TULSA, Okla., Feb. 23, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AAON, INC. (NASDAQ:AAON), today announced its results for the fourth quarter and year 2016. Sales in the fourth quarter were $91.7 million, down 5.7% from $97.2 million in 2015. Net income was $11.4 million, declining 11.8% from $12.9 million in the same period a year ago. Sales for the year 2016 reached a record level, $384.0 million, representing a gain of 7.1% compared to $358.6 million in 2015. Net income for 2016 was also a record, $53.4 million, rising 16.7% compared to $45.7 million in 2015.

Earnings for the fourth quarter of 2016 and 2015 were $0.21 and $0.24 per diluted share, down 12.5%, based upon 53.4 million and 54.0 million diluted shares outstanding, respectively. Earnings per diluted share for the years 2016 and 2015 were $1.00 and $0.84, representing a gain of 19.0%, based upon 53.4 million and 54.5 million diluted shares outstanding, respectively.

Norman H. Asbjornson, CEO, stated, “We believe the sales rate slowed in the fourth quarter as our customers paused to await and absorb the November election results and the impact they could have on the business environment. In addition, we witnessed a decided shift in our product mix toward lower priced units. This may have been a by-product of the concern surrounding the political atmosphere. Nevertheless, while our unit volume increased 12.5% in 2016, our sales growth advanced only 7.1%."

Mr. Asbjornson continued, "We've been successful in controlling our total costs and maintaining our gross profit margin. Our gross margin last year climbed to 30.8% compared to 30.3% the year earlier. He continued, "Our balance sheet remained quite strong. At year end 2016 the current ratio was 3.6:1 (including cash and cash equivalents of $43.7 million). We continued to operate debt-free and our return on average stockholder equity was 27.7% in 2016 compared with 25.1% a year earlier."  

Mr. Asbjornson concluded, "Our Water-Source Heat Pump production is ramping up, albeit at a somewhat slower rate than expected to assure delivery of quality product to customers. We are confident that the WSHP line will continue to show steady improvement throughout next year. Our backlog in 2016 decreased from $57.1 million to $49.1 million. Our business is somewhat seasonal, usually slowing in the fourth quarter. We are closely monitoring our raw material costs which play a major role in our ability to maintain gross margins. While 2017 will present certain challenges, we are encouraged by the tone of business witnessed since the beginning of the year. The incoming order rate and backlog have strengthened and are running at record first quarter levels. Despite some headwinds, we believe that we can achieve record sales and earnings in 2017."

The Company will host a conference call today at 3:30 P.M. (Eastern Time) to discuss the fourth quarter and year 2016 results. To participate, call 1-888-241-0551 (code 72961943); or, for rebroadcast, call 1-855-859-2056 (code 72961943).

AAON, Inc. is a manufacturer of air conditioning and heating equipment consisting of rooftop units, chillers, packaged outdoor mechanical rooms, air handling units, makeup air units, energy recovery units, condensing units, geothermal/water-source heat pumps, self-contained units and coils. Its products serve the new construction and replacement markets. The Company has successfully gained market share through its “semi-custom” product lines, which offer the customer value, quality, function, serviceability and efficiency.

Certain statements in this news release may be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933. Statements regarding future prospects and developments are based upon current expectations and involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from the forward-looking statements.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measure

To supplement the Company’s consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), an additional non-GAAP financial measure is provided and reconciled in the following table. The Company believes that this non-GAAP financial measure, when considered together with the GAAP financial measures, provide information that is useful to investors in understanding period-over-period operating results. The Company believes that this non-GAAP financial measure enhances the ability of investors to analyze the Company’s business trends and operating performance.

EBITDAX

EBITDAX (as defined below) is presented herein and reconciled from the GAAP measure of net income because of its wide acceptance by the investment community as a financial indicator of a company's ability to internally fund operations.

The Company defines EBITDAX as net income, plus (1) depreciation, (2) amortization of bond premiums, (3) share-based compensation, (4) interest (income) expense and (5) income tax expense. EBITDAX is not a measure of net income or cash flows as determined by GAAP.

The Company’s EBITDAX measure provides additional information which may be used to better understand the Company’s operations. EBITDAX is one of several metrics that the Company uses as a supplemental financial measurement in the evaluation of its business and should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income, as an indicator of operating performance. Certain items excluded from EBITDAX are significant components in understanding and assessing a company's financial performance. EBITDAX, as used by the Company, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. The Company believes that EBITDAX is a widely followed measure of operating performance and is one of many metrics used by the Company’s management team, and by other users of the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

The following table provides a reconciliation of net income (GAAP) to EBITDAX (non-GAAP) for the periods indicated:

For Further Information:
Jerry R. Levine 
Phone: (914) 244-0292 
Fax: (914) 244-0295
Email: jrladvisor@yahoo.com

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