CTS Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2018 Results

Strong sales and earnings growth

Lisle, IL, United States


LISLE, Ill., Feb. 05, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CTS Corporation (NYSE: CTS) today announced fourth quarter and full year 2018 results.

Fourth Quarter 2018 Results

  • Sales were $120.1 million, up 8.3% year-over-year. Sales to transportation customers increased 7.2%, and sales to other end markets grew 10.2%.
  • Net earnings were $17.6 million or $0.52 per diluted share.
  • Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.41 compared to $0.39 in the fourth quarter of 2017.

Full Year 2018 Results

  • Sales were $470.5 million, up 11.2% compared to 2017. Sales to transportation customers increased 9.0%, and sales to other end markets grew 15.3%.
  • Net earnings were $46.5 million or $1.39 per diluted share.
  • Adjusted diluted EPS was $1.53 compared to $1.23 in 2017.
  • Operating cash flow was $58.2 million.
  • Total booked business grew $129 million in 2018, a 7.4% increase, to $1.87 billion.

“We are pleased with our progress in several areas as we transition our business and systems,” said Kieran O’Sullivan, CEO of CTS Corporation. “We are focused on carrying our momentum to continue elevating our performance in the years ahead. We expect growth in medical, telecom, and defense end markets, and remain cautious on industrial and transportation end markets.”

2019 Guidance

Full year 2019 sales are expected to be in the range of $460 to $500 million. Adjusted earnings per diluted share for 2019 are expected to be in the range of $1.50 to $1.70.

Conference Call

As previously announced, the Company has scheduled a conference call at 11:00 a.m. (EST) today to discuss the fourth quarter and full year financial results. The dial-in number is 855-719-5008 (334-323-0517, if calling from outside the U.S.). The passcode is 670352. There will be a replay of the conference call from 2:00 p.m. (EST) today through 2:00 p.m. (EST) on Tuesday, February 19, 2019. The telephone number for the replay is 888-203-1112 (719-457-0820, if calling from outside the U.S.). The replay passcode is 6970679. A live audio webcast of the conference call will be available and can be accessed directly from the Investors section of the website of CTS Corporation at www.ctscorp.com.

About CTS

CTS (NYSE: CTS) is a leading designer and manufacturer of products that Sense, Connect, and Move.  The company manufactures sensors, actuators, and electronic components in North America, Europe, and Asia, and provides engineered products to customers in the aerospace/defense, industrial, medical, telecommunications/IT, and transportation markets.

For more information, visit www.ctscorp.com.

Safe Harbor

This document contains statements that are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, any financial or other guidance, statements that reflect our current expectations concerning future results and events, and any other statements that are not based solely on historical fact. Forward-looking statements are based on management's expectations, certain assumptions and currently available information. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof and are based on various assumptions as to future events, the occurrence of which necessarily are subject to uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are made subject to certain risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those presented in the forward-looking statements. Many of these, and other, risks and uncertainties are discussed in further detail in Item 1A. of CTS’ Annual Report on Form 10-K. We undertake no obligation to publicly update our forward-looking statements to reflect new information or events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof, including market or industry changes.

Contact

Ashish Agrawal
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

CTS Corporation
4925 Indiana Avenue
Lisle, IL 60532
USA

Telephone: +1 (630) 577-8800
E-mail: ashish.agrawal@ctscorp.com


CTS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (LOSS) - UNAUDITED
(In thousands of dollars, except per share amounts)

 Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended
 December 31, December 31, December 31, December 31,
 2018 2017 2018 2017
Net sales$120,073  $110,910  $470,483  $422,993 
Cost of goods sold77,428  78,035  305,510  282,562 
Gross Margin42,645  32,875  164,973  140,431 
Selling, general and administrative expenses18,128  24,973  73,569  71,943 
Research and development expenses5,804  6,714  25,304  25,146 
Restructuring and impairment charges1,698  1,197  5,062  4,139 
(Gain) loss on sale of assets(2) 10    708 
Operating earnings (loss)17,017  (19) 61,038  38,495 
Other (expense) income:       
Interest expense(484) (1,134) (2,085) (3,343)
Interest income459  370  1,826  1,284 
Other (expense) income(119) 928  (2,676) 3,817 
Total other (expense) income, net(144) 164  (2,935) 1,758 
Earnings before taxes16,873  145  58,103  40,253 
Income tax (benefit) expense(691) 13,766  11,571  25,805 
Net earnings (loss)$17,564  $(13,621) $46,532  $14,448 
Net earnings (loss) per share:       
Basic$0.53  $(0.41) $1.41  $0.44 
Diluted$0.52  $(0.41) $1.39  $0.43 
                
Basic weighted-average common shares outstanding32,983  32,938  33,024  32,892 
Effect of dilutive securities562    545  528 
Diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding33,545  32,938  33,569  33,420 
Cash dividends declared per share$0.04  $0.04  $0.16  $0.16 



CTS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands of dollars)

 (Unaudited)  
 December 31, December 31,
 2018 2017
ASSETS   
Current Assets   
Cash and cash equivalents$100,933  $113,572 
Accounts receivable, net79,518  70,584 
Inventories, net43,486  36,596 
Other current assets15,422  12,857 
Total current assets239,359  233,609 
Property, plant and equipment, net99,401  88,247 
Other Assets   
Prepaid pension asset54,100  57,050 
Goodwill71,057  71,057 
Other intangible assets, net60,180  66,943 
Deferred income taxes22,201  20,694 
Other assets2,043  2,096 
Total other assets209,581  217,840 
Total Assets$548,341  $539,696 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY   
Current Liabilities   
Accounts payable$51,975  $49,201 
Accrued payroll and benefits14,671  11,867 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities37,347  41,344 
Total current liabilities103,993  102,412 
Long-term debt50,000  76,300 
Long-term pension obligations6,510  7,201 
Deferred income taxes3,990  3,802 
Other long-term obligations5,919  6,176 
Total Liabilities170,412  195,891 
Commitments and Contingencies   
Shareholders' Equity   
Common stock306,697  304,777 
Additional contributed capital42,820  41,084 
Retained earnings478,847  420,160 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss(97,739) (78,960)
Total shareholders' equity before treasury stock730,625  687,061 
Treasury stock(352,696) (343,256)
Total shareholders' equity377,929  343,805 
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity$548,341  $539,696 



CTS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
OTHER SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION - UNAUDITED

Earnings Per Share

The following table reconciles GAAP diluted earnings per share to adjusted diluted earnings per share for the Company:

Additional Information

The following table includes other financial information not presented in the preceding financial statements.

 Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended
 December 31,
2018
 December 31,
2017
 December 31,
2018
 December 31,
2017
GAAP diluted earnings per share$0.52  $(0.41) $1.39  $0.43 
        
Tax affected charges to reported diluted earnings per share:       
Restructuring charges0.04  0.02  0.12  0.08 
Foreign currency (gain) loss  (0.01) 0.06  (0.07)
Non-recurring costs of tax improvement initiatives    0.03   
Non-recurring environmental charge    0.02   
Loss on sale of facilities, net of expenses      0.01 
Decrease in the recognition of foreign valuation allowance(0.03) (0.01) (0.03) (0.02)
Pension settlement charge  0.26    0.26 
Discrete tax items(0.10)   (0.04)  
Tax impact related to Tax Cuts and Job Acts(0.02) 0.54  (0.02) 0.54 
Adjusted diluted earnings per share$0.41  $0.39  $1.53  $1.23 

Additional Information

The following table includes other financial information not presented in the preceding financial statements.

 Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended
 December 31,
2018
 December 31,
2017
 December 31,
2018
 December 31,
2017
Depreciation and amortization expense$6,165  $5,613  $22,514  $20,674 
Stock-based compensation expense$1,152  $1,670  $5,256  $4,184 

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Adjusted earnings per share is a non-GAAP financial measure.  The most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is diluted earnings per share.

CTS adjusts for these items because they are discrete events, which have a significant impact on comparable GAAP financial measures and could distort an evaluation of our normal operating performance.

CTS uses an adjusted earnings per share measure to evaluate overall performance, establish plans and perform strategic analysis.  Using this measure avoids distortion in the evaluation of operating results by eliminating the impact of events which are not related to normal operating performance.  Because this measure is based on the exclusion or inclusion of specific items, they may not be comparable to measures used by other companies which have similar titles.  CTS' management compensates for this limitation when performing peer comparisons by evaluating both GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures reported by peer companies.  CTS believes that this measure is useful to its management, investors and stakeholders in that it:

  • provides a meaningful measure of CTS' operating performance,

  • reflects the results used by management in making decisions about the business, and

  • helps review and project CTS' performance over time.

We recommend that investors consider both actual and adjusted measures in evaluating the performance of CTS with peer companies.