Gorman-Rupp Reports Third Quarter 2015 Financial Results

Net sales during the third quarter were $104.2 million compared to a record $110.2 million during the third quarter of 2014. Domestic sales decreased 7.9% or $6.2 million while international sales were comparable between periods as they increased $237,000. Sales in the water end markets decreased 2.9% or $2.2 million and sales in non-water end markets decreased 10.8% or $3.8 million during the quarter. Of the total $5.9 million decrease in net sales in the third quarter, $1.7 million or 28.8% of the decrease was due to unfavorable foreign currency translation.

The third quarter activity in water end market sales included $5.3 million of increased sales in the fire protection market due to higher international and domestic sales of $3.2 million and $2.1 million, respectively. Despite increased shipments of $6.4 million related to the Permanent Canal Closures and Pumps (“PCCP”) project in New Orleans, sales in the municipal market decreased $3.9 million overall driven primarily by reduced demand for large volume pumps for wastewater and flood control projects. Also, sales in the construction market decreased $3.5 million due primarily to the decline in drilling of oil and gas in North America. Decreased sales in the non-water end markets during the third quarter of 2015 were primarily due to $2.3 million of lower sales in the industrial market also largely due to the downturn in oil and gas. In addition, sales in the OEM market decreased $1.1 million primarily due to lower sales of pumps for military applications.

Net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 were $307.4 million compared to a record $330.0 million during the same period in 2014, a decrease of 6.8%. Domestic sales decreased 9.3% or $21.2 million and international sales decreased 1.3% or $1.4 million. Of the total decrease in net sales during the nine month period ended September 30, 2015, $6.0 million or 26.7% was due to unfavorable currency translation. Sales in water end markets decreased 4.6% or $10.7 million. Activity in the water end markets included $12.0 million of increased sales in the fire protection market principally due to higher international sales. This increase was offset by $11.6 million of lower sales in the construction market due primarily to the global decline in new oil and gas drilling which affected both domestic and international sales. Despite increased shipments of $22.9 million related to the PCCP project, sales in the municipal market decreased $7.7 million overall driven by reduced demand for large volume pumps for wastewater and water supply projects. Also, sales decreased $5.1 million in the agricultural market primarily due to unseasonably wet weather conditions in most locations domestically and lower commodity prices. Sales decreased 11.9% or $11.9 million in non-water markets primarily due to lower sales in the OEM market related to power generation equipment and pumps for military applications and residential appliances.

Due to recent increased retirements and a related surge in lump sum pension payments, the Company recorded a U.S. GAAP-required $1.9 million non-cash pension settlement charge during the third quarter of 2015 relating to its defined benefit pension plan. The Company recorded a total of $3.3 million in non-cash pension settlement charges during the first nine months of 2015. We expect that a similar non-cash charge of approximately $1.0 million will occur during the fourth quarter of this year as additional expected retirements and related lump sum payments are made. The rate of retirements was less in 2014 and in the first quarter of 2015 and settlement charges were not required in those periods.

Gross profit was $23.3 million for the third quarter of 2015, resulting in gross margin of 22.4% compared to 25.5% for the same period in 2014. Operating income was $8.9 million, resulting in operating margin of 8.6% for the third quarter of 2015 compared to 12.7% for the same period in 2014. The quarter’s gross profit and operating income margin declines were due principally to the sales volume decreases from 2014 to 2015, sales mix changes due to increased shipments and percentages of shipments of lower margin engine and motor equipped systems, and the non-cash pension settlement charge described above of 120 and 180 basis points, respectively. Net income was $5.9 million during the third quarter of 2015 compared to $9.4 million in the third quarter of 2014 and earnings per share were $0.22 and $0.36 for the respective periods. The non-cash pension settlement charge described above negatively impacted current quarter earnings per share by $0.05 per share.

Gross profit was $71.4 million for the first nine months of 2015, resulting in gross margin of 23.2% compared to 25.0% for the same period in 2014. Operating income was $29.4 million, resulting in operating margin of 9.6% for the first nine months of 2015 compared to 12.8% for the same period in 2014. The nine months gross profit and operating income margin declines were due principally to the sales volume decreases from the records in 2014, sales mix changes due to increased shipments and percentages of shipments of lower margin engine and motor equipped systems, and the non-cash pension settlement charge described above of 80 and 110 basis points, respectively. Net income was $19.8 million during the first nine months of 2015 compared to a record $28.3 million for 2014 and earnings per share were $0.75 and $1.08 for the respective periods. The non-cash pension settlement charge described above and currency translation negatively impacted the first nine months of 2015 earnings per share by $0.09 and $0.02 per share, respectively.

The Company’s backlog of orders was $138.8 million at September 30, 2015 compared to $170.0 million a year ago and $160.7 million at December 31, 2014. The decrease in backlog from a year ago is due primarily to approximately $37.5 million of shipments related to the PCCP project in the last twelve months. Although not yet enough to offset our order slowness compared to 2014, we did experience our highest amount of incoming orders of the last four quarters in the current quarter ended September 30, 2015. Approximately $17.8 million of orders related to the PCCP project remain in the September 30, 2015 backlog total. Approximately $8.1 million of the remaining PCCP project orders are scheduled to ship during the fourth quarter of 2015 and $9.7 million of related installation services are scheduled during the first three quarters of 2016.

Cash and cash equivalents totaled $33.8 million and short-term bank debt was $2.0 million at September 30, 2015, having been reduced by $12.0 million since December 31, 2014. The Company also assumed $2.0 million in bank debt as part of the previously announced acquisition of Hydro+ SA and Hydro+ Rental SPRL (collectively the “Hydro companies”) in the third quarter. The Company has generated $44.9 million of operating cash flow year-to-date and working capital has risen $11.1 million from December 31, 2014 to $147.4 million at September 30, 2015. Net capital expenditures for the first nine months of 2015 of $6.6 million consisted primarily of machinery and equipment, a new operations facility in Ireland, and other building improvements. The Company also completed the acquisition of the Hydro companies for $3.4 million. Capital expenditures for the fourth quarter of 2015 are currently estimated to be in the range of $2 to $4 million and are expected to be financed through internally-generated funds.

Jeffrey S. Gorman, President and CEO commented, “During the third quarter we continued to experience uphill sales challenges across a number of the markets we serve compared to record prior year periods, especially those markets with close relationships to oil, gas and agriculture. However, fire protection pumps remained a positive source of growth during the quarter as related building construction markets improved and the Company gained market share, both in domestic and international areas. While we expect the near-term, including most of 2016, to be challenging, our outlook for the long-term is positive based on our proven track record of providing industry leading high quality products, a long-standing commitment to customer service and a very strong and flexible balance sheet. Our longer range outlook was enhanced in September by our acquisition of the Hydro companies in Belgium which, combined with our European operations based in The Netherlands, should position us well in the recovery of the Euro-zone. We also are proud to make the following announcement regarding our next dividend increase.”

At its October 22, 2015 meeting, the Board of Directors of the Company declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.105 per share on the common stock of the Company, payable December 10, 2015, to shareholders of record November 13, 2015. The cash dividend represents a 5.0% increase over the dividend paid in the previous quarter. This marks the 263rd consecutive dividend paid by The Gorman-Rupp Company and the 43rd consecutive year of increased dividends paid to its shareholders.