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8-K - 8-K - W.W. GRAINGER, INC.gww123120168k.htm
 

GRAINGER REPORTS RESULTS FOR YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016
Reports Fourth Quarter EPS of $1.01; $2.45 Adjusted EPS
Will Host Live Conference Call Today at 11:00 am EST

2016 Highlights
Sales of $10.1 billion, up 2 percent
Reported EPS of $9.87, down 15 percent
Adjusted EPS of $11.58, down 3 percent
Cash flow from operations of $1.0 billion
Free cash flow of $774 million, up 23 percent
Cash returned to shareholders of $1.1 billion

CHICAGO, January 25, 2017 - Grainger (NYSE: GWW) today reported results for the year ended December 31, 2016. Sales of $10.1 billion were up 2 percent versus $10 billion in 2015. Reported net earnings of $606 million declined 21 percent versus $769 million in 2015. Reported earnings per share of $9.87 were down 15 percent versus $11.58 in 2015.

“In 2016 we faced a challenging demand environment compounded by a lack of inflation, which put pressure on revenue and gross margins. In the face of this pressure, we effectively managed expenses while making moves to improve our long-term competitiveness,” said DG Macpherson, Chief Executive Officer. “Our core businesses performed in line with guidance, and we continue to be pleased with our progress on key initiatives including sales force effectiveness and the vertical alignment of the sales force in the United States, the medium-sized customer acquisition and penetration strategy in the United States and the growth of the online model globally. In 2017, we remain focused on creating value for customers, delivering an effortless customer experience and reducing costs.

“The fourth quarter and the year contained adjustments from our previously announced restructuring plans as well as several accounting actions that affected our reported results. The largest of these was a goodwill impairment for Fabory. Since we acquired Fabory, the business has struggled with growth and profitability. During the last few years, we’ve returned the business to solid footing by reducing the cost base and stabilizing revenue. Unfortunately, this progress is not enough to justify the current valuation. As a result, we’ve recognized an

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impairment charge on the business. We still believe Fabory can deliver profitable growth for Grainger going forward,” he concluded.

The years 2016 and 2015 contained the following items that the company believes are not indicative of ongoing operations and have been adjusted out to provide better comparability with prior periods. Excluding these items in the tables below, net earnings decreased 10 percent and earnings per share decreased 3 percent. Details regarding these adjustments are provided in the analysis of the fourth quarter.
 
Twelve Months Ended December 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
%
Diluted earnings per share reported
$
9.87

 
$
11.58

(15
)%
Adjustments, pretax
2.41

 
0.69

 
Tax effect (1)
(0.55
)
 
(0.24
)
 
Discrete tax items
(0.15
)
 
(0.09
)
 
Total, net of tax
1.71

 
0.36

 
Diluted earnings per share adjusted
$
11.58

 
$
11.94

(3
)%
 
 
 
 
 

(1) The tax impact of adjustments is calculated based on the income tax rate in each applicable jurisdiction


2


EPS Adjustments
Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2016
 
United States
Canada
Other Businesses
Unallocated Expenses
Total
Diluted earnings per share adjustments:
 
 
 
 
 
Restructuring
0.16

0.18


0.09

0.43

Other:
 
 
 
 
 
Goodwill and intangible impairment


0.85


0.85

Unclaimed property contingency
0.37




0.37

Inventory reserve adjustment

0.12



0.12

GSA contingency
0.09




0.09

Discrete tax items



(0.15
)
(0.15
)
Diluted earnings per share adjustments:
$
0.62

$
0.30

$
0.85

$
(0.06
)
$
1.71

 
 
 
 
 
 
Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2015
 
United States
Canada
Other Businesses
Unallocated Expenses
Total
Diluted earnings per share adjustments:
 
 
 
 
 
Restructuring
0.33

0.05

0.07


0.45

Discrete tax items



(0.09
)
(0.09
)
Diluted earnings per share adjustments:
$
0.33

$
0.05

$
0.07

$
(0.09
)
$
0.36


The company reiterated its 2017 sales and earnings per share guidance issued on November 11, 2016, and continues to expect 2 to 6 percent sales growth and earnings per share of $11.30 to $12.40 for 2017. Further information on 2017 guidance assumptions can be found in the earnings release supplement available on the company’s website.

For the full year, the company generated $1.0 billion in operating cash flow versus $990 million in 2015. Gross capital expenditures for the year were $284 million versus $374 million in 2015. As a result, free cash flow for the year was $774 million versus $631 million in 2015, up 23 percent. Free cash flow is defined as cash flow from operations minus net capital expenditures. Grainger repurchased approximately 3.6 million shares of stock for $790 million in 2016 as part of the expanded share buyback program announced in April 2015. Dividends paid in 2016 totaled $303 million. For the year, Grainger returned $1.1 billion in cash to shareholders in the form of share repurchases and dividends.

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2016 Fourth Quarter
Sales for the 2016 fourth quarter of $2.5 billion were flat versus the 2015 fourth quarter. Reported net earnings of $61 million declined 58 percent versus $145 million in 2015. Reported fourth quarter earnings per share of $1.01 declined 56 percent versus $2.30 in 2015. Results for the quarter included costs related to previously announced restructuring actions in the United States and Canada and other charges as follows:
 
Three Months Ended December 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
%
Diluted earnings per share reported
$
1.01

 
$
2.30

(56
)%
Adjustments, pretax
1.68

 
0.48

 
Tax effect (1)
(0.30
)
 
(0.18
)
 
Discrete tax items
0.06

 
(0.11
)
 
Total, net of tax
1.44

 
0.19

 
Diluted earnings per share adjusted
$
2.45

 
$
2.49

(2
)%
 
 
 
 
 

(1) The tax impact of adjustments is calculated based on the income tax rate in each applicable jurisdiction.

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EPS Adjustments
Three Months Ended December 31, 2016
 
United States
Canada
Other Businesses
Unallocated Expenses
Total
Diluted earnings per share adjustments:
 
 
 
 
 
Restructuring
0.04

(0.01
)


0.03

Other:
 
 
 
 
 
Goodwill and intangible impairment


0.87


0.87

Unclaimed property contingency
0.38




0.38

GSA contingency
0.10




0.10

Discrete tax items



0.06

0.06

Diluted earnings per share adjustments:
$
0.52

$
(0.01
)
$
0.87

$
0.06

$
1.44

 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended December 31, 2015
 
United States
Canada
Other Businesses
Unallocated Expenses
Total
Diluted earnings per share adjustments:
 
 
 
 
 
Restructuring
0.26

0.03

0.01


0.30

Discrete tax items



(0.11
)
(0.11
)
Diluted earnings per share adjustments:
$
0.26

$
0.03

$
0.01

$
(0.11
)
$
0.19

The company provided the following details relative to the restructuring and other charges noted in the tables:
Restructuring: A net charge of $3 million, or $0.03 after-tax earnings per share, related to restructuring actions. These included closing branches and gains on sale of real estate in the United States and Canada.
Goodwill and intangible impairment: A charge of $52 million, or $0.87 after-tax earnings per share, related to a goodwill impairment at Fabory and an intangible impairment in Colombia.
Unclaimed property contingency: A charge of $36 million, or $0.38 after-tax earnings per share, related to an accounting adjustment for unclaimed property in the United States for the five years 2008 through 2012.
GSA contingency: An expense of $9 million, or $0.10 after-tax earnings per share, to increase its reserve related to certain tax, freight and miscellaneous billing issues in connection with the audit of government contracts with the General Services Administration first entered in 1999.

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The company also had a $4 million, or $0.06 per share, charge from discrete tax items. In total there were $1.44 per share of charges in the 2016 quarter versus $0.19 per share in the 2015 quarter.

Company
Company sales in the 2016 fourth quarter were flat versus the prior year. There were 63 selling days in the 2016 fourth quarter, one fewer than in the 2015 quarter. On a daily basis, total company sales were up 1 percent for the quarter. The 1 percent daily sales increase consisted of a 1 percentage point increase from volume and a 1 percentage point increase from the timing of the holidays in December, partially offset by a 1 percentage point decline from price.

Company operating earnings of $174 million for the 2016 fourth quarter declined 31 percent versus the 2015 quarter. This decrease was driven by the flat sales, restructuring costs, other charges and a lower gross profit margin. The company’s gross profit margin for the quarter declined 0.4 percentage point, primarily driven by price deflation exceeding cost deflation and unfavorable customer mix. Operating expenses increased 9 percent. Excluding the items noted above in the fourth quarter table, adjusted operating expenses were down 1 percent and adjusted operating earnings in the quarter were down 3 percent.

The company has two reportable business segments, the United States and Canada, which represented approximately 80 percent of company sales for the quarter. The remaining operating businesses are located in Europe, Asia and Latin America. The single channel online businesses are included in Other Businesses and are not reportable segments.
United States
Sales in the United States segment declined 1 percent in the 2016 fourth quarter versus the prior year and were flat on a daily basis. The daily sales performance was composed of a 1 percentage point increase from higher intercompany sales to Zoro and 1 percentage point from the timing of the holidays, offset by a 1 percentage point decline from price and a 1 percentage point decline from volume. Government, Retail and Light Manufacturing customers had the strongest sales performance in the quarter.

Operating earnings for the United States segment declined 11 percent in the quarter driven by the restructuring costs, other charges, lower sales and lower gross profit margins. Gross profit margins for the quarter decreased 0.3 percentage point driven by price deflation exceeding cost

6


deflation and better relative growth with lower margin customers. Operating expenses increased 3 percent due to the restructuring costs and charges. Excluding the items noted above, adjusted operating expenses were down 1 percent and adjusted operating earnings for the U.S. segment in the quarter were down 3 percent versus the prior year.

Canada
Sales in the 2016 fourth quarter at Acklands-Grainger declined 11 percent in U.S. dollars. On a daily basis, sales declined 9 percent in U.S. and local currency. The 9 percent daily sales decline consisted of a 7 percentage point decrease from volume and a 4 percentage point decrease from price, partially offset by a 1 percentage point contribution from higher sales of seasonal products and 1 percentage point from the timing of the holidays. Sales to all customer end markets were down versus the prior year.

The business in Canada posted a $10 million operating loss in the 2016 fourth quarter. The gross profit margin in Canada declined 6.7 percentage points versus the prior year, primarily due to price deflation versus cost inflation and higher freight costs from the increase in shipping direct to customers. Operating expenses in Canada were down 7 percent in the quarter.

Other Businesses
Sales for the Other Businesses increased 11 percent for the 2016 fourth quarter versus the prior year and 13 percent on a daily basis, composed of volume and price. Sales growth in the Other Businesses was primarily driven by MonotaRO in Japan and Zoro in the United States.

The Other Businesses posted an operating loss of $36 million in the 2016 fourth quarter versus $9 million of operating earnings in the 2015 fourth quarter. The decline versus the prior year was driven by the impairment for Fabory and Colombia, partially offset by strong operating performance from MonotaRO and Zoro U.S. Excluding the items noted above, adjusted operating expenses were up 14 percent and adjusted operating earnings were up 63 percent versus the prior year.

Other
Other income and expense was a net expense of $29 million in the 2016 fourth quarter versus a net expense of $17 million in the 2015 fourth quarter. This increase was primarily due to additional interest expense from the $400 million of debt issued in May 2016 used to buy back stock and higher losses from the company’s clean energy investments.

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The effective tax rate in 2016 was 53.0 percent for the quarter and 37.9 percent for the full year. Excluding the effect of the items detailed in the tables above, the adjusted tax rate was 37.1 percent for the quarter and 36.7 percent for the full year, compared to 39.2 percent for the 2015 quarter and 37.6 percent for full year 2015. The company’s clean energy investment generated $0.15 per share of earnings for the year. The company is currently projecting a tax rate of 36.0 to 37.0 percent for 2017, unchanged from the prior projection on November 11, 2016.

Cash Flow
Operating cash flow was $333 million in the 2016 fourth quarter versus $254 million in the 2015 fourth quarter. The company used the cash generated during the quarter and proceeds from the May 2016 debt offering to invest in the business and return cash to shareholders through share repurchase and dividends. Capital expenditures were $71 million in the 2016 fourth quarter versus $121 million in the fourth quarter of 2015. In the 2016 fourth quarter, Grainger returned $259 million to shareholders through $82 million in dividends and $177 million to buy back 816,000 shares of stock. Free cash flow for the quarter was $269 million versus $136 million in the 2015 quarter.

Webcast
Grainger will conduct a live conference call and webcast at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on January 25, 2017, to discuss the fourth quarter and year. The webcast will be hosted by DG Macpherson and Ron Jadin, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and can be accessed at www.grainger.com/investor. For those unable to participate in the live event, a webcast replay will be available for 90 days at www.grainger.com/investor.

About Grainger
W.W. Grainger, Inc., with 2016 sales of $10.1 billion, is North America’s leading broad line supplier of maintenance, repair and operating products (MRO), with operations also in Europe, Asia and Latin America.

Visit www.grainger.com/investor to view information about the company, including a history of sales by segment and a podcast regarding 2016 second quarter results. The Grainger website also includes more information through our Fact Book and Corporate Social Responsibility report.

Safe Harbor Statement

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All statements in this communication, other than those relating to historical facts, are “forward-looking statements” based on our current view of the competitive market and the overall environment. Factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those statements include, among other risks and uncertainties, a major loss of customers or suppliers, competitive pressures, legal proceedings, changes in laws and regulations, general economic, industry or market conditions, technological or operational disruptions, natural and other catastrophes and other factors that can be found in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent Forms 10-K and 10-Q, which are available on our Investor Relations website. We disclaim any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, except as required by law.

Contacts:

Media:
 
Investors:
 
Joseph Micucci
 
Laura Brown
 
Director, Media Relations
SVP, Communications & Investor Relations
O: 847-535-0879
 
O: 847-535-0409
 
M: 847-830-5328
 
M: 847-804-1383
 
 
 
 
 
Grainger Media Relations Hotline
William Chapman
 
847-535-5678
Sr. Director, Investor Relations
 
 
O: 847-535-0881
 
 
 
M: 847-456-8647
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Michael Ferreter
 
 
 
Sr. Manager, Investor Relations
 
 
O: 847-535-1439
 
 
 
M: 847-271-6357
 

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (Unaudited)
(In thousands, except for per share amounts)

 
Three Months Ended December 31,
 
Twelve Months Ended December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
Net sales
$
2,470,710

 
$
2,478,258

 
$
10,137,204

 
$
9,973,384

Cost of merchandise sold
1,481,017

 
1,475,883

 
6,022,647

 
5,741,956

Gross profit
989,693

 
1,002,375

 
4,114,557

 
4,231,428

Warehousing, marketing and administrative  expenses
815,464

 
750,749

 
2,995,060

 
2,931,108

Operating earnings
174,229

 
251,626

 
1,119,497

 
1,300,320

Other income and (expense)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest income
243

 
232

 
717

 
1,166

Interest expense
(17,777
)
 
(13,852
)
 
(66,332
)
 
(33,571
)
Loss from equity method investment
(9,045
)
 
(1,467
)
 
(31,193
)
 
(11,740
)
Other non-operating expense
(2,341
)
 
(1,606
)
 
(3,631
)
 
(5,470
)
Total other expense
(28,920
)
 
(16,693
)
 
(100,439
)
 
(49,615
)
Earnings before income taxes 
145,309

 
234,933

 
1,019,058

 
1,250,705

Income taxes
76,969

 
85,762

 
386,220

 
465,531

Net earnings
68,340

 
149,171

 
632,838

 
785,174

Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest
7,674

 
3,939

 
26,910

 
16,178

Net earnings attributable to W.W. Grainger, Inc.
$
60,666

 
$
145,232

 
$
605,928

 
$
768,996

Earnings per share
  -Basic
$
1.02

 
$
2.32

 
$
9.94

 
$
11.69

  -Diluted
$
1.01

 
$
2.30

 
$
9.87

 
$
11.58

Average number of shares outstanding
  -Basic
59,171

 
62,100

 
60,431

 
65,157

  -Diluted
59,566

 
62,550

 
60,840

 
65,765

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diluted Earnings Per Share
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net earnings as reported
$
60,666

 
$
145,232

 
$
605,928

 
$
768,996

Earnings allocated to participating securities
(518
)
 
(1,359
)
 
(5,406
)
 
(7,515
)
Net earnings available to common shareholders
$
60,148

 
$
143,873

 
$
600,522

 
$
761,481

Weighted average shares adjusted for dilutive securities
59,566

 
62,550

 
60,840

 
65,765

Diluted earnings per share
$
1.01


$
2.30

 
$
9.87

 
$
11.58


10


SEGMENT RESULTS (Unaudited)
(In thousands of dollars)



 
Three Months Ended December 31,
 
Twelve Months Ended December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
Sales
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
United States
$
1,897,061

 
$
1,921,840

 
$
7,870,105

 
$
7,963,416

Canada
181,359

 
203,402

 
733,829

 
890,530

Other Businesses
483,534

 
434,361

 
1,884,963

 
1,405,750

Intersegment sales
(91,244
)
 
(81,345
)
 
(351,693
)
 
(286,312
)
Net sales to external customers
$
2,470,710

 
$
2,478,258

 
$
10,137,204

 
$
9,973,384

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating earnings
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
United States
$
251,532

 
$
283,529

 
$
1,274,851

 
$
1,371,626

Canada
(10,156
)
 
4,894

 
(65,362
)
 
27,368

Other Businesses
(35,658
)
 
9,108

 
40,684

 
48,051

Unallocated expense
(31,489
)
 
(45,905
)
 
(130,676
)
 
(146,725
)
Operating earnings
$
174,229

 
$
251,626

 
$
1,119,497

 
$
1,300,320

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Company operating margin
7.1
%
 
10.2
%
 
11.0
 %
 
13.0
%
ROIC* for Company
 
 
 
 
22.8
 %
 
28.5
%
ROIC* for United States
 
 
 
 
40.7
 %
 
45.1
%
ROIC* for Canada
 
 
 
 
(11.4
)%
 
4.3
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

*The GAAP financial statements are the source for all amounts used in the Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) calculation.  ROIC is calculated using operating earnings divided by net working assets (a 5-point average for the year). Net working assets are working assets minus working liabilities defined as follows: working assets equal total assets less cash equivalents (5-point average of $76.2 million, deferred taxes, and investments in unconsolidated entities, plus the LIFO reserve (5-point average of $386.7 million).  Working liabilities are the sum of trade payables, accrued compensation and benefits, accrued contributions to employees' profit sharing plans, and accrued expenses.


11


CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)
Preliminary
(In thousands of dollars)

Assets
December 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
Cash and cash equivalents
$
274,146

 
$
290,136

Accounts receivable – net
1,223,096

 
1,209,641

Inventories
1,406,470

 
1,414,177

Prepaid expenses and other assets
116,517

 
134,688

Total current assets
3,020,229

 
3,048,642

Property, buildings and equipment – net
1,420,891

 
1,431,241

Deferred income taxes
64,775

 
83,996

Goodwill
527,150

 
582,336

Intangibles – net (4)
586,126

 
648,010

Other assets (4)
75,136

 
63,530

Total assets
$
5,694,307

 
$
5,857,755

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity


 

Short-term debt
$
386,140

 
$
353,072

Current maturities of long-term debt (1)
19,966

 
247,346

Trade accounts payable
650,092

 
583,474

Accrued compensation and benefits
212,525

 
196,667

Accrued contributions to employees’ profit sharing plans
54,948

 
124,587

Accrued expenses
290,207

 
266,702

Income taxes payable
15,059

 
16,686

Total current liabilities
1,628,937

 
1,788,534

Long-term debt (1)(2)
1,840,946

 
1,388,414

Deferred income taxes and tax uncertainties
126,101

 
154,352

Employment-related and other non-current liabilities
192,555

 
173,741

Shareholders' equity (3)
1,905,768

 
2,352,714

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
$
5,694,307

 
$
5,857,755


(1)
Short-term debt decreased and long-term debt increased due to the refinancing of €110 million of debt in August 2016 for the Fabory business. Also, short-term decreased due to payment of $115 million for U.S. dollar term loan.
(2)
Long-term debt also increased due to the issuance of $400 million of Senior Notes in May 2016.

(3)
Common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2016, was 58,804,314 shares as compared with 62,028,708 shares at December 31, 2015.
(4)
Capitalized software had been reclassified from Other assets to Intangibles - net in both periods presented.


12


CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
Preliminary
(In thousands of dollars)
 
Twelve Months Ended
December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
Net earnings
$
632,838

 
$
785,174

Provision for losses on accounts receivable
16,216

 
10,181

Deferred income taxes and tax uncertainties
(5,884
)
 
4,076

Depreciation and amortization
248,857

 
227,967

Asset impairments, net of gains from sales of assets
33,797

 
2,765

Stock-based compensation
35,735

 
46,861

Losses from equity method investment
31,193

 
11,740

Change in operating assets and liabilities – net of business acquisitions and divestitures:
 
 
 
Accounts receivable
(45,600
)
 
(3,085
)
Inventories
(4,403
)
 
(37,737
)
Prepaid expenses and other assets
18,641

 
15,788

Trade accounts payable
72,882

 
23,130

Other current liabilities
(25,044
)
 
(70,306
)
Current income taxes payable
(3,513
)
 
6,943

Accrued employment-related benefits cost
7,542

 
(27,721
)
Other – net
(10,281
)
 
(5,872
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
1,002,976

 
989,904

Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
Additions to property, buildings and equipment
(284,249
)
 
(373,868
)
Proceeds from sales of assets
55,023

 
14,857

Equity method investment
(34,103
)
 
(20,382
)
Net cash paid for business acquisitions
634

 
(464,431
)
Other – net
431

 
466

Net cash used in investing activities
(262,264
)
 
(843,358
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
Net increase in short-term debt
38,445

 
301,211

Net increase in long-term debt
253,737

 
1,254,345

Proceeds from stock options exercised
34,125

 
60,885

Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation
11,905

 
27,553

Purchase of treasury stock
(789,773
)
 
(1,400,071
)
Cash dividends paid
(302,971
)
 
(306,474
)
Net cash used in financing activities
(754,532
)
 
(62,551
)
Exchange rate effect on cash and cash equivalents
(2,170
)
 
(20,503
)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
(15,990
)
 
63,492

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
290,136

 
226,644

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
274,146

 
$
290,136


13


SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION - CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (Unaudited)
(In thousands of dollars)

The company supplemented the reporting of financial information determined under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) with certain non-GAAP financial measures, including free cash flow and "adjusted" measures, including adjusted operating earnings, adjusted segment operating earnings, adjusted net earnings and adjusted diluted earnings per share. Free cash flow is not defined under GAAP. The company defines free cash flow as net cash flow provided by operating activities less purchases of property, plant and equipment plus proceeds from the sale of assets. The company believes free cash flow is meaningful to investors as a useful measure of performance and the company uses this measure as an indication of the strength of the company and its ability to generate cash. Adjusted measures exclude items that may not be indicative of core operating results. The company believes that these non-GAAP measures provide meaningful information to assist shareholders in understanding financial results and assessing prospects for future performance. Management believes adjusted operating earnings, adjusted net earnings and adjusted diluted earnings per share are important indicators of operations because they exclude items that may not be indicative of our core operating results, and provide a better baseline for analyzing trends in our underlying businesses. Because non-GAAP financial measures are not standardized, it may not be possible to compare these financial measures with other companies' non-GAAP financial measures having the same or similar names. These adjusted financial measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for reported results. These non-GAAP financial measures reflect an additional way of viewing aspects of operations that, when viewed with GAAP results, provide a more complete understanding of the business. The company strongly encourages investors and shareholders to review company financial statements and publicly-filed reports in their entirety and not to rely on any single financial measure.

The reconciliations provided below reconcile the non-GAAP financial measures adjusted net earnings, adjusted diluted earnings per share, adjusted operating earnings, adjusted segment operating earnings and free cash flow with GAAP financial measures:
Three Months Ended December 31, 2016
 
United States
Canada
Other Business
Unallocated Expenses
Total
%
Operating earnings reported
$
251,532

$
(10,156
)
$
(35,658
)
$
(31,489
)
$
174,229

(31
)%
Restructuring
3,176

(501
)


2,675

 
Other:
 
 
 
 

 
Goodwill and intangible impairment


52,318


52,318

 
Unclaimed property contingency
36,375




36,375

 
GSA contingency
9,180




9,180

 
Subtotal
48,731

(501
)
52,318


100,548

 
Operating earnings adjusted
$
300,263

$
(10,657
)
$
16,660

$
(31,489
)
$
274,777

(3
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended December 31, 2015
 
United States
Canada
Other Business
Unallocated Expenses
Total
 
Operating earnings reported
$
283,529

$
4,894

$
9,108

$
(45,905
)
$
251,626

 
Restructuring
25,133

3,038

1,113

1,002

30,286

 
Operating earnings adjusted
$
308,662

$
7,932

$
10,221

$
(44,903
)
$
281,912

 



14



SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION - CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (Unaudited)
(In thousands of dollars)

Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2016
 
United States
Canada
Other Business
Unallocated Expenses
Total
%
Operating earnings reported
$
1,274,851

$
(65,362
)
$
40,684

$
(130,676
)
$
1,119,497

(14
)%
Restructuring
15,668

14,998


8,947

39,613

 
Other:
 
 
 
 

 
Goodwill and intangible impairment


52,318


52,318

 
Unclaimed property contingency
36,375




36,375

 
Inventory reserve adjustment

9,847



9,847

 
GSA contingency
9,180




9,180

 
Subtotal
61,223

24,845

52,318

8,947

147,333

 
Operating earnings adjusted
$
1,336,074

$
(40,517
)
$
93,002

$
(121,729
)
$
1,266,830

(6
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2015
 
United States
Canada
Other Business
Unallocated Expenses
Total
 
Operating earnings reported
$
1,371,626

$
27,368

$
48,051

$
(146,725
)
$
1,300,320

 
Restructuring
34,507

4,183

5,696

965

45,351

 
Operating earnings adjusted
$
1,406,133

$
31,551

$
53,747

$
(145,760
)
$
1,345,671

 






15


SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION - CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (Unaudited)
(In thousands of dollars)

 
Three Months Ended December 31,
 
 
Twelve Months Ended December 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
%
 
2016
 
2015
%
Segment operating earnings adjusted
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
United States
$
300,263

 
$
308,662

 
 
$
1,336,074

 
$
1,406,133

 
Canada
(10,657
)
 
7,932

 
 
(40,517
)
 
31,551

 
Other Businesses
16,660

 
10,221

 
 
93,002

 
53,747

 
Unallocated expense
(31,489
)
 
(44,903
)
 
 
(121,729
)
 
(145,760
)
 
Segment operating earnings adjusted
$
274,777

 
$
281,912

(3
)%
 
$
1,266,830

 
$
1,345,671

(6
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Company operating margin adjusted
11.1
%
 
11.4
%
 
 
12.5
 %
 
13.5
%
 
ROIC* for Company
 
 
 
 
 
25.8
 %
 
29.5
%
 
ROIC* for United States
 
 
 
 
 
42.6
 %
 
46.2
%
 
ROIC* for Canada
 
 
 
 
 
(7.1
)%
 
5.0
%
 

*Adjusted ROIC is calculated as defined on page 10, excluding the items adjusting operating earnings as noted above.

 
Three Months Ended December 31,
 
 
Twelve Months Ended December 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
%
 
2016
 
2015
%
Net earnings reported
$
60,666

 
$
145,232

(58
)%
 
$
605,928

 
$
768,996

(21
)%
Restructuring
1,619

 
19,491

 
 
26,501

 
30,111

 
Other:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Goodwill and intangible impairment
52,318

 

 
 
52,318

 

 
Unclaimed property contingency
22,781

 
 
 
 
22,781

 
 
 
Inventory reserve adjustment

 

 
 
7,278

 

 
GSA contingency
5,750

 
 
 
 
5,750

 
 
 
Discrete tax items
3,784

 
(6,870
)
 
 
(9,378
)
 
(5,984
)
 
Subtotal
86,252

 
12,621

 
 
105,250

 
24,127

 
Net earnings adjusted
$
146,918

 
$
157,853

(7
)%
 
$
711,178

 
$
793,123

(10
)%













16


SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION - CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (Unaudited)
(In thousands of dollars)

Free Cash Flow
 
Three Months Ended December 31,
 
Twelve Months Ended December 31,
 
2016
2015
 
2016
2015
Net cash provided by operating activities
$
332,593

$
253,974

 
$
1,002,976

$
989,904

Add:
 
 
 
 
 
Proceeds from the sale of assets
6,934

2,506

 
55,023

14,857

Less:
 
 
 
 
 
Additions to property, building and equipment
70,627

120,671

 
284,249

373,868

 
 
 
 
 
 
Free cash flow
$
268,900

$
135,809

 
$
773,750

$
630,893


###

17