Summary
Procter & Gamble's (PG) third quarter of fiscal year 2017 reported stable net sales compared to the prior year, with a 1% organic sales increase. While net sales were slightly down (-1%), this was primarily due to unfavorable foreign exchange impacts (-2%), partially offset by pricing and mix. The company demonstrated strong operational efficiency with gross margin remaining stable, and a decrease in SG&A as a percentage of net sales, leading to a 1% increase in operating income. Net earnings from continuing operations saw a significant 9% increase due to improved tax rates and reduced interest expense. The overall net earnings attributable to Procter & Gamble decreased by 8% primarily due to the absence of a large gain from discontinued operations (Batteries business sale) recorded in the prior year's comparable quarter. However, the nine-month period showed a substantial 53% increase in net earnings, largely driven by the $5.3 billion after-tax gain from the divestiture of Beauty Brands, alongside positive results from continuing operations. Core net earnings per share, which excludes one-time items, showed a healthy 12% increase for the quarter and 7% for the nine-month period, reflecting underlying business strength and efficiency improvements.
Financial Highlights
53 data points| Revenue | $15.61B |
| Cost of Revenue | $7.84B |
| Gross Profit | $7.77B |
| SG&A Expenses | $4.41B |
| Operating Income | $3.36B |
| Interest Expense | $96.00M |
| Net Income | $2.52B |
| EPS (Basic) | $0.96 |
| EPS (Diluted) | $0.93 |
| Shares Outstanding (Basic) | 2.56B |
| Shares Outstanding (Diluted) | 2.71B |
Key Highlights
- 1Net sales remained flat year-over-year for the nine-month period at $49.0 billion, with organic sales growing 2%.
- 2Net earnings from continuing operations were $8.0 billion for the nine-month period, unchanged from the prior year, indicating stable core business performance.
- 3The divestiture of Beauty Brands in the current fiscal year contributed a significant $5.3 billion after-tax gain, boosting total net earnings significantly for the nine-month period.
- 4Diluted net earnings per share from continuing operations increased by 3% for the nine-month period and 15% for the third quarter, benefiting from reduced share count due to buybacks and divestitures.
- 5Operating cash flow was strong at $9.1 billion for the nine-month period, with adjusted free cash flow of $7.0 billion.
- 6The company continues to execute on its productivity and cost-saving initiatives, with cumulative before-tax savings estimated at $2.5 to $3 billion from its 2012 plan.
- 7Segment performance showed mixed results, with Health Care posting strong net sales growth (4% for the quarter, 4% for nine months), while Beauty and Grooming experienced slight declines.