Plexus Announces Fiscal Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2016 Financial Results


  • Fiscal fourth quarter 2016 revenue of $653 million
  • GAAP diluted EPS of $0.56; non-GAAP adjusted diluted EPS of $0.82, excluding $0.26 per share of special items
  • Initiates fiscal first quarter 2017 revenue guidance of $620 to $650 million with GAAP diluted EPS of $0.74 to $0.82

NEENAH, Wis., Oct. 26, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Plexus (NASDAQ:PLXS) today announced financial results for its fiscal fourth quarter ended October 1, 2016, and guidance for its fiscal first quarter ending December 31, 2016.

  Three Months Ended
  Oct 1, 2016 Oct 1, 2016 Dec 31, 2016
  Q4F16 Results Q4F16 Guidance Q1F17 Guidance
Summary GAAP Items     
Revenue (in millions)$653  $655 to $685 $620 to $650
Operating margin 3.6%   4.9% to 5.2%
Diluted EPS (1)$          0.56    $0.74 to $0.82
       
Summary Non-GAAP Items (2)     
Adjusted operating margin 5.1% 4.8% to 5.1%  
Adjusted diluted EPS$0.82  $0.76 to $0.84  
Return on invested capital (ROIC)   13.8%    
Economic Return 2.8%    
  
 (1)Includes stock-based compensation expense of $0.25 for Q4F16 results and $0.11 for Q1F17 guidance.
 (2)Refer to Non-GAAP Supplemental Information in Tables 1 and 2 for non-GAAP financial measures discussed in this release, such as adjusted operating margin, adjusted diluted EPS, and free cash flow, and a reconciliation of these measures to GAAP.  Adjusted operating margin and adjusted diluted EPS exclude special items of $9.9 million for the three months ended October 1, 2016, related to accelerated stock-based compensation expense, typhoon-related losses, and restructuring and other charges.
           


Fiscal Fourth Quarter 2016 Information

  • Won 37 programs during the quarter representing approximately $200 million in annualized revenue when fully ramped into production
  • Trailing four quarter wins total approximately $747 million in annualized revenue
  • Purchased $7.1 million of our shares at an average price of $45.81 per share

Fiscal Year 2016 Information

  • Revenue: $2.6 billion, down 3.7% from prior year
  • Diluted EPS: $2.24, including $0.57 per share of stock-based compensation expense
  • ROIC: 13.8%, 280 basis points above our weighted average cost of capital
  • Purchased $30 million of our shares at an average price of $39.43 per share

Todd Kelsey, President and CEO, commented, “Despite late fiscal fourth quarter revenue headwinds, we achieved solid operating performance and EPS, resulting in adjusted EPS firmly in our guidance range.  Our revenue was slightly below guidance as a result of softness within our Networking/Communications sector and the temporary impact to our Xiamen, China operations from Typhoon Meranti that made landfall on September 15, 2016.  When reflecting on fiscal 2016, I am pleased with our operational performance.  We quickly executed our cost reduction and productivity improvement initiatives to overcome a challenging revenue environment in the first half of the fiscal year, enabling us to achieve adjusted operating margin at the high-end of our target range of 4.7% to 5.0% in the back half of the fiscal year.”

Patrick Jermain, Senior Vice President and CFO, commented, “During the quarter we successfully repatriated $100 million in cash from our overseas operations.  We believe the additional cash will enable us to maximize shareholder value by returning excess cash to shareholders through our previously announced share repurchase program.”  Mr. Jermain continued, “Fiscal fourth quarter cash cycle days were higher than anticipated at 71 days.  The most significant contributing factor was an increase in accounts receivables due to the timing of customer shipments and mix.  We exited the fiscal year with annual free cash flow of approximately $97 million, more than doubling our performance over the prior year.”

Mr. Kelsey continued, “In the fiscal first quarter of 2017, we anticipate strong operating performance despite near-term revenue softness as a result of a delay in orders with a large Industrial/Commercial customer and further end-market weakness within our Networking/Communications market sector.  As a result, we are guiding fiscal first quarter revenue of $620 to $650 million with diluted GAAP EPS in the range of $0.74 to $0.82.  With previously disclosed restructuring activities behind us and improved resiliency in our model, we are guiding GAAP operating margin in the range of 4.9% to 5.2% for the fiscal first quarter of 2017.”

Mr. Kelsey concluded, “We have confidence in our outlook for fiscal 2017 based on our strengthening wins momentum and record funnel.  We currently anticipate that we will return to sequential growth after the fiscal first quarter and grow revenue within each of our market sectors for the full fiscal year.  Consequently, we are increasingly optimistic that our goal of a $3 billion annual revenue run rate as we exit the fiscal year is attainable.  Furthermore, with the exception of our seasonally challenged fiscal second quarter, we anticipate delivering operating margins within our target range throughout fiscal 2017.”

    
Quarterly & Annual ComparisonThree Months Ended Twelve Months Ended
 Oct 1, 2016 Jul 2, 2016 Oct 3, 2015 Oct 1, 2016 Oct 3, 2015
(in thousands, except EPS)Q4F16 Q3F16 Q4F15 F16 F15
Revenue$653,064  $667,616  $668,730  $2,556,004  $2,654,290 
Gross profit61,530  62,498  59,272  227,359  239,550 
Operating profit23,651  30,918  28,571  99,439  115,436 
Net income19,093  26,099  23,865  76,427  94,332 
Diluted EPS$0.56  $0.76  $0.70  $2.24  $2.74 
Adjusted net income*28,261  27,904  23,514  90,824  95,672 
Adjusted diluted EPS*$0.82  $0.82  $0.69  $2.66  $2.78 
          
Gross margin9.4% 9.4% 8.9% 8.9% 9.0%
Adjusted gross margin**9.9% 9.4% 8.9% 9.0% 9.0%
Operating margin3.6% 4.6% 4.3% 3.9% 4.3%
Adjusted operating margin*5.1% 4.9% 4.3% 4.5% 4.4%
                    
ROIC*13.8% 13.0% 14.0% 13.8% 14.0%
Economic Return*2.8% 2.0% 3.0% 2.8% 3.0%
          
*Refer to Non-GAAP Supplemental Information Tables 1 and 2 for a reconciliation to GAAP measures.
**Excludes $2.9 million of primarily inventory losses sustained from a typhoon that impacted the Company's manufacturing facilities in Xiamen, China in Q4F16 that were recorded in cost of sales in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
 

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Plexus provides non-GAAP supplemental information, such as ROIC, Economic Return, and free cash flow, because such measures are used for internal management goals and decision making, and because they provide management and investors additional insight into financial performance.  In addition, management uses these and other non-GAAP measures, such as adjusted net income, adjusted gross margin and adjusted operating margin, to provide a better understanding of core performance for purposes of period-to-period comparisons.  Plexus believes that these measures are also useful to investors because they provide further insight by eliminating the effect of items that are not reflective of continuing operations.  For a full reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to comparable GAAP measures, please refer to Non-GAAP Supplemental Information and the attached Non-GAAP Supplemental Information Tables.

Market Sector and Segment Revenue Breakout
Plexus reports revenue based on the market sector breakout set forth in the table below, which reflects the Company’s global market sector focused business development strategy.  The Company measures operational performance and allocates resources on a geographic segment basis.  Top 10 customers comprised 59% of revenue during the fiscal fourth quarter and fiscal year 2016, down one percentage point from the fiscal third quarter 2016 and up three percentage points from the prior fiscal year.

    
Market Sectors ($ in millions)  Three Months Ended   Twelve Months Ended
 Oct 1, 2016
Q4F16
 Jul 2, 2016
Q3F16
 Oct 3, 2015
Q4F15
 Oct 1, 2016
F16
 Oct 3, 2015
F15
Healthcare/Life Sciences$192 29% $207 31% $183 27% $780 31% $750 28%
Industrial/Commercial231 35% 202 30% 201 30% 774 30% 685 26%
Networking/Communications128  20% 156  23% 179  27% 597  23% 845  32%
Defense/Security/Aerospace102 16% 103 16% 106 16% 405 16% 374 14%
Total Revenue$653   $668   $669   $2,556   $2,654  
                         


    
Business Segments ($ in millions)  Three Months Ended   Twelve Months Ended
 Oct 1, Oct 3, Oct 1, Oct 3,
  2016   2015   2016   2015 
Americas$334  $359  $1,329  $1,389 
Asia-Pacific 299   319   1,162   1,286 
Europe, Middle East, and Africa 44   43   170   140 
Elimination of inter-segment sales (24)  (52)  (105)  (161)
Total Revenue$653  $669  $2,556  $2,654 
                

Non-GAAP Supplemental Information
ROIC and Economic Return
ROIC for fiscal 2016 and the fiscal fourth quarter was 13.8%.  The Company defines ROIC as tax-effected annualized adjusted operating profit divided by average invested capital over a five-quarter period for the fourth quarter.  Invested capital is defined as equity plus debt, less cash and cash equivalents.  The Company’s fiscal 2016 weighted average cost of capital was 11.0%.  ROIC for fiscal 2016 and the fiscal fourth quarter less the Company’s weighted average cost of capital resulted in an economic return of 2.8%.

  
Cash Conversion CycleThree Months Ended
 Oct 1, 2016
Q4F16
 Jul 2, 2016
Q3F16
 Oct 3, 2015
Q4F15
Days in Accounts Receivable 58   51   53 
Days in Inventory 87   87   85 
Days in Accounts Payable (61)      (62)  (60)
Days in Cash Deposits (13)  (13)      (12)    
Annualized Cash Cycle* 71   63   66 
 
*We calculate cash cycle as the sum of days in accounts receivable and days in inventory, less days in accounts payable and days in cash deposits.
 

Free Cash Flow Calculation
The Company defines free cash flow as cash flows provided by operations less capital expenditures.  For the three months ended October 1, 2016, cash flows provided by operations was $5.1 million, less capital expenditures of $7.3 million, resulting in negative free cash flow of $2.2 million.  For the twelve months ended October 1, 2016, cash flows provided by operations was $127.7 million, less capital expenditures of $31.1 million, resulting in free cash flow of $96.6 million.

Conference Call and Webcast Information

What:Plexus Fiscal Q4 2016 Earnings Conference Call and Webcast
When:Thursday, October 27, 2016 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time
Where: Participants are encouraged to join the live webcast at the investor relations section of the Plexus website, www.plexus.com or directly at: http://edge.media-server.com/m/p/jz5rx5gv/lan/en

Conference call at +1.800.708.4539 with passcode: 43416415
  
Replay:    The webcast will be archived on the Plexus website and available via telephone replay at +1.888.843.7419 or +1.630.652.3042 with passcode: 43416415
  

About Plexus – The Product Realization Company

Plexus (www.plexus.com) delivers optimized Product Realization solutions through a unique Product Realization Value Stream service model.  This customer-focused services model seamlessly integrates innovative product conceptualization, design, commercialization, manufacturing, fulfillment and sustaining services to deliver comprehensive end-to-end solutions for customers in the America, European and Asia-Pacific regions.

Plexus is the industry leader in servicing mid-to-low volume, higher complexity customer programs characterized by unique flexibility, technology, quality and regulatory requirements.  Award-winning customer service is provided to over 140 branded product companies in the Healthcare/Life Sciences, Industrial/Commercial, Networking/Communications and Defense/Security/Aerospace market sectors.

Safe Harbor and Fair Disclosure Statement
The statements contained in this press release that are guidance or which are not historical facts (such as statements in the future tense and statements including believe, expect, intend, plan, anticipate, goal, target and similar terms and concepts), including all discussions of periods which are not yet completed, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the risk of customer delays, changes, cancellations or forecast inaccuracies in both ongoing and new programs; the lack of visibility of future orders, particularly in view of changing economic conditions; the economic performance of the industries, sectors and customers we serve; the effects of the volume of revenue from certain sectors or programs on our margins in particular periods; our ability to secure new customers, maintain our current customer base and deliver product on a timely basis; the particular risks relative to new or recent customers, programs or services, which risks include customer and other delays, start-up costs, potential inability to execute, the establishment of appropriate terms of agreements, and the lack of a track record of order volume and timing; the risks of concentration of work for certain customers; the effect of start-up costs of new programs and facilities; possible unexpected costs and operating disruption in transitioning programs, including as a result of a facility closure; the risk that new program wins and/or customer demand may not result in the expected revenue or profitability; the fact that customer orders may not lead to long-term relationships; our ability to manage successfully and execute a complex business model characterized by high product mix, low volumes and demanding quality, regulatory, and other requirements; the ability to realize anticipated savings from restructuring or similar actions, as well as the adequacy of related charges as compared to actual expenses; increasing regulatory and compliance requirements; the potential effects of regional results on our taxes and ability to use deferred tax assets and net operating losses; risks related to information technology systems and data security; the effects of shortages and delays in obtaining components as a result of economic cycles or natural disasters; the risks associated with excess and obsolete inventory, including the risk that inventory purchased on behalf of our customers may not be consumed or otherwise paid for by the customer, resulting in an inventory write-off; the weakness of areas of the global economy; the effect of changes in the pricing and margins of products; raw materials and component cost fluctuations; the potential effect of fluctuations in the value of the currencies in which we transact business; potential economic weakness and other effects resulting from the June 2016 vote of the United Kingdom to exit the European Union; the potential effect of other world or local events or other events outside our control (such as changes in energy prices, terrorism and weather events); the impact of increased competition; and other risks detailed in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings (particularly in "Risk Factors" in our fiscal 2015 Form 10-K).

 
PLEXUS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)
      
 Three Months Ended   Twelve Months Ended
 Oct 1, Oct 3, Oct 1, Oct 3,
 2016  2015  2016  2015 
Net sales$653,064  $668,730  $2,556,004  $2,654,290 
Cost of sales591,534   609,458  2,328,645   2,414,740 
Gross profit 61,530   59,272   227,359   239,550 
Selling and administrative expenses36,074   30,701  120,886   122,423 
Restructuring and other charges1,805    7,034  1,691 
Operating income 23,651   28,571   99,439   115,436 
Other income (expense):       
Interest expense(3,790)  (3,524) (14,635)  (13,964)
Interest income1,161   947  4,242   3,499 
Miscellaneous799   775  (1,652)  1,324 
Income before income taxes 21,821   26,769   87,394   106,295 
Income tax expense2,728   2,904  10,967   11,963 
Net income$19,093  $23,865  $76,427  $94,332 
Earnings per share:       
Basic$0.57  $0.71  $2.29  $2.81 
Diluted$0.56  $0.70  $2.24  $2.74 
Weighted average shares outstanding:         
Basic 33,455   33,597   33,374   33,618 
Diluted34,335  34,248  34,098   34,379 
             


  
PLEXUS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS 
(in thousands, except per share data) 
(unaudited) 
     
 Oct 1, Oct 3, 
 2016 2015 
ASSETS    
Current assets:    
Cash and cash equivalents$432,964  $357,106  
Accounts receivable416,888  384,680  
Inventories564,131  569,371  
Prepaid expenses and other19,364  22,882  
Total current assets 1,433,347   1,334,039  
Property, plant and equipment, net291,225  317,351  
Deferred income taxes (1)4,834  4,657  
Other (2)36,413  35,713  
Total non-current assets 332,472   357,721  
  Total assets$1,765,819  $1,691,760  
     
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY    
Current liabilities:    
Current portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligations$78,507  $3,513  
Accounts payable397,200  400,710  
Customer deposits84,637  81,359  
Accrued salaries and wages41,806  49,270  
Other accrued liabilities48,286  44,446  
Total current liabilities 650,436   579,298  
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations, net of current portion (2)184,002  258,293  
Other liabilities14,584  11,897  
Total non-current liabilities 198,586   270,190  
  Total liabilities 849,022   849,488  
Shareholders’ equity:    
Common stock, $.01 par value, 200,000 shares authorized,    
 51,272 and 50,554 shares issued, respectively,    
 and 33,457 and 33,500 shares outstanding, respectively513  506  
Additional paid-in-capital530,647  497,488  
Common stock held in treasury, at cost, 17,815 and 17,054, respectively(539,968) (509,968) 
Retained earnings937,144  860,717  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss(11,539) (6,471) 
Total shareholders’ equity 916,797   842,272  
  Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity$1,765,819  $1,691,760  
     
(1) As of October 3, 2015, current deferred income tax assets of $10.7 million and non-current deferred income tax liabilities of $9.7 million were reclassified to non-current deferred income tax assets due to the adoption of ASU 2015-17: Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes.
 
(2) As of October 3, 2015, $1.0 million of deferred financing costs were reclassified from other non-current assets to long-term debt and capital lease obligations, net of current portion due to the adoption of ASU 2015-03: Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs.
 
         


PLEXUS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES 
NON-GAAP SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION Table 1 
(in thousands, except per share data) 
(unaudited) 
           
 Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended 
 Oct 1, Jul 2, Oct 3, Oct 1, Oct 3, 
 2016 2016 2015 2016 2015 
Operating profit$23,651  $30,918  $28,571  $99,439  $115,436  
Operating margin3.6% 4.6% 4.3% 3.9% 4.3% 
           
Non-GAAP adjustments:          
Typhoon-related losses (1)2,871      2,871    
Accelerated stock-based compensation expense (2)5,210      5,210    
Restructuring and other charges*1,805  1,805    7,034  1,691  
Adjusted operating profit$33,537  $32,723  $28,571  $114,554  $117,127  
Adjusted operating margin5.1% 4.9% 4.3% 4.5% 4.4% 
           
Net income$19,093  $26,099  $23,865  $76,427  $94,332  
           
Non-GAAP adjustments:          
Typhoon-related losses (1)2,871      2,871    
Related tax impact(718)     (718)   
Accelerated stock-based compensation expense (2)5,210      5,210    
Restructuring and other charges*1,805  1,805    7,034  1,691  
Discrete tax benefit, net    (351)   (351) 
Adjusted net income$28,261  $27,904  $23,514  $90,824  $95,672  
           
Diluted earnings per share$0.56  $0.76  $0.70  $2.24  $2.74  
           
Non-GAAP adjustments:          
Typhoon-related losses (1)0.08      0.08    
Related tax impact(0.02)     (0.02)   
Accelerated stock-based compensation expense (2)0.15      0.15    
Restructuring and other charges*0.05  0.06    0.21  0.05  
Discrete tax benefit, net    (0.01)   (0.01) 
Adjusted diluted earnings per share$0.82  $0.82  $0.69  $2.66  $2.78  
           
*Summary of restructuring and other charges          
Employee termination and severance costs$565  $1,641  $  $5,255  $144  
Other exit costs460  164    999  1,547  
Loss on sale leaseback of building780      780    
Total restructuring and other charges$1,805  $1,805  $  $7,034  $1,691  
           
(1) During Q4F16 $2.9 million of charges were recorded in cost of sales in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations; these charges resulted primarily from inventory losses sustained from a typhoon that impacted the Company's manufacturing facilities in Xiamen, China.
 
(2) During Q4F16 $5.2 million of accelerated stock-based compensation expense was recorded in selling and administrative expenses in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations pursuant to the previously announced retirement agreement with the Company's former Chief Executive Officer.
 
                     


PLEXUS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NON-GAAP SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION Table 2
 (in thousands)
(unaudited)
      
ROIC and Economic Return CalculationsTwelve Months Ended Nine Months Ended Twelve Months Ended
 Oct 1, Jul 2, Oct 3,
 2016 2016 2015
Operating profit $99,439   $75,788   $115,436 
Typhoon-related losses+2,871  +  + 
Accelerated stock-based compensation expense  +5,210  +  + 
Restructuring and other charges+7,034  +5,229  +1,691 
Adjusted operating profit $114,554   $81,017   $117,127 
    ÷3    
     $27,006    
    x4    
Adjusted annualized operating profit $114,554   $108,024   $117,127 
Tax ratex11% x11% x11%
Tax impact 12,601   11,883   12,884 
Adjusted operating profit (tax effected) $101,953   $96,141   $104,243 
         
Average invested capital÷$739,986  ÷$738,397  ÷$745,611 
         
ROIC 13.8%  13.0%  14.0%
Weighted average cost of capital-11.0% -11.0% -11.0%
Economic return 2.8%  2.0%  3.0%


 Three Months Ended
Average Invested CapitalOct 1, Jul 2, Apr 2, Jan 2, Oct 3,
Calculations 2016   2016   2016   2016   2015 
Equity$916,797  $895,175  $871,111  $850,794  $842,272 
Plus:         
Debt - current 78,507   78,279   2,300   2,864   3,513 
Debt - long-term 184,002   184,479   259,565   259,289   259,257 
Less:         
Cash and cash equivalents   (432,964)  (433,679)  (409,796)  (354,728)  (357,106)
 $746,342  $724,254  $723,180  $758,219  $747,936 


 Three Months Ended
Average Invested CapitalJul 4, Apr 4, Jan 3, Sept 27,
Calculations 2015   2015   2015   2014 
Equity$835,063  $808,468  $792,298  $781,133 
Plus:       
Debt - current 4,281   4,774   4,793   4,368 
Debt - long-term 259,284   260,025   260,990   262,046 
Less:       
Cash and cash equivalents   (354,830)  (356,296)  (239,685)  (346,591)
 $743,798  $716,971  $818,396  $700,956 

 


            

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