Littelfuse Reports Second Quarter Results For 2019 - Littelfuse (NASDAQ:LFUS)

Company increases dividend by 12% - continues double-digit increase

Littelfuse, Inc. LFUS, a global manufacturer of leading technologies in circuit protection, power control and sensing, today reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 29, 2019:

Net sales of $397.9 million were down 13% versus the prior year period, and down 11% organically, primarily due to ongoing global trade uncertainties, continued efforts by distribution partners to reduce excess electronics channel inventories and further declines in global auto production, especially in China
Segment performance versus the prior year period:
- Electronics sales decreased 13% (down 11% organically)
- Automotive sales decreased 15% (down 12% organically)
- Industrial sales decreased 9% due to the exit of the Custom business in 2018 (up 1% organically)
GAAP diluted EPS was $1.75 and adjusted diluted EPS was $1.91. EPS was significantly impacted by lower volumes and associated leverage versus the prior year
GAAP effective tax rate was 18.2% and the adjusted effective tax rate was 17.3%
Cash flow from operations was $49.2 million and free cash flow was $38.0 million
During the second quarter and through July 26, 2019, the company repurchased 188,214 and 49,816 shares of common stock, respectively, under its share purchase authorization

"We continue to work through the challenging business cycles in the electronics and automotive end markets which we expect to persist through this year," said Dave Heinzmann, Littelfuse Chief Executive Officer. "We are actively managing costs while remaining focused on long-term growth drivers. During the quarter, we saw solid design activity and won business across a number of high-growth applications. With the strength of our core business and execution by our global teams, we are navigating the current environment as we deliver on our five-year growth strategy."

For the third quarter of 2019*:

Net sales are expected to be in the range of $362 to $374 million
Adjusted diluted EPS is expected to be in the range of $1.50 to $1.64
Adjusted effective tax rate is expected to be in the range of 20% - 21%

*Littelfuse provides guidance on a non-GAAP (adjusted) basis. GAAP items excluded from guidance may include the after-tax impact of items including acquisition and integration costs, restructuring, impairment and other charges, certain purchase accounting adjustments, non-operating foreign exchange adjustments and significant and unusual items. These items are uncertain, depend on various factors, and could be material to results computed in accordance with GAAP. Littelfuse is not able to forecast the excluded items in order to provide the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure without unreasonable efforts.

Dividend

The company's Board of Directors approved a 12% increase in the quarterly cash dividend from $0.43 to $0.48. This equates to an annualized dividend of $1.92 per share. The dividend will be paid on September 5, 2019 to shareholders of record as of August 22, 2019.

Conference Call and Webcast Information

Littelfuse will host a conference call today, Wednesday, July 31, 2019, at 9:00 a.m. Central Time to discuss the results. The call will be broadcast live and available for replay at Littelfuse.com.

About Littelfuse

Littelfuse LFUS is a global manufacturer of leading technologies in circuit protection, power control and sensing. Serving over 100,000 end customers, our products are found in automotive and commercial vehicles, industrial applications, data and telecommunications, medical devices, consumer electronics and appliances. Our 12,000 worldwide associates partner with customers to design, manufacture and deliver innovative, high-quality solutions, for a safer, greener and increasingly connected world - everywhere, every day. Learn more at Littelfuse.com.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

The statements in this press release that are not historical facts are intended to constitute "forward-looking statements" entitled to the safe-harbor provisions of the PSLRA. These statements may involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, risks relating to product demand and market acceptance; economic conditions; the impact of competitive products and pricing; product quality problems or product recalls; capacity and supply difficulties or constraints; coal mining exposures reserves; failure of an indemnification for environmental liability; exchange rate fluctuations; commodity price fluctuations; the effect of Littelfuse, Inc.'s ("Littelfuse" or the "Company") accounting policies; labor disputes; restructuring costs in excess of expectations; pension plan asset returns less than assumed; integration of acquisitions; uncertainties related to political or regulatory changes and other risks which may be detailed in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and outcomes may differ materially from those indicated or implied in the forward-looking statements. This release should be read in conjunction with information provided in the financial statements appearing in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 29, 2018. For a further discussion of the risk factors of the company, please see Item 1A. "Risk Factors" to the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 29, 2018.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The information included in this press release includes the non-GAAP financial measures of organic revenue growth, adjusted operating income, adjusted operating margin, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted diluted earnings per share, adjusted effective tax rate, free cash flow, and adjusted leverage. Many of these non-GAAP financial measures exclude the effect of certain expenses and income not related directly to the underlying performance of our fundamental business operations. A reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures is set forth in the attached schedules.

The company believes that organic revenue growth, adjusted operating income, adjusted operating margin, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted diluted earnings per share, and adjusted effective tax rate provide useful information to investors regarding its operational performance because they enhance an investor's overall understanding of our core financial performance and facilitate comparisons to historical results of operations, by excluding items that are not related directly to the underlying performance of our fundamental business operations or were not part of our business operations during a comparable period. The company believes free cash flow is a useful measure of its ability to generate cash. The company believes that all of these non-GAAP financial measures are commonly used by financial analysts and others in the industries in which we operate, and thus further provide useful information to investors. Management additionally uses these measures when assessing the performance of the business and for business planning purposes. Note that our definitions of these non-GAAP financial measures may differ from those terms as defined or used by other companies.

LFUS-F

LITTELFUSE, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

	(Unaudited)
(in thousands)	June 29, 2019		December 29, 2018
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	474,781	$	489,733
Short-term investments	34		34
Trade receivables, less allowances of $34,468 and $36,038 at June 29, 2019 and December 29, 2018, respectively	245,723		232,892
Inventories	254,305		258,228
Prepaid income taxes and income taxes receivable	1,374		2,339
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	63,332		49,291
Total current assets	1,039,549		1,032,517
Net property, plant, and equipment	338,500		339,894
Intangible assets, net of amortization	341,174		361,474
Goodwill	826,408		826,715
Investments	25,456		25,405
Deferred income taxes	9,200		7,330
Right of use lease assets, net	23,280		—
Other assets	18,018		20,971
Total assets	$	2,621,585	$	2,614,306
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	123,058	$	126,323
Accrued liabilities	111,696		138,405
Accrued income taxes	21,657		20,547
Current portion of long-term debt	10,000		10,000
Total current liabilities	266,411		295,275
Long-term debt, less current portion	676,940		684,730
Deferred income taxes	53,039		51,853
Accrued post-retirement benefits	30,666		31,874
Non-current operating lease liabilities	18,643		—
Other long-term liabilities	65,944		72,232
Total equity	1,509,942		1,478,342
Total liabilities and equity	$	2,621,585	$	2,614,306

LITTELFUSE, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF NET INCOME
(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended						Six Months Ended
(in thousands, except per share data)	June 29, 2019			June 30, 2018			June 29, 2019		June 30, 2018
Net sales	$	397,879		$	459,183		$	803,379	$	876,996
Cost of sales	256,071			290,196			506,343		558,386
Gross profit	141,808			168,987			297,036		318,610

Selling, general, and administrative expenses	57,666			73,244			120,621		150,758
Research and development expenses	21,458			22,748			42,867		45,288
Amortization of intangibles	10,050			13,373			20,241		25,371
Total operating expenses	89,174			109,365			183,729		221,417
Operating income	52,634			59,622			113,307		97,193

Interest expense	5,589			5,782			11,275		11,205
Foreign exchange (gain) loss	(3,575		)	3,200			668		(7,354		)
Other (income) expense, net	(2,947		)	(1,678		)	1,358		(3,621		)
Income before income taxes	53,567			52,318			100,006		96,963
Income taxes	9,775			9,992			19,225		18,609
Net income	$	43,792		$	42,326		$	80,781	$	78,354

Income per share:
Basic	$	1.77		$	1.69		$	3.27	$	3.18
Diluted	$	1.75		$	1.67		$	3.23	$	3.12

Weighted-average shares and equivalent shares outstanding:
Basic	24,740			25,004			24,729		24,671
Diluted	24,983			25,401			24,998		25,086

Comprehensive income	$	38,061		$	26,384		$	83,123	$	62,133

LITTELFUSE, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)

	Six Months Ended
(in thousands)	June 29, 2019			June 30, 2018
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income	$	80,781		$	78,354
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:	62,053			105,559
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Trade receivables	(13,242		)	(33,481		)
Inventories	6,230			(1,502		)
Accounts payable	(17,927		)	13,684
Accrued liabilities and income taxes	(36,713		)	(16,383		)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(1,090		)	(5,316		)
Net cash provided by operating activities	80,092			140,915

INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired	(775		)	(310,487		)
Purchases of property, plant, and equipment	(25,249		)	(40,315		)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant, and equipment	6,212			68
Net cash used in investing activities	(19,812		)	(350,734		)

FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Net (payments) proceeds from credit facility and senior notes	(7,500		)	209,975
Purchases of common stock	(49,861		)	—
Cash dividends paid	(21,274		)	(18,458		)
All other cash provided by financing activities	3,011			4,690
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(75,624		)	196,207
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	392			(7,917		)
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(14,952		)	(21,529		)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	489,733			429,676
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	474,781		$	408,147

LITTELFUSE, INC.
NET SALES AND OPERATING INCOME BY SEGMENT
(Unaudited)

	Second Quarter											Year-to-Date
(in thousands)	2019			2018			Change			% Growth /(Decline)		2019			2018			Change			% Growth /(Decline)
Net sales
Electronics	$	259,553		$	299,357		$	(39,804	)	(13.3	)%	$	524,947		$	563,768		$	(38,821	)	(6.9	)%
Automotive	108,650			127,172			(18,522		)	(14.6	)%	222,133			253,302			(31,169		)	(12.3	)%
Industrial	29,676			32,654			(2,978		)	(9.1	)%	56,299			59,926			(3,627		)	(6.1	)%
Total net sales	$	397,879		$	459,183		$	(61,304	)	(13.4	)%	$	803,379		$	876,996		$	(73,617	)	(8.4	)%

Operating income (loss)
Electronics	$	43,630		$	67,311		$	(23,681	)	(35.2	)%	$	92,666		$	121,275		$	(28,609	)	(23.6	)%
Automotive	10,349			15,711			(5,362		)	(34.1	)%	23,550			34,102			(10,552		)	(30.9	)%
Industrial	5,831			5,279			552			10.5	%	9,336			9,988			(652		)	(6.5	)%
Other(a)	(7,176		)	(28,679		)				N.M.		(12,245		)	(68,172		)				N.M.
Total operating income	$	52,634		$	59,622		$	(6,988	)	(11.7	)%	$	113,307		$	97,193		$	16,114		16.6	%
Operating Margin	13.2		%	13.0		%						14.1		%	11.1		%

Interest expense	5,589			5,782								11,275			11,205
Foreign exchange (gain) loss	(3,575		)	3,200								668			(7,354		)
Other (income) expense, net	(2,947		)	(1,678		)						1,358			(3,621		)
Income before income taxes	$	53,567		$	52,318		$	1,249		2.4	%	$	100,006		$	96,963		$	3,043		3.1	%

(a) "other" typically includes non-GAAP adjustments such as acquisition-related and integration costs, purchase accounting inventory adjustments and other charges, and restructuring charges. (See Supplemental Financial Information for details.)

N.M. - Not meaningful

	Second Quarter						Year-to-Date
(in thousands)	2019		2018		% Growth /(Decline)		2019		2018		% Growth /(Decline)
Operating Margin
Electronics	16.8	%	22.5	%	(5.7	)%	17.7	%	21.5	%	(3.9	)%
Automotive	9.5	%	12.4	%	(2.8	)%	10.6	%	13.5	%	(2.9	)%
Industrial	19.6	%	16.2	%	3.5	%	16.6	%	16.7	%	(0.1	)%

LITTELFUSE, INC.
SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION
(In millions of USD except per share amounts unaudited)

Non-GAAP EPS reconciliation
	Q2-19		Q2-18		YTD-19		YTD-18
GAAP diluted EPS	$	1.75	$	1.67	$	3.23	$	3.12
EPS impact of Non-GAAP adjustments (below)	0.16		1.01		0.64		1.95
Adjusted diluted EPS	$	1.91	$	2.68	$	3.87	$	5.07

Non-GAAP adjustments - (income)/expense
	Q2-19			Q2-18		YTD-19		YTD-18
Acquisition related and integration costs (a)	$	1.5		$	2.3	$	3.8	$	14.1
Restructuring, impairment and other charges (b)	5.7			4.3		8.4		5.0
Amortization backlog - IXYS (c)	—			3.1		—		5.6
Change in control - IXYS (d)	—			—		—		2.1
Acquisition related stock-based compensation charge (e)	—			—		—		4.5
Purchase accounting inventory adjustments (f)	—			19.0		—		36.9
Non-GAAP adjustments to operating income	7.2			28.7		12.2		68.2
Other expense, net (g)	0.6			—		5.8		—
Non-operating foreign exchange (gain) loss	(3.6		)	3.2		0.7		(7.4		)
Non-GAAP adjustments to income before income taxes	4.2			31.9		18.7		60.8
Income taxes (h)	0.2			6.1		2.8		11.9
Non-GAAP adjustments to net income	$	4.0		$	25.8	$	15.9	$	48.9

Total EPS impact	$	0.16		$	1.01	$	0.64	$	1.95

Adjusted operating margin /Adjusted EBITDA reconciliation
	Q2-19			Q2-18			YTD-19			YTD-18
Net sales	$	397.9		$	459.2		$	803.4		$	877.0

GAAP operating income	$	52.6		$	59.6		$	113.3		$	97.2
Add back non-GAAP adjustments	7.2			28.7			12.2			68.2
Adjusted operating income	$	59.8		$	88.3		$	125.5		$	165.4
Adjusted operating margin	15.0		%	19.2		%	15.6		%	18.9		%

Add back amortization	10.1			10.3			20.2			19.8
Add back depreciation	12.6			12.8			25.7			24.4
Adjusted EBITDA	$	82.5		$	111.4		$	171.4		$	209.6
Adjusted EBITDA margin	20.7		%	24.3		%	21.3		%	23.9		%

Net sales reconciliation	Q2-19 vs. Q2-18
	Electronics		Automotive		Industrial		Total
Net sales growth	(13	)%	(15	)%	(9	)%	(13	)%
Less:
Divestitures	(1	)%	—		(9	)%	—
FX impact	(1	)%	(3	)%	(1	)%	(2	)%
Organic net sales growth	(11	)%	(12	)%	1	%	(11	)%

Net sales reconciliation	2019 YTD vs. 2018 YTD
	Electronics		Automotive		Industrial		Total
Net sales growth	(7	)%	(12	)%	(6	)%	(8	)%
Less:
Acquisitions	2	%	—		—		2	%
Divestitures	—	%	—	%	(7	)%	(1	)%
FX impact	(2	)%	(3	)%	(1	)%	(2	)%
Organic net sales growth	(7	)%	(9	)%	2	%	(7	)%

Income tax reconciliation
	Q2-19			Q2-18			YTD-19			YTD-18
Income taxes	$	9.8		$	10.0		$	19.2		$	18.6
Effective rate	18.2		%	19.1		%	19.2		%	19.2		%

Non-GAAP adjustments - income taxes	0.2			6.1			2.8			11.9

Adjusted income taxes	$	10.0		$	16.1		$	22.0		$	30.5
Adjusted effective rate	17.3		%	19.1		%	18.5		%	19.3		%

Free cash flow reconciliation
	Q2-19			Q2-18			YTD-19			YTD-18
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	49.2		$	71.6		$	80.1		$	140.9
Less: Purchases of property, plant and equipment	(11.2		)	(22.4		)	(25.2		)	(40.3		)
Free cash flow	$	38.0		$	49.2		$	54.8		$	100.6

	Q3-18		Q4-18		Q1-19		Q2-19		For the Twelve Months Ended June 29, 2019
Adjusted EBITDA	$	110.5	$	84.3	$	89.1	$	82.5	$	366.4

									June 29, 2019
Current portion of long-term debt									$	10.0
Long-term debt, less current portion									676.9
Total debt									$	686.9
Less: Cash									474.8
Net debt									$	212.1
Adjusted Gross Leverage (defined as total debt divided by adjusted EBITDA)									1.9
Adjusted Net Leverage (defined as net debt divided by adjusted EBITDA)									0.6

Note: Total will not always foot due to rounding.

(a) reflected in selling, general and administrative expenses ("SG&A").

(b) $2.5 million and $3.2 million and $0.5 million and $3.8 million reflected in cost of sales and SG&A, respectively for the three months ended June 29, 2019 and June 30, 2018, and $3.1 million and $5.3 million and $0.9 million and $4.1 million reflected in cost of sales and SG&A, respectively for the six months ended June 29, 2019 and June 30, 2018.

(d) reflected in SG&A.

(e) $2.4 million, $1.6 million and $0.5 million reflected in SG&A, research and development expenses and cost of sales, respectively.

(f) reflected in cost of sales.

(g) $0.6 million costs primarily related to a sale of building for three months ended June 29, 2019. Year-to-date amounts included $2.8 million impairment charges to certain other investments, $2.6 million loss on the disposal of a business, and $0.4 million gain primarily related to the final payments for the acquisition of Monolith.

(h) reflected the tax impact associated with the non-GAAP adjustments.

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