Strong Sales in RVs, Fire Truck Boost Quarter
CHARLOTTE, Mich., Jul 29, 2004 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ — Spartan Motors, Inc.
(Nasdaq: SPAR) today announced results for the second quarter 2004,
highlighted by a 41.9 percent increase in sales and a 208.8 percent increase
in net earnings over the second quarter of 2003.
The Charlotte, Mich.-based manufacturer of custom chassis and emergency-
rescue vehicles reported net earnings of $2.3 million, or $0.18 per diluted
share, on net sales of $78.2 million for the second quarter of 2004, versus
net earnings of $0.7 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, on net sales of
$55.1 million for the same quarter last year. The increase in earnings
reflects strong sales gains at Spartan Chassis, up 46.3 percent, while sales
for Spartan’s Emergency Vehicle Team (EVTeam) companies, Crimson Fire, Crimson
Fire Aerials and Road Rescue, posted a 13.5 percent increase.
“We continue to see the rewards from our focus on becoming the most
desired brands and the lowest total-cost producer,” said John Sztykiel,
president and CEO of Spartan Motors. “During the second quarter, we posted
our highest sales ever in fire truck chassis, while RV chassis sales were up
55.4 percent versus the prior year. Likewise, Crimson Fire posted its best
sales quarter since the merger of Quality and Luverne at the start of 2003.
Our focus on building innovative, premium products is clearly paying off in
market share advances, and we expect the third quarter to continue this
trend.”
Second Quarter 2004 Highlights
* Fire truck chassis sales increased 36.4 percent, complementing the 55.4
percent increase in RV chassis sales.
* EVTeam sales reached their highest level in seven quarters, up 13.5
percent over the prior year’s second quarter.
* Spartan generated cash flows from operations of $9.8 million with
positive contributions from Crimson Fire, Road Rescue and Spartan Chassis.
* Consolidated backlog for Spartan was $110.3 million, the highest it has
been in five years, and comes while Spartan has significantly reduced lead
times on most of its products.
* During the quarter, Spartan also secured new RV chassis business that
is expected to increase its RV production run rate by 60 percent beginning
August 1, 2004.
Consolidated gross margin increased to 14.6 percent in the second quarter
of 2004, compared to 12.8 percent for the same period in 2003. Improved
production efficiencies at the EVTeam drove this improvement. Operating
expenses for the second quarter increased 6.6 percent, but dropped as a
percentage of sales from 13.5 in 2003 to 10.1 percent in 2004. This drop as a
percentage of sales is evidence of management’s focus on limiting the
expansion of operating expenses even in light of significantly higher sales.
Spartan Chassis
Sales of Spartan’s motorhome chassis increased for the fifth consecutive
quarter, growing 55.4 percent compared to the second quarter of 2003. The
addition of several new motorhome models featuring Spartan chassis, coupled
with a growing RV market, drove the increase. Spartan Chassis was named the
exclusive supplier of custom diesel RV chassis for three of Newmar Corp.’s
motorhome product lines and six of Fleetwood’s motorhome models for the 2005
model year. The incremental Newmar business began production later in the
second quarter while the additional Fleetwood business will kick off
production in the middle of the third quarter.
Spartan fire truck chassis sales were up 36.4 percent compared to the
second quarter of 2004. The 2004 second quarter represented the best quarter
ever for fire truck chassis sales, and the Company continues to forecast a
record year in fire truck chassis sales based on its current backlog, bid
activity and an increase in orders of higher-end fire truck chassis.
Increased federal and local funding, aging fleets and demand for added
emergency preparedness, in addition to the market share that Spartan has
gained, bode well for the second half of 2004.
“Spartan Chassis had a great quarter, and we’re forecasting even stronger
results in the back half of the year,” Sztykiel said. “There is still room
for improvement, however, and the remainder of 2004 should see added marketing
coupled with continued product innovation. Momentum is on our side, and we
are focused on executing our growth plan.”
Emergency Vehicle Team (EVTeam)
For the second quarter, Spartan Motors said sales in its EVTeam segment
increased 13.5 percent versus the second quarter of 2003. Increased sales at
Crimson Fire were offset by a decrease in sales at Road Rescue as the
ambulance maker built fewer than anticipated units. Crimson Fire Aerials was
on plan and shipped its first unit to Crimson Fire for body production.
“We are disappointed in the speed of Road Rescue’s advances, particularly
given the sizeable order backlog we’ve built. While Road Rescue did reduce
its second quarter loss by 30 percent, we need to do much better,” said
Sztykiel. “At Crimson Fire, five new dealers were added in the second quarter
and customers continue to respond favorably to their new STAR Series product,
both of which should bode well for future sales volumes.”
In an effort to accelerate the transition at Road Rescue, Spartan
announced it has decided to make a change in the subsidiary’s president and
will look both internally and externally for a new leader. Road Rescue’s
remaining leadership team will report directly to CEO John Sztykiel during the
transition.
Spartan Profit and Return (SPAR)/Backlog
On a consolidated basis, Spartan posted a return on invested capital(1) of
13.8 percent in the second quarter of 2004. During the three month period,
Spartan also generated $9.8 million in cash flows from operations and ended
the quarter with $25.5 million in cash and marketable securities.
Consolidated backlog was $110.3 million as of June 30, 2004, up 44.4 percent
from a backlog of $76.4 million at the same time last year.
Spartan Motors CFO Jim Knapp concluded: “Our consolidated earnings were
ahead of estimates and up substantially from the prior year. As 2004
progresses, we will continue to look for ways to improve our production
efficiencies while keeping operating expenses in check. We believe our
investments in process improvement will continue to provide excellent
returns.”
Second Quarter Earnings Web Cast
Spartan Motors will host a conference call at 10 a.m. Eastern Time today
to discuss these results and current business trends. To listen to the call,
please click on the following link or go to
https://theshyftgroup.com/webcasts.asp . A replay of the call will be
available through 5 p.m. Eastern Time, Thursday, August 12, 2004.
(1) The Company defines return on invested capital by calculating
operating income, less taxes, on an annualized basis, divided by total
shareholders’ equity.
About Spartan Motors
Spartan Motors, Inc. (https://theshyftgroup.com ) designs, engineers
and manufactures custom chassis and vehicles for the recreational vehicle,
fire truck, ambulance and emergency-rescue markets. The Company’s brand names
— Spartan(TM), Crimson Fire(TM), Crimson Fire Aerials(TM), and Road
Rescue(TM) — are known in their market niches for quality, value, service and
being the first to market with innovative products. The Company employs
approximately 700 at facilities in Michigan, Alabama, Pennsylvania, South
Carolina, and South Dakota. Spartan Motors is publicly traded on The Nasdaq
Stock Market under the ticker symbol SPAR.
The statements contained in this news release include certain predictions
and projections that may be considered “forward-looking statements” under the
securities laws. These forward-looking statements are identifiable by words
or phrases indicating that the Company or management “expects,” “believes” or
is “confident” that a particular result “may” or “should” occur, that a
particular item “bodes well,” that the Company “looks forward” to a particular
result, or similar statements. These statements involve many risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including
but not limited to economic, competitive, governmental and technological
factors affecting the Company’s operations, markets, products, services and
prices. Accounting estimates are inherently forward-looking. Additional
information about these and other factors that may adversely affect these
forward-looking statements are contained in the Company’s reports and filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no
obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect
developments or information obtained after the date of this news release.
Spartan Motors, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
Three Months Ended June 30, 2004 and 2003
June 30, 2004 June 30, 2003
$-000- % $-000- %
Sales 78,206 55,117
Cost of Sales 66,793 48,088
Gross Profit 11,413 14.6 7,029 12.8
Operating Expenses:
Research and Development 1,840 2.4 1,854 3.4
Selling, General and
Administrative 6,039 7.7 5,537 10.1
Total Operating Expenses 7,879 10.1 7,391 13.5
Operating Income 3,534 4.5 (362) (0.7)
Other Income (Expense):
Interest Expense (103) (0.1) (117) (0.2)
Interest and Other Income 158 0.2 129 0.3
Total Other Income (Expense) 55 0.1 12 0.1
Earnings before Taxes 3,589 4.6 (350) (0.6)
Taxes 1,322 1.7 (129) (0.2)
Net Earnings from Continuing
Operations 2,267 2.9 (221) (0.4)
Discontinued Operations:
Gain on Disposal of Carpenter - 0.0 955 1.7
Net Earnings 2,267 2.9 734 1.3
Basic Net Earnings per Share:
Net Earnings from Continuing
Operations 0.18 (0.02)
Discontinued Operations:
Gain on Disposal of
Carpenter - 0.08
Basic Net Earnings per Share 0.18 0.06
Diluted Net Earnings per Share:
Net Earnings from Continuing
Operations 0.18 (0.02)
Gain from Discontinued Operations:
Gain on Disposal of
Carpenter - 0.08
Diluted Net Earnings per Share 0.18 0.06
Basic Weighted Average Common
Shares Outstanding 12,268 12,122
Diluted Weighted Average Common
Shares Outstanding 12,665 12,403
Spartan Motors, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
Six Months Ended June 30, 2004 and 2003
June 30, 2004 June 30, 2003
$-000- % $-000- %
Sales 140,311 115,535
Cost of Sales 119,639 98,922
Gross Profit 20,672 14.7 16,613 14.4
Operating Expenses:
Research and Development 3,629 2.6 3,603 3.1
Selling, General and
Administrative 11,704 8.3 10,807 9.4
Total Operating Expenses 15,333 10.9 14,410 12.5
Operating Income 5,339 3.8 2,203 1.9
Other Income (Expense):
Interest Expense (206) (0.1) (169) (0.1)
Interest and Other Income 264 0.1 262 0.2
Total Other Income (Expense) 58 0.0 93 0.1
Earnings before Taxes 5,397 3.8 2,296 2.0
Taxes 1,804 1.3 427 0.5
Net Earnings from Continuing
Operations 3,593 2.6 1,869 1.6
Discontinued Operations:
Gain on Disposal of Carpenter - 0.0 1,465 1.3
Net Earnings 3,593 2.6 3,334 2.9
Basic Net Earnings per Share:
Net Earnings from Continuing
Operations 0.29 0.16
Discontinued Operations:
Gain on Disposal of
Carpenter - 0.12
Basic Net Earnings per Share 0.29 0.28
Diluted Net Earnings per Share:
Net Earnings from Continuing
Operations 0.28 0.15
Gain from Discontinued Operations:
Gain on Disposal of
Carpenter - 0.12
Diluted Net Earnings per Share 0.28 0.27
Basic Weighted Average Common
Shares Outstanding 12,245 12,090
Diluted Weighted Average Common
Shares Outstanding 12,614 12,445
Spartan Motors, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
June 30, 2004 December 31, 2003
$-000 $-000
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $22,668 $18,481
Marketable securities 2,799 -
Accounts receivable, net 27,386 19,604
Inventories 31,402 26,588
Other current assets 5,034 5,726
Total current assets 89,289 70,399
Property, plant and equipment, net 16,210 14,784
Goodwill, net 4,543 4,543
Other assets 1,629 1,656
Total assets $111,671 $91,382
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable $29,198 $15,067
Accrued warranty 2,491 2,538
Accrued vacation, compensation
and related taxes 3,917 3,766
Deposits from customers 9,181 6,797
Other current liabilities and
accrued expenses 2,400 2,094
Current portion of long-term debt 10 -
Total current liabilities 47,197 30,262
Long-term debt, less current portion 138 -
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock - -
Common stock 123 122
Additional paid in capital 33,167 32,229
Retained earnings 31,047 28,769
Accumulated other comprehensive
loss (1) -
Total shareholders' equity 64,336 61,120
Total liabilities and
shareholders' equity $111,671 $91,382
SOURCE Spartan Motors, Inc.
John Sztykiel, CEO, or Jim Knapp, CFO of Spartan Motors, Inc., +1-517-543-6400; Jeff Lambert or Tim Hanson, [email protected], of Lambert, Edwards & Associates, Inc., +1-616-233-0500, for Spartan Motors, Inc.
https://theshyftgroup.com