HEICO Corporation (NYSE:HEI) reported second-quarter fiscal 2019 earnings of 60 cents per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 49 cents. The bottom line rose 36.4% from the prior-year quarter’s figure of 44 cents. The year-over-year improvement was driven by higher sales in the reported quarter and a 30% increase in operating income.
Total Sales
Quarterly net sales of $515.6 million outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $478 million by 7.9%. The top line also increased 19.7% from the year-ago quarter’s $430.6 million. The upside can be primarily attributed to the company’s organic growth and favorable impact from the company’s profitable acquisitions.
Operational Update
HEICO Corp’s total costs and expenses increased 17% year over year to $396.5 million in the reported quarter. The uptick was due to higher cost of sales, and increased selling, general and administrative expenses.
The company’s consolidated operating margin improved to 23.1% in the second quarter of fiscal 2019, up from 21.3% in the second quarter of fiscal 2018.
Segmental Performance
Flight Support Group: Net sales were up 15.1% year over year to $308.3 million, attributable to strong organic growth of 15% along with increased demand and new product offerings within the company’s aftermarket replacement parts and specialty products categories.
Operating income improved 20.7% year over year to $62.2 million, courtesy of net sales growth and improved gross profit margin, mainly reflecting a more favorable product mix within the specialty products category.
Segmental operating margin increased to 20.2% in the second quarter of fiscal 2019, up from 19.2% in the second quarter of fiscal 2018.
Electronic Technologies Group: Net sales rose 27.1% year over year to $214.5 million, majorly owing to increased demand for certain defense, aerospace and space products.
The segment’s operating margin improved to 31.4% in the second quarter of fiscal 2019, up from 28.5% in the second quarter of fiscal 2018.
Operating income increased 39.9% year over year to $67.4 million, largely on account of quarterly net sales growth, improved gross profit margin, and a favorable product mix for certain defense and aerospace products.
Heico Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Heico Corporation price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Heico Corporation Quote
Financial Details
As of Apr 30, 2019, cash and cash equivalents summed $64.1 million compared with $59.6 million as of Oct 31, 2018.
Long-term debt (net of current maturities) totaled $555.5 million as of Apr 30, 2019, up from $531.6 million as of Oct 31, 2018.
For the six months ended Apr 30, 2019, cash provided by operating activities was $178.3 million compared with $103.4 million in the year
ago period.
Fiscal 2019 Guidance
HEICO Corp estimates fiscal 2019 net sales to grow 12-13%, up from its prior growth estimates of 9-11%.
The company also anticipates net income growth of 17-18% for the fiscal, up from the prior growth estimates of 11-13%.
Zacks Rank
HEICO Corp. currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Other Defense Releases
Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) reported first-quarter 2019 earnings from continuing operations of 76 cents per share, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 70 cents by 8.6%.
Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:LMT) reported first-quarter 2019 earnings of $5.99 per share, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.29 by 39.6%.
The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) reported adjusted earnings of $3.16 per share for first-quarter 2019, which outshined the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.11 by 1.6%.
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