Mr. Abulaban continued, “Overall, I am pleased with our results and our progress in achieving our long-term value-creation initiatives. We look forward to continuing this momentum throughout 2021 as we leverage our differentiated technology portfolio to further position Superior for growth and deliver value to our shareholders, customers, and other stakeholders.”
Fourth Quarter Results
Net sales for the fourth quarter of 2020 were $338 million, compared to net sales of $310 million in the prior year period. Value-Added Sales, a non-GAAP financial measure, were $202 million for the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to $173 million in the prior year period. Value-Added Sales Adjusted for Foreign Exchange, a non-GAAP financial measure, increased 12%, or 11% above market, which was driven by the ongoing portfolio shift to larger diameter wheels with more premium content. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below and the reconciliation of consolidated net sales to Value-Added Sales and Value-Added Sales Adjusted for Foreign Exchange in this press release.
Gross profit for the fourth quarter of 2020 was $33 million, compared to $27 million in the prior year period. The increase in gross profit for the quarter was due to stronger product mix, which resulted in higher sales, and structural cost improvements, partially offset by operating costs associated with the virus of approximately $3 million.
Selling, general, and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses for the fourth quarter of 2020 were $16 million, compared to $17 million in the prior year period. The decrease in SG&A was driven by lower hiring and separation costs and other cost reduction initiatives.
Operating income for the fourth quarter of 2020 was $18 million, compared to a loss from operations of $92 million in the prior year period. The increase in operating income for the quarter was driven by the goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment incurred in the prior year period totaling $102 million, as well as higher gross profit and lower SG&A expenses in the fourth quarter of 2020 as discussed above.
The income tax provision for the fourth quarter of 2020 was $26 million on pre-tax income of $5 million. The tax provision for the quarter was primarily driven by a valuation allowance recorded against deferred tax assets in the U.S. This non-cash charge does not affect our ability to use these deferred tax assets to offset taxable income in future periods.
For the fourth quarter of 2020, the Company reported a net loss of $21 million, or a loss per diluted share of $1.16 including the impact of $0.19 per share loss from restructuring, change in fair value of preferred derivative, and net other items and the impact of $0.92 per share related to the valuation allowance on deferred tax assets as described above. This compares to a net loss of $99 million, or loss per diluted share of $4.25, in the fourth quarter of 2019. See “Impact of Acquisition, Restructuring, and Other Items on EPS” in this press release.
Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, was $47 million for the fourth quarter of 2020, or 23.2% of Value-Added Sales, which compares to $38 million, or 21.6% of Value-Added Sales, in the prior year period. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA was driven by stronger product mix, which resulted in higher sales, and structural cost improvements. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below and the reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA in this press release.
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