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ESCO Announces Third Quarter 2016 Results

GAAP EPS - From Continuing Operations Increases 7%; EPS - As Adjusted Increases 20% 

ST. LOUIS, August 2, 2016 - ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE: ESE) (ESCO or the Company) today reported its operating results for the third quarter ended June 30, 2016 (Q3 2016).

Management previously announced certain 2016 restructuring actions as described and quantified in the Company's October 8, 2015 and November 12, 2015 releases. The costs associated with these restructuring actions were excluded from Management's 2016 quarterly and full year earnings guidance communicated at the start of the year. Management will continue to quantify these costs in its quarterly earnings reports when presenting its operating results on an EPS - As Adjusted basis, which will be reconciled to the respective GAAP equivalents.

By excluding the specific restructuring charges when discussing non-GAAP financial measures, Management believes EPS - As Adjusted is more representative of the Company's ongoing performance and allows shareholders better visibility into the Company's underlying operations.

EPS Summary

Q3 2016 EPS - As Adjusted was $0.49 per share, reflecting a 20 percent increase over Q3 2015 EPS from continuing operations of $0.41 per share.

Q3 GAAP EPS from continuing operations was $0.44 per share and $0.41 per share in 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Management previously provided guidance for Q3 2016 EPS - As Adjusted in the range of $0.40 to $0.45 per share. Each of the Company's operating units, with the exception of Doble (due to timing of certain customer deliverables between Q3 and Q4), exceeded its earnings expectations in Q3 2016.

Q3 2016 EPS - As Adjusted excludes after-tax charges of $1.1 million, or $0.05 per share, related to the previously announced exit of Test's operating facilities in Germany and England and the impact of its domestic headcount reductions, plus Doble's closure of its Brazil operating office and the elimination of other administrative costs.

Q3 Operating Highlights

  • Q3 2016 sales increased $6 million, or 4 percent, to $140 million compared to $134 million in Q3 2015;
  • Q3 2016 Filtration sales increased $5 million, or 10 percent (aerospace sales increased $2 million, or 7 percent, and VACCO sales increased $3 million, or 15 percent), Technical Packaging sales increased $10 million (recently acquired Plastique added $8 million in sales and TEQ sales increased $2 million), Test sales decreased $7 million (due to timing of large chamber projects in the respective quarterly periods), and USG sales decreased $2 million (lower hardware sales, partially offset by higher software and services revenues);
  • Q3 gross margins were approximately 38 percent in both periods presented;
  • Despite the addition of the Plastique and Fremont acquisitions, Q3 2016 SG&A decreased 4 percent compared to Q3 2015, due to a lower cost structure at Test and Doble and lower operating costs in Filtration, partially offset by higher Corporate spending on professional fees;
  • The effective tax rate was 34.2 percent in Q3 2016 compared to 31.0 percent in Q3 2015;
  • Q3 2016 orders were $125 million and YTD 2016 orders totaled $398 million, which resulted in an ending backlog of $313 million at June 30, 2016; and,
  • Net debt (outstanding borrowings less cash on hand) at June 30, 2016 was $46 million and reflects the borrowings in connection with the 2016 acquisitions of Plastique and Fremont, and the spending on cumulative share repurchases.

Share Repurchase

During Q3 2016, the Company spent $1.2 million to repurchase approximately 32,000 of its outstanding shares in the open market, resulting in YTD 2016 repurchases of $4.3 million, and approximately 120,000 shares.

The Company's share repurchase authorization extends through September 30, 2017, and Management expects to continue to opportunistically repurchase its shares under this authorization.

2016 Restructuring Actions - Status Update

The 2016 restructuring actions were substantially complete as of June 30, 2016, and the cumulative costs incurred YTD ($7.0 million pretax, $6.3 million after tax, $0.24 per share) are below the original budget. Management expects to incur less than $1 million of pretax costs to complete these actions during Q4 2016.

Chairman's Commentary - Q3 2016

Vic Richey, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "I'm pleased to report that we delivered another strong earnings performance in Q3 with meaningful EBIT contributions and cash flows coming from all of our operating segments. While Q3 sales were lower than we had earlier communicated due to the timing of certain projects, the strength and mix of our business allowed us to beat the high end of our guidance range by $0.04 per share, and to beat our internal cash flow forecast by several million dollars.

"As we've commented throughout the year, Filtration continues to outperform our expectations, delivering Q3 EBIT margins of 22.4 percent. This exceptional performance is driven by the continued upcycle in the global aerospace market, and solid contributions coming from our participation on a large number and wide variety of aircraft platforms.

"The A-350 program continues its early stage rollout as expected from both a revenue and order backlog perspective, and recently we received additional orders which provide us with delivery visibility on the program for the next 24 months.

"Our PTI, Crissair and VACCO Management teams participated in the recent Farnborough International Air Show outside of London, and noted the aerospace industry activity was strong and the level of market enthusiasm was high. This is consistent with our internal outlook and bodes well for Q4.

"Our Technical Packaging group delivered strong performance in Q3 as both sales and EBIT exceeded our expectations. Plastique's early operating results have been consistent with our acquisition financial model, and I'm pleased to see that post-acquisition integration activities are being implemented smoothly and efficiently.

"We remain confident that this group can deliver an annualized revenue run rate of approximately $90 million while delivering above industry-average EBIT margins. With TEQ, Fremont and now Plastique, we have the scale and market leadership positions throughout the highly-engineered technical thermoformed plastics and precision molded pulp fiber packaging markets to serve a variety of specialty end markets across the globe.

"We are in the final stage of Test's restructuring, and I'm pleased with the way the Management team has worked together to accomplish this difficult task ahead of schedule and under budget. Test's Q3 2016 adjusted EBIT margin of 13 percent demonstrates that the reduced cost structure and the operational improvement initiatives we put in place are effective. (Test's Q3 2016 GAAP EBIT margin was 10 percent). While Q3 2016 Test orders came in lower than our expectations, the current volume of open bids and live proposals that we are pursuing provide us with the confidence that this is a project timing issue as these large opportunities tend to have longer sales cycles.

"Doble sales came in lower than our previous expectations primarily due to the timing of a few large project deliverables that moved out of June into early July. Despite the pushout of these high margin products and services, and the EBIT impact related to the costs of the annual world-wide "Doble Client Conference" (held in Q3 of 2016, versus Q2 of 2015), Doble was still able to deliver a Q3 2016 adjusted EBIT margin of over 22 percent. (Doble's Q3 2016 GAAP EBIT margin was 21 percent).

"During our recent Doble planning meetings, I came away pleased with the progress being made on our new product, software and solution offerings, as each continue to gain traction in the market. ENOSERV continues to perform above expectations, and one of our recent product introductions, the Doble Universal Controller (DUCe), has a meaningful and tangible opportunity to contribute significant revenue over the next few years. Recent changes to electric industry standards are providing Doble with a solid opportunity to provide utility customers with a proven solution to address these new rules utilizing the DUCe product and related software.

"On the acquisition front, we continue to work on several opportunities and I am hopeful that we can complete a transaction before year end. Acquisitions remain a key element to supplement our growth, and we will remain disciplined in our approach to ensure we can generate an attractive return on these investments.

"We continue to have a favorable view of our future and our goal remains the same - to increase long-term shareholder value."

Dividend Payment

The next quarterly cash dividend of $0.08 per share will be paid on October 17, 2016 to stockholders of record on October 3, 2016.

Business Outlook - Fiscal Year 2016

Management expects the remainder of 2016 to reflect a quarterly profile similar to 2015 and previous years, with the resulting Q4 sales and EPS - As Adjusted the strongest/highest Quarter of the fiscal year.

Management expects Q4 2016 EPS - As Adjusted to be in the range of $0.59 to $0.66 per share, excluding the Q4 impact of the 2016 restructuring charges. Q4 2015 EPS from continuing operations was $0.50 per share.

The Q4 2016 outlook supports the previously communicated 2016 EPS - As Adjusted range of $1.95 to $2.02 per share.  The 2016 restructuring charges incurred throughout the year negatively impacted GAAP EPS.

Chairman's Commentary - Balance of FY 2016

Mr. Richey continued, "Driven by the solid operating results over the past nine months, coupled with our outlook for the remainder of the year, I remain confident in our ability to meet our 2016 financial goals. We are also well-positioned for continued growth, and now that we are realizing the benefits of our cost reduction actions, I'm confident that our lower cost structure will provide us an opportunity to increase our future operating margins and improve our competitive positions across our various end-markets.

"I firmly believe our market leadership positions and the breadth and diversity of our new product offerings will allow us to grow organically at meaningful levels. We continue to see opportunities to supplement this organic growth through accretive acquisitions, and we remain committed to our longer-term growth targets and EPS goals."

Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call today, August 2, at 4:00 p.m. Central Time, to discuss the Company's Q3 2016 results. A live audio webcast will be available on the Company's website at www.escotechnologies.com. Please access the website at least 15 minutes prior to the call to register, download and install any necessary audio software. A replay of the conference call will be available for seven days on the Company's website noted above or by phone (dial 1-855-859-2056 and enter the pass code 34036121).

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release regarding the Company's expected 2016 and beyond operating results, revenue and sales growth, EBIT, EBIT margins, Adjusted EBIT margins, corporate costs, the timing, benefits, costs and savings associated with the cost reduction activities and restructuring actions, effective tax rates, EPS, EPS - As Adjusted, EPS growth, the Company's ability to increase operating margins, realize financial goals and increase shareholder value, the success of acquisition efforts, the success of new products and solutions, the size, number and timing of future sales and growth opportunities, share repurchases, the long-term success of the Company, and any other statements which are not strictly historical are "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the federal securities laws.

Investors are cautioned that such statements are only predictions and speak only as of the date of this release, and the Company undertakes no duty to update them except as may be required by applicable laws or regulations. The Company's actual results in the future may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements due to risks and uncertainties that exist in the Company's operations and business environment including, but not limited to those described in Item 1A, "Risk Factors", of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015, and the following: the success of the Company's competitors; site readiness issues with Test segment customers; weakening of economic conditions in served markets; changes in customer demands or customer insolvencies; competition; intellectual property rights; technical difficulties; unforeseen charges impacting corporate operating expenses; delivery delays or defaults by customers; the performance of the Company's international operations; material changes in the costs and availability of certain raw materials; the appropriation and allocation of Government funds; the termination for convenience of Government and other customer contracts; the timing and content of future contract awards or customer orders; containment of engineering and development costs; performance issues with key customers, suppliers and subcontractors; labor disputes; the impacts of natural disasters on the Company's operations and those of the Company's customers and suppliers; changes in laws and regulations, including but not limited to changes in accounting standards and taxation requirements; costs relating to environmental matters arising from current or former facilities; financial exposure in connection with Company guarantees of certain Aclara contracts; the availability of select acquisitions; uncertainty regarding the ultimate resolution of current disputes, claims, litigation or arbitration; and the Company's successful execution of cost reduction and profit improvement initiatives and restructuring activities.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The financial measures EBIT, EBIT margin, Adjusted EBIT margin, and EPS - As Adjusted are presented in this press release. The Company defines EBIT as earnings before interest and taxes from continuing operations, EBIT margin as a percent of net sales, and Q3 2016 EPS - As Adjusted as GAAP earnings per share (EPS) excluding the Q3 2016 restructuring charges of $0.05 per share.

EBIT, EBIT margin, Adjusted EBIT margin, and EPS - As Adjusted are not recognized in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). However, Management believes that EBIT and EBIT margin are useful in assessing the operational profitability of the Company's business segments because they exclude interest and taxes, which are generally accounted for across the entire Company on a consolidated basis. Adjusted EBIT margin excludes the 2016 impact of the ETS and Doble restructuring charges. EBIT is also one of the measures used by Management in determining resource allocations within the Company as well as incentive compensation. The Company believes that the presentation of EBIT, EBIT margin, Adjusted EBIT margin, and EPS - As Adjusted provides important supplemental information to investors by facilitating comparisons with other companies, many of which use similar non-GAAP financial measures to supplement their GAAP results. The use of non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to replace any measures of performance determined in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the corresponding GAAP measures is included in the attached tables.

ESCO, headquartered in St. Louis: Manufactures highly-engineered filtration and fluid control products for the aviation, space and process markets worldwide; is the industry leader in RF shielding and EMC test products; provides diagnostic instruments, software and services for the benefit of the electric utility industry and industrial power users; and, produces custom thermoformed packaging, pulp based packaging, and specialty products for medical and commercial markets. Further information regarding ESCO and its subsidiaries is available on the Company's website at www.escotechnologies.com.

  

ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
 (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
      Three Months
Ended
June 30, 2016
   Three Months
Ended
June 30, 2015
         
Net Sales    $ 140,191    134,191
Cost and Expenses:      
  Cost of sales   86,602    82,956
  Selling, general and administrative expenses 31,369    32,786
  Amortization of intangible assets   2,951    2,285
  Interest expense   320    247
  Other expenses (income), net   1,429    337
   Total costs and expenses   122,671    118,611
         
Earnings before income taxes   17,520    15,580
Income taxes   5,992    4,832
         
   Net earnings from continuing operations 11,528    10,748
         
Earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax     
  expense of $591   0    1,148
   Net earnings $ 11,528    11,896
         
   Diluted EPS - GAAP      
    Continuing operations $ 0.44    0.41
    Discontinued operations   0.00    0.04
    Net earnings   0.44    0.45
                 
   Diluted EPS - As Adjusted $ 0.49 (1)   0.41
         
         
   Diluted average common shares O/S:   25,910    26,180
         
(1) As Adjusted excludes $1.1 million (or $0.05 per share) of previously announced adjustments for restructuring charges incurred at ETS & Doble during the third quarter of fiscal 2016.

  

  

ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
 (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
      Nine Months
Ended
June 30, 2016
   Nine Months
Ended
June 30, 2015
         
Net Sales    $ 411,954    383,679
Cost and Expenses:      
  Cost of sales   254,769    235,719
  Selling, general and administrative expenses 97,189    99,221
  Amortization of intangible assets   8,540    6,378
  Interest expense   917    655
  Other expenses (income), net   6,436    (238)
   Total costs and expenses   367,851    341,735
         
Earnings before income taxes   44,103    41,944
Income taxes   15,136    13,191
         
   Net earnings from continuing operations 28,967    28,753
         
Earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax     
  expense of $390   0    776
   Net earnings $ 28,967    29,529
         
   Diluted EPS - GAAP      
    Continuing operations $ 1.12    1.09
    Discontinued operations   0.00    0.03
    Net earnings   1.12    1.12
         
   Diluted EPS - As Adjusted $ 1.36 (1)   1.09
         
         
   Diluted average common shares O/S:   25,962    26,252
         
(1) As Adjusted excludes $6.3 million (or $0.24 per share) of previously announced adjustments for restructuring charges incurred at ETS & Doble during the first nine months of fiscal 2016.

  

  

ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Business Segment Information (Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)
 
     GAAP     Q3 2016
Adjustments
(1)
  As Adjusted
     Q3 2016   Q3 2015       Q3 2016   Q3 2015
              
Net Sales           
  Filtration $ 54,396   49,615     54,396   49,615
  Technical Packaging   20,440   10,786     20,440   10,786
  Test   36,234   42,945     36,234   42,945
  USG   29,121   30,845     29,121   30,845
   Totals $ 140,191   134,191   0   140,191   134,191
             
EBIT             
  Filtration $ 12,163   10,372     12,163   10,372
  Technical Packaging   2,474   1,913     2,474   1,913
  Test   3,744   2,014   1,002   4,746   2,014
  USG   6,124   7,357   426   6,550   7,357
  Corporate   (6,665)   (5,829)   25   (6,640)   (5,829)
   Consolidated EBIT   17,840   15,827   1,453   19,293   15,827
   Less: Interest expense   (320)   (247)     (320)   (247)
   Less: Income tax expense   (5,992)   (4,832)   (340)   (6,332)   (4,832)
   Net earnings from cont ops $ 11,528   10,748   1,113   12,641   10,748
              
Note: Depreciation and amortization expense was $6.0 million and $4.7 million for the quarters ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
              
(1) Adjustments consist of $1.1 million (or $0.05 per share) of restructuring charges primarily at ETS & Doble during the third quarter of 2016.

  

  

ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Business Segment Information (Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)
 
     GAAP     YTD
Q3 2016 Adjustments
(1)
  As Adjusted
     YTD   YTD     YTD   YTD
     Q3 2016   Q3 2015       Q3 2016   Q3 2015
              
Net Sales           
  Filtration $ 145,758   139,272     145,758   139,272
  Technical Packaging   52,931   27,068     52,931   27,068
  Test   119,608   124,449     119,608   124,449
  USG   93,657   92,890     93,657   92,890
   Totals $ 411,954   383,679   0   411,954   383,679
             
EBIT             
  Filtration $ 29,511   28,709     29,511   28,709
  Technical Packaging   7,035   2,703     7,035   2,703
  Test   8,587   7,073   4,715   13,302   7,073
  USG   21,581   22,189   1,920   23,501   22,189
  Corporate   (21,694)   (18,075)   328   (21,366)   (18,075)
   Consolidated EBIT   45,020   42,599   6,963   51,983   42,599
   Less: Interest expense   (917)   (655)     (917)   (655)
   Less: Income tax expense   (15,136)   (13,191)   (634)   (15,770)   (13,191)
   Net earnings from cont ops $ 28,967   28,753   6,329   35,296   28,753
              
Note: Depreciation and amortization expense was $17.2 million and $13.6 million for the nine month periods ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
             
(1) Adjustments consist of $6.3 million (or $0.24 per share) of restructuring charges primarily at ETS & Doble during the first nine months of 2016.

   

   

ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)
 
     June 30,
2016
  September 30,
2015
       
Assets      
  Cash and cash equivalents $ 40,542   39,411
  Accounts receivable, net   115,158   102,607
  Costs and estimated earnings on     
   long-term contracts   25,781   28,387
  Inventories   105,534   99,786
  Current portion of deferred tax assets   16,657   15,558
  Other current assets   18,188   12,502
   Total current assets   321,860   298,251
  Property, plant and equipment, net   89,037   77,358
  Intangible assets, net   203,871   190,748
  Goodwill   305,704   291,157
  Other assets   7,776   6,694
    $ 928,248   864,208
       
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity     
  Short-term borrowings and current $ 21,458   20,000
   maturities of long-term debt     
  Accounts payable   34,543   37,863
  Current portion of deferred revenue   24,190   21,498
  Other current liabilities   63,700   63,850
   Total current liabilities   143,891   143,211
  Deferred tax liabilities   79,339   74,469
  Other liabilities   35,761   32,346
  Long-term debt   65,000   30,000
  Shareholders' equity   604,257   584,182
    $ 928,248   864,208

  

  

ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)
 
    Nine Months Ended
June 30, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities:   
  Net earnings $ 28,967
  Adjustments to reconcile net earnings   
  to net cash provided by operating activities:   
  Depreciation and amortization   17,209
  Stock compensation expense   3,652
  Changes in assets and liabilities   (21,106)
  Effect of deferred taxes   1,141
  Change in deferred revenue and costs, net   3,029
  Other   350
  Net cash provided by operating activities   33,242
   
Cash flows from investing activities:   
  Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired   (41,308)
  Capital expenditures   (7,812)
  Additions to capitalized software   (6,257)
  Net cash used by investing activities   (55,377)
   
Cash flows from financing activities:   
  Proceeds from long-term debt   81,458
  Principal payments on long-term debt   (45,000)
  Dividends paid   (6,191)
  Purchases of common stock into treasury   (4,303)
  Debt issuance costs   (1,037)
  Other   (123)
  Net cash provided by financing activities   24,804
   
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents   (1,538)
   
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents   1,131
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period   39,411
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 40,542

  

  

ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Other Selected Financial Data (Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Backlog And Entered Orders -
Q3 FY 2016
  USG   Test   Filtration   Technical
Packaging
  Total
             
  Beginning Backlog - 4/1/16 $ 32,003   85,370   186,475   24,510   328,358
  Entered Orders   27,707   34,777   44,937   17,642   125,063
  Sales    (29,121)   (36,234)   (54,396)   (20,440)   (140,191)
  Ending Backlog - 6/30/16 $ 30,589   83,913   177,016   21,712   313,230
             
             
Backlog And Entered Orders -
YTD Q3 FY 2016
  USG   Test   Filtration   Technical
Packaging
  Total
             
  Beginning Backlog - 10/1/15 $ 36,272   95,129   178,844   17,264   327,509
  Entered Orders   87,974   108,392   143,930   57,379   397,675
  Sales    (93,657)   (119,608)   (145,758)   (52,931)   (411,954)
  Ending Backlog - 6/30/16 $ 30,589   83,913   177,016   21,712   313,230

  

SOURCE ESCO Technologies Inc.
Kate Lowrey, Director of Investor Relations, (314) 213-7277


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