Technology
Stoneridge Reports Second Quarter 2024 Results
Published
2 years agoon
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Q2 Operating Performance Significantly Outperforms Previously Provided Expectations Driven by Strong Margin Expansion
2024 Second Quarter Results
Sales of $237.1 millionGross profit of $53.7 million (22.7% of sales)Operating income of $3.4 million Adjusted operating income of $5.4 million (2.3% of sales)Adjusted EBITDA of $16.1 million (6.8% of sales)Earnings per share (“EPS”) of $0.10Adjusted EPS of $0.17
2024 Full-Year Guidance Update
Reducing full-year 2024 revenue midpoint guidance by $45 million to reflect updated FX rates (~$12 million impact), updated OEM production volumes (~$18 million impact) and potential volatility in non-OEM and customer demand-based products (~$15 million impact)Revenue guidance of $940 million – $970 million (midpoint of $955 million)Increasing gross margin midpoint guidance by 50 basis points to reflect continued material cost improvement and operational excellenceGross margin guidance of 22.75% – 23.0%Reducing adjusted operating margin and EBITDA margin expectations to reflect lower contribution from reduced revenue expectations, offset by improved gross margin performance and continued operating cost controlAdjusted operating margin guidance of ~2.75%Adjusted EBITDA guidance of $58 million – $64 million (adjusted EBITDA margin of 6.2% – 6.6%)Adjusted EPS guidance of $0.18 – $0.28 (midpoint of $0.23)
NOVI, Mich., July 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Stoneridge, Inc. (NYSE: SRI) today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024, with sales of $237.1 million and earnings per share of $0.10. Adjusted EPS was $0.17.
For the second quarter of 2024, Stoneridge reported gross profit of $53.7 million (22.7% of sales), an increase of 250 basis points relative to the first quarter of 2024. Operating income of $3.4 million resulted in adjusted operating income of $5.4 million (2.3% of sales), an increase of 210 basis points relative to the first quarter of 2024. Adjusted EBITDA was $16.1 million (6.8% of sales), an increase of 410 basis points relative to the first quarter of 2024. Second quarter results were favorably impacted by non-operating foreign currency of approximately $2.3 million.
The exhibits attached hereto provide reconciliation detail on normalizing adjustments of non-GAAP financial measures used in this press release.
Jim Zizelman, president and chief executive officer, commented, “Our second quarter performance highlights our continued focus on improving the fundamentals of our business leading to significantly improved margins and significant outperformance relative to our prior expectations. This was primarily driven by continued material cost reductions, improved operational excellence, including reduced quality-related costs, and operating cost control as we continue to execute on the key initiatives we set at the beginning of the year. Our efforts to reduce material costs and control operating costs contributed to a 250 basis point improvement in gross margin and a 210 basis point improvement in adjusted operating margin over the first quarter. Including the benefit of non-operating FX income, adjusted EBITDA margin improved by 410 basis points over the first quarter to 6.8% of sales. We continue to improve the financial performance of the business while maintaining our robust approach to technology innovation and growth.”
Zizelman continued, “While we continue to drive operational performance improvement, we remain focused on flawless execution of the program launches that will drive strong growth going-forward. We are excited to announce that during the second quarter we began shipping our first MirrorEye OEM systems to Volvo for the launch of their FH Aero model in Europe. Similarly, our MirrorEye program with Peterbilt launched on Models 579 and 567 in North America in July. Both customers are focusing significant marketing efforts on MirrorEye as a differentiating product in the market. Initial customer feedback has been excellent. For example, Volvo recently announced one of their largest deals ever, in which they have received an order for 1,500 vehicles all of which will be equipped with MirrorEye to be delivered throughout 2024 and 2025. While we have experienced some volatility as new truck production and our programs ramp up, we expect volumes to continue to accelerate for the remainder of the year bringing take rates at least inline with our original expectations. We continue to expect MirrorEye to gain momentum in the second half of this year, as our first OEM program in Europe maintains its strong take rates and the two recently launched programs continue to ramp up in production.”
Zizelman concluded, “Our robust backlog continues to provide a strong foundation for our strategy focused on technologies and capabilities that will drive continued long-term growth. Last month, Volvo Bus announced they have selected Stoneridge to provide connected services and digital solutions using our artificial intelligence-based fuel advice system in a pilot program this year. This partnership is aligned with our ongoing focus on data services, software and AI to drive advanced system capabilities and expansion of our existing technology platforms and products to drive long-term profitable growth.”
Second Quarter in Review
Electronics sales of $153.5 million decreased by 6.4% relative to adjusted sales of the second quarter of 2023. This decrease was primarily driven by lower sales in both the European and North American commercial vehicle end markets and the impact of retroactive pricing recognized in the second quarter of 2023 of approximately $3.3 million. This is partially offset by higher sales in the European off-highway vehicle end market. Second quarter adjusted operating margin of 7.6% improved by 230 basis points relative to the adjusted operating margin of the second quarter of 2023, primarily due to lower direct material costs as a percentage of sales, as well as lower D&D and SG&A costs.
Control Devices sales of $80.9 million decreased by 13.1% relative to sales of the second quarter of 2023. This decrease was primarily due to lower sales in the North American passenger vehicle end market due to lower customer volumes and the expected wind-down of end-of-life programs as well as lower China automotive sales. Second quarter operating margin of 4.6% decreased by 130 basis points relative to the adjusted operating margin of the second quarter of 2023, primarily due to lower contribution from lower sales, partially offset by lower direct material costs as a percentage of sales and lower D&D costs.
Stoneridge Brazil sales of $11.8 million decreased by $3.1 million relative to sales in the second quarter of 2023. This decrease was primarily due to lower sales in local OEM products, tracking devices and monitoring service fees. Second quarter operating performance of approximately break-even decreased by approximately $0.9 million relative to the second quarter of 2023, primarily due to lower contribution from lower sales volumes partially offset by lower direct material costs.
Relative to the first quarter of 2024, Electronics adjusted sales of $153.5 million, decreased by $2.6 million, or 1.7%. This slight decrease was driven primarily by the unfavorable impact of foreign currency of approximately $2.2 million. Second quarter adjusted operating margin increased by 310 basis points relative to the first quarter of 2024, primarily due to material cost improvements, lower quality-related costs and lower engineering costs.
Relative to the first quarter of 2024, Control Devices sales increased by 3.7%. This increase was primarily due to higher sales in the North American passenger vehicle end market as well as higher commercial vehicle sales in China. Second quarter adjusted operating margin increased by 180 basis points relative to the first quarter of 2024, primarily due to benefits recognized from completed negotiations related to price and volume, improved operational execution and lower SG&A and D&D costs as a result of operating cost control efforts.
Relative to the first quarter of 2024, Stoneridge Brazil sales decreased by $0.4 million. This was primarily the result of the unfavorable foreign currency impact of approximately $0.6 million. Second quarter operating performance decreased by $0.2 million relative to the first quarter of 2024, primarily due to unfavorable foreign currency impact of approximately $0.2 million.
Cash and Debt Balances
As of June 30, 2024, Stoneridge had compliance net debt of $161.4 million resulting in a net debt to trailing twelve-month EBITDA compliance leverage ratio of 2.89x, an improvement of 0.24x compared to December 31, 2023.
The Company continues to focus on both operating performance and working capital improvement to drive cash performance, particularly related to inventory reduction. During the first half of the year, inventory balances declined by $9.0 million. The Company expects to continue to reduce inventory balances throughout the year. The Company expects a net debt to EBITDA ratio for compliance purposes of approximately 2.5x by the end of 2024.
2024 Outlook
The Company is updating its previously provided full-year 2024 guidance ranges including sales guidance of $940 million to $970 million, gross margin guidance of 22.75% to 23.0%, adjusted operating margin guidance of approximately 2.75%, adjusted earnings per share guidance of $0.18 to $0.28 and adjusted EBITDA guidance of $58 million to $64 million, or 6.2% to 6.6% of sales.
Matt Horvath, chief financial officer, commented, “We are updating our full-year 2024 revenue guidance to reflect updated foreign currency rates, updated OEM production volumes and current expectations for non-OEM and customer demand-based products. This results in a midpoint of $955 million for the year. Due primarily to our year-to-date performance, expectation of continued reduction in material costs and a continued focus on operational excellence, we are increasing our full-year gross margin expectations by 50 basis points. We are expecting improved gross margin and operating cost control to significantly offset the decremental impact of reduced revenue. As a result, we are reducing our adjusted EBITDA margin midpoint guidance by 30 basis points, or $61 million of adjusted EBITDA. This results in a 130 basis point margin improvement and 27% growth in adjusted EBITDA over 2023. Finally, we are reducing our full-year adjusted EPS guidance to a midpoint of $0.23 to reflect the lower contribution from reduced sales partially offset by improved operating performance.”
Horvath, concluded, “By continuing to focus on improving the fundamentals of our business, we drove significant margin expansion across our business in the second quarter. Additionally, we continue to focus on inventory reduction to improve our cash position and reduce our leverage profile. We expect to continue those efforts in the second half of the year to help drive financial performance. Stoneridge remains well positioned to outpace our underlying end market growth and drive significant earnings expansion going forward.”
Conference Call on the Web
A live Internet broadcast of Stoneridge’s conference call regarding 2024 second quarter results can be accessed at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, August 1, 2024, at www.stoneridge.com, which will also offer a webcast replay.
About Stoneridge, Inc.
Stoneridge, Inc., headquartered in Novi, Michigan, is a global designer and manufacturer of highly engineered electrical and electronic systems, components and modules for the automotive, commercial, off-highway and agricultural vehicle markets. Additional information about Stoneridge can be found at www.stoneridge.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release contain “forward-looking statements” under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements appear in a number of places in this report and may include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company, with respect to, among other things, our (i) future product and facility expansion, (ii) acquisition strategy, (iii) investments and new product development, (iv) growth opportunities related to awarded business, and (v) operational expectations. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the words “will,” “may,” “should,” “designed to,” “believes,” “plans,” “projects,” “intends,” “expects,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “continue,” and similar words and expressions. The forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, among other factors:
the ability of our suppliers to supply us with parts and components at competitive prices on a timely basis, including the impact of potential tariffs and trade considerations on their operations and output;fluctuations in the cost and availability of key materials and components (including semiconductors, printed circuit boards, resin, aluminum, steel and copper) and our ability to offset cost increases through negotiated price increases with our customers or other cost reduction actions, as necessary;global economic trends, competition and geopolitical risks, including impacts from ongoing or potential global conflicts and any related sanctions and other measures, or an escalation of sanctions, tariffs or other trade tensions between the U.S. and other countries;our ability to achieve cost reductions that offset or exceed customer-mandated selling price reductions;the reduced purchases, loss or bankruptcy of a major customer or supplier;the costs and timing of business realignment, facility closures or similar actions;a significant change in automotive, commercial, off-highway or agricultural vehicle production;competitive market conditions and resulting effects on sales and pricing;foreign currency fluctuations and our ability to manage those impacts;customer acceptance of new products;our ability to successfully launch/produce products for awarded business;adverse changes in laws, government regulations or market conditions affecting our products, our suppliers, or our customers’ products;our ability to protect our intellectual property and successfully defend against assertions made against us;liabilities arising from warranty claims, product recall or field actions, product liability and legal proceedings to which we are or may become a party, or the impact of product recall or field actions on our customers;labor disruptions at our facilities, or at any of our significant customers or suppliers;business disruptions due to natural disasters or other disasters outside of our control;the amount of our indebtedness and the restrictive covenants contained in the agreements governing our indebtedness, including our revolving Credit Facility;capital availability or costs, including changes in interest rates;the failure to achieve the successful integration of any acquired company or business;risks related to a failure of our information technology systems and networks, and risks associated with current and emerging technology threats and damage from computer viruses, unauthorized access, cyber-attack and other similar disruptions; andthe items described in Part I, Item IA (“Risk Factors”) in our Form 10-K filed with the SEC.
The forward-looking statements contained herein represent our estimates only as of the date of this release and should not be relied upon as representing our estimates as of any subsequent date. While we may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so, whether to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions, changes in other factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise.
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information
This press release contains information about the Company’s financial results that is not presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). Such non-GAAP financial measures are reconciled to their closest GAAP financial measures at the end of this press release. The provision of these non-GAAP financial measures for 2024 and 2023 is not intended to indicate that Stoneridge is explicitly or implicitly providing projections on those non-GAAP financial measures, and actual results for such measures are likely to vary from those presented. The reconciliations include all information reasonably available to the Company at the date of this press release and the adjustments that management can reasonably predict.
Management believes the non-GAAP financial measures used in this press release are useful to both management and investors in their analysis of the Company’s financial position and results of operations. In particular, management believes that adjusted sales, adjusted operating income and margin, adjusted income (loss) before tax, adjusted income tax expense (benefit), adjusted net income, adjusted EPS, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net debt, adjusted debt and adjusted cash are useful measures in assessing the Company’s financial performance by excluding certain items that are not indicative of the Company’s core operating performance or that may obscure trends useful in evaluating the Company’s continuing operating activities. Management also believes that these measures are useful to both management and investors in their analysis of the Company’s results of operations and provide improved comparability between fiscal periods.
Adjusted sales, adjusted operating income and margin, adjusted income (loss) before tax, adjusted income tax expense (benefit), adjusted net income, adjusted EPS, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net debt, adjusted debt and adjusted cash should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for sales, operating income, income (loss) before tax, income tax expense (benefit), net income, EPS, debt, cash and cash equivalents, cash provided by operating activities or other income statement or cash flow statement data prepared in accordance with GAAP.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)
June 30,
2024
December 31,
2023
(Unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$ 42,112
$ 40,841
Accounts receivable, less reserves of $620 and $1,058, respectively
168,215
166,545
Inventories, net
178,749
187,758
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
32,882
34,246
Total current assets
421,958
429,390
Long-term assets:
Property, plant and equipment, net
103,061
110,126
Intangible assets, net
43,586
47,314
Goodwill
34,244
35,295
Operating lease right-of-use asset
8,722
10,795
Investments and other long-term assets, net
55,080
46,980
Total long-term assets
244,693
250,510
Total assets
$ 666,651
$ 679,900
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current portion of debt
$ 2,064
$ 2,113
Accounts payable
108,085
111,925
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
76,098
64,203
Total current liabilities
186,247
178,241
Long-term liabilities:
Revolving credit facility
187,417
189,346
Deferred income taxes
6,276
7,224
Operating lease long-term liability
5,814
7,684
Other long-term liabilities
10,446
9,688
Total long-term liabilities
209,953
213,942
Shareholders’ equity:
Preferred Shares, without par value, 5,000 shares authorized, none issued
—
—
Common Shares, without par value, 60,000 shares authorized, 28,966 and
28,966 shares issued and 27,679 and 27,549
shares outstanding at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively,
with no stated value
—
—
Additional paid-in capital
224,599
227,340
Common Shares held in treasury, 1,287 and 1,417 shares at June 30, 2024
and December 31, 2023, respectively, at cost
(39,066)
(43,344)
Retained earnings
193,169
196,509
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(108,251)
(92,788)
Total shareholders’ equity
270,451
287,717
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
$ 666,651
$ 679,900
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Three months ended
June 30,
Six months ended
June 30,
(in thousands, except per share data)
2024
2023
2024
2023
Net sales
$ 237,059
$ 266,814
$ 476,216
$ 508,139
Costs and expenses:
Cost of goods sold
183,319
206,326
374,119
404,849
Selling, general and administrative
31,876
33,491
62,299
63,354
Design and development
18,457
22,666
36,060
39,634
Operating income
3,407
4,331
3,738
302
Interest expense, net
3,801
3,120
7,435
5,866
Equity in loss of investee
52
329
329
500
Other (income) expense, net
(2,296)
2,387
(260)
3,535
Income (loss) before income taxes
1,850
(1,505)
(3,766)
(9,599)
(Benefit) provision for income taxes
(936)
1,487
(426)
779
Net income (loss)
$ 2,786
$ (2,992)
$ (3,340)
$ (10,378)
Income (loss) per share:
Basic
$ 0.10
$ (0.11)
$ (0.12)
$ (0.38)
Diluted
$ 0.10
$ (0.11)
$ (0.12)
$ (0.38)
Weighted-average shares outstanding:
Basic
27,611
27,452
27,570
27,400
Diluted
27,853
27,452
27,570
27,400
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Six months ended June 30, (in thousands)
2024
2023
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net loss
$ (3,340)
$ (10,378)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used for) operating activities:
Depreciation
13,054
13,161
Amortization, including accretion and write-off of deferred financing costs
4,440
4,004
Deferred income taxes
(7,004)
(3,782)
Loss of equity method investee
329
500
Loss (gain) on sale of fixed assets
258
(854)
Share-based compensation expense
2,207
1,271
Excess tax deficiency related to share-based compensation expense
238
66
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, net
(6,094)
(28,100)
Inventories, net
3,438
(23,142)
Prepaid expenses and other assets
(1,038)
3,313
Accounts payable
(849)
27,069
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
12,123
12,184
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities
17,762
(4,688)
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Capital expenditures, including intangibles
(12,920)
(18,025)
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets
222
1,729
Investment in venture capital fund, net
(260)
—
Net cash used for investing activities
(12,958)
(16,296)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Revolving credit facility borrowings
57,000
42,000
Revolving credit facility payments
(58,000)
(38,068)
Proceeds from issuance of debt
17,677
16,402
Repayments of debt
(17,690)
(18,086)
Repurchase of Common Shares to satisfy employee tax withholding
(666)
(1,325)
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities
(1,679)
923
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
(1,854)
(32)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
1,271
(20,093)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
40,841
54,798
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$ 42,112
$ 34,705
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, net
$ 8,003
$ 5,622
Cash paid for income taxes, net
$ 4,372
$ 5,927
Regulation G Non-GAAP Financial Measure Reconciliations
Exhibit 1 – Reconciliation of Adjusted EPS
Reconciliation of Q2 2024 Adjusted EPS
(USD in millions, except EPS)
Q2 2024
Q2 2024 EPS
Net Income
$ 2.8
$ 0.10
Add: After-Tax Business Realignment Costs
1.9
0.07
Adjusted Net Income
$ 4.7
$ 0.17
Exhibit 2 – Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA
(USD in millions)
Q1 2023
Q2 2023
Q3 2023
Q4 2023
Q1 2024
Q2 2024
Income (Loss) Before Tax
$ (8.1)
$ (1.5)
$ 4.4
$ 3.2
$ (5.6)
$ 1.9
Interest expense, net
2.7
3.1
3.3
3.8
3.6
3.8
Depreciation and amortization
8.3
8.4
8.5
8.4
8.6
8.5
EBITDA
$ 3.0
$ 10.0
$ 16.2
$ 15.5
$ 6.6
$ 14.2
Add: Pre-Tax Business Realignment Costs
1.3
1.9
1.2
0.1
—
1.9
Less: Pre-Tax Gain on Disposal of Fixed Assets
(0.8)
—
—
—
—
—
Add: Pre-Tax Environmental Remediation Costs
0.1
—
—
—
—
—
Add: Pre-Tax Brazilian Indirect Tax Credits, Net
—
—
(0.5)
—
—
—
Adjusted EBITDA
$ 3.6
$ 11.9
$ 17.0
$ 15.6
$ 6.6
$ 16.1
Exhibit 3 – Reconciliation of Adjusted Operating Income
(USD in millions)
Q1 2024
Q2 2024
Operating Income
$ 0.3
$ 3.4
Add: Pre-Tax Business Realignment Costs
—
1.9
Adjusted Operating Income
$ 0.3
$ 5.4
Exhibit 4 – Segment Adjusted Operating Income
Reconciliation of Control Devices Adjusted Operating Income
(USD in millions)
Q2 2023
Q1 2024
Q2 2024
Control Devices Operating Income
$ 5.1
$ 2.2
$ 3.7
Add: Pre-Tax Business Realignment Costs
0.4
—
—
Control Devices Adjusted Operating Income
$ 5.5
$ 2.2
$ 3.7
Reconciliation of Electronics Adjusted Operating Income
(USD in millions)
Q2 2023
Q1 2024
Q2 2024
Electronics Operating Income
$ 7.4
$ 7.1
$ 9.8
Add: Pre-Tax Business Realignment Costs
1.3
—
1.9
Electronics Adjusted Operating Income
$ 8.8
$ 7.1
$ 11.7
Exhibit 5 – Reconciliation of Electronics Adjusted Sales
(USD in millions)
Q2 2023
Q1 2024
Q2 2024
Electronics Sales
$ 168.3
$ 156.1
$ 153.5
Less: Sales from Spot Purchases Recoveries
(4.4)
—
—
Electronics Adjusted Sales
$ 163.9
$ 156.1
$ 153.5
Exhibit 6 – Reconciliation of Adjusted Tax Rate
Reconciliation of Q2 2024 Adjusted Tax Rate
(USD in millions)
Q2 2024
Tax Rate
Income Before Tax
$ 1.9
Add: Pre-Tax Business Realignment Costs
1.9
Adjusted Income Before Tax
$ 3.8
Income Tax Benefit
(0.9)
(50.6) %
Add: Tax Impact from Pre-Tax Adjustments
–
Adjusted Income Tax Benefit on Adjusted Income Before Tax
$ (0.9)
(24.3) %
Exhibit 7 – Reconciliation of Compliance Leverage Ratio
Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA for Compliance Calculation
(USD in millions)
Q1 2023
Q2 2023
Q3 2023
Q4 2023
Q1 2024
Q2 2024
Income (Loss) Before Tax
$ (8.1)
$ (1.5)
$ 4.4
3.2
(5.6)
1.9
Interest Expense, net
2.7
3.1
3.3
3.8
3.6
3.8
Depreciation and Amortization
8.3
8.4
8.5
8.4
8.6
8.5
EBITDA
$ 3.0
$ 10.0
$ 16.2
$ 15.5
$ 6.6
$ 14.2
Compliance adjustments:
Add: Non-Cash Impairment Charges and Write-offs or Write Downs
—
—
—
—
0.2
—
Add: Adjustments from Foreign Currency Impact
1.4
3.1
0.4
(0.7)
2.2
(2.4)
Add: Extraordinary, Non-recurring or Unusual Items
0.2
—
0.5
—
—
—
Add: Cash Restructuring Charges
1.4
0.5
0.1
0.3
1.6
0.5
Add: Charges for Transactions, Amendments, and Refinances
—
—
—
0.3
—
—
Add: Adjustment to Autotech Fund II Investment
0.2
0.3
0.1
(0.1)
0.3
0.1
Adjusted EBITDA (Compliance)
$ 6.1
$ 13.9
$ 17.4
$ 15.3
$ 10.9
$ 12.3
Adjusted TTM EBITDA (Compliance)
$ 52.7
$ 57.5
$ 55.9
Reconciliation of Adjusted Cash for Compliance Calculation
(USD in millions)
Q4 2023
Q1 2024
Q2 2024
Total Cash and Cash Equivalents
$ 40.8
$ 48.4
$ 42.1
Less: 35% of Cash in Foreign Locations
(12.8)
(14.8)
(12.5)
Total Adjusted Cash (Compliance)
$ 28.0
$ 33.6
$ 29.6
Reconciliation of Adjusted Debt for Compliance Calculation
(USD in millions)
Q4 2023
Q1 2024
Q2 2024
Total Debt
$ 191.5
$ 196.5
$ 189.5
Outstanding Letters of Credit
1.6
1.6
1.6
Total Adjusted Debt (Compliance)
$ 193.0
$ 198.1
$ 191.1
Adjusted Net Debt (Compliance)
$ 165.0
$ 164.5
$ 161.4
Compliance Leverage Ratio (Net Debt / TTM EBITDA)
3.13x
2.86x
2.89x
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SOURCE Stoneridge, Inc.
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Run: Less risk, less busywork
Growth for a small business means more complexity and behind-the-scenes work. Gusto’s new features help owners stay compliant, automate payroll and contractor payments, and put AI to work on time-consuming tasks.
Gusto Business Compliance handles obligations that trip up owners, especially when they hire in a new state, including state tax registration, annual report filing, and government mail monitoring.Multi-location payroll runs one payroll for hourly employees who work across state or city lines, calculating and filing taxes for each work location.Intelligent payroll automations gather hours, flag anomalies, anything unusual, and turn payroll into a quick review and sign-off.More control over pay, with same-day pay for off-cycle bonuses and corrections for eligible businesses, custom semi-monthly schedules, and printed, mailed paychecks with delivery tracking.Contractor tools that let owners hire and pay U.S. and international contractors on one platform. With invoice ingestion, Gusto reads an uploaded invoice and prefills the paysheet for review and approval.Project tracking lets owners tag hours to projects, clients, and tasks and see the true labor cost of every job.
Owners can now connect Gusto to Claude, ChatGPT, and other AI tools to ask questions about payroll and teams, prep payroll, and generate reports. Owners have full transparency and control over the output, with the ability to approve every change before it’s final. Developers and power users can also connect through Gusto’s MCP server or install the Gusto CLI in one command, so an agent can prepare what it can before each payroll and send a prioritized list of decisions that need the owner’s approval.
“Owners shouldn’t have to learn a new tool to put AI to work. Gusto works where they already do,” said Cosgrove. “AI does the prep, and the owner stays in control of every decision.”
Grow: Benefits, guidance, and HR support
Great benefits help business owners hire and keep great people, but most don’t have an HR department to lean on. Gusto is putting that expertise inside its platform, so owners can invest in their teams for the long term.
Gus, the AI Benefits Assistant gives personalized, real-time guidance on benefits and builds a ready-to-submit package covering medical, dental, vision, and more. A licensed advisor reviews it before anything is finalized.Gusto 401(k), built into Gusto helps business owners manage retirement plans directly on Gusto, without switching platforms.Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) give employees the flexibility to choose health coverage that works for them, while employers maintain complete control over costs by setting a monthly allowance. Employers can seamlessly manage reimbursements alongside payroll in Gusto.Voluntary Life & Disability benefits provide employee-paid coverage added through automatic payroll deductions, at no additional direct cost to the business.Guided benefits renewal provides cost-optimized options, side-by-side comparisons, and direct access to a licensed benefits advisor.New HR resources let owners build an employee handbook and generate documents like performance improvement plans and termination letters. Owners also get proactive alerts when employment laws change, written answers from a human HR expert, and instant answers from Gus.Gusto HR Partners gives you access to an experienced, fractional HR professional without the cost of a full-time hire.Gusto Professional Employer Organization (PEO) helps take on much of the day-to-day HR, payroll, benefits, and compliance work for small business owners.
Gusto, built for accountants that support small businesses
Today, more than two-thirds of small businesses on Gusto have the support of a Gusto accounting partner. These firms play a vital role in advising and supporting small businesses. That’s why Gusto has announced its biggest-ever updates for accountants, including:
A redesigned Gusto Pro dashboard with AI-assisted workflows.A Multi-Client MCP that lets firms work across selected clients in a single AI conversation.An expanded Partner Program with Marketing and Partner Development Funds.Solo Advisory Tools, helping firms advise solopreneur clients with calculators for S-corp election and reasonable compensation estimates.
To learn more, visit Gusto’s Fall Showcase.
1 Gusto is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Increase Bank, Member FDIC.
About Gusto
Gusto takes the guesswork out of running a small business. From forming a company to paying a team to staying on top of compliance, Gusto simplifies payroll, benefits, HR, and money management so business owners can get back to the work that matters most. Founded in 2011, Gusto supports more than 500,000 small businesses from offices in San Francisco, New York, and Denver. Learn more about Gusto’s mission to grow the small business economy with technology and heart at gusto.com.
Media Contact:
Candice So
press@gusto.com
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SOURCE Gusto, Inc.
Technology
Fortera and MLC Select Ste. Genevieve, Mo. for First Commercial CO₂-to-Cement Plant
Published
35 minutes agoon
October 22, 2026By
Fortera to launch patented sustainable cement technology, producing 300,000 tons of ReAct® cement annually using carbon captured from MLC’s lime production
STE. GENEVIEVE, Mo., Oct. 22, 2026 /CNW/ — Fortera and MLC plan to build Fortera’s first commercial low-carbon cement plant at MLC’s Ste. Genevieve site. The plant would capture CO₂ emitted by MLC’s lime production and transform it into a reactive cement that is nearly 50% captured CO₂ by weight.
The Ste. Genevieve operation was selected due to its scale and strategic location. Situated in the Central Midwest on the Mississippi River, the site enables economical delivery across most of the U.S. and internationally. Adding domestic cement supply also reduces U.S. reliance on foreign imports, which account for 21% of consumption, according to the 2025 U.S. Geological Survey.
ReAct cement is one of the most consequential cement innovations in generations, introducing a fundamentally new way to manufacture an essential building material that meets or exceeds traditional cement’s performance.
By transforming captured CO₂ from lime production into value-added cement, this project offers an approach to reduce the carbon footprint of two critical, hard-to-abate industries. Cement accounts for 8% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions (according to the U.S. Department of Energy), so innovations have the potential to meaningfully impact global climate change.
“The Ste. Genevieve plant marks a new era for American cement production, one where technology turns emissions into a high-quality product the market needs while creating lasting local jobs,” said Ryan Gilliam, CEO and co-founder of Fortera. “Building alongside the largest lime operation in the Americas lets us turn an existing emissions stream into hundreds of thousands of tons of cement to meet demand that already exists.”
This project is also significant for the lime industry because it provides a scalable solution to capture and re-use CO2 released by limestone during calcination, which generates roughly 60% of scope-1 emissions. The National Lime Association (NLA) aims to decarbonize the U.S. lime industry by 2050; meeting that goal requires innovation in low carbon technologies.
“While MLC has reduced our carbon footprint by 8% since 2022, and I am proud of that progress, current technologies will only take us so far. Lime producers need practical solutions to capture calcination emissions,” said Paul Hogan, CEO of MLC and current serving president of the NLA. “Fortera has developed an innovative approach that not only reduces the amount of carbon we release — it also turns it into a valuable product.”
The cement manufactured at the Ste. Genevieve plant is planned to be used across the Midwest, including by Ozinga, a fifth-generation, family-owned concrete and building materials company.
“Scaling the next generation of cement requires more than innovative technology; it requires strong partnerships across our industry,” said Marty Ozinga, CEO of Ozinga. “Fortera’s ongoing work with Ozinga represents the kind of collaboration needed to bring lower-carbon cement solutions to commercial scale while strengthening domestic manufacturing and ensuring we can continue to deliver the performance and reliability our customers expect.”
About Fortera
Fortera is revolutionizing the global construction industry. The company’s proprietary ReCarb technology integrates seamlessly with existing cement and lime facilities, allowing partners to keep their kilns, make full use of their limestone, and leverage their established distribution networks. Fortera’s breakthrough approach transforms waste CO₂ into productive feedstock, enabling plants to produce more from existing resources. The company has proven it can produce cement at cost parity with portland cement while cutting CO₂ emissions by 70%. Fortera operates a 15,000 ton per year facility in Redding, California, regularly placing product in real-world commercial projects, and is executing on a global commercial pipeline that includes the 300,000 ton per year Fortera Cement Plant in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri. For more information on how Fortera delivers proven, cost-competitive, and deployable low-carbon cement technology worldwide, visit forteraglobal.com.
About MLC
For over a century, critical industries have relied on Mississippi Lime Company, LLC (“MLC”) to provide the highest purity lime and calcium products, backed by the most advanced technical services and patented equipment. Lime solutions from MLC play an essential role in drinking water treatment, pollution control, agriculture, and the production of steel, glass, paper, polymers, raw materials, foods, and beverages. MLC has built its reputation on an unwavering commitment to safety, service and performance. The company’s expanding global footprint includes a diversified, reliable network of production and distribution facilities in the U.S. and U.K. MLC is an HBM Holdings company headquartered in St. Louis, Mo.
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SOURCE MLC
Technology
DigiKey Expands its DigiKey Standard Product Portfolio
Published
35 minutes agoon
October 22, 2026By
New products include ESD protection gear, precision tools and more
THIEF RIVER FALLS, Minn., Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — DigiKey, the global distribution leader of electronic components and automation products, announced it is expanding its DigiKey Standard portfolio with essential tools and ESD-safe products designed to meet the everyday needs of engineers, technicians and makers, delivering quality, reliability and value from a name they trust.
DigiKey created the DigiKey Standard product portfolio to simplify purchasing decisions for engineers by offering a line of dependable products carefully selected and vetted by DigiKey. Selected for reliability and everyday use at an approachable price point, the trusted product line provides tools for design, prototyping, testing and production environments.
“The expansion of the DigiKey Standard product portfolio reinforces DigiKey’s commitment to providing quality, cost-effective and readily available solutions for everyday electronics work,” said Jose Gonzalez, director, new market development for DigiKey. “These new additions, ranging from ESD protection gear to precision tools, address essential needs in prototyping, assembly and repair environments.”
What new products are available in the DigiKey Standard portfolio?
Helping Hands Solder Station: Designed for electronic assembly, repair and precision applications, this soldering station has four flexible arms and alligator clip ends to hold the workpiece at optimal height.ESD Molded Mat: With molded features to organize small parts, components and tools via 20 storage areas, this large ESD silicone mat supports electronic projects, repairs and manufacturing environments.DigiKey Standard Boxes: Available in 15 sizes, DigiKey Standard boxes include a custom-fit breadboard and are ready for prototyping projects.Electrical Testers: Test equipment includes an RMS AC/DC clamp meter for troubleshooting and maintaining electrical systems and a non-contact AC voltage detector.Environmental Testers: These portable environmental testers can check air temperature and relative humidity as well as AC, DC and permanent magnetic fields.Multimeters: The product line includes an industrial digital multimeter, 2000 and 4000AR true RMS autoranging digital multimeters, and a waterproof true RMS digital multimeter with LoZ.
For more information about the DigiKey Standard portfolio, visit DigiKey.com.
More information about DigiKey Standard
The DigiKey Standard portfolio includes 117 products, from essential tools to ESD-safe products.A total of 14 new DigiKey Standard products released this year include an ESD molded mat, the Helping Hands solder station, a variety of 15 box sizes, environmental testers and electrical testers.
About DigiKey
DigiKey, headquartered in Thief River Falls, Minn., USA, is the global leader in electronic components and automation products distribution. DigiKey offers the broadest and deepest selection of products for fast shipment worldwide, with more than 17.4 million components from over 3,000 trusted manufacturers. More than one million customers each year, including engineers, designers, builders and procurement professionals, makers and students, rely on DigiKey for innovative digital solutions, design tools and frictionless purchasing experiences that simplify every stage of their projects. Discover more about DigiKey’s electronics distribution, automation solutions and design resources at digikey.com and on Facebook, X, YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Editorial Contact
Laura Stengrim
DigiKey
(218) 681-8000 ext. 14489
laura.stengrim@digikey.com
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SOURCE DigiKey
Gusto Unveils New Tools to Help Small Businesses Start, Run, and Grow From Day One
Fortera and MLC Select Ste. Genevieve, Mo. for First Commercial CO₂-to-Cement Plant
DigiKey Expands its DigiKey Standard Product Portfolio
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