OREANDA-NEWS. Rockwell Collins, Inc. (NYSE: COL) today reported second quarter fiscal year 2016 earnings per share from continuing operations increased 7% to $1.30 compared to $1.22 in the prior year.  Total sales in the second quarter of fiscal year 2016 were $1.31 billion, a 2% decrease from the same period in fiscal year 2015.  Total segment operating margins remained steady at 20.7%.

"Fiscal 2016 is progressing directionally as we expected,” said Rockwell Collins Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer, Kelly Ortberg. “We anticipated the slow start in the first half of the year followed by expected growth in the second half.  Our execution in the second quarter was solid as we focused on delivering the savings from our restructuring actions taken in the first quarter.  Our full year guidance remains unchanged as we now focus on delivering the second half growth."

Ortberg continued, “There were also several significant accomplishments this quarter that support our long-term growth objectives.  We were selected as one of the suppliers for the HMS Manpack program and we're pleased to be a supplier to Northrop Grumman on the Long Range Strike Bomber.  We also captured numerous contract awards for our avionics and information management systems."

Following is a discussion of fiscal year 2016 second quarter sales and earnings for each business segment.

Commercial Systems

Commercial Systems, which provides aviation electronics systems, products and services to air transport, business and regional aircraft manufacturers and airlines worldwide, achieved 2016 second quarter results as summarized below. 

  • Original equipment sales decreased as expected due to lower business aircraft OEM production rates, unfavorable airline selectable equipment mix, and lower Airbus A330 production rates.  These decreases were partially offset by higher customer-funded development program revenues, higher product deliveries in support of the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 production ramps, and higher product deliveries for the Bombardier CSeries program in support of entry into service.
  • Aftermarket sales increased due to higher business jet avionics retrofit and mandate revenues as well as inorganic sales primarily from the acquisition of International Communications Group (ICG).
  • Operating earnings and operating margin decreased from the prior year primarily due to sales mix as lower margin customer-funded development sales increased and higher margin business jet OEM sales decreased.  In addition, SG&A costs increased from higher inorganic costs from the acquisitions of ICG and Pacific Avionics.  These items were partially offset by lower company-funded research and development expense and cost savings initiatives from previously announced restructuring plans.

Government Systems

Government Systems provides a broad range of electronic products, systems and services to customers including the U.S. Department of Defense, other government agencies, civil agencies, defense contractors and ministries of defense around the world.

Beginning with the first quarter of fiscal year 2016, Government Systems sales categories have been consolidated as a result of an internal reorganization and are delineated based on the underlying product technologies.  The previously reported sales categories of Communication products, Surface solutions and Navigation products are now primarily consolidated into Communication and Navigation. Government Systems sales for the second quarter of fiscal year 2015 has been reclassified to the current year presentation.

Results from the second quarter of 2016 are summarized below.

  • Avionics sales decreased due to lower deliveries on various rotary wing platforms, lower simulation and training sales, partially offset by higher fixed-wing platform revenues.
  • Communication and Navigation sales decreased due to the wind-down of an international electronic warfare program and lower international deliveries of targeting systems.
  • Operating earnings and operating margin declined primarily due to lower sales volume and higher SG&A costs from further expansion in international emerging markets, partially offset by lower company-funded research and development expense and cost savings initiatives from previously announced restructuring plans.

Information Management Services

Information Management Services (IMS) provides communication services, systems integration and security solutions across the aviation, airport, rail and nuclear security markets.  Results from the second quarter of 2016 are summarized below.

  • IMS sales increased primarily due to 8 percent growth in aviation-related sales, including GLOBALinkSM and ARINCDirectSM.
  • IMS operating earnings and operating margin increased due to incremental earnings on higher sales volume as well as the favorable resolution of certain prior year claims associated with international business jet support services.

Corporate and Financial Highlights

Income Taxes
The company's effective income tax rate from continuing operations was 26.8% for the second quarter of 2016 compared to a rate of 32.4% for the same period last year.  The lower current year effective income tax rate from continuing operations was primarily due to the permanent extension of the Federal R&D Tax Credit and the early adoption of the new share based compensation standard. The new guidance requires, among other things, that excess tax benefits and shortfalls be recorded as income tax benefit or expense in the income statement, rather than in equity.

Cash Flow
Cash provided by operating activities was $45 million for the first six months of fiscal year 2016, compared to cash provided by operating activities of $132 million in the first six months of fiscal year 2015.  The decrease in cash provided by operating activities was due primarily to lower net income and unfavorable working capital changes, partially offset by lower tax payments.

During the second quarter of 2016, the company repurchased 1.2 million shares of common stock at a total cost of $98 million. The company also paid a dividend on its common stock of 33 cents per share, or $43 million, in the second quarter of 2016.

Fiscal Year 2016 Outlook

The following table is a summary of the company's financial guidance for continuing operations for fiscal year 2016, which is unchanged from the guidance previously provided on January 22, 2016:

Non-GAAP Financial Information
Total segment operating margin is a non-GAAP measure and is reconciled to the related GAAP measure, Income from continuing operations before income taxes, in the Segment Sales and Earnings Information schedule in this press release.  Total segment operating margin is calculated as total segment operating earnings divided by total sales.

Conference Call and Webcast Details
Rockwell Collins Chairman, President and CEO, Kelly Ortberg, and Senior Vice President and CFO, Patrick Allen, will conduct an earnings conference call at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on April 21, 2016. Individuals may listen to the call and view management's supporting slide presentation on the Internet at www.rockwellcollins.com. Listeners are encouraged to go to the Investor Relations portion of the web site at least 15 minutes prior to the call to download and install any necessary software. 

Business Highlights

Rockwell Collins named a 2016 World's Most Ethical Company by the Ethisphere Institute for seventh straight year
Rockwell Collins was recognized by the Ethisphere Institute, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices, as a 2016 World's Most Ethical Company®.

U.S. Army selected Rockwell Collins as one of three companies for $12.7 billion HMS Manpack radio contract
Rockwell Collins was selected by the U.S. Army Program Executive Office C3T as one of three companies to compete for the Handheld, Manpack and Small Form Factor (HMS) program.

Boeing 737 MAX took first flight with new large-format flight displays from Rockwell Collins
The Boeing 737 MAX took its first flight in Renton, Wash., making it the latest next-generation Boeing aircraft to fly with Rockwell Collins' advanced large-format flight displays.  More than 3,000 737 MAX aircraft are on order with the first delivery expected in 2017.

Rockwell Collins technology aided historic first KC-46A tanker refueling flight
The Rockwell Collins Remote Vision System played an integral role as Boeing and U.S. Air Force aircrews successfully completed the KC-46A tanker's first refueling flight in the skies above Washington state.

Rockwell Collins completed acquisition of Matrix series projector product lines from Christie Digital Systems
Rockwell Collins completed the acquisition of the Matrix series projector product lines from Christie Digital Systems. The transaction will give military and aviation customers a more comprehensive partner for all their current and future simulation and training projector needs.

Rockwell Collins equipment selected by the following airlines:

  • Transportation Partners selected a comprehensive suite of Rockwell Collins avionics for 201 Boeing 737 MAX and options for 29 Next-Generation Boeing 737 aircraft.  Highlighted Rockwell Collins systems include MultiScan™ ThreatTrack weather radar, GLU-925 Multi-Mode Receiver, and Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance traffic computer TTR-2100.  Deliveries will begin in early 2017.
  • BOC Aviation will feature Rockwell Collins' advanced avionics, including MultiScan™ ThreatTrack weather radar, GLU-925 Multi-Mode Receiver, and Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance traffic computer TTR-2100 as baseline configurations on Next-Generation Boeing 737 aircraft that begin delivery later this year.
  • India-based GoAir will feature Rockwell Collins' advanced avionics, including MultiScan™ ThreatTrack weather radar and GLU-925 Multi-Mode Receiver, on 72 Airbus A320neo aircraft.  Deliveries will begin later this year.
  • Azul Brazilian Airlines selected a host of Rockwell Collins avionics, including its MultiScan ThreatTrack weather radar and GLU-925 Multi-Mode Receiver, for 58 Airbus A320neo aircraft. Deliveries will begin in September.
  • Air France Industries will soon upgrade four Airbus A330 aircraft for one of its customers with Rockwell Collins' PAVES™ Passenger Services System. The standalone, cost-effective reading light and cabin crew call system with USB charging port brings several benefits, including a significant reduction in aircraft weight.
  • Singapore-based Tigerair will be upgrading 34 Airbus A320 aircraft (21 firm orders and 13 optional) with the latest version of Rockwell Collins' Iridium satellite communications system.  Deliveries will begin later this year.
  • Air Astana selected Rockwell Collins to provide in-flight connectivity.  Internet access will be available using personal computers, tablets and smartphones.

Peruvian Navy selected Rockwell Collins Talon radio
The Rockwell Collins Talon V/UHF tactical radio system was selected by the Peruvian Navy to be installed on its SH-2G Super Seasprite helicopters.  The Talon radio will provide secure voice and data communication capabilities to support the various missions of the SH-2G, platform including surface and sub-surface maritime, blue water and littoral surveillance, and search and rescue operations.

Rockwell Collins selected to provide Micro Inertial Navigation Sensors for Brazil's FT Sistemas FT-200FH unmanned helicopter
FT Sistemas selected Rockwell Collins to provide its Micro Inertial Navigation Sensor for the new FT-200FH unmanned Category 2 helicopter.

Boeing awarded Rockwell Collins contract to provide Common Avionics Architecture System for India CH-47F
The Boeing Company selected Rockwell Collins to provide its Common Avionics Architecture System for 15 CH-47F Chinook helicopters for the Indian Ministry of Defence.

Rockwell Collins received a contract from Electronics Corporation of India Ltd for communications and navigation components
Rockwell Collins received a contract from Electronics Corporation of India Ltd (ECIL) to supply communications and navigation components for radios being indigenously manufactured by ECIL for Indian defence forces.

Data Link Solutions Increasing MIDS JTRS Production Capabilities for U.S. and Coalition Forces
Data Link Solutions, a joint venture between BAE Systems and Rockwell Collins, was awarded a $51.8 million contract from the U.S. Navy Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command to provide the Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS) Joint Tactical Radio System (MIDS JTRS) to U.S. and coalition forces. This award includes radios for U.S. platforms and Foreign Military Sales customers.

Rockwell Collins information management services were selected by the following airports:

  • Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) switched to Rockwell Collins' ARINC vMUSE™ common use passenger processing solution (CUPPS).  The new ARINC vMUSE system will enable the airport to continue its successful deployment of CUPPS, providing CGN's passengers with an enhanced check-in experience.
  • Passengers traveling through Berlin Sch?nefeld Airport will experience faster check-in times with the implementation of a new CUPPS solution  - ARINC vMUSETM- from Rockwell Collins.
  • Whether reducing costs through shared resources or improving the seamless flow of passengers through the check-in process, both Dublin and Cork airports and their passengers will benefit from the recent selection of Rockwell Collins' ARINC vMUSE™ CUPPS platforms.
  • Travelers using Narita International Airport, the primary airport servicing Greater Tokyo, will be able to check-in faster due to the expanded deployment of ARINC CUPPS and ARINC self-service kiosks throughout the airport.

About Rockwell Collins
Rockwell Collins is a pioneer in the development and deployment of innovative aviation and high integrity solutions for both commercial and government applications. Our expertise in flight deck avionics, cabin electronics, mission communications, simulation and training and information management services is delivered by a global workforce, and a service and support network that crosses more than 150 countries.