Whirlwind Quarter at Whirlpool: Fool by Numbers

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On Feb. 7, home appliance giant Whirlpool (NYSE: WHR) released fourth-quarter and year-end results for the period ended Dec. 31. Here are the quick and dirty details for the quarter.

• Total sales grew 25.3%, below analyst expectations and mostly reflecting the large acquisition of Maytag. International growth was strong, according to the company.
• Diluted earnings fell 25.1% because of merger integration and other related charges.
• Management expects $400 million in savings from the Maytag purchase by 2008.
• Whirlpool is projecting full-year 2007 diluted earnings from continuing operations of $8 to $8.50 per share and free cash flow of $600 million to $650 million, or more than $8 per share based on year-end 2006 diluted shares outstanding.
• Whirlpool is rated a two-star stock in the Motley Fool CAPS database. Join the community for free today to make your opinion known.

(Figures in millions, except per-share data)

Income Statement Highlights

	Q4 2006	Q4 2005	Change
Sales	$4,954	$3,954	25.3%
Net Profit	$109	$126	(13.5%)
EPS	$1.37	$1.83	(25.1%)
Diluted Shares	80	69	15.7%

Get back to basics with a look at the income statement.

Margin Checkup

	Q4 2006	Q4 2005	Change*
Gross Margin	14.03%	16.11%	(2.08)
Operating Margin	3.84%	5.54%	(1.70)
Net Margin	2.20%	3.19%	(0.99)

*Expressed in percentage points

Margins are the earnings engine. See how they work.

Balance Sheet Highlights

Assets	Q4 2006	Q4 2005	Change
Cash + ST Invest.	$262	$524	(50.0%)
Accounts Rec.	$2,676	$2,081	28.6%
Inventory	$2,348	$1,591	47.6%

Liabilities	Q4 2006	Q4 2005	Change
Accounts Payable	$2,945	$2,330	26.4%
Long-Term Debt	$1,798	$745	141.3%

Learn the ways of the balance sheet.

Cash Flow Highlights

	FY 2006	FY 2005	Change
Cash From Ops.	$880	$884	(0.5%)
Capital Expenditures	$490	$401	22.2%
Free Cash Flow	$390	$483	(19.3%)

Find out why Fools always follow the money.

Comparable companies:

• Salton (NYSE: SFP)
• Global-Tech Appliances (NYSE: GAI)
• National Presto Industries (NYSE: NPK)

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Fool by Numbers is designed to give you the raw earnings information in a timely fashion, putting all the numbers you need in one easy-to-read place. But at The Motley Fool, we believe numbers tell only part of the story, so checkFool.com for more of our in-depth discussion of what the numbers mean.

Fool contributor Ryan Fuhrmann has no financial interest in any company mentioned. Feel free to email him with feedback or to discuss any companies mentioned further. The Fool has an ironclad disclosure policy.