Optical Cable Corporation (NASDAQ:OCC) is a leading manufacturer of a broad range of fiber optic and copper data communication cabling and connectivity solutions primarily for the enterprise market and various harsh environment and specialty markets, as well as the wireless carrier market. Optical Cable Corporation has demonstrated its ability to navigate the challenging macroeconomic environment, showcasing resilience in its financial performance.
Financials
For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023, Optical Cable Corporation reported annual net income of $2.07 million and annual revenue of $72.17 million. Optical Cable Corporation's annual operating cash flow was negative $0.40 million, while its annual free cash flow stood at negative $0.92 million. These financial results reflect Optical Cable Corporation's ability to maintain profitability and generate cash flow, despite the headwinds faced in the industry.
In the second quarter of fiscal year 2024, Optical Cable Corporation reported consolidated net sales of $16.1 million, a decrease of 17.9% compared to the same period in the prior year. Optical Cable Corporation experienced a decrease in net sales in both its enterprise and specialty markets, including the wireless carrier market, which it believes is consistent with the weakness being experienced across the industry and in certain of its target markets.
Sequentially, however, Optical Cable Corporation's net sales increased 8.5% during the second quarter of fiscal year 2024 compared to the first quarter, reflecting sequential increases in both the enterprise and specialty markets. This sequential improvement suggests that Optical Cable Corporation is outperforming its competitors in certain areas.
Gross profit for the second quarter of fiscal year 2024 was $4.0 million, a decrease of 40.5% compared to the same period in the prior year. Gross profit margin, or gross profit as a percentage of net sales, was 25.1% in the second quarter of fiscal year 2024, compared to 34.6% in the same period last year. The decrease in gross profit margin was primarily due to lower sales volumes, which resulted in fixed charges being spread over lower sales, as well as decreased plant efficiency due to the impact of operating leverage.
For the first half of fiscal year 2024, Optical Cable Corporation reported consolidated net sales of $31.0 million, a decrease of 18.3% compared to the same period in the prior year. Gross profit for the first half of fiscal year 2024 was $7.8 million, a decrease of 41.7% compared to the first half of fiscal year 2023. Gross profit margin for the first half of fiscal year 2024 was 25.0%, compared to 35.1% in the same period last year.
Optical Cable Corporation's selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) expenses decreased to $5.3 million in the second quarter of fiscal year 2024, compared to $5.7 million in the same period last year. SG&A expenses as a percentage of net sales were 33.0% in the second quarter of fiscal year 2024, compared to 28.9% in the same period last year, as fixed SG&A expenses were spread over lower net sales.
For the first half of fiscal year 2024, Optical Cable Corporation's SG&A expenses decreased 6.3% to $10.4 million, compared to $11.1 million in the first half of fiscal year 2023. SG&A expenses as a percentage of net sales were 33.6% in the first half of fiscal year 2024, compared to 29.3% in the same period last year.
Optical Cable Corporation reported a net loss of $1.6 million, or $0.21 per share, in the second quarter of fiscal year 2024, compared to net income of $2.4 million, or $0.31 per share, in the same period last year. For the first half of fiscal year 2024, Optical Cable Corporation reported a net loss of $3.0 million, or $0.39 per share, compared to net income of $3.2 million, or $0.41 per share, in the first half of fiscal year 2023.
Geographical Performance
Geographically, Optical Cable Corporation's net sales to customers in the United States decreased 17.7% in the second quarter of fiscal year 2024, compared to the same period last year, while net sales to customers outside of the United States decreased 18.5%. For the first half of fiscal year 2024, net sales to customers in the United States decreased 17.8%, and net sales to customers outside of the United States decreased 20.3%, compared to the same period in the prior year.
Sales Order Backlog
Optical Cable Corporation's sales order backlog and forward load at the end of the second quarter of fiscal year 2024 remained at a more typical level of approximately $5.6 million, compared to a higher-than-typical backlog and forward load of more than $12 million at the beginning of fiscal year 2023. This normalization of the sales order backlog and forward load contributed to the year-over-year decreases in net sales.
Outlook
Looking ahead, Optical Cable Corporation expects its net sales to begin to grow compared to the first half of fiscal year 2024. Optical Cable Corporation believes there are positive indicators in certain of its markets, despite the continued softness in its enterprise and wireless carrier markets. Optical Cable Corporation's decision to maintain its production headcount, despite the industry-wide reductions, is expected to position it well to meet rebounding demand and outperform its competitors as market conditions improve.
Conclusion
Optical Cable Corporation's financial performance in the face of macroeconomic headwinds demonstrates the company's resilience and its ability to navigate challenging market conditions. Optical Cable Corporation's diversified product offerings, geographic reach, and strategic decisions have enabled it to mitigate the impact of the industry-wide weakness and position itself for potential growth opportunities in the future.