CHICAGO RIVET & MACHINE CO.
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Results of Operations
Net sales for the first quarter of 2020 were $7,576,455 compared to $8,621,678 in the first quarter of 2019, a decline of $1,045,223, or 12.1%. The decline was primarily due to reduced demand for fastener segment parts, especially from automotive customers as the impact of the coronavirus pandemic(“COVID-19”) took hold. The lower sales resulted in net income of $56,568, or $0.06 per share, in the first quarter of this year compared to $286,842, or $0.30 per share, in the first quarter of 2019. During the quarter, a regular quarterly dividend of $0.22 per share was paid.
Fastener segment revenues were $6,737,397 in the first quarter of 2020 compared to $7,579,120 in the first quarter of 2019, a decline of $841,723, or 11.1%. The automotive sector is the primary market for our fastener segment products and sales to automotive customers were $4,413,737 in the first quarter this year compared to $4,718,215 in the first quarter of 2019, a decline of $304,478, or 6.5%. This compares favorably to the first quarter decline in U.S. light-vehicle sales of 12.5%. Fastener segment sales tonon-automotive customers were $2,323,660 in the first quarter of this year compared to $2,860,905 in the first quarter of 2019, a decline of $537,245 or 18.8%. The rapid spread of the coronavirus pandemic was the primary factor in the lower sales reported in the first quarter as nearly all the markets we serve were negatively impacted. Fastener segment production costs in the first quarter were lower than a year earlier, with variable costs remaining consistent as a percentage of net sales with the first quarter of 2019, however, our fixed production costs were little changed which resulted in lower segment gross margins due to the lower level of sales. Fastener segment gross margins were $1,091,951 in the first quarter of 2020 compared to $1,325,186 in the first quarter of 2019, a reduction of $233,235.
Assembly equipment segment revenues were $839,058 in the first quarter of 2020 compared to $1,042,558 in the first quarter of 2019, a decline of $203,500, or 19.5%. The lower sales in the current year is primarily due to fewer machines being shipped compared to the comparable year earlier quarter as the combination of a slowing economy and the coronavirus pandemic resulted in reduced demand. The decline in net sales contributed to a $118,101 decrease in segment gross margin from $336,577 in 2019 to $218,476 in 2020.
Selling and administrative expenses during the first quarter of 2020 were $1,285,334 compared to $1,342,696 recorded in the first quarter of 2019, a decrease of $57,362, or 4.3%. The decline was primarily due to a $20,000 reduction in profit sharing expense related to lower operating profit in the current year quarter and a $17,000 reduction in sales commissions due to the drop in net sales. Compared to net sales, selling and administrative expenses were 17.0% in the first quarter of 2020 compared to 15.6% in the first quarter of 2019.
Other Income
Other income in the first quarter of 2020 was $46,475 compared to $48,775 in the first quarter of 2019. The decrease is primarily related to a reduction in interest income on certificates of deposit due to lower interest rates in the current year.
Income Tax Expense
The Company’s effective tax rates were approximately 21.0% and 22.0% for the first quarter of 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Working capital amounted to approximately $16.4 million as of March 31, 2020, relatively unchanged from the beginning of the year. During the quarter, accounts receivable increased by $0.9 million due to the greater sales activity during the quarter compared to the fourth quarter of 2019. Partially offsetting this change was a $0.4 million increase in accounts payable since the beginning of the year related to the greater level of operating activity during the first quarter. Other items impacting working capital in the first quarter were capital expenditures of $0.2 million, which consisted of equipment used in fastener production activities, and dividends paid of $0.2 million. The net result of these changes and other cash flow activity was to leave cash, cash equivalents and certificates of deposit at $7.1 million as of March 31, 2020 compared to $8.0 million as of the beginning of the year. Management believes that current cash, cash equivalents and operating cash flow will provide adequate working capital for the next twelve months.
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