HARTFORD, Conn., Jan. 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) reported full year 2014 earnings per share of $6.82 and net income attributable to common shareowners of $6.2 billion, up 10 percent  and 9 percent, respectively over the prior year.  Sales of $65.1 billion were 4 percent above prior year including 4 points of organic growth.  Segment operating margin was 15.2 percent, 10 basis points lower than prior year.  Adjusted for restructuring and one-time items, segment operating margin was 16.6 percent.  Cash flow from operations of $7.3 billion, less capital expenditures of $1.7 billion, was 90 percent of net income attributable to common shareowners.

"UTC delivered double digit earnings growth in 2014 despite a slower than expected global economy," said Gregory Hayes, UTC President & Chief Executive Officer.  "Strong conversion on solid topline growth, continued cost reductions and benefits from lower pension expense drove the double digit earnings increase for the year.  We delivered 90 basis points of margin expansion even as we continued to invest for the future."

Earnings per share for the fourth quarter of $1.62 included $0.09 of restructuring costs and $0.17 of net unfavorable one-time items.  The prior year quarter included $0.11 of restructuring costs and $0.02 of favorable one-time items.  Adjusted for restructuring and net one-time items in both years, earnings per share grew 13 percent, with segment operating margins of 16.5 percent.  Sales of $17.0 billion increased 1 percent, reflecting the benefit of organic growth (4 points) partially offset by unfavorable foreign exchange (3 points).

Otis new equipment orders in the quarter increased 12 percent over the prior year at constant currency.  Equipment orders at UTC Climate, Controls & Security increased 11 percent.  Commercial aftermarket sales were down 6 percent at Pratt & Whitney on a tough compare, and up 5 percent at UTC Aerospace Systems.

"We saw good organic growth throughout the year," added Hayes.  "Based on solid backlog and continued orders strength, we see topline momentum as we enter 2015; our business fundamentals and operational expectations have not changed.  However, with the continuing strengthening of the US dollar, as well as additional pension discount rate headwind, we now expect 2015 EPS of $6.85 to $7.05, on sales of $65 to $66 billion."

UTC expects to invest $1.7 billion in capital expenditures in 2015, and continues to estimate cash flow from operations less capital expenditures in the range of 90 to 100 percent of net income attributable to common shareowners.  The company now expects share repurchase of $3 billion and acquisitions of approximately $1 billion in 2015, following $1.5 billion and $530 million, respectively, in 2014.

United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Connecticut, provides high technology products and services to the building and aerospace industries. Additional information, including a webcast, is available on the Internet at http://www.utc.com. To learn more about UTC, visit the website or follow the company on Twitter: @UTC

All financial results and projections reflect continuing operations unless otherwise noted. The accompanying tables include information integral to assessing the company's financial position, operating performance, and cash flow, including a reconciliation of differences between non-GAAP measures used in this release and the comparable financial measures calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.

This press release includes statements that constitute "forward-looking statements" under the securities laws. Forward-looking statements often contain words such as "believe," "expect," "plans," "project," "target," "anticipate," "will," "should," "see," "guidance," "confident" and similar terms. Forward-looking statements may include, among other things, statements relating to future and estimated sales, earnings, cash flow, charges, expenditures, share repurchases and other measures of financial performance. All forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the effect of economic conditions in the markets in which we operate, including financial market conditions, fluctuation in commodity prices, interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates; future levels of research and development spending; levels of end market demand in construction and in the aerospace industry; levels of air travel; financial condition of commercial airlines; the impact of government budget and funding decisions on the economy; changes in government procurement priorities and funding; weather conditions and natural disasters; delays and disruption in delivery of materials and services from suppliers; company and customer directed cost reduction efforts and restructuring costs and consequences thereof; the impact of acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures and similar transactions; the development and production of new products and services; the impact of diversification across product lines, regions and industries; the impact of legal proceedings, investigations and other contingencies; pension plan assumptions and future contributions; the effect of changes in tax, environmental and other laws and regulations and political conditions; and other factors beyond our control. The level of share repurchases depends upon market conditions and the level of other investing activities and uses of cash. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements as of a later date. For additional information identifying factors that may cause actual results to vary materially from those stated in forward-looking statements, see our reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K filed with the SEC from time to time, including, but not limited to, the information included in UTC's Forms 10-K and 10-Q under the headings "Business," "Risk Factors," "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Legal Proceedings" and in the notes to the financial statements included in UTC's Forms 10-K and 10-Q.

UTC-IR

As described on the following pages, consolidated results for the quarters and years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 include restructuring costs and non-recurring items that management believes should be considered when evaluating the underlying financial performance.

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.  

As described on the following pages, consolidated results for the quarters and years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 include restructuring costs and non-recurring items that management believes should be considered when evaluating the underlying financial performance.

Details of the non-recurring items for the quarters and years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 above are as follows:

Quarter Ended December 31, 2014

Interest Expense, Net:

• Approximately $143 million of unfavorable pre-tax interest accruals related to the ongoing dispute with German tax authorities concerning a 1998 reorganization of the corporate structure of Otis operations in Germany.
• Approximately $88 million of favorable pre-tax interest adjustments, primarily related to conclusion of litigation and the resolution of disputes with the Appeals Division of the IRS regarding Goodrich Corporation's 2000 to 2010 tax years.

Income Tax Expense:

• Approximately $267 million of unfavorable income tax accruals related to the ongoing dispute with German tax authorities concerning a 1998 reorganization of the corporate structure of Otis operations in Germany.
• Approximately $180 million favorable tax adjustment primarily associated with management's decision to repatriate additional high taxed dividends in 2014.

Quarter Ended September 30, 2014

UTC Climate, Controls & Security:  Approximately $30 million net gain from UTC Climate, Controls & Security's ongoing portfolio transformation, primarily due to a gain on the sale of an interest in a joint venture in North America.

Pratt & Whitney:  Approximately $83 million net gain, primarily as a result of fair value adjustments related to a business acquisition.

Interest Expense, Net: Approximately $23 million of favorable pre-tax interest adjustments, primarily related to the resolution of disputes with the Appeals Division of the IRS for the Company's 2006 - 2008 tax years.

Income Tax Expense: Approximately $118 million of favorable income tax adjustments, primarily related to the resolution of disputes with the Appeals Division of the IRS for the Company's 2006 - 2008 tax years.

Quarter Ended June 30, 2014

Pratt & Whitney:

• Approximately $60 million charge to adjust the fair value of a Pratt & Whitney joint venture investment.
• Approximately $22 million charge for impairment of assets related to a joint venture.

Sikorsky:

• A cumulative adjustment to record $830 million in sales and $438 million in losses based upon the change in estimate required for the contractual amendments signed with the Canadian Government on the Maritime Helicopter program.
• Approximately $28 million charge for the impairment of a Sikorsky joint venture investment.

Eliminations & Other:  Approximately $220 million gain on an agreement with a state taxing authority for the monetization of tax credits.

Interest Expense, Net: Approximately $21 million of favorable pre-tax interest adjustments, primarily related to the conclusion of the IRS's examination of the Company's 2009 and 2010 tax years.

Income Tax Expense: Approximately $253 million of favorable income tax adjustments related to the conclusion of the IRS's examination of the Company's 2009 and 2010 tax years, as well as the settlement of state income taxes related to the disposition of the Hamilton Sundstrand Industrials businesses.

Quarter Ended December 31, 2013

UTC Climate, Controls & Security:  Approximately $17 million net gain from UTC Climate, Controls & Security's ongoing portfolio transformation, primarily due to a gain on the sale of a business in Australia.

Interest Expense, Net: Approximately $12 million of favorable pre-tax interest adjustments related to the resolution of a dispute with the IRS for the legacy Goodrich 2001 - 2006 tax years.

Income Tax Expense: Approximately $13 million of favorable income tax adjustments related to the resolution of a dispute with the IRS for the legacy Goodrich 2001 - 2006 tax years.

Quarter Ended September 30, 2013

Pratt & Whitney: Approximately $25 million charge to adjust the fair value of a Pratt & Whitney joint venture investment.

Income Tax Expense: Favorable tax benefit of approximately $24 million as a result of a U.K. tax rate reduction enacted in July 2013.

Quarter Ended June 30, 2013

Pratt & Whitney:  Approximately $193 million gain from the sale of the Pratt & Whitney Power Systems business.  This gain was not reclassified to "Discontinued Operations" due to our expected level of continuing involvement in the business post disposition.

Interest Expense, Net: Approximately $36 million of favorable pre-tax interest adjustments related to settlements for the Company's tax years prior to 2006, as well as the conclusion of certain IRS examinations of 2009 and 2010 tax years.

Income Tax Expense: Approximately $22 million of favorable income tax adjustments related to the conclusion of certain IRS examinations of 2009 and 2010 tax years.

Quarter Ended March 31, 2013

UTC Climate, Controls & Security:  Approximately $38 million net gain from UTC Climate, Controls & Security's ongoing portfolio transformation, primarily due to a gain on the sale of a business in Hong Kong.

Income Tax Expense:  Approximately $95 million of favorable income tax adjustments as a result of the enactment of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 in January 2013.  The $95 million is primarily related to the retroactive extension of the research and development credit to 2012.

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.  

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.  

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(1) Debt to total capitalization equals total debt divided by total debt plus equity.  Net debt to net capitalization equals total debt less cash and cash equivalents divided by total debt plus equity less cash and cash equivalents.

(2) Organic sales growth represents the total reported increase within the Corporation's ongoing businesses less the impact of foreign currency translation, acquisitions and divestitures completed in the preceding twelve months and significant non-recurring items.

(3) Free cash flow, which represents cash flow from operations less capital expenditures, is the principal cash performance measure used by UTC. Management believes free cash flow provides a relevant measure of liquidity and a useful basis for assessing UTC's ability to fund its activities, including the financing of acquisitions, debt service, repurchases of UTC's common stock and distribution of earnings to shareholders.  Other companies that use the term free cash flow may calculate it differently.  The reconciliation of net cash flow provided by operating activities, prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, to free cash flow is shown above.

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SOURCE United Technologies Corp.