Nortech Systems Announces 2022 Third Quarter Results

MINNEAPOLIS–Nortech Systems Incorporated, a leading provider of engineering and manufacturing solutions for complex electromedical and electromechanical products serving the medical, industrial and defense markets, reported 2022 third quarter results for the period ended September 30, 2022.

2022 Third Quarter Highlights

• Revenue of $35.3 million, up 19.8% compared to the third quarter of 2021.
• Gross margin of 17.9%, up 6.5 percentage points compared to adjusted gross margin of 11.4% in the third quarter of 2021.
• Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) of $2.4 million, up threefold from adjusted EBITDA of $0.7 million in the third quarter of 2021.
• Quarter-end backlog of $103 million, up more than 31% compared to the backlog as of September 30, 2021.
• Received a patent for its Flex Faraday Xtreme™ technology, a flexible printed circuit for reliable transmission of high-frequency signals.

Management Commentary

“We are pleased to report improved results over the last four quarters – both on the top and bottom lines. Our dedicated global team members deserve continued credit for their focused efforts to manage inventory and optimize supply chain operations across the U.S., Mexico, and China,” said Jay D. Miller, Chief Executive Officer and President.

2022 Third Quarter and Year-to-Date Results (in thousands)

Q3 2022 revenue totaled $35.3 million. This represents a 19.8% increase from Q3 2021 revenue of $29.5 million. For the first three quarters of 2022, revenue totaled $98.5 million, a 20.6% increase from the same period of 2021. Net income totaled $1.5 million, or $0.53 per diluted share, in Q3 2022, down from net income of $3.6 million, or $1.24 per diluted share, in Q3 2021.

Net income in the third quarter of 2021 included several non-recurring items: $5.2 million for the Employee Retention Credit (ERC), $560,000 expense for the Devicix trade name abandonment, and $93,000 gain on sale of the Merrifield facility. As a reminder, the Company filed an ERC application with the IRS in the third quarter of 2021 and recognized a one-time $5.2 million reduction to payroll tax expense. The Company has not received ERC funds as of the date of this press release.

In the third quarter of 2022, gross profit totaled $6.3 million, or 17.9%, compared to gross profit of $8.0 million, or 27.3%, in the prior-year quarter. Cost of goods sold in Q3 2021 included $4.7 million of the ERC with the remaining $540,000 credit reported in SG&A. Excluding the ERC, adjusted Q3 2021 gross profit totaled $3.4 million, or 11.4%. Through the first nine months of 2022, gross profit of $15.4 million, or 15.6%, was up from gross profit of $13.2 million, or 16.1%, in the first nine months of 2021. Excluding the ERC, YTD 2021 gross profit would have totaled $8.5 million, or 10.4%. Gross profit improvement was primarily due to pricing increases implemented to overcome inflationary cost pressures coupled with higher plant volumes and improved operating efficiencies.

Third quarter 2022 operating expenses totaled $4.4 million, up from $4.0 million in the previous quarter and a 38% increase from third quarter 2021 adjusted operating expenses of $3.2 million. The increase in year-over-year operating expense was driven in part by $475,000 in third quarter 2022 research and development costs compared to $141,000 in the prior-year quarter. Third quarter 2022 R&D expense reflects continued investment in new technologies, such as the Active Optical Xtreme (AOX) cable platform announced earlier this year and the previously highlighted Flex Faraday Xtreme (FFX) technology. Also, a year-over-year increase of $385,000 in Q3 2022 selling expenses supported the $5.8 million increase in revenue for the quarter. For the first nine months of 2022, operating expenses totaled $12.2 million, up 21.9% from operating expenses of $10.0 million in the first three quarters of 2021. In addition to R&D, Nortech is investing in upgrading essential IT, HR, and analytical capabilities.

Third quarter 2022 EBITDA totaled $2.4 million, a threefold increase over adjusted EBITDA of $0.7 million in the third quarter of 2021. For the first nine months of 2022, EBITDA totaled $4.6 million, a significant increase from breakeven adjusted EBITDA through the first nine months of 2021. Both the quarter and nine-month increases resulted from the previously discussed revenue increases during the respective periods.

Business Outlook

“We are optimistic about a strong finish to this year and carrying that momentum into 2023,” noted Miller. “Monthly bookings remain strong and the markets we serve are anticipating continued growth in 2023. That said, we are carefully monitoring potential macroeconomic headwinds. Nortech will take action as needed to adapt to changing market conditions while we continue to deliver the highest quality products to our mission-critical medical, industrial, and defense customers,” Miller concluded.