NEWELL RUBBERMAID REPORTS
FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL YEAR 2005 RESULTS
Strong Annual Gross Margin Improvement of 130 basis points
Raises Full Year 2006 Earnings Guidance
ATLANTA, January 26, 2006– Newell Rubbermaid Inc. (NYSE: NWL) today reported its fourth quarter and full year 2005 results, delivering continuing earnings per share for the year that exceeded its guidance.
“The company generated strong momentum in 2005 and delivered results ahead of our commitments,” said Mark Ketchum, chief executive officer of Newell Rubbermaid. “This momentum is critical as we begin 2006 and execute Project Acceleration. Our team is fully engaged in driving strategic investment to build brands, achieving a best-cost position and further strengthening the portfolio.”
Fourth Quarter Results
Income from continuing operations for the quarter ended December 31, 2005, was $84.8 million, or $0.31 per share, compared to $120.8 million, or $0.44 per share, in the prior year. Excluding restructuring charges related to Project Acceleration and impairment, income from continuing operations was $113.4 million, or $0.41 per share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2005, compared to income from continuing operations, excluding restructuring charges, of $124.5 million, or $0.45 per share, in the prior year. A reconciliation of the results “as reported” to results “excluding charges” is attached to this press release.
Net sales in the fourth quarter 2005 were $1.75 billion, compared to $1.73 billion in the prior year, an increase of 1.0 percent. Internal sales, which exclude the impact of material acquisitions and divestitures, declined 0.4 percent. Favorable pricing increased sales by 2.1 percent, offset by the planned exit of certain low-margin product lines that reduced net sales by 2.3 percent and unfavorable foreign currency.
Gross margin for the fourth quarter 2005 improved to 29.4 percent, compared to 29.2 percent for the prior year. The company’s productivity savings and favorable pricing offset raw material inflation.
“I am proud of the team for delivering results ahead of the commitments in a very challenging environment,” said Ketchum. “We demonstrated growth in the “Invest” businesses and improvements to gross margin that have us encouraged about the prospects in 2006 and beyond.”
Related to Project Acceleration, the company recorded non-cash restructuring charges of $51.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2005. Additionally, consistent with previous guidance, the company recorded a non-cash charge to stockholders’ equity of $59.8 million in the fourth quarter 2005 to record the under-funded status of the company’s pension plans, which did not impact earnings or cash flow in 2005.
Newell Rubbermaid Inc.
Atlanta, GA
Securities Listed
NYSE
Common Stock
(Symbol: NWL)
www.newellrubbermaid.com
Nancy de Jonge Davis
Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications
Cari Davidson
Manager, Public Relations
10B Glenlake Parkway
Suite 600
Atlanta, GA 30328
Phone: 770-407-3994
Fax: 770-407-3983