Second Quarter Fiscal 2016 Results

For the second quarter ended September 30, 2015:

Consolidated net sales increased 13.0% to $336.3 million, from $297.5 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2015.

Technology segment net sales increased 13.0% to $326.0 million from $288.4 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2015. Non-GAAP gross sales of products and services, which are revenues prior to the reclassification to net sales for sales of third-party software assurance, maintenance and services, increased 9.9% to $431.1 million.

Financing segment net sales increased 13.2% to $10.3 million, from $9.1 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2015, due to higher transactional gains.

Consolidated gross profit rose 12.5% to $71.9 million, compared with $63.9 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2015.

Consolidated operating income rose 31.2% to $26.7 million, from $20.3 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2015.

Diluted earnings per share increased 31.9% to $2.15, from $1.63 in the second quarter of fiscal 2015.

Net earnings increased 31.2% to $15.7 million, compared with $12.0 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2015.

Adjusted EBITDA rose 30.3% to $27.9 million, from $21.4 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2015.

First Half Fiscal 2016 Results

For the six months ended September 30, 2015:

Consolidated net sales were up 6.4% to $606.2 million, compared with $569.8 million in the first half of fiscal 2015.

Technology segment net sales rose 6.5% to $587.5 million, from $551.8 million in the first half of fiscal 2015. Non-GAAP gross sales of products and services grew 6.4% to $763.4 million.

Financing segment net sales increased 3.7% to $18.7 million, from $18.0 million in the first half of fiscal 2015, due to higher transactional gains.

Consolidated gross profit rose 8.9% to $131.1 million, compared with $120.4 million in the first half of fiscal 2015.

Consolidated operating income rose 19.0% to $41.7 million, from $35.1 million in the first half of fiscal 2015.

Net earnings rose 14.3% to $24.5 million, as compared to $21.4 million in the first half of fiscal 2015.

Adjusted EBITDA increased 19.3% to $44.1 million, up from $37.0 million in the first half of fiscal 2015.

Diluted earnings per share increased 17.1% to $3.35 from $2.86 in the first half of fiscal 2015, which included a gain on retirement of a liability.  Exclusive of this benefit, non-GAAP diluted earnings per share was $2.75 in the first half of fiscal 2015.

Balance Sheet Highlights

At September 30, 2015, ePlus had cash and cash equivalents of $62.8 million, down from $76.2 million as of March 31, 2015. Total stockholders' equity was $305.0 million and total shares outstanding were 7.5 million, compared with stockholders' equity of $279.3 million and shares outstanding of 7.4 million on March 31, 2015.

Summary and Outlook

"In the first half of fiscal 2016 we made progress on several fronts, including financial results, vendor awards and certifications, and the ongoing growth of our services business.   The expertise of our sales and engineering staff, our certifications with legacy and emerging vendors, and our focus on the fastest-growing segments of the IT industry, including security, data center, and cloud have allowed us to penetrate wider and deeper into our existing client base, while also adding new customers.  In addition, our balance sheet remains robust, with a healthy cash position, giving us the financial resources to fund organic growth as well as make accretive acquisitions and we believe we are well positioned to continue to outgrow the overall IT market," Mr. Norton concluded.

The Company's operations are conducted through two business segments. The technology segment includes sales of information technology products, third-party software, third-party maintenance contracts, advanced professional services and managed services, and the Company's proprietary software, to commercial, and state and local governments. The financing segment consists of the financing of equipment, software and related services to commercial, state and local governments, and government contractors.

Technology Segment

The results of operations for the technology segment for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 were as follows (dollars in thousands):

Net sales rose 13.0% to $326.0 million, from $288.4 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2015.   The increase reflects a 9.9% increase in non-GAAP gross sales of product and services as well as a higher proportion of sales from products that are not reclassified on a net basis.

Gross margin on sales of product and services was 19.4%, compared with 19.5% in the second quarter of fiscal 2015.

Operating expenses rose 5.3% to $42.1 million, from $40.0 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2015, reflecting increased salaries and benefits as well as general and administrative expenses.

Segment earnings were $22.6 million, up 28.5% from $17.6 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2015.

Financing Segment

The results of operations for the financing segment for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 were as follows (dollars in thousands):

Net sales were $10.3 million, up 13.2% from $9.1 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2015, as a result of higher transactional gains.

Operating expenses were down 12.7% over the previous year, mainly due to a reserve for credit loss recorded in the previous year that was not replicated in the current quarter, and lower interest expenses as a result of lower debt combined with lower interest rates.

Segment earnings were $4.0 million, compared with $2.7 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2015.

Technology Segment

The results of operations for the technology segment for the six months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 were as follows (dollars in thousands):

Net sales rose 6.5% to $587.5 million, from $551.8 million in the first half of fiscal 2015. Non-GAAP gross sales of product and services grew 6.4% in the first half of fiscal 2015.

Gross margin on sales of products and services was 19.7%, up from 19.0% in the first half of fiscal 2015.

Operating expenses rose 6.2% to $82.9 million, from $78.1 million in the first half of fiscal 2015. This was primarily due to increased salaries and benefits due to additional personnel as well as increased variable compensation. In addition, the Company incurred incremental amortization expenses associated with the acquisition of Evolve Technology Group in August of 2014.

Segment earnings were $35.7 million, up 18.7% from $30.1 million in the first half of fiscal 2015.

The Company maintained its balanced portfolio of customer-end markets. The breakdown of net sales by customer end market for the twelve months ended September 30, 2015 was as follows:

Financing Segment

The results of operations for the financing segment for the six months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 were as follows (dollars in thousands):

Net sales were $18.7 million, up 3.7% from $18.0 million in the first half of fiscal 2015, as a result of higher transactional gains.

Operating expenses were down 11.0% over the previous year, due to a reserve for credit loss recorded in the previous year that was not replicated in the current year, and lower interest expenses as a result of lower debt combined with lower interest rates.

Operating income was $6.1 million, an increase of 20.9% from $5.0 million in the previous year.

During the first quarter of fiscal 2015, ePlus entered into an agreement to repurchase the rights, title, and interest to payments due under a financing arrangement. This financing arrangement was previously assigned to a third party financial institution and accounted for a secured borrowing. In conjunction with this repurchase agreement, ePlus recognized a gain of $1.4 million, which was included in other income.

Segment earnings were $6.1 million, compared with $6.4 million in the first half of fiscal 2015.

Recent Corporate Developments & Recognitions

Conference Call Information

ePlus will hold a conference call and webcast at 4:30 p.m. ET. on November 4, 2015:

What:	ePlus Second Quarter FY16 Financial Results Conference Call
When:	Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Time:	4:30 p.m. ET
Live Call:	(877) 870-9226, domestic, (973) 890-8320, international
Replay:	(855) 859-2056, domestic, (404) 537-3406, international
Passcode:	48127667 (live and replay)
Webcast:	http://www.eplus.com/investors   (live and replay)

About ePlus inc.

 

ePlus is an engineering-centric technology solutions provider that helps organizations imagine, implement, and achieve more from their technology.  With the highest certifications from top technology partners and expertise in key technologies from data center to security, cloud, and collaboration, ePlus transforms IT from a cost center to a business enabler.  Founded in 1990, ePlus has more than 975 associates serving commercial, state, municipal, and education customers nationally.  The Company is headquartered at 13595 Dulles Technology Drive, Herndon, VA, 20171.  For more information, visit www.eplus.com, call 888-482-1122, or email info@eplus.com.  Connect with ePlus on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ePlusinc and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ePlus. 

ePlus. Where Technology Means More^™.

ePlus^®, Where Technology Means More^™, and ePlus products referenced herein are either registered trademarks or trademarks of ePlus inc. in the United States and/or other countries.  The names of other companies, products, and services mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

Forward-looking statements

Statements in this press release that are not historical facts may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements." Actual and anticipated future results may vary materially due to certain risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, possible adverse effects resulting from financial market disruption and general slowdown of the U.S. economy such as our current and potential customers' delaying or reducing technology purchases, increasing credit risk associated with our customers and vendors, reduction of vendor incentive programs, the possibility of additional goodwill impairment charges, and restrictions on our access to capital necessary to fund our operations; significant adverse changes in, reductions in, or losses of relationships with major customers or vendors; our ability to implement comprehensive plans to archive customer account coverage, cost containment, asset rationalization, systems integration and other key strategies; our ability to secure our electronic and other confidential information or that of our customers or partners; changes to our senior management team; the demand for and acceptance of, our products and services; our ability to adapt our services to meet changes in market developments; our ability to adapt to changes in the IT industry and/or rapid change in product standards; our ability to hire and retain sufficient personnel; our ability to realize our investment in leased equipment; our ability to protect our intellectual property; our ability to consummate and integrate acquisitions; the creditworthiness of our customers; our ability to raise capital and obtain non-recourse financing for our transactions; our ability to reserve adequately for credit losses; the impact of competition in our markets; the possibility of defects in our products or catalog content data; and other risks or uncertainties detailed in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All information set forth in this press release is current as of the date of this release and ePlus undertakes no duty or obligation to update this information.

Contact:

Kleyton Parkhurst, SVP

ePlus inc.

703-984-8150

 

 

We included reconciliations below for the following non-GAAP information: (i) non-GAAP Gross Sales of Product and Services,  (ii) Adjusted EBITDA, and (iii) non-GAAP Net Earnings per Common Share - Diluted. We define non-GAAP gross sales of product and services as our sales of product and services calculated in accordance with GAAP, adjusted to exclude the costs incurred related to sales of third-party software assurance, maintenance and services.  We define Adjusted EBITDA as net earnings calculated in accordance with GAAP, adjusted for the following: interest expense, depreciation and amortization, provision for income taxes, and other income. We consider the interest on notes payable from our financing segment and depreciation expense presented within cost of sales, which includes depreciation on assets financed as operating leases, to be operating expenses. Non-GAAP net earnings per common share is based on net earnings calculated in accordance with GAAP, adjusted to exclude other income, net of taxes.

Our use of non-GAAP information as analytical tools has limitations, and you should not consider them in isolation or as substitutes for analysis of our financial results as reported under GAAP. In addition, other companies, including companies in our industry, might calculate similar non-GAAP Gross Sales of Product and Services, Adjusted EBITDA, and non-GAAP Net Earnings per Common Share - Diluted or similarly titled measures differently, which may reduce their usefulness as comparative measures.