News Details

BENCHMARK REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER AND FISCAL YEAR 2023 RESULTS

January 31, 2024

Fourth quarter 2023 results:

  • Revenue of $691 million
  • Generated net cash provided by operations of $137 million and positive free cash flow(1) of $126 million
  • GAAP and non-GAAP(1) gross margin of 10.3%
  • GAAP operating margin of 4.6% and non-GAAP(1) operating margin of 5.1%
  • GAAP and non-GAAP(1) earnings per share of $0.49 and $0.58, respectively

Full year 2023 results:

  • Revenue of $2.8 billion
  • Delivered net cash provided by operations of $174 million and positive free cash flow(1) of $97 million
  • GAAP and non-GAAP(1) gross margin of 9.5%, up 70 basis points year-over-year
  • GAAP operating margin of 3.9% and non-GAAP(1) operating margin of 4.4%
  • GAAP and non-GAAP(1) earnings per share of $1.79 and $2.04, respectively

TEMPE, Ariz.Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Benchmark Electronics, Inc. (NYSE: BHE) today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2023.

   

Three Months Ended

 
   

December 31,

   

September 30,

   

December 31,

 

(Amounts in millions, except per share data)

 

2023

   

2023

   

2022

 

Sales

 

$

691

   

$

720

   

$

751

 

Net income

 

$

18

   

$

20

   

$

21

 

Income from operations

 

$

32

   

$

30

   

$

27

 

Net income – non-GAAP(1)

 

$

21

   

$

21

   

$

21

 

Income from operations – non-GAAP(1)

 

$

35

   

$

34

   

$

33

 

Diluted earnings per share

 

$

0.49

   

$

0.57

   

$

0.60

 

Diluted earnings per share – non-GAAP(1)

 

$

0.58

   

$

0.57

   

$

0.60

 

Operating margin

   

4.6

%

   

4.2

%

   

3.6

%

Operating margin – non-GAAP(1)

   

5.1

%

   

4.7

%

   

4.3

%

 

       

Year Ended

 
       

December 31,

 

(Amounts in millions, except per share data)

     

2023

   

2022

 

Sales

     

$

2,839

   

$

2,886

 

Net income

     

$

64

   

$

68

 

Income from operations

     

$

110

   

$

90

 

Net income – non-GAAP(1)

     

$

73

   

$

75

 

Income from operations – non-GAAP(1)

     

$

124

   

$

104

 

Diluted earnings per share

     

$

1.79

   

$

1.91

 

Diluted earnings per share – non-GAAP(1)

     

$

2.04

   

$

2.09

 

Operating margin

       

3.9

%

   

3.1

%

Operating margin – non-GAAP(1)

       

4.4

%

   

3.6

%

   

(1)

A reconciliation of non-GAAP results to the most directly comparable GAAP measures and a discussion of why management believes these non-GAAP results are useful is included below.

 

"Benchmark delivered another solid year of performance in 2023 as we continued to execute to our strategic plan. I'm particularly pleased with our free cash flow performance which was aided by inventory reductions.  At the same time, our operational discipline allowed us to expand both gross and operating margin despite the dynamic environment," said Jeff Benck, Benchmark's President and CEO. 

Benck continued, "Looking forward, we expect the current demand softness across several of our end-markets will likely persist through the first half of 2024, driven by customers closely managing inventories. However, as demonstrated by our performance this past year, I am confident in our ability to deliver further margin expansion and positive free cash flow in 2024."

Cash Conversion Cycle

   

December 31,

   

September 30,

   

December 31,

 
   

2023

   

2023

   

2022

 

Accounts receivable days

   

59

     

60

     

59

 

Contract asset days

   

23

     

24

     

22

 

Inventory days

   

99

     

100

     

97

 

Accounts payable days

   

(53)

     

(53)

     

(56)

 

Advance payments from customers days

   

(30)

     

(26)

     

(26)

 

Cash conversion cycle days

   

98

     

105

     

96

 

 

Fourth Quarter 2023 Industry Sector Update
Revenue and percentage of sales by industry sector were as follows.

   

December 31,

   

September 30,

   

December 31,

 

(In millions)

 

2023

   

2023

   

2022

 

Medical

 

$

126

     

18

%

 

$

149

     

21

%

 

$

144

     

19

%

Semi-Cap

   

168

     

24

     

165

     

23

     

178

     

24

 

A&D

   

102

     

15

     

100

     

14

     

90

     

12

 

Industrials

   

132

     

19

     

154

     

21

     

143

     

19

 

Advanced Computing

   

95

     

14

     

66

     

9

     

92

     

12

 

Next Gen Communications

   

68

     

10

     

86

     

12

     

104

     

14

 

Total

 

$

691

     

100

%

 

$

720

     

100

%

 

$

751

     

100

%

 

Revenue decreased year over year primarily due to a decrease in Next Gen Communications of 35% and a decrease in Medical of 13%, partially offset by an increase in A&D of 13%. 

First Quarter 2024 Guidance

  • Revenue between $625 million - $665 million
  • Diluted GAAP earnings per share between $0.32 - $0.38
  • Diluted non-GAAP earnings per share between $0.42 - $0.48 (excluding restructuring charges and other costs and amortization of intangibles)

Restructuring charges are expected to range between $3.1 million and $3.5 million in the first quarter of 2024 and the amortization of intangibles is expected to be $1.2 million in the first quarter.

Fourth Quarter 2023 Earnings Conference Call
The Company will host a conference call to discuss the results today at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The live webcast of the call and accompanying reference materials will be accessible by logging on to the Company's website at www.bench.com. A replay of the broadcast will also be available on the Company's website.

About Benchmark Electronics, Inc.
Benchmark provides comprehensive solutions across the entire product life cycle by leading through its innovative technology and engineering design services, leveraging its optimized global supply chain and delivering world-class manufacturing services in the following industries: commercial aerospace, defense, advanced computing, next generation telecommunications, complex industrials, medical, and semiconductor capital equipment. Benchmark's global operations include facilities in seven countries and its common shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol BHE.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements are identified as any statement that does not relate strictly to historical or current facts and may include words such as "anticipate," "believe," "intend," "plan," "project," "forecast," "strategy," "position," "continue," "estimate," "expect," "may," "will," "could," "predict," and similar expressions of the negative or other variations thereof. In particular, statements, express or implied, concerning the Company's outlook and guidance for first quarter and fiscal year 2024 results, future operating results or margins, the ability to generate sales and income or cash flow, expected revenue mix, the Company's business strategy and strategic initiatives, the Company's repurchases of shares of its common stock, the Company's expectations regarding restructuring charges and amortization of intangibles, and the Company's intentions concerning the payment of dividends, among others, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes these statements are based on and derived from reasonable assumptions, they involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict, relating to operations, markets and the business environment generally, including those discussed under Part I, Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, and in any of the Company's subsequent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Events relating to the possibility of customer demand fluctuations, supply chain constraints, continuing inflationary pressures, the effects of foreign currency fluctuations and high interest rates, geopolitical uncertainties including continuing hostilities and tensions, trade restrictions and sanctions, or the ability to utilize the Company's manufacturing facilities at sufficient levels to cover its fixed operating costs, may have resulting impacts on the Company's business, financial condition, results of operations, and the Company's ability (or inability) to execute on its plans. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes, including the future results of the Company's operations, may vary materially from those indicated. Undue reliance should not be placed on any forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. All forward-looking statements included in this document are based upon information available to the Company as of the date of this document, and the Company assumes no obligation to update.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Management discloses non‐GAAP information to provide investors with additional information to analyze the Company's performance and underlying trends. A detailed reconciliation between GAAP results and results excluding certain items ("non-GAAP") is included in the following tables attached to this document. In situations where a non-GAAP reconciliation has not been provided, the Company was unable to provide such a reconciliation without unreasonable effort due to the uncertainty and inherent difficulty predicting the occurrence, the financial impact and the periods in which the non-GAAP adjustments may be recognized. Management uses non‐GAAP measures that exclude certain items in order to better assess operating performance and help investors compare results with our previous guidance. This document also references "free cash flow", a non-GAAP measure, which the Company defines as cash flow from operations less additions to property, plant and equipment and purchased software. The Company's non‐GAAP information is not necessarily comparable to the non‐GAAP information used by other companies. Non‐GAAP information should not be viewed as a substitute for, or superior to, net income or other data prepared in accordance with GAAP as a measure of the Company's profitability or liquidity. Readers should consider the types of events and transactions for which adjustments have been made.

Benchmark Electronics, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 
   

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

(Amounts in Thousands, Except Per Share Data)

(UNAUDITED)

 
   
   

Three Months Ended

   

Year Ended

 
   

December 31,

   

December 31,

 
   

2023

   

2022

   

2023

   

2022

 

Sales

 

$

691,354

   

$

750,644

   

$

2,838,976

   

$

2,886,331

 

Cost of sales

   

620,350

     

678,517

     

2,567,906

     

2,631,096

 

Gross profit

   

71,004

     

72,127

     

271,070

     

255,235

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

   

35,646

     

39,540

     

147,025

     

150,215

 

Amortization of intangible assets

   

1,204

     

1,592

     

5,979

     

6,384

 

Restructuring charges and other costs

   

2,054

     

4,049

     

8,402

     

8,567

 

Income from operations

   

32,100

     

26,946

     

109,664

     

90,069

 

Interest expense

   

(8,692)

     

(5,466)

     

(31,875)

     

(12,894)

 

Interest income

   

2,033

     

887

     

6,256

     

1,730

 

Other (expense) income, net

   

(3,105)

     

3,860

     

(2,825)

     

5,437

 

Income before income taxes

   

22,336

     

26,227

     

81,220

     

84,342

 

Income tax expense

   

4,784

     

5,008

     

16,905

     

16,113

 

Net income

 

$

17,552

   

$

21,219

   

$

64,315

   

$

68,229

 

Earnings per share:

                       

Basic

 

$

0.49

   

$

0.60

   

$

1.81

   

$

1.94

 

Diluted

 

$

0.49

   

$

0.60

   

$

1.79

   

$

1.91

 

Weighted-average number of shares used in
   calculating earnings per share:

                       

Basic

   

35,658

     

35,166

     

35,566

     

35,179

 

Diluted

   

35,956

     

35,630

     

35,973

     

35,718

 

 

Benchmark Electronics, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 
   

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In Thousands)

(UNAUDITED)

 
   
   

December 31,

 
   

2023

   

2022

 

Assets

           

Current assets:

           

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

277,391

   

$

207,430

 

Restricted cash

   

5,822

     

 

Accounts receivable, net

   

449,404

     

491,957

 

Contract assets

   

174,979

     

183,613

 

Inventories

   

683,801

     

727,749

 

Other current assets

   

44,350

     

41,400

 

Total current assets

   

1,635,747

     

1,652,149

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

   

227,698

     

211,478

 

Operating lease right-of-use assets

   

130,830

     

93,081

 

Goodwill and other, net

   

280,480

     

270,623

 

Total assets

 

$

2,274,755

   

$

2,227,331

 
             

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity

           

Current liabilities:

           

Current installments of long-term debt

 

$

4,283

   

$

4,275

 

Accounts payable

   

367,480

     

424,272

 

Advance payments from customers

   

204,883

     

197,937

 

Accrued liabilities

   

136,901

     

122,652

 

Total current liabilities

   

713,547

     

749,136

 

Long-term debt, less current installments

   

326,674

     

320,675

 

Operating lease liabilities

   

123,385

     

86,687

 

Other long-term liabilities

   

32,064

     

44,417

 

Shareholders' equity

   

1,079,085

     

1,026,416

 

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

 

$

2,274,755

   

$

2,227,331

 

 

Benchmark Electronics, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 
   

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In Thousands)

(UNAUDITED)

 
   
   

Year Ended

 
   

December 31,

 
   

2023

   

2022

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

           

Net income

 

$

64,315

   

$

68,229

 

Depreciation and amortization

   

45,410

     

44,252

 

Stock-based compensation expense

   

15,286

     

18,485

 

Accounts receivable

   

42,050

     

(136,455)

 

Contract assets

   

8,634

     

(28,370)

 

Inventories

   

45,071

     

(206,247)

 

Accounts payable

   

(35,320)

     

(16,656)

 

Advance payments from customers

   

6,946

     

79,813

 

Other changes in working capital and other, net

   

(18,098)

     

(518)

 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

   

174,294

     

(177,467)

 
             

Cash flows from investing activities:

           

Additions to property, plant and equipment and software

   

(77,739)

     

(46,774)

 

Other investing activities, net

   

601

     

5,600

 

Net cash used in investing activities

   

(77,138)

     

(41,174)

 
             

Cash flows from financing activities:

           

Share repurchases

   

     

(9,391)

 

Net debt activity

   

5,509

     

194,261

 

Other financing activities, net

   

(29,087)

     

(25,641)

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

   

(23,578)

     

159,229

 
             

Effect of exchange rate changes

   

2,205

     

(4,907)

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash

   

75,783

     

(64,319)

 

Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year

   

207,430

     

271,749

 

Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of year

 

$

283,213

   

$

207,430

 

 

Benchmark Electronics, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Results

(Amounts in Thousands, Except Per Share Data)

(UNAUDITED)

 
   
   

Three Months Ended

   

Year Ended

 
   

December 31,

   

September 30,

   

December 31,

   

December 31,

   

December 31,

 
   

2023

   

2023

   

2022

   

2023

   

2022

 

Income from operations (GAAP)

 

$

32,100

   

$

30,341

   

$

26,946

   

$

109,664

   

$

90,069

 

Amortization of intangible assets

   

1,204

     

1,592

     

1,592

     

5,979

     

6,384

 

Restructuring charges and other costs

   

2,054

     

1,437

     

799

     

7,281

     

5,710

 

Gain on assets held for sale

   

     

     

     

     

(393)

 

Asset impairment

   

     

198

     

     

1,121

     

 

Settlement

   

     

     

3,250

     

     

3,250

 

Customer insolvency (recovery)

   

     

     

     

     

(599)

 

Non-GAAP income from operations

 

$

35,358

   

$

33,568

   

$

32,587

   

$

124,045

   

$

104,421

 

GAAP operating margin

   

4.6

%

   

4.2

%

   

3.6

%

   

3.9

%

   

3.1

%

Non-GAAP operating margin

   

5.1

%

   

4.7

%

   

4.3

%

   

4.4

%

   

3.6

%

                               

Gross Profit (GAAP)

 

$

71,004

   

$

69,077

   

$

72,127

   

$

271,070

   

$

255,235

 

Customer insolvency (recovery)

   

     

     

     

     

(425)

 

Non-GAAP gross profit

 

$

71,004

   

$

69,077

   

$

72,127

   

$

271,070

   

$

254,810

 

GAAP gross margin

   

10.3

%

   

9.6

%

   

9.6

%

   

9.5

%

   

8.8

%

Non-GAAP gross margin

   

10.3

%

   

9.6

%

   

9.6

%

   

9.5

%

   

8.8

%

                               

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

$

35,646

   

$

35,509

   

$

39,540

   

$

147,025

   

$

150,215

 

Customer insolvency (recovery)

   

     

     

     

     

174

 

Non-GAAP selling, general and administrative expenses

 

$

35,646

   

$

35,509

   

$

39,540

   

$

147,025

   

$

150,389

 
                               

Net income (GAAP)

 

$

17,552

   

$

20,412

   

$

21,219

   

$

64,315

   

$

68,229

 

Amortization of intangible assets

   

1,204

     

1,592

     

1,592

     

5,979

     

6,384

 

Restructuring charges and other costs

   

2,899

     

1,437

     

799

     

8,126

     

5,710

 

Gain on assets held for sale

   

     

     

     

     

(393)

 

Asset impairment

   

     

198

     

     

1,121

     

 

Settlement

   

(37)

     

(3,375)

     

(2,344)

     

(4,567)

     

(2,955)

 

Customer insolvency (recovery)

   

     

     

     

     

(599)

 

Income tax adjustments(1)

   

(657)

     

245

     

(5)

     

(1,598)

     

(1,644)

 

Non-GAAP net income

 

$

20,961

   

$

20,509

   

$

21,261

   

$

73,376

   

$

74,732

 
                               

Diluted earnings per share:

                             

Diluted (GAAP)

 

$

0.49

   

$

0.57

   

$

0.60

   

$

1.79

   

$

1.91

 

Diluted (Non-GAAP)

 

$

0.58

   

$

0.57

   

$

0.60

   

$

2.04

   

$

2.09

 
                               

Weighted-average number of shares used in calculating diluted earnings per share:

                             

Diluted (GAAP)

   

35,956

     

35,876

     

35,630

     

35,973

     

35,718

 

Diluted (Non-GAAP)

   

35,956

     

35,876

     

35,630

     

35,973

     

35,718

 
                               

Net cash provided by (used in) operations

 

$

137,080

   

$

37,583

   

$

(52,749)

   

$

174,294

   

$

(177,467)

 

Additions to property, plant and equipment and software

   

(11,026)

     

(19,664)

     

(13,180)

     

(77,739)

     

(46,774)

 

Free cash flow (used)

 

$

126,054

   

$

17,919

   

$

(65,929)

   

$

96,555

   

$

(224,241)

 
   

(1)

This amount represents the tax impact of the non-GAAP adjustments using the applicable effective tax rates.

 

SOURCE Benchmark Electronics, Inc.

For further information: Paul Mansky, Investor Relations and Corporate Development, 1-623-300-7052 or paul.mansky@bench.com