Strong international growth produces solid quarter for UPS
UPS today reported a 7.9% increase in adjusted diluted earnings per share to USD0.96 on a 3.3% revenue gain, thanks to a strong performance by its international operation and significant improvement by its supply chain and freight segment.
Those results exclude an impairment charge relating to aging jet aircraft and expenses for a voluntary separation program completed during the quarter. Including these charges, diluted earnings per share declined 12.4% to USD0.78 compared to the same period in 2006.
For the three months ended March 31, 2007, adjusted operating margin improved 30 basis points to 13.8%. The supply chain and freight segment reported adjusted operating profit of USD54 million, an improvement of USD79 million.
During the period, UPS took an impairment charge of USD221 million on certain Boeing 727 and 747 aircraft, including related engines and parts. In addition, the company realized a charge to expense of USD68 million to reflect the cost of a previously announced voluntary separation opportunity. The effect of these two items after tax was USD184 million, which reduced diluted earnings per share by USD0.18.
The aircraft impairment charge impacted the U.S. Domestic Package segment by USD159 million and the International Package segment by USD62 million. The separation charge impacted the U.S. Domestic Package segment by USD53 million, the International Package segment by USD7 million and the Supply Chain and Freight segment by USD8 million.
UPS ended the quarter with USD2.4 billion in cash and marketable securities. UPS also generated USD1.9 billion in free cash flow, purchased 8.9 million shares, paid dividends totaling USD828 million and invested USD675 million in capital expenditures.
Consolidated volume in the U.S. operation was flat for the quarter as a result of a slowing U.S. economy.
Export volume showed strong growth with a 10% gain, led by a jump of more than 20% from Asia and a double-digit increase from Europe.
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