Daktronics, Inc. Announces First Quarter Fiscal 2020 Results

BROOKINGS, S.D, Aug. 28, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Daktronics, Inc. (NASDAQ - DAKT) today reported fiscal 2020 first quarter net sales of $180.3 million, operating income of $7.6 million, and net income of $7.0 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, compared to net sales of $154.2 million, operating income of $4.0 million, and net income of $4.6 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, for the first quarter of fiscal 2019.  Fiscal 2020 first quarter orders were $187.5 million, compared to $159.6 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2019.  Product order backlog at the end of the fiscal 2020 first quarter was $207 million, compared to $177 million a year earlier and $202 million at the end of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019.⁽¹⁾

Fiscal 2020 is a 53-week year and fiscal 2019 was a 52-week year.  The extra week of fiscal 2020 fell within the first quarter, resulting in a 14-week quarter versus a 13-week quarter comparison.  Sales, orders and other results of operations were impacted due to the additional week of operations.

Cash used in operating activities in the first three months of fiscal 2020 was $18.2 million, compared with cash used in operating activities of $10.3 million in the same period last year.  Cash flow from operating activities fluctuated due to a rise in accounts receivable, contract assets, and inventories corresponding with the seasonality of our business.  Free cash flow, defined as cash provided from or used in operating activities less net investment in property and equipment, was a negative $24.0 million for the first three months of fiscal 2020, as compared to a negative free cash flow of $14.9 million for the same period of fiscal 2019.  Net investment in property and equipment was $5.8 million for the first three months of fiscal 2020, as compared to $4.6 million for the first three months of fiscal 2019.  Cash, restricted cash, and marketable securities at the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2020 were $33.0 million, which compares to $43.3 million at the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2019 and $62.1 million at the end of fiscal 2019.

Orders for the first quarter of fiscal 2020 increased 17.5 percent as compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2019.  Orders increased in the Commercial, Live Events, and International business units, and decreased in the High School Park and Recreation business unit.  Orders were relatively flat in the Transportation business unit.  For comparison, orders paced at $13.4 million per week during the first quarter of fiscal 2020 as compared to $12.3 million during the same time last year.  Live Event orders increased due to an increase in the number of projects for professional sports, arenas, and college and universities venues.  The volatility of order timing for large projects and global accounts varies according to the needs of the customer and is the primary cause of the change in order volume in the Commercial, High School Park and Recreation, and International business units.

Net sales increased by 16.9 percent in the first quarter of fiscal 2020 as compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2019.  Net sales increased in the Commercial, Live Events, High School Park and Recreation, and Transportation business units, and decreased in the International business unit.  For comparison, sales revenue paced at $12.9 million per week during the first quarter of fiscal 2020 as compared to $11.9 million during the same time last year.  The change in sales also correlates to the increase in order levels as well as the timing of converting orders and backlog into sales.  Our first quarter is historically one of the busiest quarters as we produce, deliver, and install during the summer construction season.

Gross profit as a percentage of net sales was 25.2 percent for the first quarter of fiscal 2020 as compared to 24.8 percent a year earlier.  Global trade factors caused approximately $1.5 million in additional tariff expenses, or a 0.8% impact to gross profit during the first quarter of fiscal 2020 as compared to a nominal expense the same time last year.  Operating expenses for the first quarter of fiscal 2020 were $37.9 million, compared to $34.2 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2019.  Approximately $2.7 million of this increase is due to the additional week during the first quarter of fiscal 2020.  Operating income as a percent of sales for the quarter increased to 4.2 percent as compared to 2.6 percent during the first quarter of fiscal 2019.  The effective tax rate for the first quarter of fiscal 2020 was 12.6 percent.  During the first quarter of fiscal 2019 estimated tax credits exceeded estimated tax expense, resulting in an effective tax benefit of 13.1 percent.

Reece Kurtenbach, chairman, president and chief executive officer stated, "We are pleased with the strong start to the year in order and sales volumes.  Our teams are focused on market development and deployment of our newly designed solutions to both new and existing customers.  Our investments are yielding additional features in our control systems and broadening our lineup of displays contributing to increased orders."

Outlook
Kurtenbach added, "We remain optimistic about our long-term outlook.  Our product and technology portfolios position us for growth and allows us to serve a growing global customer base.  We continue to invest in new technologies and advanced manufacturing techniques to provide innovative solutions.  While economic concerns linger and the global tariff and trade environment create headwinds in the near-term, our pipeline of project opportunities remains active and support growth.  We are focused on these conditions and on carefully managing capacity and spend to drive profitability."

Webcast Information
The company will host a conference call and webcast to discuss its financial results today at 10:00 a.m. (CDT).  This call will be broadcast live at http://investor.daktronics.com and available for replay shortly after the event.

About Daktronics
Daktronics has strong leadership positions in, and is the world's largest supplier of, large-screen video displays, electronic scoreboards, LED text and graphics displays, and related control systems.  The company excels in the control of display systems, including those that require integration of multiple complex displays showing real-time information, graphics, animation, and video.  Daktronics designs, manufactures, markets and services display systems for customers around the world in four domestic business units:  Live Events, Commercial, High School Park and Recreation, and Transportation, and one International business unit.  For more information, visit the company's website at: www.daktronics.com, email the company at investor@daktronics.com, call (605) 692-0200 or toll-free (800) 843-5843 in the United States, or write to the company at 201 Daktronics Dr., P.O. Box 5128, Brookings, S.D. 57006-5128.

Safe Harbor Statement
Cautionary Notice: In addition to statements of historical fact, this news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is intended to enjoy the protection of that Act.  These forward-looking statements reflect the Company's expectations or beliefs concerning future events.  The Company cautions that these and similar statements involve risk and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations, including, but not limited to, changes in economic and market conditions, management of growth, timing and magnitude of future contracts and orders, fluctuations in margins, the introduction of new products and technology, the impact of adverse weather conditions, increased regulation and other risks described in the company's SEC filings, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for its 2019 fiscal year.  Forward-looking statements are made in the context of information available as of the date stated.  The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise such statements to reflect new circumstances or unanticipated events as they occur.

⁽¹⁾ Backlog is not a measure defined by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), and our methodology for determining backlog may vary from the methodology used by other companies in determining their backlog amounts. For more information related to backlog, see Part I, Item 1. Business of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 27, 2019.

*In evaluating its business, Daktronics considers and uses free cash flow as a key measure of its operating performance.  The term free cash flow is not defined under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") and is not a measure of operating income, cash flows from operating activities or other GAAP figures and should not be considered alternatives to those computations.  Free cash flow is intended to provide information that may be useful for investors when assessing period to period results.