Dorman Products, Inc. Reports Sales and Earnings for the First Quarter Ended March 28, 2015

COLMAR, PA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/28/15 -- Dorman Products, Inc. (NASDAQ: DORM)

First Quarter Results:

  • Q1 sales increased 3% after 19% growth in Q1 2014

  • Q1 EPS decreased 6% to $0.60 per diluted share

  • Cash flow from operations increased to $23.8 million

  • ERP transition shows steady progress

Dorman Products, Inc. (NASDAQ: DORM) today announced sales for the first quarter ended March 28, 2015 of $188.5 million, an increase of 3% from $183.5 million in the first quarter of 2014. Diluted earnings per share for the first quarter ended March 28, 2015 decreased 6% to $0.60 per share from $0.64 per share in 2014.

Gross profit margin was 38.7% for the first quarter ended March 28, 2015 compared to 39.0% for the same period last year. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased 13%, or $4.5 million, during the quarter as a result of additional costs associated with our ERP conversion totaling $2.8 million, inflationary cost increases and increased investments in product development initiatives. ERP-related conversion expenses consisted of $1.7 million in increased distribution costs, $0.6 million in support costs, and $0.5 million in additional depreciation expense.

"Sales growth for the quarter was a modest 3% primarily as a result of exceptionally strong growth in the first quarter of 2014 and the continued negative impact of an inventory reduction program at one large customer. Despite these challenges, we achieved a two-year stacked sales growth rate of 22%," said Mr. Steven Berman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Sell-through rates of our products in the quarter, despite several weeks in February that were negatively impacted by extreme weather, remain encouraging. We would like to thank our customers and end-users for their continued support."

"We continue to work towards completion of the stabilization and transition phase of our ERP conversion. The incremental costs associated with the post go-live ERP transition declined significantly in the quarter, but were higher than expected. To ensure our customer demands were met during this period, we intentionally increased our distribution costs. The increased distribution costs are expected to decline over the next three to six months before stabilizing. We expect to offset the remaining incremental costs gradually through improved efficiencies beginning later this year," said Mr. Berman. "The distraction associated with the ERP implementation did slow down the introduction rate of our new products, but we expect to return to our previous pace in the next few months. We remain confident in our ability to return to low double digit sales and earnings growth later this year."

During the first quarter of 2015, we repurchased 13,700 shares of our common stock for $0.6 million at an average price of $45.41 per share. Since the inception of the program, we have repurchased 869,300 shares of our common stock for $41.0 million. We have approximately $59.0 million remaining under our current $100 million share repurchase program.

Dorman Products, Inc. is a leading supplier of Dealer "Exclusive" automotive replacement parts, automotive hardware, brake products, and household hardware to the Automotive Aftermarket and Mass Merchandise markets. Dorman products are marketed under the Dorman® OE Solutions™, HELP!®, AutoGrade™, First Stop™, Conduct-Tite®, TECHoice™, and Dorman HD Solutions™ brand names.

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "believe," "demonstrate," "expect," "estimate," "forecast," "anticipate," "should" and "likely" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. In addition, statements that are not historical should also be considered forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on those forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statement was made. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations that involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual events to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, competition in the automotive aftermarket industry, concentration of the Company's sales and accounts receivable among a small number of customers, the impact of consolidation in the automotive aftermarket industry, foreign currency fluctuations, dependence on senior management and other risks detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 27, 2014. The Company is under no obligation to (and expressly disclaims any such obligation to) update any of the information in this press release if any forward-looking statement later turns out to be inaccurate whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Visit our website at www.dormanproducts.com

DORMAN PRODUCTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except per-share amounts)
13 Weeks 13 Weeks
First Quarter (unaudited) 3/28/15 Pct. 3/29/14 Pct.
Net sales $ 188,474 100.0 $ 183,512 100.0
Cost of goods sold 115,581 61.3 111,870 61.0
Gross profit 72,893 38.7 71,642 39.0
Selling, general and administrative expenses 39,241 20.8 34,695 18.9
Income from operations 33,652 17.9 36,947 20.1
Interest expense, net 52 0.1 39 -
Income before income taxes 33,600 17.8 36,908 20.1
Provision for income taxes 12,261 6.5 13,357 7.3
Net income $ 21,339 11.3 $ 23,551 12.8
Diluted earnings per share $ 0.60 $ 0.64
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding 35,643 36,549
DORMAN PRODUCTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)
3/28/15 12/27/14
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 64,599 $ 47,656
Accounts receivable 201,142 206,035
Inventories 183,038 173,523
Deferred income taxes 25,402 25,103
Prepaids and other current assets 2,514 3,147
Total current assets 476,695 455,464
Property, plant & equipment, net 84,460 82,270
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net 29,964 29,989
Other assets 14,067 12,645
Total assets $ 605,186 $ 580,368
Liabilities & shareholders' equity:
Accounts payable $ 60,480 $ 59,541
Accrued expenses and other 35,594 31,292
Total current liabilities 96,074 90,833
Other long-term liabilities 4,462 4,822
Deferred income taxes 22,024 22,652
Shareholders' equity 482,626 462,061
Total liabilities and equity $ 605,186 $ 580,368
Selected Cash Flow Information (unaudited):
(in thousands) 13 Weeks 13 Weeks
3/28/15 3/29/14
Depreciation, amortization and accretion $ 3,618 $ 2,860
Capital expenditures $ 5,749 $ 7,008

Source: Dorman Products, Inc.