Deswell Announces Second Half 2023 Results

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Deswell Industries, Inc. announced its unaudited financial results for the second half of the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023.

Net sales for the six months ended March 31, 2023 were $33.1 million, a decrease of 27.6% compared to net sales of $45.7 million for the six months ended March 31, 2022. Net sales decreased by 42.2% to $7.5 million in the plastic segment and by 21.8% to $25.6 million in the Company’s electronic segment.

Total gross margin increased to 17.3% during the six months ended March 31, 2023, as compared to 16.5% in the same period last year. For the plastic segment, gross profit margin decreased to 17.8% of net sales for the second half of fiscal 2023, as compared to 19.2% of net sales for the corresponding period of the last fiscal year. The decrease in gross profit margin in the plastic segment is mainly attributable to relative increases in labor costs and a decrease in sales revenue, partially offset by lower raw material costs. Gross profit margin in the electronics segment increased from 15.4% in the second half of fiscal 2022 to 17.2% in the second half of fiscal 2023. The increase in gross profit margin in the electronics segment is the result of the depreciation of the renminbi, and decreased raw material and labor costs due to continuous cost control measures taken.

Operating income for the second half of fiscal 2023 decreased from $1.7 million in the second half of fiscal 2022 to $0.8 million in the second half of fiscal 2023.

The Company reported net income of $2.6 million for the six months ended March 31, 2023, as compared to net income of $4.1 million for the six months ended March 31, 2022. Non-operating income for the six months ended March 31, 2023 was $1.7 million, as compared to non-operating income of $2.0 million in the six months ended March 31, 2022. Non-operating income during the six months ended March 31, 2023 was primarily comprised of $381,000 from unrealized gain in marketable securities, $330,000 from rental income, $445,000 on dividend income from securities investments, and $461,000 from realized gain on the sale of marketable securities, as compared to an unrealized gain of $27,000 on marketable securities, rental income of $1,028,000, dividend income of $454,000 from securities investments and a realized gain of $420,000 on the sale of marketable securities in the second half of fiscal 2022. Deswell reported basic and diluted income per share of $0.16 for the second half of fiscal 2023 (based on 15,935,000 and 16,000,000 weighted average shares outstanding, respectively), as compared to basic and diluted income per share of $0.25 (based on 15,935,000 and 16,038,000 weighted average shares outstanding, respectively), for the six months ended March 31, 2022.

Net sales for the year ended March 31, 2023 were $77.5 million, a decrease of 9.8% compared to net sales of $86.0 million for fiscal 2022. Operating income for the year ended March 31, 2023 increased to $2.9 million from $2.8 million in fiscal 2022. The Company reported net income of $2.1 million in fiscal 2023, as compared to net income of $8.2 million for the year ended March 31, 2022. The decrease in net income was mainly attributable to the decrease in non-operating income for fiscal 2023, with operating income relatively consistent as compared to the prior fiscal year. Deswell reported basic and diluted net income per share of $0.13 for fiscal 2023, (based on 15,935,000 and 16,072,000 weighted average shares outstanding, respectively), as compared to basic net income per share of $0.52 and diluted net income per share of $0.51 (based on 15,929,000 and 16,135,000 weighted average shares outstanding, respectively), for the prior fiscal year.

The Company's financial position remained strong, with $22.2 million in cash and cash equivalents and working capital totaling $60.9 million as of March 31, 2023. Furthermore, the Company has no long-term or short-term borrowings as of March 31, 2023.

Mr. Edward So, Chief Executive Officer, commented, “Our results in the second half of 2023 were impacted by the global economic environment, particularly a pullback in consumer spending related widespread higher cost of living expenses. Our plastics segment experienced decreased orders for robotic vacuums and other home products in the back half of the year, and our electronics segment was negatively affected by a decline in demand for home entertainment products as compared to fiscal year 2022. We believe the demand constraint experienced in both segments is related to consumers spending more time traveling outside of their homes and also taking a more cautious approach to their discretionary spending on household items. On a positive note, demand for professional audio products remained strong in the second half of 2023 and we saw supply chain improvements as well as an easing in the global chip shortage.

“Our balance sheet remains strong with a solid cash position and no debt providing us with the flexibility to embark on the cost-effective redesign of certain products as well as increasing our leadership position and market recognition as a reliable and efficient manufacturing partner.”

Second Half Dividend

The Company also announced that its board of directors today declared a cash dividend of $0.10 per share for the second half of the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023. The dividend will be payable on July 20, 2023 to shareholders of record as of July 5, 2023.

Dividends to be declared in the future will depend upon the Company’s future growth and earnings, of which there can be no assurance, and the Company’s cash flow needs for future development.