• Karat Packaging Reports 2022 Third Quarter Financial Results

    Source: Nasdaq GlobeNewswire / 10 Nov 2022 15:10:00   America/Chicago

    CHINO, Calif., Nov. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Karat Packaging Inc. (Nasdaq: KRT) (“Karat”), a specialty distributor and manufacturer of environmentally friendly, disposable foodservice products and related items, today announced financial results for its third quarter and nine-months ended September 30, 2022.

    Third Quarter 2022 Highlights

    • Net sales of $110.0 million, up 7.1 percent from the prior-year quarter.
    • Gross profit of $34.2 million, up 14.7 percent from the prior-year quarter.
    • Gross margin of 31.1 percent, increased from 29.0 percent from the prior-year quarter.
    • Net income of $6.2 million, up 51.1 percent from the prior-year quarter.
    • Net income margin of 5.6 percent, increased from 4.0 percent from the prior-year quarter.
    • Adjusted EBITDA of $11.7 million, up 30.1 percent from the prior-year quarter.
    • Adjusted EBITDA margin of 10.7 percent, versus 8.8 percent in the prior-year quarter.
    • Record quarterly operating cash flow of $20.2 million
    • Financial liquidity of $54.5 million as of September 30, 2022

    2022 Outlook

    • Net sales for the 2022 fourth quarter: $95 million to $98 million, up from $91.3 million for the 2021 fourth quarter.
    • Gross margin goal for the 2022 full year: 31 percent to 32 percent on average.

    “Although net sales for the third quarter were above those of the prior year period - a particularly strong quarter due to COVID re-openings - results were impacted by customers’ destocking of certain inventory due to supply chain recovery,” said Alan Yu, chief executive officer. “Nevertheless, demand remains strong for our eco-friendly products and other offerings. Our eco-friendly products grew 26.7 percent during the quarter.

    “We continue to see solid gross margin improvement into the fourth quarter, further benefited from significantly lower ocean freight rates toward the end of the third quarter and the strong U.S. dollar, which is allowing us to implement some price reductions to proactively pass on savings to our customers.

    “Proceeding into the fourth quarter and fiscal 2023, we have implemented new initiatives to significantly grow online sales, and we are on track with our Green Earth Technology joint venture in Taiwan to start producing bagasse products at the end of 2022, with shipments to begin early in the new year.”

    Third Quarter 2022 Financial Results

    Net sales for the 2022 third quarter increased 7.1 percent to $110.0 million, from $102.7 million in the 2021 third quarter, a particularly strong quarter due to Covid re-openings.

    Gross profit for the 2022 third quarter increased 14.7 percent to $34.2 million, from $29.8 million in the prior-year quarter.

    Gross margin expanded 210 basis points to 31.1 percent, from 29.0 percent in the prior-year quarter. Gross margin was favorably impacted by a shift to higher margin products, such as environmentally friendly products, price increases implemented previously to partially offset increased product, ocean freight and labor costs, favorable foreign currency exchange rate from the strengthening of the US Dollar against Taiwan New Dollar, and improved operating efficiencies and leverage.

    Operating expenses in the 2022 third quarter were $26.3 million, or 23.9% of net sales, compared with $24.4 million, or 23.8% of net sales, in the prior-year quarter. The increase primarily resulted from higher labor costs due to workforce expansion, and an increase in rental expense due to distribution network expansion.

    Operating income in the third quarter of 2022 increased to $7.9 million, from $5.4 million in the prior-year quarter.

    Other income totaled $143,000 in the 2022 third quarter, compared with other expense totaled $24,000 in the prior-year quarter. Other income included foreign currency transactions gain of $369,000 for the 2022 third quarter, compared with foreign currency loss of 63,000 in the 2021 third quarter.

    The effective tax rate for the 2022 third quarter was 23.6 percent, compared with 23.7 percent for the prior-year quarter.

    Net income for the 2022 third quarter increased 51.1 percent to $6.2 million, from $4.1 million for the same quarter last year. Net income margin was 5.6 percent for the 2022 third quarter, compared with 4.0 percent a year ago.

    Net income attributable to Karat for the 2022 third quarter was $6.1 million, or $0.31 per diluted share, compared with $3.8 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, in the prior-year quarter.

    Adjusted EBITDA rose 30.1 percent to $11.7 million in the 2022 third quarter, from $9.0 million in the prior-year quarter. Adjusted EBITDA margin, a non-GAAP measure defined below, expanded 190 basis point to 10.7 percent of net sales, from 8.8 percent in the prior-year quarter.

    Adjusted diluted earnings per common share, a non-GAAP measure defined below, rose to $0.33 per share, from $0.22 per share in the prior-year quarter.

    Nine-Month 2022 Financial Results

    Net sales for the first nine months of 2022 increased 21.0 percent to $330.3 million, from $272.9 million in the same period last year.

    Gross profit for the first nine months of 2022 increased 28.8 percent to $102.4 million, from $79.5 million in the same period last year. Gross margin was 31.0 percent, an increase from 29.1 percent in the same period last year. The margin expansion resulted primarily from the shift to higher margin products, price increases implemented previously to partially offset increased product, ocean freight and labor costs, favorable foreign currency exchange rate impact from the strengthening of the US Dollar against Taiwan New Dollar, and improved operating efficiencies and fixed cost leverage, partially offset by higher freight and duty costs.

    Operating expenses were $77.2 million in the 2022 year-to-date period, compared with $63.5 million in the same period last year. The increase primarily included higher shipping and transportation costs and the increase in payroll-related costs due to workforce expansion.

    Operating income increased to $25.2 million in the first nine months of 2022, or 7.6 percent of net sales, compared with $16.0 million, or 5.9 percent of net sales, in the same period last year.

    Other income totaled $2.4 million in the first nine months of 2022, compared with $4.5 million in the same period last year. Other income in the first nine months of 2021 primarily reflected the $5.0 million gain on forgiveness of debt recorded in the second quarter.

    Net income increased to $21.3 million for the first nine months of 2022, from $16.5 million in the same period last year, which included the $5.0 million gain on forgiveness of debt recorded in the second quarter of 2021.

    Net income margin was 6.4 percent in the first nine months of 2022, versus 6.0 percent in the same period last year. Net income attributable to Karat was $19.1 million, or $0.96 per diluted share, in the first nine months of 2022, compared with $15.1 million, or $0.84 per diluted share, in the same period last year.

    Adjusted EBITDA increased to $36.6 million in the first nine months of 2022, compared with $26.2 million in the same period last year. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 11.1 percent in the 2022 year-to-date period, compared with 9.6 percent in the same period last year.

    Adjusted diluted earnings per common share, a non-GAAP measure defined below, rose to $1.03 per share, from $0.68 per share in the same period last year.

    Investor Conference Call

    The Company will host an investor conference call today, November 10, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time (5:00 p.m. Eastern Time) to discuss its 2022 third quarter results.

    Phone: 877-418-4045 (domestic); 412-317-6745 (international)
    Conference ID: Karat Packaging Inc.
    Webcast: Accessible at http://investor.karatpackaging.com/; archive available for approximately one year

    About Karat Packaging Inc.
    Karat Packaging Inc. is a specialty distributor and manufacturer of a wide range of environmentally friendly, disposable foodservice products and related items, primarily used by national and regional restaurants and in foodservice settings throughout the United States. Its products include food and take-out containers, bags, tableware, cups, lids, cutlery, straws, specialty beverage ingredients, equipment, gloves and other products. The company’s eco-friendly Karat Earth® line offers quality, sustainably focused products that are made from renewable resources. Karat Packaging also offers customized solutions, including new product development and design, printing, and logistics services. To learn more about Karat Packaging, please visit the company’s website at www.karatpackaging.com.

    Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
    Statements made in this release that are not statements of historical or current facts are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We caution readers that forward-looking statements are predictions based on our current expectations about future events. These forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, achieving continued increases in customer demand, along with achieving third quarter and full year financial guidance, are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Our actual results, performance, or achievements could differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including the risks discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” discussed under the caption “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in Part I of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, or any updates discussed under the caption “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in Part II of our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and in our other filings with the SEC. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise that occur after that date, except as required by law.

    Investor Relations and Media Contacts:

    PondelWilkinson Inc.
    Judy Lin Sfetcu/Roger Pondel
    310-279-5980
    ir@karatpackaging.com

    KARAT PACKAGING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)
    (In thousands, except share and per share data)

     Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
      2022   2021   2022   2021 
    Net sales$109,996  $102,711  $330,290  $272,910 
    Cost of goods sold 75,828   72,918   227,869   193,393 
    Gross profit 34,168   29,793   102,421   79,517 
    Operating expenses       
    Selling expense 9,413   9,855   28,218   24,026 
    General and administrative expense (including $665 and $683 associated with variable interest entity for the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively; $1,899 and $1,983 associated with variable interest entity for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively) 16,845   14,573   49,000   39,485 
    Total operating expenses 26,258   24,428   77,218   63,511 
    Operating income 7,910   5,365   25,203   16,006 
    Other income (expense)       
    Rental income (including $239 and $246 associated with variable interest entity for the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively; and $715 and $738 associated with variable interest entity for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively) 239   246   715   738 
    Other income (expense) 28   101   (235)  223 
    Gain (Loss) on foreign currency transactions 369   (63)  1,352   (347)
    Interest (expense) income (including $470 interest expense and $273 interest expense associated with variable interest entity for the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively; and $781 interest income and $283 interest expense associated with variable interest entity for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively) (493)  (308)  584   (1,158)
    Gain on forgiveness of debt          5,000 
    Total other income (expense) 143   (24)  2,416   4,456 
    Income before provision for income taxes 8,053   5,341   27,619   20,462 
    Provision for income taxes 1,900   1,268   6,323   4,001 
    Net income 6,153   4,073   21,296   16,461 
    Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest 57   287   2,189   1,312 
    Net income attributable to Karat Packaging Inc.$6,096  $3,786  $19,107  $15,149 
    Basic and diluted earnings per share:       
    Basic$0.31  $0.19  $0.96  $0.84 
    Diluted$0.31  $0.19  $0.96  $0.84 
    Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic 19,809,417   19,710,043   19,808,813   17,945,205 
    Weighted average common shares outstanding, diluted 19,938,042   19,881,295   19,922,047   18,110,127 

    KARAT PACKAGING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
    (In thousands, except share and per share data)

     September 30,
    2022
     December 31,
    2021
    Assets   
    Current assets   
    Cash and cash equivalents (including $1,568 and $1,163 associated with variable interest entity at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)$7,531 $6,483
    Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $1,695 and $583 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively (including $3 and $24 associated with variable interest entity at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively) 36,732  32,776
    Inventories 73,286  58,472
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets (including $187 and $63 associated with variable interest entity at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively) 7,258  5,141
    Total current assets 124,807  102,872
    Property and equipment, net (including $45,702 and $46,612 associated with variable interest entity at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively) 94,346  93,475
    Deposits 15,610  6,885
    Goodwill 3,510  3,510
    Intangible assets, net 360  380
    Other assets (including $47 and $65 associated with variable interest entity at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively) 827  477
    Total assets$239,460 $207,599
        
    Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity   
    Current liabilities   
    Accounts payable (including $27 and $136 associated with variable interest entity at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)$18,929 $18,470
    Accrued expenses (including $480 and $68 associated with variable interest entity at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively) 8,469  7,813
    Related party payable 4,858  2,003
    Income taxes payable (including $0 and $9 associated with variable interest entity at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively) 196  85
    Customer deposits (including $244 and $88 associated with variable interest entity as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively) 1,186  1,215
    Debt, current portion (including $948 and $1,178 associated with variable interest entity at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively) 948  1,178
    Other payables 242  
    Total current liabilities 34,828  30,764


     September 30,
    2022
     December 31,
    2021
    Deferred tax liability 5,634   5,634 
    Long-term debt, net of current portion and debt discount of $229 and $200 as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively (including $41,789 and $35,339 associated with variable interest entity at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively, and debt discount of $229 and $200 associated with variable interest entity as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively) 41,789   35,339 
    Other liabilities (including $1,302 and $2,637 associated with variable interest entity at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively) 3,127   3,837 
    Total liabilities 85,378   75,574 
        
    Karat Packaging Inc. stockholders’ equity   
    Common stock, $0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 19,832,417 and 19,809,417 shares issued and outstanding, respectively, at September 30, 2022; 19,827,417 and 19,804,417 shares issued and outstanding, respectively, at December 31, 2021 20   20 
    Additional paid in capital 85,519   83,694 
    Treasury stock, $0.001 par value, 23,000 shares at both September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 (248)  (248)
    Retained earnings 58,541   39,434 
    Total Karat Packaging Inc. stockholders’ equity 143,832   122,900 
    Noncontrolling interest 10,250   9,125 
    Total stockholders’ equity 154,082   132,025 
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity$239,460  $207,599 

    KARAT PACKAGING, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
    (In thousands)

     Nine Months Ended
    September 30,
      2022   2021 
    Cash flows from operating activities   
    Net income$21,296  $16,461 
    Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:   
    Depreciation and amortization 7,752   7,477 
    Adjustments to accounts receivable reserves 1,112    
    Adjustments to inventory reserves 441   133 
    Gain on sale of asset (33)   
    Change in fair value of interest rate swap (2,159)  (1,298)
    Amortization of loan fees 28   9 
    Stock-based compensation 1,774   1,088 
    Gain on forgiveness of debt    (5,000)
    (Increase) decrease in operating assets   
    Accounts receivable (5,068)  (9,438)
    Inventories (15,255)  (11,226)
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets (2,264)  840 
    Deposits (143)  (64)
    Other assets 100   (238)
    Increase (decrease) in operating liabilities   
    Accounts payable 459   (1,041)
    Accrued expenses 1,130   3,202 
    Related party payable 2,855   (2,427)
    Income taxes payable 111   65 
    Customer deposits (29)  574 
    Other liabilities 150    
    Other payable 242   (363)
    Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities$12,499  $(1,246)
    Cash flows from investing activities   
    Purchases of property and equipment (2,007)  (3,947)
    Proceeds from disposal of property and equipment 76    
    Deposits paid for property and equipment (11,471)  (3,792)
    Deposits paid for joint venture investment (4,000)   
    Proceeds from settlement of interest rate swap 825    
    Acquisition of Pacific Cup, Inc., net of cash acquired    (900)
    Net cash used in investing activities$(16,577) $(8,639)
    Cash flows from financing activities   
    Proceeds from line of credit 21,100   1,470 
    Payments on line of credit (21,100)  (34,639)
    Proceeds from long-term debt 27,477   15,997 
    Payments on long-term debt (21,338)  (38,985)
    Proceeds from exercise of stock options 51   67,592 
    Payments on capital lease obligations    (319)
    Payments of noncontrolling interest tax withholding (1,064)   
    Net cash provided by financing activities$5,126  $11,116 
    Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 1,048   1,231 
     Nine Months Ended
    September 30,
      2022   2021 
    Cash and cash equivalents   
    Beginning of year$6,483   448 
    End of year$7,531  $1,679 
    Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities:   
    Transfers from deposit to property and equipment$6,639  $3,215 
    Acquisition price of Pacific Cup, Inc. included within deposits$  $100 
    Gain on forgiveness of debt$  $5,000 
    Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:   
    Cash paid for income taxes$7,069  $3,324 
    Cash paid for interest$1,541  $2,472 

    KARAT PACKAGING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (UNAUDITED)

    (In thousands, except per share amounts)


    Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin:Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022
      2022  2021   2022  2021 
     Amounts% of revenueAmounts% of revenue Amounts% of revenueAmounts% of revenue
    Net income:$6,1535.6%$4,0734.0% $21,296 6.4%$16,461 6.0%
    Add (deduct):         
    Interest expense (income), net 4930.4  3080.3   (584)(0.2) 1,158 0.4 
    Provision for income taxes 1,9001.7  1,2681.2   6,323 1.9  4,001 1.5 
    Depreciation and amortization 2,6042.5  2,5342.5   7,752 2.4  7,477 2.7 
    Stock-based compensation expense 5980.5  8480.8   1,774 0.6  1,088 0.4 
    IPO related expenses   00.0      997 0.4 
    Gain on forgiveness of debt   00.0      (5,000)(1.8)
    Adjusted EBITDA$11,74810.7%$9,0318.8% $36,561 11.1%$26,182 9.6%


    Reconciliation of Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Common ShareThree Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
      2022   2021   2022   2021 
    Diluted earnings per common share:$0.31  $0.19  $0.96  $0.84 
    Add (deduct):       
    Stock-based compensation expense 0.03   0.04   0.09   0.06 
    IPO related expenses          0.06 
    Gain on forgiveness of debt          (0.28)
    Income tax impact of adjustments (0.01)  (0.01)  (0.02)   
    Adjusted diluted earnings per common shares$0.33  $0.22  $1.03  $0.68 






    Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA by Entity:
    Three Months Ended September 30, 2022 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022
     Karat PackagingGlobal WellsEliminationsConsolidated Karat PackagingGlobal WellsEliminationsConsolidated
    Net income (loss):$6,060$66$27$6,153 $19,096$2,531 $(331)$21,296 
    Add:         
    Interest expense (income), net 91 402  493  265 (849)   (584)
    Provision for income taxes 1,900   1,900  6,323     6,323 
    Depreciation and amortization 2,301 303  2,604  6,842 910    7,752 
    Stock-based compensation expense 598   598  1,774     1,774 
    Adjusted EBITDA$10,950$771$27$11,748 $34,300$2,592 $(331)$36,561 






    Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA by Entity:
    Three Months Ended September 30, 2021 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021
     Karat PackagingGlobal WellsEliminationsConsolidated Karat PackagingGlobal WellsEliminationsConsolidated
    Net income (loss):$3,786$332$(45)$4,073 $15,149 $1,517$(205)$16,461 
    Add (deduct)         
    Interest expense, net 35 273   308  875  283   1,158 
    Provision for income taxes 1,268    1,268  4,001     4,001 
    Depreciation and amortization 2,231 303   2,534  6,567  910   7,477 
    Stock-based compensation expense 848    848  1,088     1,088 
    IPO related expenses       997     997 
    Gain on forgiveness of debt       (5,000)    (5,000)
    Adjusted EBITDA$8,168$908$(45)$9,031 $23,677 $2,710$(205)$26,182 

    Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

    Karat utilizes certain financial measures and key performance indicators that are not defined by, or calculated in accordance with, GAAP to assess our financial and operating performance. A non-GAAP financial measure is defined as a numerical measure of a company’s financial performance that (i) excludes amounts, or is subject to adjustments that have the effect of excluding amounts, that are included in the comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP in the statement of operations; or (ii) includes amounts, or is subject to adjustments that have the effect of including amounts, that are excluded from the comparable GAAP measure so calculated and presented. The following non-GAAP measures are presented in this press release:

    • Beginning in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021, Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as net income before interest and income taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation expense, IPO related expenses and gain on forgiveness of debt. The prior period Adjusted EBITDA has been revised to conform to this definition.
    • Adjusted EBITDA margin is calculated by dividing Adjusted EBITDA by net sales.
    • Adjusted diluted earnings per common share is calculated as diluted earnings per common share, plus the per share impact of stock-based compensation, IPO related expense and gain on forgiveness of debt, and adjusted for the related tax effects of these adjustments.

    We believe the above-mentioned non-GAAP measures, which are used by management to assess the core performance of Karat, provide useful information and additional clarity of our operating results to our investors in their own evaluation of the core performance of Karat and facilitate a comparison of such performance from period to period. These are not measurements of financial performance or liquidity under GAAP and should not be considered in isolation or construed as substitutes for net income or other cash flow data prepared in accordance with GAAP for purposes of analyzing our profitability or liquidity. These measures should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, revenue, net income, earnings per share, cash flows or other measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, these non-GAAP financial measures may not provide information that is directly comparable to that provided by other companies, as other companies may calculate such financial results differently.

    KARAT PACKAGING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    NET SALES BY CATEGORY (UNAUDITED)
    (In Thousands)

     Three Months Ended
    September 30,
     Nine Months Ended
    September 30,
      2022  2021  2022  2021
     (in thousands)
    National and regional chains$23,956 $22,894 $73,943 $63,493
    Distributors 63,555  57,317  189,078  148,294
    Online 14,044  14,644  43,084  39,790
    Retail 8,441  7,856  24,185  21,333
     $109,996 $102,711 $330,290 $272,910

     


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