Standard Motor Products Announces First Quarter 2019 Results and a Quarterly Dividend
Standard Motor Products, Inc. (NYSE: SMP) reported today its consolidated financial results for the three months ending March 31, 2019.
Consolidated net sales for the first quarter of 2019 were $283.8 million, compared to consolidated net sales of $261.8 million during the comparable quarter in 2018. Earnings from continuing operations for the first quarter of 2019 were $13.1 million or 57 cents per diluted share, compared to $8.6 million or 37 cents per diluted share in the first quarter of 2018.
Excluding non-operational gains and losses identified on the attached reconciliation of GAAP and non-GAAP measures, earnings from continuing operations for the first quarter of 2019 were $13.1 million or 57 cents per diluted share, compared to $10.5 million or 46 cents per diluted share in the first quarter of 2018.
Mr. Eric P. Sills, Standard Motor Products’ Chief Executive Officer and President stated, “We are pleased with our first quarter, showing gains in sales and earnings, with strong performance in both of our operating divisions.
“Engine Management sales were up 6.9%. The wire and cable portion was down 3.3%. The nonwire portion of engine management was up 9.3%, benefitting from pipeline orders, the passthrough of tariff costs, an uptick in OE business, and a general improvement in market conditions. Meanwhile, our customer POS remains in the low single digits, which tends to be a better indicator of long term trends.
“Engine Management gross margin was down 30 basis points, attributable to the tariffs being passed through to customers at our cost. We are pleased to announce that the expenses related to the integration of the General Cable wire business are now largely behind us.
“As expected, our Temperature Control sales rebounded nicely, up 14.4%. While a portion of this was attributable to tariff pass-through, the majority was the result of strong pre-season orders as customers rebuilt their shelf inventory after a strong 2018 selling season. That said, while we are obviously pleased with the quarter, the year will still depend on what happens in the summer months.
“Temperature Control gross margin improved 80 basis points, and, as with Engine Management, were dampened due to tariffs being passed through at our cost. As previously discussed, within SG&A, we are anticipating improvements in our distribution expense as we fully implement our new warehouse automation.
“Finally, as previously announced, on April 1st we completed the acquisition of the Pollak business of Stoneridge, Inc. Although we are still in our first month, we are pleased with what we have seen, and believe it will be an excellent fit for SMP. We will be relocating the acquired production lines to existing facilities over the course of the next year, and expect significant savings once integrated into SMP. In addition, we see future potential as we increase our presence in the heavy duty and commercial vehicle markets.”
The Board of Directors has approved payment of a quarterly dividend of 23 cents per share on the common stock outstanding. The dividend will be paid on June 3, 2019 to stockholders of record on May 15, 2019.
Standard Motor Products, Inc. will hold a conference call at 11:00 AM, Eastern Time, on Tuesday, April 30, 2019. The dial-in number is 877-876-9176 (domestic) or 785-424-1670 (international). The playback number is 800-925-9416 (domestic) or 402-220-5387 (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.