Raven Industries Reports Strong Third Quarter Fiscal 2021 Results

Raven Industries, Inc. (the Company; NASDAQ:RAVN) today reported financial results for the third quarter that ended October 31, 2020.

Third Quarter Fiscal 2021 Noteworthy Items:

• Company reported earnings of $0.24 per share while investing in Raven Autonomy™, Raven Composites™ and Thunderhead Balloon Systems;
• Net sales in Applied Technology increased 22 percent versus the prior year, driven by growth in the OEM channel;
• Company invested $4.6 million, or $0.10 per share after-tax, primarily in incremental research and development activities, to advance Raven Autonomy™;
• Aerostar achieved year-over-year revenue growth of 15 percent driven by the delivery of aerostat systems and the execution of a record number of customer flight campaigns;
• Company generated $21 million in free cash flow¹ led by strong profitability and management of net working capital;
• Engineered Films’ net sales declined 22 percent versus the prior year as the division’s end-markets continued to face economic challenges resulting from the global pandemic;
• Company announced executive leadership changes to accelerate execution of its growth strategy and to further position itself for long-term success;
• Applied Technology was recognized for top innovative new products, receiving awards from the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers for VSN® and the Hawkeye® 2 Nozzle Control System.

Third Quarter Results:

Consolidated net sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2021 were $96.6 million, down 3.9 percent versus the third quarter of fiscal 2020. Applied Technology and Aerostar achieved significant year-over-year growth, but this was offset by a decline in Engineered Films. Strong growth in OEM sales drove the increase in Applied Technology. Aerostar achieved year-over-year growth by executing on a record number of successful stratospheric balloon flight campaigns and completing the delivery of aerostats on its current contract. The global pandemic continued to present challenges for Engineered Films’ end-markets, leading to the year-over-year decline in revenue.

Consolidated operating income for the third quarter of fiscal 2021 was $9.3 million, versus operating income of $11.3 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2020. Included in the results for the third quarter of fiscal 2021 were $4.6 million of incremental research and development and selling expenses to advance Raven Autonomy™. The strong profitability performance in this year’s third quarter was driven by improved gross profit margin, which increased from 30.1 percent to 35.7 percent year-over-year. Applied Technology and Engineered Films improved gross profit margins materially versus the prior year, on improved volume and overhead reduction measures, respectively. Prudent cost containment actions, outside of committed investments in platforms for growth, also contributed to the strong profit performance in this year’s third quarter. Prior year third quarter operating income included a pre-tax gain of $1.9 million on the sale of an Applied Technology facility in Austin, Texas.

Net income for the third quarter of fiscal 2021 was $8.7 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, compared to $9.9 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, in last year’s third quarter. The Company’s investment in Raven Autonomy™ reduced net income attributable to Raven by $3.6 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, in the third quarter of fiscal 2021. Prior year net income included a $1.5 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, gain on sale of a facility in Austin, Texas.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow:

At the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2021, cash and cash equivalents totaled $38.2 million, increasing $22.4 million versus the previous quarter. The sequential increase in cash was led by improved profitability and a reduction in net working capital requirements. Total liquidity⁴ at the end of the third quarter totaled $138.2 million.

Applied Technology Division:

Net sales for Applied Technology in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 were $34.8 million, increasing $6.3 million or 22.2 percent versus the third quarter of the prior year. The year-over-year sales growth was primarily driven by higher volumes to OEMs, both domestically and internationally. This growth included last-time buy activity associated with the division’s strategic decision to exit a commercial relationship. Excluding the benefit of the last-time buy activity, the division achieved growth over the prior year while overcoming certain production inefficiencies caused by process changes in response to the pandemic.

Division operating income in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 was $5.8 million, down $1.2 million or 17.6 percent versus the third quarter of fiscal 2020. The profitability of the division was very strong and included an incremental investment of $4.5 million year-over-year into Raven Autonomy™. The prior year results included a pre-tax gain of $1.9 million on the sale of the division’s facility in Austin, Texas.

Engineered Films Division:

Net sales for Engineered Films in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 were $43.8 million, down $12.6 million or 22.4 percent year-over-year. Increased demand and a recapture of market share in the industrial market led to year-over-year growth within this market. However, Engineered Films continued to face weak demand across a majority of its end-markets, resulting in the year-over-year decline in revenue. Engineered Films serves the following markets: geomembrane (including the energy sub-market), agriculture, construction and industrial. Geomembrane (including the energy sub-market) experienced the largest decline, as rig counts in the Permian Basin were down approximately 70 percent year-over-year. The construction market also experienced reduced demand as non-residential construction starts decreased significantly versus the prior year. Partially offsetting these declines was the delivery of the remaining $2.4 million of film-based medical supplies associated with a FEMA contract to aid in the pandemic response.

Division operating income in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 was $7.3 million, down $1.2 million or 13.6 percent versus the third quarter of fiscal 2020. Engineered Films achieved an improved operating margin year-over-year from 15.0 percent to 16.7 percent, driven by operational efficiency improvements and expense reductions, as the division mitigated the impact of negative operating leverage on division profit margin and continued to invest in Raven Composites™. Additionally, the division generated strong cash flows as it continues to effectively manage working capital levels.

Aerostar Division:

Net sales for Aerostar in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 were $18.0 million, up $2.3 million or 15.0 percent versus the third quarter of fiscal 2020. The year-over-year growth in net sales was driven by the delivery of aerostat systems and the completion of a record number of successful stratospheric flight campaigns for the Department of Defense throughout the quarter. Momentum continues to build for the division’s Thunderhead Balloon Systems as it further develops and demonstrates the capabilities and technology offering.

Division operating income in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 was $2.8 million, up $0.3 million or 11.6 percent versus the third quarter of fiscal 2020. The year-over-year increase in operating income was driven by increased sales volume.

Update on Strategic Platforms for Growth:

In the third quarter, the Company continued to aggressively and strategically invest in Raven Autonomy™, the Company’s strategic platform for growth within the Applied Technology Division. Field testing continues to progress, preparing for initial product launches for both the Raven Dot® Power Platform and tractor autonomous power units (APUs) next year. Raven is commercializing its first available solutions in driverless ag technology, allowing ag professionals to be safer, more efficient and run their operations with less reliance on human variability. The Company plans to introduce additional smart implements leveraging these APUs as it continues to advance agriculture solutions.

In Raven Composites™, the Company invested in research and development equipment to support new product development efforts. This specialty equipment was installed and became operational subsequent to the end of the third quarter. Additionally, the Company continues to develop new products and strengthen strategic relationships in targeted markets while building out greenfield operations. Larger scale manufacturing equipment to advance Raven Composites™ is on order and expected to be operational during the first quarter of fiscal 2022.

For Raven Thunderhead, Aerostar continues to develop and demonstrate the functionalities of the technology. The Company achieved milestones throughout the quarter on flight durations, mission functionalities and successful flight campaigns. The stratosphere is the next frontier, and Aerostar is at the forefront of capitalizing on the significant opportunity.

Supplemental Raven Autonomy™ Financial Information:

The financial impact of Raven Autonomy™ in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 was as follows:

Fiscal 2021 Outlook:

“The third quarter of fiscal 2021 was strong, from both a financial performance perspective and taking into account the key steps we took to advance our strategic platforms for growth,” said Dan Rykhus, President and CEO. “We achieved strong profitability and cash flows while investing aggressively in Raven Autonomy™, advancing our greenfield operations in Raven Composites™ and executing on contracts for Thunderhead Balloon Systems.

“Applied Technology generated significant profitability while aggressively investing in Raven Autonomy™ during the third quarter. We continue to advance our core technology, as evidenced by enhancements and new product releases – including Hawkeye® 2 and VSN® full canopy guidance – that solve problems for our customers and generate strong returns for end users. In Raven Autonomy™, our team continues to perform field validation trials with farmers while development proceeds with our Raven Autonomy™ platform framework to enhance customer value with autonomous applications. The momentum and our position in the market continues to improve, and the outlook for this initiative is revolutionary for the Company.

“In Engineered Films, our end markets continued to be suppressed by adverse economic challenges related to the pandemic. We expect these conditions to persist throughout the remainder of the current fiscal year and into the next fiscal year, especially in the geomembrane market due to low oil prices. However, I am confident in our ability to effectively manage through these challenges. The health and long-term prospects of Engineered Films’ core business and our Raven Composites™ platform is very strong.

“Aerostar achieved mission success on a record number of flight campaigns, leading to strong financial performance in the quarter. We continue to see growing momentum surrounding our Thunderhead Balloon Systems, and we believe this market will grow substantially over the coming years. We are the clear leader in this space, and our team continues to enhance the capabilities of our technology.

“We are well-positioned for substantial long-term growth across all three of our operating divisions. This confidence stems from the opportunities in front of us combined with our performance throughout the first three quarters of fiscal 2021. In Applied Technology, we generated strong margins in our underlying business, and economic conditions in the ag market appear to be improving for the first time in several years. In Engineered Films, our operational discipline and ability to generate significant cash flows in the midst of this pandemic is evidence of our strong business model. Additionally, Aerostar continues to prove the value of Thunderhead, creating momentum for strong growth in both the short-term and the long-term,” concluded Rykhus.

Regulation G:

The information presented in this earnings release regarding consolidated and segment earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA), do not conform to generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and should not be construed as an alternative to the reported results determined in accordance with GAAP. Additionally, management has included this non-GAAP information to assist in understanding the operating performance of the Company and its operating segments as well as the comparability of results. The non-GAAP information provided may not be consistent with the methodologies used by other companies. All non-GAAP information is reconciled with reported GAAP results in the tables below.

About Raven Industries, Inc.:

Raven Industries (NASDAQ: RAVN) provides innovative, high-value products and systems that solve great challenges throughout the world. Raven is a leader in precision agriculture, high-performance specialty films, and aerospace and defense solutions, and the company’s groundbreaking work in autonomous systems is unlocking new possibilities in areas like farming, national defense, and scientific research. Since 1956, Raven has designed, produced, and delivered exceptional solutions, earning the company a reputation for innovation, product quality, high performance, and unmatched service. For more information, visit http://ravenind.com.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements regarding the expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. The Company intends that all forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act.

Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “may,” “will,” “plan,” “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “potential,” “should,” “estimate,” “predict,” “project,” “would,” and similar expressions, which are generally not historical in nature. However, the absence of these words or similar expressions does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. All statements that address operating performance, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future – including statements relating to our future operating or financial performance or events, our strategy, goals, plans, and projections regarding our financial position, our liquidity and capital resources, and our product development – are forward-looking statements.

Management believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made. However, caution should be taken not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, because such statements speak only as of the date when made. Our Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. In addition, forward-looking statements are subject to certain known risks, as described in the Company’s 10K under Item 1A, and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from our Company’s historical experience and our present expectations or projections.

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