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Kimball Electronics, Inc. announced financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended June 30, 2024.
Commenting on today’s announcement, Richard D. Phillips, Chief Executive Officer, stated, “Q4 was another quarter focused on ‘controlling what we can control’. The operating environment for the EMS industry remains challenged and many contract manufacturing organizations, Kimball included, have adjusted expectations on continued weakness in end market demand. In the verticals we serve, the pull back has been more significant than originally anticipated, and we continue to appropriately adjust our cost structure to maintain competitiveness with stable operating margins, improve working capital management with lower inventory levels, and generate positive cash flow.”
Mr. Phillips continued, “Earlier this month, we announced the completion of the divestiture of the Automation, Test and Measurement business. Closure on the sale represents a significant milestone for our Company, and another important step toward sharpening our strategic focus and returning to profitable growth and stronger performance. Proceeds from the sale, combined with actions taken to navigate the current environment, have strengthened our balance sheet with increased liquidity and financial flexibility. In addition, recent new program wins, which will start to impact fiscal 2026, make us excited for the future.”
The Company ended the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 with cash and cash equivalents of $78.0 million and borrowings outstanding on credit facilities of $294.8 million, including $235.0 million classified as long term, and $142.1 million of borrowing capacity available. Capital expenditures were $9.1 million in the fourth quarter, and the Company invested $3 million to repurchase 136,000 shares of common stock.
Fiscal Year 2024 Highlights:
- Net sales totaled $1,714.5 million, the second highest year in the history of the Company
- Adjusted operating income of $74.3 million, or 4.3% of net sales
- Inventory reductions of $112 million, or 25%, year-over-year
- Cash flow generated from operating activities of $73 million
Jana T. Croom, Chief Financial Officer, commented, “Fiscal 2024 was hard fought with a challenging operating environment combined with divesting the AT&M business, which was not a small undertaking for our Company. I would like to thank the entire Kimball team for their efforts involved in closing the transaction and ensuring a smooth transition. Looking to fiscal 2025, we expect macro headwinds to persist. We will balance these pressures with cost controls, a capital allocation strategy focused on longer-term growth, lasting customer relationships, and opportunistic share repurchases.”
Fiscal Year 2025 Guidance
- Net sales in the range of $1.440 - $1.540 billion, an 8% to 14% decline year-over-year when excluding net sales from Automation, Test and Measurement. (a)
- Adjusted operating income of 4.0% - 4.5% of net sales. (b)
- Capital expenditures of $40 - $50 million.
