Sypris Reports First Quarter Results

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Sypris Solutions, Inc. has reported financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2019. Having completed a series of strategic initiatives over the past several years, Sypris Solutions is now better positioned to achieve long-term growth and a return to profitable operations for 2019. These steps have included reducing and realigning its cost structure while diversifying its book of business in terms of both customers and markets.

Results for the first quarter of 2019 fundamentally reflected these expectations, especially with respect to Sypris Technologies. However, an anticipated and ongoing shortage of electronic components and resulting labor inefficiencies continued to have a negative impact on Sypris Electronics in the first quarter and, in turn, the Company's consolidated results.

Highlights:

• The Company’s first quarter 2019 consolidated revenue was largely flat compared with the prior-year quarter, while consolidated gross margin for the first quarter declined to 8.1% from 10.2% in the year-earlier quarter, both reflecting primarily the expected near-term drag from Sypris Electronics.
• Revenue for Sypris Technologies increased 11.3% during the quarter compared to the prior-year period, primarily reflecting increased sales volume with customers in the commercial vehicle market.
• Gross profit for Sypris Technologies increased 9.3% for the first quarter of 2019 from the year-earlier quarter, while operating income increased 245% to 6.5% of sales, up from 2.1% for the prior year period.
• Revenue for Sypris Electronics declined in the first quarter of 2019, compared with the year-earlier quarter, reflecting a delay in shipments under a pending new contract and the effect of aforementioned shortages of certain electronic components and extensive lead-time issues in the electronic industry.
• The Company reaffirmed its outlook for 2019, including revenue of $100-$110 million for the year, representing 19% year-over-year growth at the midpoint, and gross margin of 14%-16%, with both business segments forecasted to register solid profitability beginning in the last half of the year.

“We are pleased with the year-over-year revenue growth at Sypris Technologies,” commented Jeffrey T. Gill, president and chief executive officer. “Shipment volumes remained strong in the quarter to support demand coming from the automotive and commercial vehicle markets. Energy products also performed well during the period despite some orders that shifted out of the quarter.

“While shipments at Sypris Electronics were generally in line with expectations for the quarter, its results were adversely affected by the labor inefficiencies and overhead absorption challenges that accompanied the lower shipment volumes. We expect to see progressively higher levels of shipments sequentially through 2019, with a full recovery to normal deliveries during the second half of the year.”

Concluding, Mr. Gill said, “We continue to see strong demand in each of our primary markets to support our revenue outlook for the balance of the year. Our customer base and the markets we serve remain resilient and are considerably more diversified than at any point in our recent history. The combination of our expected revenue growth and lower fixed manufacturing overhead costs, driven by effective cost reduction actions, are the keys to our return to profitability for 2019.”

First Quarter Results

The Company reported revenue of $19.6 million for the first quarter, compared to $19.9 million for the prior-year period. Additionally, the Company reported a net loss of $2.3 million, or $0.11 per share, compared to a loss of $1.8 million, or $0.09 per share, for the prior-year period. The results for the quarter ended March 31, 2019, include costs of $0.1 million related to preparing the Broadway facility for sale or other use. Results for the quarter ended April 1, 2018, include severance, relocation and other costs of $0.5 million partially offset by a gain of $0.3 million from the sale of excess equipment by Sypris Technologies.

Sypris Technologies

Revenue for Sypris Technologies was $16.1 million in the first quarter, compared to $14.5 million for the prior-year period, primarily reflecting an increase in demand from customers in the automotive and commercial vehicle industries. Gross profit for the quarter was $2.3 million, or 14.3% of revenue, compared to $2.1 million, or 14.5% of revenue, for the same period in 2018. Gross profit was negatively affected by product mix during the first quarter of 2019, as well as the incurrence of expenses associated with the launch of several new programs.

Sypris Electronics

Revenue for Sypris Electronics was $3.4 million in the first quarter of 2019, compared to $5.4 million for the prior year-period. Revenue for the quarter was affected by shortages of certain electronic components and extensive lead-time issues in the electronics manufacturing industry, as well as the delay of shipments pending the successful resolution of a new contract. The low volumes in the first quarter of 2019 also reflect shipments accelerated into the fourth quarter of 2018 as the Company planned for the implementation of a new ERP system effective in January of this year. Gross profit for the quarter was a loss of $0.7 million, compared to a loss of $0.1 million for the prior-year period, primarily reflecting lower volumes.

Outlook

Commenting on the future, Mr. Gill added, “Our markets are poised to provide Sypris with the opportunity for healthy, double-digit revenue growth during 2019. We anticipate new contract awards and market expansion in each of our targeted markets for energy, automotive, commercial vehicle, and aerospace and defense products as well as new electronics programs.

“Third-party forecasts for the Class 8 commercial vehicle market indicate production will be up approximately 4% in 2019 over the record setting highs in 2018. The energy market continues to benefit from strong demand and higher oil prices. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 provides nearly $700 billion in funding for the U.S. Department of Defense, which is expected to support program growth and market expansion for Aerospace and Defense participants during the coming year.

“As a result, we are pleased to reaffirm our guidance for 2019, with full-year revenue expected to be in the range of $100-$110 million, which primarily reflects strong market conditions for the commercial vehicle and energy markets and our expectation that headwinds from component availability will improve in the aerospace and defense market allowing shipments to increase sequentially through the year. Of note, shipments have commenced under the new contract referred to previously, as well as for programs that previously had been waiting for electronic components.

“We expect to see meaningful improvements in gross margin, up to 14%-16% for the year as a whole, with sequential improvements from the first to second half periods."

About Sypris Solutions

Sypris Solutions is a diversified provider of truck components, oil and gas pipeline components and aerospace and defense electronics. The Company performs a wide range of manufacturing services, often under multi-year, sole-source contracts. For more information about Sypris Solutions, visit its Web site at www.sypris.com.