Titan International Inc. announces second quarter revenue and performance results.
Second quarter highlights:
- Sales for second quarter 2014 were $523.7 million down 11.7%, compared to $593.3 million in the second quarter of 2013.
- Gross profit decreased 74.0% for second quarter 2014 to $22.6 million or 4.3% of net sales, compared to $86.7 million in second quarter 2013, or 14.6% of net sales. The decrease is primarily the result of the asset impairment charge of $23.2 million and inventory writedown of $11.6 million, both related to the global mining downturn.
- Loss from operations in the second quarter 2014 was $(29.5) million compared to $36.9 million last year.
- Adjusted net income for the second quarter was $1.7 million, compared to $13.7 million in the second quarter of last year.
- Adjusted basis earnings per share for the second quarter 2014 and 2013 were $0.03 and $0.26respectively, and adjusted fully diluted earnings per share were $0.03 and $0.24 respectively.
Statement of Chief Executive Officer:
CEO and Chairman, Maurice Taylor comments, "Our second quarter results show that while there are areas of strength, the overall business is impacted by slower demand. Demand for our agriculture, earthmoving and mining products have declined as a result of the uncertainty in the markets.
"Titan's new management team is aggressively reducing cost and adjusting manpower to the current business levels. The impairment charge and inventory writedown is attributed to Titan's super giant mining products. These non cash charges are the first step in our transition to make the factory a $250 million operation producing specialized tires for construction, earthmoving and mining segments with operating profit targets of 20%. I had previously announced the maximum revenue potential of our mining tire plant in Bryan, OH was between $500 and $600 million, however, in light of the global downturn in the mining sector, we plan to realign our strategy to market demand. The management of the Bryan facility is moving to bring the operation into a profitable position."
Taylor adds, "Innovation is critical in a downward market cycle and Titan has leveraged its entrepreneurship to grow the business. Titan's new LSW tires and wheels are now being offered as an option for tractors, sprayers and combines by major OEMs. Titan has established test sites at 180 farms for LSW tires and wheels, which I believe the time and investment will be repaid in the near future. We expect this business to gain traction and expand into all our regions in the next 3 to 4 years. You can visit Titan's website, lswadvantage.com, to see the testimonials of end users who have experience with this new product. The expanded Grizz Squad marketing team will also begin calling on larger construction contractors in addition to farmers."
MARKET OUTLOOK:
"The oil sands are having a positive impact in the mining sector. This past month Titan announced the signing of a 10 year agreement with Suncor on the new process of TVR (Thermo Vacuum Reactor) which will recycle used OTR tires into 500 gallons of bio oil, carbon black and steel. Titan will continue to expand its Titan Mining Service business in efforts to grow our tire, wheel and track business.
"The farm outlook today is weak from many viewpoints, however, we believe this is a short term pause in the cycle. The large equipment purchases in the farming sector have declined double digits and tire prices have fallen due to lower raw material costs that we are required to pass on contractually to OEMs which negatively impacts our financial performance. Inventory at dealerships remains high but is trending lower each month.
"ITM, which is Titan's track business, has been challenged due to recessed construction and mining markets. ITM's steel foundry in Spain has just entered into an agreement in principle to provide railroad cast steel brakes. These engineered cast steel products means an expansion to the Spain facilities.
"Titan Russia experienced weaker sales levels than anticipated due to the overall economic factors. In the second half of 2014, we will spend more time on our international facilities. The quality of our tires in Russia is improving and chemical inputs have been modified to reach European acceptance. As we build more effective relationships with the Russian team and customers, we expect to realize the untapped potential in this facility.
"We have a lot to look forward to in the future amidst challenging conditions in our markets. Our passion for this business will continue to drive positive change."
Financial Summary:
Sales: Net sales for the quarter ended June 30, 2014, were $523.7 million compared to $593.3 million in 2013, a decrease of 11.7%. Sales decreased 14.0% as the result of price/mix reductions driven from decreased demand for our products used in the mining industry and larger agricultural products. In addition, overall volume decreased 2.0%. The decrease in net sales was offset by the inclusion of the recently acquired Voltyre-Prom business which recorded $25.0 million in sales, and increased sales 4.0%.
Net sales for the six months ended June 30, 2014, were $1,062.7 million compared to $1,171.7 million in 2013, a decrease of 9.3%. Sales decreased 13.0% as the result of price/mix reductions driven from decreased demand for our products used in the mining industry and larger agricultural products. Unfavorable currency translation decreased sales by 1.0%. The decrease in net sales was offset by the inclusion of the recently acquired Voltyre-Prom business which recorded $54.6 million in sales, and increased sales 5.0%. Volume was flat.
Mining Asset Impairment and Inventory Writedown: In the second quarter of 2014, the company recorded an asset impairment and inventory writedown of $23.2 million and $11.6 million, respectively. The impairment was recorded on machinery, equipment and molds used to produce giant mining tires. Mining products are included in the company's earthmoving/construction segment. In the second quarter of 2014, several large mining equipment manufacturers significantly decreased their sales forecast for mining equipment. The company's sales of mining product were deteriorating at an accelerated pace. Therefore, the company tested mining related assets for impairment in the second quarter of 2014. The fair value of the mining equipment was determined using a cost and market approach. The inventory writedown was to adjust the value of mining product inventory to estimated market value.
Gross profit: Gross profit for the second quarter of 2014 was $22.6 million, or 4.3% of net sales, compared to $86.7 million, or 14.6% of net sales for the second quarter of 2013. Gross profit and income from operations decreased primarily as a result of a significant decrease in demand for our products used in the mining industry, which generate higher margins. Decreased demand for larger products used in the agricultural market also had a negative impact on gross profit. Gross profit for the first six months of 2014 was $77.1 millionor 7.3% of net sales, compared to $183.4 million, or 15.7% of net sales in 2013.
Excluding the impairment and inventory writedown mentioned above, gross profit for the second quarter would have been 11.0% and 10.5% year to date, respectively.
Warranty Expense: The provision for warranty liability was $9.4 million at June 30, 2014 or 0.9% of sales compared to $24.1 million at June 30, 2013 or 2.0% of sales.
Selling, general and administrative expenses: Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses for the second quarter of 2014 were $45.0 million, or 8.6% of net sales, compared to $43.7 million, or 7.4% of net sales, for 2013. Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2014 were $91.8 million, or 8.6% of net sales, compared to $86.1 million, or 7.3% of net sales, for 2013. The higher SG&A expenses were primarily the result of approximately $9 million of SG&A expenses from recently acquired facilities, offset by a decrease in incentive compensation and reduction in bad debt expense.
Income (loss) from operations: Loss from operations for the second quarter of 2014, was $(29.5) million, or (5.6) percent of net sales, compared to $36.9 million, or 6.2% of net sales, in 2013. This decrease was the net result of the items previously discussed.
Interest expense: Interest expense was $8.9 million and $13.1 million for the quarters ended June 30, 2014, and 2013, respectively. Year-to-date interest expense was $18.2 million and $23.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014, and 2013, respectively.
Earnings per share: For the quarters ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, basic earnings per share were $(.38) and $0.43, respectively, and diluted earnings per share were $(.38) and $0.40, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, basic earnings per share were $(.34) and $0.81, respectively, and diluted earnings per share were $(.34) and $0.74, respectively. On an adjusted basis basic earnings per share for the quarter ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 were $0.03 and $0.26, respectively, and diluted earnings per share were $0.03 and $0.24 respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, basic earnings per share were $0.07 and $0.70, respectively, and diluted earnings per share were $0.07and $0.65, respectively.
Capital expenditures: Titan's capital expenditures were $14.1 million for the second quarter of 2014 and $14.9 million in the second quarter 2013. Year-to-date expenditures were $30.9 million for 2014 compared to $36.1 million for 2013.
Debt balance: Total long-term debt balance was $501.5 million at June 30, 2014 compared to $497.7 million on December 31, 2013. Short-term debt balance was $26.5 million at June 30, 2014, and $75.1 million at December 31, 2013. Net debt (debt less cash and investments) was $365.0 million at June 30, 2014, compared to $369.1 million at December 31, 2013.
Equity balance: The company's equity was $765.6 million at June 30, 2014, compared to $798.0 million atDecember 31, 2013.
