February 3rd, 2021, 07.00 hrs CET Sales for the full year of 2020 were 507.5 million EUR, an increase of 4% compared to the previous year. The EUR/USD exchange rate evolution had a negative impact on sales of 1% compared to 2019. The gross result was 198.0 million EUR or 39.0% of sales, an increase of 1% compared to 2019. R&D expenses were 15.3% of sales, G&A was at 6.1% of sales and Selling was at 2.7% of sales.
The operating result was 75.5 million EUR or 14.9% of sales, an increase of 7% compared to 70.6 million EUR in 2019.
The net result was 69.3 million EUR or 1.72 EUR per share, an increase of 15% compared to 60.3 million EUR or 1.49 EUR per share in 2019.
Sales for the fourth quarter of 2020 were 147.4 million EUR, an increase of 16% compared to the same quarter of the previous year and an increase of 21% compared to the previous quarter.
The EUR/USD exchange rate evolution had a negative impact on sales of 3% compared to the same quarter of last year and a negative impact of 1% compared to the previous quarter.
The gross result was 58.3 million EUR or 39.5% of sales, an increase of 16% compared to the same quarter of last year and an increase of 30% compared to the previous quarter.
R&D expenses were 13.7% of sales, G&A was at 5.9% of sales and Selling was at 2.5% of sales.
The operating result was 25.8 million EUR or 17.5% of sales, an increase of 41% compared to the same quarter of last year and an increase of 64% compared to the previous quarter.
The net result was 24.0 million EUR or 0.59 EUR per share, an increase of 56% compared to 15.4 million EUR or 0.38 EUR per share in the fourth quarter of 2019 and an increase of 61% compared to the previous quarter.
Dividend
The Board of Directors approved on January 29th, 2021 to propose to the Annual Shareholders meeting to pay out over the result of 2020 a total dividend of 2.20 EUR gross per share. This amount contains an interim dividend of 1.30 EUR per share which was paid in October 2020 and a final dividend of 0.90 EUR per share which will be payable after approval of the Annual Shareholders meeting.
The Melexis shares will start trading ex coupon on May 12, 2021 (opening of the market). The record date is May 13, 2021 (closing of the market) and the dividend will be payable as from May 14, 2021.
Outlook
Melexis expects sales in the first quarter of 2021 to be in the range of 155 to 160 million euro.
For the full year 2021, Melexis expects sales growth between 15% and 20%, with a gross profit margin around 41% and an operating margin around 19% at the midpoint of the sales guidance, all taking into account a EUR/USD exchange rate of 1.21.
Business comment – Françoise Chombar, CEO:
“After two difficult years in which we faced severe global trade tensions and an unprecedented pandemic, the end of 2020 marked a turning point for Melexis. Despite the numerous challenges that COVID-19 posed, out of adversity came opportunity: next to catering to our valued automotive customers as always, Melexis also tapped into adjacent applications that gained momentum with the COVID-19 outbreak. As a result, we concluded the year with a 4% year-over-year sales growth.
During the fourth quarter, we launched no less than 8 new products, half of which are specifically conceived for adjacent markets such as 2-/3-wheelers, home appliances and products for industrial use. Newly launched automotive products include current sensors, a smart tire sensor and a novel motor driver for mechatronic applications, all of which serve the future car, carbon free and intelligent. Based on 2020 data, we can now state that on average, every new car worldwide carries 13 Melexis chips on board from 11 the year before. All this makes me very proud and excited for the future.
Sales to automotive customers represented 88% of total sales, both in the fourth quarter and in the full year 2020. The portion of standard product (ASSPs) sales represented 70% of total sales in the fourth quarter and 69% in the full year 2020.
At the start of 2021, we are witnessing exceptionally strong order behavior, driven by steep restocking and revived end market demand. This condensed ordering pattern is now causing supply chain and delivery disruptions in parts of the automotive industry, the bullwhip effect in action at warp speed. Having intentionally kept its inventories at a higher than usual level in the past year, Melexis had a head start to cope with this elevated demand.
The 2021 full year sales guidance we provide is built on the one hand on meeting the strong order behavior we see today for the first half of the year, while also remaining cautious about the evolution of end market demand in the second half of the year.”
The statutory auditor PwC Bedrijfsrevisoren BV has confirmed that the audit, which is substantially complete, has not to date revealed any material misstatement in the draft consolidated accounts, and that the accounting data reported in the press release is consistent, in all material respects, with the draft accounts from which it has been derived.
Financial Calendar
- Publication Q1 Results 2021: April 28, 2021 (at 7 hrs CET)
- Annual Shareholders Meeting: May 11, 2021
- Dividend pay date: May 14, 2021 (ex coupon on May 12, 2021)
- Analyst Meeting: June 1st, 2021
- Publication Q2 Results 2021: July 28, 2021 (at 7 hrs CET)
- Publication Q3 Results 2021: October 27, 2021 (at 7 hrs CET)
- Publication FY 2021 Results: February 2, 2022 (at 7 hrs CET)
The company’s results will be discussed in a conference call and an audiocast on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2021 at 10:30 hrs CET.
To register for the conference call (possibility to ask questions)
The conference call will be in English. You have to register for this conference call in advance. You can register by clicking here and filling out the requested information. After registration, you will receive the conference call number, a participant user pin, conference pin and instructions on how to join the conference call. For security purposes, all participants must register individually if they wish to join the call.
To register for the audiocast (no possibility to ask questions)
To register for the audiocast, click here.
Source: https://www.melexis.com/en