AeroVironment Banner

Release Details

The Company Announces Q3 2024 Results

AeroVironment, Inc. Announces Fiscal 2008 Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year End Financial Results

June 24, 2008 at 12:00 AM EDT
AeroVironment, Inc. Announces Fiscal 2008 Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year End Financial Results

MONROVIA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 24, 2008--AeroVironment, Inc. (AV) (NASDAQ: AVAV) today reported financial results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended April 30, 2008.

We completed our second fiscal year-end as a public company and once again achieved our financial objectives, generating revenue growth of 24% and an operating margin of 13%. This places us within both our fiscal 2008 revenue guidance range of 20% to 25%, and our operating margin guidance range of 12% to 14%, said Tim Conver, chairman and chief executive officer of AV. Strength in the demand for our unmanned aircraft systems and their support drove growth over last year as our systems became increasingly embedded into the way our customers operate. Our record fourth quarter performance was an indicator of the demand for our solutions and the ability of our team to execute successfully.

Fourth Quarter Highlights:         Full Fiscal Year Highlights:

-- Revenue of $64.3 million        -- Revenue of $215.7 million
-- Operating margin of 14%         -- Operating margin of 13%
-- Earnings per diluted share of   -- Earnings per diluted share of
 $0.30                              $1.00

FISCAL 2008 FOURTH QUARTER RESULTS

Revenue for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 was $64.3 million, an increase of 27% over fourth quarter fiscal 2007 revenue of $50.7 million. The increase in revenue was a result of increased sales in our Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) segment of $11.1 million, PosiCharge Systems segment of $1.2 million and in our Energy Technology Center segment of $1.3 million.

Income from operations for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 was $9.1 million, up $1.6 million from fourth quarter fiscal 2007 income from operations of $7.5 million. The growth in income from operations was caused by increased gross margin of $3.8 million partially offset by higher selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expense of $2.2 million.

Net income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 was $6.4 million, an increase of $0.8 million over fourth quarter fiscal 2007 net income of $5.6 million. Earnings per share for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 was $0.30 per diluted share, an increase of $0.03 per diluted share over fourth quarter fiscal 2007 earnings of $0.27 per diluted share.

FULL YEAR RESULTS

Revenue for fiscal 2008 was $215.7 million, an increase of 24% over revenue of $173.7 million for fiscal 2007. The increase in revenue was caused by higher sales in our UAS segment of $40.1 million, PosiCharge Systems segment of $1.0 million, and Energy Technology Center segment of $0.9 million.

Income from operations for fiscal 2008 was $28.4 million, down 7% from income from operations of $30.5 million for fiscal 2007. The decrease in income from operations was caused by higher SG&A expense of $9.6 million and higher R&D expense of $2.5 million partially offset by increased gross margin of $10.0 million.

Net income for fiscal 2008 was $21.4 million, an increase of 3%, over net income of $20.7 million for fiscal 2007. Earnings per share for fiscal 2008 was $1.00 per diluted share, a decrease of $0.22 per diluted share over fiscal 2007 earnings of $1.22 per diluted share.

BACKLOG

As of April 30, 2008, funded backlog (unfilled firm orders for which funding is currently appropriated to us under a customer contract) was $82.0 million compared to $60.9 million as of April 30, 2007.

FISCAL 2009 -- OUTLOOK FOR THE FULL YEAR

For fiscal year 2009 the Company expects to achieve revenue growth of between 20% and 25% over fiscal year 2008, with an operating income margin of between 12% and 14%. The foregoing estimates are forward-looking and reflect management's view of current and future market conditions, including certain assumptions with respect to our ability to obtain and retain government contracts, changes in the demand for our products and services, activities of competitors and changes in the regulatory environment. Investors are reminded that actual results may differ materially from these estimates.

CONFERENCE CALL

In conjunction with this release, AeroVironment, Inc. will host a conference call today, Tuesday, June 24, 2008, at 1:30 pm Pacific Time that will be broadcast live over the Internet. Timothy E. Conver, chairman and chief executive officer, Stephen C. Wright, chief financial officer, and Steven A. Gitlin, director of investor relations, will host the call.

4:30 PM ET

3:30 PM CT

2:30 PM MT

1:30 PM PT

Investors may dial into the call at (877) 397-0291 (U.S.) or (719) 325-4896 (international) five to ten minutes prior to the start time to allow for registration.

Investors with access to the Internet may access the conference call live over the Internet at the Investor Relations section of the AeroVironment, Inc. website, http://investor.avinc.com. Please allow fifteen minutes prior to the call to download and install any necessary audio software. An audio replay of the event will be archived on the Investor Relations page of the Company's web site, at http://investor.avinc.com.

A digital replay of the call will be available on Tuesday, June 24 at approximately 4:30 p.m. Pacific Time through Tuesday, July 1 at 9:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Dial (888) 203-1112 and enter the passcode 8411674. International callers should dial (719) 457-0820 and enter the same passcode number to access the digital replay.

About AeroVironment, Inc. (AV)

Building on a history of technological innovation, AV designs, develops, produces, and supports an advanced portfolio of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and efficient electric energy systems. The Company's small UAS are used extensively by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense and increasingly by allied military forces to deliver real-time reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition to tactical operating units. AV's PosiCharge ® fast charge systems eliminate battery changing for electric industrial vehicles in factories, airports, and distribution centers. For more information about AV, please visit www.avinc.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance or achievements, and may contain words such as believe, anticipate, expect, estimate, intend, project, plan, or words or phrases with similar meaning. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, economic, competitive, governmental and technological factors outside of our control, that may cause our business, strategy or actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, reliance on sales to the U.S. government; changes in the supply and/or demand and/or prices for our products; the activities of competitors; failure of the markets in which we operate to grow; failure to expand into new markets; changes in significant operating expenses, including components and raw materials; failure to develop new products; changes in the regulatory environment; and general economic and business conditions in the United States and elsewhere in the world. For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We do not intend, and undertake no obligation, to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

                         AeroVironment, Inc.
                  Consolidated Statements of Income
            (In thousands except share and per share data)

                      Three Months Ended       Twelve Months Ended
                   ------------------------  ------------------------
                    April 30,    April 30,    April 30,    April 30,
                      2008         2007         2008         2007
                   -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
Revenue:
  Product sales    $    39,401  $    28,935  $   123,074  $   116,361
  Contract
   services             24,905       21,765       92,672       57,360
                    ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------

                        64,306       50,700      215,746      173,721

Cost of sales:
  Product sales         24,937       17,184       73,424       67,410
  Contract
   services             16,419       14,426       63,775       37,829
                    ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------

                        41,356       31,610      137,199      105,239
                    ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------

Gross margin            22,950       19,090       78,547       68,482
Selling, general
 and
 administrative          9,147        6,950       33,662       24,041
Research and
 development             4,675        4,679       16,441       13,940
                    ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------

Income from
 operations              9,128        7,461       28,444       30,501
Other income
 (expense)
  Interest income          662        1,187        3,796        1,707
  Interest expense         ---           (6)          (1)          (6)
                    ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------
Income before
 income taxes            9,790        8,642       32,239       32,202
Provision for
 income taxes            3,377        3,072       10,853       11,484
                    ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------

Net income         $     6,413  $     5,570  $    21,386  $    20,718
                    ==========   ==========   ==========   ==========


Earnings per share
 data:
  Net income
    Basic          $      0.32  $      0.30  $      1.08  $      1.39
    Diluted        $      0.30  $      0.27  $      1.00  $      1.22

Weighted average
 shares
 outstanding:
    Basic           20,331,877   18,875,957   19,766,881   14,946,502
    Diluted         21,558,363   21,004,465   21,372,405   16,992,012
           Selected Consolidated Balance Sheet Information
                            (in thousands)

Selected Consolidated Balance Sheet Information

                                               April 30,   April 30,
                                                  2008         2007
                                              ------------ -----------

Cash and cash equivalents                     $   105,064  $    20,920
Investments                                        13,375       88,325
Accounts receivable, net                           29,788        7,691
Unbilled receivables and retentions                20,590       26,494
Inventory, net                                     15,923       14,015
Total assets                                      202,779      168,177
Stockholders' equity                              169,740      136,423
Shares issued and outstanding                  20,614,044   18,875,957
      Reportable segment results are as follows (in thousands):

                               For the Three         For the Twelve
                                Months Ended          Months Ended
                            --------------------  --------------------
                            April 30,  April 30,  April 30,  April 30,
                              2008       2007       2008       2007
                            ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Revenue
  UAS                         $55,976    $44,917   $186,615   $146,538
  PosiCharge Systems            3,908      2,686     18,613     17,575
  Energy Technology Center      4,422      3,097     10,518      9,608
                               ------     ------    -------    -------

    Total                      64,306     50,700    215,746    173,721
Gross margin
  UAS                          20,108     17,109     68,598     57,591
  PosiCharge Systems              739        417      5,464      6,096
  Energy Technology Center      2,103      1,564      4,485      4,795
                               ------     ------    -------    -------

    Total                     $22,950    $19,090   $ 78,547   $ 68,482
                               ======     ======    =======    =======

CONTACT: AeroVironment, Inc.
Steven Gitlin
Director of Investor Relations
+1 (626) 357-9983
ir@avinc.com

SOURCE: AeroVironment, Inc.