ATRO Astronics Corporation

Astronics Corporation (NASDAQ: ATRO), a leader in advanced, high-performance lighting, electrical power and automated test systems for the global aerospace and defense industries, today reported financial results for the three and six months ended July 2, 2011.

              Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended

  July 2,

       

 July 3,

       

%

 July 2,

       

 July 3,

       

%

2011

2010

Change

2011

2010

Change

      Sales $ 55,475 $ 47,089 17.8 %           $ 110,603 $ 94,025 17.6 % Gross profit $ 14,386 $ 10,685 34.6 % $ 28,892 $ 22,231 30.0 % Gross margin 25.9 % 22.7 % 26.1 % 23.6 % SG&A $ 7,144 $ 6,076 17.6 % $ 13,489 $ 11,504 17.3 % SG&A percent to sales 12.9 % 12.9 % 12.2 % 12.2 % Income from Operations $ 7,242 $ 4,609 57.1 % $ 15,403 $ 10,727 43.6 % Operating margin % 13.1 % 9.8 % 13.9 % 11.4 % Net Income $ 4,548 $ 2,430 87.2 % $ 9,757 $ 5,830 67.4 % Net Income % 8.2 % 5.2 % 8.8 % 6.2 %

Peter J. Gundermann, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “The second quarter was another very good quarter for our company. Demand was strong, resulting in record quarterly revenue of $55.5 million and second best quarterly bookings of $58.5 million. Margins were solid, though down somewhat from the preceding first quarter due primarily to increased costs relating to legal proceedings.

Sales in the second quarter of 2011 were $55.5 million, up $8.4 million, or 17.8%, from the prior year second quarter. Aerospace sales, which represented approximately 94% of total second quarter sales, increased 19.1% to $51.9 million over the prior year period. Test Systems sales remained flat at $3.5 million when compared with last year’s second quarter. Sales for the first six months of 2011 were $110.6 million, up $16.6 million, or 17.6%, from the same period last year. Aerospace sales, which represented approximately 92% of first half total sales, increased 17.7% to $102.1 million over the prior year period. Test Systems sales were up approximately $1.3 million or 18.1% to $8.5 million when compared with $7.2 million in the first six months of 2010.

Net income in the second quarter of 2011 was $4.5 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, compared with net income of $2.4 million, or $0.22 per diluted share, in the same period of last year. Year-to-date net income for the first six months of 2011 was $9.8 million, or $0.84 per diluted share, compared with net income of $5.8 million, or $0.52 per diluted share, in the same period of last year.

Consolidated gross margin and operating margin in the 2011 second quarter and first six months improved over the prior year periods reflecting the margin added by increased sales offset partially by increases in both engineering and development costs and selling, general and administrative costs.

Engineering and development (E&D) costs were $8.8 million in the 2011 second quarter compared with $7.0 million in last year’s second quarter. Year-to-date E&D costs were $17.1 million and $14.2 million in 2011 and 2010, respectively. The Company expects E&D expenditures for 2011, which are included in cost of goods sold, to be in the range of $32 million to $34 million.

Aerospace Segment Review (refer to sales by market and segment data in accompanying tables)

Second quarter and year-to-date sales to the Commercial Transport market increased on higher demand for Cabin Electronics products as well as increased volume for our Aircraft Lighting Products. Second quarter and year-to-date Military sales were down primarily due to lower Aircraft Lighting sales to that market. Second quarter and year-to-date sales to the Business Jet market were higher due to increased Airframe Power revenue.

Aerospace operating profit for the second quarter of 2011 was $9.0 million, or 17.3% of sales, compared with $6.8 million, or 15.5% of sales, in the same period last year. Year-to-date operating profit was $18.3 million in 2011, or 17.9% of sales, compared with $13.5 million, or 15.5% of sales year-to-date in the first half of 2010. Second quarter and year-to-date margin improvement was due to the leverage provided on the increased sales volume offset somewhat by increased engineering and development costs and increased SG&A costs.

Bookings for the Aerospace segment during the second quarter were $55.0 million, up 19.0% from $46.2 million in the second quarter of 2010, and up 13.0% from bookings of $48.7 million in the trailing first quarter of 2011. Backlog at the end of the second quarter was $93.1 million.

Test Systems Segment Review (refer to sales by market and segment data in accompanying tables)

Sales in the 2011 second quarter remained flat at $3.5 million when compared with the same period in 2010. Year-to-date sales for 2011 increased $1.3 million to $8.5 million compared with $7.2 million for the same period last year.

Test Systems operating loss for the second quarter of 2011 was $0.5 million, or (15.4)% of sales, compared with an operating loss of $1.0 million or (28.5)% of sales, in the same period last year. For the first half of 2011, Test Systems operating loss was $0.5 million, or (6.2)% of sales, compared with an operating loss of $0.8 million, or (11.1)% of sales, in the same period last year.

Test Systems bookings in the second quarter were $3.5 million compared with $5.4 million in the second quarter of 2010, and down from the trailing 2011 first quarter which had bookings of $5.8 million. Backlog was $9.0 million at the end of the second quarter. Bookings include nothing from the VDATS program which was announced during the quarter. This award has been protested by unsuccessful bidders and is under review at the GAO. The company expects successful resolution in September.

Balance Sheet

Cash at the end of the 2011 second quarter declined by $6.6 million to $16.1 million compared with December 31, 2010 primarily as a result of cash used for capital expenditures.

Capital expenditures during the second quarter and first six months of 2011 were $6.2 million and $7.0 million, respectively, compared with $0.6 million and $1.5 million in 2010, respectively.

During the second quarter the Company acquired a partially completed building located near its present Redmond, Washington operation for approximately $5.2 million. The Company expects to spend an additional $5 million to $8 million through 2012 for renovations on this facility. Astronics Advanced Electronic Systems Corp will occupy the facility when the lease on its current location terminates in March 2013. Additionally, in July, the Company purchased for approximately $5.1 million the building that it had been leasing in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Astronics currently pays $2.6 million annually to lease facilities for these two operations, and considers the real estate purchases to be opportunistic given the current environment.

The Company expects capital spending in 2011 to be approximately $17 million to $21 million including $12 million to $13 million related to the acquisition and build out of the Fort Lauderdale and Redmond properties.

Outlook

At July 2, 2011, backlog was $102.1 million, up from backlog of $99.1 million at the end of the trailing first quarter of 2011 and improved over backlog of $97.3 million at the end of the second quarter of 2010. Approximately 75% of backlog is expected to ship by the end of 2011.

Mr. Gundermann concluded, “The first half of 2011 has been terrific, with record revenue of $110.6 million and net profit of $9.8 million. Strong demand has prompted us to increase our sales forecast for the year to $220 million to $230 million, up from our previous forecast of $210 to $225 million,” he concluded.

Astronics anticipates that approximately $204 million to $212 million of forecasted revenue will be from its Aerospace segment, while approximately $16 million to $18 million of the forecasted revenue will be from its Test Systems segment.

Second Quarter 2011 Webcast and Conference Call

The Company will host a teleconference at 10:00 AM ET on Tuesday, August 9, 2011. During the teleconference, Peter J. Gundermann, President and CEO, and David C. Burney, Executive Vice President and CFO, will review the financial and operating results for the period and discuss Astronics’ corporate strategy and outlook. A question-and-answer session will follow.

The Astronics conference call can be accessed by calling (201) 689-8562. The listen-only audio webcast can be monitored at www.astronics.com. To listen to the archived call, dial (858) 384-5517 and enter conference ID number 375499. The telephonic replay will be available from 1:00 p.m. on the day of the call through Tuesday, August 16, 2011. A transcript will also be posted to the Company’s Web site, once available.

ABOUT ASTRONICS CORPORATION

Astronics Corporation is a leader in advanced, high-performance lighting, electrical power and automated test systems for the global aerospace and defense industries. Astronics’ strategy is to develop and maintain positions of technical leadership in its chosen aerospace and defense markets, to leverage those positions to grow the amount of content and volume of product it sells to those markets and to selectively acquire businesses with similar technical capabilities that could benefit from our leadership position and strategic direction. Astronics Corporation, and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Astronics Advanced Electronic Systems Corp., DME Corporation and Luminescent Systems Inc., have a reputation for high-quality designs, exceptional responsiveness, strong brand recognition and best-in-class manufacturing practices. The Company routinely posts news and other important information on its Web site at www.astronics.com.

For more information on Astronics and its products, visit its Web site at www.astronics.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This news release contains forward-looking statements as defined by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. One can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of the words “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “may,” “will,” “estimate” or other similar expressions. Because such statements apply to future events, they are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include the state of the aerospace and defense industries, the market acceptance of newly developed products, internal production capabilities, the timing of orders received, the status of customer certification processes, the demand for and market acceptance of new or existing aircraft which contain the Company’s products, customer preferences, and other factors which are described in filings by Astronics with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking information in this news release whether to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events or changes in future operating results, financial conditions or prospects, or otherwise.

 

ASTRONICS CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT DATA

(Unaudited, $ in thousands except per share data)

 

 

        Three Months Ended         Six Months Ended   7/2/2011         7/3/2010     7/2/2011         7/3/2010   Sales $ 55,475     $ 47,089 $ 110,603     $ 94,025 Cost of products sold   41,089         36,404     81,711         71,794   Gross profit 14,386 10,685 28,892 22,231 Gross margin 25.9 % 22.7 % 26.1 % 23.6 %   Selling, general and administrative 7,144 6,076 13,489 11,504 SG&A % of Sales 12.9 % 12.9 % 12.2 % 12.3 %                 Income from operations 7,242 4,609 15,403 10,727 Operating margin 13.1 % 9.8 % 13.9 % 11.4 %   Interest expense, net   534         722     1,071         1,321   Income before tax 6,708 3,887 14,332 9,406 Income tax expense   2,160         1,457     4,575         3,576   Net Income $ 4,548       $ 2,430   $ 9,757       $ 5,830     Basic earnings per share: $ 0.41 $ 0.22 $ 0.89 $ 0.54 Diluted earnings per share: $ 0.39 $ 0.22 $ 0.84 $ 0.52   Weighted average diluted shares outstanding 11,703 11,289 11,665 11,127                                   Capital Expenditures $ 6,225 $ 611 $ 6,979 $ 1,486 Depreciation and Amortization         $ 1,204       $ 1,224           $ 2,394       $ 2,463    

ASTRONICS CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET DATA

(in thousands)

 

                  7/2/2011       12/31/2010   (Unaudited)    

ASSETS:

        Cash and cash equivalents $ 16,075 $ 22,709 Accounts receivable 35,762 30,941 Inventories 40,826 37,763 Other current assets 6,453 5,727 Property, plant and equipment, net 35,944 30,873 Other long-term assets 3,231 3,342 Deferred taxes long-term 6,332 6,883 Intangible assets 4,824 5,040 Goodwill             7,712       7,610 Total Assets           $ 157,159     $ 150,888  

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:

Current maturities of long term debt $ 5,310 $ 5,314 Accounts payable and accrued expenses 24,674 25,971 Long-term debt 29,806 33,264 Other liabilities 8,889 9,124 Shareholders' equity             88,480       77,215 Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity           $ 157,159     $ 150,888  

ASTRONICS CORPORATION

SEGMENT DATA

(Unaudited, $ in thousands)

          Three Months Ended         Six Months Ended     7/2/2011         7/3/2010             7/2/2011         7/3/2010   Sales               Aerospace $ 51,942 $ 43,599 $ 102,141 $ 86,789 Test Systems     3,533         3,490         8,462         7,236   Total Sales     55,475         47,089         110,603         94,025    

Operating Profit (Loss) and

Margins

Aerospace 9,011 6,753 18,330 13,495 17.3 % 15.5 % 17.9 % 15.5 % Test Systems (545 ) (993 ) (528 ) (806 )     (15.4 )%       (28.5 )%       (6.2 )%       (11.1 )% Total Operating Profit 8,466 5,760 17,802 12,689     Corporate Expenses and Other     1,758         1,873         3,470         3,283   Income Before Taxes   $ 6,708       $ 3,887       $ 14,332       $ 9,406    

ASTRONICS CORPORATION

SALES BY MARKET

(Unaudited, $ in thousands)

                              Three Months Ended Six Months Ended 2011     7/2/2011       7/3/2010     % change         7/2/2011       7/3/2010     % change       YTD % Aerospace Segment                 Commercial Transport $ 34,271 $ 24,891 38 % $ 67,196 $ 52,336 28 % 60.8 % Military 7,919 9,521 (17 )% 17,179 17,918 (4 )% 15.5 % Business Jet 7,426 6,379 16 % 14,063 11,971 17 % 12.7 % FAA/Airport     2,326       2,808     (17 )%       3,703       4,564     (19 )%     3.3 %   Aerospace Total 51,942 43,599 19 % 102,141 86,789 18 % 92.3 %  

Test Systems

Segment

Military     3,533       3,490     1 %       8,462       7,236     17 %     7.7 %     Total   $ 55,475     $ 47,089     18 %     $ 110,603     $ 94,025     18 %     100.0 %  

 

 

ASTRONICS CORPORATION

SALES BY PRODUCT

(Unaudited, $ in thousands)

                        Three Months Ended Six Months Ended 2011     7/2/2011       7/3/2010     % change       7/2/2011       7/3/2010     % change  

   YTD %

                    Aerospace Segment Cabin Electronics $ 26,874 $ 19,087 41 % $ 52,949 $ 40,584 30 % 47.9 % Aircraft Lighting 17,549 17,586 - % 35,720 33,319 7 % 32.3 % Airframe Power 5,193 4,117 26 % 9,769 8,322 17 % 8.8 % Airfield Lighting 2,326 2,809 (17 )% 3,703 4,564 (19 )% 3.3 %                                           Aerospace Total 51,942 43,599 19 % 102,141 86,789 18 % 92.3 %    

Test Systems

Segment

    3,533       3,490     1 %       8,462       7,236     17 %     7.7 %     Total   $ 55,475     $ 47,089     18 %     $ 110,603     $ 94,025     18 %     100.0 %      

ASTRONICS CORPORATION

ORDER AND BACKLOG TREND

(Unaudited, $ in thousands)

                Q3     Q4     Q1     Q2     Trailing 12 2010 2010 2011 2011 Months     10/2/2010       12/31/2010       4/2/2011       7/2/2011       7/2/2011 Sales Aerospace $ 46,024 $ 46,773 $ 50,199 $ 51,942 $ 194,938 Test Systems     3,882       5,050       4,929       3,533       17,394 Total Sales   $ 49,906     $ 51,823     $ 55,128     $ 55,475     $ 212,332   Bookings Aerospace $ 58,250 $ 40,378 $ 48,682 $ 55,029 $ 202,339 Test Systems     4,358       1,224       5,756       3,459       14,797 Total Bookings   $ 62,608     $ 41,602     $ 54,438     $ 58,488     $ 217,136   Backlog Aerospace $ 97,970 $ 91,573 $ 90,056 $ 93,143 N/A Test Systems     12,041       8,216       9,043       8,969       N/A Total Backlog   $ 110,011     $ 99,789     $ 99,099     $ 102,112       N/A   Book:Bill Ratio Aerospace 1.27 0.86 0.97 1.06 1.04 Test Systems     1.12       0.24       1.17       0.98       0.85 Total Book:Bill     1.25       0.80       0.99       1.05       1.02