Key Tronic Corporation Announces Second Quarter Results

Key Tronic Corporation (Nasdaq:KTCC), a provider of electronic manufacturing services (EMS), today announced its results for the quarter ended December 31, 2011.

For the second quarter of fiscal 2012, Key Tronic reported total revenue of $84.5 million, up 38% from $61.0 million in the same period of fiscal 2011. For the first six months of fiscal 2012, total revenue was $154.2 million, up 24% from $124.4 million in the same period of fiscal 2011.

Net income for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 was $3.2 million or $0.30 per diluted share, up 83% from $1.7 million or $0.17 per diluted share for the same period of fiscal 2011. Net income per diluted share for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 included $0.11 for research and development tax credits. For the first six months of fiscal 2012, net income was $4.4 million or $0.42 per diluted share, up 27% from $3.5 million or $0.33 per diluted share for the same period of fiscal 2011.

For the second quarter of fiscal 2012, gross margin was 8% and operating margin was 3%, compared to 9% and 3%, respectively, in the same period of fiscal 2011. In the third quarter, the Company expects to see its gross margin increase to around 9%.

“We’re very pleased with our strong growth in revenue and earnings for the second quarter of fiscal 2012, driven primarily by the rapid production ramp up for new customer programs,” said Craig Gates, President and Chief Executive Officer, “During the quarter, we achieved the highest quarterly revenue in Key Tronic’s history and significantly increased our operating efficiencies from recent quarters. We also continued to diversify our future revenue base by winning new programs involving irrigation equipment, gaming devices, electric transportation and military equipment.

“Moving into the third quarter, we expect continued strong growth in revenue and earnings. As a result of the increasing recognition of our unique combination of world-class engineering, global logistics and cost-effective production, we’re capturing market share from many of our competitors. As we grow our business, we remain focused on maintaining outstanding customer service, carefully managing our operating expenses and maximizing our return on invested capital.”

Business Outlook

For the third quarter of fiscal 2012, the Company expects to report revenue in the range of $92 million to $97 million, and earnings in the range of $0.30 to $0.35 per diluted share. The expected earnings range assumes an effective tax rate of 30%.

Conference Call

Key Tronic will host a conference call today to discuss its financial results at 2:00 PM Pacific (5:00 PM Eastern). A broadcast of the conference call will be available at www.keytronic.com under “Investor Relations” or by calling 866-225-8754 or +1-480-629-9645. A 48-hour replay will be available by calling 800-406-7325 or +1-303-590-3030 (Access Code: 4503180). A replay will also be available on the Company’s Web site.

About Key Tronic

Key Tronic is a leading contract manufacturer offering value-added design and manufacturing services from its facilities in the United States, Mexico and China. The Company provides its customers full engineering services, materials management, worldwide manufacturing facilities, assembly services, in-house testing, and worldwide distribution. Its customers include some of the world's leading original equipment manufacturers. For more information about Key Tronic visit: www.keytronic.com.

Some of the statements in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include all passages containing verbs such as ‘aims, anticipates, believes, estimates, expects, hopes, intends, plans, predicts, projects or targets’ or nouns corresponding to such verbs. Forward-looking statements also include other passages that are primarily relevant to expected future events or that can only be fully evaluated by events that will occur in the future. Forward-looking statements in this release include, without limitation, the Company’s statements regarding its expectations with respect to quarterly revenue and earnings during fiscal 2012. There are many factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted or projected in forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the future of the global economic environment and its impact on our customers and suppliers, the availability of parts from the supply chain, the accuracy of customers’ forecasts; success of customers’ programs; timing of new programs; success of new-product introductions; acquisitions or divestitures of operations or facilities; technology advances; changes in pricing policies by the Company, its competitors, customers or suppliers; and the other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the Company’s SEC filings.