Bel Reports Second Quarter 2024 Results

Continued Gross Margin Performance with Sales Above Mid-Point of Expected Range

Provides Q3-24 Sales and Gross Margin Guidance

WEST ORANGE, N.J., July 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bel Fuse Inc. (NASDAQ:BELFA) today announced preliminary financial results for the second quarter of 2024.

Second Quarter 2024 Highlights

• Net sales of $133.2 million compared to $168.8 million in Q2-23
• Gross profit margin of 40.1%, up from 32.9% in Q2-23
• Net earnings of $18.8 million versus $27.8 million in Q2-23
• Adjusted EBITDA of $27.4 million (20.6% of sales) as compared to $28.6 million (17.0% of sales) in Q2-23
• Repurchased 126,552 shares of Bel stock at an aggregate cost of $7.9 million in Q2-24

"We are pleased with our second quarter results, with sales achieving the higher end of our guidance coupled with continued margin improvement," said Daniel Bernstein, President and CEO. "The factors contributing to the second quarter were as expected, with solid results within the commercial air, defense and rail end markets, which partially offset the lower volume of sales into our networking customers and distribution partners during the quarter as they continue to work through inventory on hand," concluded Mr. Bernstein.

Farouq Tuweiq, CFO, added "Consistent with our views expressed last quarter, we expect more positive momentum closer to the end of 2024. Our Magnetic Solutions segment, while down from Q2-23, showed modest recovery sequentially from the first quarter of this year which is a positive sign. On the distribution front, the consensus takeaway from an industry conference in May was encouraging, and indicated that the worst is behind us.

"Looking to the third quarter, in addition to the typical seasonal slowdown in Europe, we anticipate some downward pressure on our Power sales given recently-enacted trade restrictions on one of our former suppliers previously used for our Power segment, which had historically supported approximately $3 to $4 million per quarter of Bel's sales into the consumer end market. Given these factors, and continued softness in networking and distribution which we believe will continue until later in the year, we are expecting Q3-24 GAAP net sales in the range of $118 to $126 million with gross margins in the range of 34-36% based on information available as of today. The team remains focused on profitable top line growth to fuel Bel's future development and success" concluded Mr. Tuweiq.

Non-GAAP financial measures, such as Non-GAAP net earnings, Non-GAAP EPS, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, adjust corresponding GAAP measures for provision for/benefit from income taxes, interest expense, and depreciation and amortization, and also exclude, where applicable for the covered period presented in the financial statements, certain unusual or special items identified by management such as restructuring charges, gains/losses on sales of businesses and properties and liquidation of foreign subsidiary, and certain litigation costs. Non-GAAP adjusted net sales exclude expedite fee revenue. Please refer to the financial information included with this press release for reconciliations of GAAP financial measures to Non-GAAP financial measures and our explanation of why we present Non-GAAP financial measures.

Conference Call

Bel has scheduled a conference call for 8:30 a.m. ET on Thursday, July 25, 2024 to discuss these results. To participate in the conference call, investors should dial 877-407-0784, or 201-689-8560 if dialing internationally. The presentation will additionally be broadcast live over the Internet and will be available at https://ir.belfuse.com/events-and-presentations. The webcast will be available via replay for a period of at least 30 days at this same Internet address. For those unable to access the live call, a telephone replay will be available at 844-512-2921, or 412-317-6671 if dialing internationally, using access code 13747709 after 12:30 pm ET, also for 30 days.

About Bel

Bel (www.belfuse.com) designs, manufactures and markets a broad array of products that power, protect and connect electronic circuits. These products are primarily used in the networking, telecommunications, computing, general industrial, high-speed data transmission, military, commercial aerospace, transportation and eMobility industries. Bel's portfolio of products also finds application in the automotive, medical, broadcasting and consumer electronics markets. Bel's product groups include Magnetic Solutions (integrated connector modules, power transformers, power inductors and discrete components), Power Solutions and Protection (front-end, board-mount and industrial power products, module products and circuit protection), and Connectivity Solutions (expanded beam fiber optic, copper-based, RF and RJ connectors and cable assemblies). The Company operates facilities around the world.

Company Contact:

Farouq Tuweiq  

Chief Financial Officer  

[email protected]

Investor Contact:

Three Part Advisors

Jean Marie Young, Managing Director or Steven Hooser, Partner

631-418-4339

[email protected]; [email protected]

Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including but not limited to, our guidance for the third quarter of 2024, and our statements regarding our expectations for 2024 generally including anticipated financial performance, projections and trends for the remainder of the year and other future periods, and our statements regarding future events, performance, plans, intentions, beliefs, expectations and estimates, including statements regarding matters such as trends and expectations as to our sales, gross margin, products, product segments, customers, suppliers, end markets, distribution and inventory, statements regarding our views and expectations about positive momentum and recovery, statements regarding our expectations and beliefs regarding trends in the Company's business and industry and the broader economy and macroeconomic environment generally, statements regarding seasonal trends and the potential impact of trade restrictions, statements about the Company's and the team's focuses including with respect to growth and future development and success and other statements regarding the Company's positioning, its strategies, future progress, investments, plans, targets, goals, and other focuses and initiatives, and the expected timing and potential benefits thereof. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this release and are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections as well as the beliefs and assumptions of management. Words such as "expect," "anticipate," "should," "believe," "hope," "target," "project," "forecast," "outlook," "goals," "estimate," "potential," "predict," "may," "will," "might," "could," "intend," variations of these terms or the negative of these terms and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or circumstances that are beyond Bel's control. Bel's actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied in our forward-looking statements (including without limitation any of Bel's projections) due to a number of factors, including but not limited to, the market concerns facing our customers, and risks for the Company's business in the event of the loss of certain substantial customers; the continuing viability of sectors that rely on our products; the effects of business and economic conditions, and challenges impacting the macroeconomic environment generally and/or our industry in particular; the effects of rising input costs, and cost changes generally, including the potential impact of inflationary pressures; difficulties associated with integrating previously acquired companies; capacity and supply constraints or difficulties, including supply chain constraints or other challenges; the impact of public health crises (such as the governmental, social and economic effects of COVID or other future epidemics or pandemics); difficulties associated with the availability of labor, and the risks of any labor unrest or labor shortages; risks associated with our international operations, including our substantial manufacturing operations in China; risks associated with restructuring programs or other strategic initiatives, including any difficulties in implementation or realization of the expected benefits or cost savings; product development, commercialization or technological difficulties; the regulatory and trade environment including the potential effects of trade restrictions that may impact Bel, its customers and/or its suppliers; risks associated with fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates; uncertainties associated with legal proceedings; the market's acceptance of the Company's new products and competitive responses to those new products; the impact of changes to U.S. and applicable foreign legal and regulatory requirements, including tax laws, trade and tariff policies; and the risks detailed in Bel's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 and in subsequent reports filed by Bel with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as other documents that may be filed by Bel from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In light of the risks and uncertainties impacting our business, there can be no assurance that any forward-looking statement will in fact prove to be correct. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent Bel's views as of the date of this press release. Bel anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause its views to change. Bel undertakes no intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Bel's views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Non-GAAP financial measures identified in this press release as well as in the supplementary information to this press release (Non-GAAP adjusted net sales, Non-GAAP net earnings, Non-GAAP EPS, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA) are not measures of performance under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). These measures should not be considered a substitute for, and the reader should also consider, income from operations, net earnings, earnings per share and other measures of performance as defined by GAAP as indicators of our performance or profitability. Our non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to other similarly-titled captions of other companies due to differences in the method of calculation. We present results adjusted to exclude the effects of certain unusual or special items and their related tax impact that would otherwise be included under U.S. GAAP, to aid in comparisons with other periods. We believe that these non-GAAP measures of financial results provide useful information to management and investors regarding certain financial and business trends relating to our financial condition and results of operations. We use these non-GAAP measures to compare the Company's performance to that of prior periods for trend analysis and for budgeting and planning purposes. We also believe that the use of these non-GAAP financial measures provides an additional tool for investors to use in evaluating ongoing operating results and trends and in comparing the Company's financial measures with other similarly situated companies in our industry, many of which present similar non-GAAP financial measures to investors. We also use non-GAAP measures in determining incentive compensation. For additional information about our use of non-GAAP financial measures in connection with our Incentive Compensation Program for 2023, please see the Executive Compensation discussion appearing in our Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 1, 2024.

Website Information

We routinely post important information for investors on our website, www.belfuse.com, in the "Investor Relations" section. We use our website as a means of disclosing material, otherwise non-public information and for complying with our disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Accordingly, investors should monitor the Investor Relations section of our website, in addition to following our press releases, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, public conference calls, presentations and webcasts. The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, our website is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this document.  

  

Bel Fuse Inc. Supplementary Information(1) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (in thousands, except per share amounts) (unaudited)
		Three Months Ended								Six Months Ended
		June 30,								June 30,
		2024				2023				2024				2023
Net sales		$	133,205			$	168,777			$	261,295			$	341,121
Cost of sales			79,809				113,240				159,821				231,920
Gross profit			53,396				55,537				101,474				109,201
As a % of net sales			40.1	%			32.9	%			38.8	%			32.0	%
Research and development costs			5,994				6,006				11,209				11,229
Selling, general and administrative expenses			24,141				25,135				49,085				50,432
As a % of net sales			18.1	%			14.9	%			18.8	%			14.8	%
Restructuring charges			638				709				703				4,215
Gain on sale of property			-				(3,672	)			-				(3,672	)
Income from operations			22,623				27,359				40,477				46,997
As a % of net sales			17.0	%			16.2	%			15.5	%			13.8	%
Gain on sale of Czech Republic business			-				1,115				-				1,115
Interest expense			(415	)			(908	)			(849	)			(1,890	)
Interest income			1,146				-				2,261				-
Other income/expense, net			(471	)			(270	)			1,346				(190	)
Earnings before income taxes			22,883				27,296				43,235				46,032
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes			4,077				(479	)			8,555				3,685
Effective tax rate			17.8	%			-1.8	%			19.8	%			8.0	%
Net earnings		$	18,806			$	27,775			$	34,680			$	42,347
As a % of net sales			14.1	%			16.5	%			13.3	%			12.4	%
Weighted average number of shares outstanding:
Class A common shares - basic and diluted			2,124				2,142				2,131				2,142
Class B common shares - basic and diluted			10,492				10,634				10,551				10,636
Net earnings per common share:
Class A common shares - basic and diluted		$	1.43			$	2.08			$	2.61			$	3.17
Class B common shares - basic and diluted		$	1.50			$	2.19			$	2.76			$	3.34

(1)	The supplementary information included in this press release for 2024 is preliminary and subject to change prior to the filing of our upcoming Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

   

Bel Fuse Inc. Supplementary Information(1) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands, unaudited)
		June 30, 2024				December 31, 2023
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	84,976			$	89,371
Held to maturity U.S. Treasury securities			58,822				37,548
Accounts receivable, net			81,153				84,129
Inventories			127,931				136,540
Other current assets			23,139				33,890
Total current assets			376,021				381,478
Property, plant and equipment, net			35,082				36,533
Right-of-use assets			21,945				20,481
Related-party note receivable			2,785				2,152
Equity method investment			9,943				10,282
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net			72,130				76,033
Other assets			49,698				44,672
Total assets		$	567,604			$	571,631
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		$	36,415			$	40,441
Operating lease liability, current			5,992				6,350
Other current liabilities			47,348				63,818
Total current liabilities			89,755				110,609
Long-term debt			60,000				60,000
Operating lease liability, long-term			16,131				14,212
Other liabilities			45,303				46,252
Total liabilities			211,189				231,073
Stockholders' equity			356,415				340,558
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity		$	567,604			$	571,631

(1)	The supplementary information included in this press release for 2024 is preliminary and subject to change prior to the filing of our upcoming Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Bel Fuse Inc. Supplementary Information(1) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (in thousands, unaudited)
		Six Months Ended
		June 30,
		2024				2023
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings		$	34,680			$	42,347
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			7,123				6,571
Stock-based compensation			1,775				1,851
Amortization of deferred financing costs			27				33
Deferred income taxes			(2,930	)			(3,128	)
Net unrealized (gains) losses on foreign currency revaluation			(355	)			505
Gain on sale of property			-				(3,672	)
Gain on sale of Czech Republic business			-				(1,115	)
Other, net			487				(1,124	)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, net			2,805				(236	)
Unbilled receivables			6,887				5,018
Inventories			7,972				13,473
Accounts payable			(4,026	)			(11,544	)
Accrued expenses			(14,802	)			2,448
Accrued restructuring costs			(1,553	)			2,343
Income taxes payable			4,517				3,856
Other operating assets/liabilities, net			(4,265	)			(16,970	)
Net cash provided by operating activities			38,342				40,656
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment			(4,278	)			(7,081	)
Purchases of held to maturity U.S. Treasury securities			(122,345	)			-
Proceeds from held to maturity securities			101,071				-
Payment for equity method investment			-				(9,975	)
Investment in related party notes receivable			(633	)			-
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment			229				5,239
Proceeds from sale of business			-				5,198
Net cash used in investing activities			(25,956	)			(6,619	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Dividends paid to common stockholders			(1,674	)			(1,658	)
Repayments under revolving credit line			-				(40,000	)
Borrowings under revolving credit line			-				5,000
Purchases of common stock			(14,175	)			-
Net cash used in financing activities			(15,849	)			(36,658	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			(932	)			(2,592	)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents			(4,395	)			(5,213	)
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period			89,371				70,266
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period		$	84,976			$	65,053
Supplementary information:
Cash paid during the period for:
Income taxes, net of refunds received		$	8,277			$	10,358
Interest payments		$	1,985			$	2,762
ROU assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations		$	4,239			$	5,172

(1)	The supplementary information included in this press release for 2024 is preliminary and subject to change prior to the filing of our upcoming Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Bel Fuse Inc. Supplementary Information(1) Product Group Highlights (dollars in thousands, unaudited)
		Sales												Gross Margin
		Q2-24				Q2-23				% Change				Q2-24				Q2-23				Basis Point Change
Power Solutions and Protection		$	58,551			$	87,091				-32.8	%			45.7	%			35.7	%			1,000
Connectivity Solutions			57,822				54,843				5.4	%			38.9	%			37.4	%			150
Magnetic Solutions			16,832				26,843				-37.3	%			26.4	%			24.6	%			180
Total		$	133,205			$	168,777				-21.1	%			40.1	%			32.9	%			720

		Sales												Gross Margin
		YTD June 2024				YTD June 2023				% Change				YTD June 2024				YTD June 2023				Basis Point Change
Power Solutions and Protection		$	118,798				170,272				-30.2	%			44.8	%			35.7	%			910
Connectivity Solutions			112,107				108,239				3.6	%			37.6	%			35.9	%			170
Magnetic Solutions			30,390				62,610				-51.5	%			21.8	%			23.6	%			(180	)
Total		$	261,295			$	341,121				-23.4	%			38.8	%			32.0	%			680

(1)	The supplementary information included in this press release for 2024 is preliminary and subject to change prior to the filing of our upcoming Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

     

Bel Fuse Inc. Supplementary Information(1) Reconciliation of GAAP Net Sales to Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Sales(2) Reconciliation of GAAP Net Earnings to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA(2) (in thousands, unaudited)
		Three Months Ended								Six Months Ended
		June 30,								June 30,
		2024				2023				2024				2023
GAAP net sales		$	133,205			$	168,777			$	261,295			$	341,121
Expedite fee revenue			-				5,663				57				13,417
Non-GAAP adjusted net sales		$	133,205			$	163,114			$	261,238			$	327,704

		Three Months Ended								Six Months Ended
		June 30,								June 30,
		2024				2023				2024				2023
GAAP Net earnings		$	18,806			$	27,775			$	34,680			$	42,347
Interest expense			415				908				849				1,890
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes			4,077				(479	)			8,555				3,685
Depreciation and amortization			3,439				3,335				7,123				6,571
EBITDA		$	26,737			$	31,539			$	51,207			$	54,493
% of net sales			20.1	%			18.7	%			19.6	%			16.0	%
Unusual or special items:
Restructuring charges			638				709				703				4,215
MPS litigation costs			-				1,160				-				2,771
Gain on sale of Czech Republic business			-				(1,115	)			-				(1,115	)
Gain on sale of property			-				(3,672	)			-				(3,672	)
Adjusted EBITDA		$	27,375			$	28,621			$	51,910			$	56,692
% of net sales			20.6	%			17.0	%			19.9	%			16.6	%

  

(1)

The supplementary information included in this press release for 2024 is preliminary and subject to change prior to the filing of our upcoming Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

(2)

In this press release and supplemental information, we have included Non-GAAP financial measures, including Non-GAAP adjusted net sales, Non-GAAP net earnings, Non-GAAP EPS, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA. We present results adjusted to exclude the effects of certain specified items and their related tax impact that would otherwise be included under GAAP, to aid in comparisons with other periods. We believe that these non-GAAP measures of financial results provide useful information to management and investors regarding certain financial and business trends relating to our financial condition and results of operations. We use these non-GAAP measures to compare the Company's performance to that of prior periods for trend analysis and for budgeting and planning purposes. We also believe that the use of these non-GAAP financial measures provides an additional tool for investors to use in evaluating ongoing operating results and trends and in comparing the Company's financial measures with other similarly situated companies in our industry, many of which present similar non-GAAP financial measures to investors. We also use non-GAAP measures in determining incentive compensation. See the section above captioned "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" for additional information.

Bel Fuse Inc.

Supplementary Information⁽¹⁾

Reconciliation of GAAP Measures to Non-GAAP Measures⁽²⁾

(in thousands, except per share data)

(unaudited)

The following tables detail the impact that certain unusual or special items had on the Company's net earnings per common Class A and Class B basic and diluted shares ("EPS") and the line items in which these items were included on the consolidated statements of operations.

		Three Months Ended June 30, 2024																				Three Months Ended June 30, 2023
Reconciling Items		Earnings before taxes				Provision for income taxes				Net earnings				Class A EPS(3)				Class B EPS(3)				Earnings before taxes				Benefit from income taxes				Net earnings				Class A EPS(3)				Class B EPS(3)
GAAP measures		$	22,883			$	4,077			$	18,806			$	1.43			$	1.50			$	27,296			$	(479	)		$	27,775			$	2.08			$	2.19
Restructuring charges			638				153				485				0.04				0.04				709				118				591				0.04				0.05
MPS litigation costs			-				-				-				-				-				1,160				267				893				0.07				0.07
Gain on sale of Czech Republic business			-				-				-				-				-				(1,115	)			(56	)			(1,059	)			(0.08	)			(0.08	)
Gain on sale of property			-				-				-				-				-				(3,672	)			(734	)			(2,938	)			(0.22	)			(0.23	)
Non-GAAP measures		$	23,521			$	4,230			$	19,291			$	1.46			$	1.54			$	24,378			$	(884	)		$	25,262			$	1.89			$	1.99

		Six Months Ended June 30, 2024																				Six Months Ended June 30, 2023
Reconciling Items		Earnings before taxes				Provision for income taxes				Net earnings				Class A EPS(3)				Class B EPS(3)				Earnings before taxes				Provision for income taxes				Net earnings				Class A EPS(3)				Class B EPS(3)
GAAP measures		$	43,235			$	8,555			$	34,680			$	2.61			$	2.76			$	46,032			$	3,685			$	42,347			$	3.17			$	3.34
Restructuring charges			703				163				540				0.04				0.04				4,215				600				3,615				0.27				0.29
MPS litigation costs			-				-				-				-				-				2,771				637				2,134				0.16				0.17
Gain on sale of Czech Republic business			-				-				-				-				-				(1,115	)			(56	)			(1,059	)			(0.08	)			(0.08	)
Gain on sale of property			-				-				-				-				-				(3,672	)			(734	)			(2,938	)			(0.22	)			(0.23	)
Non-GAAP measures		$	43,938			$	8,718			$	35,220			$	2.66			$	2.80			$	48,231			$	4,132			$	44,099			$	3.30			$	3.48

  

(1)	The supplementary information included in this press release for 2024 is preliminary and subject to change prior to the filing of our upcoming Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
(2)	In this press release and supplemental information, we have included Non-GAAP financial measures, including Non-GAAP adjusted net sales, Non-GAAP net earnings, Non-GAAP EPS, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA. We present results adjusted to exclude the effects of certain specified items and their related tax impact that would otherwise be included under GAAP, to aid in comparisons with other periods. We believe that these non-GAAP measures of financial results provide useful information to management and investors regarding certain financial and business trends relating to our financial condition and results of operations. We use these non-GAAP measures to compare the Company's performance to that of prior periods for trend analysis and for budgeting and planning purposes. We also believe that the use of these non-GAAP financial measures provides an additional tool for investors to use in evaluating ongoing operating results and trends and in comparing the Company's financial measures with other similarly situated companies in our industry, many of which present similar non-GAAP financial measures to investors. We also use non-GAAP measures in determining incentive compensation. See the section above captioned "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" for additional information.
(3)	Individual amounts of earnings per share may not agree to the total due to rounding.