| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Bel Fuse Inc. 206 Van Vorst Street Jersey City, NJ 07302 www.belfuse.com tel 201.432.0463 fax 201.432.9542 |
Investor Contact: | | Company Contact: |
Neil Berkman Associates | | Daniel Bernstein |
(310) 826-5051 | | President |
info@berkmanassociates.com | | (201) 432-0463 |
Bel's Third Quarter Net Earnings Increased 29% to $0.65 Per Share
Sales Increased 30% to a Record $73 Million
JERSEY CITY, New Jersey, October 27, 2006 -- Bel Fuse Inc. (NASDAQ:BELFA & NASDAQ:BELFB) today announced financial results for the third quarter of 2006, highlighted by a 29% increase in net earnings and a 30% increase in net sales from the comparable period in 2005.
For the three months ended September 30, 2006, net sales rose to a quarterly record $73,260,000 from $56,248,000 for the same period last year. Net earnings increased 29% to $7,745,000, or $0.65 per diluted share, compared to $5,986,000, or $0.52 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2005.
"Sales in each of our four product groups rose to new records in the third quarter, driving sequential gains in revenue and income from operations compared to this year's second quarter and to the prior year. Growth in our Magnetics and Modules groups was particularly strong," said Daniel Bernstein, president. "We are encouraged by Bel's third quarter performance, especially in light of the increases in raw materials and transportation costs that continue to affect our industry."
For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, net sales increased 22% to a record $194,360,000 from $159,231,000 for the first nine months of 2005. Net earnings increased 21% to $20,506,000, or $1.73 per diluted share, compared to $16,968,000, or $1.47 per diluted share, for the same period last year.
At September 30, 2006, Bel reported cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of approximately $96,815,000, working capital of approximately $141,025,000, a current ratio of 3.7-to-1, total long term obligations of $4,013,000 and shareholders' equity of $220,691,000.
Conference Call
Bel has scheduled a conference call at 11:00 a.m. EDT today. A simultaneous webcast of the conference call may be accessed from the Investor Info link at www.BelFuse.com. A replay will be available after 1:00 p.m. EDT, for a period of 20 days, at this same Internet address. For a telephone replay, dial (800) 633-8284, reservation #21300567 after 1:00 p.m. EDT.
About Bel
Bel (www.belfuse.com) and its subsidiaries are primarily engaged in the design, manufacture and sale of products used in networking, telecommunications, high speed data transmission, automotive and consumer electronics. Products include magnetics (discrete components, power transformers and MagJack®s), modules (DC-DC converters, integrated analog front end modules, custom designs), circuit protection (miniature, micro and surface mount fuses) and interconnect devices (passive jacks, plugs and cable assemblies). The Company operates facilities around the world.
Forward-Looking Statements
Except for historical information contained in this news release, the matters discussed in this press release are forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements are: the market concerns facing our customers, the continuing viability of sectors that rely on our products, the effect of business and economic conditions; capacity and supply constraints or difficulties; product development, commercializing or technological difficulties; the regulatory and trade environment; uncertainties associated with legal proceedings; the market's acceptance of the Company's new products and competitive responses to those new products and the risk factors detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports. In light of the risks and uncertainties, there can be no assurance that any forward-looking statement will in fact prove to be correct. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.
(table attached)
BEL FUSE AND SUBSIDIARIES | |
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS | |
(000s omitted, except for per share data) | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended | | Nine Months Ended | |
| | September 30, | | September 30, | |
| | 2006 | | 2005 | | 2006 | | 2005 | |
| | (unaudited) | | (unaudited) | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Net Sales | | $ | 73,260 | | $ | 56,248 | | $ | 194,360 | | $ | 159,231 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Costs and expenses: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cost of sales | | | 55,742 | | | 40,420 | | | 146,058 | | | 113,801 | |
Selling, general and administrative expenses | | | 9,097 | | | 8,811 | | | 28,707 | | | 24,650 | |
Casualty loss | | | -- | | | -- | | | 1,030 | | | -- | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | 64,839 | | | 49,231 | | | 175,795 | | | 138,451 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income from operations | | | 8,421 | | | 7,017 | | | 18,565 | | | 20,780 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Other income - net | | | 832 | | | 347 | | | 1,962 | | | 772 | |
Gain on Sale of Marketable Securities | | | -- | | | -- | | | 5,151 | | | -- | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Earnings before income tax provision | | | 9,253 | | | 7,364 | | | 25,678 | | | 21,552 | |
Income tax provision | | | 1,508 | | | 1,378 | | | 5,172 | | | 4,584 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net earnings | | $ | 7,745 | | $ | 5,986 | | $ | 20,506 | | $ | 16,968 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net earnings per common share | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Basic | | $ | 0.65 | | $ | 0.52 | | $ | 1.74 | | $ | 1.48 | |
Diluted | | $ | 0.65 | | $ | 0.52 | | $ | 1.73 | | $ | 1.47 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Weighted average common shares outstanding | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Basic | | | 11,829 | | | 11,501 | | | 11,789 | | | 11,448 | |
Diluted | | | 11,872 | | | 11,575 | | | 11,844 | | | 11,542 | |
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET DATA | | | | | |
( 000s omitted) | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Sep. 30, | | Dec. 31, | | | | Sep. 30, | | Dec. 31, | |
ASSETS | | 2006 | | 2005 | | LIABILITIES & EQUITY | | 2006 | | 2005 | |
| | (unaudited) | | (audited) | | | | (unaudited) | | (audited) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Current Assets | | $ | 193,686 | | $ | 165,232 | | | Current liabilities | | $ | 52,661 | | $ | 37,029 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Property, plant | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
& equipment, net | | | 43,641 | | | 42,379 | | | Non-current liabilities | | | 4,013 | | | 3,451 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Goodwill | | | 28,117 | | | 22,428 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Intangibles & other assets | | | 11,921 | | | 12,017 | | | Stockholders' equity | | | 220,691 | | | 201,576 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Assets | | $ | 277,365 | | $ | 242,056 | | | Total Liabilities & Equity | | $ | 277,365 | | $ | 242,056 | |