Benchmark Electronics Reports Third Quarter 2017 Results

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Oct. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Benchmark Electronics, Inc. (NYSE: BHE) today announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017.


                                  Three Months Ended
                                  ------------------

                                Sep 30,              Jun 30,       Sep 30,

    In millions, except EPS               2017                2017           2016
    -----------------------               ----                ----           ----

    Net sales                             $604                $617           $574

    Net income                             $18                 $17            $22

    Net income - non-GAAP                  $20                 $19            $18

    Diluted EPS                          $0.35               $0.34          $0.44

    Diluted EPS - non-GAAP               $0.39               $0.38          $0.36


    Operating margin                      3.4%               3.6%          3.1%

    Operating margin - non-GAAP           4.1%               4.1%          4.3%


    A reconciliation of GAAP and non-
     GAAP results is included below.

"I am pleased by the Company's performance in the third quarter, meeting or exceeding each of our commitments. Revenues exceeded our guidance and marked the third consecutive quarter that we experienced year-on-year revenue growth. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.39 exceeded the high-end of our guidance by $0.03; cash cycle days ended at 72, within our target range, and an eight-day improvement from the year ago period; and we achieved 9.9% ROIC, a 40 bps quarter?over?quarter improvement," said Paul Tufano, Benchmark's President and CEO.

"As we work to reposition the Company to achieve our business model objectives, we remain focused on the key initiatives critical to our success, namely the optimization of our global network; the implementation of our market-sector sales organization; and the expansion of our engineering and solutions capabilities," added Tufano. "The transition of our headquarters to the Phoenix area is substantially complete, and we are making progress on our operational excellence and customer care initiatives. Our market-sector sales focus and incremental go-to-market investments are beginning to yield results as reflected in our third quarter bookings, which were above the $150 million level for the first time in 12 quarters."

"We continue to emphasize our engineering-led customer engagements including the recent announcement that Benchmark was named Qualcomm Life's partner to commercialize their new product line of interconnected biometric sensors and to be the FDA manufacturer of record," said Tufano. "We will work with Qualcomm to have the device ready for FDA submission in 2018 with a goal of commercial availability to customers next year. This engagement is a pivotal milestone, which reinforces our engineering-led solutions business model and supports our ongoing IoT investment strategy."

"Today, we also announce with mixed emotions that Don Adam, Chief Financial Officer, will be retiring from the Company. Don has determined that a permanent relocation to Phoenix would not be in the best interest of his family and will be departing by the end of the year. A search for his successor is currently underway," said Tufano. "Don has been a devoted Benchmark employee for the past 15 years and has been invaluable to me this past year as we have formulated plans to transform Benchmark. We are indebted to Don for his service and wish him all the best in his future endeavors."

Third Quarter 2017 Financial Highlights

    --  Operating margin was 3.4% (non-GAAP 4.1%).
    --  Cash conversion cycle improved 8 days from 80 at September 30, 2016 to
        72 days at September 30, 2017.
    --  Cash was $730 million at September 30, of which $75 million was
        available in the U.S.

Cash Conversion Cycle


                             Sep 30,      Jun 30,       Sep 30,

                                     2017          2017           2016
                                     ----          ----           ----

    Accounts receivable days           61            57             65

    Inventory days                     70            67             68

    Accounts payable days            (55)         (55)          (53)

    Customer deposits                 (4)          (4)             -
                                      ---           ---            ---

                                       72            65             80
                                      ===           ===            ===

Third Quarter 2017 Industry Sector Update
Revenue by industry sector (dollars in millions) was as follows.


                                           Sep 30,              Jun 30,                    Sep 30,

               Higher-Value Markets           2017               2017                        2016
               --------------------           ----               ----                        ----

    Industrials                        $124           20%                  $124     20%               $141      25%

    A&D                                  96            16                    100      16                  82       14

    Medical                             101            17                     86      14                  86       15

    Test & Instrumentation            88            15                     89      15                  66       11
                                     ---           ---                    ---     ---                 ---      ---

                                    $409           68%                  $399     65%               $375      65%
                                    ----           ---                   ----     ---                ----      ---



                                      Sep 30,             Jun 30,                    Sep 30,

               Traditional Markets            2017               2017                        2016
               -------------------            ----               ----                        ----

    Computing                       $124           20%                  $142     23%               $107      19%

    Telecommunications                71            12                     76      12                  92       16
                                     ---           ---                    ---     ---                 ---      ---

                                    $195           32%                  $218     35%               $199      35%
                                    ----           ---                   ----     ---                ----      ---

               Total                  $604          100%                  $617    100%               $574     100%

Overall revenue increased 5% year-over-year driven by continued strong demand in Test & Instrumentation serving the semi-capital equipment market, Computing growth from existing and new customers, Medical growth from new programs and Aerospace and Defense (A&D) growth from defense programs. Industrials and Telecommunications growth remained muted year-over-year from softness across several of our top customers.

Third Quarter 2017 Bookings Update

    --  New program bookings of $138 to $165 million.
    --  14 engineering awards supporting early engagement opportunities.
    --  31 manufacturing wins across all market sectors.

The Company projects that new program bookings for the third quarter will result in annualized revenue of $138 to $165 million when fully launched in the next 12-18 months. The new program bookings align with Benchmark's strategic focus on higher-value markets.

Fourth Quarter 2017 Outlook

    --  Revenue between $590 - $610 million.
    --  Diluted GAAP earnings per share between $0.29 - $0.33.
    --  Diluted non-GAAP earnings per share between $0.34 - $0.38 (excluding
        restructuring charges and amortization of intangibles expected to
        approximate $0.05 per share). The income tax impact of the non-GAAP
        adjustments using the applicable effective tax rates is $0.02 per share.

Third Quarter 2017 Results Conference Call Details
A conference call hosted by Benchmark management will be held today at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss the Company's financial results and outlook. This call will be broadcast via the internet and may be accessed by logging on to the Company's website at www.bench.com.

About Benchmark Electronics, Inc.
Benchmark provides worldwide integrated electronics manufacturing services (EMS), engineering and design services, and precision machining services to original equipment manufacturers in the following industries: industrial controls, aerospace and defense, telecommunications, computers and related products for business enterprises, medical devices, and test and instrumentation. Benchmark's global operations include facilities in eight countries, and its common shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol BHE.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This press release includes financial measures that exclude certain items and therefore do not follow U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). A detailed reconciliation between the GAAP results and results excluding special items (non-GAAP) is included at the end of this press release. Management discloses non-GAAP information to provide investors with additional information to analyze the Company's performance and underlying trends. Management uses non-GAAP measures that exclude certain items in order to better assess operating performance and help investors compare results with our previous guidance. Benchmark's non-GAAP information is not necessarily comparable to the non-GAAP information used by other companies. Non-GAAP information should not be viewed as a substitute for, or superior to, net income or other data prepared in accordance with GAAP as a measure of the Company's profitability or liquidity. Readers should consider the types of events and transactions for which adjustments have been made.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the scope of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The words "project," "expect," "estimate," "plan," "anticipate," "predict," "goals," "targeting" and similar terms, and the negatives thereof, often identify forward-looking statements, which are not limited to historical facts. The Company's forward-looking statements include, among other things, projections relating to the future value of bookings and fourth quarter 2017 revenues and diluted earnings per share. Although Benchmark believes these statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, they involve risks and uncertainties relating to operations, markets and the business environment generally. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materializes or underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those indicated.

All forward-looking statements included in this release are based upon information available to Benchmark as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to update them. Readers are advised to consult further disclosures on related subjects, particularly in Item 1A, "Risk Factors" of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, in its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and in its press releases.


                                                                                          Benchmark Electronics, Inc. and Subsidiaries


                                                                                      Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Results

                                                                                          (Amounts in Thousands, Except Per Share Data)

                                                                                                           (UNAUDITED)


                                                                                                                                                  Three Months Ended                               Nine Months Ended
                                                                                                                                                  ------------------                               -----------------

                                                                                                                                     Sep 30,                Jun 30,              Sep 30,                          September 30,

                                                                                                                                                 2017                     2017                 2016                                    2017           2016
                                                                                                                                                 ----                     ----                 ----                                    ----           ----


    Income from operations (GAAP)                                                                                                             $20,815                  $22,227              $18,082                                 $55,459        $52,090

    Restructuring charges and other costs                                                                                                      2,511                    1,544                3,485                                   5,566          9,876

    Customer insolvency (recovery)                                                                                       (1,514)                  (710)                       -                           2,896                           -

    Amortization of intangible assets                                                                                                          2,736                    2,481                3,170                                   7,698          8,945
                                                                                                                                               -----                    -----                -----                                   -----          -----

    Non-GAAP income from operations                                                                                                           $24,548                  $25,542              $24,737                                 $71,619        $70,911




    Net income (GAAP)                                                                                                                         $17,512                  $17,176              $21,742                                 $44,375        $45,479

    Restructuring charges and other costs                                                                                                      2,511                    1,544                3,485                                   5,566          9,876

    Customer insolvency (recovery)                                                                                       (1,514)                  (710)                       -                           2,896                           -

    Amortization of intangible assets                                                                                                          2,736                    2,481                3,170                                   7,698          8,945

    Income tax adjustments(1)                                                                                                                (1,674)                 (1,265)             (2,207)                                (4,519)       (5,935)

    Discrete tax benefits                                                                                                      -                      -                 (8,270)                               -                    (8,270)
                                                                                                                             ---                    ---                  ------                              ---                     ------

    Non-GAAP net income                                                                                                                       $19,571                  $19,226              $17,920                                 $56,016        $50,095



    Earnings per share: (GAAP)

                                                                              Basic                                                               $0.35                    $0.35                $0.44                                   $0.89          $0.92

                                                                              Diluted                                                             $0.35                    $0.34                $0.44                                   $0.88          $0.91


    Earnings per share: (Non-GAAP)

                                                                              Basic                                                               $0.39                    $0.39                $0.37                                   $1.13          $1.01

                                                                              Diluted                                                             $0.39                    $0.38                $0.36                                   $1.11          $1.00


    Weighted-average number of shares used in calculating earnings per share:


                                                                              Basic                                                              49,865                   49,766               48,965                                  49,716         49,377

                                                                              Diluted                                                            50,330                   50,239               49,414                                  50,292         49,878


    (1)  This amount represents the
     tax impact of the non-GAAP
     adjustments using the
     applicable effective tax
     rates.


                                                                                      Benchmark Electronics, Inc. and Subsidiaries


                                                                                      Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

                                                                                     (Amounts in Thousands, Except Per Share Data)

                                                                                                      (UNAUDITED)


                                                                                                                                   Three Months Ended             Nine Months Ended

                                                                                                                                      September 30,                 September 30,

                                                                                                                                       2017               2016                         2017          2016
                                                                                                                                       ----               ----                         ----          ----

    Sales                                                                                                                           $603,550           $574,341                   $1,786,955    $1,702,908

    Cost of sales                                                                                                                   545,395            521,519                    1,621,153     1,546,915
                                                                                                                                    -------            -------                    ---------     ---------

                                                          Gross profit                                                                  58,155             52,822                      165,802       155,993

    Selling, general and administrative expenses                                                                                     32,093             28,085                       97,079        85,082

    Amortization of intangible assets                                                                                                 2,736              3,170                        7,698         8,945

    Restructuring charges and other costs                                                                                             2,511              3,485                        5,566         9,876
                                                                                                                                      -----              -----                        -----         -----

                                                          Income from operations                                                        20,815             18,082                       55,459        52,090

    Interest expense                                                                                                                (2,324)           (2,302)                     (6,861)      (6,935)

    Interest income                                                                                                                   1,334                577                        3,621         1,170

    Other expense, net                                                                                                                (394)             (383)                     (1,305)        (535)
                                                                                                                                       ----               ----                       ------          ----

                                                          Income before income taxes                                                    19,431             15,974                       50,914        45,790

    Income tax expense (benefit)                                                                                                      1,919            (5,768)                       6,539           311
                                                                                                                                      -----             ------                        -----           ---

                                                          Net income                                                                   $17,512            $21,742                      $44,375       $45,479



    Earnings per share:

                                                          Basic                                                                          $0.35              $0.44                        $0.89         $0.92

                                                          Diluted                                                                        $0.35              $0.44                        $0.88         $0.91


    Weighted-average number of shares used in calculating

       earnings per share:

                                                          Basic                                                                         49,865             48,965                       49,716        49,377

                                                          Diluted                                                                       50,330             49,414                       50,292        49,878


                                                                                      Benchmark Electronics, Inc. and Subsidiaries


                                                                                          Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

                                                                                                       (UNAUDITED)

                                                                                                     (in thousands)

                                                                                                                                                      September 30,                                   December 31,

                                                                                                                                                                          2017                                           2016
                                                                                                                                                                          ----                                           ----

    Assets

                       Current assets:

                       Cash and cash equivalents                                                                                       $730,146                                         $681,433

                       Accounts receivable, net                                                                                        411,550                                          440,692

                       Inventories                                                                                            421,858                                          381,334

                       Other current assets                                                                                         42,349                                           28,203
                                                                                                                               ------                                           ------

                                           Total current assets                                                                                                      1,605,903                                      1,531,662
                                                                                                                                                                     ---------                                      ---------

                       Property, plant and equipment, net                                                                                        178,122                                          166,148

                       Goodwill and other, net                                                                                        292,681                                          300,858


                                           Total assets                                                                                                             $2,076,706                                     $1,998,668
                                                                                                                                                                    ==========                                     ==========


    Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity

                       Current liabilities:

                        Current installments of long-term debt
                        and capital lease obligations                                                                                        $16,804                                          $12,396

                       Accounts payable                                                                                        335,315                                          326,249

                       Accrued liabilities                                                                                         93,674                                           73,736
                                                                                                                               ------                                           ------

                                           Total current liabilities                                                                                                   445,793                                        412,381

                        Long-term debt and capital lease
                        obligations, less current installments                                                                                        197,766                                          211,252

                       Other long-term liabilities                                                                                          8,236                                            9,570

                       Shareholders' equity                                                                                      1,424,911                                        1,365,465


                                           Total liabilities and shareholders' equity                                                                               $2,076,706                                     $1,998,668
                                                                                                                                                                    ==========                                     ==========


                                                                                        Benchmark Electronics, Inc. and Subsidiaries


                                                                                       Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

                                                                                                       (in thousands)

                                                                                                         (UNAUDITED)


                                                                                                                                               Nine Months Ended

                                                                                                                                                 September 30,

                                                                                                                                                               2017          2016
                                                                                                                                                               ----          ----

    Cash flows from operating activities:

                                              Net income                                                                               $44,375               $45,479

                                              Depreciation and amortization                                                             36,591                42,002

                                              Stock-based compensation expense                                                           6,819                 4,302

                                              Accounts receivable, net                                                                  30,926                61,776

                                              Inventories                                                                             (38,778)               13,991

                                              Accounts payable                                                                           3,922                59,183

                                              Other changes in working capital and other                                                 6,035                 1,851


                                                   Net cash provided by operations                                                      89,890               228,584



    Cash flows from investing activities:

                                               Additions to property, plant and equipment and
                                               software                                                                               (37,736)             (25,398)

                                              Business acquisition, net of cash acquired                                                     -               10,750

                                              Other investing activities, net                                                              364                   213


                                                   Net cash used in investing activities                                              (37,372)             (14,435)



    Cash flows from financing activities:

                                              Share repurchases                                                                        (5,887)             (40,862)

                                              Net debt activity                                                                        (9,288)              (9,224)

                                              Other financing activities, net                                                            9,012                 5,289


                                                   Net cash used in financing activities                                               (6,163)             (44,797)


    Effect of exchange rate changes                                                                                                                      2,358           336
                                                                                                                                                         -----           ---

    Net increase in cash and cash equivalents                                                                                                           48,713       169,688

                                              Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year                                           681,433               465,995


                                              Cash and cash equivalents at end of period                                              $730,146              $635,683

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/benchmark-electronics-reports-third-quarter-2017-results-300539250.html

SOURCE Benchmark Electronics, Inc.