Lindsay Corporation Reports Fiscal 2014 Third Quarter Results

Lindsay Corporation (NYSE: LNN), a leading provider of irrigation systems and infrastructure products, today announced results for its third quarter ended May 31, 2014.

Third Quarter Results

Third quarter fiscal 2014 revenues were $169.9 million, versus $219.5 million of revenues in the same prior year period. Net earnings were $16.5 million or $1.28 per diluted share compared with $26.1 million or $2.01 per diluted share in the prior year.

Total irrigation equipment revenues decreased 26 percent to $149.0 million from $200.9 million in the prior fiscal year’s third quarter primarily due to lower crop prices. U.S. irrigation revenues of $88.1 million declined 26 percent while international irrigation revenues of $60.9 million decreased 26 percent. Infrastructure revenues increased 13 percent to $20.9 million with increases in road safety, rail and Road Zipper product lines.

Gross margin was 28.4 percent of sales compared to 28.7 percent of sales in the prior year’s third quarter. Gross margin in irrigation declined by less than one percentage point primarily due to fixed cost deleverage on lower sales. Infrastructure gross margins improved by approximately three percentage points due to sales mix and leverage on higher sales.

Operating expenses were $23.0 million compared to $23.5 million in the same prior year period. Excluding the acquired Lakos filtration business, operating expenses decreased $2.7 million with the largest decreases in incentive compensation and bad debt expense Operating expenses including Lakos were 13.6 percent of sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2014 compared with 10.7 percent of sales in the prior year period. Operating margins were 14.8 percent in the third quarter, versus 18.0 percent in the prior year period.

Cash and cash equivalents of $182.1 million were $11.8 million higher compared to the end of the third quarter in the prior fiscal year, while debt decreased $1.1 million. During the quarter the Company repurchased 129,104 shares for $11.2 million. Year to date the Company repurchased 207,624 shares for $17.8 million.

Backlog of unshipped orders at May 31, 2014 was $73.6 million compared with $80.0 million at May 31, 2013 and $89.3 million at February 28, 2014. Backlog increased in the U.S. irrigation and infrastructure markets and declined in the international irrigation market over the same time last year. The current year infrastructure backlog includes a $12.8 million Road Zipper System order for the Golden Gate Bridge which is expected to be recognized in revenue in fiscal 2015. The prior year irrigation backlog included $23.0 million of equipment and installation remaining on a project in Iraq, of which $2.6 million remained in backlog at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2014.

The June 2014 escalation of political instability has made it more difficult to complete the Company’s contract in Iraq. At May 31, 2014 the Company had a total exposure of $4.4 million on this contract, including $2.5 million of accounts receivable, which is not currently due, and a $1.9 million performance bond securing completion of the contract. The Company has not provided a reserve for these amounts, but will continue to assess the situation as developments in the country evolve. Further installation of equipment in Iraq has been put on hold as a result of the escalation of hostilities in the region.

Nine Month Results

Total revenues for the nine months ended May 31, 2014 were $470.4 million, a 13 percent decrease from $542.5 million of revenues in the same prior year period. Net earnings were $40.2 million or $3.11 per diluted share compared with $60.1 million or $4.66 per diluted share in the prior year.

Total irrigation equipment revenues decreased 17 percent to $414.1 million from $497.8 million during the first nine months of the prior fiscal year. U.S. irrigation revenues of $260.8 million declined 21 percent, while international irrigation revenues of $153.3 million decreased 8 percent due primarily to near-completion of the Iraq project. Infrastructure revenues increased 26 percent to $56.3 million.

Outlook

Rick Parod, president and chief executive officer, commented, “Lower commodity prices led to decreases in irrigation sales throughout North America during the primary selling season. Spring storms have created additional demand for replacement units, which increased our U.S. irrigation backlog at the end of the quarter. However, overall favorable growing conditions in North America continue to restrain crop prices. The lower crop prices, along with the reduction in the Sec. 179 tax benefits, create a headwind for irrigation equipment demand as compared to the previous year. Coupled with the addition of the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, we have seen some slowing in international projects, as well.”

Parod continued, “We have achieved a significant change in our Infrastructure segment. Revenues have grown 26% percent to-date and the business is profitable. We continue to see opportunities for growth in global applications of our technologies and in expansion of our global market share. A multi-year highway bill with similar or improved funding levels would likely benefit the segment even further.”

Parod added, “Drivers for the Company’s markets of population growth, expanded food production and efficient water use, and infrastructure expansion support our expectation for long-term growth. We anticipate a continuation of lower agricultural equipment demand in the near term, and have implemented appropriate expense controls. However, we will continue investment in critical growth initiatives and the execution of our capital allocation plan announced in early January 2014.”

Third-Quarter Conference Call

Lindsay’s fiscal 2014 third quarter investor conference call is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time today. Interested investors may participate in the call by dialing (888) 321-8161 in the U.S., or (706) 758-0065 internationally, and referring to conference ID # 57122482. Additionally, the conference call will be simulcast live on the Internet, and can be accessed via the investor relations section of the Company's Web site, www.lindsay.com. Replays of the conference call will remain on our Web site through the next quarterly earnings release. The Company will have a slide presentation available to augment management's formal presentation, which will also be accessible via the Company's Web site.

About the Company

Lindsay manufactures and markets irrigation equipment primarily used in agricultural markets which increase or stabilize crop production while conserving water, energy, and labor. The Company also manufactures and markets infrastructure and road safety products under the Lindsay Transportation Solutions trade name. At May 31, 2014 Lindsay had approximately 12.7 million shares outstanding, which are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol LNN.

For more information regarding Lindsay Corporation, see the Company’s Web site at www.lindsay.com.

Concerning Forward-looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties and which reflect management’s current beliefs and estimates of future economic circumstances, industry conditions, company performance and financial results. You can find a discussion of many of these risks and uncertainties in the annual, quarterly and current reports that the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements include information concerning possible or assumed future results of operations of the Company and those statements preceded by, followed by or including the words “anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” “intend,” "expect," "outlook," "could," "may," "should," “will,” or similar expressions. For these statements, the Company claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking information contained in this press release.