GlobeNewswire Inc | Oct 27, 2020 04:01PM EDT

October 27, 2020

SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash., Oct. 27, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Key Tronic Corporation (Nasdaq: KTCC), a provider of electronic manufacturing services (EMS), today announced its results for the quarter ended September26, 2020.

For the first quarter of fiscal year 2021, Key Tronic reported total revenue of $123.2 million, up 17% from $105.3 million in the same period of fiscal year 2020. The increase in revenue was due to the successful ramp of new customer programs and increased demand from existing customers. However, partially offsetting the increase in revenue during the first quarter of fiscal year 2021, the Companys revenue was constrained by labor shortages at its facilities in Juarez due to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated public health measures.

During the first quarter of fiscal year 2021, the Company incurred additional costs caused by the COVID-19 crisis totaling approximately $1.4 million or $0.10 per share. These expenses are related to increased compensation at the Companys Juarez facility in order to reduce turnover of available employees, as well as preventative measures and equipment for employees at all of its facilities in the US, Mexico, China and Vietnam.

The pandemics adverse impact on revenue and expenses also reduced the Companys margins. For the first quarter of fiscal year 2021, gross margin was 8.1% and operating margin was 2.3%, compared to gross margin of 8.8% and an operating margin of 2.4%, in the same period of fiscal 2020. For the first quarter of fiscal year 2021, net income was $1.7 million or $0.16 per share, compared to $1.6 million or $0.14 per share for the same period of fiscal year 2020.

Were pleased with the successful launch of new programs, rebounding customer demand and our strong revenue growth in the first quarter of fiscal 2021, said Craig Gates, President and Chief Executive Officer. We are ramping recent program wins and, while some of our legacy customers continued to have reduced demand due to the pandemic and related economic slowdown, several have increased demand during the first quarter of fiscal 2021, including programs for healthcare, industrial controls, and telecommunications. During the first quarter of fiscal 2021, we won new programs involving audio and video editing systems, indoor air quality, utility meters, warehouse management, and automation technologies.

Moving into the second quarter of fiscal 2021, the COVID-19 crisis continues to present macroeconomic uncertainty and multiple business challenges, but we continue to see the favorable trend of contract manufacturing returning to North America. We remain focused on protecting the health of all of our employees by adhering to current health guidelines, as well as increasing retention of available employees. We expect continued strong revenue growth in the second quarter and continue to invest in new capacity to prepare for long-term growth.

Business Outlook

For the second quarter of fiscal year 2021, Key Tronic expects to report revenue of approximately $125 million to $135 million, and earnings of approximately $0.15 to $0.25 per diluted share. These expected results assume an effective tax rate of 25% in the coming quarter. Key Tronic is working closely with its customers, key suppliers and employees to minimize the impact of the continued global pandemic. While the Companys facilities in the US, Mexico, China and Vietnam are currently operating and rigorously following current health guidelines, uncertainty as to the possibility of future temporary closures, customer demand and costs, and future supply chain disruptions during the rapidly changing COVID-19 environment could significantly impact operations in coming periods. Due to the heightened risks associated with the above, we may issue updated guidance during the upcoming quarter.

Conference Call

Key Tronic will host a conference call to discuss its financial results at 2:00 PM Pacific (5:00 PM Eastern) today. A broadcast of the conference call will be available at www.keytronic.com under Investor Relations or by calling 866-248-8441 or +1-323-289-6576 (Access Code: 6871537). A replay will be available by calling 888-203-1112 or +1-719-457-0820 (Access Code: 6871537).

About Key Tronic

Key Tronic is a leading contract manufacturer offering value-added design and manufacturing services from its facilities in the United States, Mexico, China and Vietnam. The Company provides its customers full engineering services, materials management, worldwide manufacturing facilities, assembly services, in-house testing, and worldwide distribution. Its customers include some of the worlds leading original equipment manufacturers. For more information about Key Tronic visit: www.keytronic.com.

Some of the statements in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to those including such word as aims, anticipates, believes, estimates, expects, hopes, intends, plans, predicts, projects, targets, or will, similar verbs, or nouns corresponding to such verbs, which may be forward looking. Forward-looking statements also include other passages that are relevant to expected future events, performances, and actions or that can only be fully evaluated by events that will occur in the future. Forward-looking statements in this release include, without limitation, the Companys statements regarding its expectations with respect to financial conditions and results, including revenue and earnings during periods of fiscal year 2021, risks of manufacturing supply chain and operational disruptions and relating to the health of employees due to COVID-19 health pandemic, demand for certain products and the effectiveness of some of our programs, effects of recent tax reform and tariff measures and trade tensions, business from new customers and programs, improvement of supply chain delivery and impacts from legal proceedings and operational streamlining. There are many factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted or projected in forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: the future of the global economic environment and its impact on our customers and suppliers, particularly during the COVID-19 health crisis; the availability of components from the supply chain; the availability of a healthy workforce; the accuracy of suppliers and customers forecasts; development and success of customers programs and products; timing and effectiveness of ramping of new programs; success of new-product introductions; acquisitions or divestitures of operations or facilities; technology advances; changes in pricing policies by the Company, its competitors, customers or suppliers; impact of new governmental legislation and regulation, including tax reform, tariffs and related activities, such trade negotiations and other risks including those related to COVID-19 response; and other factors, risks, and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the Companys SEC filings.

KEY TRONIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIESCONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME(In thousands, except per share amounts)(Unaudited)

ThreeMonthsEnded September 26, September 28, 2020 2019Net sales $ 123,207 $ 105,285 Cost of sales 113,192 96,012 Gross profit 10,015 9,273 Research, development and engineering 2,245 1,660 expensesSelling, general and administrative 4,974 5,074 expensesTotal operating expenses 7,219 6,734 Operating income 2,796 2,539 Interest expense, net 681 710 Income before income taxes 2,115 1,829 Income tax provision 396 277 Net income $ 1,719 $ 1,552 Net income per share ? Basic $ 0.16 $ 0.14 Weighted average shares outstanding ? 10,760 10,760 BasicNet income per share ? Diluted $ 0.16 $ 0.14 Weighted average shares outstanding ? 11,040 10,805 Diluted

KEY TRONIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIESCONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS(In thousands)(Unaudited)

September June 27, 26, 2020 2020ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,471 $ 553 Trade receivables, net of allowance for doubtful 91,563 86,123 accounts of $609 and $609Contract assets 24,458 23,753 Inventories, net 119,791 115,020 Other 18,782 17,315 Total current assets 256,065 242,764 Property, plant and equipment, net 33,316 31,764 Operating lease right-of-use assets, net 16,370 17,568 Other assets: Deferred income tax asset 9,632 10,178 Other 2,429 2,587 Total other assets 12,061 12,765 Total assets $ 317,812 $ 304,861 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS? EQUITY Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 79,146 $ 80,204 Accrued compensation and vacation 7,641 10,428 Current portion of debt, net 906 7,508 Other 13,957 14,079 Total current liabilities 101,650 112,219 Long-term liabilities: Term loans 4,021 3,258 Revolving loan 79,539 60,094 Operating lease liabilities 11,502 12,624 Deferred income tax liability 232 234 Other long-term obligations 1,386 875 Total long-term liabilities 96,680 77,085 Total liabilities 198,330 189,304 Shareholders? equity: Common stock, no par value?shares authorized 25,000;issued and outstanding 10,760 and 10,760 shares, 47,009 46,946 respectivelyRetained earnings 71,830 70,111 Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) 643 (1,500 )Total shareholders? equity 119,482 115,557 Total liabilities and shareholders? equity $ 317,812 $ 304,861

CONTACTS:

Brett LarsenChief Financial OfficerKey Tronic Corporation(509) 927-5500

Michael NewmanInvestor RelationsStreetConnect(206) 729-3625