Zoom Telephonics Reports $9 Million Sales and $346 Thousand Net Income for Q3 2018


Company to Host Conference Call on Thursday, November 1, 2018 at 4:30 p.m. ET

BOSTON, Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zoom Telephonics, Inc. (“Zoom”) (OTCQB: ZMTP) (the “Company”), a leading producer of cable modems and other communication products, today reported financial results for its 2018 third quarter ended September 30, 2018.

2018 Third Quarter Financial Highlights (comparisons to prior year’s period)

  • Net sales increased 4.9% to $9.0 million due to higher sales of Zoom’s Motorola brand products.
  • Gross margin improved to 36.4% from 35.7%.
  • Net income was approximately $346 thousand or $0.02 per basic and diluted share, compared to net income of $377 thousand or $0.03 per basic share and $0.02 per diluted share.

Management Commentary
Frank Manning, Zoom’s CEO and Chairman, commented on the quarter.  “This was a good quarter, with our highest cable modem sales ever and profitability.  We continue to get strong customer ratings for our products, and this helps us to increase sales.  We are making good progress in developing a number of new Motorola brand cable modem, cell modem, and sensor products; and we're excited about our product line now and in the future.  Last week, we introduced our first cable gateway with phone ports, and we are excited about the prospects for this product and other products under development.  We are pleased that industry veteran Joe Wytanis is now Zoom's President and COO as previously announced, and we're looking forward to working with Joe as we drive for significant profitable growth."

Mr. Manning commented on tariffs.  "Almost 100% of our products are impacted by the 10% tariffs that began September 24, 2018, and those tariffs will probably rise to 25% starting January 1, 2019.  We are exploring ways to reduce our Chinese production to reduce or eliminate these tariffs.  We are also looking at our selling prices on a product by product basis, and we will be implementing price increases for a number of products in Q4 2018."

2018 Third Quarter Financial Review
The Company reported an increase in net sales to $9.0 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2018, up 4.9% from $8.6 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017.  Sales of cable modems and gateways accounted for the vast majority of sales, and those sales declined 3% as sales through all but one of Zoom's major retailers grew, while sales at one major retailer declined due to reduced Motorola brand shelf space.  Motorola brand DSL, router, and MoCA Adapter sales increased from near zero to over $600 thousand from Q3 2017 to Q3 2018. 

Gross profit in the third quarter of 2018 was $3.3 million, or 36.4% of net sales, up from $3.1 million, or 35.7% of net sales, for the third quarter of 2017.  The increase in gross profit and gross margin was primarily due to higher sales in the third quarter of 2018.

Operating expenses were $2.9 million, or 32.1% of net sales, in the third quarter of 2018, up from $2.7 million, or 30.9% of net sales, in the same period of 2017. Selling expenses increased approximately $220 thousand to $2.0 million for the third quarter of 2018, primarily due to increases in advertising expenses and in Motorola trademark royalty costs. General and administrative expenses increased approximately $55 thousand to $438 thousand for the third quarter of 2018, primarily due to increased stock option costs and legal expenses.  Research and development expenses were $420 thousand for the 2018 third quarter, down from $457 thousand in the same period of 2017. The $37 thousand decrease was primarily due to decreases in certification expenses, offset somewhat by increased stock option costs.

Zoom reported net income of $346 thousand or $0.02 per basic and diluted share for the third quarter of 2018, compared to net income of $377 thousand or $0.03 per basic share and $0.02 per diluted share in the same period of 2017.

Balance Sheet Highlights
At September 30, 2018, Zoom had $238 thousand in cash, $1.95 million drawn on a $3.0 million line of credit, working capital of $4.0 million, a current ratio of 1.5, and no long-term debt.

(in thousands except for percentages)9/30/201812/31/2017% Change 
Cash$238$229  3.9%
Total Current Assets$11,619$8,23941.0%
Total Assets$12,129$8,79337.9%
Total Current Liabilities$7,604
$5,62135.3%
Working Capital$4,015$2,61853.4%
Stockholders’ Equity$4,525$3,17242.7%


Conference Call Details
Date/Time:Thursday, November 1, 2018 – 4:30 p.m. ET
  
Participant Dial-In Numbers: 
(United States):866-393-7958
(International):706-643-5255
  
Conference ID8799628

To access the call, please dial-in approximately five minutes before the start time and, when asked, provide the operator with the conference ID 8799628.  An accompanying slide presentation will be available in PDF format via the Investor Relations section of Zoom Telephonics’ website at www.zoomtel.com/SQ318 shortly before the call.

About Zoom Telephonics
Zoom Telephonics, Inc. designs, produces, markets, and supports cable modems and other communication products.  The Company’s worldwide Motorola license agreement includes cable modems and gateways, DSL modems and gateways, cellular modems and routers and sensors, and other Internet and network products.  For more information about Zoom and its products, please visit www.zoomtel.com/investor and www.motorolanetwork.com.

MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Motorola Trademark Holdings, LLC and are used under license.

Forward Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking information relating to Zoom’s plans, expectations, and intentions.  Actual results may be materially different from expectations as a result of known and unknown risks, including: the increase in tariffs on the Company's imports from China;  potential changes in NAFTA; the potential need for additional funding which Zoom may be unable to obtain; declining demand for certain of Zoom’s products; delays, unanticipated costs, interruptions or other uncertainties associated with Zoom’s production and shipping; Zoom’s reliance on several key outsourcing partners; uncertainty of key customers’ plans and orders; risks relating to product certifications; Zoom’s dependence on key employees; uncertainty of new product development, including certification and overall project delays, budget overruns, and the risk that newly introduced products may contain undetected errors or defects or otherwise not perform as anticipated; costs and senior management distractions due to patent-related matters; and other risks set forth in Zoom’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Zoom cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Zoom expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such statements to reflect any change in Zoom’s expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstance on which any such statement is based.

Investor Relations Contact:

Adam Prior, Senior Vice-President
The Equity Group Inc.
Phone: 212-836-9606
Email: aprior@equityny.com

ZOOM TELEPHONICS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) 
For the Three Months and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 and 2017
 
  (in thousands, except per share data)
 
  Three Months EndedNine Months Ended
  9/30/18 9/30/17 9/30/18 9/30/17 
              
Net sales $9,000 $8,582 $24,859 $20,556 
Cost of goods sold  5,727  5,516  15,572  13,561 
              
Gross profit  3,273  3,066  9,287  6,995 
              
Operating expenses:             
Selling  2,033  1,813  6,210  5,341 
General and administrative  438  383  1,060  1,154 
Research and development  420  457  1,199  1,368 
Total operating expenses  2,891  2,653  8,469  7,863 
              
Operating income (loss)  382  413  818  (868)
              
Other income (expense), net  (33) (31) (45) (98)
              
Income (loss) before income taxes  349  382  773  (966)
              
Income tax expense (benefit)  3  5  21  14 
              
Net income (loss) $346 $377 $752 $(980)
              
Earnings (loss) per share:             
              
Basic Earnings (loss) per share $0.02 $0.03 $0.05 $(0.07)
Diluted Earnings (loss) per share $0.02 $0.02 $0.05 $(0.07)
              
              
Weighted average number of shares outstanding:             
              
Basic  16,051  14,953  15,905  14,851 
Diluted  16,776  16,419  16,630  14,851 


ZOOM TELEPHONICS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)
(in thousands, except share data)
 
   09/30/18 12/31/17 
        
ASSETS       
        
Current assets:       
        
Cash $238 $229 
Accounts receivable, net  4,400  2,230 
Inventories, net  6,301  5,202 
Prepaid expenses and other  680  578 
        
Total current assets  11,619  8,239 
        
Property and equipment, net  269  162 
        
Other assets  241  392 
        
Total assets $12,129 $8,793 
        
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY       
        
        
Current liabilities:       
Bank debt $1,950 $90 
Accounts payable  3,530  3,527 
Accrued sales tax  241  831 
Accrued other expenses  1,883  1,173 
        
Total current liabilities  7,604  5,621 
        
Total liabilities  7,604  5,621 
        
Stockholders’ equity:       
        
Common stock and additional paid-in capital  41,019  40,418 
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)  (36,494) (37,246)
        
Total stockholders’ equity  4,525  3,172 
        
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $12,129 $8,793