Stoneridge Reports Strong First-Quarter 2017 Results And Increases 2017 Guidance

NOVI, Mich., May 3, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

2017 First Quarter Results

• 2017 first-quarter earnings per diluted share attributable to Stoneridge, Inc. ("EPS") of $0.32
• First-quarter 2017 adjusted EPS of $0.38
• Adjusted EPS excludes (i) the expense associated with the step-up in acquired Orlaco inventory, and (ii) transaction costs related to the acquisition of Orlaco.
• Sales of $204.3 million
• Gross profit of $61.2 million (29.9% of sales)
• Operating income of $15.2 million (7.4% of sales)
• EBITDA of $21.6 million (10.6% of sales)

Increases 2017 Guidance to Reflect Improvement in Every Metric, Orlaco Acquisition

• Sales of $775.0 – $795.0 million
• Gross margin of 28.5% – 30.5%
• Operating margin of 7.0% – 8.0%
• EBITDA margin of 10.5% – 11.5%
• Adjusted EPS of $1.10 – $1.30
• Adjusted EPS excludes (i) the expense associated with the step-up in acquired Orlaco inventory and (ii) transaction costs related to the acquisition of Orlaco.

Stoneridge, Inc. (NYSE: SRI) today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2017, with sales of $204.3 million and EPS of $0.32.  Adjusted EPS was $0.38 for the first quarter, excluding the impact of the expense associated with the step-up in acquired Orlaco inventory and transaction costs related to the Orlaco acquisition.   

For the first quarter of 2017, Stoneridge reported gross profit of $61.2 million (29.9% of sales).  Operating income was $15.2 million (7.4% of sales), and EBITDA was $21.6 million (10.6% of sales).       

Jon DeGaynor, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are pleased that we have extended our quarter-over-quarter improvement for the 10^th consecutive period, driven by the fact that each of our segments exceeded our expectations for the quarter. We were able to achieve this despite a significantly higher effective tax rate in the quarter relative to the previous year.  We continue to focus on operational improvement, profitable growth and our long-term strategy.  The addition of Orlaco accelerates our growth story and provides us with substantial opportunities to expand and diversify our existing Electronics business." 

First Quarter in Review
Net sales increased by $41.7 million, or 25.6%, compared to the first quarter of 2016 due to higher sales in each of the Company's segments. 

Net income attributable to Stoneridge, Inc. of $9.2 million, or $0.32 per diluted share, for the three months ended March 31, 2017 increased by $2.0 million, and $0.06 per diluted share, respectively, from $7.2 million, or $0.26 per diluted share, for the three months ended March 31, 2016, due to an increase in gross profit of $16.0 million which was the result of higher sales, lower material costs and operating improvements.  The improvement in gross profit was partially offset by an $8.5 million increase in selling, general and administrative (SG&A) costs which includes SG&A related to the addition of Orlaco's operations as well as an increase in the Company's effective tax rate from 12.2% to 33.3% in the first quarter of 2017 relative to the first quarter of 2016 as a result of the release of our income tax valuation allowance in the fourth quarter of 2016.  As noted previously, the release of the valuation allowance will not have an impact on historical or near-term forecasted cash taxes to be paid.    

The Control Devices segment net sales increased primarily as a result of new product sales in the North American automotive market of $22.9 million and increased sales volume in the China automotive market.  Control Devices operating income increased primarily due to an increase in sales, which was partially offset by higher warranty claim settlement costs and SG&A.

The Electronics segment net sales increased $11.1 million, primarily due to an increase in European off-highway vehicle products related to the acquired Orlaco business as well as to an increase in sales volume in our European commercial vehicle products of $3.4 million.  These increases were partially offset by a decrease in sales volume of our North American commercial vehicle products and an unfavorable foreign currency translation.  Electronics operating income increased primarily due to higher sales resulting from the Orlaco acquisition and lower material costs, which were partially offset by higher SG&A and design and development (D&D) costs related to Orlaco.

PST segment net sales increased by $4.0 million, or 22.8% including an increase in sales due to a favorable foreign currency translation. PST operating performance improved primarily due to higher sales, higher gross profit from lower material costs and favorable sales mix, overall cost reduction throughout the business, as well as a decrease in business realignment costs resulting in PST's third consecutive quarter of break-even or better operating profit. PST's improved operating performance is expected to continue through the remainder of 2017.

DeGaynor added, "Our segments continue to perform well, highlighted by Control Devices substantial growth related to our electronic shift-by-wire product.  Electronics is performing well and the Orlaco team has already exceeded our expectations with their first quarter financial contribution to the segment.  PST continues to be a success story as we have proven that we can produce operating profit and sustainable growth in the face of macroeconomic headwinds."

Cash and Debt Balances
As of March 31, 2017, Stoneridge had cash and cash equivalent balances totaling $44.9 million.  Total debt as of March 31, 2017, was $155.2 million.  The increase in debt relative to the end of 2016 is due to the acquisition of Orlaco, which was financed using the Company's credit facility.

For the first quarter of 2017, Stoneridge generated $9.8 million of cash from operations, compared with $1.1 million for the same time period in the previous year. Capital expenditures for the quarter were $7.3 million compared with $6.8 million in the first quarter of 2016.  As a result of cash from operations less capital expenditures, free cash flow in the first quarter of 2017 was $2.5 million compared with ($5.7) million in the first quarter of 2016. 

2017 Outlook
The Company has revised its 2017 sales guidance, inclusive of Orlaco, to $775.0 – $795.0 million from $705.0 – $730.0 million.   

Further, the Company has revised its 2017 gross margin guidance to 28.5% – 30.5% from 28.0% – 30.0%, operating margin guidance to 7.0% – 8.0% from 6.5% – 7.5% and EBITDA margin guidance to 10.5% – 11.5% from 10.0% – 11.5%.  

The Company also has revised its 2017 adjusted EPS guidance to $1.10 – $1.30 from EPS of $1.00 – $1.15, considering an effective tax rate of 30% to 35% and inclusive of Orlaco, excluding the expense associated with the step-up in acquired Orlaco inventory and transaction costs related to the Orlaco acquisition.

DeGaynor concluded, "Our revised guidance highlights our continued success in achieving top-line growth in the existing Stoneridge segments while driving operational improvement resulting in margin expansion, which is a credit to our global team.  Orlaco strengthens and reinforces our long-term strategy and our financial performance.  We continue to be impressed with the acquired Orlaco business and look forward to creating additional value as we take advantage of synergy opportunities related to the acquisition."

Conference Call on the Web
A live Internet broadcast of Stoneridge's conference call regarding 2017 first-quarter results can be accessed at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time on Thursday, May 4, 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.

Regulation G Non-GAAP Financial Measure Reconciliations

Reconciliation to US GAAP

Exhibit 1 - Adjusted EPS

Exhibit 2 – EBITDA

Exhibit 3 – Free Cash Flow

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SOURCE Stoneridge, Inc.