ROCHESTER, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- 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 second quarter ended September 26, 2020 (the “second quarter”) of fiscal year 2021, which ends March 27, 2021 (“fiscal 2021”). Results include the previously-reported acquisition of TTE Laboratories, Inc. (referred to as “pipettes.com”) effective February 21, 2020.

“Our Service segment delivered another excellent quarter, reaching the second highest gross margin level in company history at 32.2%, an increase of 660 basis points year-over-year,” commented Lee D. Rudow, President and CEO. “Technician productivity, expense reductions and strategic pricing drove the margin improvement, which was further helped by a favorable mix and the results of pipettes.com. Our teams have done a tremendous job leveraging our technology investments and have remained focused on driving efficiencies and better cost controls in our lab network.”

“In addition to the high level of performance in our Service segment, we were certainly encouraged with the Distribution segment, where sales grew significantly over our first quarter of fiscal 2021. Overall, our Service margin performance helped drive record second quarter consolidated operating income of more than $3 million, exceeding our expectations. Additionally, we continued to generate strong cash from operations, which was used in part to reduce debt and fund technology investments.”

Second Quarter Fiscal 2021 Review (Results are compared with the second quarter of the fiscal year ended March 28, 2020 (“fiscal 2020”))

*See Note 1 on page 4 for a description of this non-GAAP financial measure and page 9 for the Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation table.

Despite the ongoing impact from the COVID-19 pandemic, consolidated revenue remained stable year-over-year. Consolidated gross profit increased $1.0 million, or 10.0%, and gross margin expanded 260 basis points as a result of continued productivity improvements in the Service Segment, strategic pricing and cost controls, which offset continued softness in the Distribution segment. Operating expenses grew $1.0 million, or 13.9%, due to investments to further technology initiatives and incremental expenses related to pipettes.com. Net income per diluted share was $0.27 compared with $0.32 in last fiscal year’s second quarter with the prior period benefiting by $0.05 from a lower tax rate due to increased discrete income tax benefits related to stock-based awards.

Service segment margins saw significant expansion

Represents the accredited calibration, repair, inspection and laboratory instrument services business
(59% of total revenue for the second quarter of fiscal 2021).

*See Note 1 on page 4 for a description of this non-GAAP financial measure and page 9 for the Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation table.

The increase in Service revenue reflected new Life Science business, including $1.2 million of incremental revenue from pipettes.com, which more than offset softness from other markets. On a trailing twelve-month basis, Service revenue was $94.6 million, up 4.3% when compared with the trailing twelve-month period ending with the prior-fiscal year second quarter.

Service segment gross margin improved 660 basis points due to continued productivity initiatives and technology enhancements, more seasoned technicians, optimized client-based lab operations, strategic pricing, and a favorable mix of Service work performed in the quarter.

Distribution segment revenue and margins continued to be impacted by COVID-19 pandemic

Represents the sale and rental of new and used professional grade handheld test, measurement and control instrumentation (41% of total revenue for the second quarter of fiscal 2021).

*See Note 1 on page 4 for a description of this non-GAAP financial measure and page 9 for the Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation table.

Distribution segment sales continued to be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with reduced demand from oil and gas related businesses and other industrial manufacturing sectors. Rental revenue was up 32% sequentially from the first quarter of fiscal 2021 and was up 1.2% over the prior-year period. Distribution gross margin reflects lower volume from core product sales and reduced co-operative advertising and rebate programs as vendors reduced these programs to lower their costs.

Six Month Review (Results are compared with the first six months of fiscal 2020)

Total revenue was $80.5 million, a decrease of 4.3%, or $3.6 million, primarily due to a reduction in demand for Distribution products as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic which commenced at the beginning of the Company’s fiscal 2021 year. Despite the lower revenue, consolidated gross profit was up $0.4 million, or 2.0%, and gross margin expanded 160 basis points to 26.0%. Consolidated operating expenses increased $1.4 million, or 8.9%, as the Company continued to invest in technology initiatives. As a result, operating income was $4.0 million compared with $5.0 million in last fiscal year’s period.

Net income was $2.8 million, or $0.38 per diluted share, compared with $4.1 million, or $0.55 per diluted share. Adjusted EBITDA was consistent at $8.7 million. See Note 1 on page 4 for a description of this non-GAAP financial measure and page 9 for the Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation table.

Strong Balance Sheet and Liquidity

Year-to-date net cash provided by operations of $12.5 million increased from $2.8 million in the prior-year period and was used to fund $3.1 million of capital expenditures and $7.6 million of debt repayment. Capital expenditures were primarily focused on technology, Service segment capabilities and rental pool assets.

At the end of the second quarter, Transcat had $28.9 million available for borrowing under its secured revolving credit facility. Total debt of $22.7 million was down $7.6 million from fiscal 2020 year-end. The Company’s leverage ratio, as defined in its credit agreement, was down to 1.19 at quarter end compared with 1.53 at fiscal 2020 year-end.

Outlook

Mr. Rudow concluded, “The results of the second quarter were strong and we are pleased with the significant progress made in our Service margin expansion initiatives. Our balance sheet is solid and the M&A pipeline is active. Additionally, we believe our new customer pipeline positions us well for strong organic growth as we work through these current challenging times. We are equally focused on continuing to advance our initiatives aimed at further enhancing our Service business, including additional technology deployments to drive productivity.

“As we head into the winter months, we remain cautious given the high degree of uncertainty that still exists in today’s COVID-19 impacted economic environment. For the third quarter of fiscal 2021, we expect Service revenue to grow modestly versus last fiscal year’s third quarter, and we anticipate solid improvement in gross margin year-over-year. Distribution is likely to continue to be negatively impacted by the current economic environment. We expect operating income for the third quarter of fiscal 2021 to be similar to the third quarter of fiscal 2020.”

Transcat adjusted its expected income tax rate for fiscal 2021 to a range of 22% to 23% from the previously provided range of 20% to 21%, largely due to profitability exceeding previous estimates.

The Company now expects capital expenditures to be approximately $5.5 million to $6.5 million, up from the previous estimated range of $5.0 million to $5.5 million. Capital investments are expected to be primarily for technology, growth-oriented opportunities within both of its operating segments, and rental pool assets. Maintenance and existing asset replacements are expected to be consistent with fiscal 2020 at approximately $1.0 million to $1.5 million.

Webcast and Conference Call

Transcat will host a conference call and webcast on Wednesday, October 28, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. ET. Management will review the financial and operating results for the second 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, November 4, 2020. To listen to the archived call, dial (412) 317-6671 and enter conference ID number 13710941, 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 compensation expense, restructuring 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, stock-based compensation expense and other items, 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, rather 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, particularly the Life Science industry, which includes pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device and other FDA-regulated businesses; as well as aerospace and defense, and energy and utilities. Transcat provides periodic on-site services, mobile calibration services, pickup and delivery, in-house services at its 22 Calibration Service Centers strategically located across the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada, and services at 20 imbedded customer-site locations. 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 the 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,” “aims” and other similar words. All statements addressing operating performance, events or developments that Transcat expects or anticipates will occur in the future, including but not limited to statements relating to anticipated revenue, profit margins, the impact of and the Company’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the commercialization of software projects, 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 include those 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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