Table of Contents
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
☒QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarter ended June 30, 2024
OR
☐TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
For the transition period from _________ to _________
Commission file number 1-13905
COMPX INTERNATIONAL INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE
57-0981653
(State or other jurisdiction ofincorporation or organization)
(IRS EmployerIdentification No.)
5430 LBJ Freeway, Suite 1700
Dallas, Texas 75240-2620
(Address of principal executive offices)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (972) 448-1400
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Trading Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
Class A common stock
CIX
NYSE American
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
☐
Accelerated filer
Non-accelerated filer
☒
Smaller reporting company
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒.
As of July 30, 2024, the registrant had 12,318,557 shares of Class A common stock, $.01 par value per share, outstanding.
Table of Contents
Index
Page
Part I.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.
Financial Statements
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets – December 31, 2023 and June 30, 2024 (unaudited)
- 3 -
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income (unaudited) – Three and six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2024
- 4 -
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (unaudited) – Three and six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2024
- 5 -
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) –Six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2024
- 6 -
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
- 7 -
Item 2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
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Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk
- 18 -
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
Part II.
OTHER INFORMATION
Legal Proceedings
- 20 -
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
Item 6.
Exhibits
Items 2, 3, 4 and 5 of Part II are omitted because there is no information to report.
- 2 -
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)
December 31,
June 30,
ASSETS
2023
2024
(unaudited)
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$
41,393
70,172
Marketable securities
35,354
11,934
Accounts receivable, net
17,061
15,435
Inventories, net
30,712
27,363
Prepaid expenses and other
2,110
1,768
Total current assets
126,630
126,672
Other assets:
Note receivable from affiliate
10,600
9,200
Goodwill
23,742
Other noncurrent assets
769
723
Total other assets
35,111
33,665
Property and equipment:
Land
5,390
Buildings
23,239
23,262
Equipment
74,315
74,651
Construction in progress
676
770
103,620
104,073
Less accumulated depreciation
77,757
79,336
Net property and equipment
25,863
24,737
Total assets
187,604
185,074
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
15,745
13,164
Income taxes payable to affiliate
1,460
560
Total current liabilities
17,205
13,724
Noncurrent liabilities:
Deferred income taxes
1,509
1,141
Other
41
26
Total noncurrent liabilities
1,550
1,167
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
—
123
Additional paid-in capital
53,275
53,396
Retained earnings
115,457
116,665
Accumulated other comprehensive loss - unrealized loss on marketable securities
(6)
(1)
Total stockholders' equity
168,849
170,183
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
Commitments and contingencies (Note 8)
See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(In thousands, except per share data)
Three months ended
Six months ended
Net sales
36,616
35,887
77,767
73,858
Cost of sales
26,343
24,722
54,790
53,026
Gross margin
10,273
11,165
22,977
20,832
Selling, general and administrative expense
5,906
6,084
11,570
12,036
Operating income
4,367
5,081
11,407
8,796
Interest income
992
1,295
1,939
2,519
Income before income taxes
5,359
6,376
13,346
11,315
Provision for income taxes
1,287
1,532
3,206
2,717
Net income
4,072
4,844
10,140
8,598
Other comprehensive income (loss), marketable securities adjustment:
Unrealized income (loss) arising during year, net
(72)
10
(102)
5
Comprehensive income
4,000
4,854
10,038
8,603
Basic and diluted net income per common share
.33
.39
.82
.70
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding
12,310
12,316
12,309
12,315
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2024 (unaudited)
Accumulated
Class A
Additional
other
Total
common
paid-in
Retained
comprehensive
stockholders'
stock
capital
earnings
loss
equity
Balance at March 31, 2023
53,155
108,166
(47)
161,397
Issuance of common stock
120
Cash dividends ($.25 per share)
(3,078)
Other comprehensive loss
Balance at June 30, 2023
109,160
(119)
162,439
Balance at March 31, 2024
115,517
(11)
168,904
121
Cash dividends ($.30 per share)
(3,696)
Other comprehensive income
Balance at June 30, 2024
Six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2024 (unaudited)
Balance at December 31, 2022
105,175
(17)
158,436
Cash dividends ($.50 per share)
(6,155)
Balance at December 31, 2023
Cash dividends ($.60 per share)
(7,390)
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization
2,009
1,846
(421)
(370)
Noncash interest income
(855)
(574)
Other, net
232
267
Change in assets and liabilities:
2,794
1,628
(2,585)
3,201
(1,619)
(2,586)
Accounts with affiliates
(208)
(900)
Prepaids and other, net
281
389
Net cash provided by operating activities
9,768
11,499
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures
(478)
(730)
Marketable securities:
Purchases
(24,925)
Proceeds from maturities
12,000
24,000
Note receivable from affiliate:
Collections
14,700
13,400
Advances
(13,700)
(12,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
(12,403)
24,670
Cash flows from financing activities -
Dividends paid
Cash and cash equivalents - net change from:
Operating, investing and financing activities
(8,790)
28,779
Balance at beginning of period
26,748
Balance at end of period
17,958
Supplemental disclosures -
Cash paid for income taxes
3,847
4,006
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2024
Note 1 – Organization and basis of presentation:
Organization. We (NYSE American: CIX) were approximately 87% owned by NL Industries, Inc. (NYSE: NL) at June 30, 2024. At June 30, 2024, Valhi, Inc. (NYSE: VHI) owned approximately 83% of NL’s outstanding common stock and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Contran Corporation owned approximately 91% of Valhi’s outstanding common stock. A majority of Contran’s outstanding voting stock is held directly by Lisa K. Simmons, Thomas C. Connelly (the husband of Ms. Simmons’ late sister) and various family trusts established for the benefit of Ms. Simmons, Mr. Connelly and their children and for which Ms. Simmons, Mr. Connelly or Mr. Connelly’s sister, as applicable, serve as trustee (collectively, the “Other Trusts”). With respect to the Other Trusts for which Mr. Connelly or his sister serves as trustee, the trustee is required to vote the shares of Contran voting stock held in such trusts in the same manner as Ms. Simmons. Such voting rights of Ms. Simmons last through April 22, 2030 and are personal to Ms. Simmons. The remainder of Contran’s outstanding voting stock is held by another trust (the “Family Trust”), which was established for the benefit of Ms. Simmons and her late sister and their children and for which a third-party financial institution serves as trustee. Consequently, at June 30, 2024 Ms. Simmons and the Family Trust may be deemed to control Contran, and therefore may be deemed to indirectly control the wholly-owned subsidiary of Contran, Valhi, NL and us.
Basis of presentation. Consolidated in this Quarterly Report are the results of CompX International Inc. and its subsidiaries. The unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements contained in this Quarterly Report have been prepared on the same basis as the audited Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 28, 2024 (the “2023 Annual Report”). In our opinion, we have made all necessary adjustments (which include only normal recurring adjustments) in order to state fairly, in all material respects, our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows as of the dates and for the periods presented. We have condensed the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2023 contained in this Quarterly Report as compared to our audited Consolidated Financial Statements at that date, and we have omitted certain information and footnote disclosures (including those related to the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2023) normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). Our results of operations for the interim periods ended June 30, 2024 may not be indicative of our operating results for the full year. The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements contained in this Quarterly Report should be read in conjunction with our 2023 Consolidated Financial Statements contained in our 2023 Annual Report.
On August 6, 2024 our board of directors declared a special cash dividend of $2.00 per share on our Class A common stock payable on August 28, 2024 to stockholders of record at the close of business on August 19, 2024.
Our operations are reported on a 52 or 53-week year. For presentation purposes, annual and quarterly information in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes are presented as ended June 30, 2023, December 31, 2023 and June 30, 2024. The actual dates of our annual and quarterly periods are July 2, 2023, December 31, 2023 and June 30, 2024, respectively. Unless otherwise indicated, references in this report to “we”, “us” or “our” refer to CompX International Inc. and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
Note 2 – Business segment information:
Net sales:
Security Products
25,672
28,213
53,014
58,100
Marine Components
10,944
7,674
24,753
15,758
Total net sales
Operating income:
4,134
5,442
9,513
10,892
1,943
1,387
5,260
1,421
Corporate operating expenses
(1,710)
(1,748)
(3,366)
(3,517)
Total operating income
Intersegment sales are not material.
n
Note 3 – Marketable securities:
Amortized
Unrealized
Market value
cost basis
loss, net
December 31, 2023:
Current assets
35,359
(5)
June 30, 2024:
11,935
Our marketable securities consist of investments in debt securities, currently U.S. government treasuries. We classify our marketable securities as available-for-sale. The fair value of our marketable securities is generally determined using Level 2 inputs because although these securities are traded, in many cases the market is not active and the quarter-end valuation is generally based on the last trade of the quarter, which may be several days prior to quarter end. We accumulate unrealized gains and losses on marketable debt securities as part of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of related deferred income taxes.
Note 4 – Accounts receivable, net:
Accounts receivable, net:
14,950
12,596
2,181
2,909
Allowance for doubtful accounts
(70)
Total accounts receivable, net
- 8 -
Note 5 – Inventories, net:
Raw materials:
3,569
3,658
2,169
1,596
Total raw materials
5,738
5,254
Work-in-process:
13,879
12,213
5,163
4,858
Total work-in-process
19,042
17,071
Finished goods:
3,175
2,825
2,757
2,213
Total finished goods
5,932
5,038
Total inventories, net
Note 6 – Accounts payable and accrued liabilities:
Accounts payable:
2,514
3,103
634
680
Corporate
8
Accrued liabilities:
Employee benefits
10,712
6,862
Deferred revenue
559
461
Insurance
289
334
Taxes other than on income
285
344
Advances from customers
133
Customer tooling
145
347
Professional services
533
340
359
Total accounts payable and accrued liabilities
Note 7 – Provision for income taxes:
Expected tax expense, at the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate of 21%
1,126
1,339
2,803
2,376
State income taxes
161
188
401
333
2
Total provision for income taxes
Comprehensive provision for income taxes allocable to:
Other comprehensive income (loss) - marketable securities
(18)
1
(31)
1,269
1,533
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Note 8 – Commitments and contingencies:
From time to time, we may be involved in various environmental, contractual, product liability, patent (or intellectual property), employment and other claims and disputes incidental to our business. At least quarterly our management discusses and evaluates the status of any pending litigation to which we are a party. The factors considered in such evaluation include, among other things, the nature of such pending cases, the status of such pending cases, the advice of legal counsel and our experience in similar cases (if any). Based on such evaluation, we make a determination as to whether we believe (i) it is probable a loss has been incurred, and if so if the amount of such loss (or a range of loss) is reasonably estimable, or (ii) it is reasonably possible but not probable a loss has been incurred, and if so if the amount of such loss (or a range of loss) is reasonably estimable, or (iii) the probability a loss has been incurred is remote. We have not accrued any amounts for litigation matters because it is not reasonably possible we have incurred a loss that would be material to our consolidated financial statements, results of operations or liquidity.
Note 9 – Financial instruments:
See Note 3 for information on how we determine the fair value of our marketable securities.
The following table presents the financial instruments that are not carried at fair value but which require fair value disclosure:
December 31, 2023
Carrying
Fair
amount
value
Due to their near-term maturities, the carrying amounts of accounts receivable and accounts payable are considered equivalent to fair value.
Note 10 – Related party transactions:
From time to time, we may have loans and advances outstanding between us and various related parties pursuant to term and demand notes. We generally enter into these loans and advances for cash management purposes. When we loan funds to related parties, we are generally able to earn a higher rate of return on the loan than we would earn if we invested the funds in other instruments, and when we borrow from related parties, we are generally able to pay a lower rate of interest than we would pay if we had incurred third-party indebtedness. While certain of these loans to affiliates may be of a lesser credit quality than cash equivalent instruments otherwise available to us, we believe we have considered the credit risks in the terms of the applicable loans. In this regard, we have an unsecured revolving demand promissory note with Valhi under which, as amended, we agreed to loan Valhi up to $25 million. Our loan to Valhi, as amended, bears interest at prime plus 1.00%, payable quarterly, with all principal due on demand, but in any event no earlier than December 31, 2025. Loans made to Valhi at any time under the agreement are at our discretion. At June 30, 2024, the outstanding principal balance receivable from Valhi under the promissory note was $9.2 million. Interest income (including unused commitment fees) on our loan to Valhi was $.6 million and $.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2024, respectively.
Note 11 – Recent Accounting Pronouncements:
In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures. The ASU requires public companies to disclose significant segment expenses and other segment items on an annual and interim basis. The ASU also mandates public companies to provide all annual segment disclosures currently required annually in interim periods. Public companies will also be required to disclose the title and position of the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) and explain how the CODM uses the reported measure of segment profit or loss in assessing segment performance and allocation of resources. The ASU is effective for us beginning with our 2024 Annual Report, and for interim reporting, in the first quarter of 2025, with retrospective application required. We are in the process of evaluating the additional disclosure requirements across all segments.
- 10 -
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. The ASU requires additional annual disclosure and disaggregation for the rate reconciliation, income taxes paid and income tax expense by federal, state and foreign tax jurisdictions. In addition, the standard increases the disclosure requirements for items included in the rate reconciliation that meet a quantitative threshold. The ASU is effective for us beginning with our 2025 Annual Report. The ASU may be applied prospectively; however, entities have the option to apply it retrospectively. We are in the process of evaluating the additional disclosure requirements.
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ITEM 2.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Business Overview
We are a leading manufacturer of engineered components utilized in a variety of applications and industries. Through our Security Products segment we manufacture mechanical and electrical cabinet locks and other locking mechanisms used in postal, recreational transportation, office and institutional furniture, cabinetry, tool storage and healthcare applications. We also manufacture wake enhancement systems, stainless steel exhaust systems, gauges, throttle controls, trim tabs and related hardware and accessories for the recreational marine and other industries through our Marine Components segment.
General
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Statements in this Quarterly Report that are not historical facts are forward-looking in nature and represent management’s beliefs and assumptions based on currently available information. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “believes,” “intends,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “anticipates,” “expects” or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategies or trends. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, we do not know if these expectations will be correct. Such statements by their nature involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could significantly impact expected results. Actual future results could differ materially from those predicted. The factors that could cause actual future results to differ materially from those described herein are the risks and uncertainties discussed in this Quarterly Report and those described from time to time in our other filings with the SEC and include, but are not limited to, the following:
Should one or more of these risks materialize or if the consequences worsen, or if the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from those currently forecasted or expected. We disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement whether as a result of changes in information, future events or otherwise.
Operating Income Overview
Operating income in the second quarter of 2024 was $5.1 million compared to $4.4 million in the second quarter of 2023. The increase in operating income in the second quarter of 2024 compared to 2023 is due to higher Security Products sales and gross margin which more than offset lower Marine Components sales and gross margin. Operating income for the first six months of 2024 was $8.8 million compared to $11.4 million in the first six months of 2023. The decrease in operating income in the first six months of 2024 compared to 2023 is primarily due to lower Marine Components sales and gross margin partially offset by higher Security Products sales and higher Security Products gross margin in the second quarter of 2024 compared to the second quarter of 2023.
We sell a large number of products that have a wide variation in selling price and manufacturing cost, which results in certain practical limitations on our ability to quantify the impact of changes in individual product sales quantities and selling prices on our net sales, cost of sales and gross margin. In addition, small variations in period-to-period net sales, cost of sales and gross margin can result from changes in the relative mix of our products sold.
Results of Operations
%
(Dollars in thousands)
100.0
71.9
68.9
28.1
31.1
Operating costs and expenses
16.1
17.0
12.0
14.1
70.5
71.8
29.5
28.2
14.8
16.3
14.7
11.9
Net sales. Net sales decreased $.7 million and $3.9 million in the second quarter and for the first six months of 2024, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2023 due to lower Marine Components sales primarily to the towboat
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market, partially offset by higher Security Products sales to the government security market. See segment discussion below.
Cost of sales and gross margin. Cost of sales as a percentage of sales improved 3.0% in the second quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. As a result, gross margin as a percentage of sales increased over the same period. Gross margin percentage increased in the second quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023 primarily due to higher Security Products gross margin percentage and, to a lesser extent, higher gross margin percentage at Marine Components. Cost of sales as a percentage of sales increased 1.3% for the first six months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. As a result, gross margin as a percentage of sales declined over the same period. The decline in gross margin percentage for the six-month comparative period is primarily due to lower gross margin percentage at Marine Components, particularly in the first quarter of 2024, partially offset by higher gross margin percentage at Security Products in the second quarter of 2024. See segment discussion below.
Operating costs and expenses. Operating costs and expenses consist primarily of sales and administrative-related personnel costs, sales commissions and advertising expenses directly related to product sales and administrative costs relating to business unit and corporate management activities, as well as any gains and losses on property and equipment. Operating costs and expenses for the second quarter and for the first six months of 2024 increased $.2 million and $.5 million, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2023 primarily due to higher employee salaries and benefits at Security Products. Operating costs and expenses as a percentage of net sales increased for the second quarter and for the first six months of 2024 due to the increased operating costs and expenses mentioned above and decreased coverage of operating costs and expenses as a result of lower sales.
Operating income. As a percentage of net sales, operating income for the second quarter and the first six months of 2024 compared to the same periods of 2023 was primarily impacted by the factors affecting sales, cost of sales, gross margin and operating costs and expenses. See segment discussion below.
Interest income. Interest income increased $.3 million and $.6 million in the second quarter and for the first six months of 2024, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2023 primarily due to higher average interest rates and higher average investment balances, somewhat offset by lower average balances on the revolving promissory note receivable from Valhi. See Notes 3 and 10 to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Provision for income taxes. A tabular reconciliation of our actual tax provision to the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate is included in Note 7 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. Our operations are wholly within the U.S. and therefore our effective income tax rate is primarily reflective of the U.S. federal statutory rate and applicable state taxes.
Segment Results
Key performance indicators for our segments are gross margin and operating income.
Change
Security Products:
18,253
19,261
6
37,128
40,376
9
7,419
8,952
21
15,886
17,724
12
3,285
3,510
7
6,373
6,832
32
14
28.9
31.7
30.0
30.5
Operating income margin
19.3
17.9
18.7
Security Products. Security Products net sales increased 10% in each of the second quarter and first six months of 2024 compared to the same periods in 2023. Relative to prior year, the increase in second quarter sales was primarily due to $2.8 million higher sales to the government security market partially offset by $.4 million lower sales to distributors.
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Relative to prior year, the increase in sales for the first six months was primarily due to $4.6 million higher sales to the government security market partially offset by $.5 million lower sales to distributors.
Gross margin and operating income as a percentage of net sales for the second quarter and the first six months of 2024 increased as compared to the same periods in 2023 primarily due to effects of higher sales and increased coverage of fixed costs and operating costs and expenses as a result of higher sales, partially offset by a less favorable customer and product mix and increased operating costs and expenses related to higher employee salaries and benefits.
Marine Components:
(30)
(36)
8,090
5,461
(32)
17,662
12,650
(28)
2,854
(22)
7,091
3,108
(56)
911
826
(9)
1,831
1,687
(8)
(29)
(73)
26.1
28.8
28.6
19.7
17.8
18.1
21.2
9.0
Marine Components. Marine Components net sales decreased 30% in the second quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. Relative to prior year, the decrease in second quarter sales was primarily due to $3.1 million lower sales to the towboat market. Marine Components net sales decreased 36% in the first six months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. Relative to prior year, the decrease in sales for the first six months was primarily due to $7.4 million lower sales to the towboat market, $.6 million lower sales to each of the engine builder and industrial markets, and $.5 million lower sales to distributors.
Gross margin and operating income as a percentage of net sales improved in the second quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. Gross margin as a percentage of net sales increased primarily due to a favorable customer and product mix, partially offset by decreased coverage of fixed costs as a result of lower sales. Operating income as a percentage of net sales increased in the second quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023 due to the factors impacting gross margin as well as slightly reduced operating costs and expenses, including lower employee salaries and benefits of approximately $.1 million, partially offset by decreased coverage of operating costs and expenses on lower sales. For the first six months of 2024, gross margin as a percentage of net sales declined compared to the same period in 2023 primarily due to higher cost inventory produced during the fourth quarter of 2023 and sold in the first quarter of 2024 and decreased coverage of fixed costs as a result of lower sales, partially offset by a more favorable customer and product mix in the second quarter of 2024. Operating income as a percentage of net sales decreased in the first six months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023 due to the factors impacting gross margin as well as decreased coverage of operating costs and expenses on lower sales, partially offset by reduced operating costs and expenses, including lower employee salaries and benefits of $.1 million.
Outlook. In the first six months of 2024, Security Products benefitted from a general increase in sales across many markets and particularly increased sales of mechanical locks to the government security market; however some of the overall demand improvement was offset by lower demand from distributors as noted above. At Marine Components, the decline in sales to the towboat market as a result of the contraction in the recreational marine industry that began late in the first quarter of 2023 has continued. We are focused on aligning our resources with current demand levels, and particularly at Marine Components, we are adjusting inventory levels, operating expenses and labor resources to align with current demand while also preserving our ability to respond quickly when demand increases. Generally, raw material prices have stabilized, our supply chains are stable and transportation and logistical delays are minimal. We have adjusted our order patterns in response to the stability of our raw material supplies.
We expect Security Products, net sales in 2024 to be lower than 2023 as the increase in demand experienced in the first half of 2024 is expected to be more than offset by lower comparative government security sales in the second half of the year as sales from the 2023 pilot project will not repeat. Additionally, we are unsure if current demand levels across the variety of the markets Security Products serves are sustainable as our customers continue to express uncertainty
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regarding consumer demand levels. Overall, we expect Security Products gross margin will be comparable to 2023, although we expect operating income as a percentage of sales to decline due to our limited pricing power along with reduced coverage of selling, general and administrative costs as a result of lower expected sales. We expect Marine Components net sales for the full year of 2024 will be lower as compared to 2023 because we believe demand in the towboat market will further decline. The recreational marine industry faces strong headwinds due to higher interest rates and broader market weakness. Several original equipment boat manufacturers, including certain of our customers, have publicly announced further reductions to their 2024 production schedules. Overall, we expect Marine Components gross margin as a percentage of net sales for 2024 to be lower than 2023 due to lower coverage of fixed overhead as a result of lower expected sales, and operating income as a percentage of net sales to be similarly lower as a result of reduced coverage of selling, general and administrative expenses due to lower expected sales. We ended 2023 with elevated inventory balances at our Marine Components segment as a result of increased orders of certain raw materials due to previously long lead times coupled with the rapidly changing towboat demand which created a misalignment of our raw materials with near term demand. We made significant progress in aligning our Marine Components inventory balances with current demand in the first half of 2024 and expect this alignment to continue over the remainder of 2024.
Our expectations for our operations and the markets we serve are based on a number of factors outside our control. We have experienced global and domestic supply chain challenges, and any future impacts on our operations will depend on, among other things, any future disruption in our operations or our suppliers’ operations, the impact of economic conditions and geopolitical events on demand for our products or our customers’ and suppliers’ operations, all of which remain uncertain and cannot be predicted.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Consolidated cash flows –
Operating activities. Trends in cash flows from operating activities, excluding changes in assets and liabilities, have generally been similar to the trends in operating earnings. Changes in assets and liabilities result primarily from the timing of production, sales and purchases. Changes in assets and liabilities generally tend to even out over time. However, period-to-period relative changes in assets and liabilities can significantly affect the comparability of cash flows from operating activities.
Our net cash provided by operating activities for the first six months of 2024 increased by $1.7 million as compared to the first six months of 2023. The increase in net cash provided is primarily due to the net effects of:
Changes in working capital can have a significant effect on cash flows from operating activities. As shown below, the change in our average days sales outstanding from December 31, 2023 to June 30, 2024 varied by segment primarily as a result of relative changes in the timing of sales and collections relative to the end of the quarter. For comparative purposes, we have provided December 31, 2022 and June 30, 2023 numbers below.
Days Sales Outstanding:
2022
45 Days
40 Days
37 Days
30 Days
31 Days
34 Days
Consolidated CompX
41 Days
36 Days
39 Days
Our average number of days in inventory increased from December 31, 2023 to June 30, 2024 primarily due to the increase at Security Products somewhat offset by the decline at Marine Components. Security Products days in inventory at December 31, 2023 is lower than usual due to the fulfillment and shipping of a significant order during the fourth quarter of 2023 and June 30, 2024 is more favorable to June 30, 2023 balances due to planned inventory reductions.
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The average number of days in inventory for Marine Components declined from December 31, 2023 to June 30, 2024 as a result of planned inventory reductions. For comparative purposes, we have provided December 31, 2022 and June 30, 2023 numbers below.
Days in Inventory:
101 Days
119 Days
77 Days
88 Days
95 Days
111 Days
175 Days
144 Days
99 Days
117 Days
Investing activities. Our capital expenditures were $.7 million and $.5 million in the first six months of 2024 and 2023, respectively. During the first six months of 2024, Valhi repaid a net $1.4 million under the promissory note ($12.0 million of gross borrowings and $13.4 million of gross repayments). During the first six months of 2023, Valhi repaid a net $1.0 million under the promissory note ($13.7 million of gross borrowings and $14.7 million of gross repayments). See Note 10 to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
During the first six months of 2024, we received gross proceeds totaling $24.0 million related to U.S. treasury bill maturities. During the first six months of 2023, we had gross purchases of U.S. treasury marketable securities aggregating $24.9 million and received gross proceeds totaling $12.0 million related to U.S. treasury bill maturities. See Note 3 to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Financing activities. Financing activities consisted only of quarterly cash dividends. In February 2024, our board of directors increased our regular quarterly dividend from $.25 per share to $.30 per share beginning in the first quarter of 2024. During the first six months of 2024 and 2023, we paid aggregate quarterly dividends to CompX stockholders of $7.4 million and $6.2 million, respectively. The declaration and payment of future dividends and the amount thereof, if any, is discretionary and is dependent upon our results of operations, financial condition, cash requirements for our businesses, contractual requirements and restrictions and other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors. The amount and timing of past dividends is not necessarily indicative of the amount or timing of any future dividends which we might pay. In this regard, in August 2024, our board of directors declared a special dividend of $2.00 per share on our Class A common stock, par value $.01 per share. The special dividend is payable on August 28, 2024 to stockholders of record at the close of business on August 19, 2024.
Future cash requirements –
Liquidity. Our primary source of liquidity on an ongoing basis is our cash flow from operating activities, which is generally used to (i) fund capital expenditures, (ii) repay short-term or long-term indebtedness incurred primarily for capital expenditures, investment activities or reducing our outstanding stock, (iii) provide for the payment of dividends (if declared), and (iv) lend to affiliates. From time-to-time, we will incur indebtedness, primarily to fund capital expenditures or business combinations.
Periodically, we evaluate liquidity requirements, alternative uses of capital, capital needs and available resources in view of, among other things, our capital expenditure requirements, dividend policy and estimated future operating cash flows. As a result of this process, we have in the past and may in the future seek to raise additional capital, refinance or restructure indebtedness, issue additional securities, modify our dividend policy or take a combination of such steps to manage our liquidity and capital resources. In the normal course of business, we may review opportunities for acquisitions, joint ventures or other business combinations in the component products industry. In the event of any such transaction, we may consider using available cash, issuing additional equity securities or increasing our indebtedness or that of our subsidiaries.
We believe that cash generated from operations together with cash on hand, as well as our ability to obtain external financing, will be sufficient to meet our liquidity needs for working capital, capital expenditures, debt service, dividends (if declared) and any amounts we might loan from time to time under the terms of our revolving loan to Valhi discussed in Note 10 to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (which loans would be solely at our discretion) for both the next 12 months and five years. To the extent that our actual operating results or other developments differ from our expectations, our liquidity could be adversely affected.
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All of our $82.1 million aggregate cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities at June 30, 2024 were held in the U.S.
Capital expenditures. Firm purchase commitments for capital projects in process at June 30, 2024 totaled $.6 million. We expect our capital expenditures for 2024 will be approximately $2.2 million primarily to meet our existing customer demand and those required to properly maintain our facilities and technology infrastructure.
Stock repurchase program. At June 30, 2024, we have 523,647 shares available for repurchase under a stock repurchase program authorized by our board of directors.
Commitments and contingencies –
We are subject to certain commitments and contingencies, as more fully described in our 2023 Annual Report, or in Note 8 to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements or in Part II, Item 1 of this report, including certain legal proceedings.
Recent accounting pronouncements –
See Note 11 to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Critical accounting policies –
There have been no changes in the first six months of 2024 with respect to our critical accounting policies presented in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our 2023 Annual Report.
ITEM 3.QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.
We are exposed to market risk from changes in interest rates and raw material prices. There have been no material changes in these market risks since we filed our 2023 Annual Report, and we refer you to Part I, Item 7A – “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk” in our 2023 Annual Report. See also Note 9 to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
ITEM 4.CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures. We maintain disclosure controls and procedures which, as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e), means controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit to the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Act”), is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information we are required to disclose in the reports that we file or submit to the SEC under the Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and our principal financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions to be made regarding required disclosure. Our management with the participation of Scott C. James, our President and Chief Executive Officer, and Amy A. Samford, our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the design and operating effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of June 30, 2024. Based upon their evaluation, these executive officers have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective as of the date of such evaluation.
Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting which, as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f), means a process designed by, or under the supervision of, our principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by our board of directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and includes those policies and procedures that:
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended June 30, 2024 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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Part II. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1.Legal Proceedings
In addition to the matter discussed below, refer to Note 8 to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and our 2023 Annual Report for descriptions of certain legal proceedings.
In June 2024, we were served in City of Columbia d/b/a Columbia Water v. 3M Company, Inc., et al. (Court of Common Pleas, Richland County, South Carolina, No. 2024-CP-40-03392). This is a lawsuit brought by a municipal water agency against the manufacturers of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (known as “PFAS”), as well as dozens of companies that allegedly used PFAS-containing products in their manufacturing processes. The water agency asserts that it must incur costs to remove PFAS from its water supply. The complaint alleges that CompX used products containing PFAS in its manufacturing facility in Mauldin, South Carolina, and that at least some PFAS attributable to CompX operations has traveled more than 90 miles to plaintiff’s water treatment facility in Columbia, South Carolina. Plaintiff does not allege that CompX has failed to comply with, or has violated, any regulation, permit or statute. Plaintiff instead asserts claims under common law theories of negligence, nuisance and trespass. We intend to deny liability and will defend vigorously against all claims.
ITEM 1A.Risk Factors.
Reference is made to the 2023 Annual Report for a discussion of risk factors related to our businesses.
ITEM 6.Exhibits.
Item No.
Exhibit Index
Certification
31.2
32.1
101.INS
Inline XBRL Instance Document – the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.
101.SCH
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema
101.CAL
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase
101.DEF
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase
101.LAB
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase
101.PRE
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase
104
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
(Registrant)
Date: August 6, 2024
By:
/s/ Amy A. Samford
Amy A. Samford
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
/s/ Amy E. Ruf
Amy E. Ruf
Vice President and Controller
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