Honeywell announced third quarter 2009 sales of $7.7 billion, in line with expectations, versus $9.3 billion in the third quarter last year. Earnings were $0.80 per share compared to $0.97 per share in the third quarter of 2008. Third quarter 2009 EPS included the positive impact of lower than expected tax expense in the quarter of approximately $0.04, which the company expects to be offset on a full-year basis by a higher income tax rate in the fourth quarter of 2009. Cash flow from operations was $1,148 million versus $769 million last year, and free cash flow (cash flow from operations less capital
expenditures) was $1,022 million versus $556 million in the third quarter of 2008.

"Honeywell is positioning its businesses for long-term growth by continuing to invest in new products and services, geographic expansion, and key process initiatives," said Honeywell Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dave Cote. "We executed well in the third quarter with sales on track and better than expected earnings and free cash flow performance. We're particularly pleased with our free cash flow performance year-to-date, which reflects our strong operating disciplines and working capital controls. These results reflect the impact of the growth investments and productivity actions we have taken in the midst of tough market conditions."

"By preserving our industrial base and continuing to build a robust pipeline of differentiated technologies and new products for the global marketplace, we're confident Honeywell will emerge from this period a much stronger company, ready to grow and build on our great positions in good industries."

Honeywell forecasts 2009 sales of approximately $31 billion, earnings per share of $2.85 and free cash flow of $3 billion.

Transportation Systems Highlights

• Sales were down 24% compared with the third quarter of 2008 due to lower volumes primarily driven by lower sales to global automotive OE customers and the negative impact of foreign exchange, partially offset by new platform launches with automotive OE customers and share gains in the automotive aftermarket retail channel.
• Segment profit was down 39% and segment margin decreased 170 bps to 7.1% due to lower sales volumes partially offset by cost savings initiatives and benefits from prior restructuring actions.
• Turbo Technologies was awarded contracts estimated at more than $370 million in revenue over the life of these programs. The contracts, which include critical platform wins with key customers in Europe, Asia, and the U.S. on both gasoline and diesel passenger and commercial vehicle applications, are expected to begin in 2011. Independent analysts expect turbo penetration to grow from 24% of all light vehicles today to around 70% by 2020, and predict rapid turbo adoption in the
  U.S. reaching close to 25% of the total light vehicle sales in the next five years.
• Honeywell launched its gasoline turbocharging technology on BMW's new ActiveHybrid engine intended for its 7-series and X6 vehicles. This 4.4L, V8 engine combines a hybrid transmission with an advanced gasoline turbocharged engine to deliver 407 hp and provide best-in-class fuel consumption and emissions in this vehicle category.