Core Molding Technologies Reports Fiscal 2024 Second Quarter Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Core Molding Technologies (NYSE American: CMT) reported its fiscal 2024 second quarter results. Net sales decreased 9.2% to $88.7 million compared to the prior year quarter. Gross margin was 20.0% of net sales, down from 21.0% in the previous year. Net income was $6.4 million, or $0.73 per diluted share, compared to $7.9 million, or $0.91 per diluted share in Q2 2023.

For the first six months of 2024, total net sales decreased 15.4% to $166.9 million. The company maintained a strong liquidity position with $87.8 million available at the end of Q2. Despite challenging economic conditions, Core Molding is focusing on growth initiatives and operational performance, with a robust opportunity pipeline of $250 million and new business wins totaling $42 million.

Positive

• Maintained strong gross margin of 20.0% in Q2 2024 despite lower sales
• Generated $16.1 million in free cash flow for the first six months of 2024, up from $14.4 million in 2023
• Strong liquidity position with $87.8 million available at the end of Q2 2024
• New business wins totaling $42 million, diversified across end markets
• Low leverage with term debt-to-trailing twelve months Adjusted EBITDA less than one times

Negative

• Q2 2024 net sales decreased 9.2% year-over-year to $88.7 million
• First half 2024 net sales decreased 15.4% year-over-year to $166.9 million
• Q2 2024 net income decreased to $6.4 million from $7.9 million in Q2 2023
• Lowered full-year sales guidance to approximately 15% down compared to 2023
• Anticipates lower gross margin percentages in the second half of 2024 due to seasonality and less leverage of fixed costs

Insights

Financial Analyst

Core Molding Technologies' Q2 2024 results show a mixed performance. The company reported $88.7 million in net sales, a 9.2% decrease year-over-year. Despite this decline, they maintained a solid gross margin of 20.0%, only slightly down from 21.0% in Q2 2023. However, operating income fell to $7.5 million (8.4% of net sales) from $10.1 million (10.3%) last year.

The company's focus on cash flow generation is evident, with $16.1 million in free cash flow for H1 2024, up from $14.4 million in H1 2023. This strong cash position, combined with $87.8 million in total liquidity, provides a solid foundation for future growth initiatives and potential acquisitions.

However, the lowered sales guidance for the full year, now expecting a 15% decrease compared to 2023, raises concerns about ongoing economic headwinds and customer demand softness. Investors should closely monitor the company's "Invest for Growth" initiatives and their impact on future revenue.

Market Research Analyst

Core Molding's Q2 results reflect broader economic challenges affecting the engineered materials sector. The 9.2% decrease in net sales aligns with industry trends of customer inventory rationalization and economic headwinds. However, their $250 million opportunity pipeline and $42 million in new business wins demonstrate potential for future growth.

The company's diversification across building products, industrial, utilities and automotive sectors provides some resilience. The 12-18 month quote-to-cash cycle suggests that recent wins will impact financials in 2025-2026, indicating a potential turnaround in the medium term.

Investors should note the company's proactive approach to sales transformation and market analysis. The focus on specialized teams for each vertical and enhanced customer engagement could yield positive results in a challenging market. However, the success of these initiatives remains to be seen and should be monitored closely in upcoming quarters.

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Aug. 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Core Molding Technologies, Inc. (NYSE American: CMT) (“Core Molding”, “Core” or the “Company”), a leading engineered materials company specializing in molded structural products, principally in building products, industrial and utilities, medium and heavy-duty truck and powersports industries across the United States, Canada and Mexico today reports financial and operating results for the fiscal periods ended June 30, 2024.

Second Quarter 2024 Highlights

• Total net sales of $88.7 million decreased 9.2% compared to the prior year second quarter.
• Gross margin of $17.7 million, or 20.0% of net sales, compared to 21.0% of net sales in the prior year second quarter.
• Selling, general, and administrative expenses of $10.2 million, or 11.5% of net sales, compared to $10.5 million, or 10.7% of net sales for the prior year second quarter.
• Operating income of $7.5 million, or 8.4% of net sales, compared to operating income of $10.1 million, or 10.3% of net sales for the prior year second quarter.
• Net income of $6.4 million, or $0.73 per diluted share, compared to net income of $7.9 million, or $0.91 per diluted share for the prior year second quarter.
• Adjusted EBITDA¹ of $11.6 million, or 13.0% of net sales, compared to $13.7 million, or 14.1% for the prior year second quarter.

Six Month 2024 Highlights

• Total net sales of $166.9 million decreased 15.4% compared to the prior year six month period .
• Gross margin of $31.0 million, or 18.6% of net sales, compared to 19.4% of net sales in the prior year six-month period.
• Selling, general, and administrative expenses of $18.8 million, or 11.3% of net sales, compared to $20.2 million, or 10.2% of net sales for the prior year six-month period.
• Operating income of $12.2 million, or 7.3% of net sales, compared to operating income of $18.1 million, or 9.2% of net sales for the prior year six-month period.
• Net income of $10.2 million, or $1.15 per diluted share, compared to net income of $13.8 million, or $1.59 per diluted share for the prior year six-month period.
• Adjusted EBITDA¹ of $20.3 million, or 12.2% of net sales, compared to $26.0 million, or 13.2% for the prior year six-month period.

¹Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure as defined and reconciled below.

David Duvall, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “Our second quarter performance reflects our focus on investing for growth, operational performance and cash flow generation. Because we design and manufacture engineered solutions using innovative processes, the Company’s 2024 sales transformation is imperative to our next phase which is focused on growth and leveraging the significant improvements we have made in our operations and engineering functions. Our Must Win Battle this year of Invest For Growth involves streamlining the Sales execution processes, increasing resources in our Account Management team, deeper data-driven market analyses, and increasing customer engagement events. Our structural sales and operational workstreams include 1) new leadership and specialized teams to ‘own’ growth in each vertical, 2) comprehensive sales engagement and cross-selling our portfolio into every relationship, and 3) a robust lead generation process with active participation and follow-up of industry trade shows and customer lunch & learn events.

“Halfway through fiscal 2024, our opportunity pipeline is a robust $250 million, and new business wins total $42 million. These new wins are diversified across our end markets, with over half comprising new business and the remainder of wins being replacements of current business. Because of the technical requirements and validation required with most of our solutions, our quote-to-cash cycle is 12 to 18 months, and therefore, the benefits of these wins will be realized starting in 2025 and 2026. We have shown that we can execute and have a strong performance track record. As we execute our Invest For Growth initiatives, we are confident we will increase sales wins, unlock significant earnings potential, and generate long-term shareholder value.”

John Zimmer, the Company’s EVP and Chief Financial Officer, commented, “Our first half results reflect our ability to maintain gross margins within our full-year goal range of 17% to 19% even with lower sales in a challenging sales environment driven by economic conditions. As expected, first half sales declined 15.4%, primarily due to economic headwinds, tough comparisons, and customer inventory rationalization. In the second quarter, we sustained a strong 20% gross margin, which pushed the first-half gross margin to 18.6%. We anticipate second-half of the year gross margin percentages to be lower than first-half gross margin percentages due to normal seasonality and less leverage of fixed costs, but we still expect full-year gross margin percentages to be within our yearly gross margin goal range.

“Our total available liquidity was $87.8 million at the end of the second quarter, which is available to grow the business organically and through acquisitions as well as to repurchase shares of the Company. We generated $16.1 million of free cash flows¹ for the first six months of 2024 compared to $14.4 million in the same period of 2023, as the Company remains in a solid cash-generating position due to past operational improvements we implemented. Consistent with our capital allocation strategy, we repurchased approximately 24 thousand shares during the second quarter at an average stock price of $16.41 under our previously announced share repurchase program.”

“Despite easing second-half sales comparisons, we are lowering sales guidance to the bottom of our full-year guidance, down approximately 15%, compared to 2023 sales due to continued softness in customer demand driven by macro-economic conditions. We continue to evaluate the Company’s fixed cost structure and will adjust costs prudently. We will provide ongoing updates this year on our ‘Invest for Growth’ initiatives and progress to drive topline revenue.”

¹Free Cash Flow is a non-GAAP financial measure as defined and reconciled below.

2024 Capital Expenditures

The Company’s capital expenditures for the first six months of 2024 were $4.8 million. The Company anticipates spending approximately $13 million during 2024 on property, plant and equipment purchases for all of the Company's operations.

Financial Position at June 30, 2024

The Company’s total liquidity at June 30, 2024 was $87.8 million, with $37.8 million in cash, $25.0 million of undrawn capacity under the Company’s revolving credit facility and $25.0 million of undrawn capacity under the Company's capex credit facility. The Company’s term debt was $22.4 million at June 30, 2024. The term debt-to-trailing twelve months Adjusted EBITDA¹ was less than one times trailing twelve months Adjusted EBITDA¹ as of June 30, 2024. The Company had a trailing twelve months return on capital employed¹ of 12.1% as of June 30, 2024.

¹ Adjusted EBITDA and return on capital employed are non-GAAP financial measures as defined and reconciled below.

Conference Call

The Company will conduct a conference call today at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss financial and operating results for the periods ended June 30, 2024. To access the call live by phone, dial (844) 881-0134 and ask for the Core Molding Technologies call at least 10 minutes prior to the start time. A telephonic replay will be available through August 13, 2024, by calling (877) 344-7529 and using passcode ID: 3909303#. A webcast of the call will also be available live and for later replay on the Company’s Investor Relations website at www.coremt.com/investor-relations/events-presentations/.

About Core Molding Technologies, Inc.

Core Molding Technologies is a leading engineered materials company specializing in molded structural products, principally in building products, utilities, transportation and powersports industries across North America. The Company operates in one operating segment as a molder of thermoplastic and thermoset structural products. The Company’s operating segment consists of one reporting unit, Core Molding Technologies. The Company offers customers a wide range of manufacturing processes to fit various program volume and investment requirements. These processes include compression molding of sheet molding compound (“SMC”), resin transfer molding (“RTM”), liquid molding of dicyclopentadiene (“DCPD”), spray-up and hand-lay-up, direct long-fiber thermoplastics (“DLFT”) and structural foam and structural web injection molding (“SIM”). Core Molding Technologies serves a wide variety of markets, including the medium and heavy-duty truck, marine, automotive, agriculture, construction, and other commercial products. The demand for Core Molding Technologies’ products is affected by economic conditions in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Core Molding Technologies’ operations may change proportionately more than revenues from operations.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws that are subject to risks and uncertainties. These statements often include words such as “believe”, “anticipate”, “plan”, “expect”, “intend”, “will”, “should”, “could”, “would”, “project”, “continue”, “likely”, and similar expressions. In particular, this press release may contain forward-looking statements about the Company’s expectations for future periods with respect to its plans to improve financial results, the future of the Company’s end markets. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those reflected in forward-looking statements relating to our operations and business include: dependence on certain major customers, and potential loss of any major customer due to completion of existing production programs or otherwise; general macroeconomic, social, regulatory and political conditions, including uncertainties surrounding volatility in financial markets; changes in the plastics, transportation, marine and commercial product industries (including changes in demand for production), efforts of the Company to expand its customer base and develop new products to diversify markets, materials and processes and increase operational enhancements; the Company’s initiatives to quote and execute manufacturing processes for new business, acquire raw materials, address inflationary pressures, regulatory matters and labor relations; the Company’s financial position or other financial information; and other risks and uncertainties described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and our subsequent quarterly reports, all of which are available on the SEC and Company website. These statements are based on certain assumptions that the Company has made in light of its experience as well as its perspective on historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate under the circumstances. Actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results because of certain risks and uncertainties, including those included in the Company’s filings with the SEC. There can be no assurance that statements made in this press release relating to future events will be achieved. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events or changes to future operating results over time. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on behalf of the Company are expressly qualified in their entirety by such cautionary statements.

Company Contact:
Core Molding Technologies, Inc.
John Zimmer
Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
jzimmer@coremt.com

Investor Relations Contact:
Three Part Advisors, LLC
Sandy Martin or Steven Hooser
214-616-2207

- Financial Statements Follow –

Core Molding Technologies, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited, in thousands, except share and per share data)
	Three months ended June 30,								Six months ended June 30,
		2024				2023				2024				2023
Net sales:
Products	$	83,956			$	95,703			$	159,787			$	194,040
Tooling		4,787				2,022				7,101				3,192
Total net sales		88,743				97,725				166,888				197,232
Total cost of sales		71,018				77,163				135,858				158,927
Gross margin		17,725				20,562				31,030				38,305
Selling, general and administrative expense		10,236				10,492				18,810				20,161
Operating income		7,489				10,070				12,220				18,144
Other income and expense
Net interest expense		(38	)			293				45				649
Net periodic post-retirement benefit		(138	)			(52	)			(276	)			(105	)
Total other (income) and expense		(176	)			241				(231	)			544
Income before income taxes		7,665				9,829				12,451				17,600
Income tax expense		1,246				1,893				2,273				3,812
Net income	$	6,419			$	7,936			$	10,178			$	13,788
Net income per common share:
Basic	$	0.74			$	0.93			$	1.17			$	1.62
Diluted	$	0.73			$	0.91			$	1.15			$	1.59

Core Molding Technologies, Inc. Product Sales by Market (unaudited, in thousands)
	Three months ended June 30,						Six months ended June 30,
	2024			2023			2024			2023
Medium and heavy-duty truck	$	46,841		$	45,193		$	88,350		$	94,709
Power sports		20,902			23,878			39,761			45,914
Building products		5,429			10,691			11,974			22,478
Industrial and utilities		4,175			6,622			7,521			13,052
All other		6,609			9,319			12,181			17,887
Net product revenue	$	83,956		$	95,703		$	159,787		$	194,040

Core Molding Technologies, Inc. Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands)
	As of
	June 30,				As of
		2024			December 31,
	(unaudited)					2023
Assets:
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	37,787			$	24,104
Accounts receivable, net		46,988				41,711
Inventories, net		21,764				22,063
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		12,164				15,001
Total current assets		118,703				102,879
Right of use asset		2,812				3,802
Property, plant and equipment, net		79,725				81,185
Goodwill		17,376				17,376
Intangibles, net		5,224				6,017
Other non-current assets		1,857				2,118
Total Assets	$	225,697			$	213,377
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity:
Liabilities:
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	$	1,780			$	1,468
Accounts payable		29,458				23,958
Contract liabilities		5,886				5,204
Compensation and related benefits		8,153				10,498
Accrued other liabilities		6,749				5,058
Total current liabilities		52,026				46,186
Other non-current liabilities		2,812				3,759
Long-term debt		20,603				21,519
Post retirement benefits liability		2,753				2,960
Total Liabilities		78,194				74,424
Stockholders' Equity:
Common stock		88				86
Paid in capital		44,770				43,265
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of income taxes		3,976				5,301
Treasury stock		(33,578	)			(31,768	)
Retained earnings		132,247				122,069
Total Stockholders' Equity		147,503				138,953
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	$	225,697			$	213,377

Core Molding Technologies, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited, in thousands)
	Six months ended June 30,
		2024				2023
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	10,178			$	13,788
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		6,728				6,346
Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment		231				80
Share-based compensation		1,505				1,487
Losses (gain) on foreign currency		404				296
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable		(5,277	)			(6,107	)
Inventories		299				(523	)
Prepaid and other assets		613				(190	)
Accounts payable		5,159				700
Accrued and other liabilities		1,631				3,492
Post retirement benefits liability		(528	)			(465	)
Net cash provided by operating activities		20,943				18,904
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property, plant and equipment		(4,805	)			(4,511	)
Net cash used in investing activities		(4,805	)			(4,511	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Gross borrowings on revolving loans		—				(38,962	)
Gross repayment on revolving loans		—				37,098
Payments for taxes related to net share settlement of equity awards		(1,417	)			(1,907	)
Purchase of treasury shares		(393	)			—
Payment on principal on term loans		(645	)			(643	)
Net cash used in financing activities		(2,455	)			(4,414	)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents		13,683				9,979
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		24,104				4,183
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	37,787			$	14,162
Cash paid for:
Interest	$	538			$	653
Income taxes	$	1,230			$	3,347
Non cash investing activities:
Fixed asset purchases in accounts payable	$	157			$	848

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release contains financial information determined by methods other than in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). Core Molding management uses non-GAAP measures in its analysis of the Company's performance. Investors are encouraged to review the reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP results available in the accompanying tables.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Adjusted EBITDA represents net income before, as applicable from time to time, (i) interest expense, net, (ii) provision (benefit) for income taxes, (iii) depreciation and amortization of long-lived assets, (iv) share based compensation expense, (v) plant closure costs, and (vi) nonrecurring legal settlement costs and associated legal expenses unrelated to the Company's core operations. Debt-to-trailing twelve months adjusted EBITDA represents total outstanding debt divided by trailing twelve months Adjusted EBITDA. Free Cash Flow represents net cash (used in) provided by operating activities less purchase of property, plant and equipment. Trailing twelve months return on capital employed represents the trailing twelve months earnings before (i) interest expense, net and (ii) provision (benefit) for income taxes divided by (i) stockholders' equity and (ii) current and long-term debt.

We present Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA as a percent of net sales, debt-to-trailing twelve months adjusted EBITDA, Free Cash Flow and trailing twelve months Return on Capital Employed because management uses these measures as key performance indicators, and we believe that securities analysts, investors and others use these measures to evaluate companies in our industry. These measures have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP as an indicator of our operating performance. Our calculation of these measures may not be comparable to similarly named measures reported by other companies. The following tables present reconciliations of net income to Adjusted EBITDA, and Cash Flow from Operating Activities to Free Cash Flow, the most directly comparable GAAP measures, and Debt to trailing twelve months adjusted EBITDA and trailing twelve months Return on Capital Employed, for the periods presented:

Core Molding Technologies, Inc. Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation (unaudited, in thousands)
	Three months ended June 30,								Six months ended June 30,
		2024				2023				2024				2023
Net income	$	6,419			$	7,936			$	10,178			$	13,788
Provision for income taxes		1,246				1,893				2,273				3,812
Total other expenses(1)		(176	)			241				(231	)			544
Depreciation and amortization		3,308				2,918				6,581				6,388
Share-based compensation		766				756				1,505				1,487
Adjusted EBITDA	$	11,563			$	13,744			$	20,306			$	26,019
Adjusted EBITDA as a percent of net sales		13.0	%			14.1	%			12.2	%			13.2	%
(1)Includes net interest expense and non-cash periodic post-retirement benefit cost.

Core Molding Technologies, Inc. Computation of Debt to Trailing Twelve Months Adjusted EBITDA (unaudited, in thousands)
	Q3 2023			Q4 2023			Q1 2024				Q2 2024				Trailing Twelve Months
Net income	$	4,354		$	2,182		$	3,759			$	6,419			$	16,714
Provision for income taxes		1,386			223			1,029				1,246				3,884
Total other expenses(1)		135			112			(56	)			(176	)			15
Depreciation and amortization		3,208			3,315			3,272				3,308				13,103
Share-based compensation		736			700			739				766				2,941
Adjusted EBITDA	$	9,819		$	6,532		$	8,743			$	11,563			$	36,657
Total Outstanding Term Debt as of June 30, 2024															$	22,383
Debt to Trailing Twelve Months Adjusted EBITDA																0.61
(1)Includes net interest expense and non-cash periodic post-retirement benefit cost.

Core Molding Technologies, Inc. Computation of Trailing Twelve Months Return on Capital Employed (unaudited, in thousands)
	Q3 2023			Q4 2023			Q1 2024			Q2 2024			Trailing Twelve Months
Operating Income	$	5,875		$	2,517		$	4,732		$	7,489		$	20,613
Equity													$	147,503
Structured Debt													$	22,383
Total Capital Employed													$	169,886
Return on Capital Employed														12.1	%

Core Molding Technologies, Inc. Computation of Trailing Twelve Months Return on Capital Employed Excluding Cash (unaudited, in thousands)
	Q3 2023			Q4 2023			Q1 2024			Q2 2024			Trailing Twelve Months
Operating Income	$	5,875		$	2,517		$	4,732		$	7,489		$	20,613
Equity													$	147,503
Structured Debt													$	22,383
Less Cash													$	(37,787	)
Total Capital Employed, Excluding Cash													$	132,099
Return on Capital Employed, Excluding Cash														15.6	%

Core Molding Technologies, Inc. Free Cash Flow Six Months Ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 (unaudited, in thousands)
		2024				2023
Cash flow provided by operations	$	20,943			$	18,904
Purchase of property, plant and equipment		(4,805	)			(4,511	)
Free cash flow	$	16,138			$	14,393

FAQ

What were Core Molding Technologies' (CMT) Q2 2024 financial results?

Core Molding Technologies reported Q2 2024 net sales of $88.7 million, down 9.2% year-over-year. Net income was $6.4 million or $0.73 per diluted share, compared to $7.9 million or $0.91 per diluted share in Q2 2023.

How much new business did Core Molding Technologies (CMT) win in the first half of 2024?

Core Molding Technologies reported new business wins totaling $42 million in the first half of 2024, diversified across their end markets.

What is Core Molding Technologies' (CMT) liquidity position as of June 30, 2024?

Core Molding Technologies had a total liquidity of $87.8 million as of June 30, 2024, consisting of $37.8 million in cash and $50 million in undrawn credit facilities.

Has Core Molding Technologies (CMT) updated its sales guidance for 2024?

Yes, Core Molding Technologies has lowered its sales guidance for 2024, now expecting sales to be down approximately 15% compared to 2023 due to continued softness in customer demand driven by macro-economic conditions.