Stoneridge Reports Strong Third-Quarter 2017 Results

NOVI, Mich., Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

2017 Third Quarter Results

• Earnings per diluted share attributable to Stoneridge, Inc. ("EPS") of $0.28
• Adjusted EPS of $0.36 (adjustments related to the step-up in the fair value of the earn-outs related to the Orlaco and PST transactions)
• Sales of $203.6 million, an increase of 17% over Q3 2016
• Gross profit of $62.6 million, an increase of 26% over Q3 2016 (30.7% of sales vs. 28.6% in Q3 2016)
• Operating income of $13.3 million
• Adjusted operating income of $15.6 million, an increase of 32% over Q3 2016 (7.7% of sales vs. 6.8% in Q3 2016)
• Adjusted EBITDA of $22.8 million, an increase of 23% over Q3 2016 (11.2% of sales vs. 10.7% in Q3 2016)

2017 Full-Year Guidance Improvement for Sales and Adjusted EPS

• Sales of $810.0 – $825.0 million, an increase in the midpoint of $12.5 million relative to the previous guidance
• Adjusted EPS of $1.48 – $1.54, an increase in the midpoint of $0.07

Stoneridge, Inc. (NYSE: SRI) today announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017, with sales of $203.6 million and earnings per share of $0.28.  Adjusted EPS was $0.36 for the third quarter, excluding the adjustments related to the step-up in the fair value of the earn-outs related to the Orlaco and PST transactions that occurred earlier in the year.    

For the third quarter of 2017, Stoneridge reported gross profit of $62.6 million (30.7% of sales).  Operating income was $13.3 million and adjusted operating income was $15.6 million (7.7% of sales).  Adjusted EBITDA was $22.8 million (11.2% of sales).       

Jon DeGaynor, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Our segments continue to outperform our expectations resulting in another quarter of strong financial performance.  In addition to the financial success during the third quarter, we achieved some important operational milestones, including hosting our inaugural Supplier Summit.  Our supplier partners are an integral part of our ability to deliver world-class products to our global customers.  Additionally, we announced that Bob Willig will replace Mike Sloan as the president of our Control Devices segment, with Mike announcing his planned retirement in early 2018.  I am pleased to welcome Bob to our leadership team and we are excited to continue to build on the strong organization and performance that Control Devices has enjoyed under Mike's leadership."

Third Quarter in Review
Net sales in the Control Devices segment increased relative to Q3 2016 primarily as a result of increased sales volume in our North American and Chinese markets.  Control Devices gross margin improved slightly due to an increase in sales and a decrease in overhead.  The segment's operating income increased primarily due to an increase in sales, which was partially offset by higher material, warranty, selling, general and administrative and design and development costs.

Net sales in the Electronics segment increased relative to Q3 2016 primarily as a result of the acquired Orlaco business as well as an increase in sales volume for North American commercial vehicle products. Electronics gross margin improved primarily due to lower material and overhead costs resulting from favorable movement in foreign currency exchange rates and a favorable mix related to Orlaco product sales.  The segment's operating income increased slightly, primarily due to the increase in sales resulting from favorable movement in foreign currency exchange rates, which were offset by higher design and development and material and labor costs, excluding the impact of the acquired Orlaco business. 

PST's net sales increased relative to Q3 2016 primarily due to an increase in monitoring product and service revenues and higher product sales volume, as well as favorable foreign currency translation. PST segment gross margin and operating performance improved due to lower overhead and direct labor costs associated with 2016 business realignment actions and favorable labor costs, as well as lower direct material costs related to a favorable movement in foreign currency exchange rates and a favorable sales mix related to monitoring service increases. 

DeGaynor added, "I am pleased with the progress and growth exhibited by each of our segments.  Control Devices drove growth through our advanced emissions products, particularly in Asia, as well as our actuation products across global platforms.  Orlaco has contributed strongly to Electronics' growth since the acquisition early this year and continued to do so in the quarter.  Our legacy Electronics segment also contributed to the success of the business through the execution of driver information system launches during the quarter, as well as an increase in sales in North America and Europe.  Finally, PST continued its trend of success by delivering another quarter of strong top-line growth and bottom-line performance."

Cash and Debt Balances
As of September 30, 2017, Stoneridge had cash and cash equivalent balances totaling $50.8 million.  Total debt as of September 30, 2017, was $135.5 million.  Total debt less cash and cash equivalents yields a current net debt to trailing-twelve-month ("TTM") adjusted EBITDA ratio of approximately 1.0x.    

For the year to date, Stoneridge generated $51.1 million of cash from operations, compared with $37.0 million for the same period in the previous year. Capital expenditures for the first three quarters of the year were $24.9 million compared with $18.5 million in the first three quarters of 2016.  As a result of cash from operations less capital expenditures, free cash flow in the first three quarters of 2017 was $26.2 million compared with $18.5 million in the same period in 2016.

2017 Outlook
The Company revised its 2017 sales guidance to $810.0 – $825.0 million from $795.0 – $815.0 million, an increase to the midpoint of the previous guidance of $12.5 million to $817.5 million.   

Further, the Company revised its 2017 adjusted EPS guidance and narrowed the guided range to $1.48 ­– $1.54 from adjusted EPS of $1.38 – $1.50, excluding (i) transaction costs associated with the acquisition of Orlaco, (ii) the expense associated with the step-up in the fair value of the acquired Orlaco inventory, (iii) the expense resulting from the step-up in the fair value of the earn-out due to Orlaco outperformance and (iv) 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 $0.07 to $1.51.         

Conference Call on the Web
A live Internet broadcast of Stoneridge's conference call regarding 2017 third-quarter results can be accessed at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time on Thursday, November 2, 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 profit, 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.  

SOURCE Stoneridge, Inc.