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Sharps Compliance Corp. Reports 260% Revenue Growth in First Quarter Fiscal 2010

Tue Oct 27, 2009 10:01am EDT
 * First quarter revenue increased 260% to $15.4 million while strong
   operating leverage drove margin expansion to 70.8% gross margin and
   58.4% operating margin
 * First quarter diluted earnings per share were $0.40, a $0.36
   increase over the prior year quarter
 * Strong, flexible balance sheet with a cash balance of $8.4 million,
   working capital of $13.2 million and no debt at September 30, 2009
 * U.S. Government contract execution continues ahead of plan;
   Pipeline of prospects continues to expand for Sharps(r) Medical
   Waste Management System
 * California Senate Bill 486 Signed into Law; Sharps' proven Patient
   Support Program addresses pharmaceutical manufacturers requirements
   to document medical sharps disposal programs for self-injected
   medications
HOUSTON, Oct. 26, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sharps Compliance Corp. (Nasdaq:SMED)
("Sharps" or the "Company"), a leading provider of cost-effective disposal
solutions for medical and pharmaceutical waste generated outside the hospital
setting, today reported financial results for the first quarter of fiscal year
2010 ended September 30, 2009. Revenue of $15.4 million in the first quarter of
fiscal 2010 expanded 260% over $4.3 million in revenue generated in the
corresponding period of the prior fiscal year. The $11.1 million increase in
revenue was driven by $11.0 million in sales related to the Company's $40
million, 5-year contract with an agency of the U.S. Government and record
quarterly billings of $1.5 million to retail clinics and pharmacies to address
the heavily-emphasized flu shot season. This growth more than offset lower sales
to the pharmaceutical industry due to the variability in timing of Patient
Support Programs.

Net income for the fiscal 2010 first quarter increased substantially to $5.8
million or $0.40 per diluted share, on the growth in sales and measurably
expanded margins. Last year's first quarter reflected net income of $605
thousand, or $0.04 per diluted share.

234% Growth In Quarterly Billings Driven By Government Contract, Strong Flu Shot
Season

Customer billings, which the Company believes is an appropriate measure of
performance and progress of the business, increased 234% to $15.6 million in the
first quarter of fiscal 2010 compared with $4.7 million in the same period of
the prior fiscal year. The significant increase in first quarter 2010 billings
was the result of $11.0 million in billings for providing the Sharps(R) Medical
Waste Management System(TM) to an agency of the U.S. Government combined with an
increase of $0.7 million in retail market billings, which were driven by a
strong start to the flu shot season given the health concerns over the H1N1
(swine flu) virus.

Targeted marketing to the professional market, which is comprised of physicians,
dentists, veterinarians and medical practices, has begun to demonstrate success
with solid growth in billings of almost 70%, or $173 thousand over last fiscal
year's first quarter. The Company's home healthcare market experienced a
reduction in first quarter billings due to ordering patterns of its larger home
healthcare customers as well as additional distributor incentives designed to
drive future growth in this sector, while billings to the pharmaceutical
industry were lower due to the variability in timing associated with the Patient
Support Programs we provide to the drug manufacturers.

Dr. Burton J. Kunik, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sharps Compliance,
commented, "We realized the full impact of the leverage available in our
business as the effect of combined revenue from the government contract and a
very strong flu shot season were realized in this quarter. As the leading
provider for sharps disposal solutions outside of hospital and large healthcare
facility settings, we are serving the needs of retail clinics and pharmacies,
local communities, doctors' offices and federal and state governments addressing
the significant number of vaccines required to be administered this year and
into 2010 both for the typical seasonal flu as well as the H1N1 virus."

U.S. Government Contract Execution Ahead Of Plan; Actively Marketing the
Sharps(R) Medical Waste Management System(TM)

The Company announced on February 2, 2009, that it was awarded a $40 million
contract to provide its Sharps Medical Waste Management System
("Sharps(R)MWMS"(TM)) to an agency of the United States Government. The
Sharps(R)MWMS(TM) is a comprehensive medical waste solution which includes an
array of services and products necessary to effectively collect, store and
dispose of medical waste outside of the hospital or large healthcare facility
setting. The Sharps(R)MWMS(TM), which is designed for rapid deployment, features
the Sharps Disposal By Mail System(R) products combined with warehousing,
inventory management, training, data and other services necessary to provide a
comprehensive solution. The Sharps(R)MWMS(TM) is a solution designed to address
government and commercial emergency preparedness and is an integral component of
their programs.

The contract is expected to be executed over a five-year period. The Company
received a purchase order for $28.5 million for product and services to be
provided during the first contract year ending February 1, 2010. The following
four option years are for program maintenance valued at $11.5 million. The
Company has recognized $17.0 million of the $28.5 million for the first contract
year; $11.0 million of which was recorded in the first quarter of fiscal 2010.
The Company expects to record approximately $11.5 million of revenue in the
quarter ending December 31, 2009, thereby completing the build-out of the
product portion of the contract.

David P. Tusa, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, commented,
"We have a healthy pipeline of potential new business for our Medical Waste
Management System and Patient Support Program. There are many factors that give
us confidence in our ability to expand beyond the success of our initial
government contract with our unique medical waste solutions as well as a more
extensive menu of solutions to a broadened customer base. These factors include
our successful execution and implementation of our first major contract; the
recent passage of legislation in California requiring pharmaceutical
manufacturers to address end-of-use issues associated with self-injected
medications and concerns of a possible pandemic relating to H1N1. Our Medical
Waste Management System is specifically developed to meet emergency preparedness
requirements for government agencies and large corporations in the event of a
health pandemic, or a natural or manmade disaster."

Significant Operating Leverage, High Levels of Productivity and Minimal Capital
Requirements

Gross margin was 70.8% in the first quarter of fiscal 2010, a significant
increase over gross margin of 43.3% in the fiscal 2009 first quarter. Driving
the increase was the substantial operating leverage inherent in the business.
Sharps had spent the last two years building an infrastructure to accommodate
for the growth it is now realizing and has sufficient capacity to expand much
further without significant incremental costs.

Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expense was $1.8 million for the
first quarter of fiscal 2010, an increase of $651 thousand, or 56% over the $1.2
million reported in the same period of the prior year. Higher SG&A included the
following:

 * investments to expand direct sales and marketing team of $120
   thousand;

 * higher advertising, public relations and trade-show related
   expenses of approximately $104 thousand;

 * increased legal and professional services fees of approximately
   $105 thousand; and

 * higher non-cash 123R stock-based compensation expense of
   approximately $169 thousand.
Operating income for the first quarter of fiscal 2010 was $9.0 million, or 58.4%
of revenue, compared with operating income of $610 thousand, or 14.3% of
revenue, for the prior year's first quarter.

Mr. Tusa noted, "The considerable expansion in margins for the first quarter
reflect the high degree of productivity within the organization and the low cost
structure of our operations that combine to create significant operating
leverage. We continue to expect quarterly SG&A expense for fiscal 2010 will be
approximately $1.8 million to $2.0 million, although we may flex higher for
targeted sales and marketing activities."

Strong Cash Generation and Financial Flexibility

Cash and cash equivalents were $8.4 million at September 30, 2009 compared with
$4.8 million at June 30, 2009. Working capital was $13.2 million at September
30, 2009, an increase of $8.6 million over the June 30, 2009 level of $4.6
million. Accounts receivable were up $4.8 million to $6.4 at September 30, 2009
and included a major customer billing of $4.3 million which was collected in
October 2009. At September 30, 2009, stockholders' equity and total assets were
$16.1 million and $23 million, respectively, up from $9.6 million and $15.2
million, respectively, at June 30, 2009.

Although Sharps maintains a $2.5 million line of credit with JPMorgan Chase (the
"Bank"), no amounts were outstanding at September 30, 2009. The line of credit
is available to finance working capital as well as organic expansion
opportunities or potential acquisitions.

California Senate Bill 486 Signed into Law Requiring Plans by Pharmaceutical
Manufacturers for Proper Disposal of Medical Sharps Waste for Self-injected
Medications

California Senate Bill 486, which was signed into law on October 12, 2009,
requires pharmaceutical manufacturers who sell or distribute medications that
are routinely injected at home to submit plans to the California Integrated
Waste Management Board (the "Board") on or before July 1, 2010 describing how
they support and provide safe syringe and needle collection and disposal
programs for their patients. The manufacturers are also required to post those
plans on their website and the Board will post the information on its website as
well in order to help educate consumers regarding safe and effective means to
dispose of their used needles and syringes or injection devices.

Sharps is in a unique position to facilitate the manufacturers' efforts with its
proven Patient Support Program that helps to ensure patient compliance and the
safe and effective use of their medications while providing the patients a
convenient means of disposing of their sharps.

Sharps' vendor managed inventory program includes the direct fulfillment of the
Sharps Disposal By Mail System(R) to the pharmaceutical manufacturers'
self-injecting patient support program participants, who use the product as a
convenient means of disposing of used syringes, educational information on the
disposal process and distinctive branding for the manufacturer's product. The
Company's SharpsTracer(TM) system tracks the return of the Sharps Disposal By
Mail System(R) by the patient to the treatment facility, where the package is
processed prior to destruction utilizing the Company's proprietary and
customizable system. This data is electronically transmitted and available to
the pharmaceutical manufacturer via the Company's proprietary data warehouse
which aids in monitoring drug usage and establishes a touch point for individual
patient follow-up.

Driving New Opportunities: Delivering Value

Dr. Kunik concluded, "We exceeded our first quarter expectations on steady core
business, the success of the government contract, and a flu shot season that
remained very strong throughout the quarter. We expect that momentum to continue
into our second quarter as vaccinations ramp up and the H1N1 shots begin to be
administered. We remain focused on landing new government contracts and are
focused on generating new noteworthy revenue opportunities by the second half of
our fiscal year. Our ability to creatively develop solutions for a growing list
of customers that address their environmental concerns provides an inimitable
value proposition that we believe makes us a leader in a rapidly developing
market."

First Quarter Fiscal Year 2010 Webcast and Conference Call

The Company will host a teleconference today beginning at 1:00 p.m. Eastern
Time. During the teleconference, Dr. Burton J. Kunik, Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer, and David P. Tusa, Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer, will review the financial and operating results for the
quarter ended September 30, 2009 and discuss Sharps' corporate strategy and
outlook. A question-and-answer session will follow.

The Sharps conference call may be accessed the following ways:

 * The live webcast may be found at http://www.sharpsinc.com.
   Participants should go to the website 10 - 15 minutes prior to the
   scheduled conference in order to register and download any
   necessary audio software.  Webcast listeners will have the
   opportunity to submit questions to the speakers (verbally or via e-
   mail).  Select questions will be summarized and addressed during
   the question-and-answer portion of the call.

 * The teleconference can be accessed by dialing (201) 689-8560 and
   requesting conference ID number 334937, approximately 5 - 10
   minutes prior to the call.
To listen to the archived call:

 * The archived webcast will be at http://www.sharpsinc.com.  A
   transcript will also be posted once available.

 * A replay may also be heard by calling (201) 612-7415, and entering
   account number 3055 and conference ID number 334937.
The telephonic replay will be available from 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time the day of
the teleconference until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time Tuesday, November 3, 2009.

About Sharps Compliance Corp.

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Sharps Compliance is a leading provider of
cost-effective disposal solutions for medical waste and dispensed unused
medications generated outside the hospital setting. The Company's flagship
product, the Sharps Disposal by Mail System(R), is a cost-effective and
easy-to-use solution to dispose of medical waste such as hypodermic needles,
lancets and any other medical devices or objects used to puncture or lacerate
the skin (referred to as "sharps").

The Sharps(R)MWMS(TM), a Medical Waste Management System, is a comprehensive
medical waste and dispensed unused medication solution which includes an array
of services and products necessary to effectively collect, store and dispose of
medical waste and dispensed unused medications outside of the hospital setting.
The System, which is designed for rapid deployment, features the Sharps Disposal
By Mail System(R) products combined with warehousing, inventory management,
training, data and other services necessary to provide a comprehensive solution.
The Sharps(R)MWMS is designed to be an integral part of governmental and
commercial emergency preparedness programs.

The Company's newest offering, RxTakeAway(TM), is designed for individual
consumers, retail or mail-order pharmacies, communities and facilities including
assisted living, long-term care and correction operations to facilitate the
proper disposal of unused dispensed medications. This solution consists of a
variety of sizes of containers (from a special-use envelope to 10- and 20-gallon
products) and return packaging with pre-paid postage to the Company's treatment
facility. The Company recently introduced its proprietary tracking system,
DrugTracer(TM), to document unused patient medication products. The
RxTakeAway(TM) is also an additional component option for the Sharps(R) Medical
Waste Management System(TM).

The Company focuses on targeted growth markets such as federal, state and local
governments, the pharmaceutical industry, as well as home health care, retail
and professional markets. Sharps is a leading proponent and participant in the
development of public awareness and solutions for the safe disposal of needles,
syringes and other sharps as well as unused pharmaceuticals in the community
setting.

As a fully integrated medical waste management company providing customer
solutions and services, the Company's solid business model, with strong margins
and significant operating leverage, and early penetration into emerging markets,
uniquely positions it for strong future growth.

More information on the Company can be found on its website at:
www.sharpsinc.com

Safe Harbor Statement

The information made available in this press release contains certain
forward-looking statements which reflect Sharps Compliance Corp.'s current view
of future events and financial performance. Wherever used, the words "estimate",
"expect", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "may" and similar expressions
identify forward-looking statements. Any such forward-looking statements are
subject to risks and uncertainties and the company's future results of
operations could differ materially from historical results or current
expectations. Some of these risks include, without limitation, the company's
ability to educate its customers, development of public awareness programs to
educate the identified consumer, customer preferences, the Company's ability to
scale the business and manage its growth, the degree of success the Company has
at gaining more large customer contracts, managing regulatory compliance and/or
other factors that may be described in the company's annual report on Form 10-K,
quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and/or other filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. Future economic and industry trends that could potentially
impact revenues and profitability are difficult to predict. The company assumes
no obligation to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements even
if experience or future changes make it clear that any projected results express
or implied therein will not be realized.

This release contains certain financial information not derived in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles, including customer billings
information (GAAP). The Company believes this information is useful to investors
and other interested parties. Such information should not be considered as a
substitute for any measure derived in accordance with GAAP, and may not be
comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. Reconciliation
of this information to the most comparable GAAP measures is included as an
attachment to this release.

               SHARPS COMPLIANCE CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                   Consolidated Statements of Income
                              (unaudited)

                                        Three-Months Ended
                                           September 30,
                                    -------------------------

                                        2009         2008     % Change
                                    ------------ ------------

 Revenue                            $15,378,939  $ 4,269,536    260.2%

  Cost of revenue                     4,487,878    2,420,360     85.4%
                                    ------------ ------------
  Gross profit                       10,891,061    1,849,176    489.0%
    Gross margin                           70.8%        43.3%
  SG&A expense                        1,814,403    1,162,954     56.0%
  Depreciation and amortization          94,526       76,380     23.8%
                                    ------------ ------------

 Operating income                     8,982,132      609,842
   Operating margin                        58.4%        14.3%
 Other income                             3,916       14,871
                                    ------------ ------------

 Net income before income taxes     $ 8,986,048  $   624,713
 Income taxes                         3,167,187       19,372
                                    ------------ ------------
 Net income                         $ 5,818,861  $   605,341
                                    ============ ============

  Net income per share
    Basic                           $      0.44  $      0.05
                                    ============ ============
    Diluted                         $      0.40  $      0.04
                                    ============ ============
 Weighted Average
 Shares Outstanding
    Basic                            13,372,570   12,662,408
    Diluted                          14,526,942   13,703,683


               SHARPS COMPLIANCE CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                      Consolidated Balance Sheets

                                           September 30,    June 30,
                                               2009           2009
                                           ------------- -------------
                                            (Unaudited)
 ASSETS:
 -------
 Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents                $  8,441,353  $  4,791,870
  Accounts receivable, net                    6,410,969     1,606,415
  Inventory                                   2,773,239     2,282,504
  Prepaid and other assets                      795,221       775,958
  Deferred income taxes                         820,189        17,352
                                           ------------- -------------
   Total current assets                      19,240,971     9,474,099
 Property and equipment, net                  3,612,786     3,445,053
 Deferred income taxes, net                          --     2,120,655
 Intangible assets, net                         147,355       148,629
                                           ------------- -------------
   Total assets                            $ 23,001,112  $ 15,188,436
                                           ============= =============

 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
 -------------------------------------
 Current liabilities:
  Accounts payable                         $  2,138,182  $  2,499,146
  Accrued liabilities                         2,489,719     1,188,589
  Current portion of deferred revenue         1,365,181     1,220,600
                                           ------------- -------------
   Total current liabilities                  5,993,082     4,908,335
 Long-term deferred revenue                     642,504       624,841
 Other liabilities                              258,660        84,872
                                           ------------- -------------
   Total liabilities                          6,894,246     5,618,048
 Stockholders' equity:
  Total stockholders' equity                 16,106,866     9,570,388
                                           ------------- -------------
   Total liabilities and stockholders'
    equity                                 $ 23,001,112  $ 15,188,436
                                           ============= =============


               SHARPS COMPLIANCE CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
              Supplemental Customer Billing and Revenue 
                              (unaudited)

                Three-Months Ended September 30,
                --------------------------------
                   2009     % Total     2008      $ Change   % Change
               ------------ ------- ----------- ------------ ---------
 BILLINGS BY
  MARKET:
 -----------
 Government    $11,017,504    70.7% $   55,150  $10,962,354  19877.3%
 Home Health
  Care           1,621,953    10.4%  1,906,697     (284,744)   (14.9%)
 Retail          1,546,696     9.9%    840,762      705,934     84.0%
 Professional      421,115     2.7%    248,441      172,674     69.5%
 Pharmaceutical    318,836     2.0%    874,614     (555,778)   (63.5%)
 Hospitality       261,271     1.7%    209,453       51,818     24.7%
 Other             254,024     1.6%    168,507       85,517     50.7%
 Commercial         64,261     0.4%    184,499     (120,238)   (65.2%)
 Agriculture        85,749     0.5%    174,011      (88,262)   (50.7%)
               ------------ ------- ----------- ------------ ---------
   Subtotal     15,591,409   100.0%  4,662,134   10,929,275    234.4%
 GAAP
  Adjustment *    (212,470)           (392,598)     180,128    (45.9%)
               ------------         ----------- ------------ ---------
   Revenue
    Reported    15,378,939           4,269,536   11,109,403    260.2%
               ============         =========== ============ =========

 * Represents the net impact of the revenue recognition adjustments to
 arrive at reported GAAP revenue. Customer billings include all
 invoiced amounts for products shipped during the period reported.
 GAAP revenue includes customer billings as well as numerous
 adjustments necessary to reflect, (i) the deferral of a portion of
 current period sales and (ii) recognition of certain revenue
 associated with product returned for treatment and destruction. The
 difference between customer billings and GAAP revenue is reflected in
 the Company's balance sheet as deferred revenue.
-0-
CONTACT:  Sharps Compliance, Inc.
          David P. Tusa, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial
           Officer & Business Development
          (713) 660-3514
          dtusa@sharpsinc.com

          Kei Advisors LLC
          Investor Relations:
          Deborah Pawlowski
          (716) 843-3908
          dpawlowski@keiadvisors.com



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