FTHR Featherlite

Featherlite, Inc. (Nasdaq:FTHR), a leading manufacturer and marketer of specialty aluminum trailers, transporters and luxury motorcoaches, today reported net income of $1.1 million, or 9 cents per diluted share, on net sales of $59.3 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2005. This compares with net income of $0.9 million or $0.08 cents per diluted share in the third quarter of 2004, which included $0.07 related to a non-recurring income tax benefit recorded in the third quarter of 2004. Third quarter 2005 net sales were up 31.2 percent from $45.2 million for the same period in 2004, which resulted in a 28 percent increase in consolidated gross profit in the third quarter of 2005. These increases were partially offset by higher selling, administrative and interest expenses as well as the non-recurrence of the tax benefit recorded in 2004. Motorcoach segment sales in the third quarter of 2005 rose by 69.1 percent over the same period last year, reflecting a strong increase in customer activity and new unit sales. Trailer segment sales climbed by 14.0 percent in the third quarter of 2005 over the same period last year as order volume was stronger in third quarter of 2005 than 2004. For the first nine months of 2005, net sales increased $10.0 million, or 6.3 percent, to $169.7 million compared to net sales of $159.7 million for the same period in 2004. Featherlite net income for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2005, was $3.6 million, or $0.31 per diluted share, compared with net income of $3.7 million, or $0.32 per diluted share for the same period in 2004, including a non-recurring tax benefit of $0.07 per diluted share. "We are pleased with the Company's increased sales and earnings in the third quarter," Conrad Clement, Featherlite President and CEO, said. "Third quarter profits rose on the strength of higher sales and improved new coach margins as well as the favorable impact of a price increase in the trailer segment effective January 1, 2005. "Going forward, we are optimistic about the level of sales in the fourth quarter of 2005 and going into 2006 for both the coach and trailer segments. Motorcoach backlog at September 30, 2005 is $7.7 million, up from $3.3 million at the same date last year. Though trailer backlog has decreased to $16.7 million at September 30, 2005 from $17.0 million at the same date last year, order levels have remained strong and have been filled from finished goods inventory." About Featherlite With more that 75 percent of its business in the leisure, recreation and entertainment categories, Featherlite(R), Inc. has highly diversified product lines offering hundreds of standard model and custom-designed aluminum specialty trailers, specialized transporters, mobile marketing trailers and luxury motorcoaches. For more information about the Company, please visit www.fthr.com. -0- *T Featherlite, Inc. Condensed Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (In thousands) Sept 30, Dec 31, ASSETS 2005 2004 ---------- ---------- Current assets Cash $179 $179 Receivables 6,749 4,781 Refundable income taxes - 497 Inventories 61,158 61,730 Leased promotional trailers 1,603 1,669 Prepaid expenses 823 1,827 Deferred tax asset 1,274 1,275 ---------- ---------- Total current assets 71,786 71,958 Property and equipment,net 16,939 16,003 Other assets 3,306 4,252 ---------- ---------- $92,031 $92,213 ========== ========== LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY Current liabilities Wholesale financing and other notes payable $19,606 $22,106 Current maturities of long-term debt 1,766 1,699 Checks issued not yet presented 2,533 2,900 Accounts payable 4,798 4,323 Motorcoach shell costs payable 3,939 7,277 Accrued liabilities 9,481 9,124 Customer deposits 2,257 2,698 ---------- ---------- Total current liabilities 44,380 50,127 Bank line of credit 6,505 4,243 Other long-term debt, net of current maturities 10,586 11,092 Deferred tax liabilities 1,340 1,340 Other long-term liabilities 34 48 Shareholders' equity 29,186 25,363 ---------- ---------- $92,031 $92,213 ========== ========== FEATHERLITE, INC Condensed Statements of Income (Unaudited) (In Thousands, except for per share data) Three months Ended Nine months Ended Sept 30, Sept 30, ------------------ ------------------- 2005 2004 2005 2004 --------- -------- --------- --------- Net Sales $59,260 $45,168 $169,733 $159,735 Cost of Sales 50,368 38,221 143,362 135,027 --------- -------- --------- --------- Gross profit 8,892 6,947 26,371 24,708 Selling and administrative expenses 6,610 6,250 18,901 18,716 -------------------------------------- Income from operations 2,282 697 7,470 5,992 Other income(expense) Interest (675) (561) (2,011) (1,689) Other, net 66 92 305 222 --------- -------- --------- --------- Total other expense (609) (469) (1,706) (1,467) --------- -------- --------- --------- Income before taxes 1,673 228 5,764 4,525 Minority interest in subsidiary loss 24 20 24 71 Benefit (provision) for income taxes (645) 692 (2,200) (917) --------- -------- --------- --------- Net income $1,052 $940 $3,588 $3,679 ========= ======== ========= ========= Net income(loss)per share- Basic $0.10 $0.09 $0.33 $0.34 --------- -------- --------- --------- Diluted $0.09 $0.08 $0.31 $0.32 --------- -------- --------- --------- Weighted average shares outstanding - Basic 10,949 10,839 10,922 10,817 --------- -------- --------- --------- Diluted 11,685 11,713 11,720 11,530 --------- -------- --------- --------- *T All shares and per share amounts have been restated to reflect the retroactive effect of the three for two stock split effective on May 5, 2005 Certain prior period information has been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act: Certain statements in this release are forward-looking in nature and relate to trends and events that may affect the Company's future financial position and operating results. Any statements that are not based upon historical facts, including the outcome of events that have not yet occurred and our expectations for future performance, are forward-looking statements. The words "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "could," "will," "plan," "anticipate," and similar words and expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements speak only as of the date of this release, are based on current expectations, are inherently uncertain, are subject to risks, and should be viewed with caution. Actual results and experience may differ materially from the forward-looking statements as a result of many factors, including but not limited to: the health of the economy and disposable income for recreational and leisure activities, product demand and acceptance of products in each segment of the Company's markets, the need for and impact of product sales price increases, fluctuations in the price of aluminum, changes in our product sales mixes, competition, facilities utilization, the availability of additional capital as may be required to finance any future net liquidity deficiency, and certain other unanticipated events and conditions. The risks and uncertainties listed are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our business operations. The Company makes no commitment to update any forward-looking statement or to disclose any facts, events, or circumstances after the date hereof that may affect the accuracy of any forward-looking statement, other than as required by law.