Astronics Corporation Reports 2021 Third Quarter Financial Results

• Sales for the quarter were $111.8 million, up 5% over prior-year period
• Net loss of $7.2 million continues sequential improvement through 2021
• Adjusted EBITDA^* was $2.8 million; measurably improved over prior-year period loss and trailing second quarter
• Bookings up 88% over prior-year period and up 22% over trailing second quarter to $153.5 million; Achieved book-to-bill ratio of 1.37
• Aerospace segment book-to-bill was 1.49 for the quarter
• Backlog increased 13% sequentially to $354.4 million 

*Adjusted EBITDA is a Non-GAAP Performance Measure. Please see the attached table for a reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to GAAP net income.

Astronics Corporation (Nasdaq: ATRO) (“Astronics” or the “Company”), a leading supplier of advanced technologies and products to the global aerospace, defense and other mission critical industries, today reported financial results for the three and nine months ended October 2, 2021.

Peter J. Gundermann, the Company’s President and CEO, commented, “Our core markets are showing improved demand although our sales were hampered by approximately $8 million to $10 million due to supply chain challenges and a tight labor market. Nonetheless, we are encouraged with strong order activity across the business, with bookings exceeding shipments by 37%. This demand promises an improved fourth quarter and solid momentum as we prepare for 2022.”

Third Quarter Results

Third Quarter 2021 Results (compared with the prior-year period, unless noted otherwise)

Consolidated sales were up $5.3 million from the third quarter of 2020. Aerospace sales were up $13.2 million, or 16.0%, and Test System sales decreased $7.9 million. Total sales and volume continued to reflect the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global aerospace industry. Supply chain pressures impacted delivery schedules and costs, limiting the Company’s ability to respond to accelerated or quick-turn delivery requests from customers and delayed shipments that otherwise would have been made during the quarter. The Company estimates that revenue would have been $8 million to $10 million higher in the third quarter if its supply chain was functioning normally.

The Company was awarded a grant of up to $14.7 million as part of the Aviation Manufacturing Jobs Protection (“AMJP”) Program. The grant will be recognized ratably over the six-month period of performance. In the third quarter of 2021, $1.1 million was recognized as an offset to cost of products sold.

Consolidated operating loss improved measurably over the prior-year period as higher volume reflecting improvements in the commercial aerospace and the benefit of the AMJP helped to offset the impacts of supply chain constraints.

Consolidated net loss was $7.2 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, compared with net loss of $5.3 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, in the prior year. The prior-year net loss benefitted from a $3.1 million tax adjustment related to a revised state income tax filing position.

Consolidated adjusted EBITDA was $2.8 million, or 2.5% of consolidated sales, compared with adjusted EBITDA of $(0.1) million, or (0.1)% of consolidated sales, in the prior-year period.

Sequentially, compared with the second quarter of 2021, while revenue remained consistent, net loss improved to $(7.2) million from $(8.1) million, and adjusted EBITDA improved to $2.8 million from $0.4 million.

Bookings were $153.5 million in the quarter resulting in a book-to-bill ratio of 1.37:1. Backlog at the end of the quarter was $354.4 million. Approximately $113.3 million, or 32%, of backlog is expected to ship in the remainder of 2021.

Aerospace Segment Review (refer to sales by market and segment data in accompanying tables)

Aerospace Third Quarter 2021 Results (compared with the prior-year period, unless noted otherwise)

Aerospace segment sales increased $13.2 million, or 16.0%, to $95.8 million. Commercial aerospace sales were up 30.6%, or $13.5 million, and drove the improvement even as sales remain below pre-pandemic levels. Sales to this market were $57.5 million, or 51.5% of consolidated revenue in the quarter, compared with $44.1 million, or 41.4% of consolidated revenue in the third quarter of 2020. Improving domestic travel, increased production rates including the 737 MAX and higher fleet utilization are driving increased demand for Astronics’ products.

General Aviation sales were down $2.6 million, or 17.7%, to $12.1 million as higher demand in the business jet market somewhat offset lower VVIP activity. The Company expects the strong demand being realized in the business jet industry to translate into higher demand for its products as production levels begin to increase in 2022.

Military Aircraft sales decreased $1.1 million, or 6.1%, to $17.1 million. The prior-year period benefited from incremental non-recurring engineering revenue associated with development of new programs.

Other revenue increased $3.4 million to $9.0 million driven by increased contract manufacturing programs.

Aerospace segment operating profit was $1.9 million compared with operating loss of $(6.3) million for the same period last year driven by increased sales and the $1.1 million AMJP benefit.

Sequentially, compared with the second quarter of 2021, Aerospace revenue grew 7% and operating profit improved $4.6 million to $1.9 million.

Aerospace bookings in the third quarter of 2021 were $142.5 million for a book-to-bill ratio of 1.49:1. Bookings were up 21% sequentially and up 119% over the comparator quarter of 2020, continuing the strong trend of improvement since the pandemic took hold. Backlog for the Aerospace segment was $285.8 million at the end of the third quarter of 2021.

Mr. Gundermann commented, “The commercial aerospace industry is showing solid signs of improvement. Increasing utilization and production rates for narrowbody aircraft are positives for us, and now international travel restrictions are beginning to be lifted, which will help the widebody market as well. Private aircraft OEMs have seen strong orders also which we expect will boost production plans in 2022 and onward.”

Test Systems Segment Review (refer to sales by market and segment data in accompanying tables)

Test Systems Third Quarter 2021 Results (compared with the prior-year period, unless noted otherwise)

Test Systems segment sales were $16.1 million, down $7.9 million compared with the prior-year period driven by lower defense and transit revenue caused by COVID-related delays.

Test Systems operating loss was $(2.2) million, or 13.7% of sales, compared with operating profit of $0.9 million, or 3.9% of sales, in the third quarter of 2020. Operating loss in the third quarter of 2021 was negatively affected by lower volume and $1.0 million in legal fees related to infringement claims and contractual disputes. Operating results in 2020 benefited from $0.6 million in semiconductor warranty revenue.

Bookings for the Test Systems segment in the quarter were $11.1 million, for a book-to-bill ratio of 0.69:1 for the quarter. Backlog was $68.6 million at the end of the third quarter of 2021.

Mr. Gundermann noted, “Our Test business continued to experience lower-than-expected bookings in the third quarter, which we continue to believe is caused mostly by the pandemic. We do not believe we are losing opportunities to competition, but schedules are sliding into the future. However, in the month of October we booked more orders than we did in either of the two previous quarters, so things appear to be accelerating in our Test business also.”

Liquidity and Financing

At October 2, 2021, the Company was in compliance with all covenants of its amended credit facility and expects to remain compliant.

Cash used by operations totaled $16.2 million in the third quarter of 2021. Cash on hand was $29.1 million and net debt was $153.9 million at the end of the quarter. Subsequent to October 2, 2021, the Company sold one of its Aerospace facilities for $9.1 million. Net cash proceeds were approximately $8.8 million. A gain on sale of approximately $5.0 million will be recorded during the fourth quarter of 2021.

In September, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced that it had approved for the Company to receive up to $14.7 million under the AMJP program. The Company received its first installment of approximately $7.3 million in September. The Company expects to receive a second installment in the range of $5 million to $6 million in the fourth quarter of 2021, and a final installment in the second or third quarter of 2022, upon final confirmation of meeting its award commitments.

The Company expects additional cash inflows over the next several quarters related to an earn out from the 2019 sale of its semiconductor test business, an approximate $10 million tax refund and improved sales volumes.

2021 Outlook

Mr. Gundermann commented, “We are expecting to close 2021 with a higher shipment level in the final quarter. Supply chain challenges introduce a level of uncertainty, but we expect fourth quarter revenues of $115 million to $118 million. We expect shipping volume to continue to strengthen as we move into 2022, but we are not yet comfortable providing guidance for the year.”

Based on current estimates, the Company expects the AMJP to contribute approximately $7.3 million to gross profit as an offset to cost of goods sold in the fourth quarter, with the remaining benefit to gross profit of approximately $6.2 million to be recorded in the first quarter of 2022. However, the actual benefit between the two quarters may differ from these estimates based on actual payroll attribution for the eligible employee group.

At the end of the third quarter, the Company had backlog of $354 million, of which $113 million is expected to ship in the fourth quarter.

Planned capital expenditures for 2021 have been reduced to approximately $8 million to $9 million from previous expectations of $10 million to $11 million.

Third Quarter 2021 Webcast and Conference Call

The Company will host a teleconference today at 11:00 a.m. ET. During the teleconference, management will review the financial and operating results for the period and discuss Astronics’ corporate strategy and outlook. A question-and-answer session will follow.

The Astronics conference call can be accessed by calling 201.493.6784. The listen-only audio webcast can be monitored at www.astronics.com. To listen to the archived call, dial 412.317.6671 and enter replay pin number 13723722. The telephonic replay will be available from 2:00 p.m. on the day of the call through Monday, November 15, 2021. A transcript of the call will also be posted to the Company’s Web site once available.

About Astronics Corporation

Astronics Corporation (Nasdaq: ATRO) serves the world’s aerospace, defense, and other mission critical industries with proven, innovative technology solutions. Astronics works side-by-side with customers, integrating its array of power, connectivity, lighting, structures, interiors, and test technologies to solve complex challenges. For over 50 years, Astronics has delivered creative, customer-focused solutions with exceptional responsiveness. Today, global airframe manufacturers, airlines, military branches, completion centers, and Fortune 500 companies rely on the collaborative spirit and innovation of Astronics. The Company’s strategy is to increase its value by developing technologies and capabilities that provide innovative solutions to its targeted markets.

Safe Harbor Statement

This news release contains forward-looking statements as defined by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. One can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of the words “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “may,” “will,” “estimate” or other similar expressions and include all statements with regard to the impact of COVID-19 on the Company and its future, reaching any revenue or Adjusted EBITDA margin expectations, being in compliance with credit agreement covenants, the recovery of the commercial aerospace and test systems markets, the opportunities to leverage capabilities in other markets and the outcome of demand streams or expectations of demand by customers and markets. Because such statements apply to future events, they are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from what may be stated here include the impact of the global outbreak of COVID-19 and governmental and other actions taken in response, trend in growth with passenger power and connectivity on airplanes, the state of the aerospace and defense industries, the market acceptance of newly developed products, internal production capabilities, the timing of orders received, the status of customer certification processes and delivery schedules, the demand for and market acceptance of new or existing aircraft which contain the Company’s products, the need for new and advanced test and simulation equipment, customer preferences and relationships, and other factors which are described in filings by Astronics with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking information in this news release whether to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events or changes in future operating results, financial conditions or prospects, or otherwise.

FINANCIAL TABLES FOLLOW

Reconciliation to Non-GAAP Performance Measures

In addition to reporting net income, a U.S. generally accepted accounting principle (“GAAP”) measure, we present Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, non-cash equity-based compensation expense, goodwill, intangible and long-lived asset impairment charges, equity investment income or loss, legal reserves, settlements and recoveries, restructuring charges, gains or losses associated with the sale of businesses and grant benefits recorded related to the AMJP program), which is a non-GAAP measure. The Company’s management believes Adjusted EBITDA is an important measure of operating performance because it allows management, investors and others to evaluate and compare the performance of its core operations from period to period by removing the impact of the capital structure (interest), tangible and intangible asset base (depreciation and amortization), taxes, equity-based compensation expense, goodwill, intangible and long-lived asset impairment charges, equity investment income or loss, legal reserves, settlements and recoveries, restructuring charges, fair value adjustments to the valuation of contingent consideration liabilities, gains or losses associated with the sale of businesses and grant benefits recorded related to the AMJP program, which is not commensurate with the core activities of the reporting period in which it is included. As such, the Company uses Adjusted EBITDA as a measure of performance when evaluating its business and as a basis for planning and forecasting. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP and is not calculated through the application of GAAP. As such, it should not be considered as a substitute for the GAAP measure of net income and, therefore, should not be used in isolation of, but in conjunction with, the GAAP measure. Adjusted EBITDA, as presented, may produce results that vary from the GAAP measure and may not be comparable to a similarly defined non-GAAP measure used by other companies.

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