Stoneridge Reports Strong Second-Quarter 2017 Results Driven By Outperformance At All Segments

NOVI, Mich., Aug. 2, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --  

2017 Second Quarter Results

• Earnings per diluted share attributable to Stoneridge, Inc. ("EPS") of $0.32
• Adjusted EPS of $0.42 (adjustments primarily related to the step-up in the fair value of the earn-out due to Orlaco outperformance)
• Sales of $209.1 million, an increase of 12% over Q2 2016
• Gross profit of $63.4 million
• Adjusted gross profit of $64.1 million, an increase of 21% over Q2 2016 (30.6% of sales vs. 28.2% in Q2 2016)
• Operating income of $15.7 million
• Adjusted operating income of $18.7 million, an increase of 37% over Q2 2016 (8.9% of sales vs. 7.3% in Q2 2016)
• Adjusted EBITDA of $25.7 million, an increase of 28% over Q2 2016 (12.3% of sales vs. 10.7% in Q2 2016)

2017 Guidance Improvement for All Financial Metrics

• Sales of $795.0 - $815.0 million, an increase in the midpoint of 2.5% or $20 million relative to the previous guidance
• Adjusted gross margin of 30.0% - 31.0%, an increase in the midpoint of 100 basis points
• Adjusted operating income margin of 8.0% - 9.0%, an increase in the midpoint of 100 basis points
• Adjusted EPS of $1.38 - $1.50, an increase in the midpoint of 20%, or $0.24 EPS
• Adjusted EBITDA margin of 11.5% - 12.5%, an increase in the midpoint of 100 basis points

Stoneridge, Inc. (NYSE: SRI) today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2017, with sales of $209.1 million and EPS of $0.32.  Adjusted EPS was $0.42 for the second quarter, excluding (i) the expense associated with the step-up in the fair value of the acquired Orlaco inventory, (ii) the expense resulting from the step-up in the fair value of the earn-out due to Orlaco outperformance and (iii) the expense related to the step-up in the fair value of the earn-out related to the acquisition of the remaining 26% minority interest in PST.    

For the second quarter of 2017, Stoneridge reported gross profit of $63.4 million and adjusted gross profit of $64.1 million (30.6% of sales).  Operating income was $15.7 million and adjusted operating income was $18.7 million (8.9% of sales).  Adjusted EBITDA was $25.7 million (12.3% of sales). 

Jon DeGaynor, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are proud to report that our quarterly performance resulted in record sales, gross profit and operating income for our current operations driven by strong financial performance at each of our segments.  Quarter-over-quarter performance was driven by both organic and inorganic top-line growth as well as cost reduction across all segments.  I want to highlight the fact that our acquisition of Orlaco is exceeding expectations and contributing to the financial performance for our Electronics segment.  The strength of our year-to-date performance, and revised outlook for the remainder of the year, gives us confidence to increase our full-year outlook in each of our guidance metrics."

Second Quarter in Review
Control Devices net sales increased primarily as a result of increased sales volume in the North American and Chinese automotive markets.  Control Devices operating income and margin increased primarily due to an increase in sales and lower selling, general and administrative costs, which were partially offset by higher design and development costs to support technology investments and future product launches.

The Electronics segment net sales increased as a result of increases in North American commercial vehicle products, as well as an increase in sales volume in the European off-highway market related to the acquisition of Orlaco.  Electronics gross margin improved primarily due to lower material costs resulting from a favorable product mix and favorable movement in foreign currency exchange rates.    

PST net sales increased primarily due to an increase in monitoring services and favorable foreign currency translation.  PST segment gross margin and operating income improved due to lower direct material costs related to a favorable sales mix, lower overhead costs as a result of the 2016 business realignment actions and favorable movement in foreign currency exchange rates.

DeGaynor added, "Our segments continue to improve.  The growth at Control Devices was driven by increases in the Asia-Pacific market and a stronger mix of system-based solutions.  Electronics is performing well and continues to invest in both the execution of awarded business and in developing technologies that will lead to growth in the segment.  Orlaco, as part of the Electronics business, continues to exceed expectations with impressive sales growth and the ability to leverage growth into improved profitability.  Additionally, PST delivered their fourth consecutive quarter of operating profitability.  In the second quarter we acquired the remaining minority interest in PST allowing Stoneridge to fully capture the opportunities we see going-forward."

Cash and Debt Balances
As of June 30, 2017, Stoneridge had cash and cash equivalent balances totaling $44.2 million.  Total debt as of June 30, 2017, was $144.4 million.  Total debt less cash and cash equivalents yields a current net debt to trailing-twelve month ("TTM") adjusted EBITDA ratio of approximately 1.2x.    

For the year-to-date, Stoneridge generated $27.0 million of cash from operations, compared with $17.8 million for the same period in the previous year. Capital expenditures for the first half of the year were $15.2 million compared with $12.0 million in the first half of 2016.  As a result of cash from operations less capital expenditures, free cash flow in the first half of 2017 was $11.9 million compared with $5.8 million in the same period in 2016.

DeGaynor commented, "Our cash flow profile continues to strengthen as a result of improved operating results, a focus on managing our balance sheet and judicious use of capital to drive returns for our shareholders.  Our relatively conservative balance sheet provides us with the flexibility we need to utilize our capital most efficiently through organic investment, M&A activities aligned with our long-term strategy or other capital allocation programs."        

2017 Outlook
The Company revised its 2017 sales guidance to $795.0 - $815.0 million from $775.0 - $795.0 million, an increase to the midpoint of the previous guidance of $20 million, or 2.5%, to $805 million.   

Further, the Company revised its 2017 adjusted gross margin guidance and narrowed the guided range to 30.0% - 31.0% from 28.5% - 30.5%, an increase in the midpoint of 100 basis points.  The Company also revised adjusted operating income margin and adjusted EBITDA margin up by 100 basis points to 8.0% - 9.0% and 11.5% - 12.5% respectively.

Finally, the Company revised its 2017 adjusted EPS guidance and narrowed the guided range to $1.38 - $1.50 from adjusted EPS of $1.10 - $1.30, excluding (i) the expense associated with the step-up in the fair value of the acquired Orlaco inventory, (ii) the expense resulting from the step-up in the fair value of the earn-out due to Orlaco outperformance and (iii) the expense related to the step-up in the fair value of the earn-out related to the acquisition of the remaining 26% minority interest in PST.  The raised guidance represents an increase to the midpoint of the previous guidance of $0.24, or 20%, to $1.44.

Conference Call on the Web
A live Internet broadcast of Stoneridge's conference call regarding 2017 second-quarter results can be accessed at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time on Thursday, August 3, 2017, at www.stoneridge.com, which will also offer a webcast replay.

About Stoneridge, Inc.
Stoneridge, Inc., headquartered in Novi, Michigan, is an independent designer and manufacturer of highly engineered electrical and electronic components, modules and systems principally for the automotive, commercial, motorcycle, agricultural and off-highway vehicle markets.  Additional information about Stoneridge can be found at www.stoneridge.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this release that are not historical fact are forward-looking statements which involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in this release.  Things that may cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, among other factors, the loss of a major customer; a significant volume change in automotive, commercial, motorcycle, off-highway and agricultural vehicle production; disruption in the OEM supply chain due to bankruptcies; a significant change in general economic conditions in any of the various countries in which the Company operates; labor disruptions at the Company's facilities or at any of the Company's significant customers or suppliers; the ability of the Company's suppliers to supply the Company with parts and components at competitive prices on a timely basis; customer acceptance of new products; and the failure to achieve successful integration of any acquired company or business, including Orlaco.  In addition, this release contains time-sensitive information that reflects management's best analysis only as of the date of this release.  The Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future events, information or circumstances that arise after the date of this release.  Further information concerning issues that could materially affect financial performance related to forward-looking statements contained in this release can be found in the Company's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information
This press release contains information about Stoneridge's financial results which is not presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"). Such non-GAAP financial measures are reconciled to their closest GAAP financial measures at the end of this press release. The provision of these non-GAAP financial measures for 2017 is not intended to indicate that Stoneridge is explicitly or implicitly providing projections on those non-GAAP financial measures, and actual results for such measures are likely to vary from those presented. The reconciliations include all information reasonably available to the Company at the date of this press release and the adjustments that management can reasonably predict.

Management believes the non-GAAP financial measures used in this press release are useful to both management and investors in their analysis of the Company's financial position and results of operations.  In particular, management believes that adjusted gross profit, adjusted operating income, adjusted net income, adjusted earnings per share, adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow are useful measures in assessing the Company's financial performance by excluding certain items that are not indicative of the Company's core operating performance or that may obscure trends useful in evaluating the Company's continuing operating activities.  Management also believes that these measures are useful to both management and investors in their analysis of the Company's results of operations and provide improved comparability between fiscal periods.  Management believes that free cash flow is useful to both management and investors in their analysis of the Company's ability to service and repay its debt.

Adjusted gross profit, adjusted operating income, adjusted net income, adjusted earnings per share, and adjusted EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for gross margin, operating income, net income, earnings per share, cash provided by operating activities or other income statement or cash flow statement data prepared in accordance with GAAP.  

Regulation G Non-GAAP Financial Measure Reconciliations

Reconciliation to US GAAP

Exhibit 1 - Adjusted EPS

Exhibit 2 - Adjusted Gross Profit

Exhibit 3 – Adjusted Operating Income

Exhibit 4 – Adjusted EBITDA

Exhibit 5 – Free Cash Flow

SOURCE Stoneridge, Inc.