Raven Industries Reports Second Quarter Fiscal 2016 Results

SIOUX FALLS, S.D., Aug. 20, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Raven Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ:RAVN) today reported financial results for the second quarter that ended July 31, 2015.

Noteworthy Items:

• Challenging end-market conditions persisted and particularly impacted Applied Technology and Engineered Films sales development in the second quarter;
• Awarded a $6 million aerostat contract by the Department of Defense during the quarter for the delivery of two full systems and support this fiscal year;
• Cost savings from the Company's previously announced restructuring, together with ongoing cost controls and attrition management, are materially reducing overall cost structure;
• Reduced net working capital levels by approximately $8 million versus the first quarter, driven principally by lower inventory levels and accounts receivable;
• Repurchased an additional 400 thousand shares during the quarter, bringing the total shares repurchased year-to-date to 550 thousand shares (equivalent to approximately $11 million);
• Sold the vacant, non-strategic Huron, South Dakota facility during the quarter.

Second Quarter Results:

Net sales for the second quarter of 2016 were $67.5 million, down 28.5 percent versus the second quarter of 2015. Excluding sales from contract manufacturing, second quarter net sales were $66.0 million, down 25.3 percent versus the second quarter of 2015¹.

Operating income for the second quarter of 2016 was $6.4 million, down $4.3 million or 39.9 percent versus the second quarter of 2015. The decline was principally due to lower sales volumes in all three divisions, partially offset by lower corporate spending. The challenging end-market conditions continued in the second quarter for both Applied Technology and Engineered Films.

Net income for the second quarter of 2016 was $4.2 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, versus net income of $7.7 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, in last year's second quarter.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow:

At the end of the second quarter of 2016, cash and cash equivalents totaled $47.6 million, flat with the previous quarter. Net working capital as a percentage of annualized sales decreased from 33.8 percent in the first quarter to 32.2 percent in the second quarter². Lower accounts receivable and inventory levels drove the reduction in net working capital sequentially. Cash flow from operations was $14.4 million in the second quarter versus $12.9 million in the previous year's second quarter. The increase in cash flow from operations was primarily due to more favorable working capital developments. Capital expenditures were $2.3 million in this year's second quarter, down approximately $2.1 million versus the second quarter of 2015. The Company continues to expect capital expenditures for the year to be between $13 and $15 million.

Engineered Films Division Second Quarter Results:

Net sales for Engineered Films were $35.8 million, down 15.4 percent year-over-year. The decline in sales was driven primarily by the continuation of the substantial decline in energy market demand as a result of lower oil prices and drilling activities year-over-year. Energy-related sales declined approximately 75 percent in the second quarter, in-line sequentially with the 75 percent decline realized in the first quarter. The remaining markets, in aggregate, were up versus second quarter of last year, driven by the acquisition of Integra Plastics (Integra) and strong sales growth in the agricultural market.

Operating income was $5.4 million, down $0.5 million or 7.8 percent versus the second quarter of 2015. The decline in operating income was driven primarily by markedly lower sales into the energy market, partially offset by cost control measures implemented in the first quarter and the benefit of the Integra acquisition. Despite lower sales volume and reducing inventory levels by more than $3 million, operating margin expanded by 130 basis points sequentially. Sustained efforts around value engineering and cost controls, combined with favorable raw material costs, drove the improvement in margin.

"At the beginning of the quarter we were cautiously optimistic for the second half of the year as oil prices per barrel started to recover and held at the $60-level for a few months. However, in July these gains were given up and the market began testing new lows. It is looking more and more likely that an improvement in energy market demand will be delayed until sometime next year, with a strong rebound probably a few years out," said Dan Rykhus, president and CEO. "Although this creates a topline challenge for the division, our other markets, in aggregate, are growing. We continue to invest in and develop new capabilities in the markets we serve and we are realigning internal resources to grow these markets, particularly agriculture, industrial, and construction, at a faster pace."

Applied Technology Division Second Quarter Results:

Net sales for Applied Technology in the second quarter of 2016 were $20.4 million, down 43.7 percent versus the second quarter of 2015. Notably lower end-market demand conditions continue to impact the sales development of the division. Sales to OEM's and the aftermarket declined by approximately 50 percent and 35 percent, respectively, in the second quarter.

Operating income was $4.0 million, down $4.8 million or 54.2 percent versus the second quarter of 2015. The decline was mostly due to significantly lower sales volume year-over-year. Although restructuring efforts and cost containment actions are reducing expenses as planned, reduced leverage of fixed manufacturing costs due to seasonally lower sales in the second quarter drove division profit margins lower sequentially. Conversely, operating margin is expected to benefit from increased fixed cost leverage as sales volumes increase in the future.

According to Rykhus, "As we expected, the market dynamics in the second quarter were little changed versus what we experienced in the first quarter. While corn prices climbed to a one-year high during the quarter, it was short-lived and not sustained. Unfortunately, it will take time for the market to return to a more balanced and stable demand profile where growth in precision agriculture markets can resume."

Aerostar Division Second Quarter Results:

Net sales for Aerostar for the second quarter of 2016 were $11.3 million, down 41.2 percent versus the second quarter of 2015. Excluding sales from contract manufacturing, second quarter net sales were $9.8 million, down $1.6 million or 14.3 percent versus the second quarter of 2015¹.

Operating income was $1.3 million versus $1.6 million in the second quarter of 2015 and operating margin was up 310 basis points year-over-year. The reduction in contract manufacturing business together with cost containment actions and higher aerostat sales relative to the prior year drove the margin improvement year-over-year. Although operating income for the division was down $0.3M year-over-year on a reported basis, excluding the impact of contract manufacturing, operating income increased significantly.

Said Rykhus, "The second quarter for Aerostar developed generally as we anticipated. We had a key contract win for two aerostat systems and we continued to enhance our balloon capabilities for Google's Project Loon. Although Vista radar sales were below the prior year, we are pleased with the program pipeline the Vista team continues to build. While the ultimate timing for Loon and Vista programs is not certain, the long-term break-out potential of both are intact. Consequently, we remain intently focused on successfully executing our strategy regarding these opportunities."

Fiscal 2016 Outlook:

"Market conditions in Engineered Films and Applied Technology continued to remain challenging in the second quarter. Although we were cautiously optimistic for improved end-market conditions later in the year for both divisions, this is unlikely to occur based on what we are seeing in the marketplace today," said Rykhus.

"I am proud of the organization and how we have rallied to face the challenges these commodity cycles have created. While these conditions are expected to persist longer than we previously anticipated, we are steadfast in our focus on protecting our core business and creating sustainable long-term growth and we are prepared for the challenge. Key growth initiatives in each division continue to be funded and resourced. In Engineered Films, we are in the final stages of installing a new cast line that will enable us to provide industry disrupting technology to the industrial market. In Applied Technology we have recently introduced our new Hawkeye sprayer control system and the initial feedback has been exceptionally strong. Lastly, in Aerostar the breakout potential of Project Loon and Vista Research are intact and we continue to realize meaningful progress," added Rykhus.

"We are pleased that we took swift action earlier in the year to adjust our cost structure and help protect operating margins. We have continued to manage expenses very closely throughout the year given the uncertainties we face and we will continue to be vigilant on expenses while continuing to invest for the future through R&D and strategic capital projects. We are prepared to endure these challenging end-market conditions and will continue to focus on what is in our direct control," concluded Rykhus.

Regulation G:

The information presented in this earnings release regarding net sales excluding contract manufacturing sales and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) do not conform to generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and should not be construed as an alternative to the reported results determined in accordance with GAAP. Management has included this non-GAAP information to assist in understanding the operating performance of the Company and its operating segments as well as the comparability of results. The non-GAAP information provided may not be consistent with the methodologies used by other companies. All non-GAAP information is reconciled with reported GAAP results in the tables below.

Conference Call Information:

The Company will host an investor conference call to discuss second quarter fiscal 2016 results today, Thursday, August 20, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. Central Time (10:00 a.m. Eastern Time). The conference call audio will be available to all interested parties via a simultaneous webcast that can be accessed at www.RavenInd.com under the Investor Relations section. Analysts and investors are invited to join the conference call by dialing: 1-866-393-0676. The event is scheduled to last one hour. For those unable to listen live, an audio replay of the event along with the accompanying presentation will be archived on the Company's website.

About Raven Industries, Inc.:

Since 1956, Raven Industries has designed and manufactured high-quality, high-value technical products. Raven is publicly traded on NASDAQ (RAVN) and has earned an international reputation for innovation, product quality, high performance, and unmatched service. Raven's purpose is to solve great challenges in areas of safety, feeding the world, energy independence and resource preservation. To realize this purpose, we utilize our strengths in engineering, manufacturing and technological innovation to serve the precision agriculture, high performance specialty films, aerospace and situational awareness markets. Visit www.RavenInd.com for more information.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements regarding the expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. Without limiting the foregoing, the words "anticipates," "believes," "expects," "intends," "may," "plans," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The Company intends that all forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, there is no assurance these assumptions are correct or that these expectations will be achieved. Assumptions involve important risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect results in the future. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those relating to weather conditions and commodity prices, which could affect sales and profitability in some of the Company's primary markets, such as agriculture, construction and energy; or changes in competition, raw material availability, technology or relationships with the Company's largest customers, risks and uncertainties relating to development of new technologies to satisfy customer requirements, possible development of competitive technologies, ability to scale production of new products without negatively impacting quality and cost, and ability to finance investment and working capital needs for new development projects, as well as other risks described in the Company's 10-K under Item 1A. This list is not exhaustive, and the Company does not have an obligation to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date these statements are made.

1. Net sales excluding contract manufacturing sales is a non-GAAP financial measure and excludes sales generated from contract manufacturing activities. Net sales excluding contract manufacturing sales is reconciled in the accompanying Regulation G tables.

2. Net working capital is a defined as accounts receivable (net) plus inventories less accounts payable. Net working capital percentage is defined as net working capital divided by four times quarterly sales.

3. EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure defined on a consolidated basis as net income attributable to Raven Industries, Inc., plus income taxes, plus depreciation expense, plus amortization expense, plus interest expense (net). On a segment basis it is defined as operating income, plus depreciation expense, plus amortization expense. EBITDA margin is defined as EBITDA divided by net sales. EBITDA is reconciled in the accompanying Regulation G tables.