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Littelfuse Reports Third Quarter Results
[October 29, 2014]

Littelfuse Reports Third Quarter Results


CHICAGO --(Business Wire)--

Littelfuse, Inc. (NASDAQ:LFUS) today reported sales and earnings for the third quarter of 2014.

Third Quarter Highlights

  • Sales for the third quarter of 2014 were $217.6 million, an 8% increase compared to the prior-year quarter as strong growth in automotive and electronics more than offset a decline in the electrical business. Excluding acquisitions, sales increased 6% compared to the prior year.
  • On a GAAP basis, third quarter 2014 earnings were $1.32 per diluted share. This included $1.0 million of special items (see Supplemental Financial Information on page 8). Excluding these special items, earnings for the third quarter of 2014 were $1.35 per diluted share.
  • Operating margin (excluding special items) for the third quarter of 2014 improved as expected to 19.0% from 16.9% in the second quarter of 2014. The sequential margin improvement was primarily due to improved operational performance and lower stock compensation expense.
  • The effective tax rate for the second quarter was approximately 200 basis points higher than expected due to more income earned in high-tax jurisdictions (particularly the U.S.) and $0.6 million of one-time tax items.
  • Sales trends by business unit for the third quarter were as follows:
    • Electronics sales increased 7% year over year due to growth in all regions with particular strength in Europe.
    • Automotive sales increased 15% year over year reflecting double-digit growth across all product categories, with particular strength in sensors and commercial vehicle products. All regions contributed to the strong year-over-year growth.
    • Electrical sales declined 1% year over year as continued weakness in the mining segment more than offset the acquisition of SymCom. Industrial fuse sales increased 16% sequentially from the weak second quarter performance but were down 7% year over year.
  • The electronics book-to-bill ratio for the third quarter of 2014 was .88, although this has increased to above 1.0 for the month of October.
  • Cash provided by operating activities was a record $61.3 million for the third quarter of 2014 compared to $46.8 million for the third quarter of 2013. Capital expenditures for the third quarter of 2014 were $6.3 million compared to $10.9 million for the third quarter of 2013.
  • In the fourth quarter of 2014, in conjunction with the post-merger integration of Hamlin, the company expects to return over $90 million of cash to the U.S. from various overseas subsidiaries.

"The third quarter played out about as expected with a slight sequential decline in sales but with improved margins and earnings compared to the second quarter," said Gordon Hunter, Chief Executive Officer. "The positive top-line trends continue in our automotive business, and while the electronics business also had solid year-over-year growth, the order rate softened heading into the seasonally-weaker fourth quarter. The electrical business continues to be challenged by weakness in the mining sector, but we were encouraged to see a significant increase in quoting activity and orders for custom products."

"We were pleased to see margins bounce back in the third quarter after a sub-par second quarter," said Phil Franklin, Chief Financial Officer. "As a result of the improved margins and excellent working capital management, we had record cash flow for the quarter. Our strong cash flow coupled with the expected return of over $90 million of cash to the U.S., puts us in a better position than ever to fund share repurchases and dividend increases alongside our ongoing acquisition program."

Outlook

  • Sales for the fourth quarter of 2014 are expected to be in the range of $201 to $211 million which represents 4% year-over-year growth at the midpoint.
  • Earnings for the fourth quarter of 2014 are expected to be in the range of $1.05 to $1.19 per diluted share, assuming a tax rate of 26-27%.
  • Capital expenditures are expected to increase to approximately $11 million for the fourth quarter of 2014 due to spending on a new building at the company's Philippines site and several large automotive equipment purchases.

Dividend

The company will pay a cash dividend of $0.25 per common share on December 4, 2014 to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 20, 2014.

Conference Call and Webcast Information

Littelfuse will host a conference call today, Wednesday, October 29, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. Central / 11:00 a.m. Eastern time to discuss the third quarter results. The call will be broadcast live over the Internet and can be accessed through the company's website: www.littelfuse.com. Listeners should go to the website at least 15 minutes prior to the call to download and install any necessary audio software. The call will be available for replay through December 30, 2014 on the company's website.

About Littelfuse

Founded in 1927, Littelfuse is the world leader in circuit protection with growing global platforms in power control and sensing. The company serves customers in the electronics, automotive and industrial markets with technologies including fuses, semiconductors, polymers, ceramics, relays and sensors. Littelfuse has over 8,000 employees in more than 35 locations throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit the Littelfuse website: littelfuse.com.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

The statements in this press release that are not historical facts are intended to constitute "forward-looking statements" entitled to the safe-harbor provisions of the PSLRA. These statements may involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, risks relating to product demand and market acceptance, economic conditions, the impact of competitive products and pricing, product quality problems or product recalls, capacity and supply difficulties or constraints, coal mining exposures reserves, failure of an indemnification for environmental liability, exchange rate fluctuations, commodity price fluctuations, the effect of the company's accounting policies, labor disputes, restructuring costs in excess of expectations, pension plan asset returns less than assumed, integration of acquisitions and other risks which may be detailed in the company's other Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and outcomes may differ materially from those indicated or implied in the forward-looking statements. This report should be read in conjunction with information provided in the financial statements appearing in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2013. For a further discussion of the risk factors of the company, please see Item 1A. "Risk Factors" to the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2013.

LFUS-F





LITTELFUSE, INC.
Net Sales and Operating Income by Business Unit
(In thousands of USD, unaudited)
       
 
 
Third Quarter Year-to-Date
2014 2013 % Change 2014 2013 % Change
 

Net Sales

Electronics (2) $ 107,754 $ 101,013 7 % $ 313,726 $ 271,878 15 %
Automotive (3) 80,639 70,386 15 % 245,083 194,319 26 %
Electrical (4)   29,215     29,641   (1 %)   86,566     93,527   (7 %)
 
Total net sales (1) $ 217,608   $ 201,040   8 % $ 645,375   $ 559,724   15 %
 
(1) Total net sales for 2014 include an incremental $5.5M for the quarter and $51.8M year-to-date from business acquisitions.
(2) Total Electronics net sales for 2014 include an incremental $16.3M year-to-date from the Hamlin acquisition.
(3) Total Automotive net sales for 2014 include an incremental $20.2M year-to-date from the Hamlin acquisition.

(4) Total Electrical net sales for 2014 include an incremental $5.5M for the quarter and $15.3M year-to-date from the SymCom acquisition.

 

 
 
Third Quarter Year-to-Date
2014 2013 % Change 2014 2013 % Change
 

Operating Income

Electronics $ 25,800 $ 20,362 27 % $ 70,805 $ 52,284 35 %
Automotive 12,227 11,135 10 % 35,158 29,531 19 %
Electrical 3,224 6,687 (52 %) 7,541 18,801 (60 %)
Other (5)   (1,121 )

(6)

  (625 ) 79 %   (6,065 )   (3,558 ) 70 %
 
Total operating income $ 40,130 $ 37,559 7 % $ 107,439 $ 97,058 11 %
 
Interest expense 1,292 939 3,736 1,959
Investment impairment - - - 10,678

(7)

Foreign exchange (gain) loss (101 ) 1,476 2,022 (1,929 )
Other (income) expense, net   (2,261 )   (1,380 )   (4,893 )   (3,543 )
 
Income before taxes $ 41,200   $ 36,524   13 % $ 106,574   $ 89,893   19 %
 
(5) "Other" typically includes special items such as acquisition-related costs, restructuring costs, asset impairments, and gains and losses on asset sales.
(6) Tax consulting and legal expenses to effect changes in the company's legal structure that will enable the up-streaming of cash to the U.S. in the fourth quarter of 2014.
(7) Impairment and loan losses from investment in Shocking Technologies.

     
LITTELFUSE, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands of USD, except share amounts)
 
September 27, 2014 December 28, 2013
(Unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 378,276 $ 305,192
Short-term investments 38 6,886
Accounts receivable, less allowances 134,706 127,887
Inventories 99,822 92,591
Deferred income taxes 10,722 10,463
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 16,570 17,080
Assets held for sale   5,500     5,500  
Total current assets 645,634 565,599
Property, plant and equipment:
Land 5,969 4,382
Buildings 66,780 59,699
Equipment   363,438     354,475  
436,187 418,556
Accumulated depreciation   (278,927 )   (268,383 )
Net property, plant and equipment 157,260 150,173
Intangible assets, net of amortization:
Patents, licenses and software 24,514 25,166
Distribution network 39,604 42,685
Customer lists, trademarks and tradenames 42,911 30,506
Goodwill   198,702     186,464  
305,731 284,821
Investments 13,115 12,286
Deferred income taxes 5,325 5,092
Other assets   6,750     6,402  
Total assets $ 1,133,815   $ 1,024,373  
 
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable $ 37,062 $ 33,872
Accrued payroll 28,022 29,437
Accrued expenses 13,342 13,087
Accrued severance 320 182
Accrued income taxes 15,059 5,931
Deferred income taxes 7 229
Current portion of long-term debt   186,500     126,000  
Total current liabilities 280,312 208,738
Long-term debt, less current portion 90,000 93,750
Deferred income taxes 10,821 11,585
Accrued post-retirement benefits 225 8,528
Other long-term liabilities 14,558 14,856
Total equity   737,899     686,916  
Total liabilities and equity $ 1,133,815   $ 1,024,373  
 
Common shares issued and outstanding of
22,541,918 and 22,467,491 at September 27, 2014 and
December 28, 2013, respectively.
 
LITTELFUSE, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(In thousands of USD, except per share data, unaudited)
       
 
For the Three Months Ended For the Nine Months Ended
 
September 27, 2014 September 28, 2013 September 27, 2014 September 28, 2013
 
Net sales $ 217,608 $ 201,040 $ 645,375 $ 559,724
 
Cost of sales   130,228     120,080     396,506     340,601  
 
Gross profit 87,380 80,960 248,869 219,123
 
 
Selling, general and administrative 36,647 34,437 109,146 98,091
Research and development expenses 7,449 6,217 22,833 17,725
Amortization of intangibles   3,154     2,747     9,451     6,249  
47,250 43,401 141,430 122,065
 
Operating income 40,130 37,559 107,439 97,058
 
Interest expense 1,292 939 3,736 1,959
Impairment and loan loss in
unconsolidated affiliate - - - 10,678
Foreign currency revaluation (income) expense (101 ) 1,476 2,022 (1,929 )
Other (income) expense, net   (2,261 )   (1,380 )   (4,893 )   (3,543 )
 
Income before income taxes 41,200 36,524 106,574 89,893
Income taxes   11,260     9,534     26,667     24,767  
 
Net income $ 29,940   $ 26,990   $ 79,907   $ 65,126  
 
Net income per share:
Basic $ 1.33   $ 1.20   $ 3.55   $ 2.92  
Diluted $ 1.32   $ 1.19   $ 3.52   $ 2.89  
 
Weighted average shares and
equivalent shares outstanding:
Basic   25,536     22,428     22,536     22,274  
Diluted   22,689     22,625     22,722     22,497  
 

Diluted Net Income Per Share

Net income as reported $ 29,940 $ 26,990 $ 79,907 $ 65,126
Less: income allocated to participating
securities   -     (3 )   -     (38 )
Net income available to common
shareholders $ 29,940   $ 26,987   $ 79,907   $ 65,088  
 
Weighted average shares adjusted for
securities   22,689     22,625     22,722     22,497  
 
Diluted net income per share $ 1.32   $ 1.19   $ 3.52   $ 2.89  
 
Comprehensive income $ 13,209   $ 36,707   $ 66,444   $ 62,325  
   
LITTELFUSE, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands of USD, unaudited)
 
For the Nine Months Ended
September 27, 2014 September 28, 2013
 
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income $ 79,907 $ 65,126
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
provided by operating activities:
Depreciation 21,736 19,603
Amortization of intangibles 9,451 6,249
Impairment and loan loss in unconsolidated affiliate - 10,678
Non-cash inventory charge (1) 2,769 2,069
Stock-based compensation 7,168 7,030
Excess tax benefit on stock-based compensation (2,477 ) (3,763 )
Loss on sale of assets 673 169
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable (9,728 ) (16,348 )
Inventories (4,118 ) (4,537 )
Accounts payable 3,024 6,659
Accrued expenses (including post retirement) (7,080 ) (11,743 )
Accrued payroll and severance (1,198 ) 5,492
Accrued taxes 5,756 (2,167 )
Prepaid expenses and other   (2,052 )   1,294  
Net cash provided by operating activities 103,831 85,811
 
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment (19,422 ) (25,328 )
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired (52,768 ) (145,000 )
Purchase of short-term investments - (8,478 )
Proceeds from maturities of short-term investments 6,770 -
Proceeds from sale of assets   72     158  
Net cash used in investing activities (65,348 ) (178,648 )
 
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from term loan - 100,000
Proceeds of revolving credit facility 97,500 160,500
Payments of term loan (3,750 ) -
Payments of revolving credit facility (37,000 ) (116,000 )
Debt issuance costs paid (108 ) (809 )
Cash dividends paid (15,543 ) (13,789 )
Purchase of common stock (14,283 ) -
Proceeds from exercise of stock options 12,170 19,335
Excess tax benefit on stock-based compensation   2,477     3,763  
Net cash provided by financing activities 41,463 153,000
 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash
equivalents   (6,862 )   (2,631 )
 
Increase in cash and cash equivalents 73,084 57,532
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   305,192     235,404  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 378,276   $ 292,936  
 
(1) Purchase accounting adjustment related to acquisitions.
               
LITTELFUSE, INC.
Supplemental Financial Information
(in millions of USD except share amounts)
 
 
 

GAAP EPS Reconciliation

Q1-14 Q2-14 Q3-14 YTD-14 Q1-13 Q2-13 Q3-13 YTD-13
GAAP diluted EPS $ 1.12 $ 1.08 $ 1.32 $ 3.52 $ 0.51 $ 1.18 $ 1.19 $ 2.89
EPS impact of special items (below)   0.04     0.18     0.03     0.25     0.44     (0.03 )   0.07     0.48  
Adjusted diluted EPS $ 1.16   $ 1.26   $ 1.35   $ 3.77   $ 0.95   $ 1.15   $ 1.26   $ 3.37  
Year-over-year adjusted EPS growth 22 % 10 % 7 % 12 %
 

Special Items (income)/expense

 
Purchase accounting adjustment $ 1.4 $ 1.4 $ - $ 2.8 $ - $ 1.7 $ 0.3 $ 2.1
Restructuring - 2.0 1.1 3.1 - - - -
Acquisition expenses   -     0.2     -     0.2     -     1.2     0.3     1.5  
Adjustment to Operating income 1.4 3.5 1.1 6.1 - 2.9 0.6 3.6
Impairment charges - - - - 10.7 - - 10.7
Foreign exchange (gain)/loss   (0.3 )   2.4     (0.1 )   2.0     -     (3.7 )   1.5     (2.2 )
Adjustment to pre-tax income $ 1.2   $ 5.9   $ 1.0   $ 8.1   $ 10.7   $ (0.8 ) $ 2.1   $ 12.0  
 
EPS impact of above special items $ 0.04 $ 0.18 $ 0.03 $ 0.25 $ 0.29 $ (0.03 ) $ 0.07 $ 0.33
EPS impact of Shocking tax adjustment   -     -     -     -     0.15     -     -     0.15  
Total EPS impact $ 0.04   $ 0.18   $ 0.03   $ 0.25   $ 0.44   $ (0.03 ) $ 0.07   $ 0.48  
 

Operating margin / EBITDA reconciliation

Q1-14 Q2-14 Q3-14 YTD-14 Q1-13 Q2-13 Q3-13 YTD-13
 
Net sales $ 206.9   $ 220.9   $ 217.6   $ 645.4   $ 170.9   $ 187.8   $ 201.0   $ 559.7  
 
GAAP operating income $ 33.6 $ 33.7 $ 40.1 $ 107.4 $ 28.1 $ 31.4 $ 37.6 $ 97.1
Add back special operating items   1.4     3.5     1.1     6.1     -     2.9     0.6     3.6  
Adjusted operating income $ 35.0 $ 37.3 $ 41.3 $ 113.5 $ 28.1 $ 34.3 $ 38.2 $ 100.7
Adjusted operating margin 16.9 % 16.9 % 19.0 % 17.6 % 16.5 % 18.3 % 19.0 % 18.0 %
 
Add back amortization 3.2 3.1 3.2 9.5 1.6 1.9 2.7 6.2
Add back depreciation   7.0     7.5     7.3     21.7     6.2     6.5     6.9     19.6  
Adjusted EBITDA $ 45.2   $ 47.8   $ 51.7   $ 144.7   $ 35.9   $ 42.8   $ 47.8   $ 126.5  
Adjusted EBITDA margin 21.8 % 21.7 % 23.8 % 22.4 % 21.0 % 22.8 % 23.8 % 22.6 %
Year-over-year adjusted EBITDA growth 26 % 12 % 8 % 14 %
 
Note: Totals will not always foot due to rounding


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