Kodak Reports First Quarter Profits Of $283 Million

Eastman Kodak Company reported $283 million in consolidated net earnings in the first quarter of 2013, compared to a $366 million loss in the prior-year quarter. The profitable quarter reflects improved results of the Commercial Imaging segments and includes a $535 million gain recorded on the sale of Kodak’s digital imaging patent portfolio, partially offset by a $77 million non-cash goodwill impairment charge related to the patent sale.

Both of the company’s Commercial Imaging segments recorded significant improvements in segment earnings. The Digital Printing and Enterprise (DPE) segment reported a segment loss of $8 million for the quarter, an improvement of $81 million from the $89 million segment loss in the prior year quarter. The improvement was driven primarily by the previously announced strategic decision to focus the consumer inkjet business on ink sales, as well as improved operating costs. The DPE segment had a 21 percentage point increase in gross profit margin in the quarter.

The Graphics, Entertainment and Commercial Films (GECF) segment reported $38 million in segment earnings for the quarter, compared to a segment loss of $84 million in the prior year, an improvement of $122 million. The current quarter earnings reflected $31 million in non-recurring brand licensing revenue, which combined with the $61 million reduction in revenue from intellectual property in the prior year resulting from a withholding tax refund, contributed $92 million of the year-over-year improvement. The remaining improvement was driven by pricing actions and operating cost reductions. The GECF segment had a 24 percentage point increase in gross profit margin in the quarter versus the prior year.