Cummins (CMI) Misses Q3 EPS Expectations; Plans to Cut ~2,000 Positions

Cummins (NYSE: CMI) reported Q3 EPS of $2.14, $0.46 worse than the analyst estimate of $2.60. Revenue for the quarter came in at $4.62 billion versus the consensus estimate of $4.91 billion.

Cummins also announced restructuring and cost reduction actions to respond to a slowdown in global markets and lowered its outlook for 2015. The Company expects to reduce its professional workforce by up to 2,000 people, with the majority completed by the end of this year. These actions are expected to deliver annualized savings in the range of $160 million to $200 million and the Company will record pre-tax costs of between $70 million and $90 million associated with the workforce reduction in the fourth quarter of 2015. Adjustments to manufacturing capacity are already being made on a facility-by-facility basis and the Company will evaluate if more significant restructuring actions are required in the coming weeks and months.

“We are taking difficult but necessary actions to lower costs in the face of weak demand in many of our markets.” said Tom Linebarger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Cummins Inc. “Global off highway and power generation markets have been weak for some time and are worsening. Industry orders in key end markets in Brazil and China are at multi-year lows and showing no signs of improvement in the near-term. Given the uncertainty in the global economy, we expect challenging conditions to persist for some time. We have a very experienced leadership team at Cummins that knows how to manage effectively through periods of weak demand and ensure that the Company emerges stronger, with higher profitability and stronger leadership positions in our largest markets, as it has in prior cycles.”

Based on the current forecast, Cummins expects full year 2015 revenues to be flat to down two percent, compared to the Company’s prior guidance of growth between two and four percent. EBIT is expected to be in the range of 12.75 to 13.0 percent of sales, excluding costs associated with restructuring and other cost reduction actions, down from the Company’s previous guidance of 13.5 to 14.0 percent.

“We are disappointed with our results in the third quarter, but we are responding quickly to softening demand,” said Rich Freeland, President and Chief Operating Officer. “Through a combination of workforce actions and targeted capacity reduction we will position the Company for stronger financial performance when market conditions improve.”

For earnings history and earnings-related data on Cummins (CMI) click here.

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