Richardson Electronics Reports Second Quarter Fiscal 2024 Results and Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend


Results reflect challenging economic conditions as well as decline in sales to semiconductor wafer fab customers and project delays across the Company’s GES business.

Backlog increased 2% over the past three months, which management believes indicates stabilizing demand.

Company implements new ownership requirements for outside directors.

LAFOX, Ill., Jan. 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Richardson Electronics, Ltd. (NASDAQ: RELL) today reported financial results for its second quarter ended December 2, 2023. The Company also announced that its Board of Directors declared a $0.06 per share quarterly cash dividend.

“Although our second quarter results fell short of expectations, we are confident that our current pipeline of existing projects as well as new global opportunities within our GES business will drive significant long-term value for our company,” said Edward J. Richardson, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President.

While we expect difficult economic conditions to remain over the near term, we believe the stabilization in our backlog, as well as recent customer indications, will support sequential revenue growth in the third and fourth quarters. Specifically, we anticipate improving sales trends within our GES business in the second half of fiscal 2024 to offset the continued weakness we are experiencing in the semiconductor wafer fab market. The expansion of our product roadmap for green energy solutions continues to add new customers and programs for wind, EV rail and other applications that take advantage of energy transition initiatives underway throughout the world. As we navigate a more challenging operating environment over the near-term, we are focused on controlling operating expenses, improving our operating cash flow, and prudently managing working capital requirements,” concluded Mr. Richardson.

Second Quarter Results

Net sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2024 decreased 33.0% to $44.1 million compared to net sales of $65.9 million in the prior year’s second quarter due to lower net sales in PMT, GES and Canvys. PMT sales decreased $9.3 million or 22.9% from last year’s second quarter primarily due to lower sales of manufactured products for the Company’s semiconductor wafer fabrication equipment customers. GES sales decreased $9.7 million from last year’s second quarter primarily due to lower sales of ultracapacitor modules for wind turbines as a result of the project-based nature of this product line. Canvys sales decreased by $2.8 million, or 27.7% primarily due to lower customer demand in North America. However, Canvys’ backlog increased reflecting higher overall demand. Richardson Healthcare sales were comparable for both the fiscal 2024 and fiscal 2023 second quarters as higher CT tube and parts demand offset lower system sales.

Gross margin was 28.4% of net sales during the second quarter of fiscal 2024, compared to 33.2% during the second quarter of fiscal 2023. Without the under absorption of the Company’s manufacturing facility, management estimates that the Company’s consolidated gross margin for the fiscal 2024 second quarter would have been 31.3%. PMT gross margin decreased to 28.5% from 34.5% due to product mix and $0.9 million of manufacturing under absorption. GES gross margin decreased to 29.2% from 33.9% due to product mix. Healthcare gross margin decreased to 14.8% in the second quarter of fiscal 2024 compared to 23.2% in the prior year’s second quarter as a result of a $0.3 million increase in manufacturing under absorption. Canvys’ gross margin increased to 33.5% from 29.7% because of product mix and lower freight costs.

Operating expenses were $14.5 million compared to $14.7 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2023. The decrease in operating expenses resulted from lower incentives expenses, partially offset by higher salaries and fringe expenses.

The Company reported an operating loss of $2.0 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2024 compared to operating income of $7.2 million in the prior year’s second quarter. Other expense for the second quarter of fiscal 2024, including interest income and foreign exchange, was $0.3 million, compared to other expense of $0.1 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2023.

Income tax benefit was $0.5 million or a 21.6% effective tax rate versus an income tax provision of $1.5 million or a 21.5% effective tax rate in the prior year’s second quarter.

Net loss for the second quarter of fiscal 2024 was $1.8 million compared to net income of $5.5 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2023. Net loss per common share (diluted) was $0.13 in the second quarter of fiscal 2024 compared to earnings per common share (diluted) of $0.39 in the second quarter of fiscal 2023.

Cash and investments were $22.8 million as of December 2, 2023 versus $24.1 million on September 2, 2023. The use of cash during the second quarter of fiscal 2024 primarily resulted from $1.5 million of capital expenditures related to the Company’s facilities and IT system. In the quarter, the Company’s Board of Directors created new ownership requirements for outside directors. This includes owning a minimum of $150,000 of our stock after a three-year period.

Financial Summary for the Six Months Ended December 2, 2023

  • Net sales for the first six months of fiscal 2024 were $96.7 million, a decrease of 27.5%, compared to net sales of $133.5 million during the first six months of fiscal 2023. Sales decreased by $18.9 million or 22.0% for PMT, $13.8 million or 66.3% for GES, $3.3 million or 16.2% for Canvys and $0.7 million or 11.8% for Richardson Healthcare.
  • Gross profit decreased to $29.8 million during the first six months of fiscal 2024, compared to $44.9 million during the first six months of fiscal 2023. As a percentage of net sales, gross margin decreased to 30.8% of net sales during the first six months of fiscal 2024, compared to 33.6% of net sales during the first six months of fiscal 2023, primarily because of product mix and manufacturing under absorption in PMT, as well as increased scrap expense and manufacturing under absorption in Healthcare, partially offset by a favorable product mix and lower freight costs in Canvys.
  • Operating expenses increased to $30.3 million for the first six months of fiscal 2024, compared to $28.9 million for the first six months of fiscal 2023. The increase in operating expenses resulted from higher employee compensation expenses.
  • Operating loss during the first six months of fiscal 2024 was $0.5 million, compared to operating income of $16.0 million during the first six months of fiscal 2023.
  • Other expense for the first six months of fiscal 2024, including interest income and foreign exchange, was $0.1 million, as compared to other expense of $0.5 million in the first six months of fiscal 2023.
  • The income tax benefit was $0.1 million or an effective tax rate of 16.5% for the first six months of fiscal 2024 compared to an income tax provision of $3.6 million or an effective tax rate of 23.4% during the first six months of fiscal 2023.
  • Net loss for the first six months of fiscal 2024 was $0.6 million, versus net income of $11.9 million during the first six months of fiscal 2023. Net loss per common share (diluted) was $0.04 for the first six months of fiscal 2024 compared to $0.83 earnings per common share (diluted) for the first six months of fiscal 2023.

CASH DIVIDEND DECLARED

The Board of Directors of Richardson Electronics declared a $0.06 quarterly cash dividend per share to holders of common stock and a $0.054 cash dividend per share to holders of Class B common stock. The dividend will be payable on February 28, 2024, to common stockholders of record as of February 9, 2024.

CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION

On Thursday, January 11, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. Central Time, Edward J. Richardson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Robert J. Ben, Chief Financial Officer, will host a conference call to discuss the Company’s second quarter fiscal 2024 results. A question-and-answer session will be included as part of the call’s agenda.

Participant Instructions

Participants may register for the call here. While not required, it is recommended you join 10 minutes prior to the event start. A replay of the call will be available beginning at 1:00 p.m. Central Time on January 11, 2024, for seven days. Registration instructions are also on our website at www.rell.com.

In addition, the webcast link is available here.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release includes certain “forward-looking” statements as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Statements in this press release regarding the Company’s business that are not historical facts represent “forward-looking” statements that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on July 31, 2023, and other reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company assumes no responsibility to update the “forward-looking” statements in this release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

ABOUT RICHARDSON ELECTRONICS, LTD.

Richardson Electronics, Ltd. is a leading global manufacturer of engineered solutions, green energy products, power grid and microwave tubes, and related consumables; power conversion and RF and microwave components including green energy solutions; high-value replacement parts, tubes, and service training for diagnostic imaging equipment; and customized display solutions. Nearly 55% of our products are manufactured in LaFox, Illinois, Marlborough, Massachusetts, or Donaueschingen, Germany, or by one of our manufacturing partners throughout the world. All our partners manufacture to our strict specifications and per our supplier code of conduct. We serve customers in the alternative energy, healthcare, aviation, broadcast, communications, industrial, marine, medical, military, scientific, and semiconductor markets. The Company’s strategy is to provide specialized technical expertise and “engineered solutions” based on our core engineering and manufacturing capabilities. The Company provides solutions and adds value through design-in support, systems integration, prototype design and manufacturing, testing, logistics, and aftermarket technical service and repair through its global infrastructure. More information is available at www.rell.com.

Richardson Electronics common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol RELL.


Richardson Electronics, Ltd. 
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
  Unaudited  Audited 
  December 2, 2023  May 27, 2023 
Assets      
Current assets:      
Cash and cash equivalents $22,769  $24,981 
Accounts receivable, less allowance of $201 and $191, respectively  23,909   30,067 
Inventories, net  116,951   110,402 
Prepaid expenses and other assets  2,926   2,633 
Total current assets  166,555   168,083 
Non-current assets:      
Property, plant and equipment, net  21,363   20,823 
Intangible assets, net  1,767   1,892 
Right of use lease asset  2,145   2,457 
Deferred income taxes  4,476   4,526 
Other non-current assets  182   267 
Total non-current assets  29,933   29,965 
Total assets $196,488  $198,048 
Liabilities      
Current liabilities:      
Accounts payable $22,505  $23,535 
Accrued liabilities  12,432   12,026 
Lease liability current  1,033   1,028 
Total current liabilities  35,970   36,589 
Non-current liabilities:      
Non-current deferred income tax liabilities  99   98 
Lease liability non-current  1,112   1,429 
Other non-current liabilities  666   612 
Total non-current liabilities  1,877   2,139 
Total liabilities  37,847   38,728 
Stockholders’ Equity      
Common stock, $0.05 par value; 12,227 shares issued and outstanding on
   December 2, 2023 and 12,140 shares issued and outstanding on May 27, 2023
  611   607 
Class B common stock, convertible, $0.05 par value; 2,052 shares issued
  and outstanding on December 2, 2023 and 2,052 shares issued and
  outstanding on May 27, 2023
  103   103 
Preferred stock, $1.00 par value, no shares issued      
Additional paid-in-capital  71,936   70,951 
Retained earnings  84,786   87,044 
Accumulated other comprehensive income  1,205   615 
Total stockholders' equity  158,641   159,320 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $196,488  $198,048 
 


Richardson Electronics, Ltd. 
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income 
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
  Three Months Ended  Six Months Ended 
  December 2, 2023  November 26, 2022  December 2, 2023  November 26, 2022 
Net sales $44,130  $65,905  $96,711  $133,462 
Cost of sales  31,588   44,054   66,905   88,584 
Gross profit  12,542   21,851   29,806   44,878 
Selling, general and administrative expenses  14,488   14,677   30,280   28,925 
Loss (gain) on disposal of assets  70   (25)  70   (25)
Operating (loss) income  (2,016)  7,199   (544)  15,978 
Other expense (income):            
Investment/interest income  (86)  (78)  (157)  (103)
Foreign exchange loss  343   223   246   597 
Other, net  18   (13)  50   (15)
Total other expense  275   132   139   479 
(Loss) income before income taxes  (2,291)  7,067   (683)  15,499 
Income tax (benefit) provision  (494)  1,518   (113)  3,626 
Net (loss) income  (1,797)  5,549   (570)  11,873 
Foreign currency translation gain (loss), net of tax  631   976   590   (1,339)
Comprehensive (loss) income $(1,166) $6,525  $20  $10,534 
             
Net (loss) income per share:            
Common shares - Basic $(0.13) $0.40  $(0.04) $0.87 
Class B common shares - Basic  (0.12)  0.36   (0.04)  0.78 
Common shares - Diluted  (0.13)  0.39   (0.04)  0.83 
Class B common shares - Diluted  (0.12)  0.35   (0.04)  0.75 
             
Weighted average number of shares:            
Common shares – Basic  12,226   11,918   12,198   11,816 
Class B common shares – Basic  2,052   2,053   2,052   2,053 
Common shares – Diluted  12,226   12,535   12,198   12,442 
Class B common shares – Diluted  2,052   2,053   2,052   2,053 
             
Dividends per share:            
Common share $0.060  $0.060  $0.120  $0.120 
Class B common share  0.054   0.054   0.108   0.108 
 


Richardson Electronics, Ltd. 
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)
 
  Three Months Ended  Six Months Ended 
  December 2, 2023  November 26, 2022  December 2, 2023  November 26, 2022 
Operating activities:            
Net (loss) income $(1,797) $5,549  $(570) $11,873 
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to cash provided by (used in) operating activities:            
Depreciation and amortization  1,116   893   2,114   1,776 
Inventory provisions  192   124   277   195 
Share-based compensation expense  283   213   766   524 
Loss (gain) on disposal of assets  70   (25)  70   (25)
Deferred income taxes  51   27   46   28 
Change in assets and liabilities:            
Accounts receivable  1,790   (2,009)  6,252   (5,505)
Inventories  (3,069)  (7,658)  (6,220)  (18,126)
Prepaid expenses and other assets  (618)  774   (209)  (425)
Accounts payable  1,233   (699)  (1,132)  796 
Accrued liabilities  1,502   (1,062)  378   1,147 
Other  47   (49)  43   589 
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities  800   (3,922)  1,815   (7,153)
Investing activities:            
Capital expenditures  (1,515)  (1,301)  (2,656)  (2,743)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant & equipment     193      193 
Net cash used in investing activities  (1,515)  (1,108)  (2,656)  (2,550)
Financing activities:            
Proceeds from issuance of common stock  15   1,517   342   2,902 
Cash dividends paid on Common and Class B Common shares  (845)  (831)  (1,688)  (1,650)
Other        (119)  (69)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities  (830)  686   (1,465)  1,183 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents  190   (183)  94   (869)
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents  (1,355)  (4,527)  (2,212)  (9,389)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period  24,124   30,633   24,981   35,495 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $22,769  $26,106  $22,769  $26,106 
 


Richardson Electronics, Ltd.
Unaudited Net Sales and Gross Profit
For the Second Quarter and First Six Months of Fiscal 2024 and 2023
($ in thousands)
 
By Strategic Business Unit:           
             
Net Sales            
  Q2 FY 2024     Q2 FY 2023  % Change 
PMT $31,292     $40,585   -22.9%
GES  2,609      12,293   -78.8%
Canvys  7,291      10,079   -27.7%
Healthcare  2,938      2,948   -0.3%
Total $44,130     $65,905   -33.0%
             
  YTD FY 2024     YTD FY 2023  % Change 
PMT $67,036     $85,939   -22.0%
GES  7,003      20,804   -66.3%
Canvys  17,180      20,492   -16.2%
Healthcare  5,492      6,227   -11.8%
Total $96,711     $133,462   -27.5%
             
             
             
Gross Profit   
  Q2 FY 2024  % of Net Sales  Q2 FY 2023  % of Net Sales 
PMT $8,905   28.5% $14,011   34.5%
GES  761   29.2%  4,162   33.9%
Canvys  2,440   33.5%  2,995   29.7%
Healthcare  436   14.8%  683   23.2%
Total $12,542   28.4% $21,851   33.2%
             
  YTD FY 2024  % of Net Sales  YTD FY 2023  % of Net Sales 
PMT $20,416   30.5% $29,546   34.4%
GES  2,341   33.4%  7,184   34.5%
Canvys  5,805   33.8%  6,261   30.6%
Healthcare  1,244   22.7%  1,887   30.3%
Total $29,806   30.8% $44,878   33.6%
 


For Details Contact: 
Edward J. RichardsonRobert J. Ben
Chairman and CEOEVP & CFO
Phone: (630) 208-2320(630) 208-2203
  
40W267 Keslinger Road
PO BOX 393
LaFox, IL 60147-0393 USA
(630) 208-2200 | Fax: (630) 208-2550