Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc. announced consolidated revenues of $622.3 million and net income of $13.9 million, or $0.85 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2015 compared with revenues of $676.0 million and net income of $22.1 million, or $1.31 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2014.  Consolidated operating profit was $21.0 million for the first quarter of 2015 compared with $31.6 million for the first quarter of 2014.

EBITDA for the first quarter of 2015 and the trailing twelve months ended March 31, 2015, was $27.7 million and $170.7 million, respectively.  EBITDA in this press release is provided solely as a supplemental non-GAAP disclosure with respect to operating results. 

The Company's cash position was $91.5 million as of March 31, 2015 compared with $111.4 million as of December 31, 2014.  Debt as of March 31, 2015 increased to $35.1 million from $31.5 million at December 31, 2014.
 

Discussion of First Quarter Lift Truck Results

The lift truck business reported net income of $17.5 million and revenues of $621.1 million for the first quarter of 2015, compared with net income of $22.1 million and revenues of $676.0 million for the first quarter of 2014.  Lift truck operating profit was $27.0 million for the first quarter of 2015 compared with $31.6 million for the first quarter of 2014.

Lift truck revenues decreased in the first quarter of 2015 compared with the first quarter of 2014 primarily due to unfavorable currency movements of $33.2 million mainly from the continued strengthening of the U.S. dollar against the euro, substantially fewer unit shipments in 2015 primarily due to the planned lower volumes in Brazil following the closure of the old plant and planned slow production ramp up at the new plant, and a slight shift in sales to lower-priced lift trucks in the Americas.  In the first quarter of 2015, worldwide new unit shipments decreased to 19,859 units from 20,641 units in the first quarter of 2014.  Excluding Brazil, shipments were slightly higher than in the first quarter of 2014 as a result of higher shipments in North America and an increase in shipments of higher-priced lift trucks in Europe.

First quarter 2015 bookings were 23,700 units, or approximately $517 million, compared with approximately 21,300 units, or approximately $536 million, for the first quarter of 2014.  Worldwide backlog was approximately 31,900 units, or approximately $725 million, at March 31, 2015 compared with approximately 28,900 units, or approximately $715 million, at March 31, 2014 and approximately 28,100 units, or approximately $711 million, at December 31, 2014.

Both operating profit and net income for the lift truck business decreased in the first quarter of 2015 compared with the first quarter of 2014 primarily as a result of an $8.0 million decline in gross profit, partially offset by lower selling, general and administrative expenses.  A non-cash pre-tax charge of $1.0 million to adjust the Company's interest rate swap agreements to market values also contributed to the decrease in net income.

Gross profit declined primarily as a result of lower unit volumes and unfavorable manufacturing variances in the Americas, driven by the transition from the old plant to the new plant in Brazil, weather-related U.S. plant shutdowns and higher U.S. health care costs during the 2015 first quarter, as well as unfavorable foreign currency movements of $4.1 million pre-tax.  Favorable material costs partially offset the decline in gross profit.

Selling, general and administrative expenses declined mainly as a result of favorable foreign currency movements of $2.6 million pre-tax and lower incentive compensation estimates, of which $1.3 million was related to non-cash equity compensation, compared with the 2014 first quarter. These improvements were offset by $1.0 million of pre-tax expense incurred during the first quarter of 2015 as a result of the move to the new Brazil plant.

Lift Truck Outlook

Although markets were generally stronger than expected in the first quarter of 2015, growth rates for the global lift truck market are expected to decelerate in the remainder of 2015, resulting in nominal growth compared with 2014.  In 2015, modest growth is expected in the Western Europe and Middle East and Africa markets.  The North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific and China markets are expected to be relatively flat and declines are expected in the Brazil, Eastern Europe and Japanese markets.

Despite these market conditions, the Company expects a moderate increase in unit shipments and parts volumes.  The increase in unit shipments in 2015 is expected to be driven by Europe and North America, with moderate increases in Asia-Pacific.  However, due to the production shutdown for the Brazil plant move in the first quarter of 2015 and Brazil's soft economy, full year 2015 unit shipments in Brazil are expected to decline from 2014 levels.  In addition, as a result of current currency headwinds and the substantial decline in unit volumes during the first quarter of 2015, and despite the continued execution of the Company's strategic initiatives and anticipated market share gains, revenues are expected to decline modestly in 2015 compared with 2014.  Revenues are also expected to be negatively affected by a shift in sales mix to lower-priced lift trucks.

The Company expects material costs in 2015 to be broadly comparable to 2014 but with increasingly favorable downward pressure.  Although commodity costs have been declining moderately over the past few quarters and costs are expected to remain stable, these markets, including steel in particular, remain volatile and sensitive to changes in the global economy.  The Company will continue to monitor commodity costs, economic conditions, currency movements and the resulting effects on costs and pricing, and will take appropriate pricing actions, if necessary.

After excluding the $17.7 million gain on sale of the Brazil plant realized in 2014, the Company expects the 2015 lift truck segment operating profit to be similar to 2014.  As previously projected, substantially lower operating profit is anticipated in the first half of 2015, primarily as a result of the lower operating profit in the first quarter of 2015 resulting from higher costs and manufacturing inefficiencies from the transition to a new plant in Brazil, primarily in the first quarter, and expected lower operating results in Europe in the second quarter driven largely by currency.  These declines are expected to be partially offset by improvements in the second half of the year.  Overall, anticipated increases in unit shipments and parts sales are expected to be offset by increases in employee-related expenses, including incentive compensation estimates, as well as higher manufacturing and operating costs associated with the transition to the new Brazil plant and the roll out of global manufacturing information technology systems in 2015.  Excluding the gain on sale of the Brazil plant, 2015 net income in the lift truck business is expected to decline from 2014, primarily due to the reasons previously highlighted and higher income tax expense resulting from non-recurring tax benefits received in 2014 and a higher effective income tax rate in 2015 compared with 2014 attributable to an anticipated increase in the portion of the Company's income in the Americas operations, which have a higher tax rate.

Full year 2015 lift truck operating profit in the Americas segment, which includes the North America, Latin America and Brazil markets, is expected to be moderately higher in 2015 compared with 2014, excluding the gain on sale of the Brazil facility and despite the Brazil volume decline associated with the plant transition.  The first half of the year is expected to be down compared with 2014, mainly as a result of the decline in the first quarter.  The new plant in Brazil was officially opened in the early part of April 2015 and is expected to be in full production by the end of the second quarter of 2015.   As a result of the completed transition in Brazil and anticipated favorable foreign currency effects at current currency rates in the Americas, improvements in operating profit are expected in the remainder of the year.  Lift truck operating profit in the Europe segment, which includes the Middle East and Africa markets, is expected to decrease in 2015 compared with 2014 primarily as a result of substantial unfavorable foreign currency effects at current currency rates and pricing adjustments on certain series of trucks, partially offset by improved volumes.  Asia-Pacific operating results are expected to increase compared with 2014 primarily as a result of the anticipated favorable effect of improved pricing and an anticipated increase in unit volumes, despite higher expenses expected from market share gain initiatives.

Cash flow before financing activities in the lift truck business is expected to improve in 2015 compared with 2014 due to moderated working capital requirements.

The Company remains focused on gaining market share over time by implementing its key strategic initiatives: (1) understanding customer needs at the product and aftermarket levels, (2) offering the lowest cost of ownership by utilizing the Company's understanding of customers' major cost drivers and developing solutions that consistently lower cost of ownership and create a differentiated competitive position, (3) enhancing independent distribution, (4) improving the Company's warehouse market position, (5) expanding in Asian markets by offering products aimed at the needs of these markets, enhancing Asia distribution and focusing on strategic alliances with local partners, (6) enhancing its Big Truck market position, (7) strengthening its sales and marketing organization in all geographic regions and (8) commercializing Nuvera's fuel cell technology.

To meet the specific application needs of its customers, the Company is focusing on developing utility, standard and premium products, or adding enhancements to existing products, to meet customers' needs.  To this end, development programs or enhancements to existing products are underway for its electric-rider, warehouse, internal combustion engine and big truck product lines.  In addition, stricter diesel emission regulations for new trucks began to go into effect in 2011 and will be fully in effect by the end of 2015 in certain global markets.  The Company has launched and expects to continue to launch lift truck series over this period that will meet these new emission requirements.

All of these new products and upgraded products are expected to help increase market share, to improve revenues and to enhance operating margins in 2015.

The lift truck business has begun and expects to continue to incur incremental expense as it adds sales and marketing capabilities to help further the lift truck sales opportunities associated with its acquisition of Nuvera.  These costs are expected to be small in 2015 but are expected to grow as volume increases toward the end of 2015.

For the full report, visit www.hyster-yale.com.
 

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Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc., headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, through its wholly-owned operating subsidiary, NACCO Materials Handling Group, Inc., designs, engineers, manufactures, sells and services a comprehensive line of lift trucks and aftermarket parts marketed globally primarily under the Hyster^® and Yale^® brand names.