Broadwind Energy Announces Third-Quarter 2016 Results

Broadwind Energy Announces Third-Quarter 2016 Results

Highlights:

  • Revenue of $43 million in Q3 2016, down from $50 million in Q3 2015 as expected – lower steel prices and continued weak demand from Gearing customers
  • Gross profit margin rises to 12.5% in Q3 2016, more than double Q3 2015
  • Income from continuing operations of $1.2 million (or $.08 per share) in Q3 2016, compared to loss from continuing operations of $2.4 million (or $.16 per share) in Q3 2015
  • Cost reductions tracking ahead of plan — $6.5 million reduction in manufacturing overhead and operating expenses through Q3 2016

CICERO, Ill., Oct. 28, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Broadwind Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:BWEN) reported sales of $42.6 million in Q3 2016, down 14% compared to $49.8 million in Q3 2015 as a result of lower Towers and Weldments segment revenue, due to lower steel and other material costs which are generally passed through to the customer, and reduced Gearing segment revenue due to lower demand from oil & gas and mining customers.

The Company reported income from continuing operations of $1.2 million, or $.08 per share, in Q3 2016, compared to net loss from continuing operations of $2.4 million, or $.16 per share, in Q3 2015. The $.24 per share improvement was due to significant operational improvements in the Towers and Weldments segment and successful cost management actions across the Company.

The Company reported a net loss from discontinued operations of $.4 million, or $.03 per share, in Q3 2016, compared to a net loss from discontinued operations of $5.2 million, or $.36 per share, in Q3 2015.

The Company reported non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, share-based payments and restructuring costs) of $3.3 million in Q3 2016, compared to $1.4 million in Q3 2015 (please refer to the reconciliation of GAAP measures to non-GAAP measures at the end of this release). The $1.9 million increase was mainly attributable to the factors described above.

Broadwind CEO Stephanie Kushner stated, “Broadwind had a strong third quarter. The investments we’ve made to systematize our production processes have significantly improved the operations and raised productivity and margins in our tower plants. Our Gearing business was cash neutral in a weak revenue environment. Our Company-wide cost management efforts are ahead of plan. Employees at all levels are contributing their ideas to our cost reduction program. It’s exciting to see the creativity of our workforce.”

Ms. Kushner continued, “The expansion of our Abilene tower facility is progressing on target. When this project is completed in mid-2017, our capacity at this plant will increase by 30%. We are focused on securing remaining orders for 2017, continued cost management efforts and making additional gains in operational efficiencies. For the fourth – quarter, our production mix is less favorable, and we expect to earn approximately $500,000 on revenue of $44-46 million.”

For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, revenue totaled $132.7 million, compared to $161.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. The 18% reduction was due primarily to lower Towers and Weldments revenue attributable to lower steel and other material costs and 2% lower volumes and lower Gearing revenue related to reduced demand from oil & gas and mining customers.

Net income from continuing operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $.9 million, or $.06 per share, compared with net loss from continuing operations of $1.5 million, or $.10 per share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. The increase was due to significantly improved operating efficiencies in the Towers and Weldments segment and successful cost containment efforts Company-wide which more than offset the reduction in revenue. Net loss from discontinued operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 totaled $.9 million, or $.06 per share, compared to net loss from discontinued operations of $9.5 million, or $.65 per share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. The Company reported non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA of $7.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 (please refer to the reconciliation of GAAP measures to non-GAAP measures at the end of this release).

Orders and Backlog

The Company booked $27.5 million of net new orders in Q3 2016, more than double Q3 2015 orders which totaled $12.2 million. Towers and Weldments orders, which vary considerably from quarter to quarter, totaled $25.3 million in Q3 2016, up substantially from $3.2 million in Q3 2015. Gearing orders totaled $2.2 million in Q3 2016, compared to $9.0 million in Q3 2015, (which included a multi-year buy from a wind gearing customer). At September 30, 2016, total backlog was $204.2 million, up significantly from backlog of $130.7 million at September 30, 2015.

Segment Results

Towers and Weldments
Broadwind Energy produces fabrications for wind, oil and gas, mining and other industrial applications, specializing in the production of wind turbine towers.

Towers and Weldments segment sales totaled $38.0 million in Q3 2016, compared to $42.9 million in Q3 2015, due mainly to $5.5 million in lower steel and other material costs, which are generally passed through to customers.

Towers and Weldments segment operating income in Q3 2016 totaled $4.1 million, compared to $2.2 million in Q3 2015. The $1.9 million increase was due to significantly improved operating efficiencies, including higher labor productivity and better cost management which more than offset the reduction in revenue described above. Towers and Weldments segment net income in Q3 2016 totaled $2.8 million, compared to $1.4 million in Q3 2015. Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA totaled $5.1 million in Q3 2016, compared to non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA of $3.5 million in Q3 2015, as a result of the factors described above (please refer to the reconciliation of GAAP measures to non-GAAP measures at the end of this release).

Gearing
Broadwind Energy engineers, builds and remanufactures precision gears and gearboxes for oil and gas, mining, steel and wind applications.

Gearing segment sales totaled $4.6 million in Q3 2016, compared to $7.2 million in Q3 2015. The 36% reduction in sales was due to weaker demand from oil & gas and mining customers.

Despite the lower revenue, Gearing segment operating loss narrowed to $.7 million in Q3 2016, compared to an operating loss of $2.6 million in Q3 2015. The improvement was due to the absence of a $.9 million environmental remediation expense incurred in Q3 2015, successful cost management which led to an overall reduction in manufacturing overhead and operating expenses, and a $.6 million reduction in depreciation expense. Net loss for the Gearing segment declined to $.7 million in Q3 2016 compared to $2.6 million in Q3 2015. The Gearing segment reported breakeven non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA for Q3 2016, compared to a non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA loss of $.5 million in Q3 2015 (please refer to the reconciliation of GAAP measures to non-GAAP measures at the end of this release). The change was primarily due to strong cost management efforts as described above.

Corporate

Corporate and other expenses totaled $2.0 million in Q3 2016, compared to $1.7 million in Q3 2015. The increase was due mainly to higher incentive compensation in the current year period, partially offset by lower professional fees and other successful cost reductions.

Cash and Liquidity

During Q3 2016, operating working capital (accounts receivable and inventory, net of accounts payable and customer deposits) decreased $12.2 million due to the timing of customer receipts. Operating working capital is expected to normalize before 2016 year-end, and increase by $9-10 million in the fourth quarter.

Capital expenditures, net of disposals, in Q3 2016 totaled $2.2 million, bringing year-to-date expenditures to $3.5 million. Expenditures included investments to upgrade the coatings systems in the tower plants, and initial outlays associated with the expansion of the Abilene tower plant.

Cash assets (cash and short-term investments) increased sharply to $24.3 million at September 30, 2016, compared to $11.1 million at June 30, 2016, due to the temporary reduction in operating working capital described above. Debt and capital leases totaled $3.2 million, including the $2.6 million New Markets Tax Credit loan which is expected to be substantially forgiven when it matures in 2018.

The Company’s credit line with AloStar Bank of Commerce was undrawn at September 30, 2016.

Subsequent to quarter-end, the Company retired the credit line with AloStar and entered into a new three-year $20 million asset-based credit line with The PrivateBank. Under the terms of the new credit line, the Company may elect, with the lender’s consent, to increase the size of the commitment by up to $5 million if it achieves minimum EBITDA of $7 million for fiscal year 2016. The new credit line provides enhanced borrowing availability and more favorable terms overall, including a lower borrowing cost.

About Broadwind Energy, Inc.
Broadwind Energy (NASDAQ:BWEN) applies decades of deep industrial expertise to innovate integrated solutions for customers in the energy and infrastructure markets. From gears and gearing systems for wind, oil and gas and mining applications, to wind towers and industrial weldments, we have solutions for the energy needs of the future. With facilities throughout the central U.S., Broadwind Energy’s talented team is committed to helping customers maximize performance of their investments—quicker, easier and smarter. Find out more at www.bwen.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains “forward‑looking statements”—that is, statements related to future, not past, events—as defined in Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that reflect our current expectations regarding our future growth, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows, performance, business prospects and opportunities, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, our management. Forward‑looking statements include any statement that does not directly relate to a current or historical fact. We have tried to identify forward‑looking statements by using words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “will,” “should,” “may,” “plan” and similar expressions, but these words are not the exclusive means of identifying forward‑looking statements. Our forward‑looking statements may include or relate to our beliefs, expectations, plans and/or assumptions with respect to the following: (i) state, local and federal regulatory frameworks affecting the industries in which we compete, including the wind energy industry, and the related extension, continuation or renewal of federal tax incentives and grants and state renewable portfolio standards; (ii) our customer relationships and efforts to diversify our customer base and sector focus and leverage customer relationships across business units; (iii) our ability to continue to grow our business organically; (iv) the sufficiency of our liquidity and our plans to evaluate alternate sources of funding if necessary; (v) our restructuring efforts, including estimated costs and saving opportunities; (vi) our ability to realize revenue from customer orders and backlog; (vii) our ability to operate our business efficiently, manage capital expenditures and costs effectively, and generate cash flow; (viii) the economy and the potential impact it may have on our business, including our customers; (ix) the state of the wind energy market and other energy and industrial markets generally and the impact of competition and economic volatility in those markets; (x) the effects of market disruptions and regular market volatility, including fluctuations in the price of oil, gas and other commodities; and (xi) the potential loss of tax benefits if we experience an “ownership change” under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. These statements are based on information currently available to us and are subject to various risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause our actual growth, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows, performance, business prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these statements. We are under no duty to update any of these forward-looking statements after the date of this release to conform such statements to actual results. You should not consider any list of such factors to be an exhaustive statement of all of the risks, uncertainties or potentially inaccurate assumptions that could cause our current beliefs, expectations, plans and/or assumptions to change.

                   
BROADWIND ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(IN THOUSANDS)
                   
            September 30,    December 31,   
              2016       2015    
  ASSETS          
  CURRENT ASSETS:          
    Cash and cash equivalents   $ 8,091     $ 6,436    
    Short-term investments     16,213       6,179    
    Restricted cash     39       83    
    Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $161          
    and $84 as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively     14,926       9,784    
    Inventories, net     26,231       24,219    
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets     2,503       1,530    
    Current assets held for sale     866       4,403    
      Total current assets     68,869       52,634    
  LONG-TERM ASSETS:          
    Property and equipment, net     51,761       51,906    
    Intangible assets, net     4,683       5,016    
    Other assets     323       351    
  TOTAL ASSETS   $ 125,636     $ 109,907    
                   
  LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY          
  CURRENT LIABILITIES:          
    Current maturities of long-term debt   $     $ 2,799    
    Current portions of capital lease obligations     156       447    
    Accounts payable     21,062       13,822    
    Accrued liabilities     8,916       8,134    
    Customer deposits     21,493       9,940    
    Current liabilities held for sale     538       1,613    
      Total current liabilities     52,165       36,755    
  LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:          
    Long-term debt, net of current maturities     2,600       2,600    
    Long-term capital lease obligations, net of current portions     416          
    Other     2,331       3,060    
      Total long-term liabilities     5,347       5,660    
  COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES          
                   
  STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:          
    Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued          
    or outstanding              
    Common stock, $0.001 par value; 30,000,000 shares authorized; 15,172,245          
    and 15,012,789 shares issued as of September 30, 2016 and          
    December 31, 2015, respectively     15       15    
    Treasury stock, at cost, 273,937 shares as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015,          
    respectively   (1,842 )     (1,842 )  
    Additional paid-in capital     378,715       378,104    
    Accumulated deficit     (308,764 )     (308,785 )  
      Total stockholders’ equity     68,124       67,492    
  TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY   $ 125,636     $ 109,907    
                   

 
BROADWIND ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
(UNAUDITED)
                           
          Three Months Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended September 30,    
            2016       2015       2016       2015      
                           
                           
  Revenues   $ 42,552     $ 49,791     $ 132,689     $ 161,583      
  Cost of sales     37,221       46,960       119,254       147,507      
  Gross profit     5,331       2,831       13,435       14,076      
                           
  OPERATING EXPENSES:                    
  Selling, general and administrative     3,860       3,981       11,785       13,752      
  Intangible amortization     111       111       333       333      
  Restructuring           874             874      
    Total operating expenses     3,971       4,966       12,118       14,959      
  Operating income (loss)     1,360       (2,135 )     1,317       (883 )    
                           
  OTHER (EXPENSE) INCOME, net:                    
  Interest expense, net     (125 )     (210 )     (431 )     (611 )    
  Other, net     10       (64 )     27       (36 )    
    Total other (expense), net     (115 )     (274 )     (404 )     (647 )    
                           
  Net income (loss) before benefit for income taxes     1,245       (2,409 )     913       (1,530 )    
  Benefit for income taxes           (26 )     (16 )     (11 )    
  INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS     1,245       (2,383 )     929       (1,519 )    
  LOSS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET OF TAX     (373 )     (5,230 )     (908 )     (9,494 )    
  NET INCOME (LOSS)   $ 872     $ (7,613 )   $ 21     $ (11,013 )    
                           
                           
  NET INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE – BASIC:                    
  Income (loss) from continuing operations   $ 0.08     $ (0.16 )   $ 0.06     $ (0.10 )    
  Loss from discontinued operations     (0.03 )     (0.36 )     (0.06 )     (0.65 )    
  Net income (loss)   $ 0.06     $ (0.52 )   $ 0.00     $ (0.75 )    
                           
  WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING – BASIC     14,876       14,708       14,824       14,656      
                           
  NET INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE – DILUTED:                    
  Income (loss) from continuing operations   $ 0.08     $ (0.16 )   $ 0.06     $ (0.10 )    
  Loss from discontinued operations     (0.02 )     (0.36 )     (0.06 )     (0.65 )    
  Net income (loss)   $ 0.06     $ (0.52 )   $ 0.00     $ (0.75 )    
                           
  WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING – DILUTED     15,121       14,708       15,038       14,656      
                           

 

               
BROADWIND ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(IN THOUSANDS)
(UNAUDITED)
               
          Nine Months Ended September 30,  
            2016     2015    
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:        
  Net income   $   21   $   (11,013 )  
  Loss from discontinued operations       (908 )     (9,494 )  
  Income (loss) income from continuing operations       929       (1,519 )  
               
Adjustments to reconcile net cash used in operating activities:      
  Depreciation and amortization expense       5,138       6,860    
  Impairment charges       -        38    
  Stock-based compensation       592       900    
  Allowance for doubtful accounts       45       55    
  Gain on disposal of assets       (147 )     (110 )  
  Changes in operating assets and liabilities:        
    Accounts receivable       (5,187 )     (129 )  
    Inventories        (2,013 )     (2,943 )  
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets       (982 )     10    
    Accounts payable       7,118       (655 )  
    Accrued liabilities       777       (995 )  
    Customer deposits       11,541       (15,772 )  
    Other non-current assets and liabilities       (744 )     (468 )  
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities of continuing operations       17,067       (14,728 )  
               
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:        
  Purchases of available for sale securities       (19,207 )     (1,884 )  
  Sales of available for sale securities       167       5,083    
  Maturities of available for sale securities       9,005       4,825    
  Purchases of property and equipment       (4,007 )     (2,282 )  
  Proceeds from disposals of property and equipment       479       1,156    
  Decrease in restricted cash       44       -     
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities of continuing operations       (13,519 )     6,898    
               
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:        
  Net proceeds from issuance of stock       19       -     
  Payments on lines of credit and notes payable       -        (118,212 )  
  Proceeds from lines of credit and notes payable       -        118,212    
  Proceeds from long-term debt     -        5,000    
  Payments on long-term debt       (2,799 )     (119 )  
  Principal payments on capital leases       (500 )     (598 )  
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities of continuing operations       (3,280 )     4,283    
               
               
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS:        
  Operating cash flows       786       (3,484 )  
  Investing cash flows       615       (368 )  
  Financing cash flows       (12 )     (7 )  
Net cash provided by (used in) discontinued operations       1,389       (3,859 )  
               
Add: Cash balance of discontinued operations, beginning of period       -        93    
Less: Cash balance of discontinued operations, end of period       2       1    
               
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS       1,655       (7,314 )  
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of the period       6,436       12,057    
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of the period   $   8,091   $   4,743    
               
Supplemental cash flow information:        
  Interest paid   $   371   $   647    
  Income taxes paid   $   22   $   35    
Non-cash investing and financing activities:        
  Issuance of restricted stock grants   $   592   $   900    
             

 

                     
BROADWIND ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
SELECTED SEGMENT FINANCIAL INFORMATION
(IN THOUSANDS)
(UNAUDITED)
                     
        Three Months Ended    Nine Months Ended 
        September 30,   September 30,
          2016       2015       2016       2015  
ORDERS:          
  Towers and Weldments $   25,329     $   3,167     $   231,401     $   66,330  
  Gearing     2,162         8,997         11,307         22,493  
    Total orders $   27,491     $   12,164     $   242,708     $   88,823  
                     
REVENUES:          
  Towers and Weldments     $   37,390     $   42,943     $   117,948     $   139,003  
  Gearing         4,582         7,184         14,759         23,758  
  Corporate and Other         580         (336 )       (18 )       (1,178 )
    Total revenues     $   42,552     $   49,791     $   132,689     $   161,583  
                     
OPERATING PROFIT/(LOSS):          
  Towers and Weldments     $   4,050     $   2,235     $   10,016     $   10,525  
  Gearing         (692 )       (2,646 )       (3,083 )       (5,380 )
  Corporate and Other         (1,998 )       (1,724 )       (5,616 )       (6,028 )
    Total operating profit/(loss)     $   1,360     $   (2,135 )   $   1,317     $   (883 )
                     

 Non-GAAP Financial Measure
The Company provides non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization, and stock compensation) as supplemental information regarding the Company’s business performance. The Company’s management uses adjusted EBITDA when it internally evaluates the performance of the Company’s business, reviews financial trends and makes operating and strategic decisions. The Company believes that this non-GAAP financial measure is useful to investors because it provides investors with a better understanding of the Company’s past financial performance and future results allows investors to evaluate the Company’s performance using the same methodology and information as used by the Company’s management. The Company’s definition of adjusted EBITDA may be different from similar non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies and/or analysts.

 
BROADWIND ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
(IN THOUSANDS)
(UNAUDITED)
                 
  Consolidated   Three Months Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended September 30,
          2016       2015       2016       2015  
  Net Income/(Loss) from continuing operations   $ 1,245     $ (2,383 )   $ 929     $ (1,519 )
  Interest Expense     125       210       431       611  
  Income Tax Provision/(Benefit)           (26 )     (16 )     (11 )
  Depreciation and Amortization   1,695       2,400       5,138       6,860  
  Share-based Compensation and Other Stock Payments   195       310       628       897  
  Restructuring Expense         874             874  
    Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP)   $ 3,260     $ 1,385     $ 7,110     $ 7,712  

  Towers and Weldments Segment Three Months Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended September 30,
      2016       2015       2016       2015  
  Net Income $ 2,797     $ 1,366     $ 6,738     $ 6,877  
  Interest Expense   5             21       4  
  Income Tax Provision/(Benefit)   1,259       880       3,285       3,759  
  Depreciation and Amortization   1,007       1,132       3,066       2,961  
  Share-based Compensation and Other Stock Payments   79       72       154       106  
  Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP) $ 5,147     $ 3,450     $ 13,264     $ 13,707  

 

  Gearing Segment   Three Months Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended September 30,
        2016       2015       2016       2015  
  Net Loss   $ (697 )   $ (2,643 )   $ (3,099 )   $ (5,380 )
  Interest Expense     1       8       8       29  
  Income Tax Provision/(Benefit)     5       (9 )     7       (5 )
  Depreciation and Amortization     638       1,216       1,918       3,757  
  Share-based Compensation and Other Stock Payments     17       44       89       183  
  Restructuring Expense           874             874  
  Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP)   $ (36 )   $ (510 )   $ (1,077 )   $ (542 )

  Corporate and Other Three Months Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended September 30,
      2016       2015       2016       2015  
  Net Income/(Loss) $ (855 )   $ (1,106 )   $ (2,710 )   $ (3,016 )
  Interest Expense   119       201       402       578  
  Income Tax Provision/(Benefit)   (1,264 )     (897 )     (3,308 )     (3,765 )
  Depreciation and Amortization   50       52       154       142  
  Share-based Compensation and Other Stock Payments   99       194       385       608  
  Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP) $ (1,851 )   $ (1,555 )   $ (5,077 )   $ (5,453 )
                                 
                                 
BWEN INVESTOR CONTACT: Joni Konstantelos, 708.780.4819