2008-03-11 00:00:00.0: Standard Motor Products, Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter 2007 Results at InternetAutoGuide.com

Standard Motor Products, Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter 2007 Re...

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Standard Motor Products, Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter 2007 Results - Auto News from March 11, 2008

NEW YORK, March 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Standard Motor Products, Inc. , an automotive replacement parts manufacturer and distributor, reported today its consolidated financial results for the three months and for the year ended December 31, 2007.

Consolidated net sales for the fourth quarter of 2007 were $167.3 million, compared to consolidated net sales of $169 million during the comparable quarter in 2006. Losses from continuing operations for the fourth quarter of 2007 were $7.9 million or 43 cents per diluted share, compared to a loss of $1.5 million or 8 cents per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2006. Excluding restructuring expenses for previously announced facility moves and the loss from our divestiture of our European Temperature Control business in 2006, losses from continuing operations for the fourth quarter 2007 were $3.6 million or 19 cents per diluted share compared to earnings in the fourth quarter 2006 of $2.6 million or 14 cents per diluted share.

Consolidated net sales for 2007 were $790.2 million, compared to consolidated net sales of $812 million during the comparable period in 2006. Earnings from continuing operations for 2007 were $5.4 million or 29 cents per diluted share, compared to $9.2 million or 50 cents per diluted share in 2006. Excluding restructuring expenses for previously announced facility moves, a gain from the sale of our Ft. Worth, Texas building in 2007 and the loss from our divestiture of our European Temperature Control business in 2006, earnings from continuing operations for 2007 and 2006 were $11.4 million or 61 cents per diluted share and $13.9 million or 76 cents per diluted share, respectively.

Commenting on the results, Mr. Lawrence I. Sills, Standard Motor Products' Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We are obviously disappointed in our fourth quarter results. The primary culprit was heavy stock returns in Engine Management, which came in at the very end of the year. These returns lowered our Engine Management net sales for the quarter (Engine Management gross sales before deductions for the quarter were approximately $5 million ahead of the comparable quarter in 2006). More important, they reduced our Engine Management gross margin for the quarter to 21.7% and to 25.6% for the full year.

"There were two main components of these returns. First were heavy returns from key accounts, as many in the distribution channel looked to reduce their stock levels going into 2008. Second, were returns generated as we implemented a brand change for two major customers.

"Despite the poor fourth quarter, the annual figure of 25.6% gross margin for Engine Management represents a one point improvement over 2006, primarily the result of aggressive cost reductions and additional manufacturing savings. We are confident of achieving our stated target of 27-28% gross margin for Engine Management once the previously announced plant moves to Mexico are complete.

"In Temperature Control, earlier in the year we reduced prices in response to low price imports from China. We have instituted further price reductions in 2008, but we anticipate these will be offset as we continue to shift compressor production to Mexico.

"Looking to 2008, sales for the first two months are holding up satisfactorily. Further we will have a full year's benefit of new OES volume gained during 2007. We will also see cost reductions from the plant moves to Mexico, though the full benefit will not be felt until 2009. All moves are on or ahead of schedule.

"We recently concluded an agreement with Continental to acquire a portion of their OE/OES business. We will be purchasing equipment and inventory for various sensor lines from their factory in upstate New York and relocating it to our Independence, KS facility. Annual volumes are approximately $10-15 million, and we plan to begin shipments in the latter part of 2008. Customers include a wide range of car manufacturers, both domestic and import, for use in their service operations. We believe that OES is a major opportunity for us, and this is a good step in that direction."

Standard Motor Products, Inc. will hold a conference call at 11:00 AM, Eastern Time, on Tuesday, March 11, 2008. The dial in number is 800-895-1085 (domestic) or 785-424-1055 (international). The playback number is 800-723-0488 (domestic) or 402-220-2651 (international). The conference ID # is STANDARD.

Under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Standard Motor Products cautions investors that any forward-looking statements made by the company, including those that may be made in this press release, are based on management's expectations at the time they are made, but they are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, events or performance to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward looking statements. Among the factors that could cause actual results, events or performance to differ materially from those risks and uncertainties discussed in this press release are those detailed from time-to-time in prior press releases and in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the company's annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. By making these forward-looking statements, Standard Motor Products undertakes no obligation or intention to update these statements after the date of this release.



                        STANDARD MOTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
                    Consolidated Statements of Operations

    (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

                                 THREE MONTHS ENDED      TWELVE MONTHS ENDED
                                    DECEMBER 31,             DECEMBER 31,
                                  2007        2006         2007        2006


    NET SALES                   $167,251    $169,019     $790,185    $812,024

    COST OF SALES                128,182     123,067      587,910     606,803

    GROSS PROFIT                  39,069      45,952      202,275     205,221

    SELLING, GENERAL &
     ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES      40,034      41,228      168,950     168,050
    RESTRUCTURING EXPENSES         7,066       1,028       10,933       1,856

    OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)       (8,031)      3,696       22,392      35,315

    OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE),
     NET                             971      (2,363)       3,881        (383)

    INTEREST EXPENSE               4,103       4,449       18,044      19,275

    EARNINGS (LOSS) FROM
     CONTINUING OPERATIONS
     BEFORE TAXES                (11,163)     (3,116)       8,229      15,657

    INCOME TAX EXPENSE
     (BENEFIT)                    (3,220)     (1,643)       2,798       6,494

    EARNINGS (LOSS) FROM
     CONTINUING OPERATIONS        (7,943)     (1,473)       5,431       9,163

    DISCONTINUED OPERATION,
     NET OF TAX                     (380)       (355)      (3,156)        248

    NET EARNINGS (LOSS)          $(8,323)    $(1,828)      $2,275      $9,411



    NET EARNINGS (LOSS) PER
     COMMON SHARE:

       BASIC EARNINGS (LOSS)
        FROM CONTINUING
        OPERATIONS                $(0.43)     $(0.08)       $0.29       $0.50
       DISCONTINUED OPERATION      (0.02)      (0.02)      $(0.17)       0.01
       NET EARNINGS (LOSS) PER
        COMMON SHARE - BASIC      $(0.45)     $(0.10)       $0.12       $0.51


       DILUTED EARNINGS (LOSS)
        FROM CONTINUING
        OPERATIONS                $(0.43)     $(0.08)       $0.29       $0.50
       DISCONTINUED OPERATION      (0.02)      (0.02)       (0.17)       0.01
       NET EARNINGS (LOSS) PER
        COMMON SHARE - DILUTED    $(0.45)     $(0.10)       $0.12       $0.51


    WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER
     OF COMMON SHARES         18,296,957  18,336,891   18,530,548  18,283,707
    WEIGHTED AVERAGENUMBER
     OF COMMON AND DILUTIVE
     SHARES                   18,344,564  18,459,914   18,586,532  18,325,175



                           STANDARD MOTOR PRODUCTS
                    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                            (Dollars in thousands)

                                    ASSETS

                                             December 31,      December 31,
                                                 2007              2006

    Cash                                       $13,261           $22,348

    Accounts receivable, gross                 213,409           193,129
    Allowance for doubtful accounts              8,964             9,465
    Accounts receivable, net                   204,445           183,664

    Inventories                                252,277           233,970
    Assets held for sale                         5,373                 -
    Other current assets                        27,381            21,856

    Total current assets                       502,737           461,838

    Property, plant and equipment, net          71,775            80,091
    Goodwill and other intangibles              57,891            56,289
    Other assets                                45,689            41,874

    Total assets                              $678,092          $640,092

                     LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

    Notes payable                             $156,756          $139,799
    Current portion of long term debt              583               542
    Accounts payable trade                      64,384            53,783
    Accrued customer returns                    23,149            21,705
    Other current liabilities                   67,723            62,696

    Total current liabilities                  312,595           278,525

    Long-term debt                              97,972            97,979
    Accrued asbestos liability                  22,651            20,828
    Postretirement & other liabilities          56,510            52,061

    Total liabilities                          489,728           449,393

    Total stockholders' equity                 188,364           190,699

    Total liabilities and stockholders'
     equity                                   $678,092          $640,092



                        STANDARD MOTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
                 Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Measures

    (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

                                     THREE MONTHS ENDED    TWELVE MONTHS ENDED
                                          DECEMBER 31,         DECEMBER 31,
    EARNINGS (LOSS) FROM
     CONTINUING OPERATIONS             2007       2006       2007       2006
                                         (Unaudited)           (Unaudited)

    GAAP EARNINGS (LOSS) FROM
     CONTINUING OPERATIONS           $(7,943)   $(1,473)    $5,431     $9,163

    RESTRUCTURING EXPENSES
     (NET OF TAX)                      4,328        827      6,734      1,523

    LOSS FROM DIVESTITURE OF
     EUROPEAN TC BUSINESS                  -      3,209          -      3,209

    GAIN FROM SALE OF FT. WORTH,
     TEXAS BUILDING (NET OF TAX)           -          -       (740)         -

    NON-GAAP EARNINGS (LOSS) FROM
     CONTINUING OPERATIONS           $(3,615)    $2,563    $11,425    $13,895



    DILUTED EARNINGS (LOSS) PER
     SHARE FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS

    GAAP DILUTED EARNINGS (LOSS)
     PER SHARE FROM CONTINUING
     OPERATIONS                       $(0.43)    $(0.08)     $0.29      $0.50

    RESTRUCTURING EXPENSES              0.24       0.05       0.36       0.08

    LOSS FROM DIVESTITURE OF
     EUROPEAN TC BUSINESS                  -       0.17          -       0.18

    GAIN FROM SALE OF FT. WORTH,
     TEXAS BUILDING                        -          -      (0.04)         -

    NON-GAAP DILUTED EARNINGS (LOSS)
     PER SHARE FROM CONTINUING
     OPERATIONS                       $(0.19)     $0.14      $0.61      $0.76



    MANAGEMENT BELIEVES THAT EARNINGS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS AND DILUTED
    EARNINGS PER SHARE FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE SPECIAL ITEMS, WHICH
    ARE NON-GAAP MEASUREMENTS, ARE MEANINGFUL TO INVESTORS BECAUSE THEY
    PROVIDE A VIEW OF THE COMPANY WITH RESPECT TO ONGOING OPERATING RESULTS.
    SPECIAL ITEMS REPRESENT SIGNIFICANT CHARGES OR CREDITS THAT ARE IMPORTANT
    TO AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE COMPANY'S OVERALL OPERATING RESULTS IN THE
    PERIODS PRESENTED. SUCH NON-GAAP MEASUREMENTS ARE NOT RECOGNIZED IN
    ACCORDANCE WITH GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES AND SHOULD NOT BE
    VIEWED AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO GAAP MEASURES OF PERFORMANCE.

Standard Motor Products, Inc.
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