AAR Reports Second Quarter Fiscal Year 2020 Results

WOOD DALE, Ill., Dec. 19, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- AAR CORP. (NYSE: AIR) today reported second quarter Fiscal Year 2020 consolidated sales of $560.9 million and income from continuing operations of $20.1 million, or $0.57 per diluted share.  For the second quarter of the prior year, the Company reported sales of $493.3 million and income from continuing operations of $11.2 million, or $0.32 per diluted share.  Our adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations were $0.64 in the current quarter compared to $0.60 in the second quarter of the prior year. 

Consolidated sales increased 14% over the prior year period due to continued growth across our Aviation Services segment, which grew 15% during the quarter.  This growth was driven by strong demand for both new and aftermarket parts, significant improvement in MRO and solid execution on our government contract awards. 

"This is our sixth consecutive quarter of double-digit sales growth.  Revenue in our parts supply and government programs activities remains very strong and we continue to see meaningful recovery in MRO as a result of our labor initiatives.  Our focus on integrating our differentiated capabilities across our best-in-class aviation services offering continues to be a successful model for growth," said John M. Holmes, President and Chief Executive Officer of AAR CORP.

During the quarter, we expanded the scope of our component repair services program with BAE for its regional jet support programs to include more components.  BAE cited our consistent cost savings and the high-quality delivered by our Amsterdam facility as the basis for this expansion.

We also announced two contracts within our Airinmar subsidiary, the top global provider of component repair cycle management and aircraft warranty solutions.  We signed a three-year agreement with JetBlue to provide component value engineering cost oversight services.  We also entered into an agreement with Alaska Airlines for a digital trial of our Airvolution platform which provides airlines maximum visibility into their component repair cycle as well as access to our proprietary analytics and business intelligence capabilities.

Sales to government and defense customers were 33% of consolidated sales compared to 32% in the prior year's quarter reflecting growth from new government programs.  Second quarter sales to commercial customers, which also increased during the period, represented 67% of consolidated sales compared to 68% of consolidated sales in the second quarter of last year.

Gross profit margins decreased to 15.3% in the current quarter from 15.9% in the prior year quarter due primarily to operational challenges and delayed contract awards in Expeditionary Services.  Aviation Services gross profit margins were relatively flat at 16.1% compared to 16.2% in the prior year quarter.

Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of sales were 10.2% for the quarter compared to 10.0% last year, reflecting increased costs related to severance, investigation and compliance matters of $3.3 million.  Excluding these costs, selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of sales were 9.6% compared to 9.9% in the prior year quarter.

Net interest expense for the quarter was $1.8 million compared to $2.4 million last year.  Also during the quarter, the Company paid cash dividends of $2.6 million, or $0.075 per share.  Average diluted share count was 35.0 million in both the current and prior year quarters.

Cash flow provided by operating activities from continuing operations was $19.9 million during the current quarter compared to a use of cash of $8.3 million in the prior year quarter.  Excluding our accounts receivable financing program, our adjusted cash flow provided by operating activities from continuing operations was $20.4 million in the current quarter compared to a use of cash of $14.9 million in the prior year quarter.

Holmes concluded, "The fundamentals of our commercial and government end-markets remain strong and are driving continued demand for our services.  I am proud of our team for their successful execution in the first two quarters, and we are excited about the opportunities we see for the balance of the fiscal year."

Outlook
We are raising our financial guidance for Fiscal Year 2020, which now includes sales in the range of $2.150 to $2.225 billion and adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations of $2.50 to $2.65.  Our previous guidance included sales in the range of $2.1 to $2.2 billion and adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations of $2.45 to $2.65.  Compared to our prior financial guidance, the midpoint of our revised sales guidance increased from $2.150 to $2.188 billion and the midpoint of our revised adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations increased from $2.55 to $2.58.  We continue to expect selling, general and administrative expenses to be approximately 10.5% of sales and anticipate an effective tax rate of 24% in Fiscal Year 2020. 

Conference Call Information
AAR will hold its quarterly conference call at 3:45 p.m. CST on December 19, 2019. The conference call can be accessed by calling 866-802-4322 from inside the U.S. or 703-639-1319 from outside the U.S.  A replay of the conference call will also be available by calling 855-859-2056 from inside the U.S. or 404-537-3406 from outside the U.S. (access code 3846045). The replay will be available from 7:15 p.m. CST on December 19, 2019 until 10:59 p.m. CST on December 24, 2019.

About AAR
AAR is a global aerospace and defense aftermarket solutions company that employs more than 6,000 people in over 20 countries. Headquartered in the Chicago area, AAR supports commercial and government customers through two operating segments: Aviation Services and Expeditionary Services. AAR's Aviation Services include parts supply; OEM solutions; integrated solutions; maintenance, repair, overhaul; and engineering. AAR's Expeditionary Services include mobility systems and composite manufacturing operations. Additional information can be found at www.aarcorp.com.

This press release contains certain statements relating to future results, which are forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on beliefs of Company management, as well as assumptions and estimates based on information currently available to the Company, and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated, including those factors discussed under Item 1A, entitled "Risk Factors", included in the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2019. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize adversely, or should underlying assumptions or estimates prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described. These events and uncertainties are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many are beyond the Company's control. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events. For additional information, see the comments included in AAR's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.