OREANDA-NEWS. August 02, 2016. FreightCar America, Inc. (NASDAQ:RAIL) today reported results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2016, with a net loss of \\$0.5 million, or \\$(0.04) per diluted share, compared to net income of \\$7.4 million, or \\$0.60 per diluted share, in the same period last year.

“The second quarter results did not meet our expectations,” said Joe McNeely, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Second quarter results reflected lower deliveries and higher costs due to a number of production-related matters, including the introduction of new car types. We are aggressively addressing all production issues and looking to significantly reduce our operating costs as we enter an increasingly competitive environment. Our backlog remains solid, totaling 6,207 railcars at June 30, 2016, with full year 2016 deliveries now expected to be between 5,600 and 6,100 railcars.”

Consolidated revenues were \\$126.2 million in the second quarter of 2016 compared to \\$235.6 million in the same quarter of 2015. The Company delivered 1,372 railcars in the second quarter of 2016, all of which were new railcars. This compares to 2,611 railcars delivered in the second quarter of 2015, which included 1,861 new and 750 rebuilt railcars.

Consolidated operating loss for the second quarter of 2016 was \\$0.6 million, compared to operating income of \\$10.9 million in the second quarter of 2015.

Cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities and restricted cash were \\$83.6 million as of June 30, 2016, compared to \\$116.9 million as of December 31, 2015.  The decrease reflects the \\$32.9 million payment made in the first quarter of 2016 related to the retiree medical benefits litigation settlement.

COST REDUCTION PLAN

Over the next 12 months, the Company expects to reduce its annual operating costs by approximately \\$5 million by implementing the following:

  • 15% reduction of the Company’s salaried workforce
  • Closure of the Johnstown administrative office
  • Reduction of certain discretionary spending

These actions are currently underway and are expected to be completed by the middle of 2017. The total estimated costs relating to this program are approximately \\$4.0 million, including approximately \\$2.5 million of employee-related costs and approximately \\$1.3 million in non-cash charges for asset impairments.  The Company expects to incur approximately \\$1.5 million of these costs in the third quarter of 2016 and approximately \\$0.8 million of these costs in the fourth quarter of 2016. 

“We plan to manage our cost structure to align it with the evolving business environment,” said Mr. McNeely. “We do not make these decisions lightly. These decisions are difficult but necessary to better position us to deliver solid results and maintain our financial strength.” 

The Company will host a conference call and live webcast on Tuesday, August 2, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. (Eastern Daylight Time) to discuss the Company’s second quarter 2016 financial results. To participate in the conference call, please dial (800) 288-8967, Confirmation Number 398562.  Interested parties are asked to dial in approximately 10 to 15 minutes prior to the start time of the call. The live audio-only webcast can be accessed at:

Event URL: https://im.csgsystems.com/cgi-bin/confCast 

Conference ID#: 398562

If you need technical assistance, call the toll-free AT&T Conference Casting Support Help Line at (888) 793-6118. Please note that the webcast is listen-only and webcast participants will not be able to participate in the question and answer portion of the conference call.  An audio replay of the conference call will be available beginning at 1:00 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time) on August 2, 2016 until 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time) on September 2, 2016.  To access the replay, please dial (800) 475-6701.  The replay pass code is 398562.  An audio replay of the call will be available on the Company’s website within two days following the earnings call.

FreightCar America, Inc. manufactures a wide range of railroad freight cars, supplies railcar parts and leases freight cars through its JAIX Leasing Company subsidiary. FreightCar America designs and builds high-quality railcars, including coal cars, bulk commodity cars, covered hopper cars, intermodal and non-intermodal flat cars, mill gondola cars, coil steel cars and boxcars. It is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois and has facilities in the following locations: Cherokee, Alabama; Danville, Illinois; Grand Island, Nebraska; Johnstown, Pennsylvania; and Roanoke, Virginia. More information about FreightCar America is available on its website at www.freightcaramerica.com. 

This press release may contain statements relating to our expected financial performance and/or future business prospects, events and plans that are “forward-looking statements” as defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date of this press release. Our actual results may differ materially from the results described in or anticipated by our forward-looking statements due to certain risks and uncertainties. These potential risks and uncertainties include, among other things: the cyclical nature of our business; adverse economic and market conditions; fluctuating costs of raw materials, including steel and aluminum, and delays in the delivery of raw materials; our ability to maintain relationships with our suppliers of railcar components; our reliance upon a small number of customers that represent a large percentage of our sales; the variable purchase patterns of our customers and the timing of completion, delivery and customer acceptance of orders; the highly competitive nature of our industry; the risk of lack of acceptance of our new railcar offerings by our customers; and the additional risk factors described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We expressly disclaim any duty to provide updates to any forward-looking statements made in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 
FreightCar America, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
 
 June 30,December 31,
 20162015
 (In thousands)
Assets  
Current assets  
Cash and cash equivalents\\$    63,463 \\$    83,068 
Restricted cash and restricted certificates of deposit   5,168    6,896 
Marketable securities    14,988    26,951 
Accounts receivable, net   16,530    39,708 
Inventories, net   136,079    115,354 
Other current assets   26,479    8,704 
Total current assets   262,707    280,681 
   
Property, plant and equipment, net   47,266    42,596 
Railcars available for lease, net   24,369    24,729 
Goodwill   21,521    21,521 
Deferred income taxes, net   10,827    34,722 
Other long-term assets   1,877    2,655 
Total assets\\$    368,567 \\$    406,904 
   

 Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity		  
Current liabilities  
Accounts and contractual payables\\$    39,141 \\$    34,304 
Accrued payroll and employee benefits   3,576    8,303 
Accrued postretirement benefits   405    405 
Reserve for workers’ compensation   4,299    4,165 
Accrued warranty   8,964    9,239 
Customer deposits and deferred revenue    18,724    8,615 
Income taxes payable —    4,180 
Other current liabilities   3,317    3,346 
Total current liabilities   78,426    72,557 
Accrued pension costs   6,465    6,673 
Accrued postretirement benefits, less current portion   5,986    72,497 
Deferred income state and local incentives, long-term   11,126    12,190 
Accrued taxes and other long-term liabilities   7,784    7,876 
Total liabilities   109,787    171,793 
   
Stockholders’ equity  
Preferred stock   —   — 
Common stock   127    127 
Additional paid in capital   91,577    93,939 
Treasury stock, at cost   (14,551)   (17,516)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (7,985)   (21,078)
Retained earnings   189,612    179,639 
Total stockholders’ equity   258,780    235,111 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity\\$    368,567 \\$    406,904 
FreightCar America, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)
 
 Three Months Ended
June 30,		 Six Months Ended
June 30,
  2016  2015   2016  2015 
 (In thousands, except for share and per share data)
      
Revenues\\$126,157 \\$235,637  \\$274,747 \\$328,441 
Cost of sales 118,080  213,831   250,783  302,082 
Gross profit 8,077  21,806   23,964  26,359 
Selling, general and administrative expenses 8,678  10,924   19,276  19,767 
Gain on sale of railcars available for lease —  —   —  (1,187)
Gain on settlement of postretirement benefit obligation, net of plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees —  —   (14,306) — 
Operating (loss) income (601) 10,882   18,994  7,779 
              
Interest expense and deferred financing costs (41) (58)  (86) (128)
Other income 1  31   82  83 
(Loss) income before income taxes (641) 10,855   18,990  7,734 
Income tax (benefit) provision (173) 3,458   6,791  2,410 
Net (loss) income\\$(468)\\$7,397  \\$12,199 \\$5,324 
      
Net (loss) income per common share – basic\\$(0.04)\\$0.60  \\$0.99 \\$0.44 
      
Net (loss) income per common share – diluted\\$(0.04)\\$0.60  \\$0.99 \\$0.43 
      
Weighted average common shares outstanding -     
basic 12,261,308  12,195,683   12,256,720  12,108,636 
      
Weighted average common shares outstanding -     
diluted 12,261,308  12,244,468   12,256,720  12,190,154 
      
Dividends declared per common share\\$0.09 \\$0.09  \\$0.18 \\$0.18 
      
FreightCar America, Inc.
Condensed Segment Data
(Unaudited)
 
 Three Months Ended
June 30,		 Six Months Ended
June 30,
  2016  2015   2016  2015 
 (In thousands)
Revenues:     
Manufacturing\\$    124,224 \\$    227,016  \\$    270,295 \\$    312,113 
Corporate and other (1)   1,933    8,621     4,452    16,328 
Consolidated revenues\\$    126,157 \\$    235,637  \\$    274,747 \\$    328,441 
      
Operating (Loss) Income:     
Manufacturing\\$    5,430 \\$    17,235  \\$    18,212 \\$    19,093 
Corporate and other (1)(2)   (6,031)   (6,353)    782    (11,314)
Consolidated operating (loss) income\\$    (601)\\$    10,882  \\$    18,994 \\$    7,779 
(1) Results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 included results from the Company’s railcar repair and maintenance services business that was sold on September 30, 2015.
(2) Results for the six months ended June 30, 2016 included a \\$14,306 gain on settlement of a postretirement benefit plan obligation, net of plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees.
FreightCar America, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
 
 Six Months Ended
 June 30,
  2016  2015 
 (In thousands)
Cash flows from operating activities  
Net income\\$  12,199 \\$  5,324 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows used in operating activities:  
Depreciation and amortization   5,117    4,948 
Recognition of deferred income from state and local incentives    (1,064)    (351)
Gain on sale of railcars available for lease   —     (1,187)
Gain on settlement of postretirement benefit plan obligation    (15,606)   — 
Deferred income taxes   16,904    1,670 
Stock-based compensation expense recognized   674    1,178 
Other non-cash items   731    1,622 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:  
Accounts receivable   23,178    (33,832)
Inventories   (21,445)   (69,649)
Other assets   (6,659)   (3,528)
Accounts and contractual payables   4,486    30,576 
Accrued payroll and employee benefits   (4,727)   (1,481)
Income taxes receivable/payable   (7,682)   734 
Accrued warranty   (275)   (85)
Customer deposits and other liabilities   10,014    (33,007)
Payment for settlement of postretirement benefit plan obligation   (31,616) — 
Accrued pension costs and accrued postretirement benefits   (6,404)   1,310 
Net cash flows used in operating activities   (22,175)   (95,758)
   
Cash flows from investing activities  
Purchase of restricted certificates of deposit   (1,182)   (2,165)
Maturity of restricted certificates of deposit   2,910    295 
Purchase  of securities held to maturity —    (17,997)
Proceeds from maturity of securities   12,001    24,004 
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment and railcars available for lease —    7,651 
Purchases of property, plant and equipment   (8,781)   (10,163)
State and local incentives received —    4,907 
Net cash flows provided by investing activities   4,948    6,532 
       
Cash flows from financing activities      
Stock option exercise —    4,885 
Employee stock settlement   (71)   (1,048)
Deferred financing costs   (81) — 
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation —    13 
Cash dividends paid to stockholders   (2,226)   (2,201)
Net cash flows (used in) provided by financing activities     (2,378)     1,649 
   
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents   (19,605)   (87,577)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period     83,068      113,532 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period\\$  63,463 \\$  25,955