CINCINNATI-The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) reported third quarter fiscal year 2020 net sales of $17.2 billion, an increase of five percent versus the prior year. Excluding the net impacts of foreign exchange, acquisitions and divestitures, organic sales increased six percent. Diluted net earnings per share were $1.12, an eight percent increase versus the prior year. Core earnings per share increased 10% to $1.17. Currency-neutral core EPS increased 15% versus the prior year.

Operating cash flow was $4.1 billion for the quarter. Free cash flow productivity was 113%. The Company returned $2.8 billion of cash to shareholders through $1.9 billion in dividend payments and $900 million of common stock repurchases in the third quarter. Over the last 10 years, P&G has returned over $120 billion to shareholders in cash dividends and stock repurchase. Earlier this week, P&G announced a 6% increase in the quarterly dividend, marking the 64th consecutive year the Company has increased its dividend. P&G has been paying a dividend for 130 consecutive years, since its incorporation in 1890.

'The strong results we delivered this quarter are a direct reflection of the integral role our products play in meeting the daily health, hygiene and cleaning needs of consumers around the world,' said David Taylor, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. 'Our organization has been doing a terrific job against our near-term priorities - protecting the health and safety of each other, maximizing availability of P&G products to meet heightened consumer need and helping society meet and overcome the challenges of this crisis.'

January - March Quarter Discussion

Net sales in the third quarter of fiscal year 2020 were $17.2 billion, up five percent versus the prior year. Unfavorable foreign exchange negatively impacted sales by two percentage points for the quarter. Excluding the impacts of foreign exchange, acquisitions and divestitures, organic sales increased six percent driven primarily by an increase in organic shipment volume. Organic shipment volume increased six percent as strong consumer demand in North America and certain European markets due to the COVID-19 pandemic was partially offset by volume decreases in certain Asian markets due primarily to temporary disruption of consumer access to retail markets related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Increased pricing contributed one percent to net sales. Mix was neutral to net sales growth.

January - March 2020: See details at:

https://news.pg.com/press-release/pg-corporate-announcements/pg-announces-fiscal-year-2020-third-quarter-results

Net sales percentage changes are approximations based on quantitative formulas that are consistently applied.

(2)

Other includes the sales mix impact from acquisitions and divestitures and rounding impacts necessary to reconcile volume to net sales.

Beauty segment organic sales increased one percent versus year ago. Skin and Personal Care organic sales increased low single digits driven by innovation, increased pricing and increased marketing spending, partially offset by negative product mix, due to the double digits decline of the super-premium SK-II brand caused by the temporary disruption of retail markets across Asia and a sharp reduction in travel retail sales. Hair Care organic sales increased low single digits driven by innovation related price increases, partially offset by double digit volume decreases in China due primarily to the temporary disruption of retail markets.

Grooming segment organic sales decreased one percent versus year ago. Shave Care organic sales decreased low single digits driven by negative mix due to the disproportionate decline in North America which has higher than segment average selling prices, partially offset by devaluation-driven price increases. Appliances organic sales increased high single digits primarily due to positive mix from the disproportionate growth of premium products.

Health Care segment organic sales increased nine percent. Oral Care organic sales increased mid-single digits primarily due to innovation, market growth, increased pricing and positive mix driven by the disproportionate growth of premium products, partially offset by reduced volumes in China primarily due to the temporary disruption of retail markets. Personal Health Care organic sales increased high teens primarily due to innovation, increased consumer demand, increased marketing spending, increased pricing and positive mix due to the disproportionate growth of the North America region which has higher than segment average selling prices.

Fabric and Home Care segment organic sales increased 10% for the quarter. Fabric Care organic sales increased high single digits driven by innovation, market growth, increased consumer demand in North America and Europe and positive mix due to the disproportionate growth of premium products. Home Care organic sales increased mid-teens driven by innovation, increased demand in North America and Europe and positive mix due to the disproportionate growth of premium products.

Baby, Feminine and Family Care segment organic sales increased seven percent versus year ago. Baby Care organic sales increased low single digits driven by increased demand in certain markets and positive mix due to the disproportionate growth of premium products, partially offset by reduced volumes in China primarily due to the temporary disruption of retail markets. Feminine Care organic sales increased high single digits driven by innovation, increased marketing spending, increased pricing and positive product mix due to the disproportionate growth of premium products. Family Care organic sales increased double digits driven by a sharp increase in consumer demand, partially offset by unfavorable mix due to the disproportionate growth of large sizes and club channels.

Diluted net earnings per share were $1.12, an eight percent increase versus the prior year, driven primarily by the increase in net sales and an increase in operating margin. Core earnings per share were $1.17, a 10% increase versus the prior year, due to higher non-core restructuring charges versus the prior year. Currency-neutral core earnings per share increased 15% for the quarter.

Reported gross margin increased 60 basis points, including a 60 basis-point hurt from higher non-core restructuring charges versus the prior year. Core gross margin increased 120 basis points versus the prior year, including 10 basis points of negative foreign exchange impacts. On a currency-neutral basis, core gross margin increased 130 basis points driven by 170 basis points of gross productivity savings, 100 basis points from commodity cost decreases and 40 basis points of pricing benefit, partially offset by 180 basis points of unfavorable product mix and other impacts.

Selling, general and administrative expense (SG&A) as a percentage of sales increased 10 basis points on a reported basis versus the prior year, including a 10 basis-point help from a year-on-year reduction in non-core restructuring charges. Core SG&A as a percentage of sales increased 20 basis points versus the prior year, including approximately 70 basis points of negative foreign exchange impacts. On a currency-neutral basis, core SG&A as a percentage of sales decreased 50 basis points as 180 basis points of sales leverage benefit and 70 basis points of savings from overhead and marketing expenses were partially offset by 190 basis points of increased marketing investments and 10 basis points of inflation and other impacts.

Operating profit margin increased 50 basis points versus the base period on a reported basis, including 50 basis points hurt from higher non-core restructuring charges. Core operating margin increased 100 basis points including approximately 80 basis points of negative foreign exchange impacts. On a currency-neutral basis, core operating margin increased 180 basis points including total productivity cost savings of 240 basis points.

Fiscal Year 2020 Guidance

The Company adjusted its outlook for fiscal 2020 all-in sales growth, from a range of four to five percent growth to a range of three to four percent growth versus the prior year, to reflect stronger headwinds from foreign exchange. The revised growth estimate includes a negative two percentage point impact from foreign exchange, partially offset by a modest positive impact from acquisitions and divestitures. The Company maintained its guidance for organic sales growth in the range of four to five percent.

The Company maintained its guidance range for fiscal 2020 all-in GAAP diluted net earnings per share growth at 235% to 245%, noting that the comparison period is significantly depressed by the Gillette Shave Care impairment charges in fiscal 2019. P&G also maintained its fiscal 2020 guidance for core earnings per share growth at the range of eight to eleven percent growth versus fiscal 2019.

The Company is not able to reconcile its forward-looking non-GAAP cash flow measure without unreasonable efforts because the Company cannot predict the timing and amounts of discrete cash items, such as acquisitions, divestitures, or impairments, which could significantly impact GAAP results. The Company maintained its estimate for fiscal 2020 adjusted free cash flow productivity at 100%.

The Company expects to pay over $7.5 billion in dividends and repurchase $7 billion to $8 billion of common shares in fiscal 2020.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this release or presentation, other than purely historical information, including estimates, projections, statements relating to our business plans, objectives, and expected operating results, and the assumptions upon which those statements are based, are 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words 'believe,' 'project,' 'expect,' 'anticipate,' 'estimate,' 'intend,' 'strategy,' 'future,' 'opportunity,' 'plan,' 'may,' 'should,' 'will,' 'would,' 'will be,' 'will continue,' 'will likely result,' and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions, which are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by law.

Risks and uncertainties to which our forward-looking statements are subject include, without limitation: (1) the ability to successfully manage global financial risks, including foreign currency fluctuations, currency exchange or pricing controls and localized volatility; (2) the ability to successfully manage local, regional or global economic volatility, including reduced market growth rates, and to generate sufficient income and cash flow to allow the Company to effect the expected share repurchases and dividend payments; (3) the ability to manage disruptions in credit markets or changes to our credit rating; (4) the ability to maintain key manufacturing and supply arrangements (including execution of supply chain optimizations and sole supplier and sole manufacturing plant arrangements) and to manage disruption of business due to factors outside of our control, such as natural disasters, acts of war or terrorism, or disease outbreaks; (5) the ability to successfully manage cost fluctuations and pressures, including prices of commodities and raw materials, and costs of labor, transportation, energy, pension and healthcare; (6) the ability to stay on the leading edge of innovation, obtain necessary intellectual property protections and successfully respond to changing consumer habits and technological advances attained by, and patents granted to, competitors; (7) the ability to compete with our local and global competitors in new and existing sales channels, including by successfully responding to competitive factors such as prices, promotional incentives and trade terms for products; (8) the ability to manage and maintain key customer relationships; (9) the ability to protect our reputation and brand equity by successfully managing real or perceived issues, including concerns about safety, quality, ingredients, efficacy or similar matters that may arise; (10) the ability to successfully manage the financial, legal, reputational and operational risk associated with third-party relationships, such as our suppliers, contract manufacturers, distributors, contractors and external business partners; (11) the ability to rely on and maintain key company and third party information technology systems, networks and services, and maintain the security and functionality of such systems, networks and services and the data contained therein; (12) the ability to successfully manage uncertainties related to changing political conditions (including the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union) and potential implications such as exchange rate fluctuations and market contraction; (13) the ability to successfully manage regulatory and legal requirements and matters (including, without limitation, those laws and regulations involving product liability, product and packaging composition, intellectual property, labor and employment, antitrust, data protection, tax, environmental, and accounting and financial reporting) and to resolve pending matters within current estimates; (14) the ability to manage changes in applicable tax laws and regulations including maintaining our intended tax treatment of divestiture transactions; (15) the ability to successfully manage our ongoing acquisition, divestiture and joint venture activities, in each case to achieve the Company's overall business strategy and financial objectives, without impacting the delivery of base business objectives; (16) the ability to successfully achieve productivity improvements and cost savings and manage ongoing organizational changes, while successfully identifying, developing and retaining key employees, including in key growth markets where the availability of skilled or experienced employees may be limited; and (17) the ability to successfully manage the demand, supply, and operational challenges associated with a disease outbreak, including epidemics, pandemics, or similar widespread public health concerns (including the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, outbreak). For additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those projected herein, please refer to our most recent 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K reports.

About Procter & Gamble

P&G serves consumers around the world with one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Always, Ambi Pur, Ariel, Bounty, Charmin, Crest, Dawn, Downy, Fairy, Febreze, Gain, Gillette, Head & Shoulders, Lenor, Olay, Oral-B, Pampers, Pantene, SK-II, Tide, Vicks, and Whisper. The P&G community includes operations in approximately 70 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and information about P&G and its brands.

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