Kitron Posts Strong Results for 1Q19

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Kitron reported very strong growth as well as earnings improvement in the first quarter. Revenue, order backlog and operating profit all reached record levels.

Kitron's revenue for the first quarter was NOK 813 million, an increase of 25% compared to last year. Organic growth, excluding the acquisition of the EMS division of API Technologies Corp., was 20%.

The order backlog ended at NOK 1,466 million, an increase of 43% compared to last year. Organic order backlog growth, excluding the API acquisition, was 28%.

Profitability expressed as EBIT margin was 6.3% in the first quarter, up from 6.0% in the same quarter last year.

"The record performance in the first quarter demonstrated our ability to successfully combine organic growth and M&A with operational and earnings improvements. In 2019 we will significantly increase our capacity in the US and Poland. On the demand side, the anticipated upturn among customers in the oil and gas industry is gathering momentum and boosting growth. All these factors strengthen our confidence in the new strategic ambitions that we outlined at our capital markets day in March,” said Cathrin Nylander, Kitron's CFO and acting CEO.

Very Strong Revenue Growth

Kitron's revenue in the first quarter amounted to NOK 813 million, compared to 651 million in the same quarter last year. All market sectors grew significantly. In absolute numbers, first quarter revenue growth compared to the same quarter last year was particularly strong in the industry market sector.

Record Order Backlog

The order backlog ended at NOK 1,466 million, compared to 1,025 million last year. All market sectors except energy/telecom increased the order backlog substantially. Increasing activity among customers in the oil and gas industry has led to a particularly strong backlog growth in the offshore/marine market sector.

Improved Earnings

First quarter operating profit (EBIT) was NOK 51.2 million, compared to 38.8 million last year. EBITDA was NOK 68.6 million, compared to 53.0 million last year.

Profit after tax amounted to NOK 37.5 million, compared to 26.2 million in the first quarter the previous year. This corresponds to earnings per share of NOK 0.21, compared to NOK 0.15 last year.

Inventory Build-Up to Secure Deliveries and Future Growth

Net working capital increased by 76 per cent compared to the same quarter last year to NOK 927 million. The increase is primarily related to the deliberate and temporary inventory build-up to avoid supply disruptions in the face of previously reported electronic components shortages.

Component shortages have been an ongoing issue for the EMS industry over the past quarters. The situation is expected to be less challenging throughout 2019 and Kitron expects that a gradual improvement over the year will lead to a reduction of working capital, both in absolute numbers and as a percentage of revenue. 

Operating cash flow was positive NOK 25.4 million, compared to negative 19.4 million in the first quarter of 2018.

Acquisition in the United States

In the first quarter, Kitron completed the acquisition of the EMS division of API Technologies Corp., substantially strengthening its position in the US market. Kitron consolidated the acquired business effective 15 February.

Outlook

For 2019, Kitron expects revenue to grow to between NOK 2 900 and 3 200 million. EBIT margin is expected to be between 6.2% and 6.6%. Growth is primarily driven by the acquisition of the EMS division of API Technologies Corp. and growth for customers in the industry and offshore/marine sectors. Profitability is driven by cost reduction activities and improved efficiency.

About Kitron

Kitron is one of Scandinavia's leading electronics manufacturing services companies for the defense/aerospace, energy/telecoms, industry, medical devices and offshore/marine sectors. The company is located in Norway, Sweden, Lithuania, Germany, China and the United States. Kitron had revenues of about NOK 2.6 billion in 2018 and has about 1 700 employees.