Honeywell’s full-year 2008 sales increased 6% to $36.6 billion from $34.6 billion in 2007. Earnings per share were up 19% to $3.76 versus $3.16 in the prior year. Cash flow from operations was $3.8 billion and free cash flow (cash flow from operations less capital expenditures), excluding cash taxes relating to the sale of the Consumables Solutions (CS) business, was $3.1 billion. Free cash flow conversion (free cash flow divided by net income) was 110% of net income for the full-year, excluding the CS taxes.
Fourth quarter sales were $8.7 billion versus $9.3 billion in 2007. Earnings per share were $0.97 versus $0.91 in the prior year fourth quarter. Cash flow from operations was $1.3 billion and excluding CS taxes, free cash flow was $1.1 billion. Fourth quarter free cash flow conversion was 155% of net income, excluding the CS taxes.
“Having great positions in good industries combined with strong execution drove Honeywell’s performance and growth in a tough 2008 economic environment,” said Honeywell Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dave Cote. “Our key initiatives, including the Honeywell Operating System, Velocity Product Development and Functional Transformation, are working, and we’re a much stronger company today because of their ongoing global implementation. In 2008, we were awarded large multi-year contracts and continued to be a strong cash generator. We also made acquisitions to bolster our portfolio, completed meaningful share repurchases, and increased the dividend rate.”
For more information, read the release and see the Investor Relations presentation.
