BRANFORD, Conn., Oct. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CAS Medical Systems, Inc. (BULLETIN BOARD: CAMY) today announced record sales for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004 and record year-to-date earnings.
FINANCIAL RESULTS
Net sales for the Company’s third quarter ended September 30, 2004 totaled a record $5,005,000, a 38% increase over the $3,630,000 reported for the third quarter of 2003. Increases in overall sales were led by a 72% increase in sales of the Company’s vital signs monitoring products. Increases in these sales were driven by sales to domestic customers, primarily the Department of Veterans Affairs (“VA”) under the Company’s multi-year contract, sales to the veterinary market, and sales to Original Equipment Manufacturers. Sales to the veterinary market were fueled by the launch of the Company’s new Model 750 vital signs monitor under a private label distribution arrangement and continued strong sales of the Model 740 vital signs monitor. Increases in neonatal sales of 39% also contributed to the overall sales growth.
Net income for the third quarter ended September 30, 2004 was $417,000, or $0.04 per diluted common share, compared to a net loss of $239,000, or ($0.02) per diluted share for the third quarter of the prior year. Overall results for the third quarter of 2004 were favorably impacted by higher sales volume, improved gross profit as a percentage of sales, and reductions in operating expenses as a percentage of sales compared to the third quarter of 2003. Improvements in gross profit result from manufacturing efficiencies and lower purchase component costs. Prior year results were also negatively affected by a $250,000 provision for excess and obsolete inventory due to the slower than the expected demand for the Company’s older vital signs monitors and higher than expected demand for the new Model 740 monitor.
Year-to-date results
Net sales for the first nine months of 2004 were a record $14,373,000, a 20% increase over net sales of $11,932,000 reported for the first nine months of 2003. Increases in overall sales were led again by increases in vital signs product sales of 36% and neonatal product sales of 11%. Partially offsetting these increases were decreases in service related sales of 32%, or $204,000, primarily from the discontinuance of service support on older apnea products.
Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 was $960,000, or $0.09 per diluted common share, compared to net income of $545,000, or $0.05 per share, for the first nine months of the prior year. The prior year included the favorable impact of $500,000, or $0.05 per share, from non- taxable insurance proceeds paid upon the death of one of the Company’s key employees during the first quarter of 2003. Overall results for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 have been positively affected by increased sales volume, improved gross profit as a percentage of sales, reductions in operating expenses as a percentage of sales, and lower interest expense on reduced debt levels. Improvements in gross profit have been generated by manufacturing efficiencies and reductions in purchased component costs. Prior year gross profit was also affected by a $250,000 inventory provision. Net income for the first nine months of 2004 was also favorably affected by $80,000 of income tax benefits pertaining to state research and development tax credits that lowered the effective tax rate.
COMMENTS FROM MANAGEMENT Financial Results
“I am pleased to report continued improvement in all areas of our operating results for the first nine months of 2004,” commented Louis P. Scheps, President, Chairman of the Board and CEO of the Company. “The Company has generated record revenues for the first nine months of 2004, 20% ahead of the first nine months of 2003. Domestic sales in all product lines remain strong and we are realizing significant benefits from our multi-year contract with the VA for our Model 740 vital signs monitor. Further, we look forward to additional sales growth with the release of the Model 750 cardio-respiratory monitor to the domestic market during the first quarter of 2005. Operating income has increased to 9.8% of sales for the first nine months of 2004 from 1.3% for the first nine months of the prior year. Gross profit as a percentage of sales has increased to 47% from 42%. We are continuing to strengthen our balance sheet as well. Cash provided from operating activities was $425,000 during the third quarter and $2,101,000 for the first nine months of 2004. Our cash balance has grown to $1,426,000 from $881,000 at December 31, 2003 while repaying $902,000 of bank term debt, including $582,000 of prepayments of our term loan. Our bank debt now stands at $1,107,000, the mortgage loan payable on our corporate facility.”
Outlook
The Company has raised its 2004 earnings forecast from $0.10 to $0.12 per diluted share to $0.11 to $0.13 per diluted share as a result of its year-to-date performance. Revenues for 2004 are anticipated to reach $19 to $20 million representing growth of 15% to 18% over 2003 revenues.
The Company’s new Model 750 series cardio-respiratory monitor was released for sale to the veterinary market through a private-label distributor during the second quarter of 2004 as anticipated. The human version of the Model 750 was released to certain international markets during the third quarter. The Model 750 is expected to be fully released to the international market during the fourth quarter and introduced to the domestic marketplace during the first quarter of 2005, pending FDA clearance. Like the Model 740 vital signs monitor, the Model 750 offers a unique combination of measurement parameters including CAS’ proprietary MAXNIBP(R) and a choice of Masimo(R) SET(R) or Nellcor(R) Oximax (R) pulse oximetry and has application in a wide variety of clinical settings, including the growing procedural sedation market. The Model 750 also additional parameters such as three or five lead ECG with impedance respiration and Oridion(R) MicroStream(R) CO2. The Company anticipates substantial sales of this product during the fourth quarter of 2004 and into 2005.
In May 2004, the Company received a Phase II Small Business Innovative Research grant in the amount of approximately $1.0 million from the National Institutes of Health for continued development of near-infrared spectroscopy (“NIRS”) technology for adult application. CAS also has a Phase II grant for the neonatal application of NIRS which is in continued development. NIRS is an optically based technique that non-invasively and continuously monitors brain oxygenation and cerebral hemodynamics. Adult and neonatal clinical trials are currently ongoing.
MAXNIBP(R) is a registered trademark of CAS Medical Systems, Inc. Masimo SET(R) is a registered trademark of Masimo Inc.
Nellcor(R) OxiMax(R) is a registered trademark of Nellcor Puritan Bennett Inc.
Oridion MicroStream(R) is a registered trademark of Oridion Medical, Ltd.
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties and include, among other things, statements related to future revenues and earnings. Actual results could vary materially from the description contained herein due to many factors including, but not limited to, the customer acceptance of the products in the market, the introduction of competitive products and product development, commercialization and technological difficulties, and other risks detailed in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
CAS MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) Three Months Three Months Nine Months Nine Months Ended Ended Ended Ended September September September September 30, 30, 30, 30, 2004 2003 2004 2003 Revenues $5,004,851 $3,629,938 $14,372,567 $11,932,322 Costs and Expenses: Cost of Products Sold 2,562,885 2,302,695 7,624,570 6,971,265 Research and Development 209,479 229,869 729,994 654,390 Selling, General and Administrative 1,581,052 1,415,359 4,606,940 4,146,472 4,353,416 3,947,923 12,961,504 11,772,127 Operating Income (loss) 651,435 (317,985) 1,411,063 160,195 Proceeds from Insurance, Non-Taxable - - 500,000 Interest Expense 13,314 24,589 62,504 112,425 Pre-tax Income (loss) 638,121 (342,574) 1,348,559 547,770 Income Taxes (benefit) 221,430 (103,500) 388,215 2,500 Net Income (loss) $416,691 $(239,074) $960,344 $545,270 EARNINGS (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE: Basic $0.04 $(0.02) $0.10 $0.06 Diluted $0.04 $(0.02) $0.09 $0.05 WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING: Basic 9,829,573 9,655,349 9,792,429 9,648,539 Diluted 11,027,432 9,655,349 11,032,739 10,253,674 CAS MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC. BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) September 30, December 31, 2004 2003 Cash and cash equivalents $1,425,788 $881,087 Accounts receivable 2,722,891 3,307,059 Inventories 3,214,419 2,270,616 Deferred income tax assets 347,155 347,155 Other current assets 130,113 489,451 Total current assets 7,840,366 7,295,368 Property, plant, and equipment 4,890,145 4,511,475 Less accumulated depreciation (2,547,268) (2,287,978) 2,342,877 2,223,497 Intangible and other assets, net 185,477 209,210 Deferred income tax assets 182,652 182,652 Total assets $10,551,372 $9,910,727 Current portion of long-term debt $57,348 $475,185 Notes payable 219,619 Accounts payable 1,138,139 1,007,617 Accrued expenses 1,070,189 434,963 Total current liabilities 2,265,676 2,137,384 Long-term debt, less current portion 1,050,314 1,534,523 Common stock 39,663 38,851 Additional paid-in capital 3,007,654 2,870,769 Common stock held in Treasury at cost (101,480) Retained earnings 4,289,545 3,329,200 Shareholders’ equity 7,235,382 6,238,820 Total liabilities & equity $10,551,372 $9,910,727
CAS Medical Systems, Inc.
CONTACT: Jeffery A. Baird of CAS Medical Systems, Inc., +1-203-488-6056,ir@casmed.com
Web site: http://www.casmed.com/