Omega Protein Announces First Quarter 2017 Financial Results

HOUSTON, May 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Omega Protein Corporation (NYSE:OME), a nutritional product company and a leading integrated provider of specialty oils and specialty protein products, today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2017.

First Quarter 2017 Highlights

• Revenues:  $73.6 million, compared to $84.8 million in the same period a year ago
• Gross profit margin:  27.4%, compared to 29.3% in the same period a year ago
• Net income: $6.1 million, or $6.0 million on an adjusted basis, compared to $8.4 million, or $9.1 million on an adjusted basis, in the same period a year ago
• Earnings per diluted share: $0.27, or $0.26 on an adjusted basis, compared to $0.37, or $0.40 on an adjusted basis, in the same period a year ago
• Adjusted EBITDA:  $15.2 million, compared to $20.4 million in the same period a year ago

"We are pleased with our start to 2017 across our animal and human nutrition business segments," commented Bret Scholtes, Omega Protein's President and Chief Executive Officer. "While recent global quota announcements are likely to put some pressure on fish meal and fish oil pricing in the second half of 2017, demand from the aquaculture and pet industries presently remains strong.  As a result, we believe that our products, supply chain and customer relationships will continue to position us favorably in the global nutrition marketplace.  Additionally, the solid consolidated financial results and operating cash flows we have experienced in recent years have enabled us to make strategic investments to increase our operating efficiencies, support our future growth and further enhance value for shareholders."

First Quarter 2017 Results

The Company's revenues decreased 13% from $84.8 million in the same period last year to $73.6 million, due to decreases of $10.2 million and $1.0 million in animal nutrition and human nutrition revenues, respectively. The decrease in animal nutrition revenues was primarily due to decreased sales volumes of 55% and 10% for the Company's fish oil and fish meal, respectively, partially offset by a 30% increase in fish oil sales prices; fish meal prices were relatively flat. The decreases in fish oil and fish meal sales volumes were primarily due to the timing of contracts and a lower level of beginning inventory. The increase in fish oil sales prices was primarily due to a change in the product mix of higher priced refined and lower priced crude oils.  The decrease in human nutrition revenues was due primarily to lower sales of specialty oils.  The composition of revenues by nutritional product line for the first quarter of 2017 was 42% fish meal, 12% fish oil and 46% dietary supplements. 

First quarter of 2017 revenues decreased 13% from $84.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2016 to $73.6 million. This decrease was due to a $13.1 million decrease in animal nutrition revenues, partially offset by a $2.1 million increase in human nutrition revenues. The decrease in animal nutrition revenues was due to decreased sales volumes of 58% and 17% for fish oil and fish meal, respectively, partially offset by a product mix-driven 27% increase in fish oil sales prices and a 2% increase in fish meal prices. The increase in human nutrition revenues was primarily a result of increased specialty oil sales. 

The Company reported gross profit of $20.2 million, or 27.4% as a percentage of revenues, for the first quarter of 2017, versus $24.8 million, or 29.3% as a percentage of revenues, in the first quarter of 2016. The decrease in gross profit as a percentage of revenues was due to a decrease in the animal nutrition segment, partially offset by an increase in the human nutrition segment. Animal nutrition gross profit as a percentage of revenues decreased from 40.7% to 35.4%, due primarily to an increase in the cost per unit of sales as a result of lower fish catch and production in 2016 compared to 2015.  Human nutrition gross profit as a percentage of revenues increased from 12.6% to 18.0% primarily due to increased gross profit as a percentage of revenues for specialty oils.    

Compared to the fourth quarter of 2016, the first quarter of 2017 gross profit decreased from $22.6 million to $20.2 million, and as a percentage of revenues, first quarter 2017 gross profit increased from 26.8% to 27.4% . The increase in gross profit as a percentage of revenues was due to increases in both the animal and human nutrition segments.  Animal nutrition gross profit as a percentage of revenues increased from 33.6% to 35.4%, due primarily to a cost of sales adjustment related to prior period sales in the fourth quarter of 2016.  Human nutrition gross profit as a percentage of revenues increased from 15.3% to 18.0% primarily as a result of increased gross profit as a percentage of revenues for protein products.    

Selling, general and administrative expense, including research and development expense ("SG&A"), for the first quarter of 2017 increased to $10.8 million compared to $9.6 million in the first quarter of 2016, primarily due to increased legal and other professional expenses.  SG&A decreased from $12.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2016, due primarily to reduced labor and Bioriginal Food & Science acquisition-related expenses.

Loss of foreign currency related to Bioriginal Food & Science was $0.9 million for the first quarter of 2017 compared to $1.4 million in the first quarter of 2016 and $0.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2016.

Net income for the first quarter of 2017 was $6.1 million ($0.27 per diluted share) compared to $8.4 million ($0.37 per diluted share) in the same period last year and $4.3 million ($0.19 per diluted share) in the fourth quarter of 2016. Excluding adjustments for certain items, adjusted net income for the first quarter of 2017 was $6.0 million ($0.26 per diluted share), compared to $9.1 million ($0.40 per diluted share) in the same period last year and $6.8 million ($0.30 per diluted share) for the fourth quarter of 2016. 

Adjusted EBITDA totaled $15.2 million for the first quarter of 2017, compared to $20.4 million for the same period last year and $16.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2016.

Balance Sheet

Cash decreased $13.8 million from $37.4 million on December 31, 2016 to $23.6 million on March 31, 2017.  Total debt increased $0.3 million from $1.1 million on December 31, 2016 to $1.4 million on March 31, 2017.  Stockholders' equity increased $4.5 million to $341.2 million as of March 31, 2017 compared to $336.7 million as of December 31, 2016.

Conference Call Information

Omega Protein will host a conference call on its first quarter financial 2017 results at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, May 9, 2017.  The Company's senior management team will be available to discuss recent financial results and current business trends as well as respond to questions. 

Please dial (877) 407-3982 in North America or (201) 493-6780 internationally to join the call.  Interested parties may also listen to the webcast live over the Internet under the "Investor Relations" section at www.omegaprotein.com.

A webcast replay of the conference call will be available beginning shortly after the conclusion of the call at www.omegaprotein.com and will be available for 30 days.  A telephonic playback will be available from 11:30 a.m. ET, May 9, 2017, through March 23, 2017. Participants can dial (844) 512-2921 in North America, and international listeners may dial (412) 317-6671. The password is 13658206.

About Omega Protein Corporation

Omega Protein Corporation (NYSE: OME) is a century old nutritional product company that develops, produces and delivers healthy products throughout the world to improve the nutritional integrity of foods, dietary supplements and animal feeds. Omega Protein's mission is to help people lead healthier lives with better nutrition through sustainably sourced ingredients such as highly-refined specialty oils, specialty protein products and nutraceuticals.

The Company operates seven manufacturing facilities located in the United States, Canada and Europe. The Company also operates more than 30 vessels to harvest menhaden, a fish abundantly found in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.

For More Information

Visit Omega Protein at www.omegaprotein.com, follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/omegaprotein, or find us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/omega-protein-inc.

Forward-Looking Statements

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: The statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking information may be based on projections, predictions and estimates. Some statements in this press release may be forward-looking and use words like "may," "may not," "believes," "do not believe," "expects," "do not expect," "anticipates," "do not anticipate," "see," "do not see," "should," or other similar expressions. The actual results of future events described in any of these forward-looking statements could differ materially from those stated in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to be materially different from those forward-looking statements include, among others: (1) the Company's ability to meet its raw material requirements through its annual menhaden harvest, which is subject to fluctuations due to natural conditions over which the Company has no control, such as varying fish population, fish oil yields, adverse weather conditions, natural and other disasters and disease; (2) the impact of laws and regulations that may be enacted that may restrict the Company's operations or the sale of the Company's products or increase the cost of compliance; (3) the impact of worldwide supply and demand relationships on prices for the Company's products including the impact of higher quotas globally on fish meal and oil prices; (4) the Company's expectations regarding demand and pricing for its products proving to be incorrect, and the effect of forward sales of products on the Company's financial results; (5) fluctuations in the Company's quarterly operating results due to the seasonality of the Company's business, estimates of standard cost for inventory and subsequent adjustments to such costs, and the Company's deferral of inventory sales based on worldwide prices for competing products; (6) the Company's ability to realize the anticipated benefits from its acquisitions in the human nutrition business, and specifically, to integrate successfully its acquisitions in the human nutrition segment; (7) the Company's expectations regarding its human nutrition segment, its future prospects and the dietary supplement market or the human health and wellness segment generally; (8) increase in the price and shortage of key raw materials that could adversely affect the Company's human nutrition business segment; (9) the cost of compliance or potential restrictions on sales caused by laws and regulations regarding fish meal or oil importation into foreign jurisdictions; (10) the impact of any resolution of a Department of Justice False Claims Act inquiry and a Securities and Exchange Commission whistleblower inquiry on the Company's business, reputation, results of operations and financial condition; (11) the Company's expectations regarding the suspension of its previously announced stock repurchase program and the duration of that suspension, on the ability of the Company to purchase shares of its common stock under that repurchase program, if it is resumed; (12) the Company's expectations regarding the ASMFC's 2017 harvest quota decision, including timing and allocations among ASMFC member states and user groups; (13) the ability or willingness of the Company to make further dividend payments under its previously announced quarterly dividend program, and the anticipated level of those payments; (14) the impact of the Company's previous announcement of the Company's review of strategic alternatives of its human nutrition segment, as well as any strategic transaction that may be pursued as a result of such review, including on its financial and operating results, or its employees, suppliers and customers, as well as the uncertainty associated with being able to identify, evaluate and complete any strategic alternative; (15) the impact of the Company's inability to utilize any H2B visa workers on the Company's 2017 Gulf of Mexico fishing season; and (16) the impact of pending class action litigation recently filed against the Company on the Company's business, reputation, results of operations and financial condition.  Other factors are described in further detail in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K.  Except as required by law, the Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to revise or update any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

                                                                                                                                                   

The tables below present information about reported segments for three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 (in thousands): 

Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation

The following table (in thousands) provides a reconciliation of net income, the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP, to Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) financial measure, for the three months ended March 31, 2017, December 31, 2016 and March 31, 2016:

Adjusted EBITDA represents net income before interest expense, income tax, depreciation and amortization, impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets, charges related to U.S. Attorney investigation, (gain) loss related to plant closures, acquisition post-closing consideration and (gain) loss on disposal of assets. The Company has reported Adjusted EBITDA because it believes Adjusted EBITDA is a measure commonly reported and widely used by investors as an indicator of a Company's performance of its ongoing operations. The Company believes Adjusted EBITDA assists such investors in comparing a company's performance of its ongoing operations on a consistent basis. Adjusted EBITDA is not a calculation based on GAAP and should not be considered an alternative to net income in measuring our performance or used as an exclusive measure of cash flow because it does not consider the impact of working capital changes, capital expenditures, debt principal reductions and other sources and uses of cash which are disclosed in our consolidated statements of cash flows. Investors should carefully consider the specific items included in our computation of Adjusted EBITDA. While Adjusted EBITDA has been disclosed herein to permit a more complete comparative analysis of our operating performance relative to other companies, investors should be cautioned that Adjusted EBITDA as reported by us may not be comparable in all instances to Adjusted EBITDA as reported by us or by other companies. Adjusted EBITDA amounts may not be fully available for management's discretionary use, due to certain requirements to conserve funds for capital expenditures, debt service and other commitments, and therefore management relies primarily on our GAAP results. Adjusted EBITDA is not intended to represent net income as defined by GAAP and such information should not be considered as an alternative to net income, cash flow from operations or any other measure of performance prescribed by GAAP in the United States.

Net Income to Adjusted Net Income and Diluted Earnings Per Share Reconciliation

The following table (in thousands, except per share amounts) provides a reconciliation of net income, the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP, to Adjusted Net Income and Diluted Earnings Per Share, non-GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) financial measures, for the three months ended March 31, 2017, December 31, 2016 and March 31, 2016:

Adjusted net income and Adjusted diluted earnings per share represent net income and diluted earnings per share without impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets, charges related to U.S. Attorney investigation, (gain) loss related to plant closures, acquisition post-closing consideration and (gain) loss on disposal of assets.  Income tax expense associated with these items is adjusted on a year-to-date basis, as applicable. The charges related to U.S. Attorney investigation in 2016 include fines and penalties that are not deductible for income taxes, which increases the effective tax rate reflected in net income. For Adjusted net income and Adjusted diluted earnings per share, the effective tax rate is therefore lower as a result of adding back the charges related to U.S. Attorney investigation. The Company has reported Adjusted net income and Adjusted diluted earnings per share because it believes these measures are widely used by investors as an indicator of a Company's performance of its ongoing operations. The Company believes Adjusted net income and Adjusted diluted earnings per share assist investors in comparing a company's performance of its ongoing operations on a consistent basis.  Adjusted net income and Adjusted diluted earnings per share are not calculations based on GAAP and should not be considered alternatives to net income or diluted earnings per share in measuring our performance. Investors should carefully consider the specific items included in our computation of Adjusted net income and Adjusted diluted earnings per share. While Adjusted net income and Adjusted diluted earnings per share have been disclosed herein to permit a more complete comparative analysis of our operating performance across time periods and relative to other companies, investors should be cautioned that these measures as reported by us may not be comparable in all instances to Adjusted net income and Adjusted diluted earnings per share as reported by us or by other companies. Adjusted net income and Adjusted diluted earnings per share are not intended to represent net income or diluted earnings per share as defined by GAAP and such information should not be considered as an alternative to net income, diluted earnings per share or any other measure of performance prescribed by GAAP in the United States.

Human Nutrition Segment Financial Information Reconciliation

The following table (in thousands) provides a breakdown of the total Human Nutrition Segment revenue, cost of sales and gross profit among concentrated menhaden oil products and tolling, dairy protein products and other products for the three months ended March 31, 2017:

The Company has provided a breakdown of total Human Nutrition Segment revenue, cost of sales and gross profit among concentrated menhaden oil products, dairy protein products and other human nutrition products because it believes such a breakdown will provide investors with additional useful detail on the performance of the Human Nutrition Segment. 

SOURCE Omega Protein Corporation