Earnings Labs

Elbit Systems Ltd. (ESLT)

Q1 2014 Earnings Call· Tue, May 13, 2014

$831.46

+1.46%

Key Takeaways · AI generated
AI summary not yet generated for this transcript. Generation in progress for older transcripts; check back soon, or browse the full transcript below.

Same-Day

-1.68%

1 Week

-0.16%

1 Month

+2.34%

vs S&P

+0.14%

Transcript

Executives

Management

Ehud Helft – CCG Investor Relations Bezhalel Machlis – President and Chief Executive Officer Joseph Gaspar – Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Operator

Operator

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for standing by. Welcome to the Elbit Systems’ First quarter 2014 Results Conference Call. All participants are present in listen only mode. Following management’s formal presentation, instructions will be given for the question-and-answer session. As a reminder, this conference is being recorded. You should have all received by now the company’s press release, if you have not received it, please contact Elbit Investor Relations team at GK Investor Relations at or view it in the in new section of the company’s website www.elbitststems.com. I would now like to hand over the call over to Mr. Ehud Helft of GK Investor and Public Relations. Ehud, please go ahead.

Ehud Helft

Management

Thank you operator and good day to everybody. On behalf of all the investors, I would like to thank Elbit Systems management for hosting this call. Joining us on the call today are Mr. Butzi Machlis, Elbit’s President and CEO; and Mr. Yossi Gaspar, Elbit Systems’ Chief Financial Officer. Yossi would begin by providing a discussion of the financial results of the quarter, followed by Butzi, who would talk about some of its significant events during the quarter and beyond. We'll then turnover the call for the question-and-answer session. Before we begin, I woo like to point out the Safe Harbor statement in the company’s press released issued earlier today, also refers to the content of this conference. With that, I would like to now turn over the call to Yossi. Yossi please.

Joseph Gaspar

Chief Executive Officer

Thank you Ehud. Hello everyone and thank you for joining us today. Like last quarter we would provide you with both our regular GAAP financial data as well as certain supplemental non-GAAP information. You can find all the details GAAP financial data as well as the non-GAAP information in today’s press release. We are pleased with our first quarter 2014 results. Our results indicate a strong and stable business with a solid improvement in backlog surpassing the $6 billion milestone for the first time. I would now highlight and discuss some of the key figures and trends. Our first quarter of 2014 revenues $682.6 million, slightly ahead of the $680.2 million last year. in terms of revenue breakdown across our area of operation in the quarter, C4ISR systems was 37%, Airborne Systems was 42%, Armored vehicle systems was 8%, Electro-Optics systems 10% and the rest was 3%. Compared to last year the make up of the overall mix was very similar to that of the current quarter. In terms of geographic breakdown for the first quarter Israel was 24% of revenues, North America was 20%, Europe 16%, Asia-Pacific was 17%, Latin America 10% and the rest of the world was 4%. Compared with the first quarter of last year, Israel grew strongly mainly due to the approval of the government budget that released the funding for some project that was pending for a while. North America, Asia-Pacific and Europe were lower as a portion of our revenues. I note that we do not see these quarterly fluctuations in our revenue breakdown as indicative of any long-term trends. More than that we believe that the long-term trends remain for the higher potential growth in the emerging defense markets of Asia-Pacific and Latin America and we expect that the long-term trend will…

Bezhalel Machlis

Investor Relations

Thank you, Yossi. I'm pleased with our overall stock to 2014, particularly the solid growth in our backlog. This is an indication to us that we have to potential to grow by providing us with good visibility into our revenues over the coming years. Our results demonstrate strong and stable business. Our top line and margin profile were similar if not slightly ahead of those of last year. During the quarter, we saw an increase in activity in the two developing regions, which we see much long-term growth potential in the defense field, namely Asia-Pacific and Latin America. In Asia-Pacific, we recently announced our selection for a tenth upgrade program under a contract, which was valued at approximately $290 million, to be performed over the current three-years. This significant contract demonstrates our unique capabilities and experience in upgrading main battle tanks in a key target market for us. This follows the important award of $229 million, we received at the end of last year, from the Australian Defence Forces for Battle Management Systems under the project in which we are the prime contractor. In the Latin American region, we're awarded $100 million contract for the supply of Homeland Security Solution, to be performed over the coming year. We were supply in new in operated Intelligence Gathering System, considered to be a groundbreaking operational solution, we're very proud of this contract award in the key markets. It is very much demonstration of how we can combine and synergies technologies from across our different divisions for the benefit of our customers. Also in the region is a Brazilian Air Force, purchased a Hermes 900 Unmanned Aircraft System, which will be used to support safety and security missions during the 2014 FIFA World Cup games. This particularly Hermes 900 system will be equipped…

Operator

Operator

(Operator Instructions) The first question is from (indiscernible) Citi Bank. Please go ahead.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

Hi, I have a few questions please. First of all I wanted to ask about sales, now they were flat year-over-year and we understand your business is volatile year-over-year, but you would have expected some growth. So can you please say something about it?

Joseph Gaspar

Chief Executive Officer

Yes. Most of the programs we are doing are long-term projects, and so it takes time until the backlog is transferred to further into revenues and profit. I’m very pleased with the fact the backlog grew and I’m sure that revenues and profits will grow in the future.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

Okay. Second question please, I wanted to ask about the impact of the shekel on your margins in 2014 and 2015, what will happen with the margins if the shekel will stay as it is today?

Bezhalel Machlis

Investor Relations

Well we definitely don’t like the place the shekel and the dollar is today, it would be much better for us if the dollar would be stronger. However, as you can see both in the recent quarter and specifically in the quarter, we were able to manage with the present levels and still keep our profitably rates similar to last year. This was mainly due to significant cost cutting and the yield improvements that we had, which otherwise would have resulted in improved margins. Hopefully, we will see some change of the shekel dollar, but if not we still have ways to coupe with that.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

Thank you very much.

Operator

Operator

(Operator Instructions) Next question is from (indiscernible). Please go ahead.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

My question is with regard to intangibles, I know you amortize intangibles, but in the reports you mix it with the other depreciation, if you could please separate that item? And my second question is I see that even though you amortize intangibles, your intangible on the balance sheet grew in the first quarter, but I didn’t notice that you acquired any new company so I wanted to ask about that?

Joseph Gaspar

Chief Executive Officer

Okay. Regarding the amortization of intangible assets you can see the numbers in our non-GAAP release, which is part of our press release. We had a non-GAAP page and then you can see over there which is about $11 million per quarter, rough numbers. The growth – second part of the question the growth in the intangible in this quarter was mainly due to the increase in our share – in our holdings in one of our subsidiaries moving from 49% to 90% and which is actually increased the intangible number – the gross intangible number.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

Okay. I see. Thank you.

Joseph Gaspar

Chief Executive Officer

Welcome.

Operator

Operator

Next question a follow-up question from (indiscernible). Please go ahead.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

Thank you. Another question please, you had a high and positive operating cash flow this quarter, not of previous quarters. I wanted to ask why not to increase payment to your shareholders because I see the dividend payment increased only in $1 million and the payout ratio is even lower?

Joseph Gaspar

Chief Executive Officer

I would say that we have a long position of keeping our dividend payments rather stable, we did increase this quarter from $0.30 to $0.32, we manage our cash on a long-term basis and any quarterly fluctuations in cash they are not the major driver for our dividend payout.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

Thank you very much. And my last question please is about a working capital, this year it was flat and not as last year, it was negative. So I wanted to ask is it something sustainable, any guidance for 2014, 2015 can we expect it?

Joseph Gaspar

Chief Executive Officer

I think we should look at an average working capital in the last four to six quarters. This may be more representative of the longer term trend.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

Six you said?

Joseph Gaspar

Chief Executive Officer

No, four to six quarters.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

Okay. Thank you very much.

Operator

Operator

There are no further questions at this time. Before I ask Mr. Machlis to go ahead with his closing statement, I would like to remind participants that a replay of this call will be available two hours after the conference ends. In the U.S., please call 1-888-326-9310. In Israel, please call 03-925-5901. And internationally, please call 9723-925-5901. A replay of the call will also be available at the company's website, www.elbitsystems.com. Mr. Machlis, would you like to make your concluding statements?

Bezhalel Machlis

Investor Relations

Yes. I would like to thank all our employees for their continued hard work. To everyone on the call, thank you for joining us today and for your continued support and interest in our company. Have a good day and goodbye.

Operator

Operator

Thank you. This concludes the Elbit Systems first quarter 2014 results conference call. Thank you for your participation. You may go ahead and disconnect.