Strattec Expands Gross Margin in Fiscal 2025 Fourth Quarter

• Gross margin for the quarter was 16.7% compared with 13.0% in prior year period; fiscal 2025 gross margin was 15.0%, a 280 basis point improvement year-over-year on sales of $565.1 million
• Cash from operations was $30.2 million in fiscal 2025 fourth quarter and $71.7 million for the full year
• Further strengthened already healthy balance sheet by reducing debt by $5 million; $84.6 million in cash enables continued investment in transformation efforts and provides safeguard against near term market tempering
• Net income attributable to Strattec for the fourth quarter fiscal 2025 was $8.3 million, or $2.01 per diluted share; adjusted EBITDA¹ was $13.0 million, or 8.5% of sales
• Net income attributable to Strattec for fiscal 2025 was $18.7 million, or $4.58 per diluted share, compared with $16.3 million, or $4.07 per diluted share in the prior year

Strattec Security Corporation (NASDAQ:STRT) ("Company" or "Strattec"), a leading provider of smart vehicle access, security and authorization solutions for the global automotive industry, reported financial results for its fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025, which ended June 29, 2025.

Jennifer Slater, President and CEO of Strattec, said, "Fiscal 2025 has been a year of significant change and advancement for Strattec. We delivered measurably improved results with stronger margins and cash flow. We executed over $8 million in new annualized pricing, restructured our operations to take out $5 million in costs and drove significant improvement in our working capital velocity and cash flow focus. We also initiated actions to mitigate the impact of incremental tariffs, which are now estimated to be a $5 million to $7 million increase in costs prior to mitigation efforts. This first year as CEO of Strattec has been very busy and challenging, but the advancements we are making are the result of the dedication and contribution of every member of the team. While still early in our business transformation, I am encouraged by the progress we have made over the last twelve months."

"Looking forward, we are excited about our longer-term future but recognize in the near term we face market uncertainty. North American automotive production estimates have recently been revised downward, coupled with a lull in the launch cycle of new vehicles by our key customers. In the near term, we will continue to stabilize our business operations, deepen and expand our customer relationships, enhance our product roadmaps and improve our competitive position, as we transform Strattec to be a more dynamic and innovative enterprise," she concluded.

FY 2025 Fourth Quarter Financial Summary

(compared with prior-year period, except where otherwise noted)

Net sales were $152.0 million, an increase of $9.0 million, or 6.3%. Sales growth was driven by $3.7 million of additional pricing, $4.1 million of sales related to higher demand, $1.2 million in net new program launches and favorable sales mix.

Gross profit increased $6.8 million to $25.4 million, while gross margin expanded 370 basis points. The improvement was due in part to $3.0 million, or 210 basis points, of favorable foreign currency exchange, $1.3 million in restructuring savings, as well as improved pricing and the contribution from higher volume. This more than offset the $1.6 million net impact of tariffs and $1.1 million higher labor costs in Mexico. Tariff recovery will tend to lag the expense.

Selling, administrative and engineering ("SAE") expenses increased $8.0 million to $16.9 million compared with $8.9 million in the prior-year period. SAE expenses in the prior-year fourth quarter included a $4.7 million benefit related to one-time engineering ("ED&D") recovery. Higher SAE expenses include higher professional fees and additional performance compensation of $2.2 million, as well as business transformation costs and investments in talent.

Interest income grew $0.5 million on higher cash balances, while other income was down $0.8 million as a result of changes in foreign currency exchange rates.

Net income attributable to Strattec was $8.3 million, or $2.01 per diluted share, compared with $9.6 million, or $2.39 per diluted share, in the prior-year period. On an adjusted basis, net income attributable to Strattec¹ was $8.5 million and adjusted diluted earnings per share¹ was $2.06. Adjusted EBITDA¹ for the quarter was $13.0 million compared with $13.8 million in the prior-year period. Expanded gross margin on higher sales mostly offset the ED&D benefit to SAE in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024. Adjusted EBITDA margin of 8.5%, compared with 9.6% in the fiscal 2024 fourth quarter.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

Increased cash earnings and improved working capital management delivered $30.2 million in cash from operations in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, compared with $19.5 million in the prior-year period. Cash from operations for fiscal 2025 was $71.7 million.

At June 29, 2025, the Company had $84.6 million in cash and cash equivalents, up $22.5 million from the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2025. The Company had no borrowings outstanding under its $40 million revolving credit agreement. Borrowings under the joint venture's $20 million revolving credit agreement were $8.0 million, down from $13.0 million at the end of the third quarter fiscal 2025 and 2024's fiscal year end.

Fourth Quarter Fiscal Year 2025 Webcast and Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call and webcast tomorrow, Friday, August 15, 2025, at 9:00 am Eastern Time to review the financial and operating results for the period ended June 29, 2025, and provide an update on its transformation progress. A question-and-answer session will follow.

You can access the call by phoning (201) 689-8470 or find the webcast and accompanying slide presentation at investors.strattec.com.

A telephonic replay will be available from 12:00 p.m. ET on the day of the call through Friday, August 29, 2025. To listen to the archived call, dial +1 (412) 317-6671 and enter replay PIN 13754276. The webcast replay will be available on the Investor Relations section of the Company's website investors.strattec.com, where a transcript will be posted once available.

About Strattec

Strattec is a leading global provider of advanced automotive access, security & authorization solutions for leading vehicle manufacturers, primarily in the U.S. With a history spanning over 110 years, Strattec has consistently been at the forefront of innovation in vehicle security, transitioning from mechanical to integrated electro-mechanical systems. Its highly-engineered products include power access solutions, latches, vehicle start systems, keys, fobs & accessories, locks & locksets, door handles and other access products. Power access solutions provide the motion control for power liftgates, sliding power doors and power tailgates. For more information on Strattec and its solutions, visit www.strattec.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

Certain statements contained in this release contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking words or phrases such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "expect," "intend," "may," "planned," "potential," "should," "will," and "would." Such forward-looking statements are inherently subject to many uncertainties in the Company's operations and business environment. These uncertainties include general economic conditions, in particular, relating to the automotive industry, consumer demand for the Company's and its customers' products, competitive and technological developments, customer purchasing actions, changes in warranty provisions and customer product recall policies, work stoppages at the Company or at the location of its key customers as a result of labor disputes, foreign currency fluctuations, uncertainties stemming from U.S. trade policies, tariffs and reactions to the same from foreign countries, matters adversely impacting the timing and availability of component parts and raw materials needed for the production of the Company's products and the products of its customers and fluctuations in costs of operation. Shareholders, potential investors and other readers are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements made herein are only made as of the date of this press release and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances occurring after the date of this release. In addition, such uncertainties and other operational matters are discussed further in the Company's quarterly and annual filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Metrics and Additional Financial Information

In addition to reporting financial results in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, Strattec provides Adjusted Non-GAAP information as additional information for its operating results. References to Adjusted Non-GAAP information are to non-GAAP financial measures. These measures are not required by, in accordance with, or an alternative for, GAAP and may be different from similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. Strattec's management uses these measures to make strategic decisions, establish budget plans and forecasts, identify trends affecting Strattec's business, and evaluate performance. Management believes that providing these non-GAAP financial measures to investors, as a supplement to GAAP financial measures, will help investors evaluate Strattec's core operating and financial performance and business trends consistent with how management evaluates such performance and trends. Investors are encouraged to review the related GAAP financial measures and the reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.

FINANCIAL TABLES FOLLOW

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250814654271/en/

Deborah K. Pawlowski, IRC

Alliance Advisors IR

Phone: 716-843-3908

Email: [email protected]