MPX Marine Products Corp

ATLANTA, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Marine Products Corporation (NYSE: MPX) announced its unaudited results for the quarter ended December 31, 2019.  Marine Products is a leading manufacturer of fiberglass boats under three brand names: Chaparral, Robalo and Vortex. Chaparral's sterndrive models include SSi and SSX, along with the Chaparral Surf Series.  Chaparral's outboard offerings include various models, such as OSX Luxury Sportboats, the 257 SSX, and SunCoast Sportdecks. Robalo builds an array of outboard sport fishing boats, which include center consoles, dual consoles and Cayman Bay Boat models. Chaparral also offers jet powered boats under the Vortex brand name.

For the quarter ended December 31, 2019, Marine Products generated net sales of $48,175,000, a 22.4 percent decrease compared with net sales of $62,062,000 in the same period of the prior year.  During the quarter, unit sales declined by 21.0 percent, as sales declined across all model lines. Average selling price declined by 1.3 percent due to a change in model mix.

Gross profit for the fourth quarter of 2019 was $10,522,000, a 19.2 percent decrease compared with gross profit of $13,017,000 in the same period of the prior year.  Gross margin as a percentage of net sales was 21.8 percent in the fourth quarter of 2019, compared with 21.0 percent in the fourth quarter of 2018.                                                                                           

Operating profit for the fourth quarter of 2019 was $4,178,000, a decrease of 30.6 percent compared with operating profit of $6,016,000 in the fourth quarter of the prior year.  Selling, general and administrative expenses were $6,344,000 in the fourth quarter of 2019, compared with $7,001,000 in the fourth quarter of 2018. These expenses decreased due to expenses that vary with sales and profitability, such as warranty expenses and incentive compensation expenses, as well as lower research and development expenses during the fourth quarter of 2019 as compared to the fourth quarter of the prior year.  Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales were 13.2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2019 compared with 11.3 percent of net sales during the fourth quarter of 2018. 

Net income for the fourth quarter of 2019 was $3,542,000, a decrease of $1,186,000, or 25.1 percent, compared with net income of $4,728,000 in the fourth quarter of 2018. Diluted earnings per share were $0.10 in the fourth quarter of 2019, a decrease of $0.04 compared to $0.14 diluted earnings per share in the fourth quarter of 2018. The effective tax rate for the fourth quarter of 2019 was 17.0 percent, a decrease compared to an effective tax rate of 22.0 percent for the fourth quarter of the prior year.

Net sales for the 12 months ended December 31, 2019 were $292,136,000, a decrease of 2.2 percent compared to the prior year.  Net income for the 12 months ended December 31, 2019 was $28,239,000, essentially unchanged compared with $28,488,000 in the prior year. Diluted earnings per share were $0.83 in both years. 

Richard A. Hubbell, Marine Products' President and Chief Executive Officer stated, "As we discussed at the end of the third quarter, our dealer inventories had increased to levels that prompted us to adjust production to be aligned with field inventory as we prepared for the 2020 model year and retail selling season. Our fourth quarter sales show the result of that decision. Our inventory aging shows a high percentage of newer 2020 models, which is a positive attribute.  We continue to monitor dealer inventories and orders very closely as we formulate our plans for 2020 production. The early 2020 winter boat shows are better attended than last year, and more sales are being closed at the shows than in prior years, both of which indicate that the 2020 retail selling season is likely to be strong. We will monitor orders from the boat shows during the next month and are considering appropriate production increases during the first quarter.

"For the trailing 12 months ended September 30, 2019, Chaparral held the second highest sterndrive market share in its size category. Robalo continued to hold the second-highest market share in its category, and the combination of Robalo and Chaparral's outboard boats held 6.5 percent of their market for this period, the highest market share in that category. During the fourth quarter we repurchased 88,983 shares under our share repurchase program. Also during the fourth quarter we issued a regular $0.12 per share dividend as well as a special $0.10 per share dividend. In spite of these uses of cash, our balance sheet as of December 31, 2019 reflected $19.8 million in cash compared with $16.4 million in cash and marketable securities at the end of the fourth quarter of the prior year," concluded Hubbell.

Marine Products Corporation will hold a conference call today, January 29, 2020, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the results for the fourth quarter.  Interested parties may listen in by accessing a live webcast in the investor relations section of Marine Products' website at marineproductscorp.com.  Additionally, the live conference call can be accessed by calling (800) 367-2403 or (334) 777-6978 for international callers, and using conference ID number 6976379.  A replay will be available in the investor relations section of Marine Products' website beginning approximately two hours after the call. 

Marine Products Corporation (NYSE: MPX) designs, manufactures and distributes premium-branded Chaparral sterndrive and outboard pleasure boats, Vortex jet drive boats, and Robalo outboard sport fishing boats.  The Company continues to diversify its product lines through product innovation.  With premium brands, a solid capital structure, and a strong independent dealer network, Marine Products Corporation is prepared to capitalize on opportunities to increase its market share and to generate superior financial performance to build long-term shareholder value.  For more information on Marine Products Corporation visit our website at marineproductscorp.com.

Certain statements and information included in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements include statements that look forward in time or express management's beliefs, expectations or hopes.  In particular, such statements include, without limitation, the statement that our dealer inventory aging is a positive attribute, and strong attendance and sales at the early winter boat shows indicate that the 2020 retail selling season is likely to be strong. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Marine Products Corporation to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements.  These risks include the strength of the 2020 retail selling season, possible decreases in the level of consumer confidence and available funds impacting discretionary spending, increased interest rates and fuel prices, weather conditions, changes in consumer preferences, the ability of Marine Products' network of independent boat dealers to finance their inventory, continued weakness in the sterndrive recreational boat market, and competition from other boat manufacturers and dealers.  Additional discussion of factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from management's projections, forecasts, estimates and expectations is contained in Marine Products' Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") for the year ended December 31, 2018 and in Marine Products' Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed with the SEC for the quarter ended September 30, 2019.

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SOURCE Marine Products Corporation