PREFORMED LINE PRODUCTS ANNOUNCES FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL YEAR 2023 FINANCIAL RESULTS

In this article:

CLEVELAND, March 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Preformed Line Products Company (NASDAQ: PLPC) today reported financial results for its fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2023.

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Preformed Line Products New Logo (PRNewsfoto/Preformed Line Products)

Full Year 2023 Highlights:

  • Fifth consecutive year of record annual net sales; increased 5% from 2022

  • Record net income of $63.3 million

  • Diluted EPS of $12.68, an increase of 17% from 2022, a new annual record

  • Net cash provided by operating activities of $107.7 million

Net sales in the fourth quarter of 2023 were $145.6 million compared to $169.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2022, a 14% decrease due primarily to a reduction in communication product sales as the market remains soft and customers destock inventory positions. Foreign currency translation increased fourth quarter 2023 net sales by $2.9 million.

Net income for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 was $6.3 million, or $1.29 per diluted share, compared to $16.5 million, or $3.28 per diluted share, for the comparable period in 2022. The fourth quarter of 2023 net income was impacted by decreased gross profit from lower net sales, partially offset by selling price increases and a lower effective tax rate for the period.  Other discrete factors contributing to the decline in quarterly net income included $2.3 million of outsized foreign currency transaction losses, primarily due to the significant devaluation of the Argentine Peso and customer-specific charges of $3.5 million to increase the allowance for doubtful accounts and the excess and obsolete inventory reserve mainly caused by the downturn in communications end market sales. Gross profit as a percentage of net sales was 33.0% for the fourth quarter of 2023.

Net sales for the full year 2023 were $669.7 million, compared to $637.0 million in 2022. This is the fifth consecutive year of record net sales and represents a 5% increase versus prior year. Foreign currency translation increased full year 2023 net sales by $0.4 million.

Net income for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $63.3 million, or $12.68 per diluted share, compared to $54.4 million, or $10.88 per diluted share in 2022. Net income for the full year 2023 was favorably impacted by the increase in margin on incremental sales as well as the full year benefit of price increases which helped offset inflationary increases of raw material and freight costs.  Gross profit as a percentage of net sales was 35.1% for 2023.

Rob Ruhlman, Executive Chairman, said, "Thanks to a strong first half of 2023, we experienced a fifth consecutive year of record annual net sales and fourth consecutive year of earnings per share growth. The second half of the year was impacted by the pullback in spending among communication network operators as well as customer destocking efforts to reduce elevated inventory levels. We expect the significance and diversity of our international operations to help offset some of the pullback in communication product sales largely impacting our USA results. We remain excited about the future prospects for both our communications and energy product end markets and remain well positioned to achieve growth thanks to operational improvements, new product introductions, and production capacity added over the last three years as well as the significant government stimulus programs that are expected to benefit our core markets. Our continued commitment to manufacturing in the USA positions us well for the Build America, Buy America Act ("BABAA") requirements of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment ("BEAD") Program, which we expect to drive increased demand for communications products in late 2024/early 2025. We continue to invest capital in our global facilities as necessary and we continue to seek the right opportunities for inorganic growth.  We are fully committed to providing our customers with the high-quality products and service they have come to expect from our dedicated workforce."

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 regarding the Company, including those statements regarding the Company's and management's beliefs and expectations concerning the Company's future performance or anticipated financial results, among others. Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties which may cause results to differ materially from those set forth in those statements. Among other things, factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements include the uncertainty in global business conditions and the economy due to factors such as inflation, rising interest rates, labor disruptions, military conflict, international hostilities, political instability, exchange rates and public health concerns, the strength of demand and availability of funding for the Company's products and the mix of products sold, the relative degree of competitive and customer price pressure on the Company's products, the impact of stimulus programs in driving demand, the cost, availability and quality of raw materials required for the manufacture of products, opportunities for business growth through acquisitions and the ability to successfully integrate, and implement appropriate internal controls in, any acquired businesses, changes in regulations and tax rates, security breaches, litigation and claims and the Company's ability to continue to develop proprietary technology and maintain high-quality products and customer service to meet or exceed new industry performance standards and individual customer expectations, and other factors described under the headings "Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in the Company's 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 8, 2024 and subsequent filings with the SEC. The Annual Report on Form 10-K and the Company's other filings with the SEC can be found on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. The Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement forward-looking statements that become untrue because of subsequent events.

ABOUT PLP

PLP protects the world's most critical connections by creating stronger and more reliable networks. The company's precision-engineered solutions are trusted by energy and communications providers worldwide to perform better and last longer. With locations in 20 countries, PLP works as a united global corporation, delivering high-quality products and unparalleled service to customers around the world.

 

PREFORMED LINE PRODUCTS COMPANY

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS








December 31,



2023


2022

(Thousands of dollars, except share and per share data)





ASSETS





Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash


$                       53,607


$                        37,239

Accounts receivable, net


106,892


125,261

Inventories, net


148,814


147,458

Prepaid expenses


8,246


13,283

Other current assets


7,256


4,929

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS


324,815


328,170

Property, plant and equipment, net


207,892


175,011

Goodwill


29,497


28,004

Other intangible assets, net


12,981


14,082

Deferred income taxes


7,109


5,320

Other assets


20,857


17,892

TOTAL ASSETS


$                     603,151


$                      568,479

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY





Trade accounts payable


$                       37,788


$                        46,839

Notes payable to banks


6,968


18,098

Current portion of long-term debt


6,486


3,018

Accrued compensation and other benefits


28,018


24,356

Accrued expenses and other liabilities


32,057


23,024

TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES


111,317


115,335

Long-term debt, less current portion


48,796


68,420

Other noncurrent liabilities and deferred income taxes


26,882


26,100

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY





Common shares – $2 par value per share, 15,000,000 shares authorized, 4,908,413 and
4,917,020 issued and outstanding, at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively


13,607


13,351

Common shares issued to rabbi trust, 243,118 and 245,386 shares at December 31, 2023 and
December 31, 2022, respectively


(10,183)


(10,261)

Deferred compensation liability


10,183


10,261

Paid-in capital


60,958


53,646

Retained earnings


520,154


460,930

Treasury shares, at cost, 1,894,419 and 1,758,901 shares at December 31, 2023 and December 
31, 2022, respectively


(118,249)


(99,303)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss


(60,306)


(69,987)

TOTAL PREFORMED LINE PRODUCTS COMPANY SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY


416,164


358,637

Noncontrolling interest


(8)


(13)

TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY


416,156


358,624

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY


$                     603,151


$                      568,479






See notes to consolidated financial statements (unaudited).





 










PREFORMED LINE PRODUCTS COMPANY

STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED INCOME












Three Months Ended December 31


Twelve Months Ended December 31



2023


2022


2023


2022



(In thousands, except per share data)

Net sales


$                 145,603


$                 169,924


$                 669,679


$                 637,021

Cost of products sold


97,503


107,694


434,831


421,841

GROSS PROFIT


48,100


62,230


234,848


215,180

Costs and expenses









Selling


12,945


12,139


51,078


45,712

General and administrative


20,019


19,593


74,643


70,317

Research and engineering


5,688


4,783


22,481


19,661

Goodwill impairment





6,529

Other operating expense, net


2,502


1,128


2,492


3,600



41,154


37,643


150,694


145,819

OPERATING INCOME


6,946


24,587


84,154


69,361

Other income (expense)









Interest income


610


272


1,811


631

Interest expense


(707)


(1,085)


(3,905)


(3,214)

Other income, net


119


429


284


6,926



22


(384)


(1,810)


4,343

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES


6,968


24,204


82,344


73,704

Income tax expense


659


7,715


19,007


19,305

NET INCOME


$                     6,309


$                   16,488


$                   63,337


$                   54,399

Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests


23


23


(5)


(4)

NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO PREFORMED LINE PRODUCTS
COMPANY SHAREHOLDERS


$                     6,332


$                   16,511


$                   63,332


$                   54,395

AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OUTSTANDING:









Basic


4,864


4,927


4,920


4,931

Diluted


4,902


5,032


4,997


4,999

EARNINGS PER SHARE OF COMMON STOCK ATTRIBUTABLE TO PREFORMED
LINE PRODUCTS COMPANY SHAREHOLDERS:









Basic


$                       1.30


$                       3.35


$                     12.87


$                     11.03

Diluted


$                       1.29


$                       3.28


$                     12.68


$                     10.88










Cash dividends declared per share


$                       0.20


$                       0.20


$                       0.80


$                       0.80

 

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