Benchmark Electronics(US:BHE)2025-02-24 21:19Sales Performance - Sales for 2024 were $2.7 billion, a 6% decrease from $2.8 billion in 2023, primarily due to decreases in medical and AC&C sales [173]. - Sales to the ten largest customers represented 50% of total sales in 2024, with the largest customer, Applied Materials, accounting for 14% of total sales [174]. - Sales in the Semi-Cap sector increased by 12% to $723.2 million in 2024, driven by demand from existing and new customers [181]. - Medical sales decreased by 19% to $450.7 million in 2024, attributed to inventory rebalancing and end-demand weakness [182]. Financial Performance - Net income for 2024 was $63.3 million, or $1.72 per diluted share, compared to $64.3 million, or $1.79 per diluted share, in 2023 [203]. - Gross profit margin increased to 10.2% in 2024 from 9.5% in 2023, despite gross profit remaining relatively consistent at $270.0 million [188]. - Operating income in the Americas decreased by 37% to $40.2 million in 2024, primarily due to lower revenue [190]. - Interest expense decreased to $26.9 million in 2024 from $31.9 million in 2023, mainly due to decreased borrowings [198]. Cash Flow and Investments - Cash and cash equivalents totaled $328.0 million at December 31, 2024, up from $283.2 million at December 31, 2023 [204]. - Cash provided from operating activities was $189.2 million in 2024, consisting of $63.3 million net income and $46.1 million depreciation and amortization [207]. - Cash used in investing activities was $32.8 million in 2024, primarily for capital expenditures of $31.3 million for property, plant, and equipment [209]. - Cash used in financing activities was $109.1 million in 2024, including $600.0 million in borrowings and $674.1 million in principal payments under the Credit Agreement [210]. Capital Expenditures and Borrowings - The Company plans capital expenditures of approximately $65 million to $75 million over the next 12 months to increase production capacity [217]. - As of December 31, 2024, the Company had $123.0 million in borrowings outstanding under the term loan facility and $135.0 million under the revolving credit facility [215]. - The Company amended its Credit Agreement to increase the revolving credit facility commitments from $450 million to $550 million [214]. - As of December 31, 2024, the Company had $410.6 million available for borrowings under the Credit Agreement [217]. Shareholder Returns - The Company repurchased 0.1 million shares for $5.1 million in 2024, with an average price of $40.27 per share [220]. - Cash dividends paid in 2024 totaled $23.9 million, compared to $23.5 million in 2023 and $23.2 million in 2022 [221]. Risk Management - The company is exposed to foreign currency fluctuation risks and utilizes natural hedging and forward contracts to manage transactional exposure [241]. - Sales are primarily denominated in U.S. dollars, with foreign currency cash flows generated in certain European and Asian countries and Mexico [242]. - The company is also exposed to market risks related to interest rates on financial instruments, particularly on invested cash balances [243]. - The company does not use derivative financial instruments for speculative purposes, focusing instead on managing risks associated with foreign currency and interest rates [241]. Compliance and Obligations - The Company is in compliance with all financial covenants related to its Credit Agreement as of December 31, 2024 [216]. - The company has contractual obligations extending beyond 2024 related to lease obligations and debt arrangements, with some electronic component manufacturers experiencing lead-times exceeding 52 weeks due to supply chain constraints [236]. - The company has not guaranteed obligations of any entity outside of its wholly owned subsidiaries, maintaining a conservative financial approach [236]. Goodwill and Impairment - As of December 31, 2024, the fair value of the Americas and Asia reporting units was determined to be greater than their carrying amounts, indicating no further goodwill impairment testing was required [234]. - Changes in economic and operating conditions may lead to future goodwill impairment charges, highlighting the importance of ongoing assessments [234].