Bel Reports Second Quarter 2021 Results

JERSEY CITY, N.J., July 30, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bel Fuse Inc. (Nasdaq: BELFA and BELFB), a designer, manufacturer and provider of products that power, protect and connect electronic circuits, today announced preliminary financial results for the second quarter of 2021.

Second Quarter 2021 Highlights

•	Net sales increased 14.5% to $138.7 million from $121.2 million in last year's second quarter
•	Gross profit of $34.2 million, or 24.7% of net sales, compared to $31.3 million, or 25.8% of net sales in Q2-20
•	GAAP net earnings of $7.9 million, or EPS of $0.61 per Class A share and $0.64 per Class B share, versus GAAP net earnings of $5.6 million in Q2-20, or EPS of $0.43 per Class A share and $0.46 per Class B share
•	Record backlog of $314 million on June 30, 2021 represents growth of over 100% from December 31, 2020; record quarterly bookings of $212 million, more than double the order volume compared to Q2-20

Daniel Bernstein, President and CEO, said, “We are pleased to report our second consecutive quarter of meaningful year-over-year sales growth, reflecting higher sales volume across all major product lines. Solid execution from each of our three business units enabled us to grow our top line by $18 million for the quarter while realizing an improvement in GAAP EPS of approximately 40% and an improvement in non-GAAP EPS of almost 50% as compared to the second quarter of 2020. Second quarter sales reflected a recovery in demand from key sectors we serve, particularly commercial aerospace, networking, military, e-Mobility and industrial. Further, our acquisitions of rms and EOS earlier in 2021 contributed combined sales of $6 million and net earnings of $1.0 million to Bel’s results during the second quarter. 

"The higher sales volume this quarter led to improved fixed cost absorption and our margins also continued to benefit from cost initiatives previously implemented. In June 2021, the decision was made to discontinue our low-margin modules product line and as a result, our modules design and technical support center in Maidstone, UK will be closing later in the third quarter of 2021. The closure of this facility is expected to result in annual cost savings of approximately $400,000. 

"In the first quarter, Bel implemented across-the-board price adjustments to offset labor and material cost increases and we expect to continue to see these pricing increases taking effect over the remainder of the year. With our new CFO coming on board earlier in 2021, there is a heightened focus on profit improvement and he will continue to drive operational efficiencies through our global operations in the pursuit of greater profitability for our stakeholders. We enter the second half of 2021 with a record backlog of over $300 million, which we believe is indicative of higher sales this year, subject to supply chain constraints that so far we have managed well. IoT/5G, e-Mobility and the return of aerospace demand are expected to be strong growth drivers for Bel for the foreseeable future,” concluded Mr. Bernstein. 

Non-GAAP financial measures, such as Non-GAAP net earnings, Non-GAAP EPS, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, exclude the impact of acquisition-related costs, restructuring charges and gain on sale of property. Please refer to the financial information included with this press release for reconciliations of GAAP financial measures to Non-GAAP financial measures and our explanation of why we present Non-GAAP financial measures.

Conference Call
Bel has scheduled a conference call at 11:00 a.m. ET today. To participate in the conference call, investors should dial 866-248-8441, or 323-289-6576 if dialing internationally. The presentation will additionally be broadcast live over the Internet and will be available at https://ir.belfuse.com/events-and-presentations. The webcast will be available via replay for a period of 20 days at this same Internet address. For those unable to access the live call, a telephone replay will be available at 844-512-2921, or 412-317-6671 if dialing internationally, using access code 1881858 after 2:00 p.m. ET, also for 20 days.

About Bel
Bel (www.belfuse.com) designs, manufactures and markets a broad array of products that power, protect and connect electronic circuits. These products are primarily used in the networking, telecommunications, computing, military, aerospace, medical, transportation and broadcasting industries. Bel's product groups include Magnetic Solutions (integrated connector modules, power transformers, power inductors and discrete components), Power Solutions and Protection (front-end, board-mount and industrial power products, module products and circuit protection), and Connectivity Solutions (expanded beam fiber optic, copper-based, RF and RJ connectors and cable assemblies). The Company operates facilities around the world.

Forward-Looking Statements
Non-historical information contained in this press release (including the statements regarding anticipated cost savings resulting from the closure of Bel’s modules design and technical support center in Maidstone, UK, expectations concerning pricing adjustments taking effect and their impact on offsetting labor and material cost increases, the Company’s plans, intentions, expectations and efforts in connection with profit improvement and maximization, operational efficiencies, and the pursuit of certain opportunities and markets, expectations regarding backlog as an indicator of sales, supply chain constraints and the Company's ability to manage them, and anticipated future trends, plans and results for the business including for the second half of 2021) are forward-looking statements (as described under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from Bel's projections. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements are: the market concerns facing our customers; the continuing viability of sectors that rely on our products; the impact of public health crises (such as the governmental, social and economic effects of COVID-19); the effects of business and economic conditions; difficulties associated with integrating previously acquired companies; capacity and supply constraints or difficulties; product development, commercialization or technological difficulties; the regulatory and trade environment; risks associated with foreign currencies; uncertainties associated with legal proceedings; the market's acceptance of the Company's new products and competitive responses to those new products; the impact of changes to U.S. trade and tariff policies; and the risk factors detailed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, and from time to time in the Company's other SEC reports. In light of the risks and uncertainties impacting our business, there can be no assurance that any forward-looking statement will in fact prove to be correct. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The Non-GAAP measures identified in this press release as well as in the supplementary information to this press release (Non-GAAP net earnings, Non-GAAP EPS, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA) are not measures of performance under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). These measures should not be considered a substitute for, and the reader should also consider, income from operations, net earnings, earnings per share and other measures of performance as defined by GAAP as indicators of our performance or profitability. Our Non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to other similarly-titled captions of other companies due to differences in the method of calculation. We present results adjusted to exclude the effects of certain unusual or special items and their related tax impact that would otherwise be included under U.S. GAAP, to aid in comparisons with other periods. We may use Non-GAAP financial measures to determine performance-based compensation and management believes that this information may be useful to investors.

Website Information
We routinely post important information for investors on our website, www.belfuse.com, in the "Investor Relations" section. We use our website as a means of disclosing material, otherwise non-public information and for complying with our disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Accordingly, investors should monitor the Investor Relations section of our website, in addition to following our press releases, SEC filings, public conference calls, presentations and webcasts. The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, our website is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this document.

[Financial tables follow]

Bel Fuse Inc.

Supplementary Information(1)

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

(unaudited)

	Three Months Ended								Six Months Ended
	June 30,								June 30,
	2021				2020				2021				2020
Net sales	$	138,741			$	121,172			$	249,385			$	225,149
Cost of sales(2)		104,537				89,882				190,241				168,104
Gross profit		34,204				31,290				59,144				57,045
As a % of net sales		24.7	%			25.8	%			23.7	%			25.3	%
Research and development costs		5,464				6,116				10,384				12,175
Selling, general and administrative expenses(2)		21,828				19,079				43,569				39,772
As a % of net sales		15.7	%			15.7	%			17.5	%			17.7	%
Restructuring charges		277				44				277				172
Gain on sale of property		-				-				(6,175	)			-
Income from operations		6,635				6,051				11,089				4,926
As a % of net sales		4.8	%			5.0	%			4.4	%			2.2	%
Interest expense		(721	)			(1,250	)			(1,523	)			(2,601	)
Other income/expense, net(2)		113				1,195				660				(905	)
Earnings before income taxes		6,027				5,996				10,226				1,420
(Benefit from) provision for income taxes		(1,853	)			423				(854	)			(349	)
Effective tax rate		-30.7	%			7.1	%			-8.4	%			-24.6	%
Net earnings	$	7,880			$	5,573			$	11,080			$	1,769
As a % of net sales		5.7	%			4.6	%			4.4	%			0.8	%
Weighted average number of shares outstanding:
Class A common shares - basic and diluted		2,145				2,145				2,145				2,145
Class B common shares - basic and diluted		10,237				10,178				10,220				10,151
Net earnings per common share:
Class A common shares - basic and diluted	$	0.61			$	0.43			$	0.85			$	0.13
Class B common shares - basic and diluted	$	0.64			$	0.46			$	0.91			$	0.15

(1) The supplementary information included in this press release for 2021 is preliminary and subject to change prior to the filing of our upcoming Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

(2) During the fourth quarter of 2020, the Company changed its financial statement presentation related to gain/loss on its SERP investments. These gains/losses were previously included within cost of sales and selling, general and administrative expense. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 presented above, a total of $1.5 million in gains and $0.5 million in losses, respectively, on SERP investments have been reclassified from cost of sales and selling, general and administrative expense and are now included within other income/expense, net.

Bel Fuse Inc.

Supplementary Information(1)

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands, unaudited)

	June 30, 2021				December 31, 2020
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	66,425			$	84,939
Accounts receivable, net		86,917				71,372
Inventories		116,170				100,133
Other current assets		29,915				23,771
Total current assets		299,427				280,216
Property, plant and equipment, net		36,747				34,501
Right-of-use assets		11,066				14,217
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net		90,833				89,755
Other assets		35,806				35,177
Total assets	$	473,879			$	453,866
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	53,020			$	39,774
Current portion of long-term debt		8,273				5,286
Operating lease liability, current		5,980				6,591
Other current liabilities		37,820				35,885
Total current liabilities		105,093				87,536
Long-term debt		104,656				110,294
Operating lease liability, long-term		5,351				8,064
Other liabilities		62,182				62,173
Total liabilities		277,281				268,067
Stockholders' equity		196,598				185,799
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	473,879			$	453,866

(1) The supplementary information included in this press release for 2021 is preliminary and subject to change prior to the filing of our upcoming Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Bel Fuse Inc.

Supplementary Information(1)

Reconciliation of GAAP Net Earnings to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA(2)

(in thousands, unaudited)

	Three Months Ended								Six Months Ended
	June 30,								June 30,
	2021				2020				2021				2020
GAAP Net earnings	$	7,880			$	5,573			$	11,080			$	1,769
Interest expense		721				1,250				1,523				2,601
(Benefit from) provision for income taxes		(1,853	)			423				(854	)			(349	)
Depreciation and amortization		4,267				4,108				8,478				8,234
EBITDA	$	11,015			$	11,354			$	20,227			$	12,255
% of net sales		7.9	%			9.4	%			8.1	%			5.4	%
Unusual or special items:
Gain on sale of property		-				-				(6,175	)			-
Restructuring charges		277				44				277				172
Acquisition-related costs		317				-				483				186
Adjusted EBITDA	$	11,609			$	11,398			$	14,812			$	12,613
% of net sales		8.4	%			9.4	%			5.9	%			5.6	%

(1) The supplementary information included in this press release for 2021 is preliminary and subject to change prior to the filing of our upcoming Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

(2) In this press release and supplemental information, we have included Non-GAAP financial measures, including Non-GAAP net earnings, Non-GAAP EPS, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA. We present results adjusted to exclude the effects of certain specified items and their related tax impact that would otherwise be included under GAAP, to aid in comparisons with other periods. We may use Non-GAAP financial measures to determine performance-based compensation and management believes that this information may be useful to investors.

Bel Fuse Inc.

Supplementary Information(1)

Reconciliation of GAAP Measures to Non-GAAP Measures(2)

(in thousands (except per share amounts), unaudited)

The following tables detail the impact that certain unusual or special items had on the Company's net earnings per common Class A and Class B basic and diluted shares ("EPS") and the line items in which these items were included in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

	Three Months Ended June 30, 2021															Three Months Ended June 30, 2020
Reconciling Items	Earnings before taxes			Benefit from income taxes			Net earnings			Class A EPS(3)			Class B EPS(3)			Earnings before taxes			Provision for income taxes			Net earnings			Class A EPS(3)			Class B EPS(3)
GAAP measures	$	6,027		$	(1,853	)	$	7,880		$	0.61		$	0.64		$	5,996		$	423		$	5,573		$	0.43		$	0.46
Items included in SG&A expenses:
Acquisition-related costs		317			73			244			0.02			0.02			-			-			-			-			-
Gain on sale of property		-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-			-
Restructuring charges		277			40			237			0.02			0.02			44			12			32			-			-
Non-GAAP measures	$	6,621		$	(1,740	)	$	8,361		$	0.64		$	0.68		$	6,040		$	435		$	5,605		$	0.43		$	0.46

	Six Months Ended June 30, 2021															Six Months Ended June 30, 2020
Reconciling Items	Earnings before taxes			Benefit from income taxes			Net earnings			Class A EPS(3)			Class B EPS(3)			Earnings before taxes			Benefit from income taxes			Net earnings			Class A EPS(3)			Class B EPS(3)
GAAP measures	$	10,226		$	(854	)	$	11,080		$	0.85		$	0.91		$	1,420		$	(349	)	$	1,769		$	0.13		$	0.15
Items included in SG&A expenses:
Acquisition-related costs		483			111			372			0.03			0.03			186			43			143			0.01			0.01
Gain on sale of property		(6,175	)		-			(6,175	)		(0.48	)		(0.50	)		-			-			-			-			-
Restructuring charges		277			40			237			0.02			0.02			172			40			132			0.01			0.01
Non-GAAP measures	$	4,811		$	(703	)	$	5,514		$	0.42		$	0.45		$	1,778		$	(266	)	$	2,044		$	0.15		$	0.17

(1) The supplementary information included in this press release for 2021 is preliminary and subject to change prior to the filing of our upcoming Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

(2) In this press release and supplemental information, we have included Non-GAAP financial measures, including Non-GAAP net earnings, Non-GAAP EPS, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA. We present results adjusted to exclude the effects of certain specified items and their related tax impact that would otherwise be included under GAAP, to aid in comparisons with other periods. We may use Non-GAAP financial measures to determine performance-based compensation and management believes that this information may be useful to investors.

(3) Individual amounts of earnings per share may not agree to the total due to rounding.

 

Investor Contact: Darrow Associates tel 516.419.9915 pseltzberg@darrowir.com

Company Contact: Lynn Hutkin Director of Financial Reporting ir@belf.com

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