WPCS Reports FY2011 First Quarter Financial Results

EXTON, Pa., Sept. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- WPCS International Incorporated (Nasdaq: WPCS), a leader in design-build engineering services for communications infrastructure, today announced financial results for the fiscal year 2011 first quarter ended July 31, 2010. For the first quarter, WPCS reported revenue of $28.9 million compared to $25.3 million for the same period a year ago, which represents an increase of approximately 14%.

In the first quarter, WPCS generated earnings before interest, taxes, acquisition-related contingent earn-out costs, and depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) of approximately $238,000. The company generated $1,272,000 in EBITDA for the same period a year ago. For the first quarter ended July 31, 2010, WPCS reported a net loss of approximately $376,000 or $0.05 per diluted share, compared to net income of $435,000 or $0.06 per diluted share for the same period a year ago.

Andrew Hidalgo, CEO of WPCS, commented, "In regards to our first quarter financial performance, most of our operation centers performed well but some not so well. Many operation centers generated encouraging results but from a consolidated perspective, the results were less than favorable. It is important to understand that the shortfall is specific to a few operation centers and not the company as a whole. The primary issue has been delays and competition in public service projects in the Florida and California markets. The gross margins for these projects are bid in the lower twenty percentile today due to increased competition. WPCS is capable of making a respectable profit with these margins but we depend on a higher volume of revenue to offset operating costs. In Florida and California this past quarter, project delays and competition caused us to fall short of revenue and profit projections. However, we are moving forward and getting these operation centers back to profitability in the near term. The fix has been determined and implemented. We have cut expenses where necessary to increase operational efficiency. In addition, in Florida and California, we are focusing on higher margin sectors like healthcare, energy and corporate enterprise. With these strategic adjustments, we believe these two operation centers will be profitable for the current fiscal year."

Mr. Hidalgo continued, "Overall on a consolidated basis, we intend to produce profitable quarters for the balance of the fiscal year and conclude the year profitably. On a positive side, our operation centers in St. Louis, Trenton, Lakewood, Hartford, Seattle, China and Australia performed very well achieving solid earnings. Although projecting results in this economic environment is difficult due uncertain funding, WPCS has the bid opportunities and the backlog to achieve positive results. Our backlog of $41 million remained at a solid level and our bid list of $161 million displays a strong level of activity. Consolidated gross margin during the first quarter was 21% compared to 28% during the same period last year and compared to 23% in the previous quarter. These lower margins continue to reflect the competitive nature of project bids in the public services sector. However, most operation centers are doing very well from a gross margin perspective and we do have an opportunity to improve consolidated margins based on bids in higher margin markets. SG&A expense as a percent of revenue for the first quarter was approximately 21% compared to 23% for the same period last year. During the quarter, the company had additional corporate expenses that historically show up in the first quarter of each year and non-cash charges related to a previous acquisition. However, despite higher corporate expenses, SG&A expense as a percentage of revenue was lower due to overall cost containment measures. WPCS continues to maintain a healthy balance sheet with just under $4 million in cash, $26.6 million in working capital and $5.6 million of credit line borrowings. Our credit line borrowing to working capital ratio remains favorably low at 21%. The company continues to be able to finance our growth internally.  In summary, the management team will continue to focus on improving our financial performance and navigate through this difficult economy. Our goal remains delivering better earnings for all our shareholders."

As a reminder, there will be an investor conference call at 4:30 pm ET today. To participate on the conference call, please dial 888-299-4099 for calls within the U.S. or 302-709-8337 for calls from international locations. Upon reaching the operator, verbally transmit the participant code VH15631. When the overview concludes, your questions can be asked by pressing *1 and your questions can be removed from the queue by pressing the number sign. Replays of the conference call will be available for a period of five days by dialing 402-220-2946 and entering 15631 # as the program identification number.

The attached press release includes financial measures that are not in accordance with GAAP, consisting of EBITDA. Management uses EBITDA to evaluate the Company's operating and financial performance in light of business objectives, for planning purposes, when publicly providing our business outlook and to facilitate period-to-period comparisons. WPCS believes that these measures are useful to investors because they enhance investors' ability to review the Company's business from the same perspective as our management and to facilitate comparisons of this period's results with prior periods.  Non-GAAP measures are used by some investors when assessing the ongoing operating and financial performance of our Company. These financial measures are not in accordance with GAAP and may differ from non-GAAP methods of accounting and reporting used by other companies. The presentation of the additional information should not be considered a substitute for net income or net income per diluted prepared in accordance with GAAP. The primary material limitations associated with the use of non-GAAP measures as compared to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are (i) they may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies in our industry, and (ii) they exclude financial information that some may consider important in evaluating our performance. Pursuant to the requirements of Regulation G, WPCS has included a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.

About WPCS International Incorporated:

WPCS is a design-build engineering company that focuses on the implementation requirements of communications infrastructure. The company provides its engineering capabilities including wireless communication, specialty construction and electrical power to the public services, healthcare, energy and corporate enterprise markets worldwide. For more information, please visit www.wpcs.com

Statements about the company's future expectations, including future revenue and earnings and all other statements in this press release, other than historical facts, are "forward looking" statements and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Such forward looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time.  The company's actual results could differ materially from expected results.  In reflecting subsequent events or circumstances, the company undertakes no obligation to update forward looking statements.

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures (Unaudited)

(1) Reconciliation of Non-GAAP EBITDA:

SOURCE WPCS International Incorporated