[News] Daktronics, Inc. Announces Fiscal Year and Fourth Quarter 2025 Results

Daktronics, the leading U.S.-based designer and manufacturer of best-in-class dynamic video communication displays and control systems for customers worldwide, today reported results for its fiscal year and fourth quarter ended April 26, 2025.

Fiscal Q4 and full year 2025 financial highlights:

• Q4 sales of $172.6 million and full year 2025 sales of $756.5 million compared to $215.9 million and record sales of $818.1 million at the end of Q4 and full year 2024, respectively. On a sequential basis from the seasonally slower Q3, Q4 sales rose 15.4%
• Q4 gross profit as a percentage of sales of 25.0% compared to 25.7% in the year-earlier period; full year gross profit as a percentage of net sales of 25.8% decreased as compared to 27.2% for fiscal 2024
• Q4 operating loss of $1.7 million compared to a profit of $19.4 million in the year-earlier period; adjusted operating income(1) was $5.8 million after excluding $7.5 million related to business and digital transformation consultant costs, legal costs associated with special corporate governance matters, and management transition costs; full-year operating income was $33.1 million compared to a record $87.1 million in fiscal 2024; full-year adjusted operating income was $49.6 million(1) after excluding $16.5 million related to business and digital transformation consultant costs, legal costs associated with special corporate governance matters, and management transition costs
• Q4 net loss of $9.4 million, compared to income of $2.5 million in the year-earlier period; adjusted net income(1) was $8.8 million for the quarter after excluding a provision for credit losses on affiliate loans, the non-operating non-cash debt fair value adjustment, and tax impacted operating expense adjustments; full-year net loss was $10.1 million, compared to income of $34.6 million in fiscal 2024; adjusted net income(1) was $40.1 million for full-year fiscal 2025 after excluding a non-cash allowance for credit loss on affiliate loans, the non-operating non-cash debt fair value adjustment, and tax impacted operating expense adjustments
• Q4 product and service orders of $240.7 million(2) increased 17.0% from $205.8 million in the year-ago period; full-year product and service orders were $781.3 million(1) up 5.6% from $740.2 million in fiscal 2024
• Product order backlog was $341.6 million at April 26, 2025 compared to $316.9 million a year ago due to the robust increase in orders during Q4 of fiscal 2025(2)
• Q4 cash flows from operations of $22.9 million and $97.7 million for full year fiscal 2025, compared to $9.5 million and $63.2 million in the same periods a year earlier, respectively

Brad Wiemann, Daktronics’ Interim President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “The Company embarked on its business transformation in fiscal 2025. A rigorous analysis and planning phase of this transformation was completed with a detailed implementation plan of action designed to support ambitious sales growth, margin improvements and top quartile ROIC targets. New orders reflect strong growth, especially in our International business unit, demonstrating continued market adoption of digital display technology and a comprehensive line of products and services. We also improved contribution margin in our Commercial and Transportation segments through better alignment of capacity to demand, lower manufacturing costs and other operating efficiencies during the year. The 54.5 percent growth in full-year cash flow generated from operations in part reflected inventory efficiency initiatives and value-based pricing increases implemented as part of the business transformation effort.”

Business Transformation Update

During fiscal 2025, the Company embarked on a business transformation program to achieve and sustain a higher profit growth trajectory. The investment in this program began to realize benefits in the last four months of fiscal 2025 through initiatives to reprice products to their intrinsic value to customers, raise inventory efficiency and turnover as well as leverage the Company’s purchasing power to improve input costs to get to market quicker and more efficiently. The Company’s increased focus on working capital management has additionally reduced accounts receivable and contract assets. In the first quarter fiscal 2026, Daktronics rolled out its Service software system, a major milestone, which will benefit the Company in streamlining processes and enhancing customer experiences through better service management and enablement of self-service options.

Outlook and Tariff Backdrop

The tariff environment remains highly uncertain and fluid. Since the announcement of reciprocal tariffs on April 2, 2025, tariff rates have fluctuated, including periods of increases, reductions, and temporary suspensions. Given this high degree of uncertainty with respect to tariff rates, effectiveness, exceptions and competitive reaction, Daktronics cannot reliably determine the ultimate tariff impact at this time.

Daktronics remains agile and is able to implement certain measures to mitigate tariff impacts, though offsets may not be immediate. These measures include:

• Selective price adjustments and escalation clauses built into contracts
• Supply chain flexibility on many components
• A global manufacturing footprint that affords flexibility, including shifting production to a Daktronics lower-tariff international facility, potentially reshoring production to the U.S, or a mix of both depending on specific product cost, certainty of price or customer preference
• A strong and developing international growth opportunity that can further diversify the revenue base to reduce exposure to U.S.-based revenue
• The Company continues to focus on proactively managing the areas of the business within our control to generate profitable growth over the long term

Mr. Wiemann added, “As we enter fiscal 2026, our transformation efforts ensure we are well-positioned to capitalize on increasing market demand. Our market leadership, technological superiority, and high-quality value-based selling proposition set us apart. Our tiered product offering, supply and manufacturing capabilities, supported by a strengthened balance sheet, further enhance our competitive edge.

“Additionally, our three-year transformation plan includes expanding our presence in indoor markets, enhancing the services we offer, and focusing on our highest-growth and most profitable sales channels. We are on track to meet the financial objectives tied to this plan.”

Fourth Quarter and Year to Date Results

Howard Atkins, Daktronics’ Acting Chief Financial Officer, commented, “Following a record revenue year in fiscal 2024 and then an initial softness in order flows in early fiscal 2025, our teams worked to successfully drive order growth in the second half of fiscal 2025, with Q4 orders up 17.0 percent over the comparable quarter of fiscal 2024. Although net sales were not as high as orders in Q4, the lag between order growth and net sales sets the stage for solid growth in revenue as projects begin in fiscal 2026.”

Growth in orders in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025 was broadly led by strong demand in the Commercial, High School Park and Recreation, and International business units; on a sequential basis, orders increased 28.8 percent driven by strong demand across all business units. Orders for the full fiscal 2025 year increased 5.6 percent as compared to fiscal 2024 for the similar reasons in the same business units.

Net sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025 decreased by 20.1 percent as compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024; on a sequential basis, net sales increased 15.4 percent. Net sales for fiscal 2025 decreased 7.5 percent as compared to fiscal 2024. The decrease in sales was the result of lower volumes in each business unit, primarily driven by the Live Events business unit due to order timing and buildable backlog.

Gross profit as a percentage of net sales decreased to 25.0 percent for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025 as compared to 25.7 percent in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024. Gross profit as a percentage of net sales decreased to 25.8 percent for fiscal 2025 as compared to 27.2 percent in the prior year. The year-over-year gross profit decrease is attributable to sales mix differences between periods and a lower sales volume during fiscal 2025 as compared to fiscal 2024.

Operating expenses for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025 were $44.9 million compared to $36.0 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, an increase of 24.8 percent. Operating expenses were $162.4 million for the full fiscal 2025 year as compared to $135.3 million for the full fiscal 2024 year, an increase of 20.0 percent. The increase in operating expenses for the year was attributable to $4.4 million related to investments in staffing resources to support information technology and digital transformation plans. Additionally, the increase is due to $16.5 million unique expenses in the year which included $7.1 million in strategic and digital transformation initiatives, $6.8 million for corporate governance matters including redomiciling and shareholder relations legal and advisory costs, and $2.6 million for management transition.

The above changes resulted in a negative operating margin of 1.0 percent for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025 compared to a positive operating margin of 9.0 percent for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024. Operating margin was 4.4 percent for fiscal 2025 as compared to 10.6 percent for fiscal 2024.

The increase in interest (expense) income, net for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025 compared to the same period one year ago was primarily due to the increase in average cash balances on which interest was earned during the year.

For the fourth quarter and for the fiscal 2025, the change in fair value of the convertible note was a non-cash benefit of $2.8 million and a non-cash charge of $22.5 million, respectively. In the fourth quarter and for fiscal 2024, the Company recorded non-cash charges for fair value changes of the convertible note of $5.0 million and $16.6 million, respectively. The fair value changes were primarily caused by forced conversion of the entire Convertible Note in the third and fourth quarters of fiscal 2025 and changes in stock price over the fair value measurement periods.

In fiscal 2025, the Company did not record any impairment charges for investments in affiliates, as compared to $5.3 million and $6.4 million for the fourth quarter and fiscal 2024. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, a provision for possible credit losses of $15.5 million was recorded. No such loss was recorded in fiscal 2024.

The Company’s effective tax rate for fiscal 2025 was negative 73.0 percent. The effective income tax rate for fiscal 2025 was primarily impacted due to the convertible note fair value adjustment to expense that is not deductible for tax purposes. Additional other items impacting the rate were valuation allowances on equity investments, state taxes, as well as a write-down of deferred taxes related to debt issuance costs on the conversion of the convertible note. The effective tax rate for fiscal 2024 was 35.9 percent. The effective income tax rate for fiscal 2024 was primarily impacted due to the fair value adjustment to the convertible note that is not deductible for tax purposes. Additional other items impacting the rate were valuation allowances on equity investments, state taxes, as well as prior year provision to return adjustments reduced in part by tax benefits from permanent tax credits.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow

Balance sheet quality was further strengthened in fiscal 2025. Cash, restricted cash and marketable securities totaled $127.5 million at April 26, 2025, and $12.0 million of long-term debt was outstanding as of that date. The long-term debt includes the face value of the debt of $12.4 million, net of $0.4 million of debt issuance costs. There were no draw-downs on the asset-based revolving credit facility during fiscal 2025 and $32.9 million was available to draw at April 26, 2025. We issued 4.0 million shares to convert the 9.0 percent convertible note payable and repurchased 2.1 million shares for a total of $29.5 million shares purchased at a weighted average cost of approximately $14.23 per share.

In fiscal year 2025, cash flow generated from operations was $97.7 million, of which $19.5 million was used for purchases of property and equipment and $29.5 million for stock repurchase. At the end of the fiscal 2025 fourth quarter, the working capital ratio was 2.2 to 1. Inventory levels dropped 23.3 percent since the end of the 2024 fiscal year on April 27, 2024, in part due to the business transformation initiatives to optimize inventory levels. Management’s focus remains on managing working capital to fund the expected growth of the Company with its current sources of liquidity.

TrendForce 2025 Global LED Video Wall Market Outlook and Price Cost Analysis
Release Date: 30 September 2024
Language: Traditional Chinese / English
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