2014 GUIDANCE
This guidance discusses future results which are inherently subject to unforeseen risks and developments. As such, discussions about the business outlook should be read in the context of an uncertain future, as well as the risk factors identified in the safe harbor language at the end of this release and as more fully outlined in the Company's 2013 Form 10-K Annual Report and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Based on results year-to-date and the outlook for the remainder of the year, the Company is increasing annual guidance for revenue growth and adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations and narrowing the range for GAAP earnings per share from continuing operations. The Company is reaffirming annual guidance for free cash flow.
The Company now expects:
- Revenue to be in the range of one to three percent growth when compared to the prior year versus the one percent decline to two percent growth range previously expected. Guidance excludes the impacts of currency and reflects the expected ongoing stabilization of the mail-related businesses, as well as continued growth in Digital Commerce Solutions;
- Adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations to be in the range of $1.80 to $1.90 versus the range of $1.75 to $1.90 previously expected. Guidance reflects the operational performance year-to-date; the increased revenue outlook; and the timing of investment in solutions and infrastructure, such as ERP;
- GAAP earnings per share from continuing operations to be in the range of $1.55 to $1.65 versus the range of $1.53 to $1.68 previously expected. Guidance reflects the incremental $0.03 per share charge for restructuring costs this quarter, which now total $0.06 per share year-to date and $0.19 per share of debt extinguishment costs in the first quarter.
The Company still expects:
- Free cash flow to be in the range of $475 million to $575 million.
This guidance excludes any further actions that are under consideration by the Company to streamline its operations and further reduce its cost structure.
Conference Call and Webcast
Management of Pitney Bowes will discuss the Company’s results in a broadcast over the Internet today at 8:00 a.m. EDT. Instructions for listening to the earnings results via the Web are available on the Investor Relations page of the Company’s web site at www.pb.com.
About Pitney Bowes
Pitney Bowes provides technology solutions for small, mid-size and large firms that help them connect with customers to build loyalty and grow revenue. Many of the company’s solutions are delivered on open platforms to best organize, analyze and apply both public and proprietary data to two-way customer communications. Pitney Bowes includes direct mail, transactional mail and call center communications in its solution mix along with digital channel messaging for the Web, email and mobile applications.
Pitney Bowes: Every connection is a new opportunity™ www.pb.com
The Company's financial results are reported in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The Company uses measures such as adjusted earnings per share, adjusted income from continuing operations and free cash flow to exclude the impact of special items like restructuring charges, tax adjustments, and goodwill and asset write-downs, because, while these are actual Company expenses, they can mask underlying trends associated with its business. Such items are often inconsistent in amount and frequency and as such, the adjustments allow an investor greater insight into the current underlying operating trends of the business.
The use of free cash flow provides investors insight into the amount
of cash that management could have available for other discretionary
uses. It adjusts GAAP cash from operations for capital
expenditures, as well as special items like cash used for restructuring
charges, unusual tax settlements or payments and contributions to its
pension funds. Management uses segment EBIT to measure profitability and
performance at the segment level. EBIT is determined by deducting
the related costs and expenses attributable to the segment. Segment
EBIT excludes interest, taxes, general corporate expenses not allocated
to a particular business segment, restructuring charges and goodwill and
asset impairments, which are recognized on a consolidated basis. In
addition, financial results are presented on a constant currency basis
to exclude the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates
since the prior period under comparison. Constant currency
measures are intended to help investors better understand the underlying
operational performance of the business excluding the impacts of shifts
in currency exchange rates over the intervening period.
