Plexus Announces Fiscal First Quarter 2017 Financi

• Fiscal first quarter 2017 revenue of $635 million
• GAAP diluted EPS of $0.82
• Initiates fiscal second quarter 2017 revenue guidance of $620 to $650 million with GAAP diluted EPS of $0.71 to $0.79.

NEENAH, Wis., Jan. 18, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Plexus (NASDAQ: PLXS ) today announced financial results for its fiscal first quarter ended December 31, 2016, and guidance for its fiscal second quarter ending April 1, 2017.

Fiscal First Quarter 2017 Information

• Won 51 Manufacturing Solutions programs during the quarter representing approximately $217 million in annualized revenue when fully ramped into production
• Trailing four quarter Manufacturing Solutions wins total approximately $785 million in annualized revenue
• Purchased $7.1 million of our shares at an average price of $48.79 per share

Todd Kelsey, President and CEO, commented, “Late in the fiscal first quarter we fulfilled a broad-based pull-in of demand from customers within our Communications market sector that offset weaker than anticipated revenue from the Defense/Security/Aerospace market sector.  Consequently, fiscal first quarter revenue of $635 million was at the midpoint of our guidance range.  Strong operating performance enabled us to achieve GAAP diluted EPS of $0.82, at the top of our guidance range.” 

Mr. Kelsey continued, “Looking forward to our fiscal second quarter, we currently anticipate revenue in the range of $620 to $650 million.  The midpoint of this guidance suggests revenue will be sequentially flat.  Underlying revenue growth is expected to be offset by end-market weakness within the Communications market sector and an additional delay to the previously disclosed orders from a large Industrial/Commercial customer.  As a result of our continued strong operating performance, we are guiding GAAP diluted EPS in the range of $0.71 to $0.79.  Overall, our wins performance continues to accelerate with new program ramps progressing as anticipated, supporting our goal of achieving a $3 billion annual revenue run rate as we exit the fiscal year.”

Patrick Jermain, Senior Vice President and CFO, commented, “During the fiscal first quarter we generated $73 million in free cash flow, a result well above our projections.  Results from working capital initiatives drove fiscal first quarter cash cycle to 66 days, which was favorable to our expectations.”  Mr. Jermain continued, “Our sustained operating performance delivered fiscal first quarter GAAP operating margin of 5.3%.  We are pleased to guide GAAP operating margins in the range of 4.9% to 5.2% for the fiscal second quarter, even with absorbing seasonal compensation cost increases and the reset of US payroll taxes.”

Non-GAAP Financial Measures Plexus provides non-GAAP supplemental information, such as ROIC, Economic Return, and free cash flow, because such measures are used for internal management goals and decision making, and because they provide management and investors additional insight into financial performance.  In addition, management uses these and other non-GAAP measures, such as adjusted net income, adjusted gross margin and adjusted operating margin, to provide a better understanding of core performance for purposes of period-to-period comparisons.  Plexus believes that these measures are also useful to investors because they provide further insight by eliminating the effect of items that are not reflective of continuing operations.  For a full reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to comparable GAAP measures, please refer to Non-GAAP Supplemental Information and the attached Non-GAAP Supplemental Information Tables.

Market Sector and Business Segment Revenue Plexus reports revenue based on the market sector breakout set forth in the table below, which reflects the Company’s global market sector focused business development strategy.  The Company measures operational performance and allocates resources on a geographic segment basis.  Top 10 customers comprised 60% of revenue during the quarter, up one percentage point from the fiscal fourth quarter of 2016.

Non-GAAP Supplemental Information

ROIC and Economic Return ROIC for the fiscal first quarter of 2017 was 17.3%.  The Company defines ROIC as tax-effected annualized adjusted operating profit divided by average invested capital over a two-quarter period for the first quarter.  Invested capital is defined as equity plus debt, less cash and cash equivalents. The Company’s weighted average cost of capital for fiscal 2017 is 10.5%.  ROIC for the quarter less the Company’s weighted average cost of capital resulted in an Economic Return of 6.8%.

Free Cash Flow Calculation The Company defines free cash flow as cash flows provided by operations less capital expenditures.  For the three months ended December 31, 2016, cash flows provided by operations was $79.5 million, less capital expenditures of $7.0 million, resulting in free cash flow of $72.5 million.

Conference Call and Webcast Information

About Plexus – The Product Realization Company  Plexus ( www.plexus.com ) delivers optimized Product Realization solutions through a unique Product Realization Value Stream service model.  This customer-focused services model seamlessly integrates innovative product conceptualization, design, commercialization, manufacturing, fulfillment and sustaining services to deliver comprehensive end-to-end solutions for customers in the America, European and Asia-Pacific regions.

Plexus is the industry leader in servicing mid-to-low volume, higher complexity customer programs characterized by unique flexibility, technology, quality and regulatory requirements.  Award-winning customer service is provided to over 140 branded product companies in the Healthcare/Life Sciences, Industrial/Commercial, Communications and Defense/Security/Aerospace market sectors.

Safe Harbor and Fair Disclosure Statement The statements contained in this press release that are guidance or which are not historical facts (such as statements in the future tense and statements including believe, expect, intend, plan, anticipate, goal, target and similar terms and concepts), including all discussions of periods which are not yet completed, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the risk of customer delays, changes, cancellations or forecast inaccuracies in both ongoing and new programs; the lack of visibility of future orders, particularly in view of changing economic conditions; the economic performance of the industries, sectors and customers we serve; the effects of the volume of revenue from certain sectors or programs on our margins in particular periods; our ability to secure new customers, maintain our current customer base and deliver product on a timely basis; the particular risks relative to new or recent customers, programs or services, which risks include customer and other delays, start-up costs, potential inability to execute, the establishment of appropriate terms of agreements, and the lack of a track record of order volume and timing; the risks of concentration of work for certain customers; the effect of start-up costs of new programs and facilities; possible unexpected costs and operating disruption in transitioning programs, including as a result of a facility closure; the risk that new program wins and/or customer demand may not result in the expected revenue or profitability; the fact that customer orders may not lead to long-term relationships; our ability to manage successfully and execute a complex business model characterized by high product mix, low volumes and demanding quality, regulatory, and other requirements; the ability to realize anticipated savings from restructuring or similar actions, as well as the adequacy of related charges as compared to actual expenses; increasing regulatory and compliance requirements; the potential effects of regional results on our taxes and ability to use deferred tax assets and net operating losses; risks related to information technology systems and data security; the effects of shortages and delays in obtaining components as a result of economic cycles or natural disasters; the risks associated with excess and obsolete inventory, including the risk that inventory purchased on behalf of our customers may not be consumed or otherwise paid for by the customer, resulting in an inventory write-off; the weakness of areas of the global economy; the effect of changes in the pricing and margins of products; raw materials and component cost fluctuations; the potential effect of fluctuations in the value of the currencies in which we transact business; potential economic weakness and other effects resulting from the June 2016 vote of the United Kingdom to exit the European Union and the change in the U.S. presidential administration; the potential effect of other world or local events or other events outside our control (such as changes in energy prices, terrorism and weather events); the impact of increased competition; changes in financial accounting standards; and other risks detailed in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings (particularly in "Risk Factors" in our fiscal 2016 Form 10-K).

Investor and Media Contact Susan Hanson +1.920.751.5491 susan.hanson@plexus.com