Zvi Glasman
Analyst · CJS Securities. Please go ahead
Thank you, Mario. Good afternoon, everyone. I'll focus on our first quarter results then review our guidance. Sales in the first quarter of 2018 were a record $129.8 million, an increase of 22.1% versus sales of $106.3 million in the first quarter of 2017. Gross margin was 32.1% for the first quarter of 2017, a 40 basis point increase from 31.7% in the prior year period. The improvement in gross margin was primarily due to improved manufacturing efficiencies and increased volume. Total operating expenses were $25.7 million or 19.8% of sales in the first quarter of 2018 compared to $21.3 million or 20% of sales in the first quarter of last year. The increase in operating expenses is primarily a result of the inclusion of expenses from our Tuscany subsidiary, which was acquired in Q4 of last year as well as investments in sales and marketing, research and development to support future growth and professional service costs associated with patent litigation, tax reforms and higher amortization expense on acquired intangible assets, which were partially offset by a decrease in acquisition-related compensation due to the conclusion of our acquisition-related compensation arrangements. Non-GAAP operating expenses stated as a percentage of sales were 17.3% versus 16.9% in Q1 last year, which was better than our previous guidance due to sales outperformance in the quarter. Focusing on expenses in more detail, sales and marketing was up $2.1 million primarily due to cost incurred at our recently acquired Tuscany subsidiary. R&D was up $1.7 million as we continue to invest in product innovation across all our product categories. As we've consistently stated, the timing of R&D and promotional expenses often change between quarters and years, depending on a number of factors, including product launch cycles. Our general and administrative expenses in the first quarter of 2018 were $9.2 million compared to $8.1 million in the prior year period. The change was primarily due to higher professional fees associated with legal costs related to ongoing litigation, tax reform and integration of acquisitions as well as due to expenses of $0.5 million incurred at Tuscany, partially offset by various other items. For the first quarter of fiscal 2018, we had an income tax benefit of $6.6 million, which equates to an income tax rate of negative 44.2%. Income taxes include the non-recurring favorable impact of $9.8 million or $0.25 per diluted share due to the release of tax-related liabilities for matters resolved in connection with the company's 2015 IRS audit. Excluding this benefit, the company's effective tax rate was 20.9% in the first quarter of fiscal 2018 compared to 6.7% in the prior year period. As a reminder, the Q1 2017 tax rate was lower than normal due to approximately $2.4 million impact from stock-based compensation. Excluding this impact, our Q1 2017 tax rate was approximately 28%. Adjusted EBITDA was $23 million for the first quarter of 2018 compared to $19.3 million in the same quarter last year. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 17.7% compared to 18.1% in the prior year quarter. As a reminder, we expect 2018 EBITDA margins to be slightly lower than the prior year due to a return of non-GAAP operating expenses to historical levels, including the impact of the Tuscany acquisition. On a GAAP basis, net income in the first quarter of 2018 was $21.5 million or $0.55 per diluted share compared to net income of $10.5 million or earnings of $0.27 per diluted share in the prior year period. Non-GAAP adjusted net income was $14.1 million, an increase of $0.5 million compared to $13.6 million in the first quarter of the prior year period. Non-GAAP adjusted earnings per diluted share for the first quarter of 2018 were $0.36 compared to $0.35 in the first quarter of 2017. Now focusing on our balance sheet. As of March 30, 2018, we had cash on hand of $22.2 million. Total debt outstanding was $79.2 million compared to $98.6 million of debt outstanding as of December 29, 2017. Inventory was $91.3 million as of March 30, 2018 compared to $84.8 million as of December 29, 2017. Accounts receivable was $56.8 million as of March 30, 2018 as compared to $61.1 million as of December 29, 2017. Accounts payable was $47 million as of March 30, 2018 as compared to $40.8 million as of December 29, 2017. The changes in accounts receivable, inventory and accounts payable are primarily attributable to the growth of the company's business as well as seasonal factors. Now turning to our outlook. For the second quarter of 2018, we expect sales in the range of $141 million to $149 million, and non-GAAP adjusted earnings per diluted share in the range of $0.43 to $0.49. When thinking about Q2 2018 guidance and comparisons versus Q2 2017 results, we expect Q2 2018 non-GAAP operating expenses, stated as a percentage of sales, to be higher than our rate in Q2 2017, but slightly lower than our stated long-term annual rate of 16.5% to 17% due to the higher seasonality of sales in Q2. For fiscal 2018 -- for fiscal year 2018, we are raising our previous guidance and now expect sales in the range of $555 million to $575 million, and non-GAAP adjusted earnings per diluted share in the range of $1.72 per share to $1.86 per share. As we said in last quarter, we expect a slight improvement in gross margin in 2018 and a slight decline in our adjusted EBITDA margin as our non-GAAP operating expenses are expected to increase both in dollars and stated as percentage of sales and return more towards our longer term operating model target of 16.5% to 17% of sales. I would also like to point out that our guidance includes the impact of tariffs, which we currently expect to have a few cents drag on earnings, based on information available to date. Our guidance does not include or contemplate significant additional tariffs, associated future supply chain cost increases or a full-scale trade war. Our full year 2018 guidance assumes a tax rate of approximately 19% to 21%. I would also like to note that we are not providing guidance on GAAP EPS as it cannot be provided without unreasonable efforts due to the difficulty of accurately predicting elements necessary to provide such guidance and reconciliation. I would now like to turn the call back over to Larry.