AstroNova Announces Financial Results for the Second Quarter of Fiscal 2020

AstroNova, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALOT), a global leader in data visualization technologies, today announced financial results for the fiscal 2020 second quarter ended August 3, 2019.

CEO Commentary

“While we continued to make good progress on our long-term strategic objectives, our second-quarter results reflect a confluence of what we anticipate are short-term headwinds affecting both segments,” said Greg Woods, AstroNova’s President and CEO. “In the Test & Measurement segment, the ripple effects of the 737 MAX grounding had a more pronounced impact on revenue and margin mix in the quarter than we had anticipated. This was in part due to new aircraft shipment reductions but also because several retrofit printer upgrade orders for existing aircraft were deferred so that those planes could be kept in service. Our Product Identification segment was affected by some customer-specific weakness in Asia, partly attributable to increased global economic uncertainty. These temporary challenges do not affect our positive long-term view or the strong underlying fundamentals of AstroNova’s business.

“We continue to invest in new products and technology to drive high-quality, sustainable growth,” Woods said. “During the quarter we introduced the QuickLabel QL-120X, the first tabletop digital color label printer with an industry-best two-year warranty. In terms of quality, speed and cost efficiency, we believe that this new product substantially enhances our competitiveness in the on-demand digital color label printing market.”

Business Outlook

“We continue to have a positive long-term outlook for our business and maintain our expectation for modest revenue growth in fiscal 2020,” Woods said. “While the headwinds we experienced in Q2 are likely to temper our revenue and margin performance in the near-term, we are confident in our growth strategy and the positive secular trends supporting our business. This confidence is being supported by ongoing investments in new products, talent development and geographic expansion to drive high-quality, sustainable growth.”

Operating Segment Results

Product Identification segment revenue in the second quarter of fiscal 2020 was $22.1 million, a 1.7% increase compared with $21.8 million in the prior year, as higher sales of supplies and services offset a decline in hardware sales. Segment operating income was $2.2 million, or 10.0% of revenue, versus $2.2 million, or 9.9% of revenue, in the prior year.

Test & Measurement segment revenue in the second quarter of fiscal 2020 decreased 5.9% to $11.3 million from $12.0 million in the same period of fiscal 2019. Segment operating income was $1.6 million, or 13.7% of revenue, for the second quarter of fiscal 2020 compared with $2.8 million, or 23.4% of revenue, in the comparable period of fiscal 2019.

Hardware revenue was $12.4 million, down 3.7% from $12.9 million in the prior-year period. Supplies revenue was $18.1 million, up 1.1% from $17.9 million in the same period of fiscal 2019. Service/other revenue was $3.0 million, consistent with the same period a year earlier.

Second-Quarter Financial Summary

Revenue totaled $33.5 million, a decrease of 1% from $33.8 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2019, reflecting lower sales in the Test & Measurement segment, partly offset by higher sales in the Product Identification segment.

Gross profit was $12.0 million, or 35.8% of revenue, compared with $13.4 million, or 39.6% of revenue, for Q2 fiscal 2019. The decrease in gross profit dollars and margin was attributable primarily to lower revenue and less favorable sales mix.

Operating expenses were $10.8 million compared with $11.2 million in the same period of fiscal 2019.

Operating income was $1.2 million, or 3.5% of revenue, compared with $2.2 million, or 6.4% of revenue, in the second quarter of fiscal 2019.

Net income was $1.0 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, versus net income of $1.2 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, in the second quarter of fiscal 2019.

Bookings were $29.1 million compared with $35.8 million in the second quarter of 2019.

Backlog at August 2, 2019 was $22.3 million, compared with $24.5 million at the end of the fiscal 2019 second quarter.

Board Declares Quarterly Dividend

On August 26, 2019, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.07 per share. The dividend, which represents a cash dividend of $0.28 per share on an annualized basis, is payable on September 24, 2019, to shareholders of record on September 16, 2019.

Second-Quarter Fiscal 2020 Conference Call

AstroNova will conduct an investor conference call at 9:00 a.m. ET today. To participate on the conference call, please dial [phone] (U.S. and Canada) or [phone] (International) approximately 10 minutes prior to the start time and enter confirmation code 1668596.

You can hear a replay of the conference call from 12:00 p.m. ET Wednesday, August 28 until 12:00 p.m. ET Wednesday, September 4 by dialing [phone] (U.S. and Canada) or [phone] (International). The passcode is 1668596.

A real-time and an archived audio webcast of the call will be available through the “Investors” section of the AstroNova website, https://investors.astronovainc.com.

About AstroNova

AstroNova, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALOT), a global leader in data visualization technologies since 1969, designs, manufactures, distributes and services a broad range of products that acquire, store, analyze and present data in multiple formats. The Product Identification segment offers a variety of hardware and software products and associated supplies that allow customers to mark, track and enhance the appearance of their products. The segment’s two business units are QuickLabel, the industry leader in tabletop digital color label printing and TrojanLabel, an innovative leader for professional label presses and specialty printers. The Test and Measurement segment includes the Test & Measurement business unit, which offers a suite of products and services that acquire, record and analyze electronic signal data from local and networked sensors. The segment also includes the AstroNova Aerospace business unit, which designs and manufactures avionics equipment and systems that serve the world’s aerospace and defense industries with proven advanced airborne technology solutions for both the cockpit and the cabin. The key products include flight deck printers, networking hardware and related accessories.

AstroNova is a member of the Russell 3000 Index, the Russell 2000 Index, the Russell Microcap Index and the LD Micro Index (INDEXNYSEGIS: LDMICRO). Additional information is available by visiting www.astronovainc.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Information included in this news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical fact, but rather reflect our current expectations concerning future events and results. These statements may include the use of the words “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “likely,” “continues,” “may,” “will,” and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements, including those concerning the Company’s anticipated performance in fiscal 2020 and the effect of the grounding of the 737 MAX, involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our control, which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and factors include, but are not limited to, those factors set forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2019 and subsequent filings AstroNova makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The reader is cautioned not to unduly rely on such forward-looking statements when evaluating the information presented in this news release.

ASTRONOVA, INC. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income In Thousands Except for Per Share Data (Unaudited)
		Three Months Ended				Six Months Ended
		August 3, 2019		July 28, 2018		August 3, 2019		July 28, 2018
Net Revenue		$33,468		$33,807		$69,649		$65,294
Cost of Revenue		21,491		20,408		43,433		39,784
Gross Profit		11,977		13,399		26,216		25,510
		35.8%		39.6%		37.6%		39.1%
Operating Expenses:
Selling & Marketing		6,413		6,397		13,178		12,898
Research & Development		1,785		2,029		3,792		3,721
General & Administrative		2,616		2,808		5,615		5,462
		10,814		11,234		22,585		22,081
Operating Income		1,163		2,165		3,631		3,429
		3.5%		6.4%		5.2%		5.3%
Other Income, Net		(183)		(512)		(550)		(782)
Income Before Taxes		980		1,653		3,081		2,647
Income Tax Provision		29		459		429		639
Net Income		$951		$1,194		$2,652		$2,008
Net Income per Common Share - Basic		$0.14		$0.17		$0.38		$0.29
Net Income per Common Share - Diluted		$0.13		$0.17		$0.36		$0.29
Weighted Average Number of Common Shares - Basic		7,021		6,860		6,996		6,825
Weighted Average Number of Common Shares - Diluted		7,371		7,083		7,310		6,999

ASTRONOVA, INC.
Balance Sheet
In Thousands
(Unaudited)
			August 3, 2019				January 31, 2019
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
	Cash and Cash Equivalents		$	4,523			$	7,534
	Accounts Receivable, net			20,605				23,486
	Inventories, net			36,854				30,161
	Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets			3,059				1,427
		Total Current Assets		65,041				62,608
OTHER ASSETS
	Property, Plant and Equipment, net			10,910				10,380
	Intangible Assets, net			27,493				29,674
	Goodwill			12,075				12,329
	Deferred Tax Assets			3,480				2,928
	Right of Use Asset			1,760				-
	Other Assets			921				1,064
		TOTAL ASSETS	$	121,680			$	118,983
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES
	Accounts Payable			9,403			$	5,956
	Accrued Compensation			2,700				5,023
	Other Liabilities and Accrued Expenses			3,285				2,911
	Current Portion of Long-Term Debt			5,024				5,208
	Revolving Credit Facility			3,500				1,500
	Current Portion of Royalty Obligation			2,000				1,875
	Current Liability – Excess Royalty Payment Due			647				1,265
	Deferred Revenue			321				373
	Income Taxes Payable			-				554
		Total Current Liabilities		26,880				24,665
NON CURRENT LIABILITIES
	Long-Term Debt, net of current portion			10,295				12,870
	Royalty Obligation, net of current portion			8,964				9,916
	Lease Liability, net of current portion			1,364				-
	Deferred Tax Liabilities			504				40
	Other Long-Term Liabilities			1,585				1,717
		TOTAL LIABILITIES		49,592				49,208
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
	Common Stock			516				511
	Additional Paid-in Capital			55,121				53,568
	Retained Earnings			51,180				49,511
	Treasury Stock			(33,454	)			(32,997	)
	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, net of tax			(1,275	)			(818	)
		TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY		72,088				69,775
		TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	$	121,680			$	118,983

ASTRONOVA, INC.
Revenue and Segment Operating Profit
In Thousands
(Unaudited)
			Three Months Ended															Six Months Ended
			Revenue						Segment Operating Profit									Revenue						Segment Operating Profit
			August 3, 2019			July 28, 2018			August 3, 2019				July 28, 2018					August 3, 2019			July 28, 2018			August 3, 2019				July 28, 2018
	Product Identification		$	22,144		$	21,769		$	2,224			$	2,159				$	45,735		$	41,722		$	5,110			$	3,820
	T&M			11,324			12,038			1,555				2,814					23,914			23,572			4,136				5,071
	Total		$	33,468		$	33,807			3,779				4,973				$	69,649		$	65,294			9,246				8,891
	Corporate Expenses									2,616				2,808											5,615				5,462
	Operating Income									1,163				2,165											3,631				3,429
	Other Expense-Net									(183	)			(512	)										(550	)			(782	)
	Income Before Income Taxes									980				1,653											3,081				2,647
	Income Tax Provision									29				459											429				639
	Net Income								$	951			$	1,194										$	2,652			$	2,008

 

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