Daktronics, Inc. Announces Second Quarter Fiscal 2008 Results

Daktronics, Inc. (Nasdaq:DAKT) today reported fiscal 2008 second quarter net sales of $131.4 million and net income of $8.0 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, compared with second quarter net sales of $123.5 million and net income of $8.9 million, or $0.22 per diluted share for fiscal 2007. Backlog at the end of the second quarter was approximately $119 million, compared with a backlog of approximately $121 million at the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2007 and $142 million at the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2008. Net sales, net income and earnings per share for the six months ending October 27, 2007 were $252.4 million, $15.1 million and $0.37 per diluted share, respectively, compared to $215.7 million, $13.9 million and $0.34 per diluted share, respectively, for the same period in fiscal 2007. "We are pleased to report year-over-year net sales and net income growth through the first six months of fiscal 2008. However, net sales in the quarter were slightly below our expectations for a couple of reasons,” said Jim Morgan, president and chief executive officer. "First, shipments and lead times of our Galaxy® products were stretched out as a result of supply chain issues at our Redwood Falls plant. We have addressed the issues causing this, and as we enter the third quarter, we are running much better. We have also streamlined the product mix in that plant to allow better focus and increased production. We conclude that sales were impacted by more than $3 million due to these production issues, and this revenue should be partially recovered in the third quarter. Second, some contracts in our live events business have been delayed. We anticipate that, for the most part, these will fall into the 2008 fiscal third quarter. It is also important to keep in mind that the second quarter one year ago included exceptionally strong results.” Morgan continued, "We have received verbal commitments or non-binding letters of intent for three large sports projects which we expect to book in the fiscal 2008 third quarter. These orders include major league baseball facilities and in total should exceed $35 million. We are very pleased about these projects and our position on a few additional large projects that are currently being worked on by our sales and engineering people.” "Our commercial business unit continued to perform well with sales for the quarter up 25 percent as compared to the fiscal 2007 second quarter. We continue to see strong demand for our digital billboards, and our Valo® product line continues to be well received,” said Morgan. "In our international business, we are continuing to see more momentum in Europe, while Asia Pacific performance has been slightly less than expectations through the first half of fiscal 2008. We remain optimistic that our international business is an opportunity for significant long-term growth, and we are pleased with our progress to date in both Europe and Asia, keeping in mind we have been in China for only about two years,” said Morgan. Morgan added, "Our schools and theatres business unit is having a solid year, with sales up more than 37 percent year-to-date. Our acquisition of the Vortek® automated rigging systems as well as sales of more sophisticated systems for elementary and high schools is causing this expansion in sales. Performance of that unit through the summer rush season was the direct result of process improvements from our lean manufacturing initiatives. We held deliveries extremely well throughout the summer, a significant improvement over last year. Finally, net sales in our transportation business are up over 40 percent year to date as we were able to better meet demand.” "Our gross margin percent was a little less than expected due to a couple of projects that incurred extra costs,” said Bill Retterath, chief financial officer. "Headed into the third quarter, subject to the effects of the holiday and our order bookings, we should see margins equal to or greater than the fiscal 2008 second quarter. We also gained another percentage point on our operating expenses for the quarter despite hitting the low end of our sales range. We continue to make progress at controlling operating expenses." Retterath added, "During the first week of our fiscal 2008 third quarter, we sold approximately 90 percent of our ownership interest in Arena Media Networks for a book gain in excess of $2.5 million, which will be recognized in the third quarter. We will maintain a minority interest in the company and continue to provide technology solutions and network operating center services to it. This also provides for a substantial decline in debt levels for the third quarter,” concluded Retterath. Business Outlook The company is providing financial guidance for the third quarter of fiscal 2008. Daktronics expects that net sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2008 will be in the range of $107 million to $116 million and net earnings will be in the range of $0.10 to $0.15 per share. As in the past, this guidance is subject to a number of factors that could cause it to vary. Webcast Information The company will host a conference call and webcast to discuss its financial results today at 10:00 am (Central Time). This call will be broadcast live at http://investor.daktronics.com and available for replay shortly after the event. About Daktronics Daktronics has strong leadership positions in, and is one of the world’s largest suppliers of, electronic scoreboards, computer-programmable displays, and large screen video displays and control systems. The company excels in the control of large display systems, including those that require integration of multiple complex displays showing real-time information, graphics, animation and video. Daktronics designs, manufactures, markets and services display systems for customers around the world, in sport, business and transportation applications. For more information, visit the company’s World Wide Web site at: http://www.daktronics.com, e-mail the company at investor@daktronics.com, call (605) 697-4000 or toll-free (800) 843-5843 in the United States or write to the company at 331 32nd Ave. PO Box 5128 Brookings, S.D. 57006-5128. Safe Harbor Statement Cautionary Notice: In addition to statements of historical fact, this news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are intended to enjoy the protection of that Act. These forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s expectations or beliefs concerning future events. The Company cautions that these and similar statements involve risk and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectation, including, but not limited to, changes in economic and market conditions, management of growth, timing and magnitude of future contracts, and other risks noted in the company’s SEC filings, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for its 2007 fiscal year. Forward-looking statements are made in the context of information available as of the date stated. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise such statements to reflect new circumstances or unanticipated events as they occur. Daktronics, Inc. and Subsidiaries Consolidated Statements of Income (in thousands, except per share amounts) (unaudited)       Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended October 27,   October 28, October 27,   October 28, 2007 2006 2007 2006 Net sales $ 131,436 $ 123,530 $ 252,359 $ 215,683 Cost of goods sold   92,236   88,160   176,280   153,937 Gross profit 39,200 35,370 76,079 61,746   Operating expenses: Selling 15,162 12,412 30,006 24,858 General and administrative 6,434 4,628 12,436 8,356 Product design and development   5,266   3,936   10,022   7,555   26,862   20,976   52,464   40,769 Operating income 12,338 14,394 23,615 20,977   Nonoperating income (expense): Interest income 463 511 847 1,155 Interest expense (324 ) (56 ) (750 ) (81 ) Other income (expense), net   (204 )   (648 )   (505 )   (541 )   Income before income taxes 12,273 14,201 23,207 21,510 Income tax expense   4,264   5,310   8,086   7,631 Net income $ 8,009 $ 8,891 $ 15,121 $ 13,879   Weighted average shares outstanding: Basic   39,818   39,128   39,732   39,053 Diluted   41,436   41,129   41,359   41,072   Earnings per share: Basic $ 0.20 $ 0.23 $ 0.38 $ 0.36 Diluted $ 0.19 $ 0.22 $ 0.37 $ 0.34   Cash dividend paid per share $ - $ - $ 0.07 $ 0.06 Daktronics, Inc. and Subsidiaries Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands)         October 27, 2007 April 28, (unaudited) 2007 ASSETS CURRENT ASSETS: Cash and cash equivalents $ 4,127 $ 2,590 Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts 51,886 56,692 Inventories 52,703 45,835 Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings 28,885 22,314 Current maturities of long-term receivables 8,160 6,831 Prepaid expenses and other 4,538 5,044 Deferred income taxes 7,956 7,761 Income taxes receivable - 731 Rental equipment available for sale   88   188 Total current assets   158,343   147,986   Advertising rights, net 3,581 3,830 Long-term receivables, less current maturities 15,221 11,211 Investments in affiliates 8,660 8,762 Goodwill 4,575 4,408 Intangible and other assets 3,247 3,391 Deferred income taxes   -   136   35,284   31,738 PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT: Land 3,179 3,275 Buildings 45,872 36,822 Machinery and equipment 44,006 38,420 Office furniture and equipment 42,207 37,520 Equipment held for rental 3,824 2,600 Demonstration equipment 6,730 5,939 Transportation equipment   6,494   6,669 152,312 131,245 Less accumulated depreciation   53,858   45,119   98,454   86,126 TOTAL ASSETS $ 292,081 $ 265,850 Daktronics, Inc. and Subsidiaries Consolidated Balance Sheets (continued) (in thousands)         October 27, 2007 April 28, (Unaudited) 2007 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY CURRENT LIABILITIES: Notes payable, bank $ 25,243 $ 24,615 Accounts payable 32,386 26,094 Accrued expenses and warranty obligations 22,506 21,849 Current maturities of long-term debt and marketing obligations 1,100 1,002 Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings 15,280 18,293 Customer deposits 12,140 5,857 Deferred revenue 7,215 5,333 Income taxes payable   163   39 Total current liabilities   116,033   103,082   Long-term debt, less current maturities 73 592 Long-term marketing obligations, less current maturities 439 473 Long-term warranty obligations and other payables 3,949 5,366 Deferred income taxes   2,629   2,629   7,090   9,060 TOTAL LIABILITIES 123,123 112,142   SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY: Common stock 23,471 21,954 Additional paid-in capital 8,853 7,431 Retained earnings 136,820 124,469 Treasury stock, at cost (9 ) (9 ) Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (177 )   (137 ) TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY   168,958   153,708 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY $ 292,081 $ 265,850 Daktronics, Inc. and Subsidiaries Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (in thousands) (unaudited)         Six Months Ended October 27,   October 28, 2007 2006 CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Net income $ 15,121 $ 13,879 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation 10,042 5,660 Amortization 154 23 Gain (loss) on sale of property and equipment (4 ) 68 Stock-based compensation 1,156 856 Equity in earnings and losses of affiliates 862 781 Provision for doubtful accounts (94 ) 263 Deferred income taxes, net (59 ) (693 ) Change in operating assets and liabilities   (1,190 )   (10,168 ) Net cash provided by operating activities   25,988   10,669   CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Purchase of property and equipment (22,382 ) (27,753 ) Cash consideration paid for equity method investments (750 ) (13,771 ) Sales of marketable securities, net - 8,310 Proceeds from sale of property and equipment   379   44 Net cash used in investing activities   (22,753 )   (33,170 )   CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Borrowings on notes payable 100,899 2,363 Payments on notes payable (100,271 ) - Proceeds from exercise of stock options and warrants 905 639 Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation 267 251 Principal (payments) proceeds on long-term debt (508 ) 25 Dividend paid   (2,770 )   (2,339 ) Net cash (used) provided in financing activities   (1,478 )   939   EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH   (220 )   230   INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 1,537 (21,332 )   CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS BEGINNING OF PERIOD   2,590   26,921   CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS END OF PERIOD $ 4,127 $ 5,589