HEICO Corporation Reports Record Sales, Operating Income and Net Income for the Third Quarter of Fiscal 2012; Confirms Fiscal 2012 Full Year Net Income Growth Estimate

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. and MIAMI, Aug. 22, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — HEICO CORPORATION (NYSE:HEI.A) (NYSE:HEI) today reported that net income increased 13% to a record $23,128,000, or 43 cents per diluted share, for the third quarter of fiscal 2012, up from $20,402,000, or 38 cents per diluted share, for the third quarter of fiscal 2011. For the first nine months of fiscal 2012, net income increased 13% to a record $61,356,000, or $1.15 per diluted share, up from $54,306,000, or $1.02 per diluted share, for the first nine months of fiscal 2011.

Operating income increased 19% to a record $42,455,000 in the third quarter of fiscal 2012, up from $35,706,000 in the third quarter of fiscal 2011. For the first nine months of fiscal 2012, operating income increased 17% to a record $117,688,000, up from $100,991,000 in the first nine months of fiscal 2011.

The Company’s consolidated operating margin improved to 18.8% in the third quarter of fiscal 2012, up from 18.1% in the third quarter of fiscal 2011. For the first nine months of fiscal 2012, the Company’s consolidated operating margin was 18.0% compared to 18.2% for the first nine months of fiscal 2011.

Net sales increased 15% to a record $225,969,000 in the third quarter of fiscal 2012, up from $197,267,000 in the third quarter of fiscal 2011. For the first nine months of fiscal 2012, net sales increased 18% to a record $654,938,000, up from $555,972,000 for the first nine months of fiscal 2011.

Net income per diluted share for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 includes a 2 cent tax benefit from lower income tax expense attributable principally to higher R&D tax credits on fiscal 2011 tax returns filed during the current quarter. Net income per diluted share for the third quarter of fiscal 2011 includes a 4 cent tax benefit from lower income tax expense attributable principally to lower state income taxes and higher R&D tax credits on tax returns filed during the third quarter of fiscal 2011.

Consolidated Results

Laurans A. Mendelson, HEICO’s Chairman and CEO, commenting on the Company’s third quarter results stated, "We are very pleased to report record quarterly highs in consolidated net sales, operating income and net income for our third quarter of fiscal 2012 on the strength of all-time record net sales and operating income within our Electronic Technologies Group and continued strong net sales and operating income within our Flight Support Group. Additionally, our third quarter results mark the tenth consecutive quarter of net sales growth.

Our cash flow remained strong in the third quarter of fiscal 2012, with cash flow provided by operating activities totaling $33.0 million. For the first nine months of fiscal 2012, cash flow provided by operating activities totaled $78.3 million compared to $85.0 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2011. We continue to expect full year fiscal 2012 cash flow provided by operating activities to remain strong and approximate $130 million, which represents over 150% of fiscal 2012 net income. Capital expenditures were $12.4 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 compared to $5.7 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2011. Capital expenditures in fiscal 2012 are anticipated to approximate $18 – $20 million.

As a result of our strong cash flow, our net debt to shareholders’ equity ratio was a low 20.1% as of July 31, 2012, with net debt (total debt less cash and cash equivalents) of $139.0 million principally reflecting the three acquisitions completed during the first nine months of fiscal 2012. We have no significant debt maturities until fiscal 2017 and maintain significant borrowing capacity under our revolving line of credit for acquisition opportunities.

We believe that our strong cash flow and balance sheet will continue to allow us to take advantage of acquisition opportunities as they arise. Our recently announced acquisition of CSI Aerospace is another example of our continuing strategy to acquire profitable, well managed businesses. CSI’s proprietary repair processes offer aircraft operators niche repairs which provide a unique value. This is consistent with HEICO’s strategy of offering our customers advanced and cost-saving aircraft maintenance alternatives.

Based on current market conditions, we estimate full year fiscal 2012 net sales to approximate $890 million, operating income to approximate $160 million and year-over-year growth in net income of 13% to 14%, which represents the high end of our previous net income growth estimate range. We are pleased to confirm our growth estimates despite the near-term global economic uncertainties. Additionally, full year fiscal 2012 depreciation and amortization expense is expected to approximate $30 million. These estimates include the fiscal 2012 acquisitions of Switchcraft, Ramona Research, Moritz Aerospace and CSI Aerospace, but exclude the impact of additional acquisitions, if any."

Flight Support Group

Eric A. Mendelson, HEICO’s Co-President and President of HEICO’s Flight Support Group, commented on the Flight Support Group’s third quarter results stating, "We are pleased to report another strong quarter for the Flight Support Group, with continued year-over-year improvement in net sales of our aerospace and industrial products, operating income and operating margins.

Net sales of our Flight Support Group were $140.8 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 compared to $140.7 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2011. The slight increase in Flight Support Group net sales reflects a $1.2 million increase within our specialty product lines primarily attributed to increased demand for certain of our aerospace and industrial products and a $1.1 million increase within our aftermarket replacement parts product lines principally from increased market penetration from both new and existing product offerings partially offset by a slowing of aftermarket growth. The aforementioned increases to our net sales were partially offset by a $2.3 million decrease in net sales within our repair and overhaul services principally reflecting a general slowing of airline capacity growth. Net sales for the first nine months of fiscal 2012 increased 6% to a record $420.7 million, up from $395.2 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2011. The increase in net sales in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 reflects organic growth approximating 5% as well as additional net sales contributed by an acquisition in the first quarter of fiscal 2011. The organic growth in the Flight Support Group for the first nine months of fiscal 2012 is principally the result of increased market penetration from both new and existing product offerings within certain of our industrial product lines and aftermarket replacement parts product lines.

Operating income of the Flight Support Group increased 7% to $26.4 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2012, up from $24.6 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2011 and increased 15% to a record $78.5 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2012, up from $68.4 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2011. The increase in operating income in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2012 principally reflects improved operating margins.

Operating margins of the Flight Support Group improved to 18.7% for the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2012, up from 17.4% and 17.3% in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2011, respectively. The improved operating margins in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2012 principally reflect sales of higher margin products within our specialty products and aftermarket replacement parts product lines."

Electronic Technologies Group

Victor H. Mendelson, HEICO’s Co-President and President of HEICO’s Electronic Technologies Group, commented on the Electronic Technologies Group’s third quarter results stating, "Our all-time high in net sales and operating income for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 was driven by continued organic growth and the acquisition of profitable, well-managed businesses.

Net sales of our Electronic Technologies Group increased 51% to a record $86.5 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2012, up from $57.2 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2011 and increased 46% to a record $237.2 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2012, up from $162.5 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2011. The increases in net sales for the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2012 reflect organic growth approximating 5% and 6%, respectively, primarily as a result of continued strength in demand for certain of our commercial aviation, defense, electronic and medical products. The balance of the increase in net sales for the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2012 is attributed to additional net sales of approximately $26 million and $66 million, respectively, contributed from the acquisitions since the third quarter of fiscal 2011.

Operating income of the Electronic Technologies Group increased 36% to a record $21.0 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2012, up from $15.4 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2011 and increased 18% to a record $52.5 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2012, up from $44.6 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2011. The increase in operating income for the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2012 is principally attributed to the operating income contributed by the acquired businesses and the organic sales growth.

Operating margins of the Electronic Technologies Group were 24.2% for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 compared to 26.9% for the third quarter of fiscal 2011 and 22.1% for the first nine months of fiscal 2012, compared to 27.4% for the first nine months of fiscal 2011. The decreases in operating margins for the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2012 as compared to the same periods of fiscal 2011 principally reflect the dilutive impact of approximately 3% and 4%, respectively, from lower operating margins realized by Switchcraft and 3D Plus.

As discussed last quarter, the lower operating margin realized by 3D Plus in the first six months of fiscal 2012 reflects lower demand for certain of its products during the last six months of fiscal 2011. As orders at 3D Plus returned to expected levels in early fiscal 2012, product deliveries and sales began to normalize in our third quarter of fiscal 2012, which helped to bring the operating margin of the Electronic Technologies Group to a more normal level.

As we previously reported, variations in product mix and the timing of customer delivery requirements cause the operating margins of the Electronic Technologies Group to vary from quarter to quarter. Excluding 3D Plus and Switchcraft, the Electronic Technologies Group’s operating margins for the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2012 would have been approximately 27% and 26%, respectively, which are comparable to the Electronic Technologies Group’s full year operating margins, which normally approximate 25%."

(NOTE: HEICO has two classes of common stock traded on the NYSE. Both classes, the Class A Common Stock (HEI.A) and the Common Stock (HEI), are virtually identical in all economic respects. The only difference between the share classes is the voting rights. The Class A Common Stock (HEI.A) receives 1/10 vote per share and the Common Stock (HEI) receives one vote per share.)

There are currently approximately 31.4 million shares of HEICO’s Class A Common Stock (HEI.A) outstanding and 21.3 million shares of HEICO’s Common Stock (HEI) outstanding. The stock symbols for HEICO’s two classes of common stock on most web sites are HEI.A and HEI. However, some web sites change HEICO’s Class A Common Stock trading symbol (HEI.A) to HEI/A or HEIa.

As previously announced, HEICO will hold a conference call on Thursday, August 23, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time to discuss its third quarter results. Individuals wishing to participate in the conference call should dial: U.S. and Canada (877) 586-4323, International (706) 679-0934, wait for the conference operator and provide the operator with the Conference ID 18326873. A digital replay will be available two hours after the completion of the conference for 14 days. To access, dial: (404) 537-3406, and enter the Conference ID 18326873.

HEICO Corporation is engaged primarily in certain niche segments of the aviation, defense, space, medical, telecommunications and electronics industries through its Hollywood, Florida-based Flight Support Group and its Miami, Florida-based Electronic Technologies Group. HEICO’s customers include a majority of the world’s airlines and overhaul shops as well as numerous defense and space contractors and military agencies worldwide in addition to medical, telecommunications and electronics equipment manufacturers. For more information about HEICO, please visit our web site at http://www.heico.com.