DGAP-News: Linde plc: Linde Reports First-Quarter 2020 Results (Earnings Release Tables attached)
DGAP-News: Linde plc
/ Key word(s): Quarter Results
Linde Reports First-Quarter 2020 Results
Guildford, UK, May 7, 2020 - Linde plc (NYSE: LIN; FWB: LIN) today reported first-quarter 2020 income from continuing operations of $571 million and diluted earnings per share of $1.07. Excluding Linde AG purchase accounting impacts and other charges, adjusted income from continuing operations was $1,009 million, up 9% versus prior year. Adjusted earnings per share were $1.89, 12% above prior year, or 15% higher when excluding negative currency translation effects. Linde's sales for the first quarter were $6,739 million, 1% above prior year, excluding negative currency translation and cost pass-through. Price improved 2% and was attained across all geographic segments, but was partially offset by volume decrease of approximately 1% due mainly to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. First-quarter operating profit was $733 million. Adjusted operating profit of $1,352 million was 11% above prior year or 14% higher when excluding unfavorable currency translation effects. First-quarter operating cash flow of $1,347 million increased $279 million or 26% over prior year. During the quarter, the company invested $803 million in capital expenditures and returned $2,326 million to shareholders through dividends of $511 million and stock repurchases, net of issuance, of $1,815 million. Commenting on the financial results, Chief Executive Officer Steve Angel said, "Linde delivered another strong quarter with EPS increasing 15%, excluding currency translation. Furthermore, operating cash flow grew 26% and operating profit margin expanded 240 basis points from prior year." Angel continued, "While it is very difficult to predict the future impact, I have full confidence in our ability to continue to create shareholder value given our resilient business model and inherent opportunities to mitigate macroeconomic headwinds."
APAC (Asia Pacific) sales of $1,336 million were 6% below prior year and decreased 5% sequentially. Excluding negative currency translation, sales versus prior year were down 3%. Price increased 2% but was more than offset by negative volumes driven by customer shutdowns due to the COVID-19 impact, primarily in China, and higher sale of equipment in the prior-year quarter. Operating profit of $281 million was 21.0% of sales, up $8 million and 190 basis points versus prior year. EMEA (Europe, Middle East & Africa) sales of $1,633 million were down 3% versus prior year and negative 1% sequentially. Excluding unfavorable currency and cost pass-through, sales increased 1% versus prior year. Pricing was up 2% but was partially offset by negative volumes primarily due to weaker manufacturing activity. Operating profit of $355 million was 21.7% of sales, up 110 basis points versus prior-year quarter. A teleconference on Linde's first-quarter 2020 results is being held today at 10:00 am EST. The U.S. Toll-Free Dial-In Number is 1 855 758 5442; the access code is 3688359. The call is also available as a live webcast and on-demand at www.linde.com/investors. Materials to be used in the teleconference are also available on the website. About Linde The company serves a variety of end markets including chemicals & refining, food & beverage, electronics, healthcare, manufacturing and primary metals. Linde's industrial gases are used in countless applications, from life-saving oxygen for hospitals to high-purity & specialty gases for electronics manufacturing, hydrogen for clean fuels and much more. Linde also delivers state-of-the-art gas processing solutions to support customer expansion, efficiency improvements and emissions reductions. For more information about the company and its products and services, please visit www.linde.com See the attachments (Earnings release tables: https://eqs-cockpit.com/c/fncls.ssp?u=RURSQGXLTI) for a summary of non-GAAP reconciliations and calculations for adjusted amounts. Attachments: Summary Non-GAAP Reconciliations, Statements of Income, Balance Sheets, Statements of Cash Flows, Segment Information and Appendix: Non-GAAP Measures and Reconciliations. Linde plc 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 Linde plc's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the SEC on March 2, 2020 and in subsequent filings with the SEC which should be reviewed carefully. Please consider Linde plc's forward-looking statements in light of those risks. Additional features: Document: https://eqs-cockpit.com/c/fncls.ssp?u=RURSQGXLTI Document title: Earnings release tables
07.05.2020 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. |
Language: | English |
Company: | Linde plc |
The Priestley Centre, 10 Priestley Road | |
GU2 7XY Guildford | |
United Kingdom | |
Phone: | +1-203-837-2210 |
E-mail: | [email protected] |
Internet: | www.linde.com |
ISIN: | IE00BZ12WP82 |
WKN: | A2DSYC |
Indices: | DAX |
Listed: | Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Hanover, Munich, Stuttgart, Tradegate Exchange; Moscow, NYSE, Luxembourg Stock Exchange (Euro MTF) |
EQS News ID: | 1038367 |
End of News | DGAP News Service |
|
1038367 07.05.2020
Linde plc Stock
With 12 Buy predictions and not the single Sell prediction the community is currently very high on Linde plc.
As a result the target price of 438 € shows a positive potential of 33.33% compared to the current price of 328.5 € for Linde plc.