO operating income was $54.4 million, with a 20 percent operating margin, on revenue excluding surcharge. The Latrobe segment, which currently includes the Latrobe and Mexico distribution businesses that are planned for divestiture, contributed $15.7 million of operating income in the quarter, with a 15 percent operating margin. Latrobe continues to perform ahead of announced deal economics due to strong progress on operational synergies. Performance Engineered Products (PEP) segment sales increased 17 percent in the same period, essentially due to the inclusion of the Specialty Steel Supply (SSS) energy distribution business. PEP operating income was $11.5 million, with a 12 percent operating margin. Additional segment information is available in the attached schedules.

Gross profit was $109.3 million compared with $81.1 million in the fiscal year 2012 first quarter. The higher gross profit was driven by the addition of Latrobe, and improvement in SAO due to increased volume and a higher profit per pound from an improved product mix and higher prices.

SG&A expense as a percentage of revenue excluding surcharge was 0.6 percent lower than the prior year first quarter. SG&A in the current quarter was $47.7 million or 10.8 percent of revenue excluding surcharge, compared with $35.7 million or 11.4 percent of revenue excluding surcharge for the first quarter of fiscal year 2012. The increase in spending primarily reflects the addition of Latrobe-related overhead costs and higher pension expense.

Operating income for the first quarter was $61.6 million compared with $44.0 million a year earlier. Excluding surcharge revenue and pension earnings, interest and deferrals (EID), operating margin was 15.8 percent compared to 15.2 percent in the fiscal year 2012 first quarter. Included in operating income were approximately $1.6 million, or $0.02 per share, of costs related to startup of the Athens, Alabama facility, optimizing the Company’s manufacturing footprint post-Latrobe, and the Company’s new inventory reduction initiative. In total, these costs impacted overall operating margin by about 0.4 percent.

Interest expense in the quarter was $5.2 million compared to $7.0 million in the year-ago period when the debt level was temporarily higher due to the timing of debt refinancing.

Other income was $2.7 million compared to other expense of $0.7 million in the fiscal year 2012 first quarter, due almost entirely to positive impacts in the funding mechanisms for certain non-qualified retirement plans.

The provision for income tax was $19.6 million or 33.2 percent of pre-tax income compared to $12.6 million or 34.7 percent of pre-tax income in the first quarter of fiscal year 2012.

Net income attributable to Carpenter was $39.2 million or $0.74 per diluted share. Net income attributable to Carpenter in the same quarter a year ago was $23.8 million or $0.53 per diluted share.

Free cash flow, defined as cash from operations less capital expenditures, dividends, and the net impact from the purchase and sale of businesses, was negative $102.7 million in the current quarter compared to negative free cash flow of $109.2 in the prior year first quarter. Strong net income was offset by pension contributions, higher capital spending and increased inventory levels. Much of the first quarter inventory build reflects normal business seasonality and the need to support strong balance of year business growth. Beyond this, the Company has identified areas where it believes it can reduce inventory and improve turns across the mill operations. Full year free cash flow is still expected to be negative $125 million, due to $350 million in expected capital spending, primarily for the Athens facility. The free cash flow estimate currently excludes proceeds from the sale of the distribution businesses, and anticipated improvements from the inventory reduction initiative.

Markets
Aerospace & Defense market sales were $252.6 million in the first quarter, up 45 percent compared with the same period a year ago. Excluding surcharge revenue, aerospace & defense sales were up 52 percent on 103 percent higher volume (or up 19 percent on 12 percent higher volume without Latrobe). Aerospace growth continues to reflect strong demand for Carpenter’s and Latrobe’s premium and ultra-premium products. Increased demand for engine materials is being driven by the higher build rate of larger engines and share gain. Demand for nickel and stainless fastener material increased year over year for the ninth consecutive quarter ― while shipment of titanium fastener material set a new first quarter record following a record fourth quarter. Sales of Carpenter’s Custom-series stainless alloys and the addition of Latrobe’s structural, bearing and other complementary products also contributed to the year-to-year growth rate.

Energy market sales of $77.4 million increased 31 percent compared to the same period a year ago. Excluding surcharge revenue, energy market sales increased 38 percent on 20 percent higher volume (or flat revenues on 6 percent higher volume without Latrobe). Contributing to the overall sales growth is the inclusion this quarter of the Specialty Steel Supply (SSS) distribution sales that do not have related manufacturing volume. While North American rig activity has been slowing, Carpenter has maintained growth in oil & gas through continued share gain, an expanding geographic footprint, and increased participation in other applications like completions. Market trends supporting increased use of industrial gas turbines are expected to be a future growth driver, despite the temporary slowness in project activity in this area.

Medical market sales were $30.4 million in the first quarter, down 8 percent from a year ago. Excluding surcharge revenue, medical market sales decreased 5 percent on 13 percent lower volume (relatively unchanged without Latrobe). In general, medical customers are focused on cost containment which is impacting inventory-on-hand strategies. In addition, uncertainty surrounding pending legislative impacts and economic sentiment is affecting short term demand. These current demand factors are expected to change by the end of the fiscal year, and the long term positive demand trend for Carpenter medical market sales remains unchanged.

Transportation market sales were $34.5 million, an increase of 10 percent from a year earlier. Excluding surcharge revenue, transportation sales increased 19 percent on 4 percent higher volume (or up 16 percent on 2 percent higher volume without Latrobe). Revenue growth in excess of volume growth reflects Carpenter’s continued focus on high-end specialty automotive applications required to meet increasing fuel efficiency standards. Demand is growing for high value materials required in turbo-charger, gasket and fuel system applications. In addition, commodity stainless steel materials are being replaced by higher value nickel based alloys for engine valve applications that support higher operating temperatures.

Industrial & Consumer market sales were $113.9 million in the first quarter, up 8 percent compared with the same period a year ago. Excluding surcharge revenue, sales increased 18 percent on 14 percent higher volume (or up 3 percent on 1 percent higher volume without Latrobe). Although this market is more sensitive to economic uncertainty, Carpenter’s strategy has been to focus on specialized, high value niche applications with strategically important customers. This strategy offsets softness in more commodity type products and distributor channel sales.

International sales in the first quarter were $163.8 million, an increase of 19 percent compared with the same quarter a year earlier - driven by a 41 percent increase in Asia/Pacific sales and a 14 percent increase in European sales. Growth in Asia/Pacific was led by sales into the aerospace and energy end markets. In particular, there is a significant increase in activity by Chinese aerospace forging customers and the Japanese aerospace supply chain. Growth in Europe was led by increased demand for materials used for aerospace and high value automotive applications. Total international sales in the quarter represented 30 percent of total Company revenue compared with 33 percent in the prior year. Excluding Latrobe, total international sales in the quarter represented 35 percent of sales compared with 33 percent in the prior year.

Segment Changes
In January 2012, the company announced it had made changes to its reportable segments. The Company now has three reportable business segments, Specialty Alloys Operations (SAO), Performance Engineered Products (PEP) and Latrobe. Previously, the Company’s reportable segments consisted of Premium Alloys Operations (PAO), Advanced Metals Operations (AMO) and Emerging Ventures.

The SAO segment is comprised of Carpenter’s major premium alloy and stainless steel manufacturing operations. This includes operations performed at mills primarily in Reading, Pennsylvania and the surrounding area, South Carolina, and the new premium products manufacturing facility being built in Limestone County, Alabama.

The Latrobe segment is comprised of the operations of the Latrobe business acquired effective February 29, 2012. The Latrobe segment provides management with the focus and visibility into the business performance of these newly acquired operations. The Latrobe segment also includes the results of Carpenter’s distribution business in Mexico, which is being managed together with the Latrobe’s distribution business. As the Latrobe business becomes integrated with Carpenter, its results will likely be reported within the SAO business segment sometime in the future.

Carpenter Technology, headquartered in Wyomissing, Pa., produces and distributes premium alloys, including special alloys, titanium alloys and powder metals, as well as stainless steels, and alloy and tool steels.