Any presentation from Emerson Electric (EMR -0.67%) CEO David Farr usually contains some straight talk -- you would want nothing else from a business leader -- and the company's Investor Conference presentation provided just that. Farr offered detailed color commentary on the company's future, and the key conclusions from his talk gave succor to the bullish thesis for the stock. Here's how and why.

1. Emerson is not cutting its dividend
 Emerson's current dividend yield of nearly 4% is obviously attractive to income-seeking investors, but is it sustainable? The concerns on the issue relate to the company's deteriorating earnings outlook and the fact that free cash flow decreased from $2.93 billion in 2014 to $1.84 billion in 2015. Moreover, the intended spinoff or sale of its network power business will reduce cash flow generation.

Clearly, these fears are overblown, because Farr was unequivocal in declaring the dividend wouldn't be cut. He has good reason to be. For example, part of the reason for the free cash flow decline in 2015 was that Emerson paid $500 million in taxes on divestitures. Moreover, Farr's forecast for 2016 is for $2.38 billion in free cash flow, a figure 1.9 times the 2015 dividend payout. 

2. Orders are set to improve
On the previous earnings call, Farr outlined his expectation for Emerson's three-month rolling order book to turn positive in April. As you can see in the graphic below, he reiterated this in the presentation. In addition, underlying sales growth is expected to turn positive on a year-over-year basis in the third and fourth quarters.

IMAGE SOURCE: EMERSON ELECTRIC PRESENTATIONS.

In other words, a snapshot of the company in the third quarter would show a company with positive order growth behind it and sales growing again. The market tends to reward such companies.

3. Outlook seems conservative
Furthermore, Farr's outlook is arguably based on a conservative outlook for 2016. The following graphic shows how Emerson's forecast for gross fixed investment in 2016 is below that of respected business analysts IHS.

IMAGE SOURCE: EMERSON ELECTRIC PRESENTATIONS

Moreover, the company's guidance for positive year-over-year underlying sales growth is not dependent on the upward-trending growth forecast that IHS is giving. In other words, if the IHS forecast turns out to be right, it's reasonable to expect greater upside potential than Emerson's sales and earnings forecasts indicate.

4. End market demand is steady outside oil and gas
It's no secret that Emerson Electric has suffered due to its oil and gas exposure, and conditions aren't likely to get much better anytime soon. However, a look at its  end markets outside of the oil and gas space shows that, other than metals and mining, the company's end markets are set for flat to positive growth in 2016.

Of particular note is the positive outlook given for machine automation. Among the items Emerson lists as potential growth drivers over the next four years: "Automotive demand continues at moderate pace; Increased packaging equipment demand for food & beverage."

In fact, its only negative end market in process management is set to be oil and gas. Similarly, within the commercial and residential solutions segment, the only negative end market is also oil and gas. Meanwhile, climate technologies looks set for low growth all around.

5. Upside from reorganization 
Investors will also have some upside from corporate action to look forward to in 2016. Emerson's plan is to spin off or sell its network power segment, and sell its motors and drives, power generation, and storage businesses. What is left will then be reorganized into two segments: automation solutions (the existing process management segment and the remainder of industrial automation) and commercial and residential solutions (the existing business plus climate technologies).

Here are some keys facts about the post-reorganization Emerson:

  • The new business is forecast to generate $15 billion in sales in 2016 compared to $20 billion to $21 billion for the existing business.
  • Forecast 2016 EBIT margin for the new business of 18.3% compared to 15.4% for the existing business.
  • New business automation solutions forecast to comprise 64% of 2016 sales with commercial and residential solutions generating the remaining 36%.
  • New business is intended to have a higher growth profile.
  • The new business will be seeking acquisitions in order to help drive revenue growth.

In a nutshell, the new business will be smaller but higher-margin, and boast a better growth profile--something investors might warm too.

Looking ahead
 All told, provided conditions don't worsen in the oil market and the economy holds up, Farr's presentation suggests Emerson Electric will be an attractive stock for income seekers. If all goes to plan, the company will start reporting sales growth by the end of the year, and its corporate restructuring will create a new company with a higher growth and margin profile -- and of course, an uncut dividend.