Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor for forward-looking statements made by us or on our behalf. We have made, and may continue to make, forward-looking statements with respect to our business and financial matters, including statements contained in this document, other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and reports to shareholders. Forward-looking statements generally include discussion of current expectations or forecasts of future events and can be identified by the use of terminology such as “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “could,” “will,” and similar words or expressions. Any statement that does not relate solely to historical fact should be considered forward-looking.
Our forward-looking statements generally relate to our growth strategy, future financial results, product development and sales efforts. We make forward-looking statements throughout this Form 10-Q, but primarily in this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations section. These include statements relating to our beliefs and expectations and intentions with respect to (i) our growth and profitability, (ii) our marketing and product development, (iii) our ability to continue to obtain parts and materials for our products from various manufacturers and distributors in a timely manner and at reasonable prices, (iv) the value of our intellectual property, (v) our competitive position in the marketplace, (vi) the effect of governmental regulations on our business, (vii) our employee relations, (viii) the adequacy of our facilities, (ix) our intention to develop new products, (x) the possibility of us acquiring compatible businesses or product lines as part of our growth strategy, and (xi) our future cash requirements and use of cash.
Forward-looking statements cannot be guaranteed and our actual results may vary materially due to the uncertainties and risks, known and unknown, associated with these statements, including our ability to successfully develop new products and manage our cash requirements. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements. We cannot foresee or identify all factors that could cause actual results to differ from expected or historical results. As such, investors should not consider any list of these factors to be an exhaustive statement of all risks, uncertainties or potentially inaccurate assumptions. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause future results to differ materially from our recent results listed under the heading “Forward-Looking Statements” under “Item 1—Business,” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, as well as the following:
- Respond to events beyond our control such as any disruption in the economy caused by (i) a government shutdown similar to those that have occurred over the past decade or (ii) the recent October 2023 outbreak of violence in the Middle East,
- Continue to procure components for our products, and maintain a steady and reliable workforce, as described below under "Supply Chain and Labor Dynamics".
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
The preparation of our financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make decisions based upon estimates, assumptions, and factors it considers relevant to the circumstances. These decisions include the selection of applicable accounting principles and the use of judgment in their application and affect reported amounts and disclosures. Changes in economic conditions or other business circumstances may affect the outcomes of management’s estimates and assumptions. An in-depth description of our accounting estimates can be found in the interim financial statements included in this report and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022.
SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The following table contains selected financial information, for the periods indicated, from our Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) expressed as a percentage of net sales.
| Three Months Ended September 30 |
| Nine Months Ended September 30 |
|
| 2023 |
|
| 2022 |
| 2023 |
|
| 2022 |
|
Net sales | 100.0 | % |
| 100.0 | % |
| 100.0 | % |
| 100.0 | % |
Cost of goods sold | 51.7 |
|
| 47.5 |
|
| 50.6 |
|
| 46.0 |
|
Gross profit | 48.3 |
|
| 52.5 |
|
| 49.4 |
|
| 54.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Selling and marketing | 14.9 |
|
| 16.1 |
|
| 16.3 |
|
| 17.7 |
|
General and administrative | 24.0 |
|
| 22.4 |
|
| 23.4 |
|
| 30.7 |
|
Research and development | 10.6 |
|
| 8.6 |
|
| 11.6 |
|
| 9.3 |
|
Total operating expenses | 49.5 |
|
| 47.1 |
|
| 51.3 |
|
| 57.7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating income (loss) | (1.2 | ) |
| 5.4 | |
| (1.9 | ) |
| (3.7 | ) |
|
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|
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|
|
|
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|
Non-operating income |
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest income | 5.3 |
|
| 1.6 |
|
| 4.8 |
|
| 0.6 |
|
Total non-operating income, net | 5.3 |
|
| 1.6 |
|
| 4.8 |
|
| 0.6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit) | 4.1 | |
| 7.0 | |
| 2.9 |
|
| (3.1 | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income tax expense (benefit) | 3.6 | |
| 1.4 | |
| 1.5 |
|
| (0.7 | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss) | 0.5 | % |
| 5.6 | % |
| 1.4 | % |
| (2.4 | )% |
The following paragraphs discuss the Company’s performance for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (in thousands)
Net Sales
Net sales for the three-month period ended September 30, 2023 were $2,057, a decrease of $159, or 7.2%, from $2,216 during the comparable period in 2022. Net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 were $6,239, a decrease of $676, or 9.8%, from $6,915 during the comparable period in 2022. The decrease during the three-month period was the result of decreased sales of our wired sensor products, partially offset by increased sales of HazardPROTM wireless hazard monitoring systems. The decrease during the nine-month period was a result of decreased sales of both traditional wired products and HazardPRO wireless hazard monitoring systems.
Gross Profit
Gross profit for the third quarter of 2023 was $993, a decrease of $170, or 14.6%, over the same period in 2022. Gross profit for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 was $3,083, a decrease of $654, or 17.5%, over the same period in 2022. Gross margin decreased in the third quarter of 2023 to 48.3% from 52.5% during the same period in 2022. Gross margin for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 decreased to 49.4% from 54.0% over the same period in 2022. The decrease in gross margin for both periods was primarily due to an increase in product and labor costs across all product lines.
Operating Expenses
Total operating expenses decreased $25, or 2.4%, to $1,019 for the third quarter of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022 and increased as a percentage of net sales to 49.5% from 47.1%. Total operating expenses decreased $794, or 19.9%, to $3,203 for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 compared to the same period in 2022 and decreased as a percentage of net sales to 51.3% from 57.7%. The decrease in operating expenses for both periods was primarily due to lower legal and professional fees related to the terminated merger agreement with Mobile X as discussed in Note 5 to the financial statements and decreased sales headcount.
| ● | Selling and marketing expenses in the third quarter of 2023 decreased $50 to $307, or 14.0%, from the same period in 2022 and decreased as a percentage of net sales to 14.9% from 16.1%. Selling and marketing expenses in the nine months ended September 30, 2023 decreased $209 to $1,021, or 17.0%, from the same period in 2022 and decreased as a percentage of net sales to 16.3% from 17.7%. The decrease for both periods was primarily due to lower sales headcount and variable compensation related to lower revenue. |
| ● | General and administrative expenses decreased $3 to $494, or 0.6%, in the third quarter of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022 but increased as a percentage of net sales to 24.0% from 22.4%. General and administrative expenses decreased $667 to $1,458, or 31.4%, in the nine months ended September 30, 2023 compared to the same period in 2022 and decreased as a percentage of net sales to 23.4% from 30.7%. The decrease in both periods was primarily due to a decrease in legal and professional fees related to the terminated merger agreement, partially offset by an increase in stock-based compensation expense primarily related to the 2023 third quarter stock option grants. |
| ● | Research and development expenses increased $28 to $218, or 14.7%, in the third quarter of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022 and increased as a percentage of net sales to 10.6% from 8.6%. Research and development expenses increased $82 to $724, or 12.8%, in the nine months ended September 30, 2023 compared to the same period in 2022 and increased as a percentage of net sales to 11.6% from 9.3%. The increase for both periods was due to higher contract engineering costs related to product development and enhancements. |
Non-Operating Income
Net non-operating income increased by $74, or 211.4%, for the three-month period ended September 30, 2023 compared to the same period in 2022. Net non-operating income increased by $253, or 588.4%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 compared to the same period in 2022. The increase for both periods is the result of additional interest income earned as a result of higher interest rates on Treasury Bills.
Income (Loss) Before Income Tax Expense (Benefit)
Income before income tax expense was $83 for the third quarter of 2023, representing a decrease of $71 compared to $154 for the same period in 2022. Income before income tax expense was $176 for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, representing an increase of $393 compared to a loss before income tax benefit of $217 for the same period in 2022. The decrease for the three-month period was primarily due to lower revenues and gross margins, as discussed above. The increase for the nine months was primarily the result of lower operating expenses and an increase in interest income, partially offset by lower revenues and gross margins, as discussed above.
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)
Income tax expense was $75, or 3.6%, of net sales in the third quarter of 2023 compared to an income tax expense of $32, or 1.4%, of net sales in the third quarter of 2022. Income tax expense was $96, or 1.5%, of net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, compared to an income tax benefit of $46, or (0.7)%, of net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2023. Income tax expense in the 2023 periods was higher than federal tax rates due to the 2023 third quarter write-off of deferred tax asset related to the 2023 expired options.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Cash and cash equivalents were $3,902 at September 30, 2023 and $7,646 at December 31, 2022. The decrease was primarily the result of an increase in Treasury Bills classified as investments as of September 30, 2023 as compared to December 31, 2022. Cash, cash equivalents, and investments were $9,928 at September 30, 2023 as compared to $9,682 at December 31, 2022.
Cash from operating activities was $92 for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 as compared to cash used in operating activities of $213 for the nine months ended September 30, 2022. The $305 increase in cash from operating activities was due primarily to an increase in net income and a decrease in trade receivables. The 2023 net income compared to the 2022 net loss was primarily due to decreased expenses related to the terminated merger agreement described in Note 5 to the financial statements and an increase in interest income, partially offset by a decrease in net revenues. The decrease in trade receivables is due to the timing of sales and collections.
Cash used in investing activities was $3,831 for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 compared to cash from investing activities of $2,991 for the nine months ended September 30, 2022. The increase in cash used in investing activities was due to the 2023 increase in the purchases of Treasury Bills classified as investments compared to maturities. As shown on the Statement of Cash Flows, during 2023, the Company purchased more Treasury Bills with maturity dates greater than three months to secure higher interest rates.
Cash used in financing activities in the nine months ended September 30, 2023 was $5 compared to cash from investing activities of $27 for the nine months ended September 30, 2022. In the third quarter of 2022, three non-employee directors exercised a total of 7,500 stock options for a total exercise price of $31.
Subject to the following section, entitled "Supply Chain and Labor Dynamics," the Company believes its ongoing cash requirements will be primarily for capital expenditures, research and development, working capital, corporate and business development and other strategic alternatives and that existing cash, cash equivalents, and investments and any cash generated from operations will be sufficient to meet these cash requirements through at least the next 12 months.
Supply Chain and Labor Dynamics
We traditionally have had one or more robust sources for production components and materials. However, we continue to experience disruptions in our supply chain, resulting in difficulty sourcing some components. We are also experiencing price increases for many of the components used in our products. To meet these challenges, we are seeking additional sources for components and modifying product designs to accommodate new components that are more readily available at competitive prices. There is no guarantee that we will continue to be successful in modifying these designs and sourcing alternative components. As a result, we could experience significant delays in receiving certain components needed to make timely customer deliveries, as well as increased costs that erode gross margins. Supply chain dynamics may have an effect on the efficiency of our business operations, our customer base, and the domestic or worldwide economy. Furthermore, the labor market for qualified employees able to fill our various open positions is challenging and may result in delays in filling these positions. In addition, we may experience changes in transportation and freight availability that may make it difficult to have materials and components shipped to us, or our products shipped to customers, in a timely and cost-effective manner. While we continue to closely manage each of these activities, our actions may not be successful and may result in a negative effect on our sales and profit margins.
Future Corporate and Business Development Activities
We continue to seek growth opportunities, both internally through our existing portfolio of products, technologies, and markets, as well as externally through technology partnerships or related-product or business acquisitions. In addition, we continue to explore other strategic alternatives that we believe present good opportunities for the Company and its shareholders. On June 13, 2022, we announced that we had entered into a Merger Agreement with Mobile X Newco, Inc. and Mobile X Global, Inc. On January 30, 2023, we announced that the Merger Agreement had been terminated and that the Company's Board of Directors had established a special committee to explore and pursue business development and other strategic alternatives.
Off-balance Sheet Arrangements
As of September 30, 2023, the Company had no off-balance sheet arrangements or transactions.
Non-GAAP Financial Measure
In addition to financial results reported in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), the Company is providing a non-GAAP financial measure in this Form 10-Q and an itemized reconciliation between Net Income (Loss), a GAAP financial measure, and Adjusted Net Income, the non-GAAP financial measure.
The Company is using "Adjusted Net Income" as a non-GAAP financial measure to facilitate period-to-period comparisons and analysis of its operating performance and believes it is useful to investors as a supplement to GAAP measures in analyzing, trending and benchmarking the performance and value of the Company’s business. This measure is not intended to be a substitute for, or more meaningful than, Net Income (Loss) in accordance with GAAP, but is provided as supplemental information. This measure may be different from Adjusted Net Income or similar financial measures used by other companies, even when similar terms are used to identify these measures.
As discussed below, to calculate Adjusted Net Income, the Company added back the costs and expenses, less estimated taxes, related to the negotiation and execution of the June 10, 2022 proposed Mobile X merger transaction to Net Income (Loss) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022. The Company believes adding back these costs and expenses more accurately portrays the underlying results and trends of the ongoing business.
On January 30, 2023, the Company and Mobile X jointly agreed to terminate the merger agreement. Although the costs and expenses related to the Company-Mobile X Merger Agreement were incurred primarily in general and administrative expenses, the Company is not presenting any other non-GAAP information because it believes it has adequately described these expenses in the Management's Discussion and Analysis section of this Form 10-Q and past filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The Company incurred approximately $79 and $856 in legal and other professional fees for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively, related to the Mobile X merger opportunity. The following table sets forth a reconciliation of Net Income (Loss), a GAAP financial measure, to Adjusted Net Income (as defined above), the non-GAAP measure, for the periods noted.
| Three Months Ended September 30 | |
| Nine Months Ended September 30 |
| | 2023 | | | | 2022 | |
| 2023 |
|
| 2022 |
|
Net Income (Loss) - GAAP | $ | 8 | | | $ | 122 | |
| $ | 80 |
|
| $ | (171 | ) |
Merger-related expenses | | 0 | | | | 79 | |
|
| 0 |
|
|
| 856 |
|
Income tax benefit of merger-related expenses | | 0 | | | | (17 | ) |
|
| 0 | |
|
| (180 | ) |
Adjusted Net Income | $ | 8 | | | $ | 184 | |
| $ | 80 |
|
| $
| 505 | |
Not Applicable.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Based on an evaluation with the participation of the Company’s management, the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer has concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), were effective as of September 30, 2023.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the third quarter of 2023 that were identified in connection with management’s evaluation required by paragraph (d) of Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.