On April 23, cement producer Cemex (NYSE:CX) released first-quarter earnings for the period ended March 31.

  • Excluding one-time antidumping settlement proceeds from 2006, profits rose 12%.
  • While strong sales continue in Mexican and foreign markets, Cemex saw a 20% decrease in net sales in the United States.
  • Cemex predicts a tough year, as inventory is beginning to build up from diminishing demand because of the subprime housing market.
  • The Motley Fool CAPS community has a bullish outlook for the cement industry; they rate both Cemex and competitor Lafarge S.A. (NYSE:LR) a full five stars.

(Figures in millions, except per-share data)

Income Statement Highlights

Q1 2007

Q1 2006

Change

Sales

$4,301.7

$3,928.7

9.5%

Net Profit

$400.0

$505.0

(20.8%)

EPS

$0.55

$0.72

(23.6%)

Diluted Shares

733.0

704.9

4.0%

Get back to basics with the income statement.

Margin Checkup

Q1 2007

Q1 2006

Change*

Gross Margin

34.8%

36.0%

(1.2)

Operating Margin

13.0%

14.2%

(1.2)

Net Margin

9.3%

12.9%

(3.6)

*Expressed in percentage points.

Margins are the earnings engine.

Balance Sheet Highlights

Assets

Q1 2007

Q1 2006

Change

Cash + ST Invest.

$1,187.6

$687.8

72.7%

Accounts Rec.

$1,500.5

$1,569.8

(4.4%)

Inventory

$1,322.7

$1,128.2

17.2%

Liabilities

Q1 2007

Q1 2006

Change

Long-Term Debt

$5,114

$8,463

(39.6%)

The balance sheet reflects the company's health.

Cash Flow Highlights

Q1 2007

Q1 2006

Change

Cash From Ops.

$362

$505

(28.3%)

Capital Expenditures

$297

$179

65.9%

Free Cash Flow

$65

$326

(80.1%)

Free cash flow is a Fool's best friend.

Related Foolishness:

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