Transcat Reports Record Third Quarter Revenue in Fiscal 2020

Transcat, Inc. (Nasdaq: TRNS) (“Transcat” or the “Company”), a leading provider of accredited calibration, repair, inspection and laboratory instrument services and value-added distributor of professional grade handheld test, measurement and control instrumentation, today reported financial results for its third quarter ended December 28, 2019 (the “third quarter”) of the fiscal year ending March 28, 2020 (“fiscal 2020”). Results include the previously reported acquisition of Gauge Repair Service, effective April 1, 2019.

Lee D. Rudow, President and CEO, commented, “We had solid growth in the third quarter, despite being heavily impacted by holiday timing that caused an unusually slow December. This low volume in the last month of our third quarter weighed on margins and masked the improvements we are seeing throughout the organization. Our Service operations are more efficient and our productivity metrics have improved over the course of this fiscal year, reflecting our focused efforts to hire and train an appropriate number of technicians to support our continued growth and to ensure customer satisfaction.

“We have a strong pipeline of organic and acquisition opportunities, and our performance metrics are a solid leading indicator of customer retention, all of which support belief in our execution and long-term strategy.”

Third Quarter Fiscal 2020 Review [Results are compared with the third quarter of the fiscal year ended March 30, 2019 (“fiscal 2019”)]

*See Note 1 below for a description of this non-GAAP financial measure and the attached Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation table.

The Company achieved revenue of $43.2 million, a record level for a third quarter, which was driven by growth in both segments. Gross and operating margins were largely impacted by the under absorption of fixed costs from a slow December.

The effective tax rate for the third quarter of fiscal 2020 was 22.1% compared with 25.3% in the prior fiscal year period. The tax rate continues to be aided by the discrete income tax benefits related to share-based awards due to stock option exercise activity. Third quarter net income per diluted share was $0.20 compared with $0.21 in last fiscal year’s corresponding period.

Service segment delivers 43^rd consecutive quarter of year-over-year revenue growth

Represents the accredited calibration, repair, inspection and laboratory instrument services business (51% of total revenue for the third quarter of fiscal 2020).

*See Note 1 below for a description of this non-GAAP financial measure and the attached Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation table.

Service segment revenue increased 7.8%, which was all organic. On a trailing twelve-month basis (“TTM”), Service segment revenue was $92.3 million, a 13.0% improvement compared with the TTM ending with the prior-fiscal year third quarter. Higher revenue was primarily the result of new business from the highly regulated life sciences market, including the ramp-up of new client-based lab contracts, and growth in U.S. and Canadian general industrial manufacturing.

Although Service gross margin increased 10 basis points, the segment gross and operating margin changes reflected the impact of a soft December.

Distribution segment sales improved, but customer mix impacted margins

Represents the distribution and rental of new and used professional grade handheld test, measurement and control instrumentation (49% of total revenue for the third quarter of fiscal 2020).

*See Note 1 below for a description of this non-GAAP financial measure and the attached Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation table.

The Company’s higher margin equipment rental business increased 3.4% to $1.2 million in the third quarter, a relatively low growth rate compared with the double-digit growth experienced in recent quarters. As a result, segment gross margin was less favorably impacted by rentals compared with the prior fiscal year third quarter.

Nine Month Review (Results are compared with the first nine months of fiscal 2019)

Total revenue was $127.3 million, up 9.4%, or $10.9 million, inclusive of acquired revenue of $1.7 million. Consolidated gross profit was up 9.4%, or $2.6 million, with a gross margin of 23.9%. Total operating expenses increased 10 basis points to 18.3% of revenue as the Company ramped up for higher capacity. As a result, operating income increased 7.8%, to $7.1 million, though operating margin was down 10 basis points to 5.6%.

Net income was $5.6 million, or $0.75 per diluted share, compared with $4.5 million, or $0.60 per diluted share. Adjusted EBITDA was $12.8 million compared with $12.2 million. See Note 1 below for a description of this non-GAAP financial measure and the attached Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation table.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Overview

Year-to-date net cash provided by operations increased $1.0 million, or 13.6%, to $8.2 million, and was used to fund organic growth opportunities, acquisition payments and debt repayments. In the third quarter of fiscal 2020, $0.4 million of cash was used to fund the release of certain purchase agreement holdbacks from the August 2018 acquisition of Angel’s Instrumentation, Inc.

Capital expenditures were $5.0 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2020, with investments focused on technology infrastructure to drive operational excellence, fund organic growth opportunities within both operating segments, and for rental pool assets.

At December 28, 2019, the Company had total debt of $19.7 million, with $23.4 million available under its credit facility. The Company’s leverage ratio, as defined in the credit agreement, was 1.07 at December 28, 2019, compared with 1.12 at fiscal 2019 year-end.

Outlook

Mr. Rudow concluded, “Our sales have bounced-back in January and early February from the slow, holiday-impacted December and we believe we remain on track to achieve record results in fiscal 2020. In addition, our acquisition pipeline is healthy and will remain a key element of our strategic growth plan.

“We are strategically positioned to capitalize on growth opportunities as we have added significant capacity to our lab network. We ended the third quarter with a net increase of 37 technicians over the prior-year period, a 12% increase in staffing. Availability of trained technical labor is now a key differentiator and competitive advantage for Transcat.

“We are also pleased with our progress in developing a culture centered on technology and increased productivity as imperatives. As we move forward, we expect to continue to improve on this important cultural advancement, and believe we are well-positioned to support double-digit Service growth with improved profitability margins going forward.”

Transcat lowered its income tax rate expectations for fiscal 2020 to range between 17% and 18%, from the previously provided range of 18% to 19%.

The Company lowered its capital expenditure expectations for fiscal 2020 to a range of $6.8 million to $7.1 million, from the previously provided range of $7.8 to $8.2 million, largely due to the timing of certain projects and less spend required on Service lab replacement assets.

Webcast and Conference Call

Transcat will host a conference call and webcast on Wednesday, February 5, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. ET. Management will review the financial and operating results for the third quarter, as well as the Company’s strategy and outlook. A question and answer session will follow the formal discussion. The review will be accompanied by a slide presentation, which will be available at www.transcat.com/investor-relations. The conference call can be accessed by calling (201) 689-8471. Alternatively, the webcast can be monitored at www.transcat.com/investor-relations.

A telephonic replay will be available from 2:00 p.m. ET on the day of the call through Wednesday, February 12, 2020. To listen to the archived call, dial (412) 317-6671 and enter conference ID number 13697525, or access the webcast replay at www.transcat.com/investor-relations, where a transcript will be posted once available.

NOTE 1 – Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to reporting net income, a U.S. generally accepted accounting principle (“GAAP”) measure, we present Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, non-cash stock-based compensation expense, and non-cash loss on sale of building), which is a non-GAAP measure. The Company’s management believes Adjusted EBITDA is an important measure of operating performance because it allows management, investors and others to evaluate and compare the performance of its core operations from period to period by removing the impact of the capital structure (interest), tangible and intangible asset base (depreciation and amortization), taxes, and stock-based compensation expense, which is not always commensurate with the reporting period in which it is included. As such, the Company uses Adjusted EBITDA as a measure of performance when evaluating its business segments and as a basis for planning and forecasting. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP and is not calculated through the application of GAAP. As such, it should not be considered as a substitute for the GAAP measure of net income and, therefore, should not be used in isolation of, but in conjunction with, the GAAP measure. Adjusted EBITDA, as presented, may produce results that vary from the GAAP measure and may not be comparable to a similarly defined non-GAAP measure used by other companies. See the attached Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation table below.

ABOUT TRANSCAT

Transcat, Inc. is a leading provider of accredited calibration, repair, inspection and laboratory instrument services. The Company is focused on providing best-in-class services and products to highly regulated industries, including life science, aerospace and defense, pharmaceutical, medical device manufacturing and biotechnology. Transcat provides permanent and periodic on-site services, mobile calibration services and in-house services through 21 Calibration Service Centers strategically located across the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. The breadth and depth of measurement parameters addressed by Transcat’s ISO/IEC 17025 scopes of accreditation are believed to be the best in the industry.

Transcat also operates as a leading value-added distributor that markets, sells and rents new and used national and proprietary brand instruments to customers primarily in North America. The Company believes its combined Service and Distribution segment offerings, experience, technical expertise and integrity create a unique and compelling value proposition for its customers.

Transcat’s strategy is to leverage the complementary nature of its two operating segments, its comprehensive service capabilities, strong brand, enhanced e-commerce capabilities and leading distribution platform to drive organic sales growth. The Company will also look to expand its addressable calibration market through acquisitions and capability investments to further realize its inherent leverage of its business model.

More information about Transcat can be found at: Transcat.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical fact and thus are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Forward-looking statements are identified by words such as “expects,” “estimates,” “projects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “could,” “plans,” and other similar words. All statements addressing operating performance, events or developments that Transcat, Inc. expects or anticipates will occur in the future, including but not limited to statements relating to anticipated revenue, profit margins, the commercialization of software products, sales operations, capital expenditures, cash flows, operating income, growth strategy, segment growth, potential acquisitions, integration of acquired businesses, market position, customer preferences, outlook and changes in market conditions in the industries in which Transcat operates are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should be evaluated in light of important risk factors and uncertainties. These risk factors and uncertainties are more fully described in Transcat’s Annual Report and Quarterly Reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including under the heading entitled “Risk Factors.” Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of the Company’s underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those currently anticipated. In addition, undue reliance should not be placed on the Company’s forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any obligation to update, correct or publicly announce any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained in this news release, whether as the result of new information, future events or otherwise.

FINANCIAL TABLES FOLLOW.

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Michael J. Tschiderer, Chief Financial Officer
Phone: (585) 563-5766
Email: [email protected]

Deborah K. Pawlowski, Investor Relations
Phone: (716) 843-3908
Email: [email protected]