Ultralife Corporation Reports Second Quarter Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Ultralife (NASDAQ: ULBI) reported strong Q2 2024 results, with sales reaching $43.0 million, up from $42.7 million in Q2 2023. The Battery & Energy Products segment achieved record-high sales, growing 8.3%. Gross profit increased to $11.6 million (26.9% of revenue), compared to $10.6 million (24.8%) in Q2 2023. Operating income rose 6.9% to $3.9 million. GAAP EPS was $0.18, down from $0.21 in Q2 2023, which included a $0.07 per share Employee Retention Credit. The company reported an Adjusted EBITDA of $5.4 million (12.6% of sales) and a backlog of $93.0 million. Notably, Ultralife reduced its debt by 52.2% to $12.1 million.

Positive

• Record-high sales in Battery & Energy Products segment, up 8.3%
• Gross profit increased to $11.6 million, with margin improving to 26.9%
• Operating income rose 6.9% to $3.9 million
• Significant debt reduction of 52.2% to $12.1 million
• Strong backlog of $93.0 million exiting Q2

Negative

• Communications Systems sales decreased 28.7% to $6.3 million
• Operating expenses increased to 17.8% of revenue from 16.2% in Q2 2023
• GAAP EPS decreased to $0.18 from $0.21 in Q2 2023
• Adjusted EBITDA margin declined to 12.6% from 14.7% in Q2 2023

Insights

Financial Analyst

Ultralife 's Q2 2024 results present a mixed picture with some positive developments and areas of concern. Revenue increased slightly to $43.0 million, up from $42.7 million in Q2 2023. The Battery & Energy Products segment showed strong growth, reaching its highest historical level with an 8.3% increase. However, this was partially offset by a 28.7% decrease in Communications Systems sales.

Profitability metrics showed improvement, with gross profit margin expanding to 26.9% from 24.8% year-over-year. This was primarily driven by the Battery & Energy Products segment, which saw a substantial 480 basis point increase in gross margin to 27.1%. Operating income grew by 6.9% to $3.9 million, with operating margin improving to 9.1%.

However, GAAP EPS declined to $0.18 from $0.21 in Q2 2023. It's important to note that the previous year's EPS included a $0.07 per share benefit from an Employee Retention Credit, which wasn't present in Q2 2024. Adjusted EBITDA also decreased to $5.4 million (12.6% of sales) from $6.3 million (14.7% of sales) last year, again impacted by the absence of the ERC.

A significant positive is the company's debt reduction efforts. Ultralife reduced its debt by $13.2 million, or 52.2%, to $12.1 million. This substantial deleveraging improves the company's financial flexibility and reduces interest expenses.

The $93.0 million backlog suggests a healthy pipeline of future business. However, investors should monitor the Communications Systems segment's performance, as its sales decline and margin compression could impact overall results if the trend continues.

Market Research Analyst

Ultralife's Q2 results reflect shifting market dynamics and the company's strategic focus. The 8.3% growth in Battery & Energy Products sales, particularly the 30.5% increase in government/defense sales and 20.1% rise in medical battery sales, indicates strong demand in these sectors. This aligns with broader trends of increased defense spending and growing healthcare technology needs.

However, the 10.9% decrease in oil & gas market sales suggests potential challenges or shifts in this sector. The energy industry's volatility and increasing focus on renewable sources might be influencing this trend.

The 28.7% decline in Communications Systems sales is concerning, especially given that it's attributed to the normalization of supply chain conditions. This implies that the segment might face challenges in maintaining its sales levels without the backlog created by previous supply chain disruptions.

Ultralife's focus on improving gross margins through initiatives like material cost deflation, lean productivity and scrap reduction demonstrates a proactive approach to enhancing profitability. The success of these efforts is evident in the Battery & Energy Products segment's margin improvement.

The company's debt reduction strategy and focus on cash flow generation position it well for future investments and potential acquisitions. This approach could lead to new growth opportunities and market expansions.

Looking ahead, Ultralife's ability to capitalize on the strong demand in government/defense and medical sectors, while addressing challenges in other segments, will be important for sustaining growth. The company's emphasis on larger projects and expanding opportunity funnels suggests a strategic shift towards higher-value contracts, which could drive future revenue growth if executed effectively.

NEWARK, N.Y., July 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ultralife Corporation (NASDAQ: ULBI) reported operating results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024 with the following highlights:

• Sales of $43.0 million compared to $42.7 million for the 2023 second quarter, including 8.3% growth in Battery & Energy Products sales to its highest level in the Company’s history for this segment
• Gross profit of $11.6 million, or 26.9% of revenue, compared to $10.6 million, or 24.8% of revenue, for the 2023 second quarter
• Operating income of $3.9 million, a 6.9% increase over the 2023 second quarter
• GAAP EPS of $0.18 compared to $0.21 which included recognition of our Employee Retention Credit equivalent to $0.07 per share for the 2023 second quarter
• Adjusted EBITDA of $5.4 million or 12.6% of sales versus $6.3 million or 14.7% last year, which included $1.5 million for our Employee Retention Credit
• Backlog of $93.0 million exiting the second quarter
• Debt reduction of $13.2 million, or 52.2%, to $12.1 million from $25.3 million at the end of the first quarter
  

“Ultralife’s second quarter results testify to the continued high demand for our products particularly from our government/defense and medical battery customers, the success of our initiatives to improve Battery & Energy Products’ gross margin, and our solid cash flow generation which we used to reduce our debt by over 50%,” said Mike Manna, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Looking ahead to the second half of the year, our main priorities remain driving gross margin increases through material cost deflation, lean productivity, scrap reduction and price realization for both businesses, and expanding the opportunity funnels and customer wins for larger projects. We are optimistic that we are well positioned to sustain profitable growth and generate incremental cash flow that can be allocated to debt reduction and investments in strategic capital expenditures and accretive acquisitions.”

Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results
Revenue was $43.0 million compared to revenue of $42.7 million for the second quarter of 2023. Battery & Energy Products sales increased 8.3% to $36.7 million, compared to $33.9 million last year, reflecting increases of 30.5% in government/defense sales and 20.1% in medical battery sales, partially offset by a 10.9% decrease in oil & gas market sales. Communications Systems sales decreased 28.7% to $6.3 million compared to $8.8 million for the same period last year, primarily attributable to shipments in the 2023 period for orders which had been previously delayed by supply chain disruptions. Our total backlog exiting the second quarter was $93.0 million.

Gross profit was $11.6 million, or 26.9% of revenue, compared to $10.6 million, or 24.8% of revenue, for the same quarter a year ago. Battery & Energy Products’ gross margin increased 480 basis points to 27.1%, compared to 22.3% last year, primarily due to higher cost absorption and more efficiencies resulting from our concerted effort to level-load production more evenly across the 2024 quarter, as well as improved price realization. Communications Systems gross margin was 25.6% compared to 34.5% last year, primarily due to product mix.

Operating expenses were $7.6 million, compared to $6.9 million for the 2023 second quarter, reflecting investments in new product development, the addition of sales resources to support future growth and executive bonus accruals which were not recognized in last year’s second quarter. Operating expenses were 17.8% of revenue compared to 16.2% of revenue for the year-earlier period.

Operating income was $3.9 million compared to $3.7 million last year. Driven by the 210-basis point gain in gross margin, operating margin increased to 9.1% compared to 8.6% last year.

Other income, reported below operating income, includes $0.2 million as a preliminary payment from our insurance carrier pertaining to the cyberattack which occurred in the first quarter of 2023. Other income for the second quarter of 2023 included an Employee Retention Credit (“ERC”) of $1.5 million under Section 2301 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act of 2020 and the American Rescue Plan of 2021 which was filed with the Internal Revenue Service during that quarter.

Net income was $3.0 million, or $0.18 per diluted share on a GAAP basis, compared to net income of $3.3 million or $0.21 per diluted share for the second quarter of 2023. Adjusted EPS was $0.22 on a diluted basis for the second quarter of 2024, compared to $0.29 for the 2023 period. Adjusted EPS excludes the provision for deferred taxes which primarily represents non-cash charges for U.S. taxes which we expect will be fully offset by net operating loss carryforwards and other tax credits for the foreseeable future. Recognition of the ERC in the second quarter of 2023 increased GAAP and Adjusted EPS by $0.07 and $0.10, respectively, for that period.

Adjusted EBITDA, defined as EBITDA including non-cash, stock-based compensation expense, was $5.4 million for the second quarter of 2024, or 12.6% of sales, compared to $6.3 million, or 14.7% of sales, for the year earlier period which included the ERC.

See the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section of this release for a reconciliation of adjusted EPS to EPS and adjusted EBITDA to net income attributable to Ultralife Corporation.

About Ultralife Corporation
Ultralife Corporation serves its markets with products and services ranging from power solutions to communications and electronics systems. Through its engineering and collaborative approach to problem solving, Ultralife serves government/defense and commercial customers across the globe.

Headquartered in Newark, New York, the Company's business segments include Battery & Energy Products and Communications Systems. Ultralife has operations in North America, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit www.ultralifecorporation.com.

Conference Call Information
Ultralife will hold its second quarter earnings conference call today at 8:30 AM ET.

To ensure a fast and reliable connection to our investor conference call, we now require participants dialing in by phone to register using the following link prior to the call: https://register.vevent.com/register/BI3ab77e4ff3d049f3b130d6d227043bba. This will eliminate the need to speak with an operator. Once registered, dial-in information will be provided along with a personal identification number. Should you register early and misplace your details, you can simply click back on this same link at any time to register and view this information again. A live webcast of the conference call will be available to investors in the Events & Presentations section of the Company's website at http://investor.ultralifecorporation.com. For those who cannot listen to the live broadcast, a replay of the webcast will be available shortly after the call at the same location.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on current expectations that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The potential risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially include uncertain global economic conditions, reductions in revenues from key customers, delays or reductions in U.S. and foreign military spending, acceptance of our new products on a global basis, and disruptions or delays in our supply of raw materials and components due to business conditions, global conflicts, weather or other factors not under our control. The Company cautions investors not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect the Company's analysis only as of today's date. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. Further information on these factors and other factors that could affect Ultralife’s financial results is included in Ultralife’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, including the latest Annual Report on Form 10-K.

ULTRALIFE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Dollars in Thousands)
(Unaudited)
ASSETS
	June 30, 2024				December 31, 2023
Current Assets:
Cash	$	6,690			$	10,278
Trade Accounts Receivable, Net		31,055				31,761
Inventories, Net		41,392				42,215
Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets		4,650				5,949
Total Current Assets		83,787				90,203
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net		20,281				21,117
Goodwill		37,510				37,571
Other Intangible Assets, Net		14,646				15,107
Deferred Income Taxes, Net		9,088				10,567
Other Non-Current Assets		4,505				3,711
Total Assets	$	169,817			$	178,276
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
Accounts Payable	$	9,691			$	11,336
Current Portion of Long-Term Debt		2,000				2,000
Accrued Compensation and Related Benefits		2,312				3,115
Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities		6,570				7,279
Total Current Liabilities		20,573				23,730
Long-Term Debt, Net		9,978				23,624
Deferred Income Taxes		1,642				1,714
Other Non-Current Liabilities		4,279				3,781
Total Liabilities		36,472				52,849
Shareholders' Equity:
Common Stock		2,106				2,078
Capital in Excess of Par Value		191,388				189,160
Accumulated Deficit		(34,894	)			(40,754	)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss		(3,895	)			(3,660	)
Treasury Stock		(21,492	)			(21,492	)
Total Ultralife Equity		133,213				125,332
Non-Controlling Interest		132				95
Total Shareholders’ Equity		133,345				125,427
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity	$	169,817			$	178,276

ULTRALIFE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)
(Unaudited)
	Three-Month Period Ended				Six-Month Period Ended
	June 30,		June 30,		June 30,		June 30,
	2024		2023		2024		2023
Revenues:
Battery & Energy Products	$36,683		$33,861		$71,672		$62,331
Communications Systems	6,300		8,831		13,238		12,277
Total Revenues	42,983		42,692		84,910		74,608
Cost of Products Sold:
Battery & Energy Products	26,730		26,318		52,733		48,276
Communications Systems	4,690		5,786		9,144		8,308
Total Cost of Products Sold	31,420		32,104		61,877		56,584
Gross Profit	11,563		10,588		23,033		18,024
Operating Expenses:
Research and Development	1,997		1,778		3,753		3,810
Selling, General and Administrative	5,649		5,145		11,300		10,523
Total Operating Expenses	7,646		6,923		15,053		14,333
Operating Income	3,917		3,665		7,980		3,691
Other (Expense) Income	(71)		1,058		(527)		564
Income Before Income Taxes	3,846		4,723		7,453		4,255
Income Tax Provision	853		1,375		1,556		1,242
Net Income	2,993		3,348		5,897		3,013
Net Income Attributable to Non-Controlling Interest	24		8		37		19
Net Income Attributable to Ultralife Corporation	$2,969		$3,340		$5,860		$2,994
Net Income Per Share Attributable to Ultralife Common Shareholders – Basic	$.18		$.21		$.36		$.19
Net Income Per Share Attributable to Ultralife Common Shareholders – Diluted	$.18		$.21		$.35		$.19
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding – Basic	16,568		16,141		16,482		16,138
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding – Diluted	16,825		16,144		16,661		16,141

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

 

Adjusted EBITDA
In evaluating our business, we consider and use adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, as a supplemental measure of our operating performance in addition to U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) financial measures. We define adjusted EBITDA as net income attributable to Ultralife Corporation before net interest expense, provision (benefit) for income taxes, depreciation and amortization, and stock-based compensation expense, plus/minus expense/income that we do not consider reflective of our ongoing continuing operations. We reconcile adjusted EBITDA to net income attributable to Ultralife Corporation, the most comparable financial measure under GAAP. Neither current nor potential investors in our securities should rely on adjusted EBITDA as a substitute for any GAAP measures and we encourage investors to review the following reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to net income attributable to Ultralife Corporation.

ULTRALIFE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CALCULATION OF ADJUSTED EBITDA (Dollars in Thousands) (Unaudited)
	Three-Month Period Ended				Six-Month Period Ended
	June 30, 2024		June 30, 2023		June 30, 2024		June 30, 2023
Net Income Attributable to Ultralife Corporation	$2,969		$3,340		$5,860		$2,994
Adjustments:
Interest Expense, Net	418		440		938		864
Income Tax Provision	853		1,375		1,556		1,242
Depreciation Expense	789		760		1,529		1,522
Amortization Expense	227		227		455		436
Stock-Based Compensation Expense	159		154		320		293
Cyber-Insurance Policy Deductible	-		-		-		100
Adjusted EBITDA	$5,415		$6,296		$10,658		$7,451

Adjusted Earnings Per Share
In evaluating our business, we consider and use adjusted EPS, a non-GAAP financial measure, as a supplemental measure of our business performance. We define adjusted EPS as net income attributable to Ultralife Corporation excluding the provision (benefit) for deferred income taxes divided by our weighted average shares outstanding on both a basic and diluted basis. We believe that this information is useful in providing period-to-period comparisons of our results by reflecting the portion of our tax provision that will be predominantly offset by our U.S. net operating loss carryforwards and other tax credits for the foreseeable future. We reconcile adjusted EPS to EPS, the most comparable financial measure under GAAP. Neither current nor potential investors in our securities should rely on adjusted EPS as a substitute for any GAAP measures and we encourage investors to review the following reconciliation of adjusted EPS to EPS and net income attributable to Ultralife Corporation.

ULTRALIFE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CALCULATION OF ADJUSTED EPS (In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts) (Unaudited)
	Three-Month Period Ended
	June 30, 2024						June 30, 2023
	Amount		Per Basic Share		Per Diluted Share		Amount		Per Basic Share		Per Diluted Share
Net Income Attributable to Ultralife Corporation	$2,969		$.18		$.18		$3,340		$.21		$.21
Deferred Tax Provision	744		.04		.04		1,278		.08		.08
Adjusted Net Income	$3,713		$.22		$.22		$4,618		$.29		$.29
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding			16,568		16,825				16,141		16,144

	Six-Month Period Ended
	June 30, 2024						June 30, 2023
	Amount		Per Basic Share		Per Diluted Share		Amount		Per Basic Share		Per Diluted Share
Net Income Attributable to Ultralife Corporation	$5,860		$.36		$.35		$2,994		$.19		$.19
Deferred Tax Provision	1,394		.08		.09		888		.05		.05
Adjusted Net Income	7,254		$.44		$.44		$3,882		$.24		$.24
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding			16,482		16,661				16,138		16,141

Company Contact: Ultralife Corporation Philip A. Fain (315) 210-6110 pfain@ulbi.com	Investor Relations Contact: LHA Jody Burfening (212) 838-3777 jburfening@lhai.com

FAQ

What was Ultralife 's (ULBI) revenue for Q2 2024?

Ultralife reported revenue of $43.0 million for Q2 2024, compared to $42.7 million in Q2 2023.

How much did Ultralife (ULBI) reduce its debt in Q2 2024?

Ultralife reduced its debt by $13.2 million, or 52.2%, from $25.3 million at the end of Q1 to $12.1 million at the end of Q2 2024.

What was Ultralife's (ULBI) GAAP EPS for Q2 2024?

Ultralife reported a GAAP EPS of $0.18 for Q2 2024, compared to $0.21 in Q2 2023, which included a $0.07 per share Employee Retention Credit.

How much was Ultralife's (ULBI) backlog at the end of Q2 2024?

Ultralife reported a backlog of $93.0 million exiting the second quarter of 2024.