Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Reports First Quarter 2021 Results

FINDLAY, Ohio–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Cooper Tire & Rubber Company (NYSE: CTB) today reported first quarter 2021 net income of $22 million, or diluted earnings per share of $0.43, compared with a net loss of $12 million, or diluted loss per share of $0.23, for the same period last year.

First Quarter Highlights

• Global unit volume increased 16.6 percent compared to the first quarter of 2020.
• Net sales increased 23.3 percent from the first quarter of 2020 to $656 million.
• Operating profit was $38 million, or 5.8 percent of net sales, compared to an operating loss of $6 million, or 1.2 percent of net sales, in 2020.
• The quarter included $11 million of costs related to the proposed merger with Goodyear.
• Net income was $22 million, or $0.43 diluted earnings per share.

“We are pleased to have delivered strong first quarter operating results. Our teams continued to do a great job executing our strategy, which resulted in first quarter 2021 volume that exceeded not only the coronavirus-impacted 2020 level, but also 2019 in both segments,” said President & Chief Executive Officer Brad Hughes. “Within the Americas segment, our U.S. volume significantly outperformed the USTMA and the total industry. Our International segment volume increased nearly 50 percent compared to the first quarter of 2020.

“Demand remained strong for the industry and Cooper in the first quarter. Our unit volume performance in the quarter, while strong, continued to be constrained by supply that fell short of demand, caused in part by severe weather in the southern U.S. that impacted our ability to produce and move products. The Cooper value proposition of providing high quality tires at an affordable price remains compelling for consumers. We will continue to leverage our global production footprint and capabilities to meet this continued strong demand.

“As previously announced, Cooper stockholders overwhelmingly voted in favor of the proposed Goodyear-Cooper business combination. We expect to complete the merger in the second half of 2021, however the transaction could close earlier, following and subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including receipt of required regulatory approvals. Cooper looks forward to being part of a stronger combined organization that represents the best of what both our companies have to offer to customers, consumers, and shareholders.”

Consolidated Results

First quarter net sales were $656 million compared with $532 million in the first quarter of 2020, an increase of 23.3 percent. First quarter net sales were positively impacted by $88 million of higher unit volume, $30 million of favorable price and mix, and $6 million of favorable foreign currency impact. Operating profit was $38 million compared with an operating loss of $6 million in the first quarter of 2020. The quarter included $29 million of higher unit volume and $13 million of favorable price and mix. In addition, the first quarter included $7 million of lower raw material costs, which is more than explained by lower tariff costs resulting from the company’s sourcing strategy. The quarter also included $3 million of decreased manufacturing costs and $2 million of lower product liability expense compared to the first quarter of 2020. These were partially offset by $20 million of higher selling, general and administrative expenses and $1 million of higher other costs. The first quarter of 2020 included $11 million of restructuring charges related to the transition at the company’s now wholly owned Mexico manufacturing facility.

The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses in the first quarter of 2021 included $11 million of costs associated with the proposed merger. This included $5 million of advisory, legal and other professional fees, as well as an increase of $6 million in mark to market costs of stock-based liabilities subsequent to the merger announcement. The mark to market cost represents the impact of the movement in the company’s closing stock price from the last trading day prior to the merger agreement announcement compared to the closing price of the company’s stock on the day of the announcement. The first quarter of 2021 also included an increase in mark to market costs of stock-based liabilities aside from the announcement, and an increase in incentive compensation costs. Incentive compensation costs were reduced in the first quarter of 2020 when the company revised its full-year 2020 outlook as a result of the forecasted impact of the global pandemic.

Cooper’s first quarter raw material index increased 1.9 percent compared to the first quarter of 2020. The raw material index increased 6.1 percent sequentially from 144.8 in the fourth quarter of 2020 to 153.6 in the first quarter of 2021.

The effective tax rate for the first quarter was 27.9 percent. The first quarter 2021 effective tax rate was impacted by $5 million of merger-related costs, which are not tax deductible. The effective tax rate is based on forecasted annual earnings and tax rates for the various jurisdictions in which the company operates.

At the end of the first quarter, Cooper had $460 million in unrestricted cash and cash equivalents. This compares with $433 million at the end of the first quarter of 2020, which included a $270 million draw on the company’s revolving credit facility.

Capital expenditures in the first quarter were $57 million, compared with $55 million in the same period a year ago.

Return on invested capital was 11.8 percent for the trailing four quarters.

Americas Tire Operations

First quarter net sales in the Americas segment increased 23.0 percent as a result of $62 million of higher unit volume and $43 million of favorable price and mix. For the quarter, segment unit volume was up 13.6 percent compared to the same period a year ago.

Cooper’s first quarter total light vehicle tire shipments in the U.S. increased 18.4 percent. The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) reported that its member shipments of light vehicle tires in the U.S. increased 13.7 percent. Total industry shipments (including an estimate for non-USTMA members) increased 10.9 percent for the period.

First quarter operating profit was $60 million, or 10.7 percent of net sales, compared with $10 million, or 2.3 percent of net sales, for the same period in 2020. Operating profit included $22 million of higher unit volume, $15 million of favorable price and mix, $4 million of lower raw material costs, $2 million of lower product liability expense and $1 million of decreased manufacturing costs compared to the first quarter of 2020. These were partially offset by $3 million of higher selling, general and administrative expenses and $2 million of higher other costs compared to the first quarter of 2020. Operating profit in the first quarter of 2020 also included $11 million of restructuring charges related to the transition at the company’s now wholly owned Mexico manufacturing facility.

International Tire Operations

First quarter net sales in the International segment increased 36.1 percent as a result of $48 million of higher unit volume and $6 million of favorable foreign currency impact, which were partially offset by $17 million of unfavorable price and mix. For the quarter, segment unit volume was up 47.2 percent compared to the same period a year ago.

The segment’s first quarter operating profit was $3 million compared with an operating loss of $10 million in the first quarter of 2020. The quarter included $7 million of higher unit volume, $3 million of lower raw material costs, as the segment utilizes the FIFO method of inventory valuation, $2 million of decreased manufacturing costs and $2 million of favorable price and mix. These were partially offset by $1 million of higher selling, general and administrative costs in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the first quarter of 2020.

First Quarter 2021 Conference Call

Due to the proposed acquisition of Cooper by Goodyear, Cooper will not host a conference call to discuss its first quarter 2021 results. For additional materials related to Cooper’s results, please visit https://investors.coopertire.com/Quarterly-Results.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify forward-looking statements by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “design,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “goal,” “guidance,” “imply,” “intend,” “may,” “objective,” “opportunity,” “outlook,” “plan,” “position,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “prospective,” “pursue,” “seek,” “should,” “strategy,” “target,” “will,” “would” or other similar expressions that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes. In accordance with “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, these statements are accompanied by cautionary language identifying important factors, though not necessarily all such factors, that could cause future outcomes to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements that relate to, or statements that are subject to risks, contingencies or uncertainties that relate to:

• the ability to complete the proposed merger of the company and Goodyear on anticipated terms and timetable;
• the effect of restructuring or reorganization of business components;
• uncertainty and weaknesses in global economic conditions, including the impact of the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, or similar public health crises, on the company’s and Goodyear’s financial condition, operations, distribution channels, customers and suppliers, as well as potentially exacerbating other factors discussed herein;
• continued volatility in raw material and energy prices, including those of rubber, steel, petroleum-based products and natural gas or the unavailability of such raw materials or energy sources, which may impact the price-adjustment calculations under sales contracts;
• delays or disruptions in the supply chain resulting in increased costs or disruptions in operations;
• the ability to cost-effectively achieve planned production rates or levels;
• the ability to successfully identify and consummate any strategic investments or development projects;
• the outcome of any contractual disputes with customers, joint venture partners or any other litigation or arbitration;
• impacts of existing and increasing governmental regulation and related costs and liabilities, including failure to receive or maintain required operating and environmental permits, approvals, modifications or other authorization of, or from, any governmental or regulatory entity and costs related to implementing improvements to ensure compliance with regulatory changes;
• the ability to maintain adequate liquidity, level of indebtedness and the availability of capital could limit cash flow available to fund working capital, planned capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes or ongoing needs of the business;
• the ability to continue to pay cash dividends, and the amount and timing of any cash dividends;
• availability of capital and ability to maintain adequate liquidity;
• the impact of labor problems, including labor disruptions at the company, its joint ventures, or at one or more of its large customers or suppliers;
• the ability of our customers, joint venture partners and third party service providers to meet their obligations on a timely basis or at all;
• adverse changes in interest rates and tax laws; and
• the potential existence of significant deficiencies or material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting.

We have based our forward-looking statements on our current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry and our partnership. We caution that these statements are not guarantees of future performance and you should not rely unduly on them, as they involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that we cannot predict. In addition, we have based many of these forward-looking statements on assumptions about future events that may prove to be inaccurate. While our management considers these assumptions to be reasonable, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, regulatory and other risks, contingencies and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. Accordingly, our actual results may differ materially from the future performance that we have expressed or forecast in our forward-looking statements. Differences between actual results and any future performance suggested in our forward-looking statements could result from a variety of factors, including the following:

• the failure to satisfy various other conditions to the closing of the transaction contemplated by the merger agreement;
• the failure to obtain governmental approvals of the transaction on the proposed terms and schedule, and any conditions imposed on the combined company in connection with consummation of the transaction;
• the risk that the cost savings and any other synergies from the transaction may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected;
• disruption from the proposed transaction making it more difficult to maintain relationships with customers, partners, employees or suppliers;
• the risk that the proposed transaction may be less accretive than expected, or may be dilutive, and that the combined company may fail to realize the benefits expected from the merger;
• risks relating to any unforeseen liabilities of Goodyear or the company;
• the volatility in raw material and energy prices, including those of rubber, steel, petroleum-based products and natural gas or the unavailability of such raw materials or energy sources; extensive governmental regulation;
• changes to tariffs or trade agreements, or the imposition of new or increased tariffs or trade restrictions, imposed on tires, raw materials or manufacturing equipment which the company uses, including changes related to tariffs on tires, raw materials and tire manufacturing equipment imported into the U.S. from China or other countries, as well as changes to trade agreements resulting from the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union;
• future laws and regulations or the manner in which they are interpreted and enforced;
• the inability to obtain and/or renew permits necessary for the operations;
• existing and future indebtedness may limit cash flow available;
• operating expenses could increase significantly if the price of electrical power, fuel or other energy sources increases;
• changes in credit ratings issued by nationally recognized statistical rating organizations;
• risks involving the acts or omissions of our joint venture partners;
• natural disasters, weather conditions, disruption of energy, unanticipated geological conditions, equipment failures, and other unexpected events;
• a disruption in, or failure of our information technology systems, including those related to cybersecurity; failure of outside contractors and/or suppliers to perform;
• the cost and time to implement a strategic capital project may be greater than originally anticipated;
• reliance on estimates of recoverable reserves; and
• the risks that are described from time to time in Goodyear’s and the company’s respective reports filed with the SEC.

We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements except to the extent required by applicable law.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release includes non-GAAP financial measures as defined under SEC rules. Non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, other financial measures prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The company’s methods of determining these non-GAAP financial measures may differ from the methods used by other companies for these or similar non-GAAP financial measures. Accordingly, these non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to measures used by other companies. As required by SEC rules, detailed reconciliations between the company’s GAAP and non-GAAP financial results are provided on the attached schedule. The company believes return on invested capital (“ROIC”) provides additional insight for analysts and investors in evaluating the company’s financial and operating performance. The company defines ROIC as the trailing four quarters’ after tax operating profit, utilizing the company’s adjusted effective tax rate, divided by the total invested capital, which is the average of ending debt and equity for the last five quarters. The company believes ROIC is a useful measure of how effectively the company uses capital to generate profits.

About Cooper Tire & Rubber Company

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company (NYSE: CTB) is the parent company of a global family of companies that specializes in the design, manufacture, marketing and sale of passenger car, light truck, medium truck, motorcycle and racing tires. Cooper’s headquarters is in Findlay, Ohio, with manufacturing, sales, distribution, technical and design operations within its family of companies located in more than one dozen countries around the world. For more information on Cooper, visit www.coopertire.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Contacts

Investor:
Jerry Bialek

419.424.4165

investorrelations@coopertire.com

Media:
Anne Roman

419.429.7189

alroman@coopertire.com

Read full story here