Alpha Pro Tech, Ltd., a leading manufacturer of products designed to protect people, products and environments, including disposable protective apparel and building products, announced financial results for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2017.

Lloyd Hoffman, CEO of Alpha Pro Tech, commented, “The third quarter financial results were punctuated by continued strength in gross margin and net income. We continue our ongoing efforts to optimize our cost structure and diligently manage inventory levels across all segments of our business. The consistent generation of net income and relatively low need for capital continues to drive free cash flow that allows us to invest in the business and introduce new products while also returning value to our shareholders through a sizeable share repurchase program.”  

“The new house wrap line that we launched during the third quarter provides us with a substantial opportunity in a segment of the market that we have not yet tapped into, significantly expanding our market prospects in the Building Supply segment,” added Hoffman. “Initial response to the REX™ Wrap Fortis with JX ALTA 360° Drainage Technology™ has been positive as contractors recognize the quality of the product and its unique features.”

Net sales

Consolidated sales for the third quarter of 2017 were $12.0 million, compared to $11.8 million in the third quarter of 2016, representing an increase of 2.3%. This increase consisted of increased sales in the Building Supply segment of $54,000, increased sales in the Disposable Protective Apparel segment of $147,000 and increased sales in the Infection Control segment of $69,000.

Building Supply segment sales for the three months ended September 30, 2017 increased by $54,000, or 0.8%, to $7.1 million, compared to $7.0 million for the same period of 2016. The sales mix of the Building Supply segment for the three months ended September 30, 2017 was 48% for synthetic roof underlayment, 42% for housewrap and 10% for other woven material. This compared to 57% for synthetic roof underlayment, 35% for housewrap and 8% for other woven material for the third quarter of 2016. Management believes that synthetic roof underlayment will be a growth driver in the coming year and expects the Building Supply segment to experience growth in 2018.

Sales for the Disposable Protective Apparel segment for the three months ended September 30, 2017 increased $147,000, or 4.0%, to $3.8 million, compared to $3.7 million for the same period of 2016.

Infection Control segment sales for the three months ended September 30, 2017 increased by $69,000, or 6.5%, to $1.13 million, compared to $1.06 million for the same period of 2016.

Consolidated sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 decreased by 6.2% to $34.1 million, down from $36.3 million for the comparable period of 2016. This decrease consisted of decreased sales in the Building Supply segment of $2.4 million and decreased sales in the Disposable Protective Apparel segment of $233,000, partially offset by increased sales in the Infection Control segment of $383,000.

Building Supply segment sales for the first nine months of 2017 decreased by $2.4 million, or 11.1%, to $19.3 million, compared to $21.7 million for the same period of 2016. The decrease was primarily due to a 25.3% decrease in sales of synthetic roof underlayment, partially offset by a 10.0% increase in sales of housewrap and a 30.3% increase in sales of other woven material.

Sales for the Disposable Protective Apparel segment for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 decreased by $0.2 million, or 2.1%, to $10.9 million, compared to $11.1 million for the same period of 2016. Sales in the Disposable Protective Apparel segment have been up in the two most recent quarters, despite being down year to date. The year to date decrease is primarily due to decreased sales to national and regional distributors, partially offset by an increase to our major international supply chain partner.

Infection Control segment sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 increased by $0.4 million, or 11.0%, to $3.9 million, compared to $3.5 million for the same period of 2016.

Gross profit

Gross profit for the third quarter of 2017 increased by 4.3% to $4.7 million, or 39.1% gross profit margin, compared to $4.5 million, or 38.3% gross profit margin, for the same period of 2016.

Gross profit for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 increased by $0.2 million, or 1.4%, to $13.5 million, compared to $13.3 million for the same period of 2016. The gross profit margin was 39.6% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to 36.6% for the same period of 2016. Management expects gross profit margin to be around 39% in 2017.
   
Selling, general and administrative expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased by $0.3 million, or 9.2%, to $3.5 million for the third quarter of 2017, compared to $3.2 million for the same period of 2016. The increase was primarily due to an increase in sales and marketing expenses, as we invested in additional sales representatives primarily in the Building Supply segment. As a percentage of net sales, selling, general and administrative expenses increased to 28.6% for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017, up from 26.8% for the same period of 2016.

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased by $0.3 million, or 3.2%, to $10.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, up from $10.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. As a percentage of net sales, selling, general and administrative expenses increased to 30.1% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, up from 27.4% for the same period of 2016.

Net income

Net income increased for the third quarter of 2017 to $1.1 million, compared to $1.0 million for the same period of 2016, an increase of $84,000, or 8.2%. Net income as a percentage of net sales for the third quarter of 2017 and 2016 was 9.2% and 8.7%, respectively. Basic and diluted earnings per common share for the third quarters of 2017 and 2016 were $0.07 and $0.06, respectively.

Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was $2.5 million, compared to $2.3 million for the same period of 2016, an increase of 5.8%. The increase in net income was due to an increase in income before provision for income taxes of $162,000, partially offset by an increase in provision for income taxes of $28,000. Net income as a percentage of net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was 7.2%, and net income as a percentage of net sales for the same period of 2016 was 6.4%. Basic and diluted earnings per common share for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 were $0.16 and $0.14, respectively.

Balance Sheet

The consolidated balance sheet remained strong with a cash balance of $9.0 million as of September 30, 2017, a decrease of $0.5 million from $9.5 million as of December 31, 2016. The decrease in cash was due to cash used in investing activities of $386,000 and cash used in financing activities of $2.8 million, primarily the repurchase of common stock, partially offset by cash provided by operating activities of $2.7 million. The Company ended the third quarter of 2017 with working capital of $25.6 million and a current ratio of 14:1.

Inventory decreased by $1.5 million, or 13.9%, to $9.5 million as of September 30, 2017, down from $11.0 million as of December 31, 2016. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in inventory for the Disposable Protective Apparel segment of $1.0 million, or 27.1%, to $2.7 million, a decrease in inventory for the Building Supply segment of $474,000, or 9.7%, to $4.4 million and a decrease in inventory for the Infection Control segment of $42,000, or 1.8%, to $2.3 million.

Colleen McDonald, Chief Financial Officer, commented, “At the end of the third quarter of 2017, we had $1.6 million available for additional stock purchases under our stock repurchase program. Year to date we have repurchased 898,242 shares of common stock at a cost of $2.9 million, bringing the program total to 15,869,773 shares of common stock repurchased at a cost of $27.9 million since the program’s inception. All stock is retired upon repurchase, and future repurchases are expected to be funded from cash on hand and cash flows from operating activities.”

The Company currently has no outstanding debt and maintains an unused $3.5 million credit facility. The Company believes that current cash balances and the borrowings available under its credit facility will be sufficient to satisfy projected working capital needs and planned capital expenditures for the foreseeable future.