Graham Corporation Reports Fiscal 2016 Third Quarter Results

• Third quarter sales of $17.3 million were lower than expected, primarily due to short-term delays caused by customers
• Fiscal 2016 revenue expectations were lowered to range of $90 million to
  $95 million, adjusted for third quarter sales; Maintained gross margin and SG&A guidance
• Backlog at quarter-end grew to $113.2 million
• $1.3 million in net income for the third quarter, or $0.13 per diluted share, positively impacted by income from cancellation fees
• Approximately 141,000 shares repurchased in the quarter

BATAVIA, N.Y., Jan. 29, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Graham Corporation (NYSE:GHM), a global business that designs, manufactures and sells critical equipment for the oil refining, petrochemical, power and defense industries, today reported its financial results for its third quarter ended December 31, 2015.  Graham’s current fiscal year (“fiscal 2016”) ends March 31, 2016. 

Net sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2016 were $17.3 million, compared with net sales of $33.6 million in the third quarter of the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 (“fiscal 2015”).  Third quarter fiscal 2016 sales were impacted by weaker market conditions, as well as reduced production hours due to engineering changes by customers.  Net income in the third quarter was $1.3 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, positively impacted by income from cancellation fees.  The prior year’s third quarter had net income of $4.0 million, or $0.39 per diluted share. 

James R. Lines, Graham’s President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “Third quarter results were impacted by engineering iterations between us and our customers that prevented certain orders in backlog from entering production.  This translated into under absorption of overhead and the resulting deterioration in gross profit and margin.  We believe this was isolated to the third quarter and expect improved backlog conversion in the fourth quarter and into fiscal 2017.”

Third Quarter Sales Summary
(See accompanying tables for a breakdown of sales by industry and region)

As a result of weak backlog conversion, sales in the quarter compared with prior year sales were down in all industries and to all geographic regions.  The steep sequential and comparable period decline is expected to be isolated to the third quarter as the subject projects are moving forward into production.  Sales to the U.S. market were $10.8 million, or 62% of consolidated sales.  Sales to markets outside of the U.S. accounted for $6.5 million, or 38%.

Fluctuations in Graham’s sales among geographic locations and industries can vary measurably from quarter-to-quarter based on the timing and magnitude of projects.  Graham does not believe that such quarter-to-quarter fluctuations are indicative of business trends, which it believes are more apparent on a trailing twelve month basis.

Third Quarter Fiscal 2016 Operating Performance

Gross profit in the third quarter was $3.5 million, or 20% of sales, compared with $10.1 million, or 30% of sales, in the same period of the prior fiscal year.  Fiscal 2016’s third quarter gross profit and margin were impacted by lower revenue, reduced overall volume in production as a result of weak fundamentals in the refining and chemical industries and the resultant under absorption of overhead. 

Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses were $3.7 million in the third quarter, down 17% from $4.5 million in the same prior-year period due to lower volume-driven expenses as well as the cost reductions related to the restructuring activity that occurred at the end of fiscal 2015.  SG&A as a percent of sales was 22% in the third quarter of fiscal 2016 compared with 13% in the same prior-year period. 

Cancellation charges of $1.8 million reflected in other pre-tax income in the fiscal 2016 third quarter were negotiated and settled with customers for two contracts.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (“EBITDA”) were $2.2 million in the third quarter, compared with $6.2 million in the same prior-year period.  EBITDA margin in the third quarter was 13% of sales compared with 18% in the prior-year period.  Graham believes that when used in conjunction with measures prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP measure, helps in the understanding of its operating performance.  Graham’s credit facility also contains ratios based on EBITDA.  See the attached tables for additional important disclosures regarding Graham’s use of EBITDA as well as a reconciliation of net income to EBITDA.

Graham’s effective tax rate for the third quarter of fiscal 2016 was 22%, compared with 30% for the same prior-year period.  The fiscal 2016 period was favorably impacted by the U.S. government’s retroactive reinstatement of the federal research and development tax credit during the Company’s fiscal third quarter.

Review of First Nine Months of Fiscal 2016

Net sales were $67.7 million, compared with $97.7 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2015, reflective of weak fundamentals in the refining and chemical industries.  International sales were $24.0 million and represented 35% of total sales compared with $35.3 million, or 36% of sales, in the prior-year period.  Sales to the U.S. were $43.7 million, or 65% of net sales compared with $62.4 million, or 64% of net sales for the first nine months of fiscal 2015.

Gross profit was down $10.3 million to $18.7 million, compared with the prior-year period, as a result of lower volume.  Gross margin was 28% for the fiscal 2016 year-to-date period compared with 30% in the prior-year period.  SG&A was $12.6 million, down 7%, or $1.0 million due to lower volume-driven expenses, as well as cost reductions related to restructuring activity in fiscal 2015.  As a percent of sales, SG&A was up to 19% compared with 14% in the prior-year period, reflective of lower sales volume.

Other income was $1.8 million in the fiscal 2016 year-to-date period due to the third quarter cancellation charges described above.

EBITDA was $9.7 million, compared with $17.2 million in the prior-year period.  As a percent of sales, EBITDA was 14% compared with 18% in the prior year, reflecting the impact of volume and under absorbed overhead.  See the attached tables for additional important disclosures regarding Graham’s use of EBITDA as well as a reconciliation of net income to EBITDA.

Net income was $5.6 million, or $0.56 per diluted share, compared with net income of $10.6 million, or $1.04 per diluted share, in the first nine months of fiscal 2015.

Strong Cash Generation Exceeds Measurable Capital Return to Shareholders; Enables Financial Flexibility for Acquisitions

Cash, cash equivalents and investments at December 31, 2015 increased $12.9 million to $73.2 million, compared with ending balances at March 31, 2015.   

Cash provided by operations in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2016 was $14.5 million and $22.2 million, respectively, compared with cash used by operations of $1 million and cash provided by operations of $7.5 million in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2015, respectively.  Strong cash provided by operations in the third quarter was due to strong customer collections. 

Capital expenditures were $0.9 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2016, compared with $5 million in the same prior-year period.  The majority of the prior year’s spending was for the capacity expansion of the Company’s Batavia, New York facility completed in the first half of fiscal 2015.  The Company expects capital expenditures for fiscal 2016 to be between $1.5 million and $2 million, primarily for equipment upgrades and productivity enhancements. 

Graham had neither borrowings under its credit facility, nor any long-term debt outstanding, at December 31, 2015.

Jeffrey Glajch, Graham’s Chief Financial Officer, commented, “Strong customer collections drove our cash flow from operations in the third quarter.  So far this year, our cash balance grew $12.9 million even after paying $2.4 million in dividends, repurchasing $5.9 million of our shares and investing $0.9 million in capital expenditures.  The strength of our operations, even as the energy industry is under duress, enables us to return $8.3 million to shareholders while also building our cash reserves to support organic and acquisition growth.”

Backlog Indicative of Long-term Stability

Orders during the third quarter of fiscal 2016 were $22.3 million, net of a $3.3 million cancellation from backlog, relatively unchanged from the prior-year period.  Gross orders were $25.6 million.  Orders from the power and chemical/petrochemical markets were up $5.3 million and $1.3 million, respectively.  Net of the $3.3 million cancelled order, refining market orders were down $3.1 million compared with the prior-year quarter.  Other commercial and industrial orders were down $3.8 million.  When compared with the trailing second quarter of fiscal 2016, orders increased $1.7 million, or 8%.  There was one order on hold as of December 31, 2015, valued at $10.1 million.

Orders from U.S. customers were $9.5 million, net of the $3.3 million cancelled order, representing 42% of total orders received during the third quarter of fiscal 2016.  Orders from international markets accounted for $12.8 million. 

Graham expects that the balance between domestic and international orders will continue to be variable between quarters, but that in the long run orders will be relatively balanced between these geographic markets.

The Company’s backlog grew sequentially to $113.2 million at December 31, 2015, compared with $108.1 million at September 30, 2015, and $113.8 million at March 31, 2015.  Approximately 24% of backlog was for refinery projects, 13% was for chemical and petrochemical projects and 15% was for power projects, including nuclear.  Approximately 44% of backlog was for U.S. Navy projects and 4% was for other industrial or commercial applications. 

Approximately 45% to 50% of orders currently in backlog are expected to be converted to sales within the next 12 months, approximately 5% to 10% are expected to be converted between the next 12 to 24 months, and approximately 40% to 45% are expected to be converted beyond 24 months. 

Fiscal 2016 Revenue Guidance Reduced and Range Tightened, Gross Margin Unchanged

The Company expects fiscal 2016 revenue to be between $90 million and $95 million, down from a previous range of $95 million to $105 million, as a result of lower revenue in the third quarter.  Gross margin for fiscal 2016 is still expected to be between 27% and 28% and the guidance on SG&A expense as a percent of sales is unchanged at between 17% and 18%.  Graham has lowered its fiscal 2016 full year tax rate to be between 30% and 31%.   

Mr. Lines concluded, “We reduced our fiscal 2016 revenue guidance to reflect the impact of the third quarter’s low revenue level.  While this suggests a substantial increase in sequential revenue for our fourth quarter, due to backlog conversion timing it is not possible to recover fully from our third quarter results.  Although we continue to experience uncertainty in the oil refining and chemical markets, we remain confident in our strategy to grow.  Diversification into the nuclear power and U.S. Naval markets, prospective acquisitions and the long-term growth expectations for the oil and chemical industries provide the basis for our continued investment in Graham, even through this market contraction.”

Webcast and Conference Call
Graham management will host a conference call and live webcast today at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time to review Graham’s financial condition and operating results for its third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2016, as well as its strategy and outlook.  The review will be accompanied by a slide presentation which will be made available immediately prior to the conference call on Graham’s website at www.graham-mfg.com under the heading “Investor Relations.”  A question-and-answer session will follow the formal presentation.

Graham’s conference call can be accessed by calling (201) 689-8560.  Alternatively, the webcast can be monitored on Graham’s website at www.graham-mfg.com under the heading “Investor Relations.” 

A telephonic replay will be available from approximately 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the day of the call through Friday, February 5, 2016.  To listen to the archived call, dial (858) 384-5517, and enter conference ID number 13627608.  A transcript of the call will be placed on Graham’s website, once available.

ABOUT GRAHAM CORPORATION

Graham is a global business that designs, manufactures and sells critical equipment for the energy, defense and chemical/petrochemical industries.  Energy markets include oil refining, cogeneration, nuclear and alternative power.  For the defense industry, the Company’s equipment is used in nuclear propulsion power systems for the U.S. Navy.  Graham’s global brand is built upon world-renowned engineering expertise in vacuum and heat transfer technology, responsive and flexible service and unsurpassed quality.  Graham designs and manufactures custom-engineered ejectors, vacuum pumping systems, surface condensers and vacuum systems.  Graham is also a leading nuclear code accredited fabrication and specialty machining company.  Graham supplies components used inside reactor vessels and outside containment vessels of nuclear power facilities.  Graham’s equipment can also be found in other diverse applications such as metal refining, pulp and paper processing, water heating, refrigeration, desalination, food processing, pharmaceutical, heating, ventilating and air conditioning.  Graham’s reach spans the globe and its equipment is installed in facilities from North and South America to Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.  Graham routinely posts news and other important information on its website, www.graham-mfg.com, where additional comprehensive information on Graham Corporation and its subsidiaries can be found.

Safe Harbor Regarding Forward Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. 

Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions and are identified by words such as “expects,” “estimates,” “confidence,” “projects,” “typically,” “outlook,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “appears,” “could,” “opportunities,” “seeking,”  “plans,” “aim,” “pursuit,” and other similar words.  All statements addressing operating performance, events, or developments that Graham Corporation expects or anticipates will occur in the future, including but not limited to, expected expansion and growth opportunities within the domestic and international markets, anticipated revenue, the timing of conversion of backlog to sales, market presence, profit margins, tax rates, foreign sales operations, its ability to improve cost competitiveness, customer preferences, changes in market conditions in the industries in which it operates, changes in commodities prices, the effect on its business of volatility in commodities prices, changes in general economic conditions and customer behavior, forecasts regarding the timing and scope of the economic recovery in its markets, its acquisition and growth strategy and the expected performance of Energy Steel & Supply Co, are forward-looking statements.  Because they are forward-looking, they should be evaluated in light of important risk factors and uncertainties. These risk factors and uncertainties are more fully described in Graham Corporation's most recent Annual Report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, included under the heading entitled “Risk Factors.” 

Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of Graham Corporation's underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those currently anticipated.  In addition, undue reliance should not be placed on Graham Corporation's forward-looking statements.  Except as required by law, Graham Corporation disclaims any obligation to update or publicly announce any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained in this news release.

FINANCIAL TABLES FOLLOW.

Non-GAAP Financial Measure:

EBITDA is defined as consolidated net income before interest expense and income, income taxes, depreciation and amortization.  EBITDA is not a measure determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, commonly known as GAAP.  Nevertheless, Graham believes that providing non-GAAP information such as EBITDA is important for investors and other readers of Graham's financial statements, as it is used as an analytical indicator by Graham's management to better understand operating performance.  Graham’s credit facility also contains ratios based on EBITDA.  Because EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure and is thus susceptible to varying calculations, EBITDA, as presented, may not be directly comparable to other similarly titled measures used by other companies.

For more information contact:
Jeffrey F. Glajch   
Vice President - Finance and CFO
Phone: (585) 343-2216    
jglajch@graham-mfg.com 

Deborah K. Pawlowski / Karen L. Howard
Kei Advisors LLC
Phone:  (716) 843-3908 / (716) 843-3942     
dpawlowski@keiadvisors.com / khoward@keiadvisors.com

Released January 29, 2016