Warren Veltman
Analyst · CJS Securities. Please go ahead
Thanks Tom. On Page 15, we outlined our view of current market conditions within each of our operating groups. Within Mobile Solutions we have seen a resumption of automotive production following the shutdown induced by the pandemic. These researches are varied by region and by product. In addition, we've recently seen a new challenge emerge in automotive production from a shortage of semiconductor chips that are essential for a variety of applications within each vehicle. These and other supply interruptions have allowed us to differentiate NN from competitors by utilizing our global platform, engineering talent and logistic capabilities to maintain a source of supply for our customers. From an industrial perspective the medium and heavy truck markets continue their steady growth in North America, Europe and China which has driven demand for diesel engines. Specifically with China CN6 emission standard of deadline of July 2021 approaching. We're experiencing accelerations of volume prior to that effective date. Within the Power Solutions, energy companies are investing in grid modernization upgrades for aging infrastructure including smart-grid systems, green power generation and storage solutions. We believe grid infrastructure investment will continue to grow as the transition to electrical vehicles create incremental electric demand. Certainly these emerging trends and the new administrations prioritization on electric vehicles and the infrastructure investments will bode well for our Power Solutions group. We've presented additional information for each of our operating groups starting with Mobile Solutions on Page 16. Mobile Solutions sales grew 11.8% in the fourth quarter from one-year ago as we saw continued recovery from the pandemic as well as favorable comparison on sales to GM suppliers due to a strike impacting the prior year partially offset by mild headwinds from currency. GAAP operating profit for the fourth quarter was $4.6 million compared to an operating loss of $0.6 million in the prior year. Adjusted operating profit increased nearly 370% to $6.8 million or 9.1% of sales from $1.5 million or 2.2% of sales last year. Adjusted EBITDA increased to $15.1 million or 20.1% of sales from $8.9 million or 13.3% of sales in the fourth quarter of 2019. Looking forward, we see continued demand growth in all regions but we remain cautious given the recent supply chain challenges. We will continue to defend our cash flow through disciplined capital spending and working capital management. On Page 17, our Power Solutions group experienced a 0.8% year-over-year increase in sales in the fourth quarter which was driven by an increase in precious metals pricing partially offset by lower overall demand which continued to be adversely impacted by the COVID pandemic. Although sales were positively impacted by higher precious metal costs these increases directly pass through at a lower margin to our customers resulting in headwind to overall margins. For some perspective, the price of gold increased 25% during 2020 while the price of silver increased 40% during the year. GAAP income from operations for the fourth quarter was $1.8 million compared to $1 million in the prior year. Adjusted operating profit decreased to $5.1 million or 11.6% of sales from $5.8 million or 13.4% of sales in the fourth quarter of 2019. Adjusted EBITDA decreased to $5.7 million or 13% of sales from $7 million or 16% of sales in the prior year. The adjusted numbers also was flat. A conservative approach to what add backs we employee in calculating our adjusted financial results. Looking forward, we continue to see positive demand trends in Power Solutions that remain cautious given the continued uncertainly in the pandemic recovery. I would like to now provide an update on our business transformation efforts and our outlook beginning on Page 19. We've made significant progress in our business transformation over the past 18 months with actions surrounding sales, operational improvements, our balance sheet and financial stability and our people in culture. Let's start with sales. One of our primary opportunities in growing sales revolves around the synergies between Mobile and Power Solutions. There are number of near term and long-term synergies to exploit between the two groups to enhance our overall sales group including cross selling to our global diversified customer base, utilizing our global mobile platform to service Power Solutions customers and combining our resources to increase our penetration in the growing electric vehicle market. Within Power Solutions we see significant opportunity to take advantage of huge investment in the electric grid and capitalize on the investment we have made in our aerospace and defense business. Investments in the smart-grid as well as enhanced grid infrastructure spending mark the biggest near-term opportunity for growth. From an operational perspective, we will as always continue to pursue continuous improvement initiatives across our operations globally. With a specific focus in applying best in class operating practices to each group. On the balance sheet, we're committed to maintaining both in appropriate debt leverage and disciplined approach regarding capital investments, prioritizing projects that will generate long-term sustainable growth and return on invested capital. Further we expect continued improvement in working capital turns to generate additional liquidity. As it relates to our people, we will pursue a founder's mentality within our team. This means that our people take ownership of processes within their areas of responsibility and adopt an owner's approach to operational efficiency and the elimination of ways. We will invest in our employees to drive continuous improvement in our operations through training programs, leadership training, utilizing the Shainin system for problem solving and providing apprenticeship program. We've also targeted increases in the number of customer development engineers in order to drive sales growth specifically in the Power Solutions group. On Page 20, we displayed some of the growth markets we're targeting as we execute our plan to exceed $600 million sales by 2025. As you can see, we serve diverse markets of considerable size with attractive long-term growth rates. The majority of our target markets are growing at compounded annual growth rates mid-to-high single digits with market sizes ranging from $4 billion to $11 billion providing plenty of runway for long-term sales growth. A particular note on this slide, NN sales to products that are dependent on the Internal Combustion Engine or ICE represented only 28% of our sales in 2020. We expect that percentage to decline to 21% by 2025 while we grow the business. We anticipate that NN will capitalize on a substantial market opportunities afforded by growth in the electric vehicle, electrical and aerospace and defense industries to [indiscernible]. Turning to Slide 21, I would like to summarize various opportunities and mitigating factors associated with the longer-term evolution to battery electric vehicles. As I indicated, 72% of the products NN sell are not ICE dependent. Most of our product portfolio is agnostic between ICE, hybrid or battery electric vehicles as depicted on the chart and these components will remain in demand even after the last [indiscernible] powered vehicle rolls off the assembly line. Second, our components are highly engineered and are critical to the performance characteristic of our customers products as automobiles become more complex, our customers products and our components will become even more critical creating greater opportunities for additional sales. Third, our equipment is flexible and can be efficiently reconfigured, retooled and redeployed to other product applications as customer demand evolves. Finally, as I previously discussed this evolution will present opportunities for our Power Solutions group to supply contacts, connectors, bus bars and other electrical components for both electrical vehicles and the electric vehicle charging infrastructure necessary to support these vehicles. As I conclude my remarks on Page 22, we share our outlook for the coming year. Given the continued uncertainty surrounding the COVID pandemic and related recovery. We're not in a position to implement formal guidance at this time. But we want to provide some insight and how we see 2021 unfolding. We expect a resumption of more normalized pre-pandemic volumes in each of our business segments. However the quarterly cadence of sales and sales growth will be more difficult to predict. Though we had a strong start to the first quarter with combined sales in January and February up 4% from the prior year. As I discussed throughout this presentation, we expect higher sales and operating improvement to drive improved adjusted EBITDA results. Additionally, we will maintain our focus on liquidity, cash management and free cash flow. For the specific measures underlying our 2021 outlook, we anticipate CapEx in the range of $22 million which is an increase over last year as we look to make necessary investments to support our long-term growth. In addition, we expect depreciation of approximately $33 million and amortization of approximately $14 million. Finally, we expect a worldwide tax raise of about 23%. In summary, 2020 was year of significant challenges that tested many of our operations. But I'm glad to say that our team more than rose to the occasion. We made amazing progress in transforming our business for long-term growth, right sizing our balance sheet and driving the financial stability and flexibility that will enable us to achieve our long-term growth objectives. Over the next few years, we also plan to hit the road at least virtually with a series of investor meetings to discuss the program we have made and why we are so excited by the future potential of NN. That occludes our prepared remarks and I will now turn the call back to the operator for questions.