Daktronics, Inc. Announces 2025 Fiscal First Quarter Results

Solid Sequential GAAP Revenue Growth, Margin Expansion, and Cash Flow Generation

Earned $22.7 Million of Operating Income and Adjusted Net Income(1) of $16.6 Million

BROOKINGS, S.D., Sept. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Daktronics, Inc. (NASDAQ-DAKT), the leading U.S.-based designer and manufacturer of best-in-class dynamic video communication displays and control systems for customers worldwide, today reported results for its fiscal 2025 first quarter which ended July 27, 2024.

Fiscal Q1 2025 financial highlights:

Sales of $226.1 million, a 4.7 percent sequential increase from the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, aligning with expected seasonal demand and driven by increased production and deliveries for sports and outdoor related seasonal business

Gross profit as a percentage of net sales of 26.4 percent as compared to 25.7 percent for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024

Operating income of $22.7 million, a 16.9 percent increase as compared to $19.4 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024

Non-operating non-cash debt fair value adjustment created net loss of $4.9 million for the quarter, excluding the fair value adjustment, adjusted net income(1) was $16.6 million for the quarter

Product order backlog was $267.2 million(2) at July 27, 2024 compared to $316.9 million at the end of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 and $323.7 million at the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2024 as past periods' overbuilt backlog continues to be worked down through reductions in manufacturing lead times

Product and service orders were $176.2 million(2), a decrease of 14.4 percent as compared to $205.8 million in fourth quarter fiscal 2024 and an increase of 11.1 percent as compared to $158.6 million in the same period of fiscal 2024

Reece Kurtenbach, Daktronicsʹ Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented "We are off to a great start to the year against a record prior-year quarter. We built upon our fiscal 2024 accomplishments, focusing on efficient manufacturing and throughput and on-time deliveries for sports installs, especially in our Live Events and High School Parks and Recreation (HSPR) business units. We executed well to deliver year over year order growth, sequential revenue growth, and higher margins to generate returns above our cost of capital. Excluding a change in the fair value of our convertible note relating to our higher stock price, adjusted net income was $16.6 million, resulting in operating cash flow generation of $19.5 million against last year's difficult comparison."

OutlookKurtenbach added, "These results indicate significant progress during the first quarter along our roadmap of strategic priorities with respect to our digital transformation, product innovation, and penetration of our addressable markets and we are on track to achieve specific milestones in fiscal 2025. In a culmination of a multi-year effort, our information systems teams are preparing for releases to be completed before fiscal year-end of critical technologies to upgrade our service and systems maintenance solutions. These tools modernize our service operating systems and further automate tasks to improve productivity and customer satisfaction. We are also on track to upgrade to new enterprise performance management tools during fiscal Q3 and Q4 to improve and broaden the collection of data for business performance reporting and analysis. Following these back-office improvements, our next goal is to redesign our front-end quoting and sales processes, building in automation, efficiency, and effective customer reach, this is planned to launch across multiple phases, the first releasing early in fiscal 2026. On the control systems front, our Show Control solution is undergoing major advancements to enhance the live entertainment experience and improve workflow efficiencies. These enhancements will empower our customers to deliver dynamic cloud-based and locally stored presentations using cutting-edge scoring and timing software, 3D data visualizations, real-time rendering, and integrated data through sport-specific applications and are slated for release by fiscal year-end.

"We enter our second fiscal quarter with good momentum, expectations of higher orders in fiscal 2025, and with backlog at $267.2 million driven by strong sequential order flow across our businesses from our Commercial, Transportation, HSPR and International businesses and solid demand in Live Events. We expect seasonality to continue to normalize in fiscal 2025, with sales typically strongest in the first half of the fiscal year and lower in fiscal Q3. For the remainder of this fiscal year, we are investing in a wide-ranging transformation plan designed to cement and accelerate our progress to date and make further advancement in generating shareholder returns above our cost of capital."

First Quarter ResultsOrders for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 increased by 11.1 percent from the first quarter of fiscal 2024 driven by rebounding demand in the On-Premise, Spectacular and Out‐of‐Home markets in our Commercial business unit, and solid growth in the High School Parks and Recreation and Transportation business units. These higher orders offset an order decrease in the Live Events and International business units. Variability in orders comparatively is natural in these large project business areas. Global geopolitical events and related macroeconomic trends created uncertainty in the market outside of the U.S. for digital display systems and large-sized projects, causing the decrease in International orders comparatively.

Net sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 decreased by 2.8 percent as compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2024. The sales decrease was driven by comparatively lower volumes in the Commercial, High School Park and Recreation, and International business units. These lower sales were partially offset by order fulfillments in the Live Events and Transportation business units. Sales during the first quarter fiscal 2024 were atypical as supply chains normalized post pandemic and we reduced pent-up backlog during that period. Net sales increased 4.7 percent sequentially from the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, as production and deliveries ramped up for sports installs, especially for Live Events and High School Park and Recreation.

Gross profit as a percentage of net sales decreased to 26.4 percent for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 as compared to 30.6 percent a year earlier primarily due to the record first quarter 2024 sales activity. On a sequential basis, gross margin expanded from 25.7 percent in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 as a result of volume and mix as well as some price improvement.

Operating expenses increased by 19.6 percent to $37.0 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2025 as compared to $30.9 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2024. Operating expenses reflect investments in staffing to support information technology and digital transformation as well as sales team expansion to support future growth.

The above changes resulted in an operating income percent for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 of 10.0 percent compared to 17.3 percent for the first quarter of fiscal 2024 and 9.0 percent for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024.

The decrease in interest (expense) income, net for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 compared to the same period one year ago was primarily due to interest income earned on cash balances.

For the three months ended July 27, 2024, the Company recorded a non-cash charge of $21.6 million for the change in fair value of the convertible note payable, which is accounted for under the fair value option.

The effective income tax rate for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 produced an abnormal tax rate primarily due to the impact of the fair value adjustment to expense that is not deductible for tax purposes in proportion to the period's small pre-tax loss. The effective tax rate for the first quarter of fiscal 2024 was 31.7 percent.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow

Cash, restricted cash and marketable securities totaled $97.2 million at July 27, 2024, and $76.0 million of total current and long-term debt was outstanding as of that date, which includes $38.5 million of face value, $38.1 million of adjustments to fair value, and is net of $0.6 million of debt issuance costs. There were no draw-downs on the asset-based revolving credit facility during the first three months of fiscal 2025 and $38.6 million available to draw at July 27, 2024. In the first three months of fiscal 2025, Daktronics generated $19.5 million of cash from operations and used $5.1 million for purchases of property and equipment. At the end of the fiscal 2025 first quarter, the working capital ratio was 2.2 to 1. Inventory levels dropped 2.2 percent since the end of the 2024 fiscal year on April 27, 2024. Management's focus remains on managing working capital through expected growth of the company.

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 where related presentation materials will also be posted prior to the conference call. A webcast will be available for replay shortly after the event.

About Daktronics

Daktronics has strong leadership positions in, and is the world's largest supplier of, large-screen video displays, electronic scoreboards, LED text and graphics displays, and related control systems. The company excels in the control of 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 four domestic business units: Live Events, Commercial, High School Park and Recreation, and Transportation, and one International business unit. For more information, visit the company's website at: www.daktronics.com.

Safe Harbor StatementCautionary 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 is 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 expectations, including, but not limited to, changes in economic and market conditions, management of growth, timing and magnitude of future contracts and orders, fluctuations in margins, the introduction of new products and technology, the impact of adverse weather conditions, increased regulation, and other risks described in the company's SEC filings, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for its 2024 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.

For more information contact:INVESTOR RELATIONS:Sheila M. Anderson, Chief Financial OfficerTel (605)

LHA Investor Relations Carolyn Capaccio / Jody Burfening

Daktronics, Inc. and SubsidiariesConsolidated Statements of Operations(in thousands, except per share amounts)(unaudited)

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

July 27,2024

 

July 29,2023

Net sales

$

226,088

 

 

$

232,531

 

Cost of sales

 

166,390

 

 

 

161,384

 

Gross profit

 

59,698

 

 

 

71,147

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

Selling

 

15,636

 

 

 

12,929

 

General and administrative

 

11,723

 

 

 

9,599

 

Product design and development

 

9,623

 

 

 

8,403

 

 

 

36,982

 

 

 

30,931

 

Operating income

 

22,716

 

 

 

40,216

 

 

 

 

 

Nonoperating (expense) income:

 

 

 

Interest (expense) income, net

 

(71

)

 

 

(881

)

Change in fair value of convertible note

 

(21,590

)

 

 

(7,260

)

Other expense and debt issuance costs write-off, net

 

(835

)

 

 

(3,979

)

 

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

 

220

 

 

 

28,096

 

Income tax expense

 

5,166

 

 

 

8,900

 

Net (loss) income

$

(4,946

)

 

$

19,196

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average shares outstanding:

 

 

 

Basic

 

46,311

 

 

 

45,645

 

Diluted

 

46,311

 

 

 

46,198

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings (loss) per share:

 

 

 

Basic

$

(0.11

)

 

$

0.42

 

Diluted

$

(0.11

)

 

$

0.42

 

Daktronics, Inc. and SubsidiariesConsolidated Balance Sheets(in thousands)(unaudited)

 

 

July 27,2024

 

April 27,2024

ASSETS

 

 

 

CURRENT ASSETS:

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

$

96,809

 

 

$

81,299

 

Restricted cash

 

379

 

 

 

379

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

132,021

 

 

 

117,186

 

Inventories

 

134,949

 

 

 

138,008

 

Contract assets

 

54,129

 

 

 

55,800

 

Current maturities of long-term receivables

 

436

 

 

 

298

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

8,579

 

 

 

8,531