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ATK Reports Strong FY10 Second-Quarter Financial Results

ATK Raises Full-Year EPS, Sales and Cash Flow Guidance

Second Quarter Fully Diluted EPS Climb 24 Percent to $2.19 as Sales Rise 11 Percent to $1.2 Billion

Second Quarter Net Income up 18 Percent to $73 Million

Second Quarter Margins Reach 11.2 Percent

Nov 11, 2009

MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) today reported that fully diluted earnings per share (EPS) in the second quarter of fiscal year 2010 (FY10), which ended on October 4, 2009, rose 24 percent to $2.19, compared to $1.77(1) in the prior-year quarter. The results were driven by top line sales growth, improved operating margins, a reduced diluted share count, and reduced interest expense, partially offset by increased pension expense. Based on the strength of the company's performance through the first half of the year, ATK is raising its full-year EPS, sales and cash flow forecast.

Sales for the quarter rose 11 percent to $1.2 billion, driven by continued strength in the company's Armament Systems and Mission Systems groups, partially offset by expected lower sales in the company's Space Systems group. Net income in the second quarter was up 18 percent to $73 million. Second quarter margins reached 11.2 percent. Orders in the quarter of $1.1 billion were in line with the company's expectations.

"ATK's second quarter performance was strong. We achieved double-digit sales and earnings growth, improved company-wide margins, and generated significant free cash flow," said John Shroyer, interim CEO, Senior Vice President, and CFO. "I am particularly pleased with the growth of our commercial businesses both in ammunition, aircraft structures and elsewhere across the company. We are well positioned for continued strength in the second half of the year and are raising our full-year guidance."

SUMMARY OF REPORTED RESULTS

The following table presents the company's results for the second quarter of fiscal year 2010, which ended on October 4, 2009 (in thousands).

Sales:



                                    Quarters Ended
                                    --------------
                       October 4,     September 28,   $         %
                         2009             2008      Change    Change
                       -------         ---------    ------    ------

    ATK Armament
     Systems           $553,969        $422,862    $131,107     31.0%
    ATK Mission
     Systems            304,392         280,542      23,850      8.5%
    ATK Space
     Systems            349,603         388,547     (38,944)   (10.0)%
                        -------         -------     -------
    Total sales      $1,207,964      $1,091,951    $116,013     10.6%
                     ==========      ==========    ========


                                       Six Months Ended
                                       ----------------
                          October 4,  September 28,   $        %
                             2009         2008      Change    Change
                             ----        -----     ------    ------

    ATK Armament
     Systems             $1,106,384    $864,436    $241,948    28.0%
    ATK Mission
     Systems                596,943     557,045      39,898     7.2%
    ATK Space
     Systems                713,771     795,335     (81,564)  (10.3)%
                            -------     -------     -------
    Total sales          $2,417,098  $2,216,816    $200,282     9.0%
                         ==========  ==========    ========


Income before Interest, Income Taxes, and Noncontrolling Interest (Operating Profit):

                                  Quarters Ended
                                  --------------
                       October 4,   September 28,    $       %
                         2009          2008       Change   Change
                        ------        -----       ------   ------

    ATK Armament
     Systems            $67,718        $42,969   $24,749     57.6%
    ATK Mission
     Systems             32,962         35,785    (2,823)    (7.9)%
    ATK Space
     Systems             38,722         47,982    (9,260)   (19.3)%
    Corporate            (4,528)        (6,091)    1,563     25.7%
                         ------         ------     -----
    Total operating
     profit            $134,874       $120,645   $14,229     11.8%
                       ========       ========   =======


                                       Six Months Ended
                                       ----------------
                           October 4, September 28,   $         %
                             2009        2008       Change    Change
                           -------    ---------     ------    ------

    ATK Armament
     Systems               $128,933    $87,129     $41,804     48.0%
    ATK Mission
     Systems                 66,213     68,619      (2,406)    (3.5)%
    ATK Space
     Systems                 79,845     84,224      (4,379)    (5.2)%
    Corporate                (8,745)   (10,995)      2,250     20.5%
                             ------    -------       -----
    Total operating
     profit                $266,246   $228,977     $37,269     16.3%
                           ========   ========     =======


SEGMENT RESULTS

ATK operates three principal business groups: Armament Systems; Mission Systems; and Space Systems.

ATK ARMAMENT SYSTEMS

Sales in the second quarter of FY10 increased 31 percent to $554 million, compared to $423 million in the prior-year quarter. Eagle Industries, which is now the Tactical Systems division, contributed $14 million of sales in the quarter. Organic sales increased 28 percent, driven by the company's non-standard ammunition contract for Afghan Security Forces, higher military ammunition sales, higher sales volume in commercial ammunition across all channels (retail, law enforcement and international), and increased facility modernization funds.

Earnings before interest, taxes, and noncontrolling interest (operating profit) in the second quarter rose 58 percent to $68 million, compared to $43 million in the prior-year quarter. The increase was driven by additional sales volume and improved profitability across Armament Systems. Demand remained strong for ATK's commercial ammunition brands and products. The higher operating profit was partially offset by $11 million of non-cash charges primarily due to the early retirement of assets related to the company's TNT production facility, and higher pension expense.

ATK MISSION SYSTEMS

Second quarter sales rose nine percent to $304 million compared to $281 million in the prior-year quarter. The increase reflects higher sales volume in commercial and military aircraft structures, and advanced weapons programs, partially offset by lower sales of special mission aircraft.

Operating profit of $33 million was down slightly from $36 million in the prior-year quarter. The decline was driven by additional investments made on advanced weapons programs, reduced incentive fees on a missile defense program, and higher pension expense, partially offset by higher volumes of commercial and military aircraft structures.

ATK SPACE SYSTEMS

Second quarter sales in the Space Systems group of $350 million were in line with the company's expectations, and down 10 percent from $389 million in the prior-year quarter. The decrease reflects the expected draw down of the Minuteman III program and the termination of the Kinetic Energy Interceptor, partially offset by higher sales in spacecraft structures and components.

Operating profit for the group was $39 million, also in-line with expectations, and down 19 percent from the prior-year quarter. The decrease reflects the draw down of the Minuteman III program and higher pension expense.

CORPORATE AND OTHER

In the second quarter, corporate and other expenses totaled $5.0 million compared to $6.0 million recorded in the prior-year quarter. The share count was 33.1 million, compared to 34.8 million in the prior-year quarter.

OUTLOOK

Based on the continued strong operating performance of the company, and better visibility into the remainder of the year, ATK is raising its full-year sales, EPS and free cash flow guidance. ATK now expects full-year FY10 fully diluted EPS in a range of $8.60 - $8.75, up from previous guidance of $8.45 - $8.60. Full-year sales are now expected to be in a range of $4.825 -$4.875 billion, up from previous expectations of $4.80 - $4.85 billion. The company now expects to generate free cash flow of approximately $150 million, up from previous expectations of $110 - $130 million. The free cash flow expectation includes the impact of the $150 million pension contribution made in the first quarter of FY10 (see reconciliation table for details). The company continues to expect an average share count of approximately 33.5 million, and an effective tax rate for the year of approximately 37 percent. Full-year pension expenses are expected to be approximately $70 million. Capital expenditures in FY10 are anticipated to be approximately $130 million.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Free Cash Flow

Free cash flow is defined as cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures. ATK management believes free cash flow provides investors with an important perspective on the cash available for debt repayment, share repurchase, and acquisitions after making the capital investments required to support ongoing business operations. ATK management uses free cash flow internally to assess both business performance and overall liquidity.

                                                      Projected Year
                                                          Ending
                                                      March 31, 2010
                                                      --------------

    Cash provided by operating                           ~ $280,000
     activities
    Capital expenditures                                  ~(130,000)
                                                          ---------
    Free cash flow                                       ~ $150,000*
                                                          =========

    * Includes the impact of the $150 million pension contribution made in
      the first quarter of FY10

ATK is a premier aerospace and defense company with more than 18,000 employees in 22 states, Puerto Rico and internationally, and revenues in excess of $4.8 billion. News and information can be found on the Internet at www.atk.com.

Certain information discussed in this press release constitutes forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Although ATK believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be achieved. Forward-looking information is subject to certain risks, trends, and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Among these factors are: assumptions related to the Ares I and Ares V programs for NASA; changes in governmental spending, budgetary policies and product sourcing strategies; the company's competitive environment; risks inherent in the development and manufacture of advanced technology; increases in commodity costs, energy prices, and production costs; the terms and timing of awards and contracts; program performance; program terminations; changes in cost estimates related to relocation of facilities; the outcome of contingencies, including litigation and environmental remediation; actual pension asset returns and assumptions regarding future returns, discount rates and service costs; capital market volatility and corresponding assumptions related to the company's shares outstanding; the availability of capital market financing; changes to accounting standards; changes in tax rules or pronouncements; economic conditions; and the company's capital deployment strategy, including debt repayment, share repurchases, pension funding, mergers and acquisitions and any integration thereof. ATK undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements. For further information on factors that could impact ATK, and statements contained herein, please refer to ATK's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

(1) At the beginning of the company's fiscal year on April 1, 2009, ATK retrospectively adopted FSP APB14-1 "Accounting for Convertible Debt Instruments that may be settled is cash upon conversion" (FSP 14-1) and was required to restate certain financial information for all prior periods. The adoption resulted in an increase to non-cash interest expense of $11.718 million ($6.995 million net of tax, or $0.20 diluted EPS) for the quarter ended September 28, 2008. All fiscal 2009 financial amounts included in this press release have been restated to reflect the adoption of FSP 14-1.

    Media Contact:                    Investor Contact:

    Bryce Hallowell                   Jeff Huebschen
    Phone:  952-351-3087              Phone:  952-351-2929
    E-mail:  bryce.hallowell@atk.com  E-mail:  jeff.huebschen@atk.com


                                 ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.
                        CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS
                                         (Unaudited)

                                      QUARTERS ENDED      SIX MONTHS ENDED
                                    ------------------   -------------------
    (In thousands except
     per share data)                October  September    October   September
                                    4, 2009  28, 2008(1)  4, 2009  28, 2008(1)
    Sales                         $1,207,964 $1,091,951 $2,417,098 $2,216,816
    Cost of sales                    962,262    851,720  1,911,551  1,757,313
                                     -------    -------  ---------  ---------
    Gross profit                     245,702    240,231    505,547    459,503
    Operating expenses:
      Research and development        15,886     25,419     31,264     47,140
      Selling                         45,202     39,121     90,296     77,808
      General and administrative      49,740     55,046    117,741    105,578
                                      ------     ------    -------    -------
    Income before interest,
     income taxes, and
     noncontrolling interest         134,874    120,645    266,246    228,977
    Interest expense                (19,361)    (22,727)   (40,296)   (45,277)
    Interest income                      124        232        210        599
                                         ---        ---        ---        ---
    Income before income taxes
     and noncontrolling interest     115,637     98,150    226,160    184,299
    Income tax provision              43,020     36,672     84,060     68,339
                                      ------     ------     ------     ------
    Net income                        72,617     61,478    142,100    115,960
      Less net income attributable
       to noncontrolling interest        107         16        159        106
                                         ---         --        ---        ---
    Net income attributable
     to Alliant Techsystems Inc.     $72,510    $61,462   $141,941   $115,854
                                     =======    =======   ========   ========

    Alliant Techsystems Inc.'s
     earnings per common share:
      Basic                            $2.21      $1.87      $4.33      $3.53
      Diluted                           2.19       1.77       4.28       3.31

    Alliant Techsystems Inc.'s
     weighted-average number of
     common shares outstanding:
      Basic                           32,829     32,819     32,793     32,823
      Diluted                         33,139     34,796     33,151     34,994

    (1) Restated due to the adoption of new accounting standards

                             ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.
                    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                   (Unaudited)

    (In thousands except share data)
                                            October 4,         March 31,
                                              2009              2009(1)
                                             -------             -----
      ASSETS
      Current assets:
        Cash and cash equivalents            $224,979          $336,700
        Net receivables                       932,860           899,543
        Net inventories                       192,893           238,600
        Income tax receivable                  10,966            34,835
        Deferred income tax assets             47,583            29,223
        Other current assets                   52,487            39,843
                                               ------            ------
          Total current assets              1,461,768         1,578,744
      Net property, plant, and
       equipment                              529,583           540,041
      Goodwill                              1,190,984         1,195,986
      Deferred income tax assets               35,796            69,582
      Deferred charges and other
       non-current assets                     266,804           192,992
                                              -------           -------
          Total assets                     $3,484,935        $3,577,345
                                           ==========        ==========
      LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
      Current liabilities:
        Current portion of
         long-term debt                       $13,750          $289,859
        Accounts payable                      165,009           294,971
        Contract advances and
         allowances                            95,955            86,080
        Accrued compensation                  119,127           168,059
        Other accrued liabilities             193,080           166,341
                                              -------           -------
          Total current liabilities           586,921         1,005,310
      Long-term debt                        1,378,520         1,097,744
      Postretirement and
       postemployment benefits
       liabilities                            118,698           121,689
      Accrued pension liability               421,292           552,671
      Other long-term
       liabilities                            127,013           125,362
                                              -------           -------
          Total liabilities                 2,632,444         2,902,776
      Contingencies
      Common stock - $.01 par
       value Authorized - 90,000,000
       shares Issued and outstanding -
       32,927,959 shares at
       October 4, 2009 and
       32,783,496 at March 31, 2009               329               328
      Additional paid-in-capital              577,786           574,674
      Retained earnings                     1,562,403         1,420,462
      Accumulated other
       comprehensive loss                    (629,767)         (651,652)
      Common stock in treasury,
       at cost - 8,627,489
       shares held at October 4,
       2009 and 8,771,565 shares
       held at March 31, 2009                (667,017)         (677,841)
                                             --------          --------
          Total Alliant Techsystems
           Inc. stockholders' equity          843,734           665,971
      Noncontrolling interest                   8,757             8,598
                                                -----             -----
          Total equity                        852,491           674,569
                                              -------           -------
          Total liabilities and
           equity                          $3,484,935        $3,577,345
                                           ==========        ==========

    (1) Restated due to the adoption of new accounting standards


                              ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.
                 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                    (Unaudited)

                                                    SIX MONTHS ENDED
                                                    ----------------
    (In thousands)                              October 4,     September 28,
                                                  2009            2008(1)
                                                  ----            ------
      Operating activities
        Net income                               $142,100        $115,960
        Adjustments to net income
         to arrive at cash used for
         operating activities:
          Depreciation                             49,571          38,148
          Amortization of intangible
           assets                                   2,479           2,808
          Amortization of debt
           discount                                11,708          11,718
          Amortization of deferred
           financing costs                          1,419           1,438
          Asset impairment                         11,405           3,753
          Deferred income taxes                     1,365             (18)
          Gain on disposal of
           property                                  (483)         (3,439)
          Share-based plans expense                 8,580           9,718
          Excess tax benefits from
           share-based plans                         (981)         (3,151)
          Changes in assets and
           liabilities:
            Net receivables                       (33,317)       (147,178)
            Net inventories                        45,707           2,934
            Accounts payable                     (113,315)        (10,063)
            Contract advances and
             allowances                             9,875          (6,036)
            Accrued compensation                  (54,405)        (32,606)
            Accrued income taxes                   33,260         (17,003)
            Pension and other
             postretirement benefits             (124,960)         13,435
            Other assets and
             liabilities                          (37,442)         51,168
                                                  -------          ------
      Cash (used for) provided by
       operating activities                       (47,434)         31,586
      Investing activities
        Capital expenditures                      (67,147)        (59,000)
        Acquisition of business,
         net                                        5,002          (7,511)
        Proceeds from the
         disposition of property,
         plant, and equipment                       1,267             321
                                                    -----             ---
      Cash used for investing
       activities                                 (60,878)        (66,190)
      Financing activities
        Payments made on bank debt                 (7,041)              -
        Payments made for debt
         issue costs                                    -              (5)
        Net purchase of treasury
         shares                                         -         (31,616)
        Proceeds from employee
         stock compensation plans                   2,651           6,454
        Excess tax benefits from
         share-based plans                            981           3,151
                                                      ---           -----
      Cash used for financing
       activities                                  (3,409)        (22,016)
                                                   ------         -------
      Decrease in cash and cash
       equivalents                               (111,721)        (56,620)
      Cash and cash equivalents -
       beginning of period                        336,700         119,773
                                                  -------         -------
      Cash and cash equivalents -
       end of period                             $224,979         $63,153
                                                 ========         =======

      Supplemental Cash Flow
       Disclosure:
        Noncash investing activity:
          Capital expenditures
           included in accounts payable           $3,891          $3,387
                                                  ======          ======
          Acquisition costs included
           in other accrued liabilities               $-          $7,500
                                                      ==          ======

    (1) Restated due to the adoption of new accounting standards

SOURCE: ATK

Web site: http://www.atk.com/


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