The rating on French electrical distributor Schneider Electric S.A. (Schneider) reflect Standard&Poor's Ratings Services' view of the company's "strong" business risk profile and "intermediate" financial risk profile. Schneider's sound competitive positions, extensive geographic diversity, efficient cost management, and ability to generate robust free operating cash flow support the rating. However, these strengths are tempered by the company's moderate financial policy--which, as demonstrated in 2011, can be simultaneously characterized as fairly acquisitive and generous in terms of dividend distribution--and, to a lesser extent, by our opinion of the cyclical nature of most of Schneider's end markets. After reporting 0.4% organic sales growth for the first quarter of 2012, Schneider is targeting a low single-digit figure for the full year.
