Source: Dorman Products, Inc.

Dorman Products, Inc. Reports Sales and Earnings for the Fourth Quarter and Year Ended December 27, 2014

COLMAR, PA--(Marketwired - Feb 18, 2015) - Dorman Products, Inc. (NASDAQ: DORM)

Full Year Results:

  • 2014 sales increased 13% to $751.5 million
  • 2014 EPS increased 11% to $2.49 per diluted share

Fourth Quarter Results:

  • Q4 sales increased 2% to $174.0 million
  • Q4 EPS decreased 7% to $0.52 per diluted share
  • Adjusted Q4 EPS, excluding ERP conversion costs, increased 13% to $0.63 per diluted share

Dorman Products, Inc. (NASDAQ: DORM) today announced sales for the fourth quarter ended December 27, 2014 of $174.0 million, an increase of 2% from $169.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2013. The sales growth rate in the fourth quarter would have been 9% when adjusted for previously announced pre-enterprise resource planning ("ERP") system conversion stock-up orders that were shipped in the third quarter. Diluted earnings per share for the fourth quarter ended December 27, 2014 decreased 7% to $0.52 per share from $0.56 per share in 2013.

Results for the fourth quarter of 2014 include $5.9 million in incremental costs associated with the ERP conversion, consisting of $2.8 million in increased distribution costs, $1.9 million in consulting and other related support costs, $0.5 million in additional depreciation and $0.7 million in other costs. Approximately 90% of these costs impacted selling, general and administrative expenses ("SG&A") while the remaining 10% impacted gross profit. Excluding the impact of these items, diluted earnings per share would have increased 13% to $0.63 from $0.56 last year.

"The sales growth rate in the second half of 2014 was negatively impacted by softer order patterns from two customers that chose to reduce inventory levels. Growth rates for the rest of the business were in the low teens, which were down slightly from historical levels. Additionally, sell-through rates of our products were strong in the fourth quarter, but down slightly from third quarter levels," said Mr. Steven Berman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. 

Gross profit margin was 38.3% for the fourth quarter ended December 27, 2014 compared to 38.9% for the same period last year primarily as the result of lower net selling prices. SG&A expenses increased 11% in the fourth quarter of 2014 to $38.1 million from $34.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2013 due to the incremental ERP costs described above and increased investments in product development initiatives. These costs were partially offset by provisions for incentive compensation that were $1.6 million lower than the prior year and a $1.0 million reduction in an estimated earn-out liability.

For the fiscal year ended December 27, 2014, sales increased 13% over the prior year to $751.5 million from $664.5 million last year. Diluted earnings per share in 2014 rose 11% to $2.49 from $2.24 in the prior year. Additionally, the following represent other highlights and metrics for fiscal 2014:

  • Revenues from products introduced in the last 24 months accounted for 22% of our fiscal 2014 sales, which approximated 2013 levels
  • SG&A as a percentage of net sales declined to 19.5% from 20.0% despite the additional fourth quarter costs associated with the ERP implementation described above 
  • Research and development spending increased 18% to $15.8 million in 2014
  • Total parts introduced in 2014 increased 8% to approximately 3,750 parts, including 1,266 "Formerly Dealer Only" parts

"I would like to thank all of our contributors for their commitment and dedication in a year that brought forth many challenges, and our customers and end-users for their continued support and acceptance of our new products. This year marked our 14th consecutive year of sales growth, including double digit sales growth in each of the last 6 years. Our organic sales growth continues to be driven by new products as a result of our continued commitment to our 'New to the Aftermarket' strategy," said Mr. Berman. "The first half of 2015 will be challenging given the 20% growth rates experienced in the first half of 2014 and additional costs to be incurred as we work to complete the stabilization and transition phase of the conversion to our new ERP system. While we don't expect incremental costs from the ERP implementation to be as high as they were in the fourth quarter, they will be meaningful through at least mid-year. We continue to believe that benefits from our investments in the business and the continued success of our new products will allow us to achieve our long-term goals of low double digit sales and earnings growth."

The Company repurchased 855,600 shares of its common stock for $40.4 million at an average price of $47.20 per share during fiscal 2014, and has $59.6 million remaining under its current $100 million share repurchase program.

Dorman Products, Inc. is a leading supplier of Dealer "Exclusive" automotive replacement parts, automotive hardware, brake products, and household hardware to the Automotive Aftermarket and Mass Merchandise markets. Dorman products are marketed under the Dorman® OE Solutions™, HELP!®, AutoGrade™, First Stop™, Conduct-Tite®, TECHoice™, and Dorman HD Solutions™ brand names. 

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "believe," "demonstrate," "expect," "estimate," "forecast," "anticipate," "should" and "likely" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. In addition, statements that are not historical should also be considered forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on those forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statement was made. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations that involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual events to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, competition in the automotive aftermarket industry, concentration of the Company's sales and accounts receivable among a small number of customers, the impact of consolidation in the automotive aftermarket industry, foreign currency fluctuations, dependence on senior management and other risks detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2013. The Company is under no obligation to (and expressly disclaims any such obligation to) update any of the information in this press release if any forward-looking statement later turns out to be inaccurate whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Visit our website at www.dormanproducts.com

 
DORMAN PRODUCTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except per-share amounts)
                 
    13 Weeks       13 Weeks    
Fourth Quarter (unaudited)     12/27/14   Pct.     12/28/13   Pct.
Net sales   $ 173,981   100.0   $ 169,809   100.0
Cost of goods sold     107,264   61.7     103,724   61.1
Gross profit     66,717   38.3     66,085   38.9
Selling, general and                    
administrative expenses     38,106   21.9     34,478   20.3
Income from operations     28,611   16.4     31,607   18.6
Interest expense, net     44   -     41   -
Income before income taxes     28,567   16.4     31,566   18.6
Provision for income taxes     9,911   5.7     10,947   6.5
Net income   $ 18,656   10.7   $ 20,619   12.1
                     
Diluted earnings per share   $ 0.52       $ 0.56    
                     
Weighted average diluted                    
shares outstanding     35,669   -     36,552   -
                 
DORMAN PRODUCTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES    
Consolidated Statements of Operations    
(in thousands, except per-share amounts)    
                 
    52 Weeks       52 Weeks    
Year Ended (unaudited)     12/27/14   Pct.     12/28/13   Pct.
Net sales   $ 751,476   100.0   $ 664,466   100.0
Cost of goods sold     464,275   61.8     403,498   60.7
Gross profit     287,201   38.2     260,968   39.3
Selling, general and                    
administrative expenses     146,467   19.5     133,029   20.0
Income from operations     140,734   18.7     127,939   19.3
Interest expense, net     204   -     189   0.1
Income from continuing operations                    
before income taxes     140,530   18.7     127,750   19.2
Provision for income taxes     50,543   6.7     45,830   6.9
Net income   $ 89,987   12.0   $ 81,920   12.3
                     
Diluted earnings per share   $ 2.49   -   $ 2.24    
                     
Weighted average diluted                    
shares outstanding     36,190   -     36,624    
         
DORMAN PRODUCTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)
         
    12/27/14   12/28/13
Assets:            
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 47,656   $ 60,593
Accounts receivable     206,035     180,777
Inventories     173,523     160,387
Deferred income taxes     25,103     20,798
Prepaid expenses     3,147     5,851
Total current assets     455,464     428,406
Property, plant & equipment, net     82,270     64,786
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net     29,989     30,089
Other assets     12,645     5,888
Total assets   $ 580,368   $ 529,169
             
Liabilities & shareholders' equity:            
Accounts payable   $ 59,541   $ 61,255
Accrued expenses and other     31,292     30,483
Total current liabilities     90,833     91,738
Other long-term liabilities     4,822     5,310
Deferred income taxes     22,652     18,480
Shareholders' equity     462,061     413,641
Total liabilities and equity   $ 580,368   $ 529,169
                 
Selected Cash Flow Information (unaudited):    
  (in thousands)   13 Weeks   13 Weeks   52 Weeks   52 Weeks
      12/27/14     12/28/13     12/27/14     12/28/13
Depreciation, amortization                        
and accretion   $ 3,657   $ 2,742   $ 12,658   $ 10,159
Capital expenditures   $ 6,870   $ 11,717   $ 29,862   $ 24,666
                         

DORMAN PRODUCTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures
(in thousands, except per-share amounts)

This press release contains non-GAAP measures which adjust diluted earnings per share to exclude the impact of the following items:

  • Results for the thirteen weeks ended December 27, 2014 include $5.9 million of incremental pre-tax costs associated with implementing our ERP system, consisting of $2.8 million in increased distribution costs, $1.9 million in consulting and other related support costs, $0.5 million in additional depreciation and $0.7 million in other costs.

The presentation of these non-GAAP measures is intended to enhance the usefulness of the financial information by providing measures which the Company's management uses internally to evaluate the Company's baseline performance. A reconciliation of diluted earnings per share follows:

 (unaudited)   
    13 Weeks   13 Weeks      
    Ended   Ended      
    12/27/14   12/28/13   % Change  
                   
Diluted EPS, as reported   $ 0.52   $ 0.56   (7 %)
Add:Incremental costs incurred after ERP                  
system conversion date, after tax     0.11     -   N/A  
Diluted EPS, as adjusted   $ 0.63   $ 0.56   13 %