8-KEarnings & ResultsExhibits & Filings

ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC 8-K Report, Financial Results (Apr 26, 2011)

Filed April 26, 2011For Securities:ITW

Summary

Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW) filed an 8-K on April 26, 2011, to announce its first-quarter 2011 financial results. The report primarily furnished a press release detailing these results and a presentation from the subsequent conference call. Investors should note that ITW is emphasizing its use of 'free operating cash flow' and 'return on average invested capital' (ROIC) as key performance indicators. The company defines free operating cash flow as cash available for dividends, acquisitions, share repurchases, and debt repayment, distinct from net cash flow from operating activities. ROIC is presented as a measure of operational efficiency in utilizing invested capital, with invested capital specifically defined to exclude cash, cash equivalents, and debt.

Key Highlights

  • 1ITW announced its first-quarter 2011 results via an 8-K filing on April 26, 2011.
  • 2The filing includes a press release (Exhibit 99.1) and a conference call presentation (Exhibit 99.2) related to the Q1 2011 results.
  • 3The company highlights its use of 'free operating cash flow' as a key metric for operational cash generation.
  • 4Free operating cash flow is defined as cash available for dividends, acquisitions, share repurchases, and debt repayment.
  • 5ITW also emphasizes 'return on average invested capital' (ROIC) to assess operational efficiency.
  • 6Invested capital for ROIC calculation excludes cash, cash equivalents, and outstanding debt, focusing on operational assets.
  • 7Investors are cautioned that ITW's non-GAAP measures (free operating cash flow and ROIC) may differ from those of other companies.

Frequently Asked Questions

ITW is highlighting 'free operating cash flow' and 'return on average invested capital' (ROIC) as key performance indicators. Free operating cash flow is presented as the cash generated from operations available for strategic uses like dividends and debt repayment, while ROIC measures how effectively the company uses its invested capital to generate profits.

ITW defines 'free operating cash flow' as the cash flow generated by operations that is available for dividends, acquisitions, share repurchases, and debt repayment. It's important to note that this is a non-GAAP measure and may not be directly comparable to net cash flow from operating activities on the statement of cash flows or similar measures used by other companies.

For its ROIC calculation, ITW defines invested capital as the net assets of the company, excluding cash and cash equivalents and outstanding debt. This exclusion is intended to focus the metric on the capital invested directly in the company's operations.

The detailed financial results and presentation are furnished as Exhibit 99.1 (Press Release) and Exhibit 99.2 (Conference Call Presentation) to this 8-K filing.