HOUSTON, Aug. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sharps Compliance Corp. (NASDAQ: SMED), a leading full-service national provider of comprehensive waste management solutions including medical, pharmaceutical and hazardous, today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended June 30, 2021.
Revenue in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021 grew 49% to a $18.7 million, compared to $12.6 million in the same prior year quarter. Customer billings increased $5.1 million, or 38%, to $18.7 million for the fourth quarter compared to $13.5 million for the same prior year quarter. Fourth quarter customer billings benefitted from increased immunization business of $4.2 million and increased route-based pickup services of $0.8 million. Fourth quarter revenue benefited from increased immunization business of $4.7 million (net of deferrals) and increased route-based pickup services of $0.8 million.
Fourth quarter 2021 gross margin was 33%, consistent with gross margin in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020. The fourth quarter 2021 gross margin of 33% reflects a year-over-year increase in the fixed portion cost of goods sold of $0.5 million, or 240 basis points, as a result of investments in treatment plants, autoclaves, route-based infrastructure and other expenditures designed to address the increased immunization business and to facilitate growth.
SG&A increased by about $0.7 million or 21% to $4.0 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021, compared to the same prior year quarter. The increase in SG&A is related primarily to a $0.2 million increase in management incentive compensation, including both stock and cash, a $0.1 million increase in board member compensation and continued investments in sales and marketing.
The Company reported operating income of $2.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2021, compared to operating income of $0.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2020. The Company recorded a gain on forgiveness of its Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) Loan of $2.2 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021. Sharps recorded net income of $5.1 million, or $0.30 per basic and $0.29 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021, as compared to net income of $2.2 million, or $0.13 per basic and diluted share in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020. Sharps recorded EBITDA of $4.7 million, or 25% of revenue in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to EBITDA of $1.0 million, or 8% of revenue, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020. (See Reconciliation of Net Income to EBITDA in the supplemental table included at the end of this release).
1 Customer billings information, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EPS are non-GAAP financial measures. See financial tables below for additional details.
2 Calculated as Adjusted EBITDA divided by revenue.
David P. Tusa, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sharps, stated, “We closed out fiscal 2021 with strong fourth quarter growth including significantly increased revenue, enhanced profitability, increased infrastructure and a very strong balance sheet. This has been a tremendous and record year for the Company. What I am most proud of is our ability to efficiently and effectively ramp up the business to meet the needs of our customers and provide uninterrupted service during the COVID-19 healthcare crisis which is ongoing.
“For the March and June 2021 quarters, the immunization business, led by COVID-19 related immunization orders, generated $24.6 million in related mailback revenue. These quarters represent, to date, the height of the COVID-19 related mailback business. However, after a very strong start, immunization activity has slowed down consistent with the widely reported reduction in COVID-19 vaccines administered in the country during the current quarter. Going forward, we believe significant order activity depends on the country experiencing an increase in initial COVID-19 immunizations for adults and adolescents, the approval and administration of a children’s vaccine, the administration of additional COVID-19 shots for at risk adults and booster shots for remaining Americans. At such time, we believe we will be more than ready to meet the demands of the business with increased mailback inventory and treatment capacity.
“While the COVID-19 related orders have been a boon to our business, generating more than $20 million in cash to our balance sheet, Sharps is much more than an immunization related mailback company. We have effectively positioned the company as a comprehensive service provider of medical, pharmaceutical and hazardous waste services, with the infrastructure and footprint to increasingly capture market share in the small to medium quantity generator market. Our route-based business now provides direct service to 37 states representing 80% of the country’s population. This business continues to see strong growth, with revenue growing by approximately 32% for fiscal year 2021 as compared to the prior fiscal year, and we continue to be bullish regarding our ability to continue to further penetrate the market. While our MedSafe liner returns continue to be strong, we expect to see increased sales of the MedSafe units beginning with the September 2021 quarter.”
Fourth Quarter Review
Retail market billings grew 68% to $9.0 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021 as compared to $5.4 million in the same prior year period. The increase in retail billings is primarily due to immunization related orders of $7.8 million which were higher than the prior year at $3.6 million.
Professional market billings increased 44% to $4.7 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021 as compared to $3.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2020.
Billings for the inside and online sales channel increased 45% to $3.4 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021 as compared to $2.3 million in the same prior year period primarily due to increases in route-based pickup services to the Professional market.
Full Year Fiscal 2021 Results
Sharps recorded revenue of $76.4 million for fiscal 2021, an increase of 49% compared to revenue of $51.1 million in fiscal 2020. Customer billings increased 54% to $81.6 million in fiscal 2021. Retail market billings increased 153% to $40.5 million as compared to $16.0 million for the prior year, due primarily to an increase in billings for immunization related orders of $21.9 million (net of deferrals), partially offset by a decrease in unused medications billings in the retail market of $0.7 million. Professional market billings increased 15% to $18.0 million in fiscal 2021 compared to $15.6 million in the prior year. Long-Term Care market billings increased 25% to $4.2 million as compared to $3.3 million in the prior year, related primarily to an increased volume of COVID-19 related waste management and ancillary supplies. For fiscal 2021, Pharmaceutical Manufacturer market billings increased 12% to $5.2 million as compared to $4.7 million in fiscal 2020.
Gross margin increased to 38% for full year fiscal 2021 as compared to 31% in for full year fiscal 2020 due primarily to the leverage from higher revenue partially offset by a year-over-year increase in the fixed portion cost of goods sold of $1.7 million, or 225 basis points, as a result of investments in treatment plants, autoclaves, route-based infrastructure and other expenditures designed to address the increased immunization business and to facilitate growth. SG&A expense increased 12% to $15.8 million, for fiscal 2021 from $14.0 million, in fiscal 2020, related to a $0.6 million increase in management incentive compensation, including both stock and cash, a $0.4 million increase in board member compensation and $0.7 million due to the Company’s continued investments in sales and marketing. The Company recorded operating income of $12.3 million in fiscal 2021 as compared to operating income of $0.9 million in fiscal 2020. The Company recorded a gain on forgiveness of its PPP Loan of $2.2 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021. The effective tax rate of 10.2% for the year reflects $1.1 million tax benefit associated with stock compensation and a $0.5 million benefit associated with the permanent exclusion of the gain on forgiveness of the PPP Loan from taxable income.
Net income for full year fiscal 2021 was $12.9 million, or $0.78 per basic and $0.76 per diluted share compared to net income of $2.3 million or $0.14 per basic and diluted share for full year fiscal 2020.
Sharps recorded full year fiscal 2021 EBITDA of $16.5 million, or 22% of revenue, as compared to EBITDA of $2.4 million in full year fiscal 2020. (See Reconciliation of Net Income to EBITDA in the supplemental table included at the end of this release).
Financial Flexibility and a Strong Balance Sheet
Cash was $27.8 million at June 30, 2021, compared to cash of $5.4 million at June 30, 2020. The Company had working capital of $27.9 million at June 30, 2021 compared to working capital of $11.1 million at June 30, 2020.
Mr. Tusa concluded, “We believe the Company is extremely well positioned for further growth with our increased infrastructure and treatment capacity as well as a much stronger balance sheet. The Company’s performance in fiscal year 2021 would not have been possible without the strength and commitment of our dedicated employees which is very much appreciated. I also believe that our success over this past year has not only made us a stronger company, but also significantly strengthened our customer relationships.”
About Sharps Compliance Corp.
Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Sharps Compliance (NASDAQ: SMED) is a leading business-to-business services provider to the healthcare, long-term care and retail pharmacy markets. Sharps Compliance offers comprehensive solutions for the management of regulated medical waste, hazardous waste and unused medications. For more information, visit: www.sharpsinc.com.