FARO Reports First Quarter 2016 Financial Results

Sales for the quarter ended March 31, 2016 were $75.7 million, up 8.3% compared with $69.9 million in the first quarter last year.  Excluding approximately $0.9 million of unfavorable foreign exchange impacts, first quarter sales would have increased approximately 10% as compared with the first quarter of 2015.  The Company’s sales growth was driven primarily by higher metrology sales within the Americas and Asia-Pacific regions.

Gross margin for the quarter was 56.3% compared with 56.6% in the prior year period with product and service margins remaining relatively consistent with the prior year period.

Operating income for the quarter was $4.3 million compared with $1.9 million in the prior year period, reflecting increased sales volume partially offset by a modest increase in operating expenses.

Net income and EPS for the quarter was $3.1 million and $0.19, respectively, compared with $0.7 million and $0.04, respectively, in the prior year period.

“The FARO team delivered a strong first quarter, while overcoming economic pressures in certain regions around the globe,” stated Dr. Simon Raab, President and Chief Executive Officer.  “As announced previously, we are in the process of re-aligning our organization to better serve our customers.  I was pleased with the focus and dedication of our employees to drive growth in the quarter, and at the same time take key steps forward with our reorganization initiatives.  We remain committed to increasing our products’ customer focus and improving our global efficiency in order to retain and enhance our market leadership position.”

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are subject to risks and uncertainties, such as statements about FARO’s long-term growth, demand for and customer acceptance of FARO’s products, anticipated improvement in the markets in which FARO operates, and FARO’s product development and product launches. Statements that are not historical facts or that describe the Company’s plans, objectives, projections, expectations, assumptions, strategies, or goals are forward-looking statements. In addition, words such as “is,” “are,” “expects,” “continues,” “may,” “will,” and similar expressions or discussions of FARO’s plans or other intentions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to various known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results, performances, or achievements to differ materially from future results, performances, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Consequently, undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:

• the Company’s inability to successfully identify and acquire target companies or achieve expected benefits from acquisitions that are consummated;
• development by others of new or improved products, processes or technologies that make the Company’s products less competitive or obsolete;
• the Company’s inability to maintain its technological advantage by developing new products and enhancing its existing products;
• declines or other adverse changes, or lack of improvement, in industries that the Company serves or the domestic and international economies in the regions of the world where the Company operates and other general economic, business, and financial conditions;
• the impact of fluctuations of foreign exchange rates; and
• Other risks detailed in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year endedDecember 31, 2015.

Forward-looking statements in this release represent the Company’s judgment as of the date of this release. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, unless otherwise required by law.

About FARO

FARO is the world’s most trusted source for 3D measurement technology. The Company develops and markets computer-aided measurement and imaging devices and software. Technology from FARO permits high-precision 3D measurement, imaging and comparison of parts and complex structures within production and quality assurance processes. The devices are used for inspecting components and assemblies, rapid prototyping, documenting large volume spaces or structures in 3D, surveying and construction, as well as for investigation and reconstruction of accident sites or crime scenes.

FARO’s global headquarters are located in Lake Mary, Florida.  The Company also has a new technology center and manufacturing facility consisting of approximately 90,400 square feet located in Exton, Pennsylvania containing research and development, manufacturing and service operations of our FARO Laser Tracker^TM and FARO Cobalt Array 3D Imager product lines.  The Company’s European regional headquarters is located in Stuttgart, Germany and its Asia Pacific regional headquarters is located in Singapore. FARO has other offices in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, Poland, Turkey, the Netherlands, Switzerland, India, China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, South Korea, and Japan.

More information is available at http://www.faro.com