Strattec Security Corporation Reports Fiscal 2023 Second Quarter Operating Results


MILWAUKEE, Feb. 02, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION (“STRATTEC” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ:STRT) today reported operating results for the fiscal second quarter ended January 1, 2023.

Net sales for the second quarter ended January 1, 2023 were $113.2 million, compared to net sales of $112.9 million for the second quarter ended December 26, 2021. Net loss was $1.8 million in the current year second quarter, compared to net income of $3.4 million in the prior year second quarter. Diluted loss per share for the current year second quarter was $0.47 compared to diluted earnings per share of $0.87 in the prior year second quarter.

For the six months ended January 1, 2023, the Company’s net sales were $233.5 million compared to net sales of $213.2 million in the prior year six-month period. Net loss during the current year six-month period was $1.7 million compared to a net income of $3.5 million during the prior year six-month period. Diluted loss per share was $0.44 during the six-month period ended January 1, 2023 compared to diluted earnings per share of $0.89 during the six-month period ended December 26, 2021. Profitability for both the current year quarter and for the six-month period ended January 1, 2023 was negatively impacted by higher inflationary costs of materials, labor and shipping rates compared with that for the respective prior year periods.

Net sales to each of our customers in the current year quarter and prior year quarter were as follows (in millions):

  Three Months Ended
  January 1, 2023
 December 26, 2021
        
 General Motors Company$35.5 $31.1 
 Ford Motor Company 22.2    21.1 
 Stellantis 17.0  23.1 
 Tier 1 Customers 16.1     15.6 
 Commercial and Other OEM Customers 13.1       16.1 
 Hyundai / Kia 9.3  5.9 
 TOTAL$113.2 $ 112.9 

 

Overall net sales were stable for the current quarter relative to the prior year quarter. Sales to General Motors Company, Ford Motor Company and Hyundai/Kia were positively impacted in the current year quarter due to higher vehicle production volumes resulting from improved global semiconductor chip availability relative to the prior year quarter. Specifically, sales growth to General Motors Company in the current year quarter was attributed to higher production volumes of their GM and Chevrolet pickup trucks and SUVs. Sales to Hyundai / Kia increased quarter-over-quarter due to higher levels of production of the Kia Carnival minivan in the current year quarter as compared to the prior year quarter.

The decrease in sales to Stellantis resulted primarily from its plant shutdowns in the quarter, which reduced production volumes compared to the prior year quarter. Sales to Commercial and Other OEM Customers, which are comprised of aftermarket products and vehicle access control products, such as latches, fobs, driver controls and door handles, declined in the current year quarter as compared to the prior year quarter due to continued semiconductor chip availability issues, primarily for aftermarket keys. The increases in availability of semiconductor chips were allocated toward the production of components for production vehicles ahead of aftermarket products and therefore, sales to aftermarket customers continued to be negatively impacted in the current year quarter due to these issues.

Gross Profit margins declined to 6.5% in the current year quarter compared to 13.2% in the prior year quarter primarily due to higher costs of raw materials, purchased materials and shipping as well as increased costs in our Mexican operations related to the mandatory minimum wage increase enacted by the Mexican Government effective January 1, 2022.

Engineering, Selling and Administrative expenses increased $780,000 in the current year quarter compared with prior year quarter primarily due to increased salary and recruiting costs in the current year quarter and lower costs in the prior year quarter due to a customer reimbursement of engineering and design costs incurred on a new program

Included in Other Income (Expense), Net in the current year quarter compared to the prior year quarter were the following items (in thousands of dollars):

  January 1,   December 26, 
  2023    2021 
        
 Equity Earnings of VAST LLC Joint Venture$588  $615 
 Net Foreign Currency Transaction (Loss) (195)  (26)
 Other 247   (74)
  $
640  515 
        

The equity earnings of VAST LLC in the current year quarter compared to the prior year quarter were slightly lower primarily due to higher engineering spending in China associated with future programs.

Frank Krejci President and CEO commented: “This proved to be a difficult quarter with continued inflationary pressures on both purchased parts from suppliers and the sourcing of raw materials like zinc, steel and resins. Zinc and resin prices remain stubbornly high. The recent relief in steel prices will provide a benefit once we have worked through prior purchase commitments.
Raising our product prices to offset the cost increases has been challenging due to long term contracts with our customers. Nevertheless, our Team continues to focus on securing price increases, implementing efficiency improvements, launching significant new business won over the last two years and pursuing new business with a heightened focus on Electric Vehicle opportunities.”

STRATTEC designs, develops, manufactures and markets automotive Access Control Products, including mechanical locks and keys, electronically enhanced locks and keys, steering column and instrument panel ignition lock housings, latches, power sliding side door systems, power lift gate systems, power deck lid systems, door handles and related products. These products are provided to customers in North America, and on a global basis through a unique strategic relationship with WITTE Automotive of Velbert, Germany and ADAC Automotive of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Under this relationship, STRATTEC, WITTE and ADAC market each company’s products to global customers under the “VAST Automotive Group” brand name. STRATTEC’s history in the automotive business spans over 110 years.

Certain statements contained in this release contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking words or phrases such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “planned,” “potential,” “should,” “will,” and “would.” Such forward-looking statements in this release are inherently subject to many uncertainties in the Company’s operations and business environment. These uncertainties include general economic conditions, in particular, relating to the automotive industry, consumer demand for the Company’s and its customers’ products, competitive and technological developments, customer purchasing actions, changes in warranty provisions and customers’ product recall policies, work stoppages at the Company or at the location of its key customers as a result of labor disputes, foreign currency fluctuations, uncertainties stemming from U.S. trade policies, tariffs and reaction to same from foreign countries, the volume and scope of product returns or customer cost reimbursement actions, adverse business and operational issues resulting from semiconductor chip supply shortages and the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and costs of operations (including fluctuations in the cost, and factors impacting the availability, of necessary raw materials). Shareholders, potential investors and other readers are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements made herein are only made as of the date of this press release and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances occurring after the date of this release. In addition, such uncertainties and other operational matters are discussed further in the Company’s quarterly and annual filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.



STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION

Condensed Results of Operations
(In Thousands except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)

 Second Quarter Ended Six Months Ended
 January 1, 2023 December 26, 2021 January 1, 2023 December 26, 2021
        
Net Sales$113,184  $112,908  $233,544  $213,249 
        
Cost of Goods Sold 105,797   97,975   213,661   185,767 
        
Gross Profit 7,387   14,933   19,883   27,482 
        
Engineering, Selling & Administrative Expenses 12,081   11,301   24,781   23,422 
        
(Loss) Income from Operations (4,694)  3,632   (4,898)  4,060 
        
Interest Expense (196)  (57)  (325)  (105)
        
Other Income (Expense), net 640   515   874   390 
        
(Loss) Income Before Provision for Income Taxes and Non-Controlling Interest (4,250)  4,090   (4,349)  4,345 
        
(Benefit) Provision for Income Taxes (1,735)  253   (1,771)  289 
        
Net (Loss) Income (2,515)  3,837   (2,578)  4,056 
        
Net (Loss) Income Attributable to Non-Controlling Interest (676)  446   (864)  567 
        
Net (Loss) Income Attributable to STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION$(1,839) $3,391  $(1,714) $3,489 
        
(Loss) Earnings Per Share:       
Basic$(0.47) $0.88  $(0.44) $0.91 
Diluted$(0.47) $0.87  $(0.44) $0.89 
        
Average Basic Shares Outstanding 3,927   3,866   3,913   3,848 
        
Average Diluted Shares Outstanding 3,927   3,908   3,913   3,901 
        
Other       
Capital Expenditures$4,759  $2,573  $9,477  $5,362 
Depreciation$4,301  $4,911  $8,798  $9,968 



STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION

Condensed Balance Sheet Data
(In Thousands)
(Unaudited)

    January 1, 2023 July 3, 2022
       
ASSETS   
 Current Assets:   
  Cash and Cash Equivalents$13,578  $8,774 
  Receivables, net 73,205   75,827 
  Inventories, net 67,851   80,482 
  Other Current Assets 34,646   23,149 
   Total Current Assets 189,280   188,232 
 Investment in Joint Ventures 26,301   26,654 
 Other Long-term Assets 12,413   12,519 
 Property, Plant and Equipment, net 92,777   91,729 
    $320,771  $319,134 
       
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY   
 Current Liabilities:   
  Accounts Payable$37,292  $43,950 
  Other 42,244   37,579 
   Total Current Liabilities 79,536   81,529 
 Accrued Pension and Postretirement Obligations 2,671   2,588 
 Borrowings Under Credit Facility 17,000   11,000 
 Other Long-term Liabilities 3,888   4,070 
 Shareholders' Equity 341,850   342,568 
 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (19,226)  (18,588)
 Less: Treasury Stock (135,556)  (135,580)
  Total STRATTEC SECURITY   
   CORPORATION Shareholders' Equity 187,068   188,400 
  Non-Controlling Interest 30,608   31,547 
 Total Shareholders' Equity 217,676   219,947 
    $320,771  $319,134 



STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION

Condensed Cash Flow Statement Data
(In Thousands)
(Unaudited)

   Second Quarter Ended Six Months Ended
   January 1, 2023 December 26, 2021 January 1, 2023 December 26, 2021
          
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:       
Net (Loss) Income$(2,515) $3,837  $(2,578) $4,056 
Adjustments to Reconcile Net (Loss) Income to Cash Provided by Operating Activities:       
  Depreciation 4,301   4,911   8,798   9,968 
  Equity Earnings in Joint Ventures (588)  (615)  (1,115)  (364)
  Foreign Currency Transaction (Gain) Loss 514   (104)  585   (243)
  Unrealized Loss (Gain) on Peso Forward Contracts                            (12)  126   23   224 
  Stock Based Compensation Expense 263   238   874   634 
  Change in Operating Assets/Liabilities 1,943   1,066   1,898   (14,590)
 Other, net 128                              206                              250                              333 
          
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities 4,034   9,665   8,735   18 
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:       
 Investment in Joint Ventures (104)  -   (104)  - 
 Additions to Property, Plant & Equipment (4,759)  (2,573)  (9,477)  (5,362)
 Proceeds on Sales of Property, Plant & Equipment 4   -   4   - 
          
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities (4,859)  (2,573)  (9,577)  (5,362)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:       
 Borrowings on Line of Credit Facility 4,000   1,000   9,000   8,000 
 Payments on Line of Credit Facility -   (1,000)  (3,000)  (3,000)
 Dividends Paid to Non-Controlling Interest of Subsidiary -   -   (600)  (600)
 Exercise of Stock Options and Employee Stock Purchases 20   20   146   639 
          
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities 4,020   20   5,546   5,039 
Effect of Foreign Currency Fluctuations on Cash 53   (65)  100   (89)
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash & Cash Equivalents 3,248   7,047   4,804   (394)
Cash & Cash Equivalents:       
 Beginning of Period 10,330   7,024   8,774   14,465 
 End of Period$13,578  $14,071  $13,578  $14,071 


Contact: Dennis Bowe
Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
414-247-3399
www.strattec.com