Pitney Bowes Announces First Quarter Results

Pitney Bowes Inc. (NYSE:PBI) today reported first quarter 2007 financial results. Revenue increased four percent to $1.4 billion and earnings per share from continuing operations grew to $.66 per diluted share. The company generated $220 million in cash from operations during the quarter. Free cash flow was $155 million. The company used $90 million to repurchase 1.9 million of its shares during the quarter and has $351 million of remaining authorization for future share repurchases. The company’s total debt decreased by $22 million during the quarter. Commenting on the quarter, Chairman and CEO Michael J. Critelli noted, "The underlying trends in our business remain solid. However, our revenue growth this quarter was softer than anticipated due to delays in orders for mailing equipment and software in the U.S. and weaker sales in Europe. We are confident about our performance going forward, especially since the recently approved U.S. postal rate case is currently providing stimulus for growth, and as finally approved, is more favorable than we anticipated at the beginning of the year. We remain comfortable with our outlook for the year.” In addition Mr. Critelli said, "We took another step this quarter to further position the company for sustainable growth. We announced our acquisition of MapInfo, our largest transaction to date, which continues to build our portfolio in the information-based software market. This acquisition enhances and expands our capabilities in fast growing location intelligence solutions, which uses information such as geographic coordinates to help businesses market, assess risk and manage assets.” Business Segment Results Mailstream Solutions includes worldwide revenue and related expenses from the sale, rental, and financing of mail finishing, mail creation, shipping, and production mail equipment; supplies; mailing and multi-vendor support services; payment solutions; and mailing and customer communication software. In the first quarter, Mailstream Solutions revenue increased three percent to $1.0 billion and earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) increased five percent to $299 million, when compared with the prior year. Within Mailstream Solutions: U.S. Mailing operations revenue was flat for the quarter at $576 million, while EBIT grew five percent to $242 million. Revenue comparisons for the quarter were affected by two factors. First, as noted previously, the prior year included postal rate case revenue. Second, customers delayed placing orders due to uncertainties about the content and timing of the new rate case. Since the approval and publication of the new postal rates on March 19, the company is experiencing a strong pickup in orders. The segment’s EBIT margin increased during the quarter due to favorable product margins, growth in supplies and payment solutions, and benefits from productivity initiatives. International Mailing revenue grew eight percent to $258 million while EBIT increased two percent to $46 million. International Mailing revenue benefited from favorable foreign currency translation, double-digit growth in supplies, and placements of mailing equipment with small businesses. This growth was partially offset by lower sales of mailing equipment in the U.K. In addition, incremental investments to expand marketing channels in Europe affected International Mailing’s EBIT margin. Worldwide revenue for Production Mail grew seven percent to $125 million and EBIT increased 117 percent to $8 million. Revenue grew from broad-based equipment placements in the U.S., but was partially offset by lower sales in Europe. The segment’s EBIT margin benefited from the positive mix of higher margin equipment sales in the U.S. Software revenue increased three percent to $43 million, while EBIT declined 45 percent to $2 million. Revenue growth for the quarter was affected by delays in signing several large contracts. Also, the segment’s EBIT margin was impacted by continued investments in expanding sales and marketing channels to drive long-term growth and profitability. Mailstream Services includes worldwide revenue and related expenses from facilities management contracts, reprographics, document management, and other value-added services for targeted customer markets; mail services operations, which include presort mail services and international outbound mail services; and marketing services. For the quarter, Mailstream Services reported revenue growth of six percent to $412 million and EBIT growth of three percent to $35 million, versus the prior year. Within Mailstream Services: Management Services revenue increased two percent to $273 million for the quarter while EBIT increased one percent to $21 million. Revenue comparisons for the quarter were helped by favorable currency translation, but adversely affected by large non-recurring print contracts in the prior year. Mail Services revenue grew 11 percent to $104 million and EBIT grew 20 percent to $14 million. Revenue growth was driven by both presort and international mail services, while EBIT benefited from the ongoing successful integration of new sites and increased operating efficiencies. Marketing Services revenue increased 32 percent to $35 million, while EBIT declined 75 percent to $1 million. The segment’s results benefited from recent acquisitions and the continued expansion of marketing services programs, but were adversely affected by lower revenue in the company’s motor vehicle registration services. Outlook The company anticipates second quarter revenue growth in the range of eight to 11 percent and revenue growth in the range of seven to 10 percent for the full year. The company expects earnings per share from continuing operations on a Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) basis in the range of $0.66 to $0.70 for the second quarter and $2.85 to $2.93 for the full year. Excluding the effect of acquisition purchase accounting for MapInfo, the company expects adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations in the range of $0.68 to $0.72 for the second quarter and continues to expect $2.90 to $2.98 for the full year.     2Q07 2Q06 Full Year 2007 Full Year 2006 Adjusted EPS Percent Change   $0.68 to $0.72 6% to 13% $0.64  $2.90 to $2.98 8% to 11% $2.69  MapInfo Purchase Accounting   ($0.02) N/A  ($0.05) N/A  Restructuring   N/A  ($0.01) N/A  ($0.10) Tax Reserve Increase   N/A  ($0.09) N/A  ($0.09) Other Income   N/A  N/A  N/A  $0.01  GAAP EPS Percent Change   $0.66 to $0.70 22% to 30% $0.54  $2.85 to $2.93 14% to 17% $2.51  Management of Pitney Bowes will discuss the company’s results in a broadcast over the Internet today at 8:00 a.m. EDT. Instructions for listening to the earnings results via the Web are available on the Investor Relations page of the company’s web site at www.pb.com/investorrelations. Pitney Bowes engineers the flow of communication. The company is a $5.8 billion global leader of mailstream solutions headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut. For more information about the company, its products, services and solutions, visit www.pitneybowes.com. Pitney Bowes has presented in this earnings release diluted earnings per share on an adjusted basis.. Also, management has included a presentation of free cash flow on an adjusted basis and earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT). Management believes this presentation provides a reasonable basis on which to present the adjusted financial information, and is provided to assist in investors' understanding of the company's results of operations. The company's financial results are reported in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). However, earnings per share and free cash flow results are adjusted to exclude the impact of special items such as restructuring charges, accounting adjustments and write downs of assets, which materially impact the comparability of the company's results of operations. Restructuring charges are infrequent or episodic charges. Although they represent actual expenses to the company, these episodic charges might mask the periodic income and financial and operating trends associated with our business. The use of free cash flow has limitations. GAAP cash flow has the advantage of including all cash available to the company after actual expenditures for all purposes. Free cash flow permits a shareholder insight into the amount of cash that management could have available for discretionary uses if it made different decisions about employing its cash. It adjusts for long-term commitments such as capital expenditures, as well as special items like cash used for restructuring charges, unusual tax payments and contributions to its pension funds. Of course, these items use cash that is not otherwise available to the company and are important expenditures. Management compensates for these limitations by using a combination of GAAP cash flow and free cash flow in doing its planning. The adjusted financial information and certain financial measures such as EBIT are intended to be more indicative of the ongoing operations and economic results of the company. EBIT excludes interest payments and taxes, both cash items, and as a result, has the effect of showing a greater amount of earnings than net income. The company uses EBIT, in addition to net income, for purposes of measuring the performance of its unit management team. The interest rates and tax rates applicable to the company generally are outside the control of management, and it can be useful to judge performance independent of those variables. The adjusted financial information should be viewed as a supplement to, rather than a replacement for, the financial results reported in accordance with GAAP. Further, our definition of this adjusted financial information may differ from similarly titled measures used by other companies. Pitney Bowes has provided in supplemental schedules attached for reference adjusted financial information and a quantitative reconciliation of the differences between the adjusted financial measures with the financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP, except with respect to our guidance because it would not be meaningful. Additional reconciliation of adjusted financial measures to financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP may be found at the company's web site www.pb.com/investorrelations in the Investor Relations section. The information contained in this document is as of April 30, 2007. Quarterly results are preliminary and unaudited. This document contains "forward-looking statements” about our expected future business and financial performance. Pitney Bowes assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this document as a result of new information or future events or developments. Words such as "estimate,” "project,” "plan,” "believe,” "expect," "anticipate," "intend,” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements. For us forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about possible restructuring charges and our future guidance, including our expected revenue in the second quarter and full year 2007, and our expected diluted earnings per share for the second quarter and for the full year 2007. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: negative developments in economic conditions, including adverse impacts on customer demand, timely development and acceptance of new products or gaining product approval; successful entry into new markets; changes in interest rates; and changes in postal regulations, as more fully outlined in the company's 2006 Form 10-K Annual Report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, the forward-looking statements are subject to change based on the timing and specific terms of any announced acquisitions or dispositions. Note: Consolidated statements of income for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, and consolidated balance sheets at March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006 are attached. Pitney Bowes Inc. Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)   (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)   Three Months Ended March 31, 2007  2006  Revenue from: Equipment sales $ 293,610  $ 302,757  Supplies 100,302  82,811  Software 43,082  41,995  Rentals 188,070  196,812  Financing 190,580  178,145  Support services 186,304  170,766  Business services   412,289    388,360    Total revenue   1,414,237    1,361,646    Costs and expenses: Cost of equipment sales 148,256  152,980  Cost of supplies 26,123  20,608  Cost of software 11,548  10,179  Cost of rentals 42,421  43,539  Cost of support services 105,504  96,296  Cost of business services 323,651  306,324  Selling, general and administrative 425,402  417,663  Research and development 43,569  41,535  Restructuring charge -  5,597  Interest, net   56,727    53,569    Total costs and expenses   1,183,201    1,148,290    Income from continuing operations before income taxes 231,036  213,356    Provision for income taxes 79,706  73,580  Minority interest   4,746    2,917    Income from continuing operations 146,584  136,859  Discontinued operations   (1,788)   16,669    Net income $ 144,796  $ 153,528    Basic earnings per share Continuing operations $ 0.67  $ 0.61  Discontinued operations   (0.01)   0.07    Net income $ 0.66  $ 0.68    Diluted earnings per share Continuing operations $ 0.66  $ 0.60  Discontinued operations   (0.01)   0.07    Net income $ 0.65  $ 0.67    Average common and potential common shares outstanding   223,382,724    228,921,497          Note: The sum of the earnings per share amounts may not equal the totals above due to rounding. Pitney Bowes Inc. Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)   (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)   Assets 03/31/07  12/31/06  Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 232,245  $ 239,102  Short-term investments, at cost which approximates market 63,770  62,512  Accounts receivable, less allowances: 03/07 $43,459; 12/06 $50,052 747,533  744,073  Finance receivables, less allowances: 03/07 $ 41,748; 12/06 $ 45,643 1,392,992  1,404,070  Inventories 248,617  237,817  Other current assets and prepayments   228,745    231,096    Total current assets   2,913,902    2,918,670    Property, plant and equipment, net 605,962  612,640  Rental property and equipment, net 502,095  503,911  Long-term finance receivables, less allowances: 03/07 $ 34,826; 12/06 $ 36,856 1,518,482  1,530,153  Investment in leveraged leases 210,684  215,371  Goodwill 1,812,022  1,791,157  Intangible assets, net 363,511  365,192  Other assets   547,845    543,326    Total assets $ 8,474,503  $ 8,480,420    Liabilities and stockholders' equity Current liabilities: Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 1,534,864  $ 1,677,501  Income taxes payable 91,376  112,930  Notes payable and current portion of long-term obligations 577,361  490,540  Advance billings   527,881    465,862    Total current liabilities   2,731,482    2,746,833    Deferred taxes on income 517,302  356,310  Long-term debt 3,738,074  3,847,617  Other noncurrent liabilities   436,980    446,306    Total liabilities   7,423,838    7,397,066    Preferred stockholders' equity in a subsidiary company 384,165  384,165    Stockholders' equity: Cumulative preferred stock, $50 par value, 4% convertible 7  7  Cumulative preference stock, no par value, $2.12 convertible 1,059  1,068  Common stock, $1 par value 323,338  323,338  Capital in excess of par value 241,149  235,558  Retained earnings 4,127,834  4,140,128  Accumulated other comprehensive income (117,773) (131,744) Treasury stock, at cost   (3,909,114)   (3,869,166)   Total stockholders' equity   666,500    699,189    Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 8,474,503  $ 8,480,420  Pitney Bowes Inc. Revenue and EBIT Business Segments March 31, 2007 (Unaudited)   (Dollars in thousands) % 2007  2006  Change First Quarter   Revenue   U.S. Mailing $ 576,246  $ 574,991  -  International Mailing 257,850  239,508  8% Production Mail 124,770  116,792  7% Software   43,082    41,995  3% Mailstream Solutions 1,001,948  973,286  3%   Management Services 272,659  267,503  2% Mail Services 104,359  94,099  11% Marketing Services   35,271    26,758  32% Mailstream Services 412,289  388,360  6%       Total Revenue $ 1,414,237  $ 1,361,646  4%   EBIT (1)   U.S. Mailing $ 242,151  $ 231,375  5% International Mailing 46,266  45,343  2% Production Mail 7,715  3,563  117% Software   2,425    4,410  (45%) Mailstream Solutions 298,557  284,691  5%   Management Services 20,784  20,531  1% Mail Services 14,076  11,686  20% Marketing Services   520    2,100  (75%) Mailstream Services 35,380  34,317  3%       Total EBIT $ 333,937  $ 319,008  5%   Unallocated amounts: Interest, net (56,727) (53,569) Corporate expense (46,174) (46,486) Restructuring charge   -    (5,597) Income before income taxes $ 231,036  $ 213,356      (1) Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) excludes general corporate expenses. Pitney Bowes Inc. Reconciliation of Reported Consolidated Results to Adjusted Results (Unaudited)   (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)   Three months ended March 31, 2007  2006    GAAP income from continuing operations after income taxes, as reported $ 146,584  $ 136,859  Restructuring charge   -    3,582  Income from continuing operations after income taxes, as adjusted $ 146,584  $ 140,441      GAAP diluted earnings per share from continuing operations, as reported $ 0.66  $ 0.60  Restructuring charge   -    0.02  Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations, as adjusted $ 0.66  $ 0.61      GAAP net cash provided by operating activities, as reported $ 220,225  $ 286,234  Capital expenditures (67,571) (83,015) Reserve account deposits (10,952) (23,300) Restructuring payments and discontinued operations   13,407    (12,612)   Free cash flow, as adjusted $ 155,109  $ 167,307        Note: The sum of the earnings per share amounts may not equal the totals above due to rounding.