CRDN Ceradyne, Inc. (MM)

Ceradyne, Inc. (Nasdaq:CRDN) reported financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2009.

Sales for the third quarter 2009 were $108.0 million, compared with $167.7 million in third quarter 2008. Net income for the three months ended September 30, 2009 was $4.9 million, or $0.19 per fully diluted share. The net income for the third quarter 2009 included a pre-tax charge for losses on auction rate securities of $1.8 million that reduced earnings per share by approximately $0.07.

The Company is adjusting its guidance for the full fiscal year 2009 from $.70 per fully diluted share to approximately $.60 per fully diluted share and from sales of $420 to $440 million to sales of $410 to $415 million. The forward looking estimated fully diluted earnings per share guidance does not include the impact of the total restructuring and impairment pre-tax charges for all of 2009, which are estimated to be approximately $0.55 per fully diluted share.

Gross profit margin was 26.5% of net sales in the third quarter 2009 compared to 39.7% in the same period in 2008. The provision for income taxes was 22.4% in third quarter 2009, compared to a provision for income taxes of 36.1% in the same period in 2008.

Sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 were $303.0 million, compared with $541.3 million in the same period last year. Net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was $5.6 million, or $0.22 per fully diluted share. The loss included charges for restructuring and impairment that had a negative impact by reducing fully diluted earnings per share by approximately $0.51 for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. The charges for restructuring and impairment totaled $17.3 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2009 which included a pre-tax $11.9 million restructuring charge for the closure of its plant in Bazet, France and other severance expenses, a non-cash pre-tax impairment charge of $3.8 million to write down the value of goodwill of its Ceradyne Canada reporting unit to reflect the current industry and economic environment and accelerated depreciation of $1.6 million resulting from a revision of the estimated useful lives of certain assets.

Gross profit margin was 24.8% of net sales in the nine months ended September 30, 2009 compared to 39.5% in the same period in 2008. The provision for income taxes was 9.7% in the nine months ended September 30, 2009, compared to a provision for income taxes of 36.2% in the same period in 2008.

New orders for the three months ended September 30, 2009 were $100.5 million, compared to $119.4 million for the same period last year. For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, new orders were $330.6 million, compared to $476.6 million for the comparable period last year.

Total backlog as of September 30, 2009 was $156.3 million, compared to total backlog at September 30, 2008 of $174.9 million.

Joel P. Moskowitz, Ceradyne president and chief executive officer, commented: “Our target of a balanced advanced technical ceramic company with sales approximately equally divided between defense and non-defense markets has been achieved in 2009 with defense sales of about 52% of the Company’s total. As we look forward to 2010, again we see significant opportunities in the non-defense sector, particularly in solar energy, aluminum smelting, oil and gas drilling, and certain novel, entirely new applications of our materials used in the manufacturing of glass and automobile-related components.

“Although lightweight ceramic body armor programs declined significantly in 2009, we believe that in 2010 body armor along with other defense programs will reach a sustainable level. Future defense opportunities include a new lighter weight generation of body armor, body armor for our Allies, vehicle armor components for U.S. as well as European vehicle manufacturers, and potential new business for our recently acquired military helmet operation. We are also more actively evaluating non-defense opportunities in China.

“Recent examples of our progress towards 2010 product and market objectives include:

• A recently completed successful oil and gas drilling event in which Ceradyne’s proprietary ceramic bearing allowed the drilling of a directional hole through a difficult Texas formation without removing the drill and changing the bearing. We believe this bearing is the beginning of a series of proprietary ceramic bearing products for oil and gas drilling.
• Our ESK Ceramics subsidiary received its first order for its newly developed oil/particle separator designed for removing hard erosive particles from the oil in offshore applications, particularly in the North Sea. This initial component is expected to be put into use early in 2010.
• Ceradyne together with its Fortune 500 customer have developed several new products used in the fabrication of a new glass system.
• Our long-time research efforts in the field of aluminum smelting are beginning to show promise. Recent orders in North America and interest expressed in China for our cathode product are encouraging.
• The U.S. Marines have requested that our Ceradyne/Diaphorm division further develop the ECH (Enhanced Combat Helmet) design based on our original submission. Although we expect this will delay final evaluation by several months, we continue to expect a decision by early 2010.

Because of the uncertainty concerning some of our programs, we are establishing a wide range for our initial guidance for 2010 as follows:

• Sales range from $380 million to $430 million
• Earnings range from $0.60 to $1.05 per fully diluted share

This assumes an annual tax rate of 31% with fully diluted average shares of 25.8 million.”

Ceradyne will host a conference call today at 8:00 a.m. PDT (11:00 a.m. EDT) to discuss its third quarter 2009 results. To participate in the teleconference, please call toll free 877-717-3046 (or 706-634-6364 for international callers) approximately 10 minutes prior to the above start time and provide Conference ID 35999659. Investors or other interested parties may listen to the teleconference live via the Internet at www.ceradyne.com or www.earnings.com. These web sites will also host an archive of the teleconference. A telephonic playback will be available beginning at 11:00 a.m. PDT today through 11:00 a.m. PDT on October 29, 2009. The playback can be accessed by calling 800-642-1687 (or 706-645-9291 for international callers) and providing Conference ID 35999659.

Ceradyne develops, manufactures and markets advanced technical ceramic products and components for defense, industrial, automotive/diesel and commercial applications. Additional information can be found at the Company’s web site: www.ceradyne.com.

Except for the historical information contained herein, this press release contains forward-looking statements regarding future events and the future performance of Ceradyne that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Words such as "anticipates," "believes," "plans," "expects," "intends," "future," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, and its quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date thereof.

CERADYNE, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Amounts in thousands, except per share data)    

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

2009   2008 2009   2008 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) NET SALES $ 107,954 $ 167,746 $ 302,993 $ 541,258 COST OF GOODS SOLD   79,329     101,082     227,717     327,504   Gross profit 28,625 66,664 75,276 213,754 OPERATING EXPENSES Selling 6,758 8,443 20,643 24,966 General and administrative 10,779 11,703 30,976 35,208 Acquisition related charge (795 ) 9,783 (795 ) 9,783 Research and development 2,862 4,527 9,512 10,979 Restructuring - plant closure and severance 88 - 11,931 - Goodwill impairment   -     -     3,832     -     19,692     34,456     76,099     80,936   INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS   8,933     32,208     (823 )   132,818   OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE): Interest income 901 1,772 2,424 6,273 Interest expense (1,520 ) (1,977 ) (5,469 ) (5,891 ) Gain on early extinguishment of debt 96 - 1,881 - Loss on auction rate securities (1,849 ) (2,958 ) (3,480 ) (3,545 ) Miscellaneous   (197 )   382     (694 )   1,702     (2,569 )   (2,781 )   (5,338 )   (1,461 ) INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES 6,364 29,427 (6,161 ) 131,357 PROVISION (BENEFIT) FOR INCOME TAXES   1,428     10,609     (595 )   47,546   NET INCOME (LOSS) $ 4,936   $ 18,818   $ (5,566 ) $ 83,811   BASIC INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE $ 0.19   $ 0.72   $ (0.22 ) $ 3.15   DILUTED INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE $ 0.19   $ 0.71   $ (0.22 ) $ 3.12   WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING: BASIC 25,681 26,272 25,737 26,568 DILUTED 25,798 26,563 25,737 26,888  

CERADYNE, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Amounts in thousands, except share data)

   

September 30, 2009

December 31, 2008

(Unaudited) CURRENT ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents $ 143,718 $ 215,282 Restricted cash 3,130 2,702 Short-term investments 78,739 6,140

Accounts receivable, net of allowances for doubtful accounts of $840 and $686 at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively

65,618 64,631 Other receivables 4,094 5,316 Inventories, net 98,751 101,017 Production tooling, net 13,620 14,563 Prepaid expenses and other 24,100 24,170 Deferred tax asset   15,290   11,967 TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS   447,060   445,788 PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, net 247,363 251,928 LONG TERM INVESTMENTS 24,978 24,434 INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net 90,380 84,384 GOODWILL 44,096 45,324 OTHER ASSETS   2,512   2,669 TOTAL ASSETS $ 856,389 $ 854,527   CURRENT LIABILITIES Accounts payable $ 30,577 $ 22,954 Accrued expenses 23,400 21,999 Income taxes payable   2,142   - TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES 56,119 44,953 LONG-TERM DEBT 81,338 102,631 EMPLOYEE BENEFITS 21,071 19,088 OTHER LONG TERM LIABILITY 46,406 41,816 DEFERRED TAX LIABILITY   6,967   7,045 TOTAL LIABILITIES   211,901   215,533 COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 15) SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY Common stock, $0.01 par value, 100,000,000 authorized, 25,680,354 and 25,830,374 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively 257 259 Additional paid-in capital 163,089 163,291 Retained earnings 456,175 461,741 Accumulated other comprehensive income   24,967   13,703 TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY   644,488   638,994 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY $ 856,389 $ 854,527   CERADYNE, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Amounts in thousands)  

Nine Months Ended September 30,

2009   2008 (Unaudited) CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Net (loss) income $ (5,566 ) $ 83,811 ADJUSTMENTS TO RECONCILE NET INCOME (LOSS) TO NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Depreciation and amortization 28,649 30,122 Non cash interest expense on convertible debt 2,817 2,887 Gain on early extinguishment of debt (1,880 ) - Payments of accreted interest on repurchased convertible debt (2,956 ) - Deferred income taxes (3,047 ) (656 ) Stock compensation 2,906 2,233 Loss on marketable securities 3,480 3,545 Goodwill impairment 3,832 - Loss on equipment disposal 425 125 Change in operating assets and liabilities (net of effect of businesses acquired): Accounts receivable, net 94 22,680 Other receivables 1,352 (3,597 ) Inventories, net 5,387 (5,079 ) Production tooling, net 995 2,597 Prepaid expenses and other assets 476 (18,129 ) Accounts payable and accrued expenses 8,985 (5,456 ) Income taxes payable 1,900 549 Other long term liability (510 ) 10,350 Employee benefits   1,071     1,014  

NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES

  48,410     126,996   CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Purchases of property, plant and equipment (13,588 ) (35,938 ) Changes in restricted cash (428 ) (39 ) Purchases of marketable securities (136,173 ) - Proceeds from sales and maturities of marketable securities 64,051 21,700 Cash paid for acquisitions (9,655 ) (26,855 ) Proceeds from sale of equipment   72     24   NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES   (95,721 )   (41,108 ) CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Proceeds from issuance of stock due to exercise of options 14 302 Excess tax benefit due to exercise of stock options 24 287 Shares repurchased (5,099 ) (34,919 ) Reduction on long term debt   (20,239 )   -   NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES   (25,300 )   (34,330 ) EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATES ON CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS   1,047     (2,175 ) (DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS (71,564 ) 49,383 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD   215,282     155,103   CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD $ 143,718   $ 204,486   SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW ACTIVITIES: Interest paid $ 1,555 $ 1,744 Income taxes paid $ 692 $ 62,692