Elbit Systems Reports Third Quarter 2018 Results

HAIFA, Israel, Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ: ESLT) and (TASE: ESLT), (the "Company") the international high technology company, reported today its consolidated results for the quarter ended September 30, 2018.

In this release, the Company is providing US-GAAP results as well as additional non-GAAP financial data, which are intended to provide investors a more comprehensive understanding of the Company's business results and trends. Unless otherwise stated, all financial data presented is GAAP financial data.

Management Comment:

Bezhalel (Butzi) Machlis, President and CEO of Elbit Systems, commented: "We reported a solid level of revenue in the quarter, growing by 12% over last year to almost $900 million. At the same time, we were able to show growth in backlog. This demonstrates that our business remains strong, in line with our strategy of consistently expanding our addressable markets through internal development of defense related products and solutions, as well as acquisitions of synergistic businesses."

Third quarter 2018 results:

Revenues in the third quarter of 2018 were $895.2 million, as compared to $800.7 million in the third quarter of 2017.

Non-GAAP ^(*) gross profit amounted to $260.7 million (29.1% of revenues) in the third quarter of 2018, as compared to $256.3 million (32.0% of revenues) in the third quarter of 2017. GAAP gross profit in the third quarter of 2018 was $255.9 million (28.6% of revenues), as compared to $251.0 million (31.3% of revenues) in the third quarter of 2017.

Research and development expenses, net were $69.6 million (7.8% of revenues) in the third quarter of 2018, as compared to $67.1 million (8.4% of revenues) in the third quarter of 2017.

Marketing and selling expenses, net were $69.4 million (7.8% of revenues) in the third quarter of 2018, as compared to $66.9 million (8.4% of revenues) in the third quarter of 2017.

General and administrative expenses, net were $37.8 million (4.2% of revenues) in the third quarter of 2018, as compared to $34.8 million (4.3% of revenues) in the third quarter of 2017.

Non-GAAP^(*) operating income was $85.7 million (9.6% of revenues) in the third quarter of 2018, as compared to $89.2 million (11.1% of revenues) in the third quarter of 2017. GAAP operating income in the third quarter of 2018 was $79.1 million (8.8% of revenues), as compared to $82.2 million (10.3% of revenues) in the third quarter of 2017.

Financial expenses, net were $8.1 million in the third quarter of 2018, as compared to $9.3 million in the third quarter of 2017.

Taxes on income were $8.9 million (effective tax rate of 12.6%) in the third quarter of 2018, as compared to $14.6 million (effective tax rate of 20.0%) in the third quarter of 2017. The effective tax rate is affected by the mix of the tax rates in the various jurisdictions in which the Company's entities generate taxable income.

Equity in net earnings of affiliated companies and partnerships was $2.7 million (0.3% of revenues) in the third quarter of 2018, as compared to $3.5 million (0.4% of revenues) in the third quarter of 2017.

Net income attributable to non-controlling interests was $0.7 million in the third quarter of 2018, as compared to $0.3 million in the third quarter of 2017.

Non-GAAP^(*) net income attributable to the Company's shareholders in the third quarter of 2018 was $69.8 million (7.8% of revenues), as compared to $67.3 million (8.4% of revenues) in the third quarter of 2017. GAAP net income attributable to the Company's shareholders in the third quarter of 2018 was $64.1 million (7.2% of revenues), as compared to $61.5 million (7.7% of revenues) in the third quarter of 2017.

Non-GAAP^(*) diluted net earnings per share attributable to the Company's shareholders were $1.63 for the third quarter of 2018, as compared to $1.57 for the third quarter of 2017. GAAP diluted earnings per share in the third quarter of 2018 were $1.50, as compared to $1.44 for the third quarter of 2017.

The Company's backlog of orders for the quarter ended September 30, 2018 totaled $8,108 million as compared to $7,641 million as of September 30, 2017. Approximately 72% of the current backlog is attributable to orders from outside Israel. Approximately 45% of the current backlog is scheduled to be performed during 2018 and 2019.

Operating cash flow used in the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was $20.3 million, as compared to $140.0 million used in the nine months ended September 30, 2017.

Accounting policies update:

The Company adopted the new revenue recognition accounting standard ASC 606, effective January 1, 2018, using the modified retrospective approach. Financial results for reporting periods during 2018 are presented in compliance with ASC 606. Historical financial results for the reporting periods prior to 2018 are presented in conformity with amounts previously disclosed under the prior revenue recognition standard, ASC 605. The adoption of ASC 606 primarily impacts the Company's contracts where revenue is recognized using the percentage of completion units of delivery method, which under ASC 606 can be recognized over time because control is transfered continuously to the customer over the performance period for contracts recognized over time. As a result, the adoption of ASC 606 influenced part of the revenue growth in 2018.

The cumulative effects of the transition to ASC 606 on January 1, 2018, resulted in the following main adjustments: a $0.1 million increase in retained earnings, a decrease in inventories of approximately $81.9 million, an increase in contract assets (unbilled receivables) of approximately $78.8 million and a net decrease in customer advances and other contract liabilities and deferred tax assets in the aggregate amount of approximately $3.2 million.

According to ASC 606, customer advances are no longer deducted from inventories. Accordingly, on January 1, 2018, the open balances of inventories net and customer advances were grossed up in the amount of approximately $87 million.

* Non-GAAP financial data:

The following non-GAAP financial data is presented to enable investors to have additional information on the Company's business performance as well as a further basis for periodical comparisons and trends relating to the Company's financial results. The Company believes such data provides useful information to investors by facilitating more meaningful comparisons of the Company's financial results over time. Such non-GAAP information is used by the Company's management to make strategic decisions, forecast future results and evaluate the Company's current performance. However, investors are cautioned that, unlike financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP, non-GAAP measures may not be comparable with the calculation of similar measures for other companies.

The non-GAAP financial data includes reconciliation adjustments regarding non-GAAP gross profit, operating income, net income and diluted EPS. In arriving at non-GAAP presentations, companies generally factor out items such as those that have a non-recurring impact on the income statements, various non-cash items, significant effects of retroactive tax legislation and changes in accounting guidance and other items, which in management's judgment, are items that are considered to be outside of the review of core operating results.

In the Company's non-GAAP presentation, the Company made certain adjustments, as indicated in the table below.

These non-GAAP measures are not based on any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles. The Company believes that non-GAAP measures have limitations in that they do not reflect all of the amounts associated with the Company's results of operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and that these measures should only be used to evaluate the Company's results of operations in conjunction with the corresponding GAAP measures. Investors should consider non-GAAP financial measures in addition to, and not as replacements for or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Recent Events:

On September 20, 2018 the Company announced that it was awarded an approximately $173 million contract to provide Naval Remote Controlled Weapon Stations to the Navy and Coast Guard of an Asia-Pacific country. The contract will be performed over a five-year period.

On October 2, 2018, the Company announced that its subsidiary, Elbit Systems UK Ltd. was awarded an initial contract of approximately £10 million (approximately $13 million) and a potential maximum value of approximately £40 million, from the UK Ministry of Defence to provide the MORPHEUS Battlefield Management Application. The initial contract will be performed over a three-year period.

On November 14, 2018, the Company announced that it was awarded an approximately $167 million contract from an Asia-Pacific country to supply a comprehensive aerial Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) solution. The contract will be performed over a 20-month period.

Dividend:

The Board of Directors declared a dividend of $0.44 per share for the third quarter of 2018. The dividend's record date is December 7, 2018. The dividend will be paid from income generated as Preferred Income (as defined under Israel tax laws), on December 24, 2018, net of taxes and levies, at the rate of 20%.

Conference Call:

The Company will be hosting a conference call on Tuesday, November 20, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. On the call, management will review and discuss the results and will be available to answer questions.

To participate, please call one of the teleconferencing numbers that follow. If you are unable to connect using the toll-free numbers, please try the international dial-in number.

US Dial-in Numbers: 1-888-668-9141

Canada Dial-in Numbers: 1-888-604-5839

UK Dial-in Number: 0-800-917-5108

ISRAEL Dial-in Number: 03-918-0610

INTERNATIONAL Dial-in Number:  +972-3-918-0610

at: 9:00 am Eastern Time; 6:00 am Pacific Time; 2:00 pm UK Time; 4:00 pm Israel Time

This call will also be broadcast live on Elbit Systems' web-site at http://www.elbitsystems.com. An online replay will be available from 24 hours after the call ends.

Alternatively, for two days following the call, investors will be able to dial a replay number to listen to the call. The dial-in numbers are:

1-888-782-4291 (US and Canada) or +972-3-925-5927 (Israel and International).

About Elbit Systems

Elbit Systems Ltd. is an international high technology company engaged in a wide range of defense, homeland security and commercial programs throughout the world. The Company, which includes Elbit Systems and its subsidiaries, operates in the areas of airborne, land and naval systems, command, control, communications, computers, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance ("C4ISR"), unmanned aircraft systems, advanced electro-optics, electro-optic space systems, EW suites, signal intelligence systems, data links and communications systems and radios. The Company also focuses on the upgrading of existing platforms, developing new technologies for defense, homeland security and commercial aviation applications and providing a range of support services, including training and simulation systems.

For additional information, visit: www.elbitsystems.com or follow us on Twitter.

This press 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 1943, as amended) regarding Elbit Systems Ltd. and/or its subsidiaries (collectively the Company), to the extent such statements do not relate to historical or current fact. Forward-looking statements are based on management's expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions. Forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties, which are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual future results, performance and trends may differ materially from these forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including, without limitation: scope and length of customer contracts; governmental regulations and approvals; changes in governmental budgeting priorities; general market, political and economic conditions in the countries in which the Company operates or sells, including Israel and the United States among others; differences in anticipated and actual program performance, including the ability to perform under long-term fixed-price contracts; and the outcome of legal and/or regulatory proceedings. The factors listed above are not all-inclusive, and further information is contained in Elbit Systems Ltd.'s latest annual report on Form 20-F, which is on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release. The Company does not undertake to update its forward-looking statements.

Elbit Systems Ltd., its logo, brand, product, service and process names appearing in this Press Release are the trademarks or service marks of Elbit Systems Ltd. or its affiliated companies.  All other brand, product, service and process names appearing are the trademarks of their respective holders.  Reference to or use of a product, service or process other than those of Elbit Systems Ltd. does not imply recommendation, approval, affiliation or sponsorship of that product, service or process by Elbit Systems Ltd. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as conferring by implication, estoppel or otherwise any license or right under any patent, copyright, trademark or other intellectual property right of Elbit Systems Ltd. or any third party, except as expressly granted herein.

(FINANCIAL TABLES TO FOLLOW)

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SOURCE Elbit Systems Ltd.

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