Sono-Tek Reports Strong Growth in Sales, Profitability and Backlog for Second Quarter Fiscal 2022; Expects Double-Digit Growth and Record Sales for FY 2022 



Q2 Sales Up 17% and Q2 Net Income Up 93% Year-over-Year; Backlog up 64% from FYE

MILTON, NY, Oct. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire -- Sono-Tek Corporation (NASDAQ: SOTK), the leading developer and manufacturer of ultrasonic coating systems, today reported financial results for the second quarter and first half periods of fiscal year 2022, ended August 31, 2021.

Second Quarter FY2022 Financial Highlights: 
(Compared with prior-year period unless otherwise noted

  • Net sales were $4,070,000, up 17% or $589,000, driven by increased sales of OEM systems to the China market.
  • Gross Profit increased 28% to $2,074,000 due to higher sales and product mix.
  • Gross Margin expanded 440 basis points to 51.0% primarily due to product mix.
  • Operating income increased 123% to $449,000, compared to $201,000.
  • Net income was $344,000, an increase of 93%.
  • Backlog reached a record high of $6,332,000, an increase of 45% compared with backlog of $4,380,000 on May 31, 2021 (the end of the fiscal Q1) and increased 64% compared to backlog of $3,851,000 on February 28, 2021 (the end of fiscal 2021).
  • Uplisted to Nasdaq Capital Market on August 27, 2021.

First Half Fiscal 2022 Highlights
(Compared with prior-year period unless otherwise noted)

  • Net Sales were $7,715,000, an increase of 12%, primarily driven by strength in the semiconductor and electronic diagnostic coating markets.
  • Gross Profit increased 23% to $3,898,000 due to higher sales and product mix.
  • Gross Margin expanded 440 basis points to 50.5% primarily due to product mix and lower than expected warranty and installation costs.
  • Operating Income increased 105% to $791,000 due to increases in gross profit, partially offset by increases in operating expenses.
  • Income before taxes increased 94% to $802,000, excluding the benefit from PPP loan forgiveness of $1.0 million.
  • As of August 31, 2021, the Company had no outstanding debt.

Guidance

  • Sales Growth Guidance for the third and fourth quarters of FY2022 is for double digit increases over the comparable periods of last year. 
  • Sono-Tek continues to expect the highest annual sales in corporate history for fiscal year 2022, ending February 28, 2022.

Dr. Christopher L. Coccio, Chairman and CEO, commented, “Sono-Tek had another strong performance in the second quarter of fiscal 2022. Net sales increased 17% with strength in multi-axis coating systems and the OEM markets for semiconductor and fluxing systems. The electronics/microelectronics segment again accounted for a large portion of the quarter’s sales, 36% compared to 23% in the second quarter of last fiscal year, driven by sales of systems for diagnostic coatings on electronic devices for COVID-19 test kits and the ongoing global shortages and investments in semiconductors. Approximately 62% of sales originated outside of the US and Canada in the quarter. APAC accounted for 65% of foreign sales, led by sales to China. We expect continued international growth as countries around the world roll back COVID-19 restrictions and bring manufacturing capacity back online. We’ve already begun to see increased activity in our global network of process development labs. We effectively contained costs in the quarter and the product mix was favorable, enabling a 28% increase in gross profit to $2.1 million and a 440 basis point expansion in gross margin to 51.0%. Operating income more than doubled and net income increased 93%. Backlog reached a record high of $6.3 million, an increase of 45% from the end of the first quarter and an increase of 64% from the end of our last fiscal year on February 28, 2021.

“The outlook is strong as well. We expect double-digit sales increases for both the third and fourth quarters of the fiscal year based on the strength of our backlog. We expect this growth to generate the highest annual sales in corporate history for the year ending in February 2022. We’re very excited about this expanded revenue which reflects the success of our strategic shift to provide higher value, complete machine solutions and larger subsystems to OEMs. Our continued positive trajectory undoubtedly facilitated the uplisting of our common stock to the Nasdaq Capital Market during the second quarter. SOTK began trading on Nasdaq on August 27th, and we rang the closing bell a few days later to mark the achievement of this important milestone,” concluded Dr. Coccio. 

Year-to-Date Fiscal 2022 Results (Narrative compares with prior-year period unless otherwise noted)

 Six Months Ended August 31,Change
 20212020$%
Net Sales$     7,715,000 $     6,909,000 806,00012%
Gross Profit3,898,000 3,182,000 716,00023%
          Gross Margin50.5%46.1%  
Operating Income $           791,000 $           386,000 405,000105%
          Operating Margin10.3%5.6%  
Net Income $       1,611,000   $         346,000 1,265,000366%
          Net Margin20.9%5.0%  
Diluted Earnings Per Share$                0.10 $                0.02   
Weighted Average Shares - Diluted15,614,00015,531,000  

Second Quarter Fiscal 2021 Results (Narrative compares with prior-year period unless otherwise noted) 

 Three Months Ended August 31,Change
 20212020$%
Net Sales$     4,070,000 $     3,481,000 589,00017%
Gross Profit2,074,000 1,621,000 453,00028%
          Gross Margin51.0%46.6%  
Operating Income $          449,000 $          201,000 248,000123%
          Operating Margin11.0%5.8%  
Net Income $          344,000 $          178,000 166,00093%
          Net Margin8.5%5.1%  
Diluted Earnings Per Share$0.02 $0.01   
Weighted Average Shares - Diluted15,602,00015,533,000  

Second Quarter FY2022 Financial Overview

Fiscal second quarter net sales were $4,070,000, up 17% or $589,000 from the second quarter of last year. The growth was primarily driven by a significant shipment of multi-axis coating systems used to coat electronic diagnostic devices for rapid COVID-19 test kits, as well as strong sales of OEM systems used in the Semiconductor and Spray Fluxing markets.  The sales increases in these product lines more than offset the decrease in Integrated Coating Systems, which were lower due to the shipment of a large integrated coating machine in last year’s second quarter.  The Alternative Energy market was also strong with growing investments in the clean energy sector from both government and private industry driving demand for Sono-Tek equipment for coating membranes used in fuel cells and carbon capture applications.

In the second quarter of fiscal 2022, approximately 62% of sales originated outside of the United States and Canada compared with 38% in the prior year period.  Unwinding from the worst of the global pandemic, the strong sales in Q2 FY2022 were primarily driven from the Asia Pacific region (APAC), reflecting the transition of several countries emerging from COVID-19 lockdowns to bring their manufacturing operations back online.

Backlog reached a record high of $6,332,000, an increase of 45% compared with backlog of $4,380,000 on May 31, 2021 (the end of the fiscal Q1) and increased 64% compared to backlog of $3,851,000 on February 28, 2021 (the end of fiscal 2021).

For the second quarter of fiscal 2022, the gross profit margin was 51.0% compared with 46.6% for the prior year period, an improvement of 440 basis points.  The improvement is due to increased sales combined with a favorable product mix. 

Operating income increased 123% to $449,000 compared with $201,000 for the prior year period. Growth in revenue and gross profit were key factors in the improvement, partially offset by increased operating expenses. Operating margin for the quarter increased to 11% compared with 5.8% in the prior year period. 

Net income for the second quarter was $344,000, an increase of 93%, compared with $178,000 for the prior year period. On a per share basis, earnings were $0.02 compared with $0.01 for the prior year period. Diluted weighted average shares outstanding totaled 15,602,359 compared to 15,533,010 for the prior year period.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Overview

Cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments at August 31, 2021 were $9.7 million, an increase of $1.1 million from February 28, 2021, the end of fiscal year 2021.  The increase was primarily the result of the current period’s net income as well as a decrease in account receivables and an increase in customer deposits, offset by an increase in inventory to support the growth in backlog. 

Capital expenditures in the second quarter totaled $147,000 and were directed to ongoing upgrades of the Company’s manufacturing facilities.  Sono-Tek anticipates total capital expenditures will total approximately $300,000 - $350,000 in the current fiscal year. 

At August 31, 2021, the Company had no debt on its balance sheet.

Conference Call Information

The Company will hold a conference call to discuss its second quarter fiscal year 2022 financial results today, Wednesday, October 13th, 2021 at 11:00am EST. To participate in the call, please dial 1 (877) 270-2148 at least 10 minutes prior to the start of the call and ask to join the Sono-Tek call. A simultaneous webcast of the call may be accessed through the Company's website, https://www.sono-tek.com/about-us/investors/events-presentations/

A replay of the call will be available at 1 (877) 344-7529, access code 10160904, through October 20, 2021. 

About Sono-Tek

Sono-Tek Corporation is the leading developer and manufacturer of ultrasonic coating systems for applying precise, thin film coatings to protect, strengthen or smooth surfaces on parts and components for the microelectronics/electronics, alternative energy, medical and industrial markets, including specialized glass applications in construction and automotive.

The Company’s solutions are environmentally-friendly, efficient and highly reliable and enable dramatic reductions in overspray, savings in raw material, water and energy usage and provide improved process repeatability, transfer efficiency, high uniformity and reduced emissions.

Sono-Tek’s growth strategy is focused on leveraging its innovative technologies, proprietary know-how, unique talent and experience, and global reach to further develop microscopic coating technologies that enable better outcomes for its customers’ products and processes.

For further information, visit www.sono-tek.com.

Safe Harbor Statement 

We discuss expectations regarding our future performance, such as our business outlook, in our annual and quarterly reports, news releases, and other written and oral statements. These “forward-looking statements” are based on currently available competitive, financial and economic data and our operating plans. They are inherently uncertain, and investors must recognize that events could turn out to be significantly different from our expectations and could cause actual results to differ materially. These factors include, among other considerations, general economic and business conditions; political, regulatory, tax, competitive and technological developments affecting our operations or the demand for our products; the duration and scope of the COVID-19 pandemic; the extent and duration of the pandemic’s adverse effect on economic and social activity, consumer confidence, discretionary spending and preferences, labor and healthcare costs, and unemployment rates, any of which may reduce demand for some of our products and impair the ability of those with whom we do business to satisfy their obligations to us; our ability to sell and provide our services and products, including as a result of continued pandemic related travel restrictions, mandatory business closures, and stay-at home or similar orders; any temporary reduction in our workforce, closures of our offices and facilities and our ability to adequately staff and maintain our operations resulting from the pandemic; the ability of our customers and suppliers to continue their operations as result of the pandemic, which could result in terminations of contracts, losses of revenue; and further adverse effects to our supply chain; maintenance of increased order backlog, including effects of any COVID-19 related cancellations; the imposition of tariffs; timely development and market acceptance of new products and continued customer validation of our coating technologies; adequacy of financing; capacity additions, the ability to enforce patents; maintenance of operating leverage; maintenance of increased order backlog; consummation of order proposals; completion of large orders on schedule and on budget; successful transition from primarily selling ultrasonic nozzles and components to a more complex business providing complete machine solutions and higher value subsystems; and realization of quarterly and annual revenues within forecasted range of sales guidance. We refer you to documents that the company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which includes Form 10-K and Form 10-Qs containing additional important information.

For more information, contact:

Stephen J. Bagley
Chief Financial Officer
Sono-Tek Corporation
info@sono-tek.com

Investor Relations:
Stephanie Prince
PCG Advisory
(646) 863-6341
sprince@pcgadvisory.com

Financial Tables Follow

SONO-TEK CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

  August 31,    
  2021  February 28,  
  (Unaudited)  2021  
ASSETS       
        
Current Assets:         
Cash and cash equivalents $6,143,106  $4,084,078  
Marketable securities  3,554,124   4,563,470  
Accounts receivable (less allowance of $56,123)  1,482,334   1,757,802  
Inventories, net  2,923,855   2,611,106  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets  124,214   151,316  
Total current assets  14,227,633   13,167,772  
          
Land  250,000   250,000  
Buildings, net  1,525,958   1,575,135  
Equipment, furnishings and building improvements, net  1,057,084   1,075,190  
Intangible assets, net  85,736   95,456  
Deferred tax asset  236,120   259,838  
          
TOTAL ASSETS $17,382,531  $16,423,391  
          
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY         
          
Current Liabilities:         
Accounts payable $1,080,255  $1,294,483  
Accrued expenses  1,398,318   1,750,916  
Customer deposits  1,916,784   1,166,541  
Income taxes payable  202,188   53,567  
Total current liabilities  4,597,545   4,265,507  
          
Deferred tax liability  183,011   205,562  
Long term debt, less current maturities  -   1,001,640  
Total liabilities  4,780,556   5,472,709  
          
Stockholders’ Equity         
Common stock, $.01 par value; 25,000,000 shares authorized, 15,531,285 and 15,452,656 shares issued and outstanding, respectively  155,313   154,527  
Additional paid-in capital  9,104,925   9,064,994  
Accumulated earnings  3,341,737   1,731,161  
Total stockholders’ equity  12,601,975   10,950,682  
          
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY $17,382,531  $16,423,391  

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

SONO-TEK CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)

  Six Months Ended
August 31,
  Three Months Ended
August 31,
 
  2021  2020  2021  2020 
             
Net Sales $7,714,935  $6,909,185  $4,070,467  $3,480,641 
Cost of Goods Sold  3,816,771   3,727,486   1,996,468   1,859,675 
        Gross Profit  3,898,164   3,181,699   2,073,999   1,620,966 
                 
Operating Expenses                
Research and product development costs  826,213   834,940   412,397   423,516 
Marketing and selling expenses  1,504,245   1,388,987   739,603   682,270 
General and administrative costs  776,222   572,254   473,423   313,852 
            Total Operating Expenses  3,106,680   2,796,181   1,625,423   1,419,638 
                 
Operating Income  791,484   385,518   448,576   201,328 
                 
Interest Expense  -   (17,704)  -   (9,287)
Interest and Dividend Income  11,000   25,483   7,640   2,837 
Other Income  -   19,519   -   8,084 
Paycheck Protection Program Loan Forgiveness   1,005,372   -   -   - 
                 
Income Before Income Taxes  1,807,856   412,816   456,216   202,962 
                 
Income Tax Expense  197,280   67,125   112,392   25,199 
                 
Net Income $1,610,576  $345,691  $343,824  $177,763 
                 
Basic Earnings Per Share $0.10  $0.02  $0.02  $0.01 
                 
Diluted Earnings Per Share $0.10  $0.02  $0.02  $0.01 
                 
Weighted Average Shares - Basic  15,500,952   15,410,952   15,507,484   15,424,126 
                 
Weighted Average Shares - Diluted  15,613,930   15,530,910   15,602,359   15,533,010 

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

SONO-TEK CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)

  Unaudited 
  Six Months Ended
August 31,
 
  2021  2020 
       
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:        
Net Income $1,610,576  $345,691 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:        
Depreciation and amortization  224,233   214,280 
Stock based compensation expense  40,717   16,003 
Inventory reserve  (24,919  36,000 
Paycheck Protection Program Loan Forgiveness  (1,005,372)   - 
Deferred tax expense  1,167   - 
Decrease (Increase) in:        
Accounts receivable  275,468   (418,947) 
Inventories  (287,830)  (116,157) 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets  27,101   58,863 
(Decrease) Increase in:        
Accounts payable and accrued expenses  (563,094  (250,099) 
Customer deposits  750,243   (660,588) 
Income taxes payable  148,622   (6,878) 
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities  1,196,912   (781,832) 
         
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:        
Purchase of equipment, furnishings and leasehold improvements  (147,230)  (290,347)
Capital expenditure grant proceeds  -   100,000 
Sale (purchase) of marketable securities  1,009,346   366,639 
Net Cash Provided by Investing Activities  862,116   176,292 
         
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:        
Proceeds from note payable  -   1,001,640 
Repayment of long term debt  -   (84,040)
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities  -   917,600 
         
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS  2,059,028   312,060 
         
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS        
Beginning of period  4,084,078   3,659,551 
End of period $6,143,106  $3,971,611 
         
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW DISCLOSURE:        
Interest paid $-  $13,972 
Income Taxes Paid $47,488  $74,004 

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

SONO-TEK CORPORATION
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION -- PRODUCT, MARKET AND GEOGRAPHIC SALES
(unaudited)

Product Sales

  Three Months Ended 
August 31,
  Change  Six Months Ended 
August 31,
  Change 
  2021  2020  $  %  2021  2020  $  % 
Fluxing Systems $117,000  $94,000   23,000   24%  $476,000  $438,000   38,000   8% 
Integrated Coating Systems  565,000   673,000   (108,000  (16%  720,000   1,849,000   (1,129,000)   (61%
Multi-Axis Coating Systems  1,891,000   1,985,000   (94,000  (5%)   3,970,000   2,898,000   1,072,000   37% 
OEM Systems  845,000   232,000   613,000   264%   1,171,000   654,000   517,000   79% 
Other  652,000   497,000   155,000   31%   1,378,000   1,070,000   308,000   29% 
TOTAL $4,070,000  $3,481,000   589,000   17%  $7,715,000  $6,909,000   806,000   12% 

Market Sales

  Three Months Ended 
August 31,
  Change  Six Months Ended 
August 31,
  Change 
  2021  2020  $  %  2021  2020  $  % 
Electronics/Microelectronics $1,448,000  $811,000   637,000   79%  $3,707,000  $3,051,000   656,000   22% 
Medical  1,097,000   961,000   136,000   14%   1,814,000   1,653,000   161,000)  10% 
Alternative Energy  957,000   826,000   131,000   16%   1,389,000   1,221,000   168,000   14% 
Emerging R&D and Other  269,000   479,000   (210,000)   (43%)  435,000   516,000   (81,000  (16%) 
Industrial  299,000   404,000   (105,000)   (26%)   370,000   468,000    (98,000)   (21%)
TOTAL $4,070,000  $3,481,000   589,000   17%  $7,715,000  $6,909,000   806,000   12% 

Geographic Sales

  Three Months Ended 
August 31,
  Change  Six Months Ended 
August 31,
  Change 
  2021  2020  $  %  2021  2020  $  % 
U.S. & Canada $1,553,000  $2,156,000     (603,000)   (28%) $2,781,000  $2,911,000   (130,000)   (4%
Asia Pacific (APAC)  1,631,000   455,000   1,176,000   258%   2,853,000   2,377,000   476,000   20% 
Europe, Middle East, Asia (EMEA)  593,000   767,000   (174,000)  (23%)  1,436,000   1,198,000   238,000   20% 
Latin America  293,000   103,000   190,000   184%   645,000   423,000   222,000   52% 
TOTAL $4,070,000  $3,481,000   589,000   17%  $7,715,000  $6,909,000   806,000   12%