Q4 2024 Jerash Holdings (US) Inc Earnings Call

Participants

Roger Pondel; Investor Relations; Jerash Holdings (US) Inc

Lin Hung Choi; Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer, Treasurer; Jerash Holdings (US) Inc

Eric Tang; Executive Director; Jerash Holdings (US) Inc

Gilbert Lee; Chief Financial Officer; Jerash Holdings (US) Inc

Mike Baker; Analyst; D.A. Davidson & Co.

Mark Argento; Analyst; Lake Street Capital Markets LLC

Mike Tessler; Analyst; AMNX

Presentation

Operator

Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the Jerash Holdings fiscal 2024 fourth quarter and full year financial results conference call. (Operator Instructions) Please note this conference is being recorded.
I will now turn the conference over to your host, Roger Pondel, Investor Relations at Jerash Holdings. Roger, the floor is yours.

Roger Pondel

Thanks so much, Jenny. Good morning, everyone, and welcome to Jerash Holdings fiscal 2024 fourth quarter and full year conference call. I'm Roger Pondel with PondelWilkinson, Jerash Holdings Investor Relations firm. It will be my pleasure momentarily to introduce the company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Sam Choi; its Chief Financial Officer, Gilbert Lee; and Eric Tang, who leads the company's operations in Jordan. Both Sam and Eric are in Jordan.
Before I turn the call over to Sam, I want to remind our listeners that today's call may include forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the company's control, including those set forth in the risk factor section of the company's most recent Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, copies of which are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov, along with other Company filings made with the SEC from time to time.
Actual results could differ materially from those forward-looking statements and Jerash Holdings undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, of course except as required by law.
And with that, I will turn the call over to Sam Choi. Sam?

Lin Hung Choi

Thank you, Roger. Since of October of last year, the Red Sea crisis triggered by multiple attacks on cargo ships by healthy rebels has continued to cause supply chain disruption throughout the Middle East region. Even though an alternative shipping route has been established to receive raw materials, bottlenecks, and vessel bunching post delays, impacting production for our group of customers and in turn, the company's financial performance for quarter and fiscal 2024.
Gross margin likewise was down due to the significantly higher ocean freight and transportation costs from Asia to Jordan. Despite the shipping situation, we have identified and now to aggressively increasing our source of raw materials from Turkey and Egypt. This is allowing us to bypass the treacherous shipping routes and mitigate related logistic costs.
Also on a positive note, we are experiencing a tangible increase in purchase orders from long-term customers. Additionally, we are receiving a fresh pipeline of business from new high profile global brands, both directly and through our joint venture with Busana.
We are now increasing orders from four global brands through Busana. Our joint marketing efforts are continuing and believe there will be a solid new business opportunities ahead as more companies look to reduce costs by shifting their production to tariff-free countries such as Jordan.
In view of the current geopolitical situation, we have decided to delay our plans to build a state of the art fabric mill in Jordan with another joint venture partner, Newtech Textile. For long term, our objective remains being a trusted manufacturer partner, providing sustainable solutions as an environmentally cautious leader in the apparel industry.
I will now turn the call over to Eric Tang, who is in charge of our operations in Jordan.

Eric Tang

Thank you, Sam. Hello, everyone. The supply chain disruptions have delayed our production during the fiscal fourth quarter. Since we were not able to receive an adequate supply of materials from Asia to produce orders to our major customers. Approximately 16% to 18% of orders were delayed and shipped in the fiscal 2025 first quarter.
As Sam mentioned earlier, we are now increasing our sourcing of materials locally in the Middle East and we have trends in place that are allowing us to produce and ship orders on a more normalized basis as we move forward.
Despite the uncertain external environment, we were able to capture local orders during the fiscal fourth quarter. To keep our factories running and maintain our staff in part in anticipation of growth in the new fiscal year. Today our manufacturing facilities are fully active with orders booked well into the fiscal second quarter.
Currently, we are experiencing steady order patterns from our major customers after a protracted two year period of economic restraint at the retail level. We also are realizing the benefits of our strategic plan to diversify our customer base as we are now producing garments for a number of new brand customers.
Jerash has been a trusted Tier 1 manufacturer and assembly partner for VF Corporation for more than 60 years. In addition to producing apparel for VF North Face and Timberland brands, we are now receiving purchase orders from Vans, following the initial trial orders placed during the second half of last fiscal year.
Orders from our first European-based high end apparel brand are steadily increasing, and our second European-based apparel brand is starting to place order for fiscal 2025, following several successful trial orders.
We are excited to grow the European market and look forward to rolling out production for new apparel items in the new fiscal year. Proceeding into our new fiscal year, we are feeling better and breathing easier. I will now turn the call over to Gilbert to discuss our financial results. Gilbert, please?

Gilbert Lee

Thank you, Eric. Revenue for our fiscal 2024 fourth quarter was $21.6 million compared with $23.8 million for the same period last year. The decrease was primarily caused by inadequate materials for production due to logistical disruptions and extended supply chain lead times in the Middle East. Revenue was negatively impacted by approximately $3 million to $4 million of orders that were delayed to the first quarter in fiscal 2025.
Gross profit was $1.5 million for the fiscal 2024 fourth quarter compared with $2.5 million in the same quarter last year. Gross margin decreased to 7.0% from 10.3% in the same period last year. The decrease in gross margin reflected higher ocean freight and transportation costs, as well as manufacturing lower margin orders from local customers to offset production delays for US customers.
Operating expenses for the fiscal 2024 fourth quarter were $4.5 million compared with $4.3 million for the same quarter last year. SG&A expenses were higher at $4.3 million in the fiscal year 2024 fourth quarter compared with $4.2 million in the same quarter last year.
Stock-based compensation expenses were $258,000 compared with $119,000 in the same quarter of last year. Operating loss was $3 million for the fiscal 2024 fourth quarter compared with operating loss of $1.8 million for the same quarter last year.
Total other expenses were $134,000 in the fiscal 2024 fourth quarter compared with $86,000 in the same quarter last year. Net loss was $3.1 million or $0.25 per share for the fiscal 2024 fourth quarter, compared with net loss of $2.0 million or $0.16 per share in the same period last year.
As of March 31, 2024, Jerash had cash and restricted cash of $14.0 million and net working capital of $36.1 million. Inventory was $27.2 million and accounts receivable was $5.4 million. Net cash provided by operating activities was approximately $2.5 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, compared with $10.8 million in fiscal 2023.
As Sam and Eric mentioned earlier, we're seeing better order patterns into fiscal 2025. Our revenue for the fiscal first quarter is expected to increase by 14% to 15% from the prior year quarter. And full year revenue is anticipated to be up by 15% to 18%. Our gross margin goal for the fiscal 2025 year is expected to be approximately 13% to 15%. The outlook is of course subject to final product mix of shipments as well as order flow from the new customers through our joint venture with Busana.
On May 21, 2024, Jerash approved a regular quarterly dividend of $0.05 per share on its common stock. The dividend was paid on June 7, 2024, to stockholders of record as of May 31, 2024.
With that, I will now open up the call for questions. Operator?

Question and Answer Session

Operator

(Operator Instructions) Mike Baker, DA Davidson.

Mike Baker

Great. Thanks. Hi, guys. So how much of the sales ramp that you're seeing is some of it is delayed from the first quarter, but it sounds like new customers, but also some of your legacy customers ramping back up. So I wonder if you can parse that out a little bit how much from each and what I'm getting at is, is this a sign that your customers Timberland or VF Corp in particular is feeling a little bit better, starting to restock some shelves due to better demand after you know, as you said, what's been a couple of years of really weak order, I just trying to understand the underlying sort of apparel demand that you're seeing. Thanks.

Gilbert Lee

First of all, the Busana joint venture, we believe order projection for this coming year is about, I would say, $6 million to $8 million. Is that correct, Eric?

Eric Tang

Yes. Yeah, correct. Yeah.

Gilbert Lee

Okay. So that part, I think we are still trying to figure out how to improve. But we are we are taking purchase orders from four new customers, from that is bringing -- that is brought by Busana. Hugo Boss, which we have been doing business with them actually even before Busana and us join -- form the joint venture, and then there is a Macy's, Dillard's and Brooks Brothers. So all these four, we will be taking orders from them in this fiscal 2025.
Now our legacy customers, such as VF, which North Face and Timberland and Vans -- Vans is going to start in this fiscal year. But VF I'm looking at their increase is actually -- they're looking to increase by about 8% comparing to 2025. Of course, VF is the most the -- is our number one customer.
And then New Balance is also -- let me see. I think New Balance is about -- it's about the same comparing to 2024. But Hugo Boss has significant increase, about 17%. But we have a bunch of other customers that are going to have significant growth other than this three. So that's why we're projecting a double digit growth in 2025, especially in the first two quarters.

Eric Tang

I've got.

Gilbert Lee

Anything to add, Eric?

Eric Tang

Yes, I think more or less the same also that our projection apart from we have, we have additional growth in the coming year. New Balance, we also have additional growth also, so that this is the reason why our projection for the new fiscal year is a bit higher than before, a two digit higher?

Mike Baker

Yeah. Makes sense. One more, if I could -- the gross margin outlook for next year, I guess it is about flat on a year-over-year basis, but obviously much lower than what you've done in the past. Now, I guess, I understand the reasons that the Red Sea disruption and higher freight costs, et cetera.
I guess the question is how much of that gross margin degradation versus past years do you think is permanent because you have to find different routes in the like or how much you think is just due to the temporary disruption and can eventually come back to where it once was?

Gilbert Lee

We're anticipating the freight cost is definitely going to be higher because the crisis is still going on. And we don't know when it's going to have to end. Even though we now find a route that can kind of pretty consistently getting the containers into Jordan, but we're going to have to pay a higher cost.
I mean even during the past four to six months, some of the containers were stuck and we spend like 3 times to 4 times as much as normal to get those containers in. And that's part of the reason why the margin was so low in the fourth quarter.
So but going forward, at least in the foreseeable future, we anticipate the shipping costs to be higher. And the other reason is that now we are seeing some pre-competitive our situation in the market, so we were getting pricing pressure from our customers and we were pricing our products very competitively.
So even though and also with some new customers that we're bringing in, those customers, at least at the beginning, the overall margin is not going to be great. It's not going to be as great as our legacy customers because we have to spend extra money on developing the products and developing the process of doing those new orders. So we're trying to be more conservative in terms of projecting the margin.

Mike Baker

Okay. Makes sense. Thank you.

Gilbert Lee

Certainly.

Mike Baker

Thank you.

Operator

Mark Argento, Lake Street.

Mark Argento

Yeah. Hi, guys. Just a couple of additional questions for you. Gilbert, you had just mentioned kind of costs. And my question was around inflation. Obviously, inflation world wise, obviously we're running rampant right now.
You could touch a little bit on kind of pricing, what are you seeing our current, your obviously your customers are being more aggressive in terms of pricing, but are you guys able to take some pricing and keep up and maintain that margin? What you're seeing now from the impact of come to broad-based inflation of the business?

Gilbert Lee

Well, the inflation is definitely there, but it is affecting our costs, besides the shipping costs, but everything else is increasing. I think our inflation, at least on the operating side, the labor costs in Jordan, and also other operating costs, those are increasing too.
Now we are looking at very diligently trying to cut costs in our operations like the new dorm is now -- we are occupying the new dorm. So I think in fiscal 2025, we will be able to save some of the cost -- some of the rent, leasing costs for the old dorms when we vacate the old dorms and start paying rent.
So in that area, we can save some money and hopefully help the margin. However, the retail market is like I said before, is getting quite competitive. In order to attract new customers and to increase our volume with existing customers, we want to have to price very competitively. So to answer your question, I don't see that we will be able to raise our prices to our existing customer and improve our margin, at least in the next year or so.

Mark Argento

All right. So if the vendors at retail taken prices up 10% on a garment, then you know, kind of your price delivered is -- are you able to maintain that? Are you taking a lot of that hit right now, I hear you, you know, are you able to raise prices at least stay, kind of consistent with inflation? Are you guys kind of losing margin because of inflation, sounds like the latter?

Gilbert Lee

Yeah, I think overall it's the latter. But in certain customers, the margins are increasing. So it is -- it all depends on the brand, it all depends on the customer. Like customers such as Hugo Boss, the margins are very good. But VF, I think we are improving margin on Timberland, especially right now, we're trying to source our fabrics from Egypt and from Turkey.
So in that sense, we should be able to improve our margin with Timberland. For TNF or North Face, their margin is actually holding, but it is going to be very difficult to get that margins up.

Mark Argento

Right.

Gilbert Lee

Is that pretty accurate, Eric? You have anything to add?

Eric Tang

Yeah, very accurate. Yeah, but in addition, in order to increase more rapidly, we are also implementing a several saving trends for cost reductions such as we are going to install more solar energy system in order to reduce the cost of the electricity here. Because here in Jordan, the cost of which is really is pretty much expensive. Also we are trying to use for the boiler, okay, we are trying to do some water and diesel savings, okay? This is already reinstalled in one of our factory.
And we are also -- this is also one of the cost saving measure. And for the production line we are trying to bring in more automatic machines in order to save, okay, the number of production people or all the cost saving plan we are currently, okay, carry out.

Mark Argento

Good. Thanks guys. Appreciate it. Good luck.

Gilbert Lee

Thank you.

Eric Tang

Thank you.

Operator

(Operator Instructions) [Mike Tessler, AMNX].

Mike Tessler

Yes, good afternoon over there gentleman, and Gilbert here in the US.

Gilbert Lee

Yes.

Mike Tessler

Just two quick questions. First, well, actually, just one question really just I'm glad you tabled the new mill, the joint venture for at least short term, intermediate term, that sounds like a smart capital outlay. And I just want to make sure that you have available, you said $14 million approximately in cash available plus $36 million accessible. Is your available capital no issue going forward just for the next six to nine months kind of thing, you're good to go?

Gilbert Lee

No, we believe we'll be able to generate sufficient operating cash. And I mean, if we look at in last fiscal -- well, the prior fiscal year '23, we generated almost $11 million in operating cash. Of course, this year is down to $2.5 million, but also last -- prior fiscal year we spent a lot of money finishing up the dormitory and also doing some internal expansion, upgrading, and also expanding our capacity in fiscal 2023, and some of them flow over to fiscal 2024.
So in '24, we spent about $5.1 million in that area. So that's primarily why our cash flow decreased by $5.3 million, $5.4 million in fiscal 2024. So and we don't have any debt, we don't have to payback anything. So we believe with the improved profitability in 2025, sales growing at 15%, whatever up to 20%, it will bring a lot of cash flow into our account.
And we're right now not looking at having any significant amount of capital expenditure in this fiscal year, the delay of the fabric mill. And on that, we still have the option of raising capital or borrowing money. So we don't believe that this cash is going to be a problem for us.

Mike Tessler

Okay. That's terrific. And thank you. Thanks, Gilbert. Sam, Eric, keep up the good work and thank you very much all. Have a good day.

Lin Hung Choi

Thank you.

Eric Tang

Thank you.

Mike Tessler

Bye, bye.

Operator

Thank you very much. Well we have reached the end of our question and answer session, I will now hand back over to Sam for some closing comments.

Lin Hung Choi

Yeah. Thank you very much, operator, and thanks to all of you for joining us today and for our continuous support -- and for your continuous support. We look forward to speaking with you next quarter. Thank you.

Gilbert Lee

Thank you.

Eric Tang

Thank you.

Operator

Thank you very much, everyone. This does conclude today's conference. You may now disconnect your phone lines and have a wonderful day. Thank you for your participation.

Lin Hung Choi

Thank you very much, have a wonderful day.

Operator

Thank you.