LAFOX, Ill., July 24, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Richardson Electronics, Ltd. (NASDAQ: RELL) today reported financial results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended June 1, 2019. The Company also announced that its Board of Directors declared a $0.06 per share quarterly cash dividend. 

Fourth Quarter Results

Net sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019 decreased 7.3% to $42.2 million compared to net sales of $45.5 million in the prior year’s fourth quarter based on the continued slowdown in the semiconductor wafer fabrication equipment market. PMT sales decreased $5.1 million; decreases were partially offset by higher sales in its PMG business including power conversion and RF and microwave components. The Company’s other businesses also performed well in the quarter. Canvys sales increased by $0.7 million or 10.8% due to higher demand in its North American market and new program wins. Richardson Healthcare sales increased $1.1 million or 68.7% as a result of higher sales of our ALTA750™ Tube and replacement parts for diagnostic imaging equipment.

Gross margin decreased to $12.5 million, or 29.7% of net sales during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019, compared to $15.5 million, or 34.1% of net sales during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018. Margin decreased as a percent of net sales primarily due to a less favorable product mix, including a higher percentage of power conversion and RF and microwave components, as well as higher costs related to CT Tube production and Healthcare inventory write-downs. Gross margin in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 was also positively impacted by over absorption in LaFox manufacturing associated with higher demand from our customers in the semi-wafer fab equipment market.

Operating expenses were $12.5 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019 compared to $13.7 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018. The decrease in operating expenses resulted from lower incentive compensation expense as well as lower salary and other related expenses due to headcount reductions throughout fiscal 2019. Operating expenses as a percent of net sales decreased to 29.7% in the current quarter from 30.1% in last year’s fourth quarter.

In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019, the Company recorded a $6.3 million non-cash Goodwill Impairment charge, which represented the full amount of Goodwill associated with the IMES reporting unit. The impairment resulted from fourth quarter events that decreased the forecasted future cash flows and the fair value of the IMES reporting unit below its book value as of the March 3, 2019 testing date.

As a result, the Company reported an operating loss of $6.4 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019 compared to operating income of $1.9 million in the prior year’s fourth quarter. Excluding the non-cash Impairment of Goodwill, the Company would have reported a $46,000 operating loss for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019.

Other income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019, including interest income and foreign exchange, was  $0.3 million, the same as in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018.

The income tax provision of $0.3 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019 reflected a provision for foreign income taxes, which was lower than the prior year’s fourth quarter and no U.S. tax benefit due to the valuation allowance recorded against the net operating loss. The tax provision of $0.5 million in last year’s fourth quarter included a provision for foreign income taxes and no U.S. tax benefit due to the valuation allowance recorded against the net operating loss.

Net loss for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019 was $6.4 million, compared to a net income of $1.7 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018.

“We are pleased that our growth initiatives are creating new revenue streams for the Company. Sales of our ALTA750™ CT Tube in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019 were the highest since its introduction. Revenues resulting from our investments in new power and microwave technologies continue to increase significantly helping to offset the slowdown in the semi-fab market, and Canvys continues to win new programs and provide steady sales growth,” said Edward J. Richardson, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President.

Fiscal 2019 Results

Net sales for fiscal 2019 were $166.7 million, an increase of 2.1%, compared to net sales of $163.2 million for fiscal 2018. There were 52 weeks in fiscal 2019 compared to 53 weeks in fiscal 2018. Sales increased by $0.6 million or 0.5% for PMT, $1.3 million or 4.8% for Canvys and $1.6 million or 18.8% for Richardson Healthcare.

Gross margin decreased to $51.7 million for fiscal 2019, compared to $55.1 million for fiscal 2018. As a percentage of net sales, gross margin decreased to 31.0% of net sales for fiscal 2019, compared to 33.7% of net sales for fiscal 2018, primarily as a result of an unfavorable product mix and under absorption of manufacturing costs.

Operating expenses increased to $52.2 million for fiscal 2019, compared to $51.7 million in fiscal 2018. The increase was due to higher severance and legal expenses as well as an increase in bad debt expense, which primarily related to a large fiscal 2017 bad debt that was recovered and collected in fiscal 2018. These increases were mostly offset by lower incentive compensation expense. Operating expenses as a percent of net sales without the higher severance and legal costs as well as bad debt expense related to the large recovery in 2018 decreased to 30.5% in fiscal 2019 from 31.7% in fiscal 2018.

In the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2019, the Company recorded a $6.3 million non-cash Goodwill Impairment charge, which represented the full amount of Goodwill associated with the IMES reporting unit. The impairment resulted from fourth quarter events that decreased the forecasted future cash flows and the fair value of the IMES reporting unit below its book value as of the March 3, 2019 testing date.

Operating loss for fiscal 2019 was $6.8 million, compared to an operating income of $3.6 million for fiscal 2018, which included a $0.3 million gain on the disposal of assets. Excluding the higher severance, legal fees and bad debt expense related to the large recovery in 2018 as well as the Impairment of Goodwill, the Company would have reported an operating income of $0.8 million for fiscal 2019.

Other income for fiscal 2019, including interest income and foreign exchange, was $0.5 million, compared to other income of $0.2 million for fiscal 2018.

The income tax provision of $1.0 million for fiscal 2019 reflected a provision for foreign income taxes and no U.S. tax benefit due to the valuation allowance recorded against the net operating loss. The tax provision of $1.5 million for fiscal 2018 included a provision for foreign income taxes, additional tax due from an audit in Germany and no U.S. tax benefit due to the valuation allowance recorded against the net operating loss.

Loss from continuing operations for fiscal 2019 was $7.3 million, compared to income from continuing operations of $2.3 million for fiscal 2018. Excluding the higher severance, legal costs and bad debt expense from the large recovery in 2018 as well as the Impairment of Goodwill, there would have been income from continuing operations of $0.3 million. In addition, during the second quarter of fiscal 2018, the Company received an income tax refund from the State of Illinois, inclusive of interest and net of professional fees, of $1.5 million. This refund was a result of the conclusion of the Illinois amended return related to the sale of RFPD in 2011 and was therefore, classified as income from discontinued operations.