CTS Announces First Quarter 2019 Results

Steady performance in challenging market

Lisle, IL, United States


LISLE, Ill., April 25, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CTS Corporation (NYSE: CTS) today announced first quarter 2019 results.

  • Sales were $117.6 million, up 3.6% year-over-year. Sales to the transportation end market increased 6.1%, and sales to other end markets decreased 1.1%.
  • Net earnings were $11.4 million or $0.34 per diluted share, compared to $11.5 million or $0.34 in the first quarter of 2018.
  • Adjusted EPS was $0.39 per diluted share, up from $0.34 in the first quarter of 2018.
  • Total Booked Business was $1.865 billion at the end of the first quarter of 2019.

“We delivered steady performance in the first quarter,” said Kieran O’Sullivan, CEO of CTS Corporation. “We remain cautious on the industrial and transportation end markets. We continue to focus on driving profitable top line growth, expanding operating leverage, and advancing our strategic plans.”

2019 Guidance

Management reaffirms its full year guidance. 2019 sales are expected to be in the range of $460 to $500 million, and adjusted earnings per diluted share for 2019 are expected to be in the range of $1.50 to $1.70.

Conference Call
As previously announced, the Company has scheduled a conference call at 11:00 a.m. (EDT) today to discuss the first quarter financial results.  The dial-in number is 888-205-6786 (720-543-0301, if calling from outside the U.S.).  The passcode is 239687. There will be a replay of the conference call from 2:00 p.m. (EDT) today through 2:00 p.m. (EDT) on Thursday, May 9, 2019.  The telephone number for the replay is 888-203-1112 (719-457-0820, if calling from outside the U.S.).  The replay passcode is 4124584.  A live audio webcast of the conference call will be available and can be accessed directly from the Investors section of the website of CTS Corporation at www.ctscorp.com.

About CTS
CTS (NYSE: CTS) is a leading designer and manufacturer of products that Sense, Connect, and Move.  The company manufactures sensors, actuators, and electronic components in North America, Europe, and Asia, and provides engineered products to customers in the aerospace/defense, industrial, medical, telecommunications/IT, and transportation markets.

For more information, visit www.ctscorp.com.

Safe Harbor
This document contains statements that are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, any financial or other guidance, statements that reflect our current expectations concerning future results and events, and any other statements that are not based solely on historical fact.  Forward-looking statements are based on management's expectations, certain assumptions and currently available information.  Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof and are based on various assumptions as to future events, the occurrence of which necessarily are subject to uncertainties.  These forward-looking statements are made subject to certain risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those presented in the forward-looking statements. Many of these, and other risks and uncertainties, are discussed in further detail in Item 1A. of CTS’ Annual Report on Form 10-K.  We undertake no obligation to publicly update our forward-looking statements to reflect new information or events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof, including market or industry changes.

Contact

Ashish Agrawal
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

CTS Corporation
4925 Indiana Avenue
Lisle, IL 60532
USA

Telephone: +1 (630) 577-8800
E-mail: ashish.agrawal@ctscorp.com


CTS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS - UNAUDITED
(In thousands of dollars, except per share amounts)

 Three Months Ended
 March 31, March 31,
 2019 2018
Net sales$117,625  $113,530 
Cost of goods sold77,010  75,097 
Gross Margin40,615  38,433 
Selling, general and administrative expenses17,522  17,372 
Research and development expenses6,791  6,507 
Restructuring charges2,084  1,195 
Operating earnings14,218  13,359 
Other income (expense):   
Interest expense(466) (541)
Interest income432  482 
Other income, net96  2,004 
Total other income (expense), net62  1,945 
Earnings before income taxes14,280  15,304 
Income tax expense2,861  3,756 
Net earnings$11,419  $11,548 
Earnings per share:   
Basic$0.35  $0.35 
Diluted$0.34  $0.34 
    
Basic weighted – average common shares outstanding:32,807  32,975 
Effect of dilutive securities463  540 
Diluted weighted – average common shares outstanding33,270  33,515 
    
Cash dividends declared per share$0.04  $0.04 



CTS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands of dollars)

 (Unaudited)  
 March 31, December 31,
 2019 2018
ASSETS   
Current Assets   
Cash and cash equivalents$100,708  $100,933 
Accounts receivable, net82,326  79,518 
Inventories, net42,521  43,486 
Other current assets16,670  15,422 
Total current assets242,225  239,359 
Property, plant and equipment, net99,052  99,401 
Operating lease assets, net24,438   
Other Assets   
Prepaid pension asset55,216  54,100 
Goodwill71,057  71,057 
Other intangible assets, net58,494  60,180 
Deferred income taxes20,901  22,201 
Other2,625  2,043 
Total other assets208,293  209,581 
Total Assets$574,008  $548,341 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY   
Current Liabilities   
Accounts payable52,884  51,975 
Operating lease obligations2,076   
Accrued payroll and benefits9,301  14,671 
Accrued liabilities33,243  37,347 
Total current liabilities97,504  103,993 
Long-term debt50,000  50,000 
Long-term operating lease obligations25,155   
Long-term pension and other post-retirement obligations6,437  6,510 
Deferred income taxes4,050  3,990 
Other long-term obligations3,969  5,919 
Total Liabilities187,115  170,412 
Commitments and Contingencies   
Shareholders’ Equity   
Common stock307,664  306,697 
Additional contributed capital40,371  42,820 
Retained earnings488,951  478,847 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss(96,548) (97,739)
Total shareholders’ equity before treasury stock740,438  730,625 
Treasury stock(353,545) (352,696)
Total shareholders’ equity$386,893  $377,929 
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity$574,008  $548,341 


CTS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
OTHER SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION - UNAUDITED

Earnings Per Share

The following table reconciles GAAP diluted earnings per share to adjusted diluted earnings per share for the Company:

 Three Months Ended
 March 31, 2019 March 31, 2018
GAAP diluted earnings per share$0.34  $0.34 
    
Tax affected charges to reported diluted earnings per share:   
Restructuring charges0.05  0.03 
Foreign currency gain(0.01) (0.04)
Non-recurring costs of tax improvement initiatives  0.01 
Non-cash pension expense0.01   
Adjusted diluted earnings per share$0.39  $0.34 

Additional Information

The following table includes other financial information not presented in the preceding financial statements.

 Three Months Ended
 March 31, 2019 March 31, 2018
Depreciation and amortization expense$5,924  $5,483 
Stock-based compensation expense$1,214  $923 

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Adjusted earnings per share is a non-GAAP financial measure.  The most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is diluted earnings per share.

CTS adjusts for these items because they are discrete events, which have a significant impact on comparable GAAP financial measures and could distort an evaluation of our normal operating performance.

CTS uses an adjusted earnings per share measure to evaluate overall performance, establish plans and perform strategic analysis.  Using this measure avoids distortion in the evaluation of operating results by eliminating the impact of events which are not related to normal operating performance.  Because this measure is based on the exclusion or inclusion of specific items, they may not be comparable to measures used by other companies which have similar titles.  CTS' management compensates for this limitation when performing peer comparisons by evaluating both GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures reported by peer companies.  CTS believes that this measure is useful to its management, investors and stakeholders in that it:

  • provides a meaningful measure of CTS' operating performance,

  • reflects the results used by management in making decisions about the business, and

  • helps review and project CTS' performance over time.

We recommend that investors consider both actual and adjusted measures in evaluating the performance of CTS with peer companies.