First Quarter 2020 Revenues of $168.9 Million Increase 5.3% over First Quarter 2019 Revenues

First Quarter Bookings of $213.1 Million and a Book-to-Bill Ratio of 1.3 to 1.0

First Quarter 2020 Unmanned Systems Revenues of $42.0 Million
Increase 20.3% over First Quarter 2019 Revenues

        Unmanned Systems Book-to-Bill Ratio for the First Quarter of 2020 of 1.5 to 1.0

SAN DIEGO, May 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq:KTOS), a leading National Security Solutions provider, today reported its first quarter 2020 financial results.  For the first quarter of 2020, Kratos reported Revenues of $168.9 million, a 5.3% increase over the first quarter of 2019, and first quarter 2020 Adjusted EBITDA of $16.3 million, a 6.9% decrease over the first quarter of 2019, reflecting increased research and development investments of approximately $1.8 million, primarily in the Company’s space and satellite communications business related to investments in new software-based and open space platforms and technologies.    Operating Income of $4.7 million for the first quarter of 2020 includes an increase in non-cash stock based compensation expense of $2.1 million and an increase in depreciation expense of $0.8 million.  First quarter 2020 Cash Flow generated from Operations was $4.0 million, and Free Cash Flow from Operations was a use of $2.4 million after the funding of $6.4 million of capital expenditures.  Cash used to fund strategic acquisitions was $14.2 million.  Adjusted EPS* was $0.09 for the first quarter of 2020, compared to $0.11 for the first quarter of 2019.  Kratos reported a first quarter 2020 Net Loss of $0.2 million, and GAAP EPS was a loss of $0.00 for the first quarter of 2020.

For the first quarter of 2020, Kratos’ Unmanned Systems Segment (KUS) reported Revenues of $42.0 million, an increase of $7.1 million, or 20.3%, over the first quarter of 2019, and Adjusted EBITDA of $2.3 million, an increase of 15.0%, over first quarter 2019 Adjusted EBITDA of $2.0 million.  KUS’s book-to-bill ratio for the first quarter of 2020 was 1.5 to 1.0 and for the last twelve months ended March 29, 2020 was 1.2 to 1.0.  Total backlog for KUS at the end of the first quarter of 2020 was $174.4 million.  

For the first quarter of 2020, Kratos’ Government Solutions Segment (KGS) reported Revenues of $126.9 million, up from $125.5 million in the first quarter of 2019.  Organic revenue growth in the first quarter of 2020 in our Microwave Products and Rocket System businesses and the inclusion of a full quarter’s financial performance of our turbine technologies business, were offset primarily by expected declines in our training solutions business and legacy government services business.  First quarter 2020 KGS Adjusted EBITDA of $14.0 million decreased from $15.5 million in the first quarter of 2019, primarily as a result of a less favorable mix of revenues.  For the first quarter of 2020, KGS reported bookings of $151.0 million and a book-to-bill ratio of 1.2 to 1.0, with bookings of $542.1 million and a book to bill ratio of 1.0 to 1.0, in the last twelve months ended March 29, 2020.

For the first quarter of 2020, Kratos reported consolidated bookings of $213.1 million and a book-to-bill ratio of 1.3 to 1.0, with bookings of $751.1 million and a book-to-bill ratio of 1.0 to 1.0, in the last twelve months ended March 29, 2020. Backlog at March 29, 2020 was $646.8 million, up $45.6 million, or 7.6%, from the backlog at December 29, 2019.  Kratos’ bid and proposal pipeline remained consistent as compared to year-end, at $7.7 billion at March 29, 2020.   

Eric DeMarco, Kratos’ President and CEO, said, “As Kratos addresses the challenges presented by COVID-19, we remain focused on providing mission critical, affordable, leading technology systems and solutions for our national security mission, while maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our employees.  I am extremely proud of the commitment of Kratos employees to our customers and country and the value they continue to create for our Company and its shareholders in the current environment.  In the first quarter, Kratos Unmanned Systems, Space and Satellite Communications, Microwave Electronics, C5ISR and Rocket System DoD focused businesses performed particularly well, with strong Q1 bookings providing increased future visibility.”

Mr. DeMarco concluded, “Since our last financial report, we have continued to execute our business plan, including important progress with Kratos’ tactical unmanned aerial drone system programs and initiatives, including Valkyrie, Gremlins, Air Wolf, Thanatos and Mako.   Kratos is now involved in several new major DoD programs, including OPIR, GBSD, ABMS, Skyborg, Golden Horde and Vanguard, which we believe reflects the alignment of our business portfolio with the future national security priorities of the U.S. and its Allies.”

Financial Guidance

We are providing initial Second Quarter 2020 guidance for Revenues of $160 million to $170 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $12 million to $16 million.

We are affirming our full year 2020 Adjusted EBITDA guidance of $72 million to $78 million and we are affirming our full year 2020 Free Cash Flow guidance of generation of $7 million to a use of $18 million, including capital expenditures of $40 to $45 million.

We are adjusting our full year 2020 revenue guidance from $740 million to $780 million, to $720 million to $760 million, primarily to reflect the expected impact of COVID-19 on our business, vendors, suppliers and customers (1), the non-renewal of an option on a sole source training contract by an international customer and the extension through the end of 2020 of a previously protested U.S. Navy/RSNF Training Contract.  Including our first quarter bookings, our affirmed Adjusted EBITDA guidance reflects an overall forecasted improved revenue mix and profitability in our DoD and National Security business areas, including in our space, satellite, unmanned systems and microwave electronic operations.

Kratos’ fiscal year 2020 guidance excludes any potential contribution from expected Valkyrie or other tactical drone production or system contracts, with expected orders to be taken into consideration and our financial forecast adjusted once such contracts/orders are received and the related financial contribution can be estimated. 

The 2020 capital expenditure forecast currently includes expected outlays of $15 to $17 million associated with the production of 12 Valkyrie aircraft prior to receipt of expected customer award(s); therefore, these aircraft will be reflected as Company-owned tactical drones until receipt of the related customer award(s), and approximately $5 million related to the production of Company-owned aerial target drone systems in preparation for fulfilling forecasted customer requirements.  Kratos will adjust/reduce these initial forecasted capital expenditure outlays once expected customer orders are received and the related financial contribution can be estimated.

The Company will provide additional information in its earnings call today. 

(1) The company's 2020 financial outlook includes updated guidance for net sales reflecting the currently expected impacts related to COVID-19. The ultimate impact of the Global COVID-19 Pandemic on the company's financial outlook for 2020 remains uncertain.

Management will discuss the Company’s first quarter 2020 financial results, as well as its second quarter and full year 2020 guidance on a conference call beginning at 2:00 p.m. Pacific (5:00 p.m. Eastern) today. Analysts and institutional investors may participate in the conference call by dialing (866) 393-0674, and referencing the call by ID number 8476815. The general public may access the conference call by dialing (877) 344-3935 or on the day of the event by visiting  www.kratosdefense.com for a simultaneous webcast. A replay of the webcast will be available on the Kratos web site approximately two hours after the conclusion of the conference call.

About Kratos Defense & Security Solutions
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:KTOS) develops and fields transformative, affordable technology, platforms and systems for United States National Security related customers, allies and commercial enterprises.  Kratos is changing the way breakthrough technologies for these industries are rapidly brought to market through proven commercial and venture capital backed approaches, including proactive research and streamlined development processes. Kratos specializes in unmanned systems, satellite communications, cyber security/warfare, microwave electronics, missile defense, hypersonic systems, training and combat systems and next generation turbo jet and turbo fan engine development. For more information go to www.kratosdefense.com.

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, express or implied statements concerning the Company’s expectations regarding its future financial performance, including the Company’s expectations for its second quarter and full year 2020 revenue and Adjusted EBITDA, and full year 2020 capital expenditures and free cash flow, the Company’s ability to achieve improved revenue mix and profit in certain of its business segments and the expected timing of such profit, the Company’s expectation of ramp on projects, the Company’s bid and proposal pipeline, demand for its products and services, including the Company’s ability to successfully compete in the tactical  unmanned  aerial  system  area  and  expected  new customer awards,  including the magnitude and timing of funding and expected contract awards related to the Company’s Valkyrie program and other new tactical unmanned programs, performance of  key contracts and programs, including the timing of production and demonstration related to certain of the Company’s contracts and product offerings, the impact of the Company’s restructuring efforts and cost reduction measures, including its ability to improve profitability and cash flow in certain business units as a result of these actions, benefits to be realized from the Company’s net operating loss carry forwards, the availability and timing of government funding for the Company’s offerings, including the strength of the future funding environment, the short-term delays that may occur as a result of Continuing Resolutions or delays in DoD budget approvals, timing of LRIP and full rate production related to the Company’s unmanned aerial target system offerings, as well as the level of recurring revenues expected to be generated by these programs once they achieve full rate production, market and industry developments, and the estimated impact of COVID-19 on our financial projections, including projected growth. Such statements are only predictions, and the Company’s actual results may differ materially from the results expressed or implied by these statements. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. All such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise these statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Factors that may cause the Company’s results to differ include, but are not limited to: risks to our business and financial results related to the reductions and other spending constraints imposed on the U.S. Government and our other customers, including as a result of sequestration and extended continuing resolutions, the Federal budget deficit and Federal government shut-downs; risks of adverse regulatory action or litigation; risks associated with debt leverage and cost savings and cash flow improvements expected as a result of the refinancing of our Senior Notes; risks that our cost-cutting initiatives will not provide the anticipated benefits; risks that changes, cutbacks or delays in spending by the U.S. DoD may occur, which could cause delays or cancellations of key government contracts; risks of delays to or the cancellation of our projects as a result of protest actions submitted by our competitors; risks that changes may occur in Federal government (or other applicable) procurement laws, regulations, policies and budgets; risks of the availability of government funding for the Company's products and services due to performance, cost growth, or other factors, changes in government and customer priorities and requirements (including cost-cutting initiatives, the potential deferral of awards, terminations or reduction of expenditures to respond to the priorities of Congress and the Administration, or budgetary cuts resulting from Congressional committee recommendations or automatic sequestration under the Budget Control Act of 2011, as amended); risks that the UAS and UGS markets do not experience significant growth; risks that we cannot expand our customer base or that our products do not achieve broad acceptance which could impact our ability to achieve our anticipated level of growth; risks of increases in the Federal government initiatives related to in-sourcing; risks related to security breaches, including cyber security attacks and threats or other significant disruptions of our information systems, facilities and infrastructures; risks related to our compliance with applicable contracting and procurement laws, regulations and standards; risks relating to contract performance; risks related to failure of our products or services; risks associated with our subcontractors’ or suppliers’ failure to perform their contractual obligations, including the appearance of counterfeit or corrupt parts in our products; changes in the competitive environment (including as a result of bid protests); failure to successfully integrate acquired operations and competition in the marketplace, which could reduce revenues and profit margins; risks that potential future goodwill impairments will adversely affect our operating results; risks that anticipated tax benefits will not be realized in accordance with our expectations; risks that a change in ownership of our stock could cause further limitation to the future utilization of our net operating losses; risks that the current economic environment will adversely impact our business; currently unforeseen risks associated with COVID-19 and risks related to natural disasters or severe weather. These and other risk factors are more fully discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 29, 2019, and in our other filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Note Regarding Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This news release contains non-GAAP financial measures, including Adjusted earnings per share (computed using income from continuing operations before income taxes, excluding depreciation, amortization of intangible assets, amortization of capitalized contract and development costs, stock-based compensation expense, acquisition and restructuring related items and other, which includes but is not limited to legal related items and foreign transaction gains and losses, less the estimated tax cash payments) and Adjusted EBITDA (which includes net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest and excludes, among other things, losses and gains from discontinued operations, acquisition and restructuring related items,  stock compensation expense, foreign transaction gains and losses, and the associated margin rates). Additional non-GAAP financial measures include Free Cash Flow from Operations and Adjusted EBITDA related to our KUS and KGS businesses. Kratos believes this information is useful to investors because it provides a basis for measuring the Company’s available capital resources, the actual and forecasted operating performance of the Company’s business and the Company’s cash flow, excluding non-recurring items and non-cash items that would normally be included in the most directly comparable measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. The Company’s management uses these non-GAAP financial measures along with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures in evaluating the Company’s actual and forecasted operating performance, capital resources and cash flow. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, financial information presented in compliance with GAAP, and investors should carefully evaluate the Company’s financial results calculated in accordance with GAAP and reconciliations to those financial statements. In addition, non-GAAP financial measures as reported by the Company may not be comparable to similarly titled amounts reported by other companies. As appropriate, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures and information reconciling these non-GAAP financial measures to the Company’s financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP are included in this news release.

*Adjusted earnings per share (Adjusted EPS) excludes income (loss) from discontinued operations, depreciation, non-cash intangible amortization expense, as the Company has historically been acquisitive, non-cash amortization of capitalized contract and development costs, non-cash stock-based compensation costs, foreign transaction gains and losses, certain non-recurring items such as acquisition and restructuring related items and other, including legal fees, and includes cash actually expected to be paid for income taxes on continuing operations, reflecting the benefit of the Company’s net operating loss carry forwards of over $300 million. Kratos believes that reporting adjusted earnings per share is a meaningful metric to present the Company’s financial results.