AstroNova (ALOT) 10-Q 2006 Q3 Quarterly report

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended October 29, 2005

OR

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                    to                    

Commission file number 0-13200

Astro-Med, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Rhode Island	05-0318215
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
600 East Greenwich Avenue, West Warwick, Rhode Island	02893
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

(401) 828-4000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x. No ¨.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act) Yes ¨. No x.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act) Yes ¨. No x.

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Common Stock, $.05 Par Value – 5,312,843 shares (excluding treasury shares) as of December 1, 2005

ASTRO-MED, INC.

INDEX

	Page No.
Part I. Financial
Item 1. Financial Statements
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets—October 29, 2005 and January 31, 2005	3
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations—Three-Months Ended October 29, 2005 and October 30, 2004	4
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations—Nine-Months Ended October 29, 2005 and October 30, 2004	4
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows—Nine-Months Ended October 29, 2005 and October 30, 2004	5
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements—October 29, 2005	6-10
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	11-15
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk	16
Item 4. Controls and Procedures	16
Part II. Other Information	17
Item 6. Exhibits	17
Signatures	17
Management Certifications

2

Part I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ASTRO-MED, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

	October 29, 2005 (Unaudited)			January 31, 2005 (Audited)
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and Cash Equivalents	$	2,014,275		$	6,225,122
Securities Available for Sale		11,732,920			7,757,904
Accounts Receivable, Net		10,127,783			9,351,704
Inventories		9,553,380			9,364,279
Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets		709,699			603,369
Deferred Tax Assets		3,391,960			3,423,928
Total Current Assets		37,530,017			36,726,306
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT		27,128,413			26,404,489
Less Accumulated Depreciation		(20,075,821	)		(19,098,543	)
		7,052,592			7,305,946
OTHER ASSETS
Goodwill		2,336,721			2,336,721
Amounts Due from Officers		480,314			480,314
Other		588,620			189,384
	$	47,988,264		$	47,038,671
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts Payable	$	2,296,100		$	2,192,581
Accrued Compensation		1,407,677			1,602,144
Accrued Expenses		2,439,556			2,596,486
Deferred Revenue		516,764			613,017
Income Taxes Payable		400,619			453,620
Total Current Liabilities		7,060,716			7,457,848
OTHER LIABILITIES
Other Long Term Liabilities		500,000			—
Deferred Tax Liabilities		915,938			1,172,420
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Common Stock, $.05 Par Value, Authorized 13,000,000 Shares, Issued, 6,336,557 and 6,298,842 Shares, respectively (Note 1)		316,832			314,949
Additional Paid-In Capital (Note 1)		16,284,274			16,045,503
Retained Earnings (Note 1)		29,386,702			28,328,239
Treasury Stock, at Cost, 1,024,106 and 1,020,722 Shares, respectively		(6,579,147	)		(6,548,984	)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income		102,949			268,696
		39,511,6101			38,408,403
	$	47,988,264		$	47,038,671

3

ASTRO-MED, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

	Three-Months Ended (Unaudited)						Nine-Months Ended (Unaudited)
	October 29, 2005			October 30, 2004			October 29, 2005			October 30, 2004
Net Sales	$	14,455,179		$	13,246,011		$	43,296,634		$	41,478,310
Cost of Sales		8,671,507			8,094,097			25,493,988			24,612,457
Gross Profit		5,783,672			5,151,914			17,802,646			16,865,853
Costs and Expenses:
Selling, General and Administrative		4,316,543			4,075,779			12,970,531			12,013,507
Research and Development		987,446			1,069,344			2,931,919			2,992,905
Operating Expenses		5,303,989			5,145,123			15,902,450			15,006,412
Operating Income		479,683			6,791			1,900,196			1,859,441
Other Income (Expense):
Investment Income		82,572			115,503			284,866			314,112
Other, Net		(65,841	)		(40,351	)		(68,885	)		(119,058	)
		16,731			75,152			215,981			195,054
Income Before Income Taxes		496,414			81,943			2,116,177			2,054,495
Income Tax Benefit (Provision)		177,329			(29,497	)		(422,057	)		198,700
Net Income	$	673,743		$	52,446		$	1,694,120		$	2,253,195
Net Income per Common Share:
Basic	$	0.13		$	0.01		$	0.32		$	0.43
Diluted	$	0.11		$	0.01		$	0.29		$	0.39
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding:
Basic		5,295,115			5,311,738			5,282,797			5,288,064
Diluted		5,867,461			5,770,227			5,769,243			5,812,773
Dividends Declared Per Common Share	$	0.04		$	0.04		$	0.12		$	0.12

4

ASTRO-MED, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

	Nine-Months Ended
	October 29, 2005 (Unaudited)			October 30, 2004 (Unaudited)
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net Income	$	1,694,120		$	2,253,195
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities:
Depreciation and Amortization		1,067,883			950,623
Deferred Income Taxes		(224,514	)		(938,917	)
Changes in Assets and Liabilities:
Accounts Receivable		(776,074	)		706,736
Inventories		(189,100	)		(373,652	)
Other		(131,202	)		147,072
Income Taxes Payable		(53,001	)		162,884
Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses		(344,131	)		(828,783	)
Total Adjustments		(650,139	)		(174,037	)
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities		1,043,981			2,079,158
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Proceeds from Maturities of Securities Available for Sale		1,705,505			2,774,655
Purchases of Securities Available for Sale		(5,718,208	)		(2,712,310	)
Additions to Property, Plant and Equipment		(816,959	)		(899,223	)
Net Cash Used by Investing Activities		(4,829,662	)		(836,878	)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from Common Shares Issued Under Employee Stock Purchase Plans and Exercises of Stock Options		240,654			521,311
Shares Repurchased		(30,163	)		(67,409	)
Dividends Paid		(635,657	)		(614,475	)
Net Cash (Used) by Financing Activities		(425,166	)		(160,573	)
Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents		(4,210,847	)		1,081,707
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period.		6,225,122			4,998,643
Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period	$	2,014,275		$	6,080,350
Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information:
Cash Paid During the Period for:
Income Taxes	$	586,681		$	162,732
Non-cash Transfer from Retained Earnings to Capital Stock and Additional Paid in Capital Due to the Issuance of the 10% Stock Dividend	$	—		$	5,256,132

5

ASTRO-MED, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

October 29, 2005

(Unaudited)

NOTE 1 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

(a) The accompanying condensed financial statements have been prepared by the Company, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and reflect all adjustments consisting of normal recurring adjustments which, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair presentation of the results of the interim periods. These financial statements do not include all disclosures associated with annual financial statements and, accordingly, should be read in conjunction with footnotes contained in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2005. Certain reclassifications have been made to conform to the current period reporting format.

(b) 10% Stock Dividend: On April 19, 2004, the Company declared a 10% stock dividend to shareholders of record on May 4, 2004 that was distributed to shareholders on May 26, 2004. An amount equal to the fair value of the additional shares was transferred from Retained Earnings to Additional Paid in Capital and Common Stock as of the declaration date. Income per share and weighted average share amounts for all prior periods have been restated to reflect the impact of the 10% stock dividend.

(c) Net income per common share has been computed and presented pursuant to the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 128, Earnings Per Share. Net income per share is based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period. Net income per share assuming dilution is based on the weighted average number of shares and, if dilutive, common equivalent shares for stock options outstanding during the period.

	Three-Months Ended		Nine-Months Ended
	October 29, 2005	October 30, 2004	October 29, 2005	October 30, 2004
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding – Basic	5,295,115	5,311,738	5,282,797	5,288,064
Dilutive Effect of Options Outstanding	572,346	458,489	486,446	524,709
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding – Diluted	5,867,461	5,770,227	5,769,243	5,812,773

For the three-month and nine-month periods ended October 29, 2005 and October 30, 2004, the diluted per share amounts do not reflect options outstanding of 3,300 and 251,350, respectively. These outstanding options were not included in the weighted average common shares outstanding because the exercise prices of the options were greater than the average market price of the Company’s stock during the periods presented.

6

ASTRO-MED, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

October 29, 2005

(Unaudited)

(d) Stock-Based Compensation: The Company follows Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” and related interpretations in accounting for its stock-based compensation plans and has elected to continue to use the intrinsic value-based method to account for stock option grants. The Company has adopted the disclosure-only provisions of SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock Based Compensation – Transition and Disclosure”, an amendment of SFAS No. 123. The fair value of each option granted was estimated on the grant date using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model.

	Three-Months Ended					Nine-Months Ended
	October 29, 2005		October 30, 2004			October 29, 2005		October 30, 2004
As Reported Net Income	$	673,743	$	52,446		$	1,694,120	$	2,253,195
Less: Total Stock-Based Employee Compensation Expense Determined Under Fair Value Based Method		77,124		71,982			236,184		153,561
Pro Forma	$	596,619	$	(19,536	)	$	1,457,936	$	2,099,634
Net Income Per Share
As Reported, Basic	$	0.13	$	0.01		$	0.32	$	0.43
Pro Forma, Basic	$	0.11	$	—		$	0.28	$	0.40
As Reported, Diluted	$	0.11	$	0.01		$	0.29	$	0.39
Pro forma, Diluted	$	0.10	$	—		$	0.25	$	0.36

(e) Revenue Recognition:The majority of the Company’s product sales are recorded at the time of shipment, when legal title has transferred and risk of loss passes to the customer, when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, the selling price to the buyer is fixed or determinable and collectibility is reasonably assured in accordance with the requirements in the SEC’s Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) 104, “Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements.” When a sale arrangement involves training or installation, the deliverables in the arrangement are evaluated to determine whether they represent separate units of accounting in accordance with SAB 104 and EITF 00-21, “Revenue Arrangements With Multiple Deliverables”. This evaluation occurs at inception of the arrangement and as each item in the arrangement is delivered. The total fee from the arrangement is allocated to each unit of accounting based on its relative fair value. Fair value for each element is established generally based on the sales price charged when the same or similar element is sold separately. Revenue is recognized when revenue recognition criteria for each unit of accounting are met. When other significant obligations remain after products are delivered, revenue is recognized only after such obligations are fulfilled. All of the Company’s equipment contains embedded operating systems and data management software which is included in the selling price of the equipment. The software is deemed incidental to the system as a whole as it is not sold separately or marketed separately and its production costs are minor as compared to those of the hardware system. Returns and customer credits are infrequent and are recorded as a reduction to sales. Rights of return are not included in sales arrangements. Revenue associated with products that contain specific customer acceptance criteria is not recognized before the customer acceptance criteria are satisfied. Discounts from list prices are recorded as a reduction to sales. Amounts billed to customers for shipping and handling fees are included in sales.

(f) New Accounting Pronouncements:In December 2004, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123 (Revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS No. 123-R”) which, upon becoming effective, will replace SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (“SFAS No. 123”) and will supersede APB No. 25. SFAS No. 123-R requires companies to measure compensation costs for share-based payments to employees, including stock options, at fair value and expense such compensation over the service period beginning with the first annual period after June 15, 2005. The Company is evaluating the requirements of SFAS No. 123-R and has not yet determined the method of adoption of SFAS No. 123-R, nor the effect that SFAS No. 123-R will have on its financial position and results of operations.

In May 2005, the FASB issued SFAS No. 154, “Accounting for Changes and Error Corrections – a Replacement of APB Opinion No. 20 and SFAS No. 3”, which changes the requirements for accounting and reporting of a change in accounting principle. The Statement applies to all voluntary changes in accounting principles and to changes required by an accounting pronouncement in the event that the pronouncement does not include specific transition provisions. This statement requires retroactive application to prior period financial statements of change in accounting principle, unless it is impracticable to determine either the period specific effects or the cumulative effect of the change. The Company is required to adopt this statement during the first quarter of fiscal 2007 and does not expect the adoption of this statement to have a material impact on its financial condition or results of operations.

7

ASTRO-MED, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

October 29, 2005

(Unaudited)

NOTE 2 – COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

The Company’s comprehensive income is as follows:

	Three-Months Ended					Nine-Months Ended
	October 29, 2005			October 30, 2004		October 29, 2005			October 30, 2004
Comprehensive Income:
Net Income	$	673,743		$	52,446	$	1,694,120		$	2,253,195
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax		62,854			81,588		(128,061	)		(52,118	)
Unrealized gain (loss) in securities:
Unrealized holding gain (loss) arising during the period, net of tax		(7,856	)		15,023		(37,686	)		(53,272	)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)		54,998			96,611		(165,747	)		(105,390	)
Comprehensive Income	$	728,741		$	149,057	$	1,528,373		$	2,147,805

NOTE 3 – INVENTORIES

Inventories, net of reserves, are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or market and include material, labor and manufacturing overhead. The components of inventories were as follows:

	October 29, 2005		January 31, 2005
Raw Materials	$	5,414,601	$	5,154,931
Work-In-Process		1,430,753		969,767
Finished Goods		2,708,026		3,239,581
	$	9,553,380	$	9,364,279

NOTE 4 – INCOME TAXES

During the quarter ended October 29, 2005, the Company recognized an income tax benefit of $177,000. The quarter’s income tax benefit includes 1) an income tax expense of $184,000 which equals an effective tax rate of 37% on the current quarter’s pre-tax income and 2) the $361,000 reversal of tax reserves related to the favorable resolution of certain income tax examinations. This compares to an income tax expense of $29,000 equaling an effective tax rate of 36% on the quarter’s pre-tax income recorded during the quarter ended October 30, 2004.

During the nine months ended October 29, 2005, the Company’s effective tax rate was 20%. The effective tax rate includes 1) an income tax expense of $783,000 which equals an effective tax rate of 37% on the period’s pre-tax income and 2) the $361,000 reversal of tax reserves noted above. This compares to an effective tax rate of 1% recorded during the nine months ended October 30, 2004. During the nine months ended October 30, 2004, the Company recorded 1) an income tax expense of $740,000 which equals an effective tax rate of 36% on the period’s pre-tax income and 2) a $939,000 non-cash tax benefit related to the release of the valuation allowance on the net deferred tax asset that was established in fiscal year 2003. In fiscal year 2003 the Company established a full valuation allowance on its net deferred tax asset as a result of the uncertainty as to whether these deferred tax assets would “more likely than not” be realized in the future. Based on the facts and circumstances at that time, it was determined that a full valuation allowance was required and it was stated that until an appropriate level of profitability could be sustained no tax benefits would be realized. As of the first quarter of fiscal year 2005, Management believed that an appropriate level of profitability had been established and maintained and it was more likely than not the deferred tax assets will be realized in the future.

8

ASTRO-MED, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

October 29, 2005

(Unaudited)

NOTE 5 – SEGMENT INFORMATION

Summarized below are the sales and segment operating profit (loss) for each reporting segment for three-months ended October 29, 2005 and October 30, 2004:

	Sales				Segment Operating Profit
	October 29, 2005		October 30, 2004		October 29, 2005		October 29, 2004
T&M	$	3,173,000	$	2,554,000	$	36,000	$	(276,000	)
Quicklabel		7,113,000		6,931,000		746,000		691,000
G-T		4,169,000		3,761,000		427,000		242,000
Total	$	14,455,000	$	13,246,000		1,209,000		657,000
Corporate Expenses						730,000		651,000
Operating Income						479,000		6,000
Other Income, Net						17,000		75,000
Income Before Income Taxes						496,000		81,000
Income Tax Benefit (Provision)						178,000		(29,000	)
Net Income					$	674,000	$	52,000

Summarized below are the sales and segment operating profit (loss) for each reporting segment for the nine-months ended October 29, 2005 and October 30, 2004:

	Sales				Segment Operating Profit (Loss)
	October 29, 2005		October 30, 2004		October 29, 2005			October 30 2004
T&M	$	8,423,000	$	8,135,000	$	161,000		$	(65,000	)
Quicklabel		21,766,000		21,132,000		2,156,000			2,711,000
G-T		13,107,000		12,211,000		1,817,000			1,321,000
Total	$	43,296,000	$	41,478,000		4,134,000			3,967,000
Corporate Expenses						2,234,000			2,108,000
Operating Income						1,900,000			1,859,000
Other Income, Net						216,000			195,000
Income Before Income Taxes.						2,116,000			2,054,000
Income Tax (Provision) Benefit						(422,000	)		199,000
Net Income					$	1,694,000		$	2,253,000

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ASTRO-MED, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

(Unaudited)

NOTE 6 – PRODUCT WARRANTY LIABILITY

Changes in the Company’s product warranty liability during the period ended October 29, 2005 and October 30, 2004, respectively are as follows:

	October 29, 2005			October 30, 2004
Balance, beginning of the period	$	208,642		$	176,000
Warranties issued during the period		416,149			388,422
Settlements made during the period		(401,149	)		(338,724	)
Balance, end of the period	$	223,642		$	225,698

10

ASTRO-MED, INC.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Business Overview

This section should be read in conjunction with the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company included elsewhere herein and the Company’s January 31, 2005 Form 10-K.

Astro-Med, Inc. is a multi-national enterprise, which designs, develops, manufactures, distributes and services a broad range of products that acquire, store, analyze and present data in multiple formats. The Company organizes its structure around a core set of competencies, including research and development, manufacturing, service, marketing and distribution. It markets and sells its products and services through three business segments including:

The Company’s Test & Measurement (T&M) products are a comprehensive line of data recording instruments for the aerospace, automotive, pulp and paper, metal mill, transportation and manufacturing industries. These recording solutions provide customers with a complete record of their data, whether they are troubleshooting a process, performing preventative maintenance or gathering mission critical data. The T&M product group includes a suite of ruggedized avionic products which consists of printers, ethernet switches and other electronic instruments for commercial and military aircraft applications.

The Company’s QuickLabel Systems (QuickLabel) product group provides a complete system for producing “the labels that you want when you need them.” QuickLabel’s flagship products, the digital color label printers, and its line of entry-level barcode/single-color digital label printers, are used by manufacturers and producers to print short runs of custom labels in-house. QuickLabel’s printing supplies and label creation software are integral parts of the printing system that enhance output quality and user experience. QuickLabel’s digital label printers also generate sales through a broad line of consumable products including label, tag and thermal transfer ribbons and monochrome transfer ribbons. QuickLabel engineers and manufactures certain unique printing supplies especially designed for use in optimizing the performance of the QuickLabel brand of digital printers, as well as in the use of all other major brands of desktop and tabletop printers.

Grass-Telefactor (G-T) product group offers a range of instrumentation and supplies for clinical and biomedical research applications. The clinical product line includes in-lab, in-hospital, and ambulatory integrated systems for clinical EEG and PSG, epilepsy diagnosis and surgery, critical care and intraoperative neuromonitoring. These products offer a variety of features including networking, database and report generation capabilities in addition to powerful data acquisition, monitoring and analysis tools.

The Company markets and sells its products and services globally through an international distribution structure of sales personnel, manufacturing representatives and dealers that deliver a full complement of branded products and services to customers in our diverse global markets.

Results of Operations

Three-Months Ended October 29, 2005 vs. Three-Months Ended October 30, 2004

	October 29, 2005		Sales as a % of Total Sales		October 30, 2004		Sales as a % of Total Sales		% Increase (Decrease) Over Prior Year
T&M	$	3,173,000	21.9	%	$	2,554,000	19.2	%	24.2	%
QuickLabel		7,113,000	49.2	%		6,931,000	52.3	%	2.6	%
G-T		4,169,000	28.9	%		3,761,000	28.5	%	10.8	%
Total	$	14,455,000	100.0	%	$	13,246,000	100.0	%	9.1	%

11

ASTRO-MED, INC.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Results of Operations (continued):

Three-Months Ended October 29, 2005 vs. Three-Months Ended October 30, 2004

Sales in the quarter were $14,455,179, an increase of 9.1% from prior year’s third quarter sales of $13,246,011. The Company’s sales in T&M, Quicklabel and G-T product groups increased 24.2%, 2.6% and 10.8%, respectively. Sales through our domestic channels were $10,337,231, up 9.2% from the prior year sales of $9,459,571. Sales through the Company’s international channels were $4,117,953, up 8.7% from the prior year sales of $3,786,436. The favorable impact of the change in foreign exchange rates was $5,041 which had a nominal effect on the Company’s international sales increase.

Hardware and software sales were $6,825,395 for the quarter, up 10.2% from the prior year sales of $6,192,016. The increase was driven by gains within the T&M Dash series, Ruggedized products and GT sleep systems tempered by lower sales in the Everest and QLS printer lines.

The Company’s consumable sales continue to grow with the third quarter sales volume reaching $6,293,143, an 8.6% increase over the prior year’s sales of $5,793,691. The products driving the increase include the Quicklabel consumable products, up 10.0% and the G-T product group’s suite of consumable products, up 9.0% from the prior year.

Sales of the Company’s service related products were $1,336,641, up 6.1% from the prior year’s sales of $1,260,294. The increase was driven by higher parts sales.

Gross profit dollars were $5,783,672, generating a gross margin of 40.0% for the quarter as compared to a margin percentage of 38.9% for the same quarter in the prior year. The higher gross profit percentage in the current year can be attributed to higher margins in each of the three product groups as sales shifted to a more favorable product mix.

Operating expenses in the third quarter were $5,303,989, compared to $5,145,123 in the third quarter of the prior year. Selling and general administrative (SGA) spending increased 5.9% from last year to $4,316,543. The increase was driven by higher personnel costs, travel and trade show expenses. Research & Development spending decreased 7.6% from last year to $987,446. R&D expenses remain at approximately 7% of sales.

Other income was $16,731 in the third quarter compared to $75,152 in the third quarter of the prior year. The decrease was the result of slightly lower investment income and the impact of the unfavorable change in foreign exchange rates on payments denominated in foreign currencies.

During the quarter ended October 29, 2005 the Company recognized an income tax benefit of $177,000. The quarter’s income tax benefit includes 1) an income tax expense of $184,000 which equals an effective tax rate of 37% on the current quarter’s pre-tax income and 2) the $361,000 reversal of tax reserves related to the favorable resolution of certain income tax examinations. This compares to an income tax expense of $29,000, equaling an effective tax rate of 36% on the quarter’s pre-tax income recorded during the quarter ended October 30, 2004.

The Company reports three reporting segments consistent with its sales product groups: Test & Measurement (T&M), QuickLabel Systems (QLS) and Grass-Telefactor (G-T). The Company evaluates segment performance based on the segment profit (loss) before corporate and financial administration expenses.

Summarized below are the sales and segment operating profit for each reporting segment for three-months ended October 29, 2005 and October 30, 2004:

	Sales				Segment Operating Profit
	October 29, 2005		October 30, 2004		October 29, 2005		October 30, 2004
T&M	$	3,173,000	$	2,554,000	$	36,000	$	(276,000	)
Quicklabel		7,113,000		6,931,000		746,000		691,000
G-T		4,169,000		3,761,000		427,000		242,000
Total	$	14,455,000	$	13,246,000		1,209,000		657,000
Corporate Expenses						730,000		651,000
Operating Income						479,000		6,000
Other Income, Net						17,000		75,000
Income Before Income Taxes						496,000		81,000
Income Tax Benefit (Provision)						178,000		(29,000	)
Net Income					$	674,000	$	52,000

12

ASTRO-MED, INC.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Results of Operations (continued):

Three-Months Ended October 29, 2005 vs. Three-Months Ended October 30, 2004

Test & Measurement

T&M’s sales were $3,173,000 for the quarter compared to $2,554,000 for the same quarter in the prior year. Sales for the quarter were driven by higher Dash Series and Ruggedized Product sales. Consumable sales were comparable with the prior year. Service and other sales were higher than the prior year as a result of an increase in the sale of parts. As an outgrowth of a higher sales and favorable product mix, T&M achieved higher gross margins and operating profits when compared to the prior year.

Quicklabel Systems

Quicklabel sales were $7,113,000 for the quarter compared to $6,931,000 for the same quarter in the prior year. The increase of $182,000, or 2.6% was driven by a 10.0% increase in consumable sales, tempered by lower hardware sales. Service and Other sales were down slightly from the prior year. Operating profit margins increased slightly to 10.5% from 9.9% in the prior year.

Grass-Telefactor

G-T sales were $4,169,000 for the quarter compared to $3,761,000 for the same quarter in the prior year. The increase of $408,000, or 10.8% was driven by increased hardware sales in sleep systems (PSG) and long term monitoring systems (LTM), as well as continued growth in the Company’s consumable products. Operating profit margins increased to 10.2% from 6.4% as a result of the higher sales and improved gross margins resulting from product mix.

Nine-Months Ended October 29, 2005 vs. Nine-Months Ended October 30, 2004

	October 29, 2005		Sales as a % of Total Sales		October 30, 2004		Sales as a % of Total Sales		% Increase (Decrease) Over Prior Year
T&M	$	8,423,000	19.4	%	$	8,135,000	19.6	%	3.5	%
QuickLabel		21,766,000	50.2	%		21,132,000	50.9	%	3.0	%
G-T		13,107,000	30.4	%		12,211,000	29.5	%	7.3	%
Total	$	43,296,000	100.0	%	$	41,478,000	100.0	%	4.0	%

Sales for the first nine-months of the current year were $43,296,000, a 4.0% increase over the $41,478,000 from the first nine-months of the prior year. Profiling the product groups has T&M sales up 3.5% compared to the prior year as a result of higher Dash Series and Ruggedized Product sales offset by lower aerospace orders for the Everest telemetry workstations. Quicklabel sales rose 3.0% lead by healthy demand for consumable products. G-T sales were up 7.3% as shipments of clinical products, as well as demand for consumable products, account for the increment. Sales through our domestic channel were $30,205,858, up 3.6% from the prior year sales of $29,143,014. Sales through the Company’s international channels were $13,090,776, up 6.1% over previous year’s sales of $12,335,296. Excluding the $236,408 favorable impact of the change in foreign exchange rates, international sales were up 4.2% from the prior year.

Hardware and software system sales increased 1.1% to $20,320,441 from the prior year sales of $20,096,866. The nominal increase is due to a combination of sales growth for T&M’s Dash Series and Ruggedized Products lines, as well as G-T clinical product lines tempered by lower sales volume in the Everest Series workstations and the QLS printer lines.

Consumable sales increased 9.8% to $19,235,482 from the prior year sales of $17,517,850 as a result of strong demand for Quicklabel media and G-T electrodes.

Service and other revenue was $3,740,711 down 3.1% from the prior year as a result of lower part sales for the year.

Gross profit dollars were $17,802,646, generating a margin percentage of 41.1% for the first nine-months of the current year as compared to a margin percentage of 40.6% for the first nine-months of the prior year. The higher margin percentage of this year can be attributed to the change in sales mix for each product group.

Operating expenses for the nine-months were $15,902,450, an increase of 6.0% from the prior year operating expenses of $15,006,412. Selling and general administrative spending was up 8.0% from last year to $12,970,531. The increase in selling and general administrative spending can be attributed to the increases in field sales personnel, increases in advertising and tradeshow expenses and the impact of changes in foreign exchange rates. Research and development spending was $2,931,919, down slightly from the prior year. R&D expenses remain at approximately 7% of sales.

Other income was $218,981 for the nine-months compared to $195,054 in the first nine-months of the prior year. The increase was the result of the effect of the change in foreign exchange rates on payments denominated in foreign currencies, partially offset by lower investment income.

13

ASTRO-MED, INC.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Results of Operations (continued):

Nine-Months Ended October 29, 2005 vs. Nine-Months Ended October 30, 2004

During the nine months ended October 29, 2005, the Company’s effective tax rate was 20%. The effective tax rate includes 1) an income tax expense of $783,000 which equals an effective tax rate of 37% on the period’s pre-tax income and 2) the $361,000 reversal of tax reserves related to the favorable resolution of certain income tax examinations. This compares to an effective tax rate of 1% recorded during the nine months ended October 30, 2004. During the nine months ended October 30, 2004, the Company recorded 1) an income tax expense of $740,000 which equals an effective tax rate of 36% on the period’s pre-tax income and 2) a $939,000 non-cash tax benefit related to the release of the valuation allowance on the net deferred tax asset that was established in fiscal year 2003. In fiscal year 2003 the Company established a full valuation allowance on its net deferred tax asset as a result of the uncertainty as to whether these deferred tax assets would “more likely than not” be realized in the future. Based on the facts and circumstances at that time, it was determined that a full valuation allowance was required and it was stated that until an appropriate level of profitability could be sustained no tax benefits would be realized. As of the first quarter of fiscal year 2005, Management believed that an appropriate level of profitability has been established and maintained and it is more likely than not the deferred tax assets will be realized in the future.

Summarized below are the sales and segment operating profit (loss) for each reporting segment for the nine-months ended October 29, 2005 and October 30, 2004:

	Sales				Segment Operating Profit (Loss)
	October 29, 2005		October 30, 2004		October 29, 2005			October 30, 2004
T&M	$	8,423,000	$	8,135,000	$	161,000		$	(65,000	)
QLS		21,766,000		21,132,000		2,156,000			2,711,000
G-T		13,107,000		12,211,000		1,817,000			1,321,000
Total	$	43,296,000	$	41,478,000		4,134,000			3,967,000
Corporate Expenses						2,234,000			2,108,000
Operating Income						1,900,000			1,859,000
Other Income, Net						216,000			195,000
Income Before Income Taxes.						2,116,000			2,054,000
Income Tax (Provision) Benefit						(422,000	)		199,000
Net Income					$	1,694,000		$	2,253,000

14

ASTRO-MED, INC.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Results of Operations (continued):

Nine-Months Ended October 29, 2005 vs. Nine-Months Ended October 30, 2004 (Continued)

Test & Measurement

T&M sales were $8,423,000 for the first nine months compared to $8,135,000 for the first nine-months of the prior year. The increase in sales was driven by increases within the Dash Series and Ruggedized Products, tempered by lower Everest workstation sales. As an outgrowth of favorable product mix and higher sales T&M was able to improve its operating profits compared to the prior year.

Quicklabel Systems

Quicklabel sales were $21,766,000 for the first nine-months compared to $21,132,000 for the first nine-months of the prior year. The increase in sales was driven by a 10% increase in consumable product sales. Printer shipments were somewhat lower than the prior year. Quicklabel operating profits decreased from the prior year as a result of higher personnel expenses and travel and trade show expenses. Also in the prior year’s operating profit was a $300,000 non-recurring engineering fee from an OEM contract.

Grass-Telefactor

The growth in G-T sales is traceable to increases in clinical products and consumables. Specifically, demand for sleep systems was especially strong, up 29%, and demand for long term monitoring systems, up 18%, while the consumable electrode products also grew 22% from the prior year. Operating profit margins increased to 13.8% from 10.8% as a result of the increase in sales and lower operating expenses compared to the prior year.

Financial Condition:

The Company’s Statements of Cash Flows for the nine-months ended October 29, 2005 and October 29, 2004 are included on page 5. Net cash flow provided by operating activities for the nine-months ended October 29, 2005 and October 30, 2004 were $1,043,981 and $2,079,158 respectively. The decrease from the prior year is traceable to an increase in accounts receivable driven by higher sales towards the end of the quarter in the current year compared to the current quarter in the prior year.

Cash and securities available for sale at the end of the third quarter totaled $13,747,195, down from $13,983,026 at year-end. Accounts receivable increased to $10,127,783 compared to $9,351,704 at year-end. The accounts receivable collection cycle slowed by 5 days to 63 net days sales outstanding at the end of the quarter as compared to the 58 net days outstanding at year-end. Inventory increased to $9,553,380 compared to $9,364,279 at year-end. Net inventory turns were 3.6 at the end of the quarter comparable to 3.6 times at year-end.

Capital expenditures were $816,959 for the nine-months ended October 29, 2005 as the Company purchased machinery and equipment, information technology, tools and dies.

The Company paid cash dividends for the nine-months ended October 29, 2005 of $635,657 or $0.12 per common share.

On June 17, 2005, the Company entered into an agreement with Hanover R.S. Limited Partnership, a Texas limited partnership (the “Purchaser”) for the sale of approximately 24.692 acres of land located in Braintree, Massachusetts owned by the Company (the “Property) for the purchase price of $6,100,000 to be paid in cash at the closing. The sale of the Property was subject to a 90 day feasibility period which ended on September 17, 2005, during which time the Purchaser could inspect the property and terminate the sale due to any adverse conditions discovered on the Property. With the successful completion of the feasibility period, the Purchaser has 16 months to obtain final zoning and site plan approval from all state and local governmental entities for use of the Property as a multi-family residential rental property, subject to two 30 day extensions exercisable at the option of the Purchaser upon payment to the Company of $25,000 per extension.

Upon execution of the agreement, $250,000 of earnest money was placed in escrow pending completion of the sale and an additional $250,000 was placed in escrow at the expiration of the feasibility period. Following the feasibility period, all such earnest money is forfeited by the Purchaser in the event that the sale is not completed due to a breach by the Purchaser.

As of October 29, 2005 the Purchaser has placed a total of $500,000 in escrow pending the completion of the sale. This amount is recorded as both an Other Long Term Asset and a Long Term Liability on the balance sheet of the Company. In the event that this transaction is completed, the company would recognize an estimated pre-tax gain of approximately $5,400,000.

15

Critical Accounting Policies, Commitments and Certain Other Matters:

In the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2005, the Company’s most critical accounting policies and estimates upon which our financial status depends were identified as those relating to revenue recognition, warranty claims, bad debt, customer returns, inventories and long-lived assets. We considered the disclosure requirements of Financial Release (“FR”) 60 (“FR-60”) regarding critical accounting policies and FR-61, as amended by FR-67, regarding liquidity and capital resources, certain trading activities and related party/certain other disclosures, and concluded that nothing materially changed during the quarter that would warrant further disclosure under these releases.

Safe Harbor Statement

This document contains forward-looking statements based on current expectations that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated include, but are not limited to, general economic, financial and business conditions; declining demand in the test and measurement markets, especially defense and aerospace; competition in the specialty printer industry; ability to develop market acceptance of the QLS color printer products and effective design of customer required features; competition in the data acquisition industry; competition in the neurophysiology industry; the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates on the results of operations; the ability to successfully integrate acquisitions; the business abilities and judgment of personnel and changes in business strategy.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk

The Company’s exposure to market risk has not changed materially from its exposure at January 31, 2005 as set forth in Item 7A in its Form 10K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2005.

Item 4 Controls and Procedures

As required by Rule 13a-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), the Company conducted an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Chairman of the Board (serving as the principal executive officer) and the Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Financial Officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures are effective in ensuring that all information required to be disclosed in reports that the Company files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms. There was no significant change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

16

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 6. Exhibits

The following exhibits are filed as part of this report on Form 10-Q:

31.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)
31.2	Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)
32.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) and 18 U.S.C. 1350
32.2	Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) and 18 U.S.C. 1350

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

	ASTRO-MED, INC.
	(Registrant)
Date: December 9, 2005	By	/s/ A. W. Ondis
		A. W. Ondis, Chairman
		(Principal Executive Officer)
Date: December 9, 2005	By	/s/ Joseph P. O’Connell
		Joseph P. O’Connell,
		Vice President and Treasurer
		(Principal Financial Officer)