Earnings Labs

Geospace Technologies Corporation (GEOS)

Q3 2014 Earnings Call· Fri, Aug 8, 2014

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Transcript

Operator

Operator

Welcome to the Geospace Technologies Third Quarter 2014 Earnings Conference Call. Hosting the call today from Geospace is Mr. Rick Wheeler, President and Chief Executive Officer. He is joined by Tom McEntire, the company's Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Today's call is being recorded and will be available on the Geospace Technologies Investor Relations website following the call. At this time, all participants have been placed in a listen-only mode and the floor will be opened for your question following the presentation. (Operator Instructions). It is now my pleasure to turn the floor over to Rick Wheeler. Sir, you may begin.

Rick Wheeler

Management

Thanks Leo. Good morning, and welcome to Geospace Technologies conference call for the third quarter of fiscal year 2014, and thank you for listening in today. I am Rick Wheeler, the company's President and Chief Executive Officer, and with me is Tom McEntire, our company's Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. I'll start off the prepared portion of the call with an overview of the quarter, and Tom will follow that with an in-depth review and commentary of our financial performance. I'll then close out the prepared portion of the call with some final remarks, and we'll then open the line for questions. Also, as mentioned as a matter of convenience, we will make a replay of this conference call available in the Investor Relations section of our website at www.geospace.com. Let me first caution that the information we will discuss this morning is time-sensitive, and therefore may not be accurate on the date one listens to the replay. And secondly, many of the statements we will make today will constitute forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. By example, this includes statements about the market for our products, revenue recognition, planned operations and capital expenditures. These statements are based on management's current perceptions, expectations and knowledge. Actual outcomes are influenced by uncertainties and other factors that we are unable to predict or control. These and other risks, both known and unknown, may create undesirable results or cause our performance to differ materially from what we may express or imply. These risks and uncertainties include those discussed in our SEC Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filings. Yesterday after the market closed, the company released its financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2014. Revenues for the quarter of $40.7 million resulted in…

Tom McEntire

Management

Thanks, Rick, and good morning, everyone. Before I begin, I want to remind everyone that while our discussions today may include estimates of future cash flows and other events, we will not provide any revenue or earnings guidance during this call. As Rick just mentioned, for our third quarter, we reported revenues of $40.7 million compared to revenues of $78.1 million last year. Our net income for the quarter was $3.8 million or $0.29 per diluted share compared to last year’s net income of $17 million or $1.31 per diluted share. Before we discuss revenues for each of our product segments, I want to point out that we’re now separately reporting rental revenues and rental cost on the face of our income statement. For the quarter, we generated $7.3 million of rental income compared to $1.4 million in last year’s third quarter. We believe this information is helpful to investors and the additional information increases transparency of our financial results. While we can say that our GSX and OBX wireless products currently generate the vast majority of our rental revenues, we will not be providing a break out of rental revenues for each product segment. So, regarding the performance of our four product segments for the quarter, sales and rental revenues from our traditional seismic products for the third quarter were $9.9 million, a decrease of 8% compared to revenues of $10.8 million last year. Lower demand for these products is a direct consequence of reduced seismic exploration activities seen in the first half of this calendar year. This decrease primarily reflects lower geophone and marine product sales. We expect sales of many of our lower margin traditional products to be flat or to decline slightly in future periods. Sales in rental revenues from GSX and OBX wireless seismic products…

Rick Wheeler

Management

Thanks, Tom. As heard from our customers and widely reported in the industry, seismic exploration markets have seen a lull so far in calendar year 2014, meaning all companies are focused on drilling and production unit specially in quick to decline shale plays as well as on solving transportation bottlenecks. Others appear focused on grooming and trimming their asset portfolios and balance sheets. We are encouraged by the views of our customers who see an improved seismic exploration market in the last half of the year, although we don't any specific timing of how this might unfold. But what we do know in 2013, the increase in global oil production led by the U.S. was less than half the growth of global oil consumption. We also know that amidst record oil prices, production output levels of several major oil companies across the globe have alarmingly gone down. To correct this requires finding new reserves and maximally managing existing reserves. This bodes well for the future of seismic and the need for our technology products and we continue to strategically plan for this challenge. This concludes our prepared remarks, so, I'll now turn the call back over to the moderator for questions.

Operator

Operator

The floor is now open for questions. (Operator Instructions). Thank you. Our first question comes from Joe Maxa of Dougherty & Company. Joe Maxa - Dougherty & Company: Good morning.

Rick Wheeler

Management

Hi, Joe.

Tom McEntire

Management

Hi, Joe. Joe Maxa - Dougherty & Company: Hi, I got a couple of questions. First I'll ask on the OBX line, I mean there are some indications that this project from SGS could go away. I mean is that the intent, if they don't get financing by the end of September that, that will not happen?

Rick Wheeler

Management

Well, if they don't get their financing, I mean they will have difficulty just staying alive to that end. And we'll need to move on with our business model for the OBX as it goes with other customers that are wanting those. So, it's certainly a potential. SGS is talking to some significant players both in the maritime industry and in the general finance industry, like we’ve said we’re very encouraged but we do think one way or the other we will conclude this at the end of the quarter. Joe Maxa - Dougherty & Company: Okay. So, it sounds like the inventories that you have for SGS, you would be able to use for others, there would be no risk of any type of write-down?

Rick Wheeler

Management

No doubt, we would be able to use those inventories. Joe Maxa - Dougherty & Company: Okay. In general you're talking about OBX seeing increased demand, perhaps additional rentals, maybe somebody wants some of these if doesn't SGS doesn't take them. I noticed that, was it TGS and Fairfield has some type of collaboration agreement. Can you give us a little more color what you're seeing out there and where these active areas may be?

Rick Wheeler

Management

Well actually their active areas are all around the globe and you’ve seen that SAE is very aggressive in pursuing of many of these contracts and successfully. So they are the ones that are utilizing this 3,300 OEMs up in Alaska and we’re discussing with them other options and possibilities that they’re in the midst of, as well as other companies out there. So to that end we do see a lot of activity that is coming to us for quoting. Joe Maxa - Dougherty & Company: That 3,300 units being used in Alaska, do you anticipate that for the rest of the quarter or is that a shorter-term duration?

Rick Wheeler

Management

It’s not clear there maybe some other work for it but at this point we think it’s a fairly long rental. Joe Maxa - Dougherty & Company: Okay. I wanted to ask about the headcount and your opportunities to perhaps reduce your SG&A, given the environment?

Rick Wheeler

Management

Well we have pretty small SG&A in general as it turns down but there may be some occasions where that might be possible. But we did have some work force reductions back in April which were pretty much what we needed at the time. We don’t see immediate additional work reduction at least of any consequence. Joe Maxa - Dougherty & Company: Okay. And I’m just looking at numbers from the year-over-year basis where revenues are half over they've been but SG&A is up, so I just seeing if there are any opportunities to reduce that? Lastly, I just want to just touch based on overall the PRM business you reported 13 million plus of revenue with under 7 million from Statoil. You have additional revenues, can you just give us some color on what the additional revenues were and is that sustainable?

Tom McEntire

Management

Well, we had some of our borehole products were part of the mix this quarter. Joe Maxa - Dougherty & Company: So, that's largely the difference?

Tom McEntire

Management

Yeah, I would say so. Joe Maxa - Dougherty & Company: Okay.

Rick Wheeler

Management

Yes. There are some other products in there as well but it’s a mix of borehole and some other products. Joe Maxa - Dougherty & Company: And how does that look going forward?

Tom McEntire

Management

Lumpy.

Rick Wheeler

Management

Joe, our visibility in that area continues to be limited, so we’ll take it as it comes. Joe Maxa - Dougherty & Company: Okay. Thanks a lot guys. I'll jump back. Thank you.

Rick Wheeler

Management

You bet.

Operator

Operator

Our next question comes from Veny Aleksandrov of FIG Partners.

Veny Aleksandrov - FIG Partners

Analyst

Good morning guys.

Rick Wheeler

Management

Hi Veny.

Tom McEntire

Management

Hi Veny.

Veny Aleksandrov - FIG Partners

Analyst

My first question is on the operating margins. I understand the change in the revenue mix and that Statoil is winding but the operating margin was significantly low this quarter. Are there any changes in the pricing for GSX in your high margin products?

Tom McEntire

Management

Veny, a lot of that's driven by our gross profit margins which are gaining a lot of pressure because of the reduced volume. And we have a fixed cost structure in manufacturing. And essentially, our operating expenses, we just talked about those a minute ago. Those are unlikely to decline much. We are -- big portion of this is research and development. And we don't have any plans to reduce research and development. And we will continue investing in our products and in slow periods we may even higher additional engineers as they become available. So that’s an area, we will continue investing in and the margins are going to be lower in periods where we have lower sales.

Veny Aleksandrov - FIG Partners

Analyst

But it’s not pricing pressure on products that now that come with high margins or it’s just short term?

Tom McEntire

Management

No.

Veny Aleksandrov - FIG Partners

Analyst

Okay. And my second question is looking forward and I don't want you to give any guidance, but how can we look at the business model from now on? Should we just model the basics and then everything else comes as an upside, as it used to be, or because you're saying that there is a lot going on in the PRM side on the OBX side, but it seems like we’re going back to the lumpiness?

Tom McEntire

Management

Veny, when you figure out how to model this company, you call us and let us know.

Veny Aleksandrov - FIG Partners

Analyst

Okay. My third question is Russia, with the political situation there, any impact on your operations and manufacturing in the country?

Rick Wheeler

Management

Not really on the manufacturing side, it has not really had an impact. We did have some sales that were impacted by that that was last quarter actually. And we got through that on some of the products by eliminating those components that going to be problematic in the export; in the other case, we really couldn't do that. But so far, as far as our manufacturing operations go, the sanctions have not intersected the lines of communication and product flow that are associated with that.

Veny Aleksandrov - FIG Partners

Analyst

Thank you.

Operator

Operator

Our next question comes from Joel Luton of Westlake Securities.

Joel Luton - Westlake Securities

Analyst

Good morning, guys. Just a couple of questions here. With respect to the Sea, or SGS contract, you said that if it falls through, you have other customers lined up. Does that mean that those customers would purchase the stations or is it just potential rental equipment that they use?

Rick Wheeler

Management

It’s actually both. I mean we still pursue our rent to purchase plants and those are taking advantage of often times. So in reality I think Joel that both of those are right in line with opportunities they could manifest.

Joel Luton - Westlake Securities

Analyst

Okay. And could you, if those customers are in fact lined up, could you supply them now with other inventory or do you not have that available?

Rick Wheeler

Management

We do have some inventory, obviously we are furnishing those are renting to 3,300 now and we have some others that were just came back from a rental, even separately from that that were in the quarter. So overall, we have inventory but we have others that are quoting -- we could not fulfill every quote that we’re getting right now. I can tell you that much, we could not do it. So that inventory will definitely have a purpose.

Joel Luton - Westlake Securities

Analyst

Okay. So, you do see, if it falls through, you see that inventory being either sold or rented out relatively quickly?

Tom McEntire

Management

Yes. I mean Joel just to nail this down, we don’t have any sales contracts right now, if we had any large ones we would announce them. But this is a standard product, it's being quoted in numerous other situations to our customers out there it could be used for those deals if they come through.

Joel Luton - Westlake Securities

Analyst

Okay. And you have previously said on the OBX that you've have had a handful of customers that have expressed interest in potential large orders for the OBX. Does that continue to be the case?

Rick Wheeler

Management

It does continue to be the case.

Joel Luton - Westlake Securities

Analyst

Okay. And one more question. What was EBITDA for the quarter? Do you have that offhand?

Rick Wheeler

Management

Sure. We'll get it and announce it in just a minute.

Joel Luton - Westlake Securities

Analyst

Okay. Thanks. That's all I have.

Operator

Operator

Our next question comes from Georg Venturatos of Johnson Rice.

Georg Venturatos - Johnson Rice

Analyst

Hey, good morning guys.

Rick Wheeler

Management

Hi Georg.

Georg Venturatos - Johnson Rice

Analyst

You talked about a little bit on the cost structure with some modest workforce reductions. Just wanted to double check with you guys, expectations on the R&D side looking forward, and also I would imagine you haven't made any changes within the headcount on the engineering side. Is that correct?

Rick Wheeler

Management

Yes, it was correct.

Georg Venturatos - Johnson Rice

Analyst

Okay, great. As it relates to PRM, obviously, it sounds like you guys are optimistic, but it should be -- potentially a little bit of time before we see something, with start dates uncertain. Maybe walk us through how you'd maybe possibly envision this tender process working, if someone, a large operator, were to tender a project, how long that typically takes. And secondarily, I’d imagine given your track record with PRM, having done the majority over the last decade, you still feel very confident in your ability to win a large majority of any potential award opportunities?

Rick Wheeler

Management

Sure. Well to be quite honest that tender process has significant variability, each one is has its own personality and runs differently. They can be fairly short lift in some circumstances where whether its history, other times vacant even with history there can be six months or even longer in terms of the tender process itself. So it’s really unpredictable with respect to how that actually manifests with each tender. The PRM is the poster child of lumpy activity with respect to these sorts of things in the contract process and tender process mirrors that to a large extent. But overall yes, we are optimistic. I mean if you look over the last slightly over a decade it’s represented over $20 million on average per year of what we’ve done, most all of it or the large majority of it towards the latter part of that but it is a viable business for us and as the world leader undisputed with respect to the number of these systems that we put in place and that are operating today, we think that’s a good thing.

Georg Venturatos - Johnson Rice

Analyst

Got you. Appreciate the answers, guys.

Operator

Operator

(Operator Instructions). We’ll move next to William Alpaugh with Simmons & Company. William Alpaugh - Simmons & Company: Hey good morning guys.

Rick Wheeler

Management

Hi Bill. William Alpaugh - Simmons & Company: You obviously have been expanding rapidly over the past couple of years as a result of the large Statoil project, but today in the release, you don't have any other awards in hand right now. How are you thinking about your cost structure today in navigating the current environment, and also considering, historically before Statoil, the gross margins were in the low to mid 40% range? Is that a reasonable range to expect going forward?

Rick Wheeler

Management

Well, regarding the gross margins again I think we had this discussion about us as a manufacturer, it's going to be volume dependent and certainly mix has a big impact as well. But lower volume is going to put pressure on it. It’s going to lower them and you don't have to go very far back I think in 2007, 2008 we had margins up and probably low to mid 30s with lower volumes. So, that answers that question and I can't remember your, what's your first question was? William Alpaugh - Simmons & Company: Actually, how you're thinking about your cost structure today and navigating the current environment with no awards after the Statoil project?

Rick Wheeler

Management

We work conservatively as best we can with what we do but you have to look at our history I mean our history is a function of technology products and grow through innovation of new products. We're still continuing on that. We have other products that are in our R&D group right now that we're putting final touches on we will be introducing new products over the course of time that’s just our DNA. So, fundamentally as Tom said, it's an issue of bringing those new products and then introducing volume production into our facilities on those products. William Alpaugh - Simmons & Company: Okay. Here a second one. In GSX you sold 8,000 channels. When we try to back into the price per channel, it looks like it was maybe $400 to $500. First, is that accurate and second, is it lower because they're out of the rental fleet or is that how we should be thinking about this long-term with current market?

Rick Wheeler

Management

Well primarily, I don't know what the exact number is, I don't have it here with me. But yes, these are older channels out of our rental fleet and so because they are experienced, they come with the discount. William Alpaugh - Simmons & Company: Okay. Since they are rentals and just lastly, I just want to clarify, was all your rental revenue, was that all in the wireless segment?

Rick Wheeler

Management

Well, I’ve mentioned that we're not going to break it out by each of our segments, but yes the vast majority of our rental revenues for the quarter were from our wireless segment. Also I want to put a plug in back to Joe and let him know that the EBITDA was $11 million for the quarter. Sorry about that Will. William Alpaugh - Simmons & Company: Yes. No problem. Thank you.

Rick Wheeler

Management

Okay.

Operator

Operator

And we have a follow-up question from Veny Aleksandrov, FIG Partners.

Veny Aleksandrov - FIG Partners

Analyst

Just to clarify again. I know, in fact, you don't have these numbers, but on the SGS order, they have made some advanced payments, right?

Tom McEntire

Management

Right.

Veny Aleksandrov - FIG Partners

Analyst

And if the order is canceled, you are going to get to keep these?

Tom McEntire

Management

That's right.

Veny Aleksandrov - FIG Partners

Analyst

And did you give out the number or it's not a number that you're willing to?

Tom McEntire

Management

I think we've talked about it before, it's around $3 million Veny.

Veny Aleksandrov - FIG Partners

Analyst

Yes. That's a lot. Yes. Okay. Thank you. Thanks. I appreciate it.

Rick Wheeler

Management

Sure.

Operator

Operator

Our next question comes from Hamed Khorsand of BWS Financial.

Hamed Khorsand - BWS Financial

Analyst

Hey, good morning. Just want to start off with are there any plans right now for inventory level? It seems high for the revenue run rate you're operating at?

Rick Wheeler

Management

Well the large portion of that is tied up with our OBX and rental fleet, so yes there is plenty of intent that’s to rent and sell it.

Tom McEntire

Management

Its Tom and just to add to what Rick said, yes we were caught a little bit by surprise with this market and we’re sitting on a lot of inventory that didn’t move out from the SGS order and we’re trying to anticipate the market for OBX and GSX and we got caught a little bit short. So yes we are healthy with our inventory we don’t see it growing much from here and we’ve got plenty and we’re slowing and down our purchasing and slowing down the factory. So it should level off where we are at.

Hamed Khorsand - BWS Financial

Analyst

All right. And what do you think a good inventory level would be for you right now, I'm just trying to forecast how much cash flow that you could generate off of the inventory in a reasonable time frame?

Rick Wheeler

Management

Yes, if you could tell me what my future sales are going to be I could give you an answer. But yes, it’s high right now and that’s kind of where I like to leave it.

Hamed Khorsand - BWS Financial

Analyst

Okay. And is there any update as far as your operations in South America, I know you guys opened the sales office there and were trying to ramp things up over there?

Rick Wheeler

Management

Yes we had significant rental activity operating out of that office just recently and actually there are some underway even as we speak. So that office is really getting some traction down there. So it's been very beneficial to us.

Hamed Khorsand - BWS Financial

Analyst

Okay. And my last question here is that, given the market dynamics, is there any change to those seasonality you guys go through, given what happened in fiscal Q4?

Rick Wheeler

Management

Not sure, I understand what you mean. But as far as the -- if you are just talking about the overall cyclicality that we see in seismic, I think this is something we are seeing now. I mean it goes up and down all companies focus on different things, particularly when they're all in sync as they were in North America on shale plays. So, you see sort of an alignment there purpose, but in general it just goes up and down, but we don't expect to stay that away.

Tom McEntire

Management

And Hamed, the last couple of fiscal years, we've had a fairly soft Q4, because we haven’t had any big transactions following that quarter, but we've had a ball in others quarters that are around Q4, like the first quarter or even the second and third quarter. So, it's kind of odd that happens, but really depends on where some of our bigger sales opportunities land and I think that could fall in Q4 or any other quarter.

Hamed Khorsand - BWS Financial

Analyst

Okay. That's it from me. Thank you.

Operator

Operator

Okay. It appears that we have no further questions at this time. So, I'll return the conference back over to Mr. Wheeler for any additional or closing remarks.

Rick Wheeler

Management

Alright. Well, thanks Leo. And I want to thank everybody for joining us and listening in and participating on our call today. And we hope you all join us for our fiscal year 2014 fourth quarter conference call, which currently we expect to be on Friday November 21, 2014. So, thanks again and good bye.

Operator

Operator

Thank you. This does conclude today’s teleconference. Please disconnect your lines at this time and have a wonderful day.