Materion Corporation (NYSE:MTRN) today reported third quarter financial results.

  • Third quarter 2014 earnings were $0.60 per share. This compares to $0.24 per share earned in the third quarter of the prior year, and sequentially to $0.47 per share earned in the second quarter of the current year.
  • Adjusted third quarter earnings were $0.51 per share, up $0.27 per share, or 113%, compared to the same quarter of the prior year. Adjusted earnings excludes a benefit from a legal settlement related to the beryllium pebble plant.
  • Sequentially, third quarter adjusted earnings were 42% ahead of the second quarter of 2014 adjusted earnings of $0.36 per share.
  • Net sales for the third quarter were $291.6 million, 6% above prior-year’s third quarter. Value-added sales, a non-GAAP measure as defined in Attachment 4, for the third quarter were $165.6 million, up 12% compared to the same quarter of the prior year and up 4% sequentially from the second quarter of the current year.
  • Adjusted operating profit margin, as a percent of value-added sales, expanded to 8.9%, a 530 basis point improvement, from prior-year third quarter levels and improved sequentially by 220 basis points from the second quarter of 2014 levels.
  • The facility closures and product line rationalizations completed in 2013 are continuing to deliver the expected margin benefits.
  • For the nine months to date, earnings were $1.42 per share, compared to $0.76 per share for the same period of the prior year.
  • Adjusted earnings for the nine months to date were $1.15 per share, 51% ahead of the same period of last year.
  • During the third quarter, the Company repurchased approximately 400,000 shares of its common stock, or 2% of its outstanding shares.
  • The Company confirms its annual 2014 earnings guidance range of $1.55 - $1.70 adjusted earnings per share.
  • The Company declared a fourth quarter dividend of $0.085 per share payable on November 20, 2014 to shareholders of record on November 6, 2014.

THIRD QUARTER 2014 RESULTS

Sales for the third quarter were $291.6 million, up 6%, compared to sales of $275.4 million for the third quarter of 2013. Value-added sales were $165.6 million, up $17.5 million, or 12%, compared to value-added sales of $148.1 million for the third quarter of 2013 and up sequentially 4% from the second quarter of 2014. The growth in value-added sales in the third quarter compared to the same period of last year was due primarily to stronger demand from customers in the consumer electronics, industrial components, telecommunications infrastructure and medical markets. The sequential improvement as compared to the second quarter of 2014 was driven by strength across the majority of the Company’s key markets.

Adjusted operating profit margin, as a percent of value-added sales, expanded by 530 basis points to 8.9% from the prior-year third quarter levels and improved 220 basis points sequentially from the second quarter of 2014. The margin improvement is a result of higher sales volume, benefits from the facility closures and product line rationalizations completed in 2013, higher production levels, and an improved product mix, particularly in the Beryllium and Composites segment.

Net income for the third quarter of 2014 was $12.4 million, or $0.60 per share. This compares to net income of $5.0 million, or $0.24 per share for the third quarter of the prior year. Excluding the net benefit of the legal settlement related to the beryllium pebble plant, third quarter adjusted earnings were $0.51 per share. Third quarter adjusted earnings were also up 42% sequentially from the second quarter adjusted earnings of $0.36 per share (see Attachment 5 for a reconciliation of adjusted earnings).

For the first nine months of 2014, sales were $838.5 million compared to sales of $880.7 million for the same period of last year. Value-added sales for the first nine months of 2014 were up 4% to $470.1 million compared to $451.9 million for the same period of last year. In the first nine months, strong demand from customers in the consumer electronics, science, and medical markets was offset by the weakness noted earlier in the year in shipments to the automotive electronics and defense industries. Year-to-date 2014 net income was $29.7 million compared to $15.9 million for the first nine months of 2013. Year-to-date adjusted net income was $24.2 million, or $1.15 per share, an increase of 51% over the comparable period of the prior year.

STOCK BUYBACK

In January 2014, the Company announced that the Board of Directors approved an authorization to repurchase up to $50.0 million of the Company’s common stock. During the third quarter, the Company repurchased 393,184 shares of its common stock. This brings the year-to-date total since the inception of the buyback to 479,554 shares for a total purchase price of $15.6 million.

DIVIDEND

Today the Company also announced the declaration of its fourth quarter dividend of $0.085 per share payable on November 20, 2014 to shareholders of record on November 6, 2014. The dividend is a reflection of the Company’s continued confidence in the strength of its business, its prospects for long-term growth, and its ability to continue to fund organic growth while returning cash to shareholders.

BUSINESS SEGMENT REPORTING

Advanced Material Technologies

Advanced Material Technologies’ sales for the third quarter of 2014 were $177.5 million, which compares to sales of $176.3 million in the third quarter of 2013. Value-added sales, which remove the impact of changes in the market prices of pass-through metals as defined in Attachment 4, were $71.2 million in the third quarter of 2014, up $3.5 million, or 5%, compared to $67.7 million in the third quarter of 2013. Third quarter value-added sales were also up sequentially by $1.3 million, or 2%, compared to the second quarter of 2014 value-added sales of $69.9 million. As compared to the third quarter of 2013, the increase in value-added sales was driven primarily by increased shipments to customers in the consumer electronics and medical markets. These were partially offset by lower sales to customers in the defense industry compared to the same period of last year. Stronger demand from consumer electronics and medical customers drove the sequential growth in the third quarter of 2014 compared to the second quarter of 2014.

Operating profit for the third quarter of 2014 was $7.7 million, or 11% of value-added sales, which compares to $4.1 million, or 6% of value-added sales, for the third quarter of 2013. Facility closures and product line rationalization initiatives undertaken in 2013 continued to deliver the expected stronger product mix and margin expansion. Operating profit also improved due to higher value-added sales and improved yields. Operating margins improved 470 basis points over the same period last year and were about flat sequentially as compared to the second quarter of 2014 adjusted operating profit.

Performance Alloys

Performance Alloys' sales for the third quarter of 2014 were $80.9 million, which compares to the third quarter of 2013 sales of $69.6 million. Value-added sales for the third quarter of 2014 were $66.7 million, up $9.3 million, or 16%, compared to the third quarter 2013. Value-added sales for the third quarter compared sequentially to the second quarter of 2014 were up 5%. While value-added sales in this segment tend to be seasonably lower in the third quarter, they were up compared to both the prior-year period and sequentially. The improvement in the third quarter value-added sales compared to the same period last year was primarily driven by strength from customers in the industrial components, telecommunications infrastructure and energy markets. Sequentially, the value-added sales for the third quarter were up over the second quarter of 2014 on strength from the energy, industrial components and telecommunication infrastructure markets. Third quarter value-added sales of ToughMet® products were up 35% compared to the same period of last year.

Operating profit for the third quarter of 2014 was $6.5 million, up $2.0 million, or 44%, compared to an operating profit of $4.5 million in the third quarter of 2013. Operating profit for the third quarter of 2014 was up sequentially by $1.3 million, or 25%, from the second quarter of 2014. The improvement in operating profit is from the higher sales volume and improved product mix.

Beryllium and Composites

Beryllium and Composites' sales for the third quarter of 2014 were $17.9 million, up $4.2 million, or 31%, compared to sales of $13.7 million in the third quarter of 2013. Third quarter sales were up sequentially by 8% from second quarter of 2014 sales of $16.6 million. Beryllium and Composites does not directly pass through changes in the costs of its materials sold, and, therefore, value-added sales for this segment are the same as sales. The increase in sales compared to the prior-year period and sequentially is primarily due to higher sales to customers in the medical and science markets.

Operating profit for the third quarter of 2014 was $1.0 million compared to an operating loss of $3.3 million in the third quarter of 2013. Operating profit improved sequentially by $2.8 million compared to an operating loss of $1.8 million in the second quarter of 2014. The improvement from both the prior-year period and sequentially is due to higher sales volume into the science market and improved product mix.

The beryllium pebble plant met production needs in the quarter and continues to ramp up on schedule. Beryllium and Composites is on target to achieve a $5.0 to $6.0 million improvement in operating profit for the year compared to 2013.

Technical Materials

Technical Materials’ sales for the third quarter of 2014 were $15.3 million, compared to $15.9 million for the same period of last year. Value-added sales were $9.8 million in the third quarter of 2014, up 5% compared to $9.3 million for the third quarter of 2013. Sequentially, value-added sales were up 2% from the second quarter of 2014.

Operating profit for the third quarter of 2014 of $1.4 million, or 14% of value-added sales, was flat with the same period last year. Operating profit improved sequentially in the third quarter compared to the second quarter 2014 operating profit of $1.0 million.

OUTLOOK

As expected, earnings for the second half of 2014 will be up significantly from the first half of the year as business levels and margins have significantly improved. Although order entry trends continue to be favorable, value-added sales to our customers in markets such as consumer electronics, automotive electronics and telecommunications infrastructure can be lumpy and are expected to be affected by seasonal factors in the fourth quarter. In addition, we have several large orders in the Beryllium and Composites business segment that are scheduled for delivery late in the fourth quarter. These are subject to possible delay into the first quarter of 2015. Despite the stronger third quarter performance, recent macroeconomic news from Asia and Europe may negatively impact our order rate and shipment schedule. Considering the above factors, the Company is confirming its previous guidance for the full-year 2014 to be in the range of $1.55 to $1.70 per share, on an adjusted basis.

CHAIRMAN’S COMMENTS

Richard J. Hipple, Chairman, President and CEO, stated, “I am pleased with the progress we have been making throughout the year, particularly with the significant improvement in value-added sales, margins, and earnings per share we experienced in the third quarter. Our strategic growth and cost savings initiatives are now providing the leverage and the earnings power that we anticipate as evidenced by the third quarter adjusted earnings of $0.51 per share. We also continue to generate strong cash flow which provides the flexibility to support our organic growth, pursue strategic acquisitions and return cash to our shareholders in the form of dividends and stock repurchases. I believe we are well positioned to continue to enhance long-term shareholder value.”

CONFERENCE CALL

Materion Corporation will host a conference call with analysts at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time, October 23, 2014. The conference call will be available via webcast through the Company’s website at www.materion.com or through www.InvestorCalendar.com. By phone, please dial (877) 407-0778. Callers outside the U.S. can dial (201) 689-8565. A replay of the call will be available until November 7, 2014 by dialing (877) 660-6853 or (201) 612-7415; please reference Conference ID Number 13592214. The call will also be archived on the Company’s website.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Portions of the narrative set forth in this document that are not statements of historical or current facts are forward-looking statements, in particular, the outlook provided above. Our actual future performance may materially differ from that contemplated by the forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors. These factors include, in addition to those mentioned elsewhere herein:

  • Actual sales, operating rates and margins for 2014;
  • Our ability to strengthen our internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures;
  • The global economy;
  • The impact of any U.S. Federal Government shutdowns and sequestrations;
  • The condition of the markets which we serve, whether defined geographically or by segment, with the major market segments being: consumer electronics, industrial components, commercial aerospace, defense, science, automotive electronics, medical, energy, and telecommunications infrastructure;
  • Changes in product mix and the financial condition of customers;
  • Our success in developing and introducing new products and new product ramp-up rates;
  • Our success in passing through the costs of raw materials to customers or otherwise mitigating fluctuating prices for those materials, including the impact of fluctuating prices on inventory values;
  • Our success in integrating acquired businesses;
  • The impact of the results of acquisitions on our ability to achieve fully the strategic and financial objectives related to these acquisitions;
  • Our success in achieving the expected benefits from our facility consolidations;
  • Our success in implementing our strategic plans and the timely and successful completion and start-up of any capital projects, including the primary beryllium facility in Elmore, Ohio;
  • The availability of adequate lines of credit and the associated interest rates;
  • Other financial factors, including the cost and availability of raw materials (both base and precious metals), physical inventory valuations, metal financing fees, tax rates, exchange rates, pension costs and required cash contributions and other employee benefit costs, energy costs, regulatory compliance costs, the cost and availability of insurance, and the impact of the Company’s stock price on the cost of incentive compensation plans;
  • The uncertainties related to the impact of war, terrorist activities and acts of God;
  • Changes in government regulatory requirements and the enactment of new legislation that impacts our obligations and operations;
  • The conclusion of pending litigation matters in accordance with our expectation that there will be no material adverse effects; and
  • The risk factors set forth in Part 1, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.

Materion Corporation is headquartered in Mayfield Heights, Ohio. The Company, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, supplies highly engineered advanced enabling materials to global markets. Products include precious and non-precious specialty metals, inorganic chemicals and powders, specialty coatings, specialty engineered beryllium alloys, beryllium and beryllium composites, and engineered clad and plated metal systems.

             
 

Materion Corporation

Attachment 1

Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited)
Third Quarter Ended Nine Months Ended
Sept. 26, Sept. 27, Sept. 26, Sept. 27,
(In thousands except per share amounts) 2014 2013 2014 2013
 
Net sales $ 291,570 $ 275,434 $ 838,465 $ 880,744
Cost of sales   236,727     230,951     688,359     741,930
Gross margin 54,843 44,483 150,106 138,814
Selling, general and administrative expense 34,823 31,804 100,768 97,910
Research and development expense 3,243 3,190 9,473 9,901
Other - net   (644 )   4,161     (3,177 )   9,592
Operating profit 17,421 5,328 43,042 21,411
Interest expense - net   764     715     2,132     2,356
Income before income taxes 16,657 4,613 40,910 19,055
 
Income tax expense (benefit)   4,217     (379 )   11,165     3,123
 
Net income $ 12,440   $ 4,992   $ 29,745   $ 15,932
 
 
Basic earnings per share:
Net income per share of common stock $ 0.61 $ 0.24 $ 1.45 $ 0.78
 
Diluted earnings per share:
Net income per share of common stock $ 0.60 $ 0.24 $ 1.42 $ 0.76
 
 
Cash dividends per share $ 0.085 $ 0.080 $ 0.250 $ 0.235
 
 
Weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding
Basic 20,490 20,604 20,579 20,551
Diluted 20,827 20,931 20,927 20,874
 
           

Materion Corporation

Attachment 2

Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
Sept. 26, Dec. 31,
(In thousands)         2014     2013
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents $ 19,610 $ 22,774
Accounts receivable 126,950 113,012
Inventories 227,286 232,800
Prepaid expenses 17,231 16,353
Deferred income taxes   9,965     10,325  
Total current assets 401,042 395,264
 
Long-term deferred income taxes 5,502 5,941
 
Property, plant and equipment 793,983 782,879

Less allowances for depreciation, depletion and amortization

  (545,183 )   (520,986 )
Property, plant, and equipment - net 248,800 261,893
Intangible assets 20,046 24,248
Other assets 4,693 3,874
Goodwill   86,725     86,725  
Total Assets $ 766,808   $ 777,945  
 
 
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Current liabilities
Short-term debt $ 6,613 $ 35,566
Accounts payable 32,158 36,556
Other liabilities and accrued items 59,562 54,851
Income taxes 7,955 1,564
Unearned revenue   1,239     479  
Total current liabilities 107,527 129,016
 
Other long-term liabilities 16,187 16,531
Retirement and post-employment benefits 53,493 80,275
Unearned income 52,970 56,490
Long-term income taxes 1,576 1,576
Deferred income taxes 4,895 1,469
Long-term debt 43,780 29,267
 
Shareholders' equity   486,380     463,321  
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity $ 766,808   $ 777,945  
 
         

Materion Corporation

Attachment 3

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
Nine Months Ended
Sept. 26, Sept. 27,
(In thousands)         2014     2013
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income $ 29,745 $ 15,932

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided from operating activities:

Depreciation, depletion and amortization 32,333 30,842
Amortization of deferred financing costs in interest expense 627 501
Stock-based compensation expense 4,123 4,103
Changes in assets and liabilities net of acquired assets and liabilities:
Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable (15,184 ) 3,143
Decrease (increase) in inventory (24,148 ) (13 )
Decrease (increase) in prepaid and other current assets (579 ) 2,055
Decrease (increase) in deferred income taxes 8 249
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued expenses 2,315 (21,216 )
Increase (decrease) in unearned revenue 760 (1,082 )
Increase (decrease) in interest and taxes payable 6,017 108
Increase (decrease) in long-term liabilities (14,976 ) 1,152
Other - net   (14 )   2,741  
Net cash provided from operating activities 21,027 38,515
 
 
Cash flows from investing activities:
Payments for purchase of property, plant and equipment (19,843 ) (19,830 )
Payments for mine development (670 ) (4,407 )
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 3,084 23
Other investments - net   (2 )   20  
Net cash used in investing activities (17,431 ) (24,194 )
 
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayment of short-term debt (291 ) (13,263 )
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt 33,252 70,333
Repayment of long-term debt (18,739 ) (62,789 )
Principal payments under capital lease obligations (497 ) (491 )
Cash dividends paid (5,156 ) (4,847 )
Debt issuance costs - (1,554 )
Repurchase of common stock (15,615 )
Issuance of common stock under stock option plans 360 1,075
Tax benefit from stock compensation realization   109     1,664  
Net cash used in financing activities (6,577 ) (9,872 )
Effects of exchange rate changes   (183 )   (348 )
Net change in cash and cash equivalents (3,164 ) 4,101
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   22,774     16,056  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 19,610   $ 20,157  
 
                   

Materion Corporation

Attachment 4

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measure - Value-added sales
(Unaudited)
 
 
(In thousands) Third Quarter Ended Nine Months Ended
Sept. 26, 2014 Sept. 27, 2013 Sept. 26, 2014 Sept. 27, 2013
Sales
Advanced Material Technologies $ 177,483 $ 176,294 $ 519,792 $ 566,158
Performance Alloys 80,863 69,578 224,289 218,435
Beryllium and Composites 17,946 13,685 50,042 42,194
Technical Materials 15,278 15,877 44,342 53,957
All Other   -     -     -     -  
Total $ 291,570 $ 275,434 $ 838,465 $ 880,744
 
Less: Pass-through Metal Cost
Advanced Material Technologies $ 106,313 $ 108,554 $ 313,150 $ 364,485
Performance Alloys 14,151 12,211 39,463 43,113
Beryllium and Composites - - - (19 )
Technical Materials 5,466 6,600 15,786 21,285
All Other   -     -     -     -  
Total $ 125,930 $ 127,365 $ 368,399 $ 428,864
 
Value-added Sales (non-GAAP)
Advanced Material Technologies $ 71,170 $ 67,740 $ 206,642 $ 201,595
Performance Alloys 66,712 57,367 184,826 175,424
Beryllium and Composites 17,946 13,685 50,042 42,194
Technical Materials 9,812 9,277 28,556 32,657
All Other   -     -     -     -  
Total $ 165,640 $ 148,069 $ 470,066 $ 451,870
 
% of VA % of VA % of VA % of VA
Gross Margin
Advanced Material Technologies $ 28,201 40 % $ 24,885 37 % $ 77,218 37 % $ 69,038 34 %
Performance Alloys 18,057 27 % 15,525 27 % 52,161 28 % 50,675 29 %
Beryllium and Composites 5,553 31 % 695 5 % 13,128 26 % 7,958 19 %
Technical Materials 3,277 33 % 3,538 38 % 8,405 29 % 11,752 36 %
All Other   (245 ) -   (160 ) -   (806 ) - -   (609 ) -
Total $ 54,843 33 % $ 44,483 30 % $ 150,106 32 % $ 138,814 31 %
 
% of VA % of VA % of VA % of VA
Operating Profit
Advanced Material Technologies $ 7,691 11 % $ 4,146 6 % $ 26,790 13 % $ 5,211 3 %
Performance Alloys 6,529 10 % 4,520 8 % 15,307 8 % 18,654 11 %
Beryllium and Composites 992 6 % (3,306 ) (24 %) 282 1 % (3,780 ) (9 %)
Technical Materials 1,445 15 % 1,421 15 % 2,586 9 % 5,246 16 %
All Other   764   -   (1,453 ) -   (1,923 ) - -   (3,920 ) -
Total $ 17,421 11 % $ 5,328 4 % $ 43,042 9 % $ 21,411 5 %
 

The cost of gold, silver, platinum, palladium and copper is passed through to customers and therefore the trends and comparisons of sales are affected by movements in the market price of these metals. Internally, management reviews sales on a value-added basis. Value-added sales is a non-GAAP measure that deducts the value of the pass-through metals sold from sales. Value-added sales allows management to assess the impact of differences in sales between periods or segments and analyze the resulting margins and profitability without the distortion of the movements in pass-through metal prices. The dollar amount of gross margin and operating profit is not affected by the value-added sales calculation. The Company sells other metals and materials that are not considered direct pass throughs and their costs are not deducted from sales to calculate value-added sales.

The Company's pricing policy is to pass the cost of these metals on to customers in order to mitigate the impact of price volatility on the Company's results from operations. Value-added information is being presented since changes in metal prices may not directly impact profitability. It is the Company's intent to allow users of the financial statements to review sales with and without the impact of the pass-through metals.

   

Attachment 5

Materion Corporation
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measure - Profitability
(Unaudited)
             
Third Quarter Ended Second Quarter Ended Nine Months Ended
(In thousands except per share amounts) Sept. 26, 2014 Sept. 27, 2013 June 27, 2014 Sept. 26, 2014
     
GAAP as Reported
Sales $ 291,570 $ 275,434 $ 287,965 $ 838,465
Gross margin 54,843 44,483 49,801 150,106
Operating profit 17,421 5,328 14,568 43,042
Net income 12,440 4,992 9,974 29,745
EPS - Diluted $ 0.60 $ 0.24 $ 0.47 $ 1.42
 
Facility closure and reorganization costs (benefits)
Cost of goods sold $ - $ - $ 28 $ 224
Selling, general and administrative 345 - - 804
Other-net   -     -     -     (2,627 )
Recovery from insurance and other litigation, net of expenses
Selling, general and administrative 959 - 2,899 3,858
Other-net $ (4,000 ) $ -   $ (6,750 ) $ (10,750 )
Total special items $ (2,696 ) $ -   $ (3,823 ) $ (8,491 )
 
Special items - net of tax $ (1,752 ) $ - $ (2,485 ) $ (5,578 )
 
 
Non-GAAP Measures - Adjusted Profitability
Value-added (VA) sales $ 165,640 $ 148,069 $ 159,566 $ 470,066
Gross margin 54,843 44,483 49,829 150,330
Gross margin % of VA 33.1 % 30.0 % 31.2 % 32.0 %
Operating profit 14,725 5,328 10,745 34,551
Operating profit % of VA 8.9 % 3.6 % 6.7 % 7.4 %
Net income 10,688 4,992 7,489 24,167
EPS - Diluted $ 0.51 $ 0.24 $ 0.36 $ 1.15
 

In addition to presenting financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), this earnings release contains financial measures, including gross margin, operating profit, net income and earnings per share, on a non-GAAP basis. As detailed in the above reconciliation, we have adjusted out the cost (benefit) impact of the plant consolidation and product line reorganization efforts in and the net recovery from insurance and other litigation claims in our All Other segment from the applicable GAAP measure. Internally, management reviews the results of operations without the impact of these costs in order to assess the profitability from ongoing activities. We are providing this information because we believe it will assist investors in analyzing our financial results and, when viewed in conjunction with the GAAP results, provide a more comprehensive understanding of the factors and trends affecting our operations.