CINCINNATI, Oct. 29, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE: PG) reported net sales of $19.8 billion for the July - September quarter which exceeded the Company's guidance. Organic sales growth was up two percent versus a guidance range of flat to minus three percent on better than expected results across most business segments. Diluted net earnings per share increased three percent to $1.06, above the Company's guidance range of $0.95 to $1.00. The Company raised its outlook for the October - December quarter and fiscal 2010 organic sales growth citing modestly higher expectation for market growth. The Company also increased the low end of its fiscal year guidance range by $0.03 per share to reflect the higher top-line growth projection.

"Our September quarter results give us encouragement we are making the right choices to grow market share profitably," said President and Chief Executive Officer Bob McDonald. "We are investing in innovation, expanding our portfolio and improving consumer value to serve more consumers, in more parts of the world, more completely. We are driving simplification and improving execution while leveraging scale to create cost efficiencies that help fund these investments and accelerate growth."

Executive Summary
Net sales for the quarter were $19.8 billion, a decrease of six percent that was primarily due to unfavorable foreign exchange impacts as the U.S. dollar remained above prior year levels. The company had previously guided to a net sales decrease of seven to ten percent.
Organic sales, which exclude the impacts of acquisitions, divestitures and foreign exchange, increased two percent.
Diluted net earnings per share increased three percent to $1.06 for the July - September quarter.
Operating margin increased 160 basis points for the quarter behind a 290 basis point improvement in gross margin, partially offset by higher selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses.
Operating cash flow was $4.6 billion for the first fiscal quarter. Free cash flow, which is operating cash flow less capital spending, was $4.0 billion, an all-time record and over 120 percent of net earnings excluding the gain on the sale of Actonel in Japan.

Key Financial Highlights
Net sales declined six percent to $19.8 billion for the July - September quarter mainly due to unfavorable foreign exchange impacts of seven percent as the U.S. dollar strengthened versus key foreign currencies. Organic sales grew two percent as price increases and positive product mix more than offset volume declines. Unit volume decreased three percent largely due to a difficult pre-economic crisis base period comparison, market contractions, prior year divestitures and share losses in some categories. These impacts were partially offset by new initiative launches in most segments. Organic volume, which excludes the impact of acquisitions and divestitures, was down two percent for the quarter with the Central & Eastern Europe/Middle East/Africa (CEEMEA) region accounting for over half of the Company's year-on-year quarterly volume decline. Price increases taken primarily in developing regions to offset local currency devaluations added three percent to net sales. Positive geographic product mix increased net sales by one percent.

Diluted net earnings per share were $1.06, an increase of three percent for the quarter. Net earnings decreased one percent primarily due to lower net sales, partially offset by the gain on the sale of Actonel in Japan, which was included in net earnings from discontinued operations.

Diluted net earnings per share from continuing operations increased one percent to $0.97. Net earnings from continuing operations were down three percent behind negative foreign currency impacts, lower net sales and higher base period divestiture gains on minor brands, partially offset by lower commodity and media costs and manufacturing cost savings in the current period. Core EPS, which is earnings per share from continuing operations excluding incremental Folgers-related restructuring charges in the base period, was in line with the prior year period.

Operating margin increased 160 basis points versus the prior year period driven by higher gross margin, partially offset by higher SG&A as a percentage of net sales. Gross margin expanded 290 basis points to 52.6 percent of net sales behind price increases, lower commodity costs and manufacturing cost savings. SG&A as a percentage of net sales increased 130 basis points due to negative foreign currency impacts.

Operating cash flow for the quarter was $4.6 billion, an increase of 32 percent mainly due to reductions in working capital balances. Free cash flow was $4.0 billion and over 120 percent of net earnings excluding the gain on the sale of Actonel in Japan. Capital expenditures were 2.8 percent of net sales.

Fiscal Year 2010 Guidance
For fiscal year 2010, the Company increased the range of expected organic sales growth by one percent to plus two to four percent. Net sales are expected to be up three to six percent. Foreign exchange is expected to contribute one to two percent to net sales growth. The Company updated its diluted earnings per share guidance to $4.02 to $4.12 and core EPS of $3.47 to $3.59 by increasing the low end of the previous guidance ranges by $0.03/share. Core earnings per share are expected to be in line to up three percent versus year ago.

October - December 2009 Quarter Guidance
For the October - December quarter, the Company expects organic sales growth of two to five percent. Net sales are expected to increase three to seven percent versus the prior year. Foreign exchange is expected to add one to two percent to net sales growth. Diluted earnings per share are expected to be $1.36 to $1.44 including an estimated $0.43 gain on the sale of the global pharmaceuticals business. The final gain amount will be provided in January with the December quarter results. Core earnings per share are expected to be $0.91 to $1.00, an increase of one to 11 percent versus prior year which included very high commodity costs.

Global Pharmaceuticals Business Divestiture
The Company commented that it is on track to complete the sale of its global pharmaceuticals business to Warner Chilcott by the end of October 2009, as previously communicated. The estimated financial impacts of the transaction are unchanged versus prior guidance.