Robert Sullivan
Analyst · Alembic Global
Thank you, Mike. SG&A for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023 was $59.6 million compared to $54.5 million for the same period last year. As a percentage of net sales SG&A was 15.1% for the fourth quarter compared to 15.2% the same period last year. Looking forward SG&A as a percentage of net sales is expected to be between 15.75% and 16% of sales in the first quarter, including approximately $3 million to $4 million of stock-based compensation expense. Other operating expenses for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023 totaled $20.7 million compared to $23.7 million for the same period last year. For the fourth quarter of fiscal '23, other operating expenses included $17.7 million of amortization of intangible assets, $2.5 million of restructuring costs associated with our South Carolina operations, and $0.5 million of other items. For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022, other operating expenses consisted primarily of $17.2 million of amortization of intangible assets, $5.7 million of costs associated with the Dodge acquisition, and $0.8 million of other items. Operating income was $86.1 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal '23 compared to operating income of $59.3 million for the same period in fiscal 2022. Excluding approximately $2.6 million of restructuring costs associated with our South Carolina operations offset by $0.1 million of acquisition related costs, adjusted operating income was $88.6 million or 22.5% of sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. Excluding approximately $12.5 million of acquisition costs, adjusted operating income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022 was $71.9 million or 20% of sales. Interest expense for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023 was $21.7 million, compared to $13.6 million for the same period last year. We anticipate interest expense between $20 million and $21 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2024, including approximately $1 million of costs associated with the amortization of deferred financing fees. For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023, the company reported net income of $49.2 million compared to $31.5 million for the same period last year. On an adjusted basis net income was $67.7 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023, compared to $61.7 million for the same period last year. Net income available to common stockholders for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023 was $43.4 million, compared to $25.7 million for the same period last year. On an adjusted basis net income available to common stockholders for the fourth quarter of fiscal '23 was $61.9 million, compared to $56 million for the same period last year. Diluted earnings per share attributable to common stockholders was $1.49 per share for the fourth quarter of fiscal '23, compared to $0.89 per share for the same period last year. On an adjusted basis, diluted earnings per share attributable to common stockholders for the fourth quarter of fiscal '23 was $2.13 per share, compared to $1.93 per share for the same period last year. Turning to cash flow, the company generated $71.4 million in cash from operating activities in the fourth quarter of fiscal '23, compared to $46.9 million for the same period last year. Capital expenditures were $12.4 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal '23, compared to $8 million of capital expenditures for the same period last year. We paid down $70 million on the term loan during the period, leaving total debt of $1.4 billion as of April 1, 2023 and cash on hand was $65.4 million. Cumulatively, since November 2021, we have now paid $400 million on the term loan. I would now like to turn the call back to the operator for the question-and-answer session.