Daktronics, Inc. Announces Third Quarter Fiscal 2010 Results

• Net sales decline 44%, resulting in a net loss of $8.4 million for the quarter
• Large sports business sees lower than expected orders
• Further cost reduction initiatives underway
• $25 million award of procurement contract from the New Jersey Turnpike Authority

BROOKINGS, S.D., Feb. 23, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Daktronics, Inc. (Nasdaq:DAKT) today reported fiscal 2010 third quarter net sales of $72.4 million and a net loss of ($8.4 million), or ($0.20) per diluted share, compared to net sales of $128.7 million and net income of $4.2 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, for the third quarter of fiscal 2009. Backlog at the end of the fiscal 2010 third quarter was approximately $100 million, compared with a backlog of approximately $128 million a year earlier and $90 million at the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2010.

Net sales, net (loss) and net (loss) per share for the nine months ended January 30, 2010 were $301.2 million, ($2.0 million) and ($0.05) per diluted share, respectively. This compares to net sales, net income and earnings per share of $459.6 million, $26.1 million and $0.63 per diluted share, respectively, for the same period in fiscal 2009.

Free cash flow, defined as cash provided by operations less net purchases of property and equipment, was $25.7 million through the third quarter of fiscal 2010, compared to a negative $11.3 million through the same period one year ago.

In January 2010, the company received a notice of award of a contract with the New Jersey Turnpike Authority to provide full color roadway advisory displays for approximately $25 million over a five-year period, with a minimum guaranteed commitment of approximately $9 million. This award is subject to final contract execution. Backlog at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2010 excludes this order.

The results for the third quarter of fiscal 2010 include a $1.4 million impairment of goodwill related to the company's Schools and Theatres business unit and its International business unit and a gain of approximately $1.5 million on insurance proceeds. The insurance proceeds were related to a fire in late October 2009 at the company's circuit board manufacturing plant and represents the proceeds in excess of the carrying value of the assets destroyed in the fire.

Order bookings in the third quarter of fiscal 2010 were down compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2009 primarily due to the lack of any of the large professional baseball projects moving forward and a number of other orders being delayed, some of which we expect to book in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010.

"A significant amount of orders came in late January 2010 or are delayed into the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 which limited conversion to sales in the third quarter," said Jim Morgan, president and chief executive officer. "The lack of large baseball projects for this season is highly unusual. We expect that the projects that didn't happen this year will still happen in the future. The interest of our customers in providing more entertainment value at sports venues using our display technology is still there. We have a list of potential projects in our sales pipeline for summer and fall delivery in calendar 2010, but there remains uncertainty on how the economy will impact these projects. We will know more about this as we move through the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 and into the first quarter of 2011."

Morgan continued, "In early February, we received the $25 million notice of award from the New Jersey Turnpike Authority as described above. This was a significant win for our Transportation business unit. This order, coupled with what appears to be the exit from North America by a recent aggressive competitor in transportation, reflects an improving situation for future growth opportunities in that business unit. We are estimating approximately $9 million of revenue from this order in fiscal 2011."

"The third quarter tends to be a slower time for orders in our Commercial and Schools and Theatres business units. In the Commercial business unit, our quoting activity and pipeline are rising, and we have a number of opportunities for larger video displays. In addition, we are seeing increased activity in digital billboards, primarily at the second and third tier company level. Within our Schools and Theatres business unit, we are seeing more opportunities for video display systems in high schools, which could drive growth in that business," added Morgan.

"Operating expenses, excluding the goodwill impairment, increased slightly from the second quarter of fiscal 2010 as benefit costs went up and the decreases in personnel costs were not enough to offset that increase," said Morgan. "As we look back over the past six quarters, we have reduced operating expenses by over 19% and manufacturing costs by over 28%. Given the results for the quarter and increased uncertainty of orders, we have become much more aggressive on cost reduction to ensure that we return to profitability while continuing to deliver products and services that our customers value." 

Morgan continued, "We are in the final stages of development of our new DVX outdoor video display product line and expect the first units to be shipped in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010. This new product line has been well received by our customers. It is an improved product at a lower price point which enhances our competitive position in the marketplace. The timing and the significance of bringing this major new product on line is causing our projected revenue for the fourth quarter to be back-end loaded, creating a risk that sales could slip in to the following quarter. We don't expect this to have any impact on customer commitments."

"Our gross profit margin decreases were primarily attributable to the decline in sales as compared to our cost infrastructure, higher than expected costs associated with existing customer maintenance agreements and further write-downs of inventory," said Bill Retterath, chief financial officer. "We expect gross profit margins to increase in the future, but the amount and timing of increase are difficult to predict."

Retterath continued, "During the fiscal 2010 third quarter, we closed on the purchase of a building located next to our main campus in Brookings that we had contractually committed to purchase three years ago. We are moving our circuit board manufacturing operation into this building. Our level of capital spending continues to be maintenance only expenditures."

Morgan concluded, "The current environment makes it more difficult than normal to predict what the future holds. We maintain our belief that our markets are still intact for the long-term, that much of the downturn in orders represents a delay in business versus a long-term decline in market opportunity, and that the business will rebound. When that does happen we will be well positioned to return to developing long-term shareholder returns. Until then, cost reduction will continue to be a primary focus for us."

Webcast Information

The company will host a conference call and webcast to discuss its financial results today at 10:00 am (Central Time). This call will be broadcast live at http://investor.daktronics.com and available for replay shortly after the event.

About Daktronics

Daktronics has strong leadership positions in, and is the world's largest supplier of, large screen video displays, electronic scoreboards, LED text and graphics displays, and related control systems. The company excels in the control of display systems, including those that require integration of multiple complex displays showing real-time information, graphics, animation and video. Daktronics designs, manufactures, markets and services display systems for customers around the world, in Sport, Business, Schools and Theatres and Transportation segments. For more information, visit the company's World Wide Web site at: http://www.daktronics.com, e-mail the company at investor@daktronics.com, call (605) 692-0200 or toll-free (800) 843-5843 in the United States or write to the company at 201 Daktronics Dr., PO Box 5128 Brookings, S.D. 57006-5128.

The Daktronics logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=5476

Safe Harbor Statement

Cautionary Notice: In addition to statements of historical fact, this news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is intended to enjoy the protection of that Act. These forward-looking statements reflect the Company's expectations or beliefs concerning future events. The Company cautions that these and similar statements involve risk and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectation, including, but not limited to, changes in economic and market conditions, management of growth, timing and magnitude of future contracts, and other risks noted in the company's SEC filings, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for its 2009 fiscal year. Forward-looking statements are made in the context of information available as of the date stated. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise such statements to reflect new circumstances or unanticipated events as they occur.

CONTACT:  Daktronics, Inc.
          Investor Relations:
          Bill Retterath, Chief Financial Officer
          (605) 692-0200
          Investor@daktronics.com

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