NEW YORK, Oct. 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- McGraw Hill Financial, Inc. (NYSE: MHFI) today reported third quarter 2014 results with revenue of $1.26 billion, an increase of 10% compared to the same period last year. Net income and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations were $188 million and $0.68, respectively.

Adjusted net income from continuing operations increased 31% to $281 million and adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations increased 32% to $1.02. The adjustments in the third quarter of 2014 are largely due to a charge relating to certain regulatory matters as well as restructuring actions. The adjustments in the third quarter of 2013 exclude the impact of the sale of India Index Services by CRISIL, a gain on the sale of Aviation Week, as well as one-time costs related primarily to the Growth and Value Plan.

"The Company's operating performance this quarter was outstanding with 10% revenue growth, more than 400 basis points of adjusted operating margin expansion, and diluted adjusted EPS growth of 32%," said Douglas L. Peterson, President and Chief Executive Officer of McGraw Hill Financial. "The increased demand by customers for our independent benchmarks, ratings, and analytics drove the double-digit revenue growth. Since launching McGraw Hill Financial last year, we have made great strides to create growth, drive performance, and streamline operations."

Outlook: With the recently announced agreement to sell the McGraw Hill Construction business, its year-to-date results, including directly attributable shared costs, have now been reclassified to discontinued operations. The Company is modestly adjusting its guidance as a result of the sale. The new adjusted diluted earnings per share guidance from continuing operations, which excludes the results of McGraw Hill Construction, is a range of $3.78 to $3.83. The Company's previous adjusted diluted earnings per share guidance, which included McGraw Hill Construction results, was a range of $3.80 to $3.90.

Actions to Resolve Regulatory Matters: Standard & Poor's Ratings Services is currently in active discussions to resolve matters pending before the Securities and Exchange Commission, including with respect to the previously disclosed "Wells Notice" received on July 22, 2014, as well as related investigations by the Attorneys General of New York and Massachusetts. Although definitive settlement agreements have not been reached, a charge of $60 million related to these matters was recorded in the third quarter. There can be no assurance that this amount will be sufficient to resolve these matters or that definitive settlement agreements will be reached.

Restructuring Actions: The Company recently initiated additional restructuring actions, including a voluntary separation program at Standard & Poor's Ratings Services. During the third quarter, $46 million of pre-tax restructuring charges were incurred. The Company remains committed to achieving productivity gains in its pursuit of creating growth and driving performance.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services: Quarterly revenue increased 12% to $604 million compared to the same period last year. Revenue growth was driven by significant market demand for the Company's ratings as revenue from both global bond issuance and bank loan ratings experienced double-digit growth.

Transaction revenue grew 18% to $269 million compared to the same period last year. This was primarily driven by strong bond ratings revenue growth in Financial Services as banks continue to rebuild capital structures to meet regulatory requirements. In addition, bank loan ratings revenue continued to show strength with a 19% increase.

Non-transaction revenue increased 7% in the quarter, primarily driven by growth in annual fees as Standard & Poor's Ratings continues to expand its client coverage, as well as growth at CRISIL. Non-transaction revenue represented 55% of Standard & Poor's Ratings Services' total revenue compared to 58% for the same period last year as transaction growth outpaced non-transaction growth.

Domestic revenue increased 9% and international revenue increased 15%. International revenue represented 48% of Standard & Poor's Ratings Services' total third-quarter revenue.

Adjusted expenses in the quarter increased 4%, almost entirely due to legal expenses related to ongoing legal and regulatory matters.

Adjusted operating profit increased 24% to $266 million with an adjusted operating profit margin that increased 430 basis points to 44%.

S&P Capital IQ: Revenue increased 6% to $311 million in the third quarter of 2014 compared to the same period last year. Excluding previous portfolio rationalization, organic revenue growth was 7%. Adjusted operating profit increased 24% to $68 million, a new quarterly record for the business.

Two key products, S&P Capital IQ Desktop and RatingsXpress^® both delivered double-digit revenue growth.

S&P Capital IQ's international revenue increased 8% to $108 million in the third quarter and represented 35% of the business unit's total revenue.

S&P Dow Jones Indices: Revenue increased 15% to $143 million in the third quarter of 2014 compared to the same period last year. Adjusted expenses increased 10% driven by headcount additions. Quarterly adjusted operating profit, which excludes professional fees largely for corporate development activities, increased 18% to $91 million. Quarterly adjusted operating profit attributable to the Company increased 21% to $68 million.

Revenue increased primarily due to growth in exchange-traded funds. In addition, mutual funds, derivative trading licenses, and data subscriptions also contributed to revenue growth. Assets under management in exchange-traded funds based on the S&P Dow Jones Indices increased 25% to a record $733 billion at the end of the quarter. Trading volume of the exchange-traded derivatives picked up in the quarter; notably, the SPX (S&P 500 Index) and VIX (CBOE Volatility Index) increased 10% and 12%, respectively.

Commodities & Commercial Markets: Revenue increased 7% to $227 million. Adjusted operating profit was $83 million in the third quarter, an increase of 9% compared to the same period last year. These results exclude McGraw Hill Construction which was reclassified as a discontinued operation due to its impending sale.

Platts continued to experience steady revenue growth. This business line delivered high single-digit revenue growth in the third quarter as a result of strength in price assessments, market data subscriptions, and a modest benefit from the recent Eclipse acquisition. These drivers were partially offset by a decrease in Global Trading Services' licensing revenue due to weaker trading volumes for natural gas and petroleum.

J.D. Power delivered double-digit revenue growth driven by gains in the auto business.

Adjusted Unallocated Expense: Adjusted unallocated expense includes corporate center functions and certain non-performance related items such as excess real estate. Adjusted unallocated expense decreased by 16% to $32 million in the third quarter.

Return of Capital: The year-to-date return of capital to shareholders, in the form of share repurchases and dividends, has been $607 million. During the quarter, the Company did not repurchase any shares. The Company has approximately 45.6 million shares remaining under the existing authorization from the Board of Directors.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow: Cash and equivalents at the end of the third quarter were $1.9 billion, of which approximately one-half is held outside the United States. In the first nine months of 2014, free cash flow from continuing operations was $737 million, an increase of $372 million from the same period in 2013. The increase was affected by the timing of tax payments in 2013.

Discontinued Operations: In the third quarter an agreement was reached to sell McGraw Hill Construction. The sale is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2014 and the results of this business were reclassified to discontinued operations.

Comparison of Adjusted Information to U.S. GAAP Information: Adjusted diluted earnings per share, adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations, adjusted net income, adjusted operating profit, adjusted unallocated expense, and free cash flow are non-GAAP financial measures contained in this earnings release that are derived from the Company's continuing operations. This information is provided in order to allow investors to make meaningful comparisons of the Company's operating performance between periods and to view the Company's business from the same perspective as Company management. These non-GAAP measures may be different than similar measures used by other companies. Reconciliations for the differences between non-GAAP measures used in this earnings release and comparable financial measures calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP are attached as Exhibits 5 and 8.

Conference Call/Webcast Details: The Company's senior management will review the third quarter earnings results on a conference call scheduled for this morning, October 29, 2014, at 8:30 a.m. EDT. This call is open to all interested parties. Discussions may include forward-looking information. Additional information presented on the conference call may be made available on the Company's Investor Relations Website at http://investor.mhfi.com.

The Webcast will be available live and in replay at http://investor.mcgraw-hill.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=96562&p=irol-EventDetails&EventId=5171748. (Please copy and paste URL into Web browser.)

Telephone access is available. Domestic participants may call (888) 391-6568; international participants may call +1 (415) 228-4733 (long distance charges will apply). The passcode is "MHFI" and the conference leader is Douglas Peterson. A recorded telephone replay will be available approximately two hours after the meeting concludes and will remain available until November 29, 2014. Domestic participants may call (888) 568-0883; international participants may call +1 (203) 369-3208 (long distance charges will apply). No passcode is required.

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in our "forward-looking statements" include, among other things, the regulatory environment affecting our businesses, including new and amended applicable regulations and our compliance therewith; the outcome of litigation, government and regulatory proceedings, investigations and inquiries; worldwide economic, financial, political and regulatory conditions; the health of debt and equity markets, including credit quality and spreads, the level of liquidity and future debt issuances; the level of interest rates and the strength of the credit and capital markets in the U.S. and abroad; the demand and market for debt ratings in and across the sectors and geographies where we operate; the effect of competitive products and pricing; the level of success of new product development and global expansion; the level of merger and acquisition activity in the U.S. and abroad; the volatility of energy markets; the health of commodities markets; the strength and performance of domestic and international automotive markets; the level of our future cash flows; our ability to make acquisitions and dispositions and to integrate, and realize expected synergies, savings or benefits from, the businesses we acquire; our level of capital investment; the level of restructuring charges we incur; changes in applicable tax or accounting requirements; the impact on our net income caused by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange issues; and exposure to potential criminal sanctions or civil remedies if we fail to comply with foreign and U.S. laws and regulations that are applicable in the domestic and international jurisdictions in which we operate. The factors above are not exhaustive. The Company and its subsidiaries operate in a dynamic business environment in which new risks may emerge frequently. For more information about factors that could materially affect our results of operations and financial condition, please see the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the "Risk Factors" section in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K.

About McGraw Hill Financial: McGraw Hill Financial is a leading financial intelligence company providing the global capital and commodity markets with independent benchmarks, credit ratings, portfolio and enterprise risk solutions, and analytics. The Company's iconic brands include Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, S&P Capital IQ, S&P Dow Jones Indices, Platts, CRISIL, and J.D. Power. The Company has approximately 18,000 employees in 30 countries. Additional information is available at www.mhfi.com.

Investor Relations: http://investor.mhfi.com

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Contact:

Investor Relations:
Chip Merritt
Vice President, Investor Relations
(212) 512-4321 (office)
chip.merritt@mhfi.com

News Media:
Jason Feuchtwanger
Director, Corporate Media Relations
(212) 512-3151 (office)
jason.feuchtwanger@mhfi.com