News Release

STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION Reports Fiscal 2022 Third Quarter Operating Results

April 21, 2022 at 4:00 PM EDT

MILWAUKEE, Wis., April 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION (NASDAQ:STRT) today reported operating results for the fiscal third quarter ended March 27, 2022.

Net sales for the Company’s third quarter ended March 27, 2022 were $115.9 million, compared to net sales of $121.6 million for the third quarter ended March 28, 2021.

Net income for the current year quarterly period was $3.1 million, compared to net income of $4.5 million in the prior year quarter. Diluted earnings per share for the current year quarterly period were $0.80 compared to diluted earnings per share of $1.15 in the prior year quarter.

For the nine months ended March 27, 2022, the Company’s net sales were $329.2 million compared to net sales of $375.2 million in the prior year nine month period.

Net income during the current year nine month period was $6.6 million compared to net income of $19.6 million in the prior year nine month period. Diluted earnings per share were $1.70 for the nine month period ended March 27, 2022 compared to diluted earnings per share of $5.11 during the nine month period ended March 28, 2021.

Net sales and profitability for both our current year quarter and for the year to date period continued to be impacted by supply chain shortages (including semiconductor chip shortages) that resulted in several of our customers shutting down certain plants and/or production lines for periods of time during our fiscal 2022.

Net sales to each of our customers or customer groups in the current year quarter and prior year quarter were as follows (in thousands):
     

  Three Months Ended
  March 27, 2022   March 28, 2021
           
Stellantis / Fiat Chrysler Automobiles $ 23,047   $ 21,685
General Motors Company   34,738     34,544
Ford Motor Company   19,162     21,721
Tier 1 Customers   15,279      17,289
Commercial and Other OEM Customers   16,518     17,241
Hyundai / Kia   7,199     9,164
TOTAL $ 115,943    $ 121,644


Sales to Stellantis / Fiat Chrysler Automobiles in the current year quarter increased in comparison to the prior year quarter due to higher production volumes on Chrysler Pacifica power sliding doors and for several lock set product platforms. Sales to General Motors Company in the current year quarter were flat compared to the prior year quarter. Sales to Ford Motor Company decreased in the current year quarter compared to the prior year quarter due primarily to lower production volumes on the F-150 pickup trucks. Sales to Tier 1 Customers decreased in the current year quarter compared to the prior year quarter primarily due to lower volumes on our driver control steering column lock products. Sales to Commercial and Other OEM Customers during the current year quarter decreased in comparison to the prior year quarter mainly due to decreases in sales related to door handle products sold to Volkswagen. These Commercial and Other OEM Customers, along with the Tier 1 Customers, primarily represent purchasers of vehicle access control products, such as latches, key fobs, driver controls, steering column locks and door handles that we have developed in recent years to complement our historic core business of locks and keys. The decreased sales to Hyundai / Kia in the current year quarter were principally due to lower levels of production on the Kia Carnival, formerly the Kia Sedona and Hyundai Starex minivans, for which we supply primarily power sliding door components.

Gross profit margins were 12.6 percent in the current year quarter compared to 15.3 percent in the prior year quarter. The decrease in gross profit margin in the current year quarter compared to the prior year quarter was primarily attributed to higher costs for raw material and purchased components and the mandatory minimum wage increase enacted by the Mexican Government effective January 1, 2022. Partially offsetting the decreased gross profit margins between periods were improved manufacturing efficiencies both at our Milwaukee and Mexico production facilities, despite the ongoing supply chain disruptions described above, and lower expense provisions for accrual of bonuses.

Engineering, Selling and Administrative expenses represented 9.7 percent in the current year quarter as a percent of net sales compared to 9.8 percent in the prior year quarter. The decrease in overall operating expenses in the current year quarter was primarily due to lower expense provisions for accrual of bonuses between quarters.

Included in Other Income, Net in the current year quarter compared to the prior year quarter were the following items (in thousands of dollars):

  March 27, 2022   March 28, 2021
           
Equity Earnings (Loss) of VAST LLC Joint Venture $ 577   $ (56)
Net Foreign Currency Realized and          
Unrealized Transaction Gain   470     429
Other   (185)     26
  $ 862   $ 399


The increase in Other Income, Net in the current year quarter was primarily related to improved profitability in our VAST LLC China operation which had supply chain issues and extended OEM customer plant shutdowns associated with the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the prior year quarter. In addition, during the current year quarter VAST China’s plant in Taicang experienced a fire in its painting facility. As a result, certain door handle and painting operations were subsequently transferred to VAST China’s new Jingzhou facility that impacted the current quarter profitability.

The favorable tax provision in the current year quarter compared to the prior year quarter relates primarily to favorable tax adjustments from foreign tax credits.

Frank Krejci, President & CEO commented: “I am pleased with the efforts of our team over the last few quarters. We have effectively dealt with supply chain challenges and cut expenses to align with lower production volumes forced upon our customers. While facing inflationary material costs, we have implemented efficiency improvements to somewhat offset the spikes in costs. Those efficiency improvements will provide long term benefits for us.

Unfortunately, the challenges are not yet behind us. Our operations in China and their customers are now facing COVID lockdowns. Those lockdowns will impact supply chain challenges world-wide.

Despite the current challenges, we see good things on the horizon. Customer inventories are very low. There is excellent acceptance by consumers of our award-winning products like the power tailgates on pick-up trucks. There is significant opportunity with our product variations for the rapidly expanding electric vehicle market. We continue to win new business and use these production slowdowns as an opportunity to continue to improve our operations.”

STRATTEC designs, develops, manufactures and markets automotive Access Control Products, including mechanical locks and keys, electronically enhanced locks and keys, steering column and instrument panel ignition lock housings, latches, power sliding side door systems, power lift gate systems, power deck lid systems, door handles and related products. These products are provided to customers in North America, and on a global basis through a unique strategic relationship with WITTE Automotive of Velbert, Germany and ADAC Automotive of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Under this relationship, STRATTEC, WITTE and ADAC market each company’s products to global customers under the “VAST Automotive Group” brand name. STRATTEC’s history in the automotive business spans over 110 years.

Certain statements contained in this release contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking words or phrases such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “planned,” “potential,” “should,” “will,” and “would.” Such forward-looking statements in this release are inherently subject to many uncertainties in the Company’s operations and business environment. These uncertainties include general economic conditions, in particular, relating to the automotive industry, consumer demand for the Company’s and its customers’ products, competitive and technological developments, customer purchasing actions, changes in warranty provisions and customer product recall policies, work stoppages at the Company or at the location of its key customers as a result of labor disputes, foreign currency fluctuations, uncertainties stemming from U.S. trade policies, tariffs and reactions to same from foreign countries, the volume and scope of product returns or customer cost reimbursement actions, adverse business and operational issues resulting from the global supply chain and semiconductor chip shortages and the coronavirus pandemic, matters adversely impacting the timing and availability of material component parts and raw materials for the production of our products and the products of our customers and fluctuations in our costs of operation (including fluctuations in the cost of raw materials). Shareholders, potential investors and other readers are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements made herein are only made as of the date of this press release and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances occurring after the date of this release. In addition, such uncertainties and other operational matters are discussed further in the Company’s quarterly and annual filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION
Condensed Results of Operations
(In Thousands except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)

  Third Quarter Ended   Nine Months Ended
  March 27, 2022   March 28, 2021   March 27, 2022   March 28, 2021
Net Sales $ 115,943   $ 121,644   $ 329,192   $ 375,238
                       
Cost of Goods Sold   101,305     102,990     287,072     311,832
                       
Gross Profit   14,638     18,654     42,120     63,406
                       
Engineering, Selling &
                     
Administrative Expenses   11,261     11,927     34,683
    33,543
                       
Income from Operations   3,377     6,727     7,437     29,863
                       
Interest Expense   (54)     (63)     (159)     (259)
                       
Other Income, Net   862     399     1,261     673
                       
Income before Provision                      
for Income Taxes                      
and Non-Controlling Interest   4,185     7,063     8,539     30,277
                       
Provision for Income Taxes   50     1,153     342     4,721
                       
Net Income   4,135     5,910     8,197     25,556
                       
Net Income Attributable to                      
Non-Controlling Interest   (989)     (1,425)     (1,556)     (5,950)
                       
Net Income Attributable to                      
STRATTEC SECURITY                      
CORPORATION $ 3,146   $ 4,485   $ 6,641   $ 19,606
                       
Earnings (Loss) Per Share:                      
Basic $ 0.81   $ 1.18   $ 1.72   $ 5.18
Diluted $ 0.80   $ 1.15   $ 1.70   $ 5.11
Average Basic                      
Shares Outstanding   3,871     3,797     3,856     3,783
                       
Average Diluted                      
Shares Outstanding   3,916     3,886     3,906     3,839
                       
Other                      
Capital Expenditures $ 4,045   $
1,808   $
9,407   $
6,401
Depreciation $
4,135   $
4,933   $
14,724   $
14,730


STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION

Condensed Balance Sheet Data
(In Thousands)

  March 27, 2022   June 27, 2021
  (Unaudited)      
ASSETS          
Current Assets:          
Cash and cash equivalents $ 16,459   $ 14,465
Receivables, net   76,526     69,902
Inventories, net   73,310     70,860
Other current assets   23,422     19,677
Total Current Assets   189,717     174,904
Investment in Joint Ventures   28,405     27,224
Other Long-Term Assets   11,619     12,034
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net   91,423     96,401
  $ 321,164   $ 310,563


LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY          
Current Liabilities:          
Accounts Payable $ 43,513   $ 36,727
Other   36,479     40,845
Total Current Liabilities   79,992     77,572
Accrued Pension and Post Retirement Obligations   2,937     2,933
Borrowings Under Credit Facility   12,000     12,000
Other Long-Term Liabilities   4,381     4,625
Shareholders’ Equity   342,432     334,058
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss   (17,000)     (16,797)
Less: Treasury Stock   (135,591)     (135,615)
Total STRATTEC SECURITY          
CORPORATION Shareholders’ Equity    189,841     181,646
Non-Controlling Interest   32,013      31,787
Total Shareholders’ Equity   221,854      213,433
  $ 321,164   $ 310,563



STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION
Condensed Cash Flow Statement Data
(In Thousands)
(Unaudited)

       

    Third Quarter Ended     Nine Months Ended
  March 27, 2022   March 28, 2021    March 27, 2022   March 28, 2021
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:                      
Net Income $ 4,135   $ 5,910   $ 8,197   $ 25,556
Adjustment to Reconcile Net Income to                      
Cash Provided by Operating Activities:                      
Equity (Earnings) Loss in Joint Ventures   (577)     56     (941)     (1,844)
Depreciation   4,756     4,933     14,724     14,730
Foreign Currency Transaction Loss (Gain)   319     (386)     76     1,926
Unrealized Gain on Peso                      
Forward Contracts   (724)     (32)     (500)     (512)
Stock Based Compensation Expense   239     193     873     775
Loss (Gain) on disposition of property,                      
plant & equipment   60     (5)     153     1,421
Change in Operating Assets/Liabilities   3,436     (2,450)     (11,160)     (17,012)
Other, net   121     121     361     356
                       
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities   11,765     8,340     11,783     25,396
                       
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:                      
Investment in Joint Ventures   (75)     -     (75)     (100)
Additions to Property, Plant and Equipment   (4,045)     (1,808)     (9,407)     (6,401)
Proceeds from Sale of Property, Plant                      
and Equipment   -     5     -     8
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities   (4,120)     (1,803)      (9,482)      (6,493)
                       
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:                      
Borrowings Under Credit Facility   3,000     -     11,000     -
Repayment of Borrowings Under Credit Facility   (8,000)     (6,000)     (11,000)     (19,000)
Dividends Paid to Non-Controlling                      
Interests of Subsidiaries   (600)     -     (1,200)     (490)
Dividends Paid   -     -     -     -
Exercise of Stock Options and                      
Employee Stock Purchases   245     545     884     585
                       
Net Cash Used In Financing Activities   (5,355)     (5,455)     (316)     (18,905)
                       
Effect of Foreign Currency Fluctuations on Cash   98     (179)     9     (437)
                       
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash & Cash Equivalents   2,388     903     1,994     (439)
                       
Cash and Cash Equivalents:                      
Beginning of Period   14,071     10,432     14,465     11,774
End of Period $ 16,459   $ 11,335    $  16,459   $ 11,335


Contact: Pat Hansen
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
414-247-3435
www.strattec.com


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Source: STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION