STATESVILLE, N.C., Aug. 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Kewaunee Scientific Corporation KEQU today announced results for its first quarter ended July 31, 2018.

Sales of $42,152,000 were recorded during the first quarter of fiscal year 2019, an increase of 24.4% from sales of $33,881,000 in the prior year first quarter. Domestic sales for the quarter were $36,070,000, an increase of 63% from sales of $22,146,000 in the prior year first quarter.  Domestic sales were higher than the prior year first quarter due to strength in each of the Company's domestic sales channels reflecting strong demand for Kewaunee's laboratory, healthcare, and technical furniture products.  International sales for the quarter were $6,082,000, a decrease of 48% from sales of $11,735,000 in the prior year first quarter.  International sales were down from the prior year first quarter as a very large Middle East order was partially delivered in the first quarter of fiscal year 2018, but did not repeat in the first quarter of fiscal year 2019.

Pre-tax earnings for the quarter were $1,784,000 compared to $1,797,000 for the prior year period.  Pre-tax earnings were unfavorably impacted by higher material and operating costs offset by the favorable impact of the Company's adoption of ASC 606 which became effective May 1, 2018.  Net earnings increased 22.6% for the quarter to $1,407,000, or $0.50 per diluted share, as compared to net earnings of $1,148,000, or $0.42 per diluted share, for the quarter ended July 31, 2017. 

The order backlog was $102.1 million at July 31, 2018, down from $111.2 million at July 31, 2017. The prior year's order backlog contained a single large Middle East order that was delivered in fiscal year 2018, the absence of which primarily accounted for the decline in the order backlog in the current period. 

The Company's balance sheet and financial condition remain strong. Unrestricted cash on hand at July 31, 2018 was $9,064,000, as compared to $12,021,000 at the end of the first quarter last year, which included a large customer advance payment.  Working capital was $35,966,000 at July 31, 2018, as compared to $34,071,000 at the end of the first quarter last year. Short-term borrowings and interest rate swaps were $7,528,000 at July 31, 2018, as compared to $3,539,000 at the end of the first quarter last year, and long-term debt was $972,000 as compared to $2,139,000 at the end of the first quarter last year. The debt-to-equity ratio at July 31, 2018 was .20-to-1, as compared to .15-to-1 at the end of the first quarter last year.

"Kewaunee's domestic sales growth was excellent in the first quarter," said David M. Rausch, Kewaunee's President and Chief Executive Officer.  "The pace of bidding activity remains solid as customers invest in projects that require the Company's products and services.  We are focused on strengthening the order backlog as we move through the year. However, we will continue to be negatively impacted by increases in material costs during the second quarter. We continue to pursue productivity and cost reduction actions to help offset their impact." 

About Kewaunee Scientific
Founded in 1906, Kewaunee Scientific Corporation is a recognized global leader in the design, manufacture, and installation of laboratory, healthcare, and technical furniture products. The Company's products include steel, wood, and laminate casework, fume hoods, adaptable modular systems, moveable workstations, stand-alone benches, biological safety cabinets, and epoxy resin worksurfaces and sinks.

The Company's corporate headquarters are located in Statesville, North Carolina. Direct sales offices are located in the United States, India, Singapore, and China. Three manufacturing facilities are located in Statesville serving the domestic and international markets, and one manufacturing facility is located in Bangalore, India serving the local and Asian markets. The Company's China headquarters and sales office are located in Shanghai, China. Kewaunee Scientific's website is located at http://www.kewaunee.com.

This press release contains statements that the Company believes to be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release, including statements regarding the Company's future financial condition, results of operations, business operations and business prospects, are forward-looking statements. Words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "plan," "predict," "believe" and similar words, expressions and variations of these words and expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are subject to important factors, risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including industry and economic conditions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning these factors is contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this document. The Company assumes no obligation, and expressly disclaims any obligation, to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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SOURCE Kewaunee Scientific Corporation