(Archived) Praxair Reports Second-Quarter 2013 Results

• Sales of $3.0 billion, 7% above prior-year quarter
• Diluted EPS of $1.49, up 5% versus prior year
• Started hydrogen supply to Valero Port Arthur (135mm scfd capacity)
• Full-year 2013 adjusted diluted EPS guidance of $5.90 to $6.00*
• Third-quarter diluted EPS guidance of $1.48 to $1.53*

DANBURY, Conn., July 24, 2013 -- Praxair, Inc. (NYSE: PX) reported second-quarter net income and diluted earnings per share of $445 million and $1.49, 4% and 5% above the prior-year quarter, respectively.

Sales in the second quarter were $3,014 million, 7% above the prior-year quarter. Strong volumes in Asia and South America were partially mitigated by lower volumes in Europe, while North American volumes were comparable to the prior year. Acquisitions contributed 3% growth in the quarter.

Operating profit in the second quarter was $665 million, up 5% compared to the prior-year quarter. The increase was driven by higher overall volumes, higher pricing and acquisitions, partially offset by negative currency translation effects. Operating profit as a percentage of sales was 22.1%.

Second-quarter cash flow from operations was $577 million and capital expenditures were $522 million, primarily for new production plants under long-term contracts with customers. The company invested $171 million in acquisitions of Dominion Technology Gases, Volgograd Oxygen Factory and several packaged gas distributors in the United States. The company paid dividends of $177 million and repurchased $152 million of stock, net of issuances. The debt-to-capital ratio was 57.9% and debt-to-EBITDA was 2.1x.* The after-tax return on capital and return on equity for the quarter were 13.0% and 28.4%, respectively.*

Commenting on the financial results and business outlook, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Steve Angel said, “Our on-site business continued to be very strong with improving volumes to the energy, chemicals and metals industries across the Americas and Asia. Merchant deliveries continued to grow modestly with stable demand from healthcare and food and beverage. However, packaged gas demand weakened slightly due to poor overall business confidence and lower private and public spending on construction and capital projects.

In the near term, we expect these trends to continue with the strongest growth in chemicals, energy and emerging markets. Fortunately, we are well positioned geographically and have a strong backlog of large on-site projects being readied for start-up.”

For the third quarter of 2013, Praxair expects diluted earnings per share in the range of $1.48 to $1.53. For the full year of 2013, the company expects adjusted diluted earnings per share to be in the range of $5.90 to $6.00. These estimates are based on current foreign exchange rates for our international businesses, which on a weighted basis are 3% weaker than January when we initially gave earnings guidance for 2013. They also exclude an expected pension settlement charge in the third quarter of about $9 million. Praxair expects full-year sales in the area of $12 billion. Full-year capital expenditures are expected to be in the range of $1.8 to $2.0 billion, and the adjusted effective tax rate is forecasted to remain at about 28%.*

Following is additional detail on second-quarter 2013 results by segment.

In North America, second-quarter sales were $1,552 million up 11% from the prior-year quarter. The acquisitions of NuCO2 and packaged gas distributors contributed 6% growth. Operating profit of $381 million grew 5% from the prior year primarily due to acquisitions and higher price.

In Europe, second-quarter sales were $382 million, in-line with the prior-year quarter. Underlying sales, excluding currency translation, were steady with the prior-year quarter due to higher pricing offset by lower volumes. Operating profit of $69 million, increased 1%, compared to the prior-year quarter, due to lower costs, productivity savings and price, partially offset by lower volumes.

In South America, second-quarter sales were $536 million, 3% higher than the prior-year quarter. Underlying sales, excluding currency translation, grew 9% with the strongest growth in the metals, healthcare and chemical markets. Operating profit was $123 million, up 12% versus the prior-year period, due to improved volumes and price.

Sales in Asia were $379 million in the quarter, up 9% from the prior year, driven by higher on-site and merchant sales in China, Korea and India, including new plant start-ups. Sales growth came primarily from metals, chemical and manufacturing customers. Operating profit was $61 million.

Praxair Surface Technologies had second-quarter sales of $165 million, 2% below the prior-year quarter. Sales were steady, excluding negative currency impact, as higher pricing offset weaker volumes of industrial coatings. Operating profit of $31 million grew 15% from the prior-year period due to lower costs from previous restructuring actions, productivity savings and higher pricing.

About Praxair
Praxair, Inc. is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2012 sales of $11 billion. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric, process and specialty gases, and high-performance surface coatings. Praxair products, services and technologies are making our planet more productive by bringing efficiency and environmental benefits to a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, chemicals, food and beverage, electronics, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, metals and others. More information about Praxair, Inc. is available at www.praxair.com.

*See the attachments for calculations of non-GAAP measures. Guidance for diluted earnings per share for the third quarter excludes the impact of a pension settlement charge expected to be recorded and guidance for adjusted diluted earnings per share for the full year 2013 also excludes the impact of the Venezuela currency devaluation recorded in the first quarter.

Attachments: Statements of Income, Balance Sheets, Statements of Cash Flows, Segment Information, Quarterly Financial Summary, Non-GAAP Reconciliations, Appendix: Non-GAAP Measures.

A teleconference on Praxair’s second-quarter results is being held this morning, July 24, at 11:00 am Eastern Time. The number is (617) 213-8831 -- Passcode: 19538377. The call also is available as a webcast at www.praxair.com/investors. Materials to be used in the teleconference are also available at www.praxair.com/investors.

This document contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management’s reasonable expectations and assumptions as of the date the statements are made but involve risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation: the performance of stock markets generally; developments in worldwide and national economies and other international events and circumstances; changes in foreign currencies and in interest rates; the cost and availability of electric power, natural gas and other raw materials; the ability to achieve price increases to offset cost increases; catastrophic events including natural disasters, epidemics and acts of war and terrorism; the ability to attract, hire, and retain qualified personnel; the impact of changes in financial accounting standards; the impact of changes in pension plan liabilities; the impact of tax, environmental, healthcare and other legislation and government regulation in jurisdictions in which the company operates; the cost and outcomes of investigations, litigation and regulatory proceedings; continued timely development and market acceptance of new products and applications; the impact of competitive products and pricing; future financial and operating performance of major customers and industries served; the impact of information technology system failures, network disruptions and breaches in data security; and the effectiveness and speed of integrating new acquisitions into the business. These risks and uncertainties may cause actual future results or circumstances to differ materially from the projections or estimates contained in the forward-looking statements. Additionally, financial projections or estimates exclude the impact of special items which the company believes are not indicative of ongoing business performance. The company assumes no obligation to update or provide revisions to any forward-looking statement in response to changing circumstances. The above listed risks and uncertainties are further described in Item 1A (Risk Factors) in the company’s Form 10-K and 10-Q reports filed with the SEC which should be reviewed carefully. Please consider the company’s forward-looking statements in light of those risks.