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    Briggs & Stratton Third-Quarter Earnings Dip on Litigation Settlement

    April 23, 2010
    Milwaukee-based Briggs & Stratton Corp. last week announced third-quarter fiscal 2010 consolidated net income of $24.1 million or $0.48 per diluted share, that when adjusted for a litigation settlement of $30.6 million ($18.7 million after-tax) would result in an adjusted consolidated net income of $42.7 million or $0.85 per diluted share on consolidated net sales of $694.6 million.

    Milwaukee-based Briggs & Stratton Corp. last week announced third-quarter fiscal 2010 consolidated net income of $24.1 million or $0.48 per diluted share, that when adjusted for a litigation settlement of $30.6 million ($18.7 million after-tax) would result in an adjusted consolidated net income of $42.7 million or $0.85 per diluted share on consolidated net sales of $694.6 million.

    The litigation settlement relates to a class action lawsuit regarding horsepower labeling that was previously disclosed in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 2. The third quarter of fiscal 2009 had consolidated net income of $25.4 million or $0.51 per diluted share on consolidated net sales of $673.8 million. Consolidated net sales increased $20.8 million or 3 percent from the third quarter of the prior year. The increase is primarily attributable to higher sales volumes in the Engines Segment. Third-quarter adjusted consolidated net income increased $17.3 million from net income in the same period a year ago. Engines Segment operating results were the primary driver of the improved adjusted net income.

    For the first nine months of fiscal 2010, consolidated net income was $18.4 million or $0.36 per diluted share, that when adjusted for the litigation settlement of $30.6 million ($18.7 million after-tax), would result in an adjusted consolidated net income of $37.1 million or $0.73 per diluted share on consolidated net sales of $1.412 billion. For the same period a year ago, consolidated net sales were $1.61 billion, and consolidated net income was $26.6 million or $0.53 per diluted share. The majority of the $197.0 million or 12-percent decrease in consolidated net sales was the result of lower sales volume in the Power Products Segment. The remainder of the net sales decrease reflects lower engine volume and lower prices. The nine-month adjusted consolidated net income increased by $10.5 million from net income in the same period a year ago. Engines Segment operating results were the primary driver of the improved adjusted net income.

    Third-quarter net sales for fiscal 2010 were $498.9 million versus $480.2 million for the same period a year ago, an increase of $18.7 million or 4 percent. The increase in net sales was primarily the result of an engine unit shipment increase of 6 percent from the same period a year ago. Offsetting the volume improvement were lower average prices in effect for fiscal 2010.

    Net sales for the first nine months of fiscal 2010 were $983.6 million versus $1.08 billion in the prior year, a decrease of $94.5 million or 9 percent. Unit volume decreases of 7 percent through nine months were the result of lower engine demand for portable generators, soft engine shipments to European lawn and garden equipment manufacturers and minor market share losses in various engine categories. The majority of the remainder of the net sales decrease was due to lower pricing implemented for fiscal 2010.

    Fiscal 2010 third-quarter net sales were $245.3 million versus $250.2 million for the same period a year ago, a decrease of $4.9 million. The net sales decrease was primarily the result of lower portable generator sales in the quarter, as the current year’s quarter did not have hurricane replenishment shipments that were experienced in last year’s third quarter. The portable generator sales decrease was partially offset by stronger pressure washer volume and a small improvement in shipments of lawn and garden equipment.

    Net sales for the first nine months of fiscal 2010 were $565.5 million versus $697.7 million in the prior year, a $132.2 million decrease. Lower portable generator sales for this nine-month period accounted for almost all of the net sales decrease primarily due to the absence of any hurricane activity in fiscal 2010.

    The company, after recognizing the litigation settlement in the third quarter, now projects that fiscal 2010 net income will be in the range of $24 to $31 million or $0.48 to $0.62 per diluted share. This current forecast range is the same as the forecast provided in January 2010, except it now incorporates the litigation settlement and the bottom end of the forecast has been increased.