Highway Holdings Reports Fiscal 2021 Second Quarter Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Highway Holdings Limited (Nasdaq: HIHO) reported Q2 and six-month results for fiscal 2021, showing net sales of $2.7 million, down from $3.2 million a year prior. Despite this decline, net income improved to $229,000, or $0.06 per diluted share, compared to a net loss last year. Total sales for the first half were $4.8 million, down from $6.0 million, with a modest net income of $6,000. The company benefited from government subsidies amid the pandemic and reported a strong balance sheet with cash exceeding $8.6 million. Gross profit for Q2 was $931,000, reflecting a 34.2% margin.

Positive

• Net income for Q2 2021 improved to $229,000 compared to a net loss of $94,000 in Q2 2020.
• Gross profit for Q2 2021 was $931,000, a 34.2% margin, up from 26.4% year-on-year.
• Strong balance sheet with cash and cash equivalents exceeding $8.6 million.

Negative

• Net sales decreased to $2.7 million for Q2 2021 from $3.2 million in the previous year.
• Total sales for the first half of fiscal 2021 were $4.8 million, down from $6.0 million.
• Currency exchange loss of $18,000 in Q2 2021 compared to a gain of $54,000 in Q2 2020.

HONG KONG--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Highway Holdings Limited (Nasdaq: HIHO) today reported results for its fiscal 2021 second quarter and six-months ended September 30, 2020.

Net sales for the fiscal 2021 second quarter were $2.7 million compared with $3.2 million a year earlier. Net income for the same period was $229,000, or $0.06 per diluted share, compared with a net loss of $94,000, or $0.02 per share, a year earlier.

Net sales for the first half of fiscal 2021 were $4.8 million compared with $6.0 million a year earlier. Net income for the same period was $6,000, or $0.00 per diluted share, compared with a net loss of $196,000, or $0.05 per share, a year ago.

“Results for the quarter and first half of fiscal 2021 reflect the worldwide impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Nonetheless, despite unfavorable year-over-year sales comparisons, sales on a quarterly sequential basis actually increased 30 percent. Net income performance, though modest, was encouraging, despite the continued impact of the pandemic on operations and on our customers,” said Roland Kohl, chairman, president and chief executive officer.

Kohl noted that results for the quarter benefited from various subsidies provided by the governments in Hong Kong and Shenzhen due to the continued impact of COVID-19, as well as from voluntary reductions of substantially all staff salaries.

Kohl emphasized the company expects to be effected by the coronavirus for at least another quarter, and potentially for the rest of the fiscal year -- reflecting the offset of certain customer business increases by other customers more sharply experiencing the impact of COVID-19 and reducing order activity.

“Nonetheless, new business opportunities are continuing and are encouraging, though the timing can be difficult to gauge and closing new business opportunities take longer due to the numerous travel restrictions caused by COVID-19. We remain optimistic about the future and believe the trade friction between the United States and China may actually be to our benefit because of our ability to manufacture in Myanmar,” Kohl said.

Gross profit for the second quarter of fiscal 2021 was $931,000 compared with $845,000 a year ago. Gross profit as a percentage of sales for the same period was 34.2 percent compared with 26.4 percent a year earlier. Gross profit for the six-month period of fiscal 2021 was $1.5 million compared with $1.6 million a year ago. Gross profit as a percentage of sales for the same period was 30.4 percent compared with 26.3 percent a year earlier. “Gross profit for both the quarter and six months of 2021 is not truly representative of the company’s expected annualized financial performance due to the many operational constraints and extraordinary income from varies governmental agencies,” Kohl said.

Net gain for the second quarter reflects a currency exchange loss of $18,000 compared with a $54,000 currency exchange gain for the same period last year -- mainly due to weakening of RMB. For the fiscal 2021 six-month period, the company reported a currency exchange loss of $38,000 compared with a currency exchange gain of $95,000 a year earlier. Since the company does not engage in currency exchange rate hedging, Highway Holdings will in the future continue to realize currency exchange gains and losses due to the fluctuation of currency exchange rates.

Kohl noted the company’s balance sheet remains strong, with cash and cash equivalents in excess of $8.6 million, or approximately $2.2 per diluted share, exceeding all of its short- and long-term liabilities by approximately $2.4 million.

Current liabilities at September 30, 2020 totaled $4.4 million and current assets were $12.2 million. Total shareholders’ equity at September 30, 2020 was $10.5 million, or $2.64 per diluted share, compared with $10.9 million, or $2.80 per diluted share, at March 31, 2020.

About Highway Holdings Limited

Highway Holdings is an international manufacturer of a wide variety quality parts and products for blue chip equipment manufacturers based primarily in Germany. Highway Holdings’ administrative offices are located in Hong Kong and its manufacturing facilities are located in Yangon, Myanmar and Shenzhen, China.

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements which involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to economic, competitive, governmental, political and technological factors affecting the company’s revenues, operations, markets, products and prices, and other factors discussed in the company’s various filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including without limitation, the company’s annual reports on Form 20-F.

HIGHWAY HOLDINGS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES Consolidated Statement of Income (Dollars in thousands, except per share data) (Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended									Six Months Ended
	September 30,									September 30,
	2020				2019					2020				2019
Net sales	$2,719				$3,195					$4,776				$6,040
Cost of sales		1,788				2,350					3,324				4,449
Gross profit		931				845					1452				1,591
Selling, general and administrative expenses		698				1,014					1,428				1,926
Operating income/(loss)		233				(169	)				24				(335	)
Non-operating items
Exchange gain /(loss), net		(18	)			54					(38	)			95
Interest income		4				19					8				29
Gain/(Loss) on disposal of Asset		8				2					9				3
Other income/(expenses)		7				-					8				1
Total non-operating income/ (expenses)		1				75					(13	)			128
Net income (loss) before income tax and non-controlling interests		234				(94	)				11				(207	)
Income taxes		0				0					0				0
Net income (loss) before non-controlling interests		234				(94	)				11				(207	)
Less: net gain/(loss) attributable to non-controlling interests		5				0					5				(11	)
Net income/(loss) attributable to Highway Holdings Limited’s shareholders		229				(94	)				6				(196	)
Net Gain/ (loss) per share – Basic	$0.06				($0.02		)			$0.00				($0.05		)
Net Gain/ (loss) per share - Diluted	$0.06				($0.02		)				$0.00			($0.05		)
Weighted average number of shares outstanding
Basic		3,909				3,904					3,909				3,853
Diluted		3,981				3,904					3,981				3,853

HIGHWAY HOLDINGS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES Consolidated Balance Sheet (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
	Sept 30		Mar 31
	2020		2020
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$8,642		$8,827
Accounts receivable, net of doubtful accounts	1,800		2,008
Inventories	1,536		2,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	209		388
Total current assets	12,187		13,223
Property, plant and equipment, (net)	911		878
Operating lease right-of-use assets	3,288		3,710
Long-term deposits	263		263
Long-term loan receivable	95		95
Investments in equity method investees	-		-
Total assets	$16,744		$18,169
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$608		$997
Operating lease liabilities, current	853		782
Other liabilities and accrued expenses	1,917		2,294
Income tax payable	588		564
Dividend payable	399		351
Total current liabilities	4,365		4,988
Long term liabilities :
Operating lease liabilities, non-current	1,648		2,034
Deferred income taxes	229		229
Total liabilities	6,242		7,251
Shareholders’ equity:
Preferred shares, $0.01 par value	-		-
Common shares, $0.01 par value	40		40
Additional paid-in capital	11,574		11,537
Accumulated deficit	(1,257)		(865)
Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)	129		196
Treasury shares, at cost – Nil shares as of Sep 30, 2020; and on March 31, 2020	-		-
Non-controlling interest	16		10
Total shareholders’ equity	10,502		10,918
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$16,744		$18,169