North America Display and Semiconductor Wafer Fab Revenues Grow Versus Q4 FY19

Q4 and FY20 Highlights

• Net sales of $37.4 million were down 11.4% from last year’s fourth quarter, primarily due to the COVID-19 impact on all three of our strategic business units.
• Sales increased for Canvys display solutions in North America and Semiconductor Wafer Fabrication equipment products in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020.
• Gross margin increased to 30.4% of net sales versus 29.7% of net sales in the prior year’s fourth quarter due to an improved product mix and manufacturing efficiencies for PMT.
• Operating expenses increased $0.1 million to $12.7 million compared to the prior year’s fourth quarter.
• Operating loss was $1.3 million compared to an operating loss of $6.4 million in last year’s fourth quarter, which included a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $6.3 million.
• Net sales for fiscal 2020 were $155.9 million, compared to $166.7 million in fiscal 2019, or a decrease of 6.5%.
• Operating loss for fiscal 2020 was $1.7 million, as compared to $6.8 million, inclusive of the goodwill impairment charge, in fiscal 2019.
• Cash and investments were $46.5 million as of May 30, 2020 versus $43.9 million at the end of the third quarter of this fiscal year and $50.0 million as of June 1, 2019. The use of cash reflects an improvement in cash from operations and lower capital expenditures in fiscal 2020.

LAFOX, Ill., July 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Richardson Electronics, Ltd. (NASDAQ: RELL) today reported financial results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended May 30, 2020.  The Company also announced that its Board of Directors declared a $0.06 per share quarterly cash dividend. 

Fourth Quarter Results

Net sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 decreased 11.4% to $37.4 million compared to net sales of $42.2 million in the prior year’s fourth quarter primarily due to COVID-19 and its impact on demand. Richardson Electronics is an “essential business” and continued operating its manufacturing and distribution businesses on a global basis throughout the pandemic under strict safety guidelines. Sales of specialty products for semiconductor wafer fab equipment increased from last year’s fourth quarter, although overall PMT sales decreased $2.7 million or 8.6%. Canvys sales decreased by $0.8 million or 10.2% due to lower sales to medical OEMs in its European market, partially offset by higher North American sales. Richardson Healthcare sales decreased $1.3 million or 47.2% due to hospital closures, restrictions on non-emergency procedures, and many people postponing care during shelter in place orders to help stop the spread of the virus. Reduced sales of refurbished CT systems in Latin America also contributed to the revenue decline.

Gross margin increased to 30.4% of net sales during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 compared to 29.7% of net sales during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019 due to a favorable product mix and improved manufacturing efficiencies in PMT. PMT margin increased to 33.2% from 30.3%. Canvys margin as a percent of net sales decreased from 32.1% to 31.0% and Healthcare margin as a percent of net sales was minus 28.6% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 due to higher manufacturing under absorption, scrap and inventory reserve costs related to tube development and production improvements on significantly lower net sales.

Operating expenses were $12.7 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 compared to $12.5 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019.  The increase in operating expenses resulted from higher salaries and severance expenses, partially offset by lower travel and IT expenses.

As a result, the Company reported an operating loss of $1.3 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 compared to an operating loss of $6.4 million in the prior year’s fourth quarter, which included a non-cash goodwill impairment of $6.3 million. Other income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020, including interest income and foreign exchange, was $0.2 million, compared to other income of $0.3 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019.

The income tax provision of $0.2 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 reflected a provision for foreign income taxes, which was lower than the prior year’s fourth quarter provision and no U.S. tax benefit due to the valuation allowance recorded against the net operating loss. Net loss for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 was $1.3 million compared to a net loss of $6.4 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019.

“While our overall results were negatively impacted by the coronavirus, the Richardson team demonstrated its resourcefulness and resilience through superior support to our customers and suppliers. We were pleased to see continued sales growth in Canvys North America and in semiconductor wafer fab equipment specialty products,” said Edward J. Richardson, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President. “Given the ever changing situation in the global economy, we will continue to closely manage expenses and cash flow. It is difficult to predict what the new ‘normal’ will look like, but I am convinced our business will be stronger with the ongoing investments we are making in our growth initiatives,” he concluded.

Fiscal 2020 Results

Net sales for fiscal 2020 were $155.9 million, a decrease of 6.5% compared to net sales of $166.7 million for fiscal 2019. Sales decreased by $10.4 million or 8.1% for PMT, but increased by $0.9 million or 3.4% for Canvys. Sales for Richardson Healthcare decreased by $1.3 million or 13.2% due to lower sales in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 resulting from the impact of the coronavirus.

Gross profit decreased to $49.7 million for fiscal 2020, compared to $51.7 million for fiscal 2019. As a percentage of net sales, gross margin increased to 31.9% of net sales for fiscal 2020, compared to 31.0% of net sales for fiscal 2019, primarily due to a favorable product mix and improved manufacturing efficiencies for PMT.

Operating expenses decreased to $51.3 million for fiscal 2020, compared to $52.2 million for fiscal 2019. The decrease was due to lower travel, severance, legal and IT expenses, partially offset by higher employee compensation expenses. Throughout the pandemic, the Company decided to support its employees through regular merit increases and incentive plans, and by avoiding layoffs or furloughs.

Operating loss for fiscal 2020 was $1.7 million, as compared to an operating loss of $6.8 million, inclusive of the non-cash goodwill impairment, in fiscal 2019. Other income in fiscal 2020, including interest income and foreign exchange, was $0.4 million, versus $0.5 million in fiscal 2019.

The income tax provision of $0.6 million for fiscal 2020 reflected a provision for foreign income taxes, which was lower than in the prior year and no U.S. tax benefit due to the valuation allowance recorded against the net operating loss. Net loss for fiscal 2020 was $1.8 million, compared to a net loss of $7.3 million for fiscal 2019.

CASH DIVIDEND AND POSITION

The Company also announced today that its Board of Directors declared a $0.06 quarterly dividend per share to holders of common stock and a $0.054 cash dividend per share to holders of Class B common stock.  The dividend will be payable on August 27, 2020, to common stockholders of record as of August 6, 2020.

Cash and investments at the end of fiscal 2020 were $46.5 million compared to $43.9 million at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2020 and $50.0 million at the end of fiscal 2019.  The Company spent $0.5 million during the quarter on capital expenditures primarily related to our LaFox manufacturing and Healthcare businesses as well as our IT System, versus $0.7 million during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019. Total capital expenditures in fiscal 2020 were $1.8 million compared to $3.9 million in fiscal 2019.

CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION

On Thursday, July 23, 2020, at 9:00 a.m. CDT, Edward J. Richardson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Robert J. Ben, Chief Financial Officer, will host a conference call to discuss the Company’s fourth quarter and fiscal year 2020 results.  A question and answer session will be included as part of the call’s agenda.