EX-99.1 2 ex_178105.htm EXHIBIT 99.1 ex_178105.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

 

QUALSTAR REPORTS RESULTS FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER AND YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2019

 

Qualstar Reports a 9.9% Increase in Revenue

 

Camarillo, CA, March 19, 2020Qualstar Corporation (NASDAQ: QBAK), a leading manufacturer of data storage solutions and high-efficiency power supplies, today announced its financial results for the three and twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2019.

 

Year Ended December 31, 2019 Financial Results

 

Qualstar reported revenues of $13.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, an increase of 9.9% compared with $12.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2019, was $7,000 or $0.00 per basic and diluted share. This compares with a net income for the year ended December 31, 2018, of $1.5 million or $0.73 per basic and $0.72 per diluted share.

 

Data Storage segment revenues were $8.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared with $6.3 million for the same period last year, an increase of $2.1 million or 33.3%, primarily due to new reseller relationships, whose customers have a high demand for tape libraries and our partnership with Sony Imaging Products & Solutions, Inc. to develop an enterprise-class optical disk archive library. Power supply segment revenues were $5.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared with $5.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, a decrease of $(0.8) million, or (13.6)%, primarily due to the variable life cycles of our customers’ production.

 

Gross margin was 26.1% of revenues, or $3.5 million, for the year ended December 31, 2019, a decrease from the gross margin of 41.3% of revenues, or $5.0 million, for the year ended December 31, 2018.

 

Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash were $4.0 million at December 31, 2019, compared to $4.9 million of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at December 31, 2018.

 

In December 2018, Qualstar entered into a stock buyback program permitting the Company to repurchase shares on the open market. During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company repurchased 129,991 shares at an average share price of $5.49. The program expired December 5, 2019. The total spending on stock repurchases was $0.8 million and, since its inception, the company accumulated 148,093 shares at an average share price of $5.47.

 

Quarter Ended December 31, 2019 Financial Results

 

Revenues for the quarter ended December 31, 2019, were $3.4 million, compared with $2.9 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2018, an increase of $0.5 million or 17.2%. Loss from operations for the quarter ended December 31, 2019, was $0.2 million compared with income from operations of $0.02 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2018. Basic and diluted net income per share was ($0.10) for the quarter ended December 31, 2019, compared to basic and diluted net income per share of $0.01 for the quarter ended December 31, 2018.

 

Data Storage segment revenues were $2.5 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2019, compared with $1.6 million for the same period last year, an increase of $0.9 million or 56.3%, primarily due to new reseller relationships, whose customers have a high demand for tape libraries. Power supply segment revenues were $0.9 million for the quarter, compared with $1.3 million in the quarter ended December 31, 2018, a decrease of $(0.4) million, or (30.8)%, due to the production cycles of our customers.

 

Gross margin was 23.5% of revenues or $0.8 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2019, a decrease from the gross margin of 31.0% of revenues or $0.9 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2018.

 

“We experienced nearly a 35% year over year increase in revenue in our data storage product segment, which is a testament that our previous and current efforts are gaining traction,” said Steven N. Bronson, Chief Executive Officer and President of Qualstar. Also, Mr. Bronson noted, “that despite lower margins in our power supply and ODA development project, and investments in our business, we still managed to breakeven for the year.”

 

 

 

First Quarter of Fiscal Year 2020 Outlook

 

Our first quarter has been impacted by the extended Chinese New Year holiday and the unprecedented change in the global business environment brought on by COVID-19. At this time, in our power supply business, we are experiencing a delay in shipping dates as our subcontract manufacturers rebuild to full capacity. Although the Company has experienced few cancellations at this time, the Company is seeing customers delay orders in both business segements.

 

On January 9, 2020, Qualstar provided notice to terminate the ODA agreement with Sony Imaging Products & Solutions, Inc. and completed its remaining obligations on February 15, 2020. In the year ended December 31, 2019, the project revenue was approximately $2.7 million and the Company expects to derive a small amount of revenue for the quarter ending March 31, 2020.

 

About Qualstar Corporation

 

Qualstar, founded in 1984, is a diversified electronics manufacturer specializing in data storage and power supplies. Qualstar is a leading provider of high efficiency and high-density power supplies marketed under the N2Power™ brand, and of data storage systems marketed under the Qualstar™ brand. Our N2Power power supply products provide compact and efficient power conversion for a wide variety of industries and applications including, but not limited to, telecom, networking, broadcast, industrial, lighting, gaming and test equipment. Our Qualstar data storage products are used to provide highly scalable and reliable solutions to store and retrieve very large quantities of electronic data. Qualstar’s products are known throughout the world for high quality and Simply Reliable™ designs that provide years of trouble-free service. More information is available at www.qualstar.com or www.n2power.com or by phone at 805-583-7744.

 

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

 

Statements used in this press release that relate to future plans, events, financial results, prospects or performance are forward-looking statements as defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements include the statement by Mr. Bronson that the Company’s data storage systems business continues to gain transaction. These forward-looking statements are based upon the current expectations and beliefs of Qualstar's management and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Notwithstanding changes that may occur with respect to matters relating to any forward looking statements, Qualstar does not expect to, and disclaims any obligation to, publicly update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Qualstar, however, reserves the right to update such statements or any portion thereof at any time for any reason. In particular, the following factors, among others, could cause actual or future results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements: Qualstar’s ability to successfully execute on its strategic plan and meet its long-term financial goals; Qualstar’s ability to successfully implement and recognize cost savings; Qualstar’s ability to develop and commercialize new products; industry and customer adoption and acceptance of Qualstar’s new products; Qualstar’s ability to increase sales of its products; the rescheduling or cancellation of customer orders; unexpected shortages of critical components; unexpected product design or quality problems; adverse changes in market demand for Qualstar’s products, including those caused by the recent outbreak of COVID-19; increased competition and pricing pressure on Qualstar’s products; and the risks related to actions of activist shareholders, including the amount of related costs.

 

For further information on these and other cautionary statements, please refer to the risk factors discussed in Qualstar’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission including, but not limited to, Qualstar’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ending December 31, 2019, the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of such Form 10-K, and any subsequently filed reports. All of Qualstar’s filings are available without charge through the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov) or from Qualstar’s website (www.qualstar.com).

 

Contact Information:

Steven N. Bronson

Chief Executive Officer

Qualstar Corporation

805-617-4419

IR@Qualstar.com

 

 

 

-Financial Tables to Follow-

 

2

 

QUALSTAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

 

  

   

Three Months Ended

December 31,

   

Twelve Months Ended

December 31,

 
   

2019

   

2018

   

2019

    2018  
                                 

Net revenues

  $ 3,441     $ 2,909     $ 13,439     $ 12,229  

Cost of goods sold

    2,597       1,967       9,916       7,184  

Gross profit

    844       942       3,523       5,045  

Operating expenses:

                               

Engineering

    115       130       588       502  

Sales and marketing

    415       337       1,397       1,337  

General and administrative

    530       454       1,608       1,716  

Total operating expenses

    1,060       921       3,593       3,555  

Income (loss) from operations

    (216

)

    21       (70

)

    1,490  

Other income

    12       -       45       -  

Income (loss) before income taxes

    (204

)

    21       (25

)

    1,490  

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

    (18

)

    4       (18

)

    4  

Net income (loss)

  $ (186

)

  $ 17     $ (7

)

  $ 1,486  
                                 

Net income per share:

                               

Basic

  $ (0.10

)

  $ 0.01     $ 0.00     $ 0.73  

Diluted

  $ (0.10

)

  $ 0.01     $ 0.00     $ 0.72  

Shares used to compute net income per share:

                               

Basic

    1,925       2,030       1,925       2,030  

Diluted

    1,925       2,030       1,925       2,057  

 

3

 

QUALSTAR CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except share amounts)

 

   

December 31,

 
   

2019

   

2018

 

ASSETS

               

Current assets:

               

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 3,863     $ 4,781  

Restricted cash

    100       100  

Accounts receivable, net

    2,366       1,809  

Inventories, net

    2,540       2,897  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

    211       180  

Total current assets

    9,080       9,767  
                 

Property and equipment, net

    122       112  

Right-of-use

    676        

Other assets

    160       119  

Total assets

  $ 10,038     $ 9,998  
                 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

               

Current liabilities:

               

Accounts payable

  $ 1,029     $ 1,023  

Accrued payroll and related liabilities

    192       185  

Deferred service revenue

    702       736  

Lease liabilities, short term

    252        

Other accrued liabilities

    368       559  

Total current liabilities

    2,543       2,503  
                 

Other long-term liabilities

    52       40  

Lease liabilities, long term

    453        

Deferred service revenue, long term

    247       127  

Total long-term liabilities

    752       167  

Total liabilities

    3,295       2,670  
                 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 10)

               

Shareholders’ equity:

               

Preferred stock, no par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued

           

Common stock, no par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized; 1,925,025 and 2,030,017 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively

    18,848       19,426  

Accumulated deficit

    (12,105

)

    (12,098

)

Total shareholders’ equity

    6,743       7,328  

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

  $ 10,038     $ 9,998  

 

4