Sutron Reports Third Quarter 2013 Results

STERLING, VA--(Marketwired - Nov 15, 2013) - Sutron Corporation (NASDAQ: STRN) today announced results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2013.

Third Quarter 2013 Highlights

  • Revenue of $7.1 million, up 13% from previous quarter

  • Net Income of $486,975, up from a loss of ($53,170) from previous quarter

First Nine Months 2013 Highlights

  • Record Revenue of $19.9 million, up 13% from prior year period

  • Net income of $464,007, down 52% from prior year period

  • Cash of $7.0 million, up 9% from prior year period

Sutron reported revenue of $7.1 million for the third quarter of 2013, up 13% from the second quarter of 2013, and up 1% from $7.0 million in the third quarter of 2012. Our MeteoStar division had a stronger third quarter of 2013 with $1.5 million in revenue compared to $1.2 million in revenue for the same quarter of 2012, a 31% increase, due primarily to large contract sales during the quarter. However, this was offset by Sutron's Integrated Services Division that realized $2.3 million of revenue for the third quarter of 2013, compared to $3.4 million in revenue for the third quarter of 2012, a 31% decrease, due primarily to project delays as a result of the United States Government shutdown as well as slower project sales internationally. The after tax net income for the third quarter of fiscal year 2013 was $486,975, compared to after tax net loss of ($53,170) for the second quarter of 2013 and income of $490,452 in the third quarter of fiscal year 2012. The reasons after tax net income has remained flat year over year in spite of increased revenues was due primarily to: 1) lower gross margin as a percentage of sales (40.4% for the third quarter of 2013 compared to 42.1% for the third quarter of 2012) due to a different product mix in 2013; and 2) increased selling and administrative costs associated with the addition of Sabio in 2013 and planned additions to our sales and administrative staff. These differences were tempered, in part, by lower research and development costs in the third quarter of 2013 compared to the third quarter of 2012. The decrease in research and development costs was due primarily to the deployment of MeteoStar engineers to increased project work compared to the third quarter of 2012. The Company reported a third quarter net income of $0.10 per basic and diluted share in 2013 equivalent to its earnings of $0.10 per basic share and diluted share in the third quarter of 2012.

For the first nine months of calendar year 2013, Sutron recorded record revenue of $19.9 million, a 13% increase compared to $17.6 million during the first nine months of 2012. Sutron reported an after tax net income of $464,007 for the first nine months of 2013, compared to $966,013 of net income for the same period of 2012. Similar to the quarterly results, the reasons after tax net income declined in spite of increased revenues was due primarily to: 1) lower gross margin as a percentage of sales (39.5% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 compared to 40.7% for the nine months ended September 30, 2012) due to a different product mix; 2) increased selling and administrative costs associated with the addition of Sabio in 2013 and planned additions to our sales and administrative staff; and 3) planned increased research and development costs in MeteoStar and Sabio with respect to new products expected to launch in the near future. The first nine months net income results in earnings of $0.09 per basic and diluted share in 2013, compared to earnings of $0.20 per basic share and $0.19 per diluted share in the first nine months of 2012.

The Company's backlog as of September 30, 2013 was approximately $12.3 million, equivalent to the backlog as of September 30, 2012.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

Sutron ended the third quarter of 2013 with $7.0 million in cash and cash equivalents, down from $8.4 million at December 31, 2012. The decrease through the first nine months of 2013 was primarily due to our Sabio acquisition. Cash generated by operating activities during the first nine months of 2013 was $116,201 as compared to cash generated by operating activities through the first nine months of 2012 of $819,015. Capital expenditures for the first nine months of 2013 were $199,072, compared to $94,359 for the first nine months of 2012. As a consequence, Free Cash Flow for the first nine months of 2013 was $(82,871) compared to Free Cash Flow of $724,656 for the first nine months of 2012. Sutron defines Free Cash Flow as net cash provided or used by operating activities less cash used in the purchase of property and equipment.

Management Commentary

Raul McQuivey, Chairman and Chief Executive Office said, "We continue to be affected this year by a slowdown in international project tender activity as well as the delay or cancellation of some tenders prior to anticipated awards. Our third quarter results were also negatively impacted by the U.S. Government's shutdown which delayed some orders we were anticipating domestically. While our third quarter results were impacted by these developments, we are encouraged by our record first nine month's revenue of $19.9 million, supported by the contribution from our new acquisitions that offset declines in our legacy businesses, and our backlog of $12.3 million. Our cash balance remains strong at $7.0 million. We also continue to invest in new product development across Sutron and its new Sabio and MeteoStar divisions and, while this increases our expenses in the near term, we anticipate that these investments will contribute to increased profitability once these new products come to market."

About Sutron

Sutron Corporation, headquartered in Sterling, Virginia, is a project driven business. We provide hydrological, meteorological, oceanic and aviation real-time data collection products, systems, software and services to a diversified customer base of federal, state, local and foreign governments, engineering companies, universities, hydropower companies and other commercial entities. Our quarterly results may fluctuate substantially based upon contract awards that are difficult to project in terms of timing and may be delayed due to differing time frames in securing government approvals and funding.

Safe Harbor Statement

The statements in this press release that relate to future plans, events or performance are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include without limitation any statements regarding our expected future financial position, results of operations, cash flows, EBITDA, financing plans, business strategy, bookings, products and services, competitive positions, growth opportunities, plans and objectives of management for future operations, as well as statements that include words such as "anticipate," "if," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "should" and other similar expressions are forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and contingencies which may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from anticipated results, performance, or achievements. We are under no obligation to update or alter our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SUTRON CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)
September 30,
2013

(Audited)
December 31,
2012

ASSETS

Current Assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$

6,161,302

$

7,576,374

Restricted cash and cash equivalents

866,978

810,396

Accounts receivable, net

6,356,029

5,771,013

Inventory, net

5,301,383

4,291,505

Prepaid items and other assets

362,686

248,546

Income taxes receivable

981,300

1,202,709

Deferred income taxes

716,000

666,000

Total Current Assets

20,745,678

20,566,543

Property and Equipment, Net

1,617,786

1,698,218

Other Assets

Goodwill

4,754,152

3,768,435

Intangibles, net of amortization

680,878

781,633

Other Assets

113,256

95,217

Total Other Assets

5,548,286

4,645,285

Total Assets

$

27,911,750

$

26,910,046

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current Liabilities:

Accounts payable

$

1,230,563

$

1,300,917

Accrued payroll

283,138

464,942

Deferred revenue

794,981

531,397

Other accrued expenses

1,381,804

1,134,279

Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings

604,693

306,148

Total Current Liabilities

4,295,179

3,737,683

Long-Term Liabilities

Deferred rent

851,901

1,006,893

Deferred income taxes

126,000

39,000

Total Long-term Liabilities

977,901

1,045,893

Total Liabilities

5,273,080

4,783,576

Stockholders' Equity

Common stock, 12,000,000 shares authorized; 5,066,009 and 5,039,632 issued and outstanding

50,660

50,397

Additional paid-in capital

5,318,323

5,185,325

Retained earnings

17,537,358

17,073,351

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(267,671

)

(182,603

)

Total Stockholders' Equity

22,638,670

22,126,470

Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

$

27,911,750

$

26,910,046

SUTRON CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended September 30,

2013

2012

Revenue

$

7,124,591

$

7,042,056

Cost of goods sold

4,247,587

4,080,121

Gross profit

2,877,004

2,961,935

Operating expenses:

Selling, general and administrative expenses

1,416,634

1,250,138

Research and development expenses

797,986

1,026,573

Total operating expenses

2,214,620

2,276,711

Operating income

662,384

685,224

Financing income, net

14,591

17,228

Income before income taxes

676,975

702,452

Income tax expense

190,000

212,000

Net income

$

486,975

$

490,452

Net income per share:

Basic income per share

$

0.10

$

0.10

Diluted income per share

$

0.10

$

0.10

Comprehensive income:

Net income

$

486,975

$

490,452

Foreign currency translation adjustments

(28,754

)

5,869

Comprehensive income

$

458,221

$

496,321

SUTRON CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Unaudited)

Nine Months Ended September 30,

2013

2012

Revenue

$

19,922,941

$

17,583,405

Cost of goods sold

12,043,928

10,418,376

Gross profit

7,879,013

7,165,029

Operating expenses:

Selling, general and administrative expenses

4,517,771

3,602,498

Research and development expenses

2,744,075

2,207,475

Total operating expenses

7,261,846

5,809,973

Operating income

617,167

1,355,056

Financing income, net

23,840

43,957

Income before income taxes

641,007

1,399,013

Income tax expense

177,000

433,000

Net income

$

464,007

$

966,013

Net income per share:

Basic income per share

$

0.09

$

0.20

Diluted income per share

$

0.09

$

0.19

Comprehensive income:

Net income

$

464,007

$

966,013

Foreign currency translation adjustments

(85,071

)

(5,912

)

Comprehensive income

$

378,936

$

960,101

SUTRON CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

Nine Months Ended September 30,

2013

2012

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:

Net income

$

464,007

$

966,013

Noncash items included in net income:

Depreciation and amortization

389,775

207,776

Deferred income taxes

46,000

(62,134

)

Stock based compensation

115,355

109,636

Tax benefit from stock options exercised

(12,996

)

(301,413

)

Change in current assets and liabilities, net of the impact of acquisitions:

Accounts receivable

(502,163

)

(12,969

)

Inventory

(842,780

)

(635,015

)

Prepaid items and other assets

(134,787

)

(72,642

)

Income taxes receivable

234,405

297,540

Accounts payable

(70,353

)

257,902

Accrued expenses

22,601

(308,803

)

Deferred revenues

263,584

-

Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings

298,545

509,998

Deferred rent

(154,992

)

(136,874

)

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

116,201

819,015

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:

Restricted cash and cash equivalents

(56,582

)

(193,611

)

Purchase of property and equipment

(199,072

)

(94,359

)

Certificate of deposit

-

(2,900

)

Other assets

5,876

6,916

Acquisition and Goodwill

(1,214,330

)

(4,241,914

)

Net Cash Used by Investing Activities

(1,464,108

)

(4,525,868

)

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:

Tax benefit from stock options exercised

12,996

301,413

Proceeds from stock options exercised

4,910

174,250

Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities

17,906

475,663

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

(85,071

)

(8,785

)

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

(1,415,072

)

(3,239,975

)

Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period

7,576,374

8,737,543

Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period

$

6,161,302

$

5,497,568

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