AEIS Advanced Energy Industries Inc

Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. (Nasdaq GM: AEIS) today announced financial results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2010. Reporting record revenue, the company posted fourth quarter sales of $148.7 million and earnings of $0.45 per diluted share from continuing operations.

“2010 was a year of significant accomplishments for Advanced Energy. We responded with speed and flexibility to meet the needs of our customers during this high growth period in the thin film and renewable markets,” said Dr. Hans Betz, chief executive officer. “Advanced Energy has become a clear leader in solar inverter solutions. Coupled with our industry-leading thin film products, our expansion into renewables led to our record revenue quarter, as we further penetrated the inverter market.”

Sales to the renewable inverter market surged ahead in the fourth quarter, reflecting the wide-ranging applicability of our extended product portfolio. Inverter sales grew substantially to $51.7 million, or 34.8% of total sales this quarter, compared to $37.4 million, or 27% of total sales in the third quarter of 2010. Sales to the non-semiconductor thin film markets were also extremely strong at $43.3 million, or 29.1% of total sales, compared to $41.1 million last quarter. Sales to the semiconductor market were $40.2 million, or 27.0% of sales compared to $49.4 million last quarter. During a seasonally soft quarter, service revenue performed well, roughly flat sequentially at $13.4 million, or 9.0% of total sales, compared to $13.2 million last quarter.

Bookings for the fourth quarter were $113.3 million, compared to $160.3 million in the third quarter of 2010. We entered the fourth quarter with record bookings as inverter customers placed orders for delivery prior to year-end in order to satisfy funding requirements for various federal incentives and grant programs in the U.S. and Europe, many of which were expected to be reduced or ended in 2010, but have since been extended.

Gross margin for the fourth quarter improved sequentially at 43.6% compared to 43.1% in the third quarter of 2010. This was due in large part to the continued decline in warranty costs, reflecting continuous improvement in our product quality. Operating expenses for the fourth quarter increased to $40.8 million compared to $38.4 million in the third quarter in order to support higher sales volumes. Net income from continuing operations for the fourth quarter was $19.7 million or $0.45 per diluted share, compared to net income from continuing operations of $17.6 million or $0.40 per diluted share in the third quarter of 2010.

Cash and investments were $140.6 million at the end of the fourth quarter, compared to $112.4 million in the third quarter of 2010. We generated $34.9 million in cash from operations during the fourth quarter of 2010.

For the full year 2010, sales nearly tripled to $459.4 million, compared to $161.8 million in 2009. Net income from continuing operations for 2010 was $53.6 million or earnings per share of $1.23, compared to a net loss from continuing operations of $101.8 million, or a loss per share of $2.43 in 2009.

First Quarter 2011 Guidance

The Company anticipates first quarter 2011 results from continuing operations, to be within the following ranges:

• Sales of $132 million to $142 million
• Gross margin of 41% to 43%
• Earnings per share of $0.32 to $0.38

Fourth Quarter 2010 Conference Call

Management will host a conference call tomorrow, Tuesday, February 15, 2011, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time to discuss Advanced Energy's financial results. Domestic callers may access this conference call by dialing (866) 783-2137. International callers may access the call by dialing (857) 350-1596. Participants will need to provide a conference pass code 67334137. For a replay of this teleconference, please call (888) 286-8010 or (617) 801-6888, and enter the pass code 61436573. The replay will be available for two weeks following the conference call. A webcast will also be available on the Investor Relations web page at http://ir.advanced-energy.com.

About Advanced Energy

Advanced Energy (NASDAQ: AEIS - News) is a global leader in innovative power and control technologies for thin-film manufacturing and high-growth solar-power generation. Advanced Energy is headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado, with dedicated support and service locations around the world. For more information, go to www.advanced-energy.com.

Forward-Looking Language

The Company’s expectations with respect to guidance to financial results for the first quarter ending March 31, 2011 and statements that are not historical information are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the effects of global macroeconomic conditions upon demand for our products, the volatility and cyclicality of the industries the company serves, particularly the semiconductor industry, the continuation of RPS (renewable portfolio standards), the timing and availability of incentives and grant programs in the U.S. and Europe related to the renewable energy market, the timing of orders received from customers, the company's ability to realize benefits from cost improvement efforts, the ability to source materials and manufacture products, and unanticipated changes to management's estimates, reserves or allowances. These and other risks are described in Advanced Energy's Form 10-K, Forms 10-Q and other reports and statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These reports and statements are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Copies may also be obtained from Advanced Energy's website at www.advancedenergy.com or by contacting Advanced Energy's investor relations at 970-407-6555. Forward-looking statements are made and based on information available to the company on the date of this press release. The company assumes no obligation to update the information in this press release.

  CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED) (in thousands, except per share data)           Three Months Ended     Twelve Months Ended December 31,       September 30, December 31, 2010       2009 2010 2010       2009   SALES $ 148,653 $ 58,081 $ 140,966 $ 459,414 $ 161,846 COST OF SALES   83,910     34,812     80,276     260,215     112,056   GROSS PROFIT 64,743 23,269 60,690 199,199 49,790 43.6 % 40.1 % 43.1 % 43.4 % 30.8 % OPERATING EXPENSES: Research and development 15,275 10,720 16,672 56,604 41,132

Selling, general and administrative

24,586 10,316 20,545 74,543 38,041 Impairment of goodwill - - - - 63,260 Amortization of intangible assets 920 20 1,177 2,864 121

Restructuring charges

  -     6     -     -     4,376   Total operating expenses   40,781     21,062     38,394     134,011     146,930     INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS 23,962 2,207 22,296 65,188 (97,140 )  

Other income, net

  392     494     1,224     2,221     1,910   Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes 24,354 2,701 23,520 67,409 (95,230 ) Provision for income taxes   4,624     1,025     5,964     13,816     6,582   INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS 19,730 1,676 17,556 53,593 (101,812 )   Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax 12,531 - - 12,531 - Results from discontinued operations, net of tax   (853 )   (153 )   2,392     5,068     (893 )   INCOME (LOSS) FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET OF INCOME TAXES   11,678     (153 )   2,392     17,599     (893 )   NET INCOME (LOSS) $ 31,408   $ 1,523   $ 19,948   $ 71,192   $ (102,705 )   Basic weighted-average common shares outstanding 43,315 42,032 43,254 42,862 41,966 Diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding 43,796 42,464 43,849 43,419 41,966   EARNINGS PER SHARE: CONTINUING OPERATIONS: BASIC EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE $ 0.46 $ 0.04 $ 0.41 $ 1.25 $ (2.43 ) DILUTED EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE $ 0.45 $ 0.04 $ 0.40 $ 1.23 $ (2.43 )   DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS BASIC EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE $ 0.27 $ (0.00 ) $ 0.06 $ 0.41 $ (0.02 ) DILUTED EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE $ 0.27 $ (0.00 ) $ 0.05 $ 0.41 $ (0.02 )  

NET INCOME (LOSS):

BASIC EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE $ 0.73 $ 0.04 $ 0.46 $ 1.66 $ (2.45 ) DILUTED EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE $ 0.72 $ 0.04 $ 0.45 $ 1.64 $ (2.45 )         CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands)         December 31, 2010 2009   ASSETS   Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 130,914 $ 133,106 Marketable securities 9,640 44,401 Accounts receivable, net 119,893 50,267 Inventories, net 77,593 28,567 Deferred income taxes 9,303 9,222 Income taxes receivable 6,061 - Assets held for sale - 26,460 Other current assets   10,157   5,641 Total current assets 363,561 297,664   Property and equipment, net 34,569 18,687   Deposits and other 8,874 9,295 Goodwill and intangibles, net 96,781 - Deferred income tax assets, net   1,373   19,479 Total assets $ 505,158 $ 345,125     LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY   Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 56,185 $ 23,802 Other accrued expenses 46,141 24,055 Liabilities of business held for sale   -   1,477 Total current liabilities 102,326 49,334   Long-term liabilities   28,863   17,457   Total liabilities 131,189 66,791   Stockholders' equity   373,969   278,334 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 505,158 $ 345,125