HOLLYWOOD, Fla. and MIAMI, Aug. 26, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HEICO CORPORATION (NYSE:HEI.A) (NYSE:HEI) today reported that net income increased 15% to a record $33.4 million, or 49 cents per diluted share, in the third quarter of fiscal 2014, up from $28.9 million, or 43 cents per diluted share, in the third quarter of fiscal 2013.  In the first nine months of fiscal 2014, net income increased 23% to a record $89.2 million, or $1.32 per diluted share, up from $72.6 million, or $1.09 per diluted share, in the first nine months of fiscal 2013.

Operating income increased 4% to $50.1 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2014, up from $48.4 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2013. In the first nine months of fiscal 2014, operating income increased 17% to a record $149.7 million, up from $128.0 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2013.

The Company's consolidated operating margin was 17.2% and 17.8% in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2014, respectively, as compared to 18.1% and 17.7% in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2013, respectively.

Net sales increased 9% to a record $291.0 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2014, up from $267.1 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2013.  In the first nine months of fiscal 2014, net sales increased 16% to a record $840.1 million, up from $721.3 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2013.

Net income per diluted share in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2014 includes a net 5 cent and 10 cent benefit, respectively, from a reduction in the liability for contingent consideration from a fiscal 2013 acquisition, partially offset by the impairment of certain intangible assets and lower than expected operating income at that acquisition.

Consolidated Results

Laurans A. Mendelson, HEICO's Chairman and CEO, commented on the Company's third quarter results stating, "We are very pleased to report yet another strong quarter highlighted by record consolidated net sales and net income.  These results principally reflect record quarterly net sales within the Electronic Technologies Group, continued growth in net sales within the Flight Support Group and a year-over-year increase in our quarterly consolidated operating income.

Cash flow provided by operating activities increased 38% to $127.2 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2014 as compared to $92.3 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2013.

Our net debt to shareholders' equity ratio was 49.0% as of July 31, 2014, with net debt (total debt less cash and cash equivalents) of $365.4 million principally incurred to fund acquisitions and the payment of special cash dividends in fiscal 2014 and 2013.  We have no significant debt maturities until fiscal 2019 and plan to utilize our financial flexibility to aggressively pursue high quality acquisition opportunities.

As we look ahead to the remainder of fiscal 2014, we continue to anticipate growth within the Flight Support Group's commercial aerospace aftermarket replacement parts and repair and overhaul services product lines, partially offset by declines in defense products within our specialty products lines.  Furthermore, we anticipate softer demand in the Electronic Technologies Group's defense products during the fourth quarter partially offset by a net increase in demand within the other markets served by the Electronic Technologies Group.  During the remainder of fiscal 2014, we plan to remain focused on new product development, further market penetration, executing our acquisition strategies and maintaining our financial strength.

Based on our current economic visibility, we are increasing our estimate of fiscal 2014 year-over-year growth in net income to 14% - 16%, up from our prior growth estimate of 12% - 14%.  We estimate fiscal 2014 year-over-year growth in net sales of 12% - 14%, our full year fiscal 2014 consolidated operating margin to approximate 18%, capital expenditures to approximate $20 million, depreciation and amortization expense to approximate $49 million and cash flow from operations to approximate $160 million."

Flight Support Group

Eric A. Mendelson, HEICO's Co-President and President of HEICO's Flight Support Group, commented on the Flight Support Group's third quarter results stating, "The Flight Support Group experienced another strong quarter, with year-over-year increases in net sales and operating income principally driven by stable demand for our products that serve the commercial aviation markets and the successful integration of our fiscal 2013 acquisition.

The Flight Support Group's net sales increased 6% to $191.6 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2014, up from $181.3 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2013.  The increase in the third quarter of fiscal 2014 is attributed to additional net sales of $6.5 million from a fiscal 2013 acquisition, as well as organic growth of approximately 2%.  The organic growth in the Flight Support Group principally reflects increased market penetration from new product offerings, further building upon our 17% organic growth posted in the third quarter of fiscal 2013, and consists of strong organic net sales growth within our aftermarket replacement parts and repair and overhaul services product lines partially offset by softer demand for certain defense-related products in our specialty products lines.

The Flight Support Group's net sales increased 19% to a record $568.0 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2014, up from $475.6 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2013.  The increase in the first nine months of fiscal 2014 resulted from organic growth of approximately 12%, as well as additional net sales of $37.7 million from a fiscal 2013 acquisition.  The strong organic growth in the Flight Support Group principally reflects new product offerings and favorable market conditions in the commercial aerospace sector resulting in net sales increases in our aftermarket replacement parts and repair and overhaul services product lines and our specialty products lines.

The Flight Support Group's operating income increased 5% to $34.2 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2014, up from $32.6 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2013.  The Flight Support Group's operating income increased 19% to a record $103.3 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2014, up from $87.2 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2013.  The increase in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2014 reflects the previously mentioned net sales growth.

The Flight Support Group's operating margin was 17.9% and 18.2% in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2014, respectively, and was comparable to the operating margins of 18.0% and 18.3% in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2013."

Electronic Technologies Group

Victor H. Mendelson, HEICO's Co-President and President of HEICO's Electronic Technologies Group, commented on the Electronic Technologies Group's third quarter results stating, "Our record in net sales came from improved quarterly organic growth as compared to the first half of fiscal 2014 as well as the impact of our fiscal 2013 acquisition.

The Electronic Technologies Group's net sales increased 17% to a record $102.1 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2014, up from $87.4 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2013.  The increase in the third quarter of fiscal 2014 resulted from strong organic growth of approximately 9%, as well as additional net sales of $6.8 million from a fiscal 2013 acquisition.  The Electronic Technologies Group's net sales increased 12% to a record $279.3 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2014, up from $250.2 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2013.  The increase in the first nine months of fiscal 2014 resulted from additional net sales of $19.0 million from a fiscal 2013 acquisition, as well as organic growth of approximately 4%.  The organic growth in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2014 principally reflects increased demand for our product offerings in the third quarter across the majority of the markets the Electronic Technologies Group serves.

The Electronic Technologies Group's operating income was $21.5 million in both the third quarter of fiscal 2014 and 2013 and increased 9% to $62.5 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2014, up from $57.3 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2013.  The increase in the first nine months of fiscal 2014 came from the previously mentioned net sales growth partially offset by a less favorable product mix.  Furthermore, during the first nine months of fiscal 2014 we reduced the estimated contingent consideration and impaired certain intangible assets associated with the previously referenced fiscal 2013 acquisition, the net result of which favorably impacted operating income.

The Electronic Technologies Group's operating margin was 21.0% and 22.4% in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2014, respectively, as compared to 24.6% and 22.9% in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2013, respectively.  Operating margins remained strong, but decreased in the third quarter of fiscal 2014 due to the previously mentioned less favorable product mix including the overall impact of the fiscal 2013 acquired business."

(NOTE: HEICO has two classes of common stock traded on the NYSE. Both classes, the Class A Common Stock (HEI.A) and the Common Stock (HEI), are virtually identical in all economic respects.  The only difference between the share classes is the voting rights. The Class A Common Stock (HEI.A) has 1/10 vote per share and the Common Stock (HEI) has one vote per share.)

There are currently approximately 39.7 million shares of HEICO's Class A Common Stock (HEI.A) outstanding and 26.8 million shares of HEICO's Common Stock (HEI) outstanding.  The stock symbols for HEICO's two classes of common stock on most websites are HEI.A and HEI.  However, some websites change HEICO's Class A Common Stock trading symbol (HEI.A) to HEI/A or HEIa.

As previously announced, HEICO will hold a conference call on Wednesday, August 27, 2014 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time to discuss its third quarter results.  Individuals wishing to participate in the conference call should dial: U.S. and Canada (877) 586-4323, International (706) 679-0934, wait for the conference operator and provide the operator with the Conference ID 88015580.  A digital replay will be available two hours after the completion of the conference for 14 days.  To access, dial: (404) 537-3406, and enter the Conference ID 88015580.

HEICO Corporation is engaged primarily in certain niche segments of the aviation, defense, space, medical, telecommunications and electronics industries through its Hollywood, Florida-based Flight Support Group and its Miami, Florida-based Electronic Technologies Group.  HEICO's customers include a majority of the world's airlines and overhaul shops as well as numerous defense and space contractors and military agencies worldwide in addition to medical, telecommunications and electronics equipment manufacturers.  For more information about HEICO, please visit our website at http://www.heico.com.

Certain statements in this press release constitute forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks, uncertainties and contingencies.  HEICO's actual results may differ materially from those expressed in or implied by those forward-looking statements as a result of factors including, but not limited to: lower demand for commercial air travel or airline fleet changes or airline purchasing decisions, which could cause lower demand for our goods and services; product development or product specification costs and requirements, which could cause an increase to our costs to complete contracts; governmental and regulatory demands, export policies and restrictions, reductions in defense, space or homeland security spending by U.S. and/or foreign customers or competition from existing and new competitors, which could reduce our sales; our ability to introduce new products and product pricing levels, which could reduce our sales or sales growth; product development difficulties, which could increase our product development costs and delay sales; our ability to make acquisitions and achieve operating synergies from acquired businesses, customer credit risk, interest and income tax rates and economic conditions within and outside of the aviation, defense, space, medical, telecommunications and electronics industries, which could negatively impact our costs and revenues; and defense budget cuts, which could reduce our defense-related revenue.  Parties receiving this material are encouraged to review all of HEICO's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to filings on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K.  We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law.