Connection Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2016 Results

FOURTH QUARTER SUMMARY:

• Record net sales: $735.5 million, up 7.5% y/y
• Record gross profit: $98.1 million, up 6.8% y/y
• Diluted EPS: $0.49, compared to $0.51
• Adjusted EPS excluding special charges: $0.53, compared to $0.52

FULL YEAR SUMMARY:

• Record net sales: $2.7 billion, up 4.6% y/y
• Record gross profit: $371.2 million, up 8.8% y/y
• Diluted EPS: $1.80, compared to $1.76
• Adjusted EPS excluding special charges $1.90, compared to $1.78

MERRIMACK, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 1, 2017-- PC Connection, Inc. (dba Connection; NASDAQ: CNXN), an industry-leading Global Technology Solutions Provider, today announced results for the quarter ended December 31, 2016. Net sales for the fourth quarter of 2016 increased by 7.5% to $735.5 million, compared to $684.3 million for the prior year quarter. Gross profit increased by 6.8% from $91.9 million to $98.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2016 as compared to the fourth quarter of 2015. Net income for the quarter ended December 31, 2016 decreased by 4.5% to $13.0 million, or $0.49 per diluted share, compared to net income of $13.6 million, or $0.51 per diluted share for the prior year quarter. Earnings per share, adjusted for acquisition costs, restructuring charges, and amortization of acquired intangibles, increased to $0.53 cents per share for the quarter ended December 31, 2016, compared to $0.52 cents per share for the prior year quarter.

The fourth quarter 2016 results include $1.5 million of acquisition and restructuring costs. This charge includes professional fees related to the GlobalServe acquisition and severance related to internal restructuring activities. In addition, the Company has presented separately amortization of acquired intangible assets in the income statement, which was approximately $0.5 million in the quarter.

Net sales for the year ended December 31, 2016 were $2.7 billion, an increase of $118.6 million or 4.6%, compared to $2.6 billion for the year ended December 31, 2015. Gross profit increased by 8.8% from $341.0 million to $371.2 million due to higher net sales and a 54 basis-point increase in gross margin for the year ended December 31, 2016. Net income for the year ended December 31, 2016 increased by 2.7% to $48.1 million, or $1.80 per diluted share, compared to net income of $46.8 million, or $1.76 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2015. Earnings per share, adjusted for acquisition costs, restructuring charges, and amortization of acquired intangibles, increased to $1.90 cents per share for the year ended December 31, 2016, compared to $1.78 cents per share for the prior year. Earnings before interest, taxes, acquisition, rebranding, and restructuring costs, depreciation and amortization, and stock-based compensation expense (“Adjusted EBITDA”) totaled $95.5 million for December 31, 2016, compared to $89.5 million for December 31, 2015.

Quarterly Performance by Segment:

• Net sales for the SMB segment increased by 5.2% to $276.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2016, compared to the prior year quarter. Strong performance in advanced technology solution categories contributed to a 3.9% increase in gross profit.
• Net sales for the Large Account segment increased by 4.3% to $288.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2016, compared to the prior year quarter. Gross margin improved by 51 basis points due to a strong performance in software, which contributed to an 8.9% increase in gross profit.
• Net sales to the Public Sector segment increased by 17.7% to $170.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2016, compared to the prior year quarter. Sales to the federal government increased by 46.1%, compared to the prior year, while sales to state and local government and educational institutions decreased by 3.8%. Notebooks/mobility sales were strong in this segment with a 31.4% increase, and contributed to a 10.0% increase in gross profit. The Company’s Public Sector current order backlog is up over $30 million from a year ago. This segment won several large deals in the fourth quarter, driving the increase. Some of these deals are at lower than average margins due to the competitive nature of the bidding process.

Quarterly Sales by Product Mix:

• Notebook/mobility sales, the Company’s largest product category, increased by 14% year over year and accounted for 22% of net sales in the fourth quarter of 2016 compared to 20% of net sales in the prior year quarter. Mobility continues to be a strategic focus area for customers in all segments.
• Software sales increased by 14% year over year and accounted for 21% of net sales in the fourth quarter of 2016 compared to 20% of net sales in the prior year quarter. We experienced growth in cloud-based offerings, security, and virtualization.

Overall gross profit increased by $6.3 million, or 6.8%, in the fourth quarter of 2016, compared to the prior year quarter. Consolidated gross margin, as a percentage of net sales, decreased slightly to 13.3% for the fourth quarter of 2016, compared to 13.4% for the prior year quarter.

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased in the fourth quarter of 2016 to $76.2 million from $69.0 million in the prior year quarter. Excluding acquisition costs, restructuring charges, and amortization of acquired intangibles, SG&A expenses were $74.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2016, with variable cost increasing due to higher levels of gross profit. We also had three months of Softmart SG&A in the current quarter. We continue to invest in technical solution sales capabilities and expect SG&A expenses to rise accordingly. However, we are highly focused on improving efficiencies and streamlining wherever possible.

Total cash was $49.2 million at December 31, 2016, compared to $80.2 million at December 31, 2015. In January 2017, we paid a 34 cent per share special dividend to shareholders, which totaled $9.0 million. The Company generated positive cash flow of approximately $23 million for 2016 before the Softmart acquisition of $32 million, the GlobalServe acquisition of $11 million, and the special dividend of $10.6 million. Days sales outstanding were 48 days at December 31, 2016, and inventory turns were 22 turns in the fourth quarter of 2016.

As announced last quarter, the Company acquired GlobalServe, Inc. on October 11, 2016. GlobalServe has developed a portal designed to meet its customers’ global IT needs with consistent delivery, reporting, pricing, and logistics. We are excited to be able to offer our customers this global capability. This industry leading tool simplifies our customers’ global IT procurement and reduces their costs. We believe that this acquisition gives us a competitive advantage in the market place and expect this to be an important component of our future growth strategy.

“The Company achieved record sales and gross profit this quarter in an overall muted IT spending environment,” said Timothy McGrath, President and Chief Executive Officer. “The recent acquisitions of Softmart and GlobalServe have expanded our capabilities and added significantly to our customer count, sales headcount, and technical personnel. We believe our team and the strategies we have in place position us well to gain market share and increase long-term shareholder value,” concluded Mr. McGrath.

Non-GAAP Financial Information

Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EPS and Adjusted S,G & A are non-GAAP financial measures. This information is included to provide information with respect to the Company’s operating performance and earnings.

About Connection

Connection (www.connection.com; NASDAQ: CNXN), is the combined corporate brand name for PC Connection, Inc., a Fortune 1000 company, along with its subsidiaries: PC Connection Sales, GovConnection, and MoreDirect,, reflecting the Company’s mission to connect people with technology that enhances growth, elevates productivity, and empowers innovation. Headquartered in Merrimack, NH with offices throughout the United States, the Company continues to deliver custom-configured computer systems overnight from our ISO 9001:2008 certified technical configuration lab at our distribution center in Wilmington, OH. In addition, the company has over 2,500 technical certifications to ensure that we can solve the most complex issues of our customers. Connections also services international customers through its GlobalServe subsidiary, a global IT procurement and service management company. Investors and media can find more information about Connection at http://ir.connection.com.

Connection – Business Solutions (800-800-5555), (the original business of PC Connection,) operating through our PC Connection Sales Corp. subsidiary, is a rapid-response provider of IT products and services serving primarily the small- and medium-sized business sector. It offers more than 300,000 brand-name products through its staff of technically trained sales account managers, publications, and its website at www.connection.com.

Connection – Public Sector Solutions (800-800-0019), our GovConnection, Inc. subsidiary, is a rapid-response provider of IT products and services to federal, state, and local government agencies and educational institutions through specialized account managers, publications, and online at www.connection.com/publicsector.

Connection – Enterprise Solutions (561-237-3300), www.connection.com/enterprise, our MoreDirect, Inc. subsidiary, provides corporate technology buyers with best-in-class IT solutions, in-depth IT supply-chain expertise, and access to over 300,000 products and 1,600 vendors through TRAXX™, a proprietary cloud-based eProcurement system. The team’s engineers, software licensing specialists, and project managers help reduce the cost and complexity of buying hardware, software, and services throughout the entire IT lifecycle.

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“Safe Harbor” Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This release contains forward-looking statements that are based on currently available information, operating plans, and projections about future events and trends. Terms such as "believe," "expect," "intend," “plan,” "estimate," "anticipate," “may,” "will," or similar statements or variations of such terms are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements include such terms. Forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted in such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties, include, but are not limited to, the impact of changes in market demand and the overall level of economic activity and environment, or in the level of business investment in information technology products, competitive products and pricing, product availability and market acceptance, new products, market acceptance of the Company’s new branding, fluctuations in operating results, the ability of the Company to manage personnel levels in response to fluctuations in revenue, and other risks detailed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including under the caption “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the year ended December 31, 2015. More specifically, the statements in this release concerning the Company’s outlook for selling, general, and administrative expenses, the Company’s efforts in improving efficiencies and streamlining its business and other statements of a non-historical basis (including statements regarding the Company’s ability to increase market share and enhance long-term shareholder value, and integrate its two acquisitions in an effective manner, and the Company’s continuing investments in technical solution sales capabilities) are forward-looking statements that involve certain risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties include the ability to realize market demand for and competitive pricing pressures on the products and services marketed by the Company, the continued acceptance of the Company's distribution channel by vendors and customers, continuation of key vendor and customer relationships and support programs, the ability of the Company to gain or maintain market share, and the ability of the Company to hire and retain qualified sales representatives and other essential personnel. The Company assumes no obligation to update the information in this press release or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of any new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

CONSOLIDATED SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
At or for the Three Months Ended December 31,			2016							2015
						% of							% of		%
(Amounts and shares in thousands, except operating data, P/E ratio, and per share data)						Net Sales							Net Sales		Change
Operating Data:
Net sales			$	735,548						$	684,323				7%
Diluted earnings per share			$	0.49						$	0.51				(4%)
Adjusted diluted earnings per share			$	0.53						$	0.51				4%
Gross margin				13.3%							13.4%
Operating margin				3.0%							3.3%
Return on equity (1)				11.7%							12.5%
Inventory turns				22							22
Days sales outstanding				48							44
			% of							% of
Product Mix:			Net Sales							Net Sales
Notebooks/Mobility				22%							20%
Software				21							20
Servers/Storage				9							12
Net/Com Products				9							10
Other Hardware/Services				39							38
Total Net Sales				100%							100%
Stock Performance Indicators:
Actual shares outstanding				26,609							26,498
Total book value per share			$	16.29						$	14.81
Tangible book value per share			$	13.05						$	12.81
Closing price			$	28.09						$	22.64
Market capitalization			$	747,447						$	599,915
Trailing price/earnings ratio				15.6							12.9
LTM Adjusted EBITDA (2)			$	95,468						$	89,535
Adjusted market capitalization/LTM Adjusted EBITDA (3)				7.3							5.9
(1) Based on last twelve months' net income.
(2) Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) adjusted for acquisition, rebranding, and restructuring costs, and stock-based compensation.
(3) Adjusted market capitalization is defined as gross market capitalization less cash balance.

REVENUE AND MARGIN INFORMATION
For the Three Months Ended December 31,			2016										2015
			Net					Gross					Net					Gross
(amounts in thousands)			Sales					Margin					Sales					Margin
SMB			$	276,373				15.7	%				$	262,646				15.9	%
Large Account				288,812				12.2						276,980				11.6
Public Sector				170,363				11.5						144,697				12.3
Total			$	735,548				13.3	%				$	684,323				13.4	%

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
Three Months Ended December 31,						2016											2015
(amounts in thousands, except per share data)						Amount						% of Net Sales					Amount						% of Net Sales
Net sales						$	735,548					100.0	%				$	684,323					100.0	%
Cost of sales							637,425					86.7						592,472					86.6
Gross profit							98,123					13.3						91,851					13.4
Acquisition and restructuring costs							1,511					0.2						296					0.0
Amortization of acquired intangible assets							469					–						–					–
Selling, general and administrative expenses, other							74,242					10.1						68,664					10.1
Income from operations							21,901					3.0						22,891					3.3
Interest/other expense, net							(14	)				–						(20	)				–
Income tax provision							(8,890	)				(1.2	)					(9,258	)				(1.3	)
Net income						$	12,997					1.8	%				$	13,613					2.0	%
Earnings per common share:
Basic						$	0.49										$	0.51
Diluted						$	0.49										$	0.51
Shares used in the computation of earnings per common share:
Basic							26,569											26,459
Diluted							26,738											26,632

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
Years Ended December 31,						2016											2015
(amounts in thousands, except per share data)						Amount						% of Net Sales					Amount						% of Net Sales
Net sales						$	2,692,592					100.0	%				$	2,573,973					100.0	%
Cost of sales							2,321,435					86.2						2,232,954					86.8
Gross profit							371,157					13.8						341,019					13.2
Acquisition, rebranding and restructuring costs							3,406					0.1						1,026					–
Amortization of acquired intangible assets							846					–						–					–
Selling, general and administrative expenses, other							286,385					10.7						261,439					10.2
Income from operations							80,520					3.0						78,554					3.0
Interest/other expense, net							(67	)				–						(87	)				–
Income tax provision							(32,342	)				(1.2	)					(31,640	)				(1.2	)
Net income						$	48,111					1.8	%				$	46,827					1.8	%
Earnings per common share:
Basic						$	1.81										$	1.77
Diluted						$	1.80										$	1.76
Shares used in the computation of earnings per common share:
Basic							26,528											26,398
Diluted							26,719											26,616

EBITDA AND ADJUSTED EBITDA
A reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA is detailed below. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) adjusted for acquisition, rebranding and restructuring costs and stock-based compensation. Both EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are considered non-GAAP financial measures. Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company’s performance, financial position, or cash flows that either includes or excludes amounts that are not normally included or excluded in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. We believe that EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA provide helpful information with respect to our operating performance including our ability to fund our future capital expenditures and working capital requirements. Adjusted EBITDA also provides helpful information as it is the primary measure used in certain financial covenants contained in our credit agreements.
(amounts in thousands)			Three Months Ended December 31,												Years Ended December 31,
			2016				2015				% Change				2016				2015				% Change
Net income			$	12,997			$	13,613							$	48,111			$	46,827
Depreciation and amortization				2,948				2,364								10,453				8,961
Income tax expense				8,890				9,258								32,342				31,640
Interest expense				54				20								107				87
EBITDA				24,889				25,255								91,013				87,515
Acquisition, rebranding and restructuring costs (1)				1,511				296								3,406				1,026
Stock-based compensation				74				274								1,049				994
Adjusted EBITDA			$	26,474			$	25,825			3%				$	95,468			$	89,535			7%
(1) Acquisition, rebranding, and restructuring costs relate to our 2016 acquisitions, the re-branding of the Company to "Connection", severance related to internal restructuring, duplicate costs incurred with the move of our Chicago-area facility, and in 2015, duplicate costs incurred with the transition to our new distribution center.

ADJUSTED NET INCOME AND ADJUSTED EARNINGS PER SHARE
A reconciliation from Net Income to Adjusted Net Income is detailed below. Adjusted Net Income is defined as Net Income plus the Amortization of Acquired Intangible Assets and Acquisition, Rebranding, and Restructuring Costs, net of tax. Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Earnings Per Share are considered non-GAAP financial measures (see note above in Adjusted EBITDA for a description of non-GAAP financial measures). We believe that these non-GAAP disclosures provide helpful information with respect to our operating performance.
(amounts in thousands, except per share data)			Three Months Ended December 31,												Years Ended December 31,
				2016				2015			% Change					2016				2015			% Change
Net income			$	12,997			$	13,613							$	48,111			$	46,827
Acquisition, rebranding, and restructuring costs, net of tax (1)				898				176								2,037				613
Amortization of acquired intangible assets, net of tax (2)				279				-								506				-
Adjusted Net Income			$	14,174			$	13,789							$	50,654			$	47,440
Diluted shares				26,738				26,632								26,719				26,616
Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share			$	0.53			$	0.52			2%				$	1.90			$	1.78			6%
(1) Acquisition, rebranding, and restructuring costs relate to our 2016 acquisitions, the re-branding of the Company to "Connection," severance related to internal restructuring, duplicate costs incurred with the move of our Chicago-area facility, and in 2015, duplicate costs incurred with the transition to our new distribution center.
(2) Amortization of acquired intangible assets relates to intangible assets recorded as a result of our 2016 acquisitions.

ADJUSTED SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATION EXPENSES
A reconciliation from selling, general and administration expenses to adjusted selling, general and administration expenses is detailed below. Adjusted selling, general and administration expenses is defined as selling, general and administration expenses less Acquisition, Rebranding, and Restructuring Costs and Amortization of Acquired Intangible Assets. Adjusted selling, general and administration expenses are considered non-GAAP financial measures (see note above in Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EPS for a description of non-GAAP financial measures). We believe that these non-GAAP disclosures provide helpful information with respect to our operating performance.
(amounts in thousands)			Three Months Ended December 31,									Years Ended December 31,
			2016			2015						2016			2015
Selling, general and administration			$ 76,222			$ 68,960						$ 290,637			$ 262,465
Acquisition, rebranding, and restructuring costs (1)			(1,511)			(296)						(3,406)			(1,026)
Amortization of acquired intangible assets (2)			(469)			-						(846)			-
Adjusted selling, general and administration			$ 74,242			$ 68,664						$ 286,385			$ 261,439
(1) Acquisition, rebranding, and restructuring costs relate to our 2016 acquisitions, the re-branding of the Company to "Connection," severance related to internal restructuring, duplicate costs incurred with the move of our Chicago-area facility, and in 2015, duplicate costs incurred with the transition to our new distribution center.
(2) Amortization of acquired intangible assets relates to intangible assets recorded as a result of our 2016 acquisitions.

							December 31,						December 31,
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS							2016						2015
(amounts in thousands)
ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents							$	49,180					$	80,188
Accounts receivable, net								411,883						356,145
Inventories								90,535						102,780
Prepaid expenses and other current assets								5,453						4,254
Income taxes receivable								2,120						1,575
Deferred income taxes								-						7,909
Total current assets								559,171						552,851
Property and equipment, net								39,402						32,227
Goodwill								73,602						51,276
Other intangibles, net								12,586						1,668
Other assets								1,373						1,052
Total Assets							$	686,134					$	639,074
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable							$	177,862					$	166,516
Accrued expenses and other liabilities								31,047						36,207
Accrued payroll								21,345						19,280
Total current liabilities								230,254						222,003
Deferred income taxes								19,602						21,615
Other liabilities								2,836						3,005
Total Liabilities								252,692						246,623
Stockholders’ Equity:
Common stock								285						284
Additional paid-in capital								111,081						109,161
Retained earnings								337,938						298,868
Treasury stock at cost								(15,862	)					(15,862	)
Total Stockholders’ Equity								433,442						392,451
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity							$	686,134					$	639,074

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Years Ended December 31,									2016						2015
(amounts in thousands)
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income								$	48,111					$	46,827
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization									10,453						8,961
Deferred income taxes									3,506						2,652
Stock-based compensation expense									1,049						994
Provision for doubtful accounts									360						1,097
Loss on disposal of fixed assets									92						44
Excess tax benefit from exercise of equity awards									(513	)					(552	)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable									(33,835	)					(64,215	)
Inventories									12,401						(11,863	)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets									(1,274	)					(285	)
Other non-current assets									(321	)					(328	)
Accounts payable									(3,012	)					41,324
Accrued expenses and other liabilities									(3,431	)					6,206
Net cash provided by operating activities									33,586						30,862
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Purchases of equipment									(11,885	)					(12,337	)
Purchase of GlobalServe									(11,101	)					-
Purchase of Softmart									(31,889	)					-
Purchase of intangible asset									-						(450	)
Net cash used for investing activities									(54,875	)					(12,787	)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Dividend payment									(10,591	)					-
Issuance of stock under Employee Stock Purchase Plan									961						875
Excess tax benefit from exercise of equity awards									513						552
Exercise of stock options									135						437
Payment of payroll taxes on stock-based compensation through shares withheld									(737	)					(660	)
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities									(9,719	)					1,204
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents									(31,008	)					19,279
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period									80,188						60,909
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period								$	49,180					$	80,188
Non-cash Investing Activities:
Accrued capital expenditures								$	109					$	504
Dividend declaration								$	9,041					$	10,591
Supplemental Cash Flow Information:
Income taxes paid								$	29,740					$	30,371

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View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170201006166/en/

Source: PC Connection, Inc.

PC Connection, Inc.
William Schulze, 603-683-2262
Vice President, Interim Chief Financial Officer