Fourth Quarter Profits Down 22 Percent
SIOUX FALLS, S.D., March 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Raven Industries, Inc. (Nasdaq: RAVN) announced today that the year ended January 31, 2009, represented its fifth-consecutive record for annual revenues and profits. This reflected significant increases in sales and operating earnings at the Applied Technology Division (formerly Flow Controls) and Aerostar. However, as previously announced, weak markets and margin pressures at Engineered Films and lower sales at Electronic Systems reduced fourth quarter results, and management expects recessionary pressures will continue to negatively affect performance in the current fiscal year.
Strong Year, Weaker Fourth Quarter
Annual sales grew 20 percent to $279.9 million, compared with $234.0 million for the prior 12 months, as three of the four operations experienced revenue gains. Net income increased by 11 percent to $30.8 million from $27.8 million, or $1.70 per diluted share versus $1.53.
Fourth quarter sales, at $59.9 million, were up 3 percent from $58.4 million in the year-ago period. Net income for the most recent three months was off 22 percent to $4.7 million, or 26 cents per diluted share, compared with $6.0 million, or 33 cents per diluted share, for last year's quarter.
"Performance for our first nine months was very strong, led by high levels of demand for our Applied Technology products from a solid agricultural market," explained Ronald M. Moquist, chief executive officer. "Then in the fourth quarter, we experienced a significant decline in sales for our Engineered Films business, as the commercial construction and oil and gas drilling markets collapsed. So while fourth quarter sales inched up to a new high, we saw a break in our record of 31-consecutive quarters of year-over-year increases in earnings."
Record Year for Applied Technology (formerly Flow Controls)
Revenues for the Applied Technology Division increased 60 percent to $103.1 million from $64.3 million for the prior year. International sales expanded 75 percent, now representing 17 percent of the division's annual revenues. Operating income of $33.9 million compared with $19.1 million a year ago, or a 77 percent increase.
For the latest fourth quarter, sales of $19.6 million represented an 18 percent improvement from $16.6 million. This helped boost operating income by 17 percent to $5.3 million compared with $4.5 million in the same quarter last year.
"Our results were buoyed by phenomenal demand from the agricultural market during the year," Moquist explained. "We have said all along that this kind of growth was unsustainable, and that it will be hard to beat that performance in our current year. However, Applied Technology should benefit from several factors. While commodity prices are down from prior records, they remain at strong levels. And growers still are seeing increases in input costs, creating demand for our precision application products. We plan to strengthen the distribution of our products domestically and internationally. We also expect to add to our complete suite of products that make farming more productive - by introducing complementary services such as helping growers build databases to better manage field information."
High Material Costs and Competitive Pricing Reduce Income in Engineered Films
For the most recent year, Engineered Films Division sales rose 5 percent to $89.9 million from $85.3 million. Annual operating income was $10.9 million versus $17.7 million, a 38 percent decline. The decrease resulted from weakness that spread across its major markets during the year, high raw material costs for the plastic resin used to create films, and competitive pricing.
Sales for the fourth quarter were $14.5 million compared with $20.2 million a year ago, a 28 percent drop. Despite staff reductions and other cost control measures, the division swung to an operating loss of $178,000 in contrast to operating income of $3.4 million for last year's three months.
"We believe ours is the most financially sound company in the fragmented industrial films marketplace," Moquist said. "Our plan to ride out the current difficult market has three elements. First, we will emphasize product differentiation: creating high quality films at prices that are comparable with competitors' lower performing commodity films - offering customers a better value for the same price. Second, we are negotiating better prices and terms on raw materials, which can account for up to 70 percent of our films' price, so have a significant impact on margins. Third, we will improve operating efficiencies. This includes benefiting from the efficient extrusion equipment put in place in recent years, and sizing the business to reflect its current opportunities."
Difficult Year for Electronic Systems
Electronic Systems Division sales of $62.0 million were off 9 percent from $68.0 million for the prior year. Operating income for the latest year, at $5.9 million, declined 43 percent from $10.4 million.
Sales in the most recent fourth quarter were $16.1 million, down 3 percent from $16.5 million. Operating income rose 15 percent to $2.2 million versus $1.9 million for last year's three months. This reflected the impact of facility consolidations and cost reductions, which began to offset lower revenues as the year progressed.
"Each quarter of this past year was affected by the downturn in new home construction and home improvements, and the loss of a customer through acquisition," commented Moquist. "We shifted our focus to other markets we already serve that hold more promise. These include avionics and secure communications. Electronic Systems also is working to improve operational efficiencies. This is helping reduce total delivered cost--an important advantage as quality and supply chain disruptions associated with overseas competitors become more acute."
Aerostar Posts Higher Sales, Operating Income
Aerostar's annual sales grew 57 percent to $27.2 million from $17.3 million a year ago. Operating income of $4.2 million was more than double the prior-year's $1.5 million.
For the latest three months, sales rose 83 percent to $10.2 million versus $5.6 million. Shipments of MC-6 Army parachutes resumed in November, after being suspended in the third quarter, boosting deliveries by nearly $3 million. Operating income reached $1.8 million, more than two times the $689,000 in the prior year's three months.
"This business is in a strong position to weather the recession," Moquist said. "Aerostar has contracts for parachutes and specialty protective outerwear for the military. Its aerostats are in demand by NASA, the military and scientific customers. We plan to grow by developing and promoting tethered aerostats, which have wide-ranging applications for communications, surveillance and intelligence work."
Balance Sheet and Cash Flows Remain Strong
At January 31, 2009, cash and investment balances were $16.3 million, a decrease of $6.5 million from $22.8 million on the same date a year ago. The decline was due in large part to Raven returning $37.1 million to shareholders during the year, including stock repurchases and a special dividend.
Operating cash flows for the year, at $39.0 million, increased 44 percent from $27.2 million. Higher sales for Applied Technology were the main contributor to a 10 percent increase in accounts receivable, at $40.3 million compared with $36.5 million for the prior year. Inventory was down 2 percent, to $36.0 million, as larger balances in Applied Technology were more than offset by lower Engineered Films inventories. Capital expenditures in the latest 12 months increased to $8.0 million from $6.6 million, and primarily focused on ramping up capacity at Applied Technology. Expenditures for the current year are not expected to exceed $6 million, although that will be closely monitored. Regular cash dividends grew by 18 percent from a year ago, to $9.4 million, or 52 cents per share. In addition, a $22.5 million one-time cash dividend of $1.25 per share was distributed in November 2008.
Challenging Year Expected
"This will be the most challenging year in our history," Moquist said. "Our outlook includes a continued downturn for the economy this year, and it factors in a long and slow recovery. Under these difficult conditions, we don't expect to post another earnings record. What we can do, and have always done, is to optimize performance regardless of what happens in our markets, and be ready to take advantage of opportunities.
"Raven has the resources to come out of this recession a strong survivor, but this requires us to implement a new strategy," Moquist continued. "For the near term, growing the business at previous target rates is no longer a priority. Our new strategy has three parts. First, we will protect the core. This means getting rid of everything that is non-core (from assets to product lines), defending our core assets (such as businesses that have performed well in the past but will struggle in a recession), and protecting our core values and beliefs. Second, we will generate and preserve cash. This includes defending the balance sheet and improving working capital turnover through tactics such as increasing inventory turns and cutting expenses to the bone - but continuing to pay the dividend. Third, we will continue to invest in quality when it comes to customers, suppliers, products and R&D."
About Raven Industries, Inc.
Raven is an industrial manufacturer that provides electronic precision-agriculture products, reinforced plastic sheeting, electronics manufacturing services, and specialty aerostats and sewn products to niche markets.
Conference Call Information
Raven has scheduled a conference call today at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time to discuss its year-end performance and outlook for the current year. Interested investors are invited to listen to the call by visiting the company's Web site at www.ravenind.com 15 minutes before the call to download the necessary software.
In addition, a taped rebroadcast will be available beginning one hour after the call ends, and will continue through March 19, 2009. To access the rebroadcast, dial 888-203-1112 and enter this passcode: 5535724. A replay of the call will also be available at www.ravenind.com for 90 days.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements regarding the expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. Without limiting the foregoing, the words, "anticipates," "believes," "expects," "intends," "may," "plans," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The company intends that all forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, there is no assurance these assumptions are correct or that these expectations will be achieved. Assumptions involve important risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect results in the future. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those relating to weather conditions, which could affect some of the company's primary markets, such as agriculture and construction; or changes in competition, raw material availability, technology or relationships with the company's largest customers--any of which could adversely affect any of the company's product lines--as well as other risks described in Raven's 10-K under Item 1A. This list is not exhaustive, and the company does not have an obligation to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date these statements are made.
For more information on Raven Industries, please visit www.ravenind.com.
FINANCIAL TABLES FOLLOW...
RAVEN INDUSTRIES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In thousands, except earnings per share)
Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended
January 31 January 31
------------------- --------------------
Fav Fav
(Unfav) (Unfav)
2009 2008 Change 2009 2008 Change
---- ---- ------ ---- ---- ------
Net sales $59,931 $58,359 3 % $279,913 $233,957 20 %
Cost of goods
sold 47,852 45,291 212,032 174,809
------ ------ ------- -------
Gross profit 12,079 13,068 (8)% 67,881 59,148 15 %
Selling, general
and administrative
expenses 5,009 4,244 21,487 18,003
----- ----- ------ ------
Operating income 7,070 8,824 (20)% 46,394 41,145 13 %
Interest income and
other, net (36) (264) (507) (1,079)
--- ---- ---- ------
Income before
income taxes 7,106 9,088 (22)% 46,901 42,224 11 %
Income taxes 2,418 3,067 16,131 14,422
----- ----- ------ ------
Net income $4,688 $6,021 (22)% $30,770 $27,802 11 %
====== ====== ======= =======
Net income per
common share:
-basic $0.26 $0.33 (21)% $1.71 $1.54 11 %
-diluted $0.26 $0.33 (21)% $1.70 $1.53 11 %
Weighted average
common shares
outstanding:
-basic 18,026 18,135 18,044 18,108
-diluted 18,031 18,208 18,080 18,204
RAVEN INDUSTRIES, INC.
SALES AND OPERATING INCOME BY SEGMENT
(In thousands)
Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended
January 31 January 31
------------------- --------------------
Fav Fav
(Unfav) (Unfav)
2009 2008 Change 2009 2008 Change
---- ---- ------ ---- ---- ------
Net Sales:
Applied
Technology $19,644 $16,595 18 % $103,098 $64,291 60 %
Engineered
Films 14,520 20,189 (28)% 89,858 85,316 5 %
Electronic
Systems 16,050 16,500 (3)% 61,983 67,987 (9)%
Aerostar 10,176 5,564 83 % 27,186 17,290 57 %
Intersegment
Eliminations (459) (489) (2,212) (927)
---- ---- ------ ----
Total
Company $59,931 $58,359 3 % $279,913 $233,957 20 %
======= ======= ======== ========
Operating
Income (Loss):
Applied
Technology $5,256 $4,504 17 % $33,884 $19,102 77 %
Engineered
Films (178) 3,446 (105)% 10,919 17,739 (38)%
Electronic
Systems 2,243 1,944 15 % 5,926 10,365 (43)%
Aerostar 1,783 689 159 % 4,219 1,506 180 %
Intersegment
Eliminations (41) (64) (52) (100)
--- --- --- ----
Total Segment
Income 9,063 10,519 54,896 48,612
Corporate
Expenses (1,993) (1,695) (18)% (8,502) (7,467) (14)%
------ ------ ------ ------
Total
Company $7,070 $8,824 (20)% $46,394 $41,145 13 %
====== ====== ======= =======
RAVEN INDUSTRIES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)
January 31 January 31
2009 2008
---- ----
ASSETS
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term
investments $16,267 $22,772
Accounts receivable, net 40,278 36,538
Inventories 35,977 36,529
Other current assets 5,551 5,030
----- -----
Total current assets 98,073 100,869
Property, plant and equipment, net 35,880 35,743
Other assets, net 10,462 11,249
------ ------
$144,415 $147,861
======== ========
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Accounts payable $9,433 $8,374
Accrued and other liabilities 13,889 13,734
------ ------
Total current liabilities 23,322 22,108
Other liabilities 7,537 7,478
Shareholders' equity 113,556 118,275
------- -------
$144,415 $147,861
======== ========
RAVEN INDUSTRIES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
Twelve Months Ended
January 31
--------------
2009 2008
---- ----
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income $30,770 $27,802
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 7,758 7,344
Other operating activities, net 509 (7,995)
--- ------
Net cash provided by operating activities 39,037 27,151
------ ------
Cash flows from investing activities
Capital expenditures (8,001) (6,635)
Other investing activities, net 1,001 2,202
----- -----
Net cash used in investing activities (7,000) (4,433)
------ ------
Cash flows from financing activities
Dividends paid (31,884) (7,966)
Purchase of treasury stock (5,180) (592)
Other financing activities, net 95 288
--- ---
Net cash used in financing activities (36,969) (8,270)
------- ------
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash (73) 41
--- ---
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash
equivalents (5,005) 14,489
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of
period 21,272 6,783
------ -----
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period 16,267 21,272
Short-term investments - 1,500
--- -----
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term
investments $16,267 $22,772
======= =======
