WILMINGTON, Del., March 14, 2008 – At a meeting with investors in New York City today, DuPont increased its earnings outlook for first quarter 2008 to a range of $1.14 to $1.19 per share, despite rising energy and ingredient costs and continuing weakness in U.S. automotive and housing markets. The company’s previous outlook for the first quarter was a range of $1.12 to $1.17, which was provided on January 22. The company today also reaffirmed its full-year 2008 earnings outlook of $3.35 to $3.55 per share.
The increase in the first quarter outlook primarily reflects strong global demand for the company’s science-based production agricultural products, continued robust growth in emerging markets and productivity gains. These increases more than offset higher ingredient costs, which are expected to rise at nearly twice the rate of 2007, and lower product demand from the U.S. housing and automotive markets.
At the investor meeting, the company presented details of its plan to accelerate growth in sales and earnings through 2010. Presentations by DuPont senior leaders are available at www.dupont.com in the Investor Center.
DuPont is a science-based products and services company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food; building and construction; communications; and transportation.
Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements based on management's current expectations, estimates and projections. All statements that address expectations or projections about the future, including statements about the company's strategy for growth, product development, market position, expected expenditures and financial results are forward-looking statements. Some of the forward-looking statements may be identified by words like "expects," "anticipates," "plans," "intends," "projects," "indicates," and similar expressions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors, including those discussed more fully elsewhere in this release and in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by DuPont, particularly its latest annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly report on Form 10-Q, as well as others, could cause results to differ materially from those stated. These factors include, but are not limited to changes in the laws, regulations, policies and economic conditions, including inflation, interest and foreign currency exchange rates, of countries in which the company does business; competitive pressures; successful integration of structural changes, including restructuring plans, acquisitions, divestitures and alliances; cost of raw materials, research and development of new products, including regulatory approval and market acceptance; seasonality of sales of agricultural products; and severe weather events that cause business interruptions, including plant and power outages, or disruptions in supplier and customer operations.
