ts debt increased by a relatively small percentage. Film and Photofinishing decreased 13%.
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\nFor details, read the Kodak press release: <\/i>
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\nKodak Reports Improved First-Quarter Results on Sales of $2.093 Billion<\/b>
\nFirst-Quarter Digital Revenue Up 10% to $1.366 Billion%3B Company Improves GAAP Results From Continuing Operations by 35%%3B Ends Quarter with More Than $2.2 Billion in Cash%3B Re-Affirms Full-Year Revenue, Earnings and Cash Goals<\/i>
\nROCHESTER, N.Y., May 1 — Eastman Kodak Company (NYSE:EK) today reported a 35 percent, or $61 million, year-over-year improvement in its first-quarter loss from continuing operations on sales of $2.093 billion. Kodak\u2019s revenue from digital businesses rose 10% to $1.366 billion, driven by strong year-over-year increases in most of its digital businesses.
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\n\u201cOur first-quarter results are very much in line with our expectations, which included forecasted seasonality, and provide an early indication that Kodak is on a growth track,\u201d said Antonio M. Perez, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Eastman Kodak Company. \u201cWe delivered strong performance across our major digital businesses, reinforcing our confidence in achieving our revenue, earnings and cash goals for the year.\u201d
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\nFor the first quarter of 2008:
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\nSales totaled $2.093 billion, an increase of 1% from $2.080 billion in the first quarter of 2007. Revenue from digital businesses totaled $1.366 billion, a 10% increase from $1.245 billion in the prior-year quarter. Traditional revenue totaled $724 million, a 13% decline from $830 million in the first quarter of 2007.
\nThe company\u2019s first-quarter loss from continuing operations, before interest, other income (charges), net, and income taxes was $81 million, compared with a loss of $186 million in the year-ago quarter.
\nOn the basis of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), the company reported a first-quarter loss from continuing operations of $114 million, or $0.40 per share, compared with a loss of $175 million, or $0.61 per share, in the year-ago period. Items of net expense that impacted comparability in the first quarter of 2008 totaled $2 million after tax, or $0.01 per share. The most significant items included curtailment gains resulting from previous restructuring actions of $0.03 per share and gains on asset sales of $0.03 per share, offset by discrete tax provision items and a legal settlement charge, together totaling $0.07 per share. Items of net expense that impacted comparability in the prior-year quarter totaled $95 million after tax, or $0.33 per share, primarily due to restructuring charges, partially offset by a foreign tax reserve reversal.
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\nOther first-quarter 2008 details:
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\nGross Profit margin was 20.3% for the quarter, down slightly from 20.6% in the year-ago period, primarily attributable to significant year-over-year increases in silver, aluminum and other raw material costs, and continued investment in the consumer inkjet business.
\nSelling, General and Administrative expenses decreased $9 million from first-quarter 2007, primarily reflecting the company\u2019s continued focus on controlling costs. As a percentage of revenue, SG&A was 18.4%, compared with 18.9% in the year-ago quarter.
\nFirst-quarter net cash generation was a use of $764 million, a $311 million increase in cash used from the year-ago period. This corresponds to net cash used in operating activities from continuing operations on a GAAP basis of $767 million in the first quarter, compared with $397 million in the first quarter 2007. This increase in cash usage is due primarily to higher working capital, including inventory build associated with projected revenue growth, and higher payments to suppliers related to revenue growth in the prior year’s fourth quarter. The company also made increased payments for performance-based compensation and for various tax items, contractual obligations and legal settlements.
\nThe company\u2019s debt level stood at $1.606 billion as of March 31, 2008, comparable to the year-end 2007 debt level of $1.597 billion.
\nKodak held $2.203 billion in cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2008, compared to the year-end 2007 level of $2.947 billion.
\nSegment sales and results from continuing operations before interest, taxes, and other income and charges (earnings from operations), are as follows:
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\nConsumer Digital Imaging Group sales for the first quarter were $554 million, a 20% increase from the prior-year quarter. Loss from operations for the segment was $111 million, compared with a loss of $75 million in the year-ago quarter. The increased loss was driven by the planned investment in the consumer inkjet business, partially offset by continued earnings improvement in digital cameras and digital picture frames. In April, the company introduced the latest in its line of All-in-One printers, the KODAK ESP 5, and announced new retail partnerships with Target Retail Department Stores in the U.S., and London Drugs and Canadian Tire in Canada. Beginning in the second half of 2008, Kodak will broaden its current inkjet distribution network of more than 8,000 retail stores by expanding availability into countries in Latin America.
\nGraphic Communications Group sales for the first quarter were $812 million, a 4% increase from the year-ago quarter. Loss from operations was $1 million, compared with earnings of $9 million in the year-ago quarter. This earnings decline was primarily driven by higher aluminum costs and planned R&D investment in the commercial inkjet printing business in advance of the industry\u2019s major trade show, DRUPA, scheduled for May 29 to June 11. At the show, the company will introduce KODAK STREAM Technology, a revolutionary approach to continuous inkjet printing that provides offset-class quality, speed and cost.
\nFilm, Photofinishing and Entertainment Group first-quarter sales were $724 million, down from $830 million in the year-ago quarter, representing a decrease of 13%. Earnings from operations were $26 million, compared with $30 million in the year-ago quarter. These results reflect impacts from increased silver and other raw material costs, decreased sales volume of photographic film and paper, and the effects of the Hollywood writers\u2019 strike, offset by decreased SG&A costs and lower depreciation expenses related to the company\u2019s change in useful life assumptions regarding its traditional manufacturing assets.
\n\u201cI am encouraged by the positive customer response that we are receiving across our digital businesses and the continued strong operational performance of our traditional business,\u201d said Perez. \u201cWe look forward to a strong showing at DRUPA later this month, and continued growth throughout the year.\u201d
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\n2008 Outlook
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\nFor 2008, on a continuing operations basis, Kodak re-affirms guidance provided in the company\u2019s February investor meeting, including:
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\nTotal company revenue growth in the range of 0% to 2%%3B digital revenue growth in the range of 7% to 10%%3B
\n2008 GAAP earnings from continuing operations in the range of $250 million to $275 million, including pre-tax charges in the range of $60 million to $80 million for rationalization and carryover restructuring costs%3B
\nOn a GAAP basis, cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations in the range of $575 million to $625 million%3B
\nCash generation in the range of $400 million to $500 million before dividend payments and after taking into account payments for carryover restructuring and other rationalization costs of approximately $150 million.
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ts debt increased by a relatively small percentage. Film and Photofinishing decreased 13%. For details, read the Kodak press release: Kodak Reports Improved First-Quarter Results on Sales of $2.093 Billion First-Quarter Digital Revenue Up 10% to $1.366 Billion%3B Company Improves GAAP Results From Continuing Operations by 35%%3B Ends Quarter with More Than $2.2 Billion in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":141,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5120","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-trending"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n