Marine Products Corporation Reports Third Quarter 2016 Financial Results

ATLANTA, Oct. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Marine Products Corporation (NYSE: MPX) announced its unaudited results for the quarter ended September 30, 2016.  Marine Products is a leading manufacturer of fiberglass boats under two brand names: Chaparral and Robalo. Chaparral's sterndrive models include H2O Sport and Ski & Fish Boats, SSi and SSX Sportboats, Sunesta Sportdecks and Signature Cruisers.  In addition, Chaparral manufactures SunCoast Sportdeck outboards and Vortex Jet Boats.  Robalo builds outboard sport fishing boats which include center console, dual console, walkaround cabin and Cayman bay boat models.

For the quarter ended September 30, 2016, Marine Products generated net sales of $55,361,000, a 17.7 percent increase, compared to $47,038,000 in the same period of the prior year.  The increase in net sales was due primarily to a 12.5 percent increase in unit sales and a 1.7 percent increase in the average selling price per boat.  During the quarter we generated higher unit sales among our SunCoast and Robalo outboard models, as well as our Vortex Jet Boats.

Gross profit for the quarter was $11,768,000, a 19.2 percent increase compared to gross profit of $9,874,000 in the same period of the prior year.  Gross profit for the third quarter increased compared to the prior year due to higher net sales and slightly higher gross margin.  Gross margin during the third quarter was 21.3 percent, compared to 21.0 percent in the third quarter of the prior year.

Operating profit for the quarter was $5,461,000, an increase of 22.6 percent compared to $4,454,000 in the third quarter of last year.  Selling, general and administrative expenses were $6,307,000 in the third quarter of 2016, an increase of 16.4 percent compared to the third quarter of 2015.  Selling, general and administrative expenses increased primarily due to expenses that vary with sales.  Selling, general and administrative expenses were 11.4 percent of net sales during the third quarter of 2016 and 11.5 percent during the same period of the prior year.

Net income for the quarter ended September 30, 2016 was $4,284,000, an increase of $1,181,000 or 38.1 percent, compared to net income of $3,103,000 for the third quarter of 2015.  Diluted earnings per share were $0.11 in the third quarter of 2016, an increase of $0.03 per share compared to the third quarter of the prior year.

Net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 were $184,092,000, an increase of 17.1 percent compared to the first nine months of 2015.  Net income for the nine-month period was $13,023,000 or $0.34 diluted earnings per share, compared to net income of $10,461,000, or $0.28 diluted earnings per share in the prior year.

Richard A. Hubbell, Marine Products' President and Chief Executive Officer stated, "Our third quarter financial results reflect a strong retail selling season and the continued popularity of our product offerings.  The trends of the last several quarters continued with strong sales of our Robalo outboard sport fishing boats, particularly the Robalo 180 and 246 models, as well as our SunCoast outboards and Vortex Jet Boats.  Within our Chaparral sterndrive offerings, several of our SSX models also sold well compared to the prior year.

"We held our annual dealer conference during the third quarter, and observed that our dealers continue to be enthusiastic about the recreational boating market as well as our 2017 models.  We are particularly enthusiastic regarding the Chaparral Surf Series, which we will soon be introducing to our dealers and customers.  At the end of the third quarter, our order backlog was significantly higher than at the end of the third quarter of 2015, and field inventories were higher than the prior year but lower than at the end of the second quarter.  We have increased production at the beginning of the fourth quarter in response to these indications of demand and in preparation for the 2017 winter boat show season," concluded Hubbell.

Marine Products Corporation will hold a conference call today, October 26, 2016 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the results for the quarter.  Interested parties may listen in by accessing a live webcast in the investor relations section of Marine Products' website at www.marineproductscorp.com.  The live conference call can also be accessed by calling (888) 286-2314 or (719) 325-2161 for international callers and using the conference ID #8088876.  A replay will be available in the investor relations section of Marine Products' website beginning approximately two hours after the call.

Marine Products Corporation (NYSE: MPX) designs, manufactures and distributes premium-branded Chaparral sterndrive, jet drive and outboard pleasure boats, and Robalo offshore sport fishing boats.  The Company continues to diversify its product lines through product innovation.  With premium brands, a solid capital structure, and a strong independent dealer network, Marine Products Corporation is prepared to capitalize on opportunities to increase its market share and to generate superior financial performance to build long-term shareholder value.  For more information on Marine Products Corporation visit our website at www.marineproductscorp.com.

Certain statements and information included in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements include statements that look forward in time or express management's beliefs, expectations or hopes.  In particular, such statements include, without limitation, our belief that our order backlog and dealer inventory levels warrant increasing production during the fourth quarter; our plans to introduce our new Chaparral Surf Series soon; and that our new Chaparral Surf Series will be popular with dealers and customers in 2017.  These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Marine Products Corporation to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements.  These risks include possible decreases in the level of consumer confidence and available funds impacting discretionary spending, increased interest rates and fuel prices, weather conditions, changes in consumer preferences, deterioration in the quality of Marine Products' network of independent boat dealers or availability of financing of their inventory, and competition from other boat manufacturers and dealers.  Additional discussion of factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from management's projections, forecasts, estimates and expectations is contained in Marine Products' Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the year ending December 31, 2015.

SOURCE Marine Products Corporation

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