Preformed Line Products Announces Second Quarter And First Half 2021 Financial Results

MAYFIELD VILLAGE, Ohio, July 29, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Preformed Line Products Company (NASDAQ: PLPC) today reported financial results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2021.

Net sales for the second quarter of 2021 were $133.0 million, an increase of 13.1%, compared to $117.6 million in the second quarter of 2020.  Currency translation rates had a favorable impact on 2021 second quarter net sales of $6.2 million, or 5.3%. 

The Company posted net income for the second quarter of 2021 of $8.9 million, or $1.80 per diluted share, compared to $10.5 million, or $2.11 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2020.  Net income in the second quarter of 2021 was negatively impacted by the decrease in gross profit due to significant increases in raw material prices and transportation costs as well as losses on foreign currency transactions.  The timing of announced price increases impacting future orders provided very little benefit during the second quarter of 2021. Currency translation rates had a favorable effect on net income of $0.3 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2021.

Net sales increased 13.7% to $250.6 million for the first six months of 2021 compared to $220.5 million in the first six months of 2020.  Currency translation rates had a favorable impact on net sales of $8.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021.

Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2021 was $16.0 million, or $3.25 per diluted share, compared to $14.2 million, or $2.84 per diluted share, for the comparable period in 2020.  Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2021 benefited from the increase in margin from the higher sales base and was negatively impacted by the significant increases in raw material prices and transportation costs not yet mitigated by the announced price increase as well as losses on foreign currency transactions. Currency translation rates had a favorable effect on net income of $0.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021.

Rob Ruhlman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, "We continue to be pleased with our net sales growth and earnings generation for the first half of 2021.  All regions reported a year over year increase in net sales for the first half of 2021, however, our Asia-Pacific region continues to be negatively impacted by the deferral of infrastructure projects due to COVID-19.  PLP USA continues to lead the net sales increase driven by growth in the communications product family.  The growth in PLP USA net sales will require additional investment to be made within our PLP USA facilities, both in the form operational capacity as well as increased warehouse space. These investments in our US operations will allow us to further enhance the service we provide to our US customers. While raw material and transportation cost inflation have negatively affected our earnings, the announced price increase will soon begin to mitigate its impact. That said, continued cost inflation in these areas through the second half of the year may off-set these gains and require further price adjustments going forward. Our geographic diversification continues to de-risk our business model during these challenging economic times.  While the extent to which COVID-19 will impact our future operations is unknown, we will continue to focus on the safety and well-being of our employees, their families, our customers and our valued suppliers while continuing to provide the high-quality products and services our customers expect."

Founded in 1947, Preformed Line Products is an international designer and manufacturer of products and systems employed in the construction and maintenance of overhead and underground networks for energy, communications, and broadband network companies.

Preformed's world headquarters are in Cleveland, Ohio, and the Company operates two domestic manufacturing centers located in Rogers, Arkansas, and Albemarle, North Carolina.  The Company serves its worldwide market through international operations in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, France, Great Britain, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Thailand and Vietnam.

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 regarding the Company, including those statements regarding the Company's and management's beliefs and expectations concerning the Company's future performance or anticipated financial results, among others. Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties which may cause results to differ materially from those set forth in those statements.  Among other things, factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements include the uncertainty in business conditions and economy due to COVID-19 including the severity and duration of business disruption caused by the pandemic, the strength of the economy and demand for the Company's products and the mix of products sold, the relative degree of competitive and customer price pressure on the Company's products, the cost, availability and quality of raw materials required for the manufacture of products, and the Company's ability to continue to develop proprietary technology and maintain high quality products and customer service to meet or exceed new industry performance standards and individual customer expectations, and other factors described under the headings "Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in the Company's 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 5, 2021 and subsequent filings with the SEC.  The Annual Report on Form 10-K and the Company's other filings with the SEC can be found on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov.  The Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement forward-looking statements that become untrue because of subsequent events.

SOURCE Preformed Line Products