ELKHART, Ind., Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — LCI Industries (NYSE: LCII) (“LCI”, or the “Company”), through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Lippert Components, Inc., supplies domestically and internationally, a broad array of engineered components for the leading original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”) in the recreation and industrial product markets, and the related aftermarkets of those industries, today reported third quarter 2018 results. The Company also announced that its Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of up to $150 million worth of LCI’s common stock.

“We achieved nine percent sales growth in the third quarter, despite a 12 percent decline in RV wholesale shipments compared to the same quarter of the prior year,” said LCI’s CEO, Jason Lippert. “Our continued sales growth is reflective of our ongoing strategy to diversify our business into adjacent markets, the Aftermarket Segment and international sales, which now make up 34 percent of our last twelve months sales, up from 28 percent one year ago. October 2018 consolidated net sales are approximately $212 million, up one percent from October 2017, despite a slowing of RV OEM production levels as they continue to balance dealer inventory levels.”

“Our content per travel trailer and fifth-wheel increased nine percent year-over-year, and our content per motorhome increased 15 percent year-over-year, representing our fourth straight year of double-digit content growth for motorhomes,” said Scott Mereness, LCI’s President. “We continue to manage costs in today’s volatile commodity environment with cost pressures driven by tariffs and tariff speculation.”

Third Quarter 2018 Results

Consolidated net sales for the third quarter of 2018 were $604 million, a nine percent increase over 2017 third quarter net sales of $555 million. Net income in the third quarter of 2018 was $33.8 million, or $1.33 per diluted share, compared to net income of $32.1 million, or $1.26 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2017.

The increase in year-over-year net sales reflects growth in the Company’s adjacent industries OEM, aftermarket and international markets, despite the short-term correction in recreational vehicle (“RV”) OEM wholesale shipments as dealers normalize their inventory levels. Net sales from acquisitions completed by the Company over the twelve months ended September 30, 2018, contributed $56 million in the third quarter of 2018.

The Company’s content per travel trailer and fifth-wheel RV for the twelve months ended September 30, 2018, increased $284 to $3,456, compared to the twelve months ended September 30, 2017, of $3,172. The Company’s content per motorhome RV for the twelve months ended September 30, 2018, increased $328 to $2,480, compared to the twelve months ended September 30, 2017, of $2,152. The content increases are a result of organic growth, including new product introductions, as well as acquisitions.

Income Taxes

The Company’s effective tax rate was 23 percent for the quarter ended September 30, 2018, compared to 33 percent for the quarter ended September 30, 2017. The decrease in effective tax rate was driven by the newly enacted tax rates from the Tax Cut and Jobs Act.

Balance Sheet and Other Items

At September 30, 2018, the Company’s cash and cash equivalents balance was $18 million, a decrease of $8 million from its balance of $26 million at the beginning of the year. The Company generated cash flow from operations of $108 million and invested $93 million in capital expenditures for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. Other cash outflows included $157 million for acquisitions and $44 million for dividend payments to shareholders, and were funded primarily by net borrowings of $190 million on the Company’s line of credit for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The Company’s outstanding debt was $244 million at September 30, 2018.

Stock Repurchase Program

The Company announced today that its Board of Directors has authorized a new $150 million stock repurchase program over the next three years.

“This repurchase program demonstrates the Board of Directors’ and senior management’s continued confidence in LCI’s long-term strategy and future performance. Our strong operating cash flows, balance sheet and borrowing capacity allow us to maintain a balanced capital allocation strategy, which includes investments in future growth, potential acquisitions, research and development, debt repayments and providing returns to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases,” said Lippert.

The timing of stock repurchases and the number of shares will depend upon the market conditions and other factors. Share repurchases, if any, will be made in the open market and in privately negotiated transactions in accordance with applicable securities laws. The stock repurchase program may be modified, suspended or terminated at any time by the Board of Directors. Repurchases under the stock repurchase program will be funded from the Company’s existing cash and cash equivalents, future cash flows and its existing revolving line of credit.

Conference Call & Webcast

LCI will provide an online, real-time webcast of its third quarter 2018 earnings conference call on the Company’s website, www.lci1.com/investors, on Thursday, November 1, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time.

Institutional investors can access the call via the password-protected site, StreetEvents (www.streetevents.com). A replay of the call will be available for two weeks by dialing (855) 859-2056 and referencing access code 2787049. A replay of the webcast will also be available on LCI’s website until the next quarterly conference call.

About LCI Industries

From over 65 manufacturing and distribution facilities located throughout the United States and in Canada, Ireland, Italy, and the United Kingdom, LCI Industries, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Lippert Components Inc., supplies, domestically and internationally, a broad array of engineered components for the leading original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”) in the recreation and industrial product markets, consisting of recreational vehicles (“RVs”) and adjacent industries, including buses; trailers used to haul boats, livestock, equipment, and other cargo; trucks; boats; trains; manufactured homes; and modular housing. The Company also supplies components to the related aftermarkets of these industries primarily by selling to retail dealers, wholesale distributors, and service centers. LCI’s products include steel chassis and related components; axles and suspension solutions; slide-out mechanisms and solutions; thermoformed bath, kitchen, and other products; vinyl, aluminum, and frameless windows; manual, electric, and hydraulic stabilizer and leveling systems; furniture and mattresses; entry, luggage, patio, and ramp doors; electric and manual entry steps; awnings and awning accessories; electronic components; televisions and sound systems; navigation systems; backup cameras; appliances; and other accessories. Additional information about LCI and its products can be found at www.lci1.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain “forward-looking statements” with respect to our financial condition, results of operations, business strategies, operating efficiencies or synergies, competitive position, growth opportunities, acquisitions, plans and objectives of management, markets for the Company’s common stock and other matters. Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” for the purpose of the safe harbor provided by Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and involve a number of risks and uncertainties.

Forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, those relating to our future business prospects, net sales, expenses and income (loss), cash flow, and financial condition, whenever they occur in this press release are necessarily estimates reflecting the best judgment of the Company’s senior management at the time such statements were made. There are a number of factors, many of which are beyond the Company’s control, which could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, in addition to other matters described in this press release, pricing pressures due to domestic and foreign competition, costs and availability of raw materials (particularly steel and aluminum) and other components, seasonality and cyclicality in the industries to which we sell our products, availability of credit for financing the retail and wholesale purchase of products for which we sell our components, inventory levels of retail dealers and manufacturers, availability of transportation for products for which we sell our components, the financial condition of our customers, the financial condition of retail dealers of products for which we sell our components, retention and concentration of significant customers, the costs, pace of and successful integration of acquisitions and other growth initiatives, availability and costs of production facilities and labor, employee benefits, employee retention, realization and impact of expansion plans, efficiency improvements and cost reductions, the disruption of business resulting from natural disasters or other unforeseen events, the successful entry into new markets, the costs of compliance with environmental laws, laws of foreign jurisdictions in which we operate, and increased governmental regulation and oversight, information technology performance and security, the ability to protect intellectual property, warranty and product liability claims or product recalls, interest rates, oil and gasoline prices, the impact of international, national and regional economic conditions and consumer confidence on the retail sale of products for which we sell our components, and other risks and uncertainties discussed more fully under the caption “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, and in the Company’s subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made, except as required by law.

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SOURCE LCI Industries