MILWAUKEE, April 27, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION (NASDAQ:STRT) today reported operating results for the fiscal third quarter ended April 2, 2017.

Net sales for the Company’s third quarter ended April 2, 2017 were $109.7 million, compared to net sales of $94.0 million for the third quarter ended March 27, 2016.  Net income for the current year quarterly period was $3.5 million, compared to net income of $1.9 million in the prior year quarter.  Diluted earnings per share for the current year quarterly period were $.95 compared to diluted earnings per share of $.52 in the prior year quarter.

For the nine months ended April 2, 2017, the Company’s net sales were $308.9 million compared to net sales of $293.1 million in the prior year nine month period.  Net income during the current year nine month period was $5.4 million compared to net income of $8.6 million in the prior year nine month period.  Diluted earnings per share were $1.48 for the nine month period ended April 2, 2017 compared to diluted earnings per share of $2.35 during the nine month period ended March 27, 2016.

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

Sales to Fiat Chrysler Automobiles in the current year quarter increased slightly over the same period in the prior year. Increased sales to both General Motors Company and Ford Motor Company in the current year quarter related primarily to higher content sales on models for which we supply components, in particular latches and locksets.  Sales to Tier 1 Customers increased in the current quarter due to higher production volume on vehicles for which we supply driver control, door handle components and switches. Sales to Commercial and Other OEM Customers during the current year quarter increased in comparison to the prior year quarter.  These customers primarily represent purchasers of vehicle access control products, such as latches and fobs, that have been developed in recent years to complement our historic core business of locks and keys.  The increased sales to Hyundai / Kia in the current year quarter were principally due to higher vehicle production volumes on the Kia Sedona minivan for which we supply components.

Gross profit margins were 15.9 percent in the current year quarter compared to 15.4 percent in the prior year quarter. The increase in gross profit margin was attributed to a favorable Mexican Peso to US dollar exchange rate affecting our Mexican operations offset by a less favorable product sales mix and startup costs associated with our new Leon, Mexico facility with production to start in September 2017.

Engineering, Selling and Administrative expenses as a percent of net sales in the current year quarter were 10.8 percent compared to 11.4 percent in the prior year quarter. Overall operating expenses were higher in the current year quarter primarily due to higher new product development costs associated with utilizing third party vendors for a portion of our development work.

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

Frank Krejci, President & CEO commented:  “After last quarter, where earnings were significantly impacted by a combination of lower sales, manufacturing initiatives, higher engineering expenses to execute new business won, we have seen improvements in all three of those areas. In our current quarter, while continuing to add new capital equipment, incurring start-up expenses related to our new facility in Leon, Mexico and investing in our manufacturing processes, I am pleased that we generated improved operating performance.”

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” brand name.  STRATTEC’s history in the automotive business spans over 105 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, foreign currency fluctuations, 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.

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