MEDTOX Scientific Announces Second Quarter Results


ST. PAUL, Minn., July 16, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- MEDTOX Scientific, Inc. (Nasdaq:MTOX) today announced results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2008:



 * Revenues for the quarter increased $1.1 million to $21.9 million,
   or 5.3%
 
 * Operating expenses for the quarter decreased as a percentage of
   revenues to 29.2% from 33.3%
 
 * Operating income for the quarter increased to $3.1 million, or
   17.3%
 
 * Operating margin for the quarter increased to 14.3% from 12.8%
 
 * Pre-tax income for the quarter was $2.9 million, up 10.9%
 
 * Diluted EPS for the quarter increased to $0.22, up 10.0%

For the three-month period ended June 30, 2008, revenues were $21,877,000, compared to $20,776,000 from the prior-year period. The Company recorded operating income of $3,120,000 for the three-month period, compared to $2,660,000 for the prior-year period. The Company recorded net income of $1,928,000, or $0.22 per diluted share for the three-month period, compared to $1,761,000, or $0.20 per diluted share for the prior-year period.

For the six-month period ended June 30, 2008, revenues increased to $42,582,000, compared to $39,802,000 from the prior-year period. Operating income increased to $5,817,000, compared to $5,080,000 from the prior-year period. The Company recorded net income of $3,515,000, or $0.39 per diluted share, compared to net income of $3,316,000, or $0.37 per diluted share for the prior-year period.

The Diagnostic Segment had a solid quarter increasing operating margin in the segment to 24.8% from 16.4%, resulting in a 56% increase in operating income over the prior year quarter. Sales of devices to the ER market were up slightly, but increases have slowed as a result of the recall of our reader. As we noted in a previous filing, we have submitted a 510(k) application to the FDA for "prescription use" marketing approval for the reader in order to place it back into the market, both to satisfy existing customers and to grow the customer base. The FDA requested additional studies and data. All requested information was supplied to the FDA last week. The Diagnostic Segment was negatively impacted by lower revenues from OEM contract manufacturing, a product line that we are currently eliminating over the next two years. Device revenues from workplace DAU clients were lower in the quarter attributable to economic conditions affecting hiring.

The Laboratory Segment was also negatively impacted in the quarter by a 4.5% reduction in revenues from existing workplace drugs-of-abuse clients. We believe that the reduced test volume from existing clients is attributable to economic conditions affecting hiring decisions. Laboratory expenses were higher by over $300,000 in the quarter attributable to the expansion of our clinical laboratory, which we announced at our year-end conference call. These increased expenses negatively affected both earnings and Laboratory gross margin, since, to date, we have generated only a small amount of incremental revenue as a result of the expansion. As we have stated previously we continue to take a long term view, and based on current sales activity our expectation is to begin to see a more positive contribution in the second half of the year.

On a comparative basis year over year, the second quarter of 2008 was strong in the Laboratory Segment's clinical trials services (CTS) component which is project oriented and therefore more variable from quarter to quarter. Revenues increased 28% from the same quarter last year. The backlog of signed protocols and awarded business has approximately doubled from the year end 2007 number of $5.5 million. There also continues to be a growing number of proposals outstanding.

Except for the negative impact of workplace hiring, results for the quarter were consistent with our expectations. Based on our strong performance in CTS, other new business activity, successful emphasis on expense control and new service offerings in our laboratory, the Company is well positioned for the rest of 2008 and entering 2009.

MEDTOX will hold a teleconference to discuss second quarter 2008 results today at 9:30 a.m. Central Time (10:30 a.m. Eastern). The Company will discuss these results and other corporate matters. During the conference call the Company may discuss and answer questions concerning business and financial developments and trends. The Company's responses to questions, as well as other matters discussed during the conference call, may contain or constitute information that has not been previously disclosed. To access the teleconference, dial (888) 812-8534 ten minutes before the scheduled start time on July 16. International callers may access the call by dialing (913) 312-0651. Callers should ask for the MEDTOX quarterly conference call, hosted by Dick Braun, president and CEO of MEDTOX. A simultaneous webcast of the conference call will be available on the MEDTOX website in the "investors" section under "webcasts" at www.medtox.com. An audio replay of the conference call will be available through July 23 by dialing (888) 203-1112, passcode # 9553461. International callers may access the replay at (719) 457-0820, with the same passcode # 9553461.

MEDTOX Scientific, Inc., headquartered in St. Paul, Minn., is a provider of high quality specialized laboratory testing services and on-site/point-of-collection testing (POCT) devices. The company also supports customers with complete logistics, data and program management services. MEDTOX is a leader in providing esoteric laboratory testing services to hospitals and laboratories nationwide. This includes both central laboratory and bio-analytical testing for pharmaceutical clinical trials. MEDTOX develops and manufactures diagnostic devices for quick and economical on-site/point-of-collection analysis for drugs-of-abuse, therapeutic drugs and biological and agricultural toxins and provides employment drug screening and occupational health testing. For more information see www.medtox.com.

The MEDTOX Scientific, Inc. logo is available at http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=3264

Note: Forward looking statements contained in this press release are made under the Private Securities Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ due to a number of factors including a change in the employment pattern of client companies, the ability of MEDTOX to acquire new business, and changes in the competitive environment. Further discussions of factors that may cause such results to differ are identified in the Company's 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K and incorporated herein by reference.



                        MEDTOX SCIENTIFIC, INC.                       
                 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS                
            (In thousands, except share and per share data)           
                              (Unaudited)                             
                                                                      
                           Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended    
                           June 30,   June 30,   June 30,   June 30,  
                             2008       2007       2008       2007    
                          ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  
                                                                      
 REVENUES:                                                            
  Laboratory services     $  16,781  $  15,815  $  32,300  $  30,776  
  Product sales               5,096      4,961     10,282      9,026  
                          ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  
                             21,877     20,776     42,582     39,802  
                                                                      
 COST OF REVENUES:                                                    
  Cost of services           10,320      9,317     19,924     18,109  
  Cost of sales               2,058      1,882      3,987      3,374  
                          ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  
                             12,378     11,199     23,911     21,483  
                          ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  
                                                                      
 GROSS PROFIT                 9,499      9,577     18,671     18,319  
                                                                      
 OPERATING EXPENSES:                                                  
  Selling, general and                                                
   administrative             5,878      6,149     11,748     11,874  
  Research and development      501        768      1,106      1,365  
                          ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  
                              6,379      6,917     12,854     13,239  
                          ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  
                                                                      
 INCOME FROM OPERATIONS       3,120      2,660      5,817      5,080  
                                                                      
 OTHER EXPENSE:                                                       
  Interest expense              (23)       (40)       (53)       (97) 
  Other expense                (198)        (7)      (365)      (144) 
                          ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  
                               (221)       (47)      (418)      (241) 
                          ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  
                                                                      
 INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX                                             
  EXPENSE                     2,899      2,613      5,399      4,839  
                                                                      
 INCOME TAX EXPENSE            (971)      (852)    (1,884)    (1,523) 
                          ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  
                                                                      
 NET INCOME               $   1,928  $   1,761  $   3,515  $   3,316  
                          =========  =========  =========  =========  
                                                                      
 BASIC EARNINGS PER COMMON                                            
  SHARE                   $    0.23  $    0.21  $    0.42  $    0.40  
                          =========  =========  =========  =========  
                                                                      
 DILUTED EARNINGS                                                     
  PER COMMON SHARE        $    0.22  $    0.20  $    0.39  $    0.37  
                          =========  =========  =========  =========  
 WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER                                              
  OF SHARES OUTSTANDING:                                              
  Basic                   8,456,623  8,280,876  8,452,249  8,281,392  
  Diluted                 8,956,351  8,994,846  8,962,728  8,949,092  
                                                                      


                        MEDTOX SCIENTIFIC, INC.                       
                 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS                
                            (In thousands)                            
                              (Unaudited)                             
                                                                      
                                                 June 30, December 31,
                                                   2008      2007     
                                                ---------  ---------  
 ASSETS                                                               
  Cash and cash equivalents                     $   1,374  $   2,220  
  Accounts receivable, net                         15,282     13,810  
  Inventories                                       4,068      3,910  
  Other current assets                              2,878      2,943  
                                                ---------  ---------  
    Total current assets                           23,602     22,883  
                                                                      
  Building, equipment and improvements, net        27,421     26,885  
                                                                      
  Other assets                                     18,802     20,181  
                                                ---------  ---------  
    Total assets                                $  69,825  $  69,949  
                                                =========  =========  
                                                                      
 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY                                 
  Current liabilities                           $   9,316  $  11,634  
                                                                      
  Long-term debt                                      640        979  
                                                                      
  Other long-term obligations                       1,917      1,680  
                                                                      
  Stockholders' equity                             57,952     55,656  
                                                ---------  ---------  
    Total liabilities and stockholders'                               
     equity                                     $  69,825  $  69,949  
                                                =========  =========  
                                                                      


            

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