Air Products today reported results for the quarter ended March 31, 2014. Net income of $284m and diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.32, were down 2% and 4%, respectively, compared with results for the second quarter of 2013.
Second quarter sales of $2,582m increased 4% versus prior year driven by higher energy pass-through and stronger underlying volumes in Merchant Gases, and Electronics and Performance Materials. Excluding the exit from the Polyurethane Intermediates Business (PUI), underlying sales improved 2% versus prior year and were down one percent sequentially.
Operating income of $385m decreased 1% versus prior year. Strong results in Electronics and Performance Materials, and Equipment and Energy, were more than offset by Merchant Gases and Tonnage Gases, which were impacted by adverse weather and planned outages, respectively. Operating margin of 14.9% was down 80 basis points, with the positive impact from higher volumes more than offset by higher costs, including weather impacts, and the dilutive effect of higher energy pass-through.
Commenting on the quarter, John McGlade, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “In the second quarter, Air Products delivered higher underlying volumes. We also executed well on our planned maintenance outages, and managed the additional challenge of adverse weather, the costs of which we are committed to recover in the second half of the year. We remain confident in the prospects for the business and, accordingly, we raised our quarterly dividend for the 32nd consecutive year.”
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