Consumer markets hurt some industrial earnings

By Nick Zieminski and Scott Malone

NEW YORK/BOSTON (Reuters) - Disappointed investors dumped shares of several large U.S. industrial and transport companies after they warned of weak consumer markets, especially in the United States.

3M Co's <MMM.N> earnings met Wall Street forecasts, and the global conglomerate reported strong industrial demand, but also had sharply lower sales in its display and graphics division. Its shares were down 4.8 percent at $90.50 on the New York Stock Exchange, the biggest drag on the Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> at midday on Tuesday.

3M's report was one of several early alarm bells about demand in the second half of 2011, amid persistently high unemployment, a U.S. housing market at multi-year lows, and a political impasse over the debt ceiling.

If U.S. and global economies slow down, cyclical manufacturers may be one of the first sectors where that slowdown will be visible. Near-term profit expectations may come down, said industrials analyst Jeff Windau of Edward Jones.

"Even with some warning signs and potential economic slowing, we still have high expectations," Windau said. "You see some signs of weakness. The consumer is the most obvious."

3M said Japan's March earthquake had reduced sales and profit margins in its display and graphics division, which makes specialty films for computers and televisions. Lower consumer spending was also a factor.

"The LCD TV business is ... going through one of those down cycles that reflect inventory corrections and, ultimately, a less robust consumer end market," 3M Chief Executive George Buckley told analysts.

Expectations were fairly high for 3M, said Peter Klein, senior portfolio manager at Fifth Third Asset Management in Cleveland. It met estimates because of a weaker dollar and a boost from acquisitions.

"Display and graphics was the weak spot and that's a consumer item," Klein said. "That just speaks to the pullback by consumers. It's not unexpected, but it's a concern."

CAUTIOUS CONSUMERS

Warning signs were not limited to industrial names.

Texas Instruments <TXN.N> on Monday gave a lukewarm outlook, suggesting back-to-school sales of computers and other electronics would be weaker than normal.

ARM Holdings <ARM.L> also sounded a note of caution about electronic goods sales this coming Christmas, overshadowing a better-than-expected second quarter.

And Ford Motor <F.N> trimmed its forecast for industry auto sales in North America even as its profit topped expectations on strong pricing.

Shares of United Parcel Service were down 4.7 percent at $70.54 after a modest earnings beat. The world's largest package delivery company, whose iconic brown trucks carry some 6 percent of the U.S. economy, said it was cautious about its upcoming peak shipping season.

"We have to get unemployment rates down in this country to get consumer confidence up," CEO Scott Davis said.

Steel and aluminum companies have reported stronger demand from some industrial sectors, but said profits are still constrained by weakness in residential and non-residential construction in Europe and North America.

AK Steel Holding Corp <AKS.N> said it expected a sharp fall in third-quarter operating profit. U.S. Steel <X.N>, the biggest U.S. steelmaker, also expects a lower third-quarter profit. Shares of both companies fell.

Though earnings from companies affected by consumer spending hinted at a slowdown, other signs suggested shoppers remain resilient. U.S. stocks pared losses as a better-than-expected reading on consumer confidence boosted investor optimism.

PROFITS DISAPPOINT

Several other manufacturing names missed profit forecasts.

Illinois Tool Works Inc <ITW.N> missed Wall Street estimates and the industrial conglomerate said it expected moderating demand in the second half of the year, sending its stock down 8.3 percent to $52.28.

Truck maker Paccar <PCAR.O> cited economic uncertainty when it lowered its estimate of this year's heavy-duty truck production in North America.

Carlisle Cos Inc's <CSL.N> profit was hurt by raw material costs. Shares of the maker of roofing materials, specialty wheels and food equipment were down 10 percent at $43.76.

Lennox International <LII.N>, which makes furnaces and air conditioners, cut its outlook. Earnings missed forecasts by a wide margin, and shares fell 8.6 percent to $37.66.

A bright spot in U.S. industrial earnings was Cummins Inc <CMI.N>, which credited strong international markets for its profit growth. The diesel engine maker said demand from truck, mining and energy markets remained strong and raised its earnings forecast.

(Additional reporting by Steve James, A. Ananthalakshmi, and Lynn Adler in New York, editing by Lisa Von Ahn and Matthew Lewis)