AeroVironment Inc - Quarter Report: 2016 July (Form 10-Q)

 

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

☒QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.

 

For the quarterly period ended July 30, 2016

 

OR

 

☐TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from           to           

 

Commission File Number: 001-33261

 

 

AEROVIRONMENT, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

(626) 357-9983

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

N/A

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes ☒  No ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes ☒  No ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes ☐  No ☒

 

As of August 23, 2016, the number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock, $0.0001 par value, was 23,387,513.

 

 

 

 

AeroVironment, Inc.

 

Table of Contents

 

 

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

AeroVironment, Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands except share and per share data)

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

AeroVironment, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)

(In thousands except share and per share data)

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

 

AeroVironment, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss (Unaudited)

(In thousands)

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

 

AeroVironment, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

(In thousands)

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

AeroVironment, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 

1. Organization and Significant Accounting Policies

 

Organization

 

AeroVironment, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), is engaged in the design, development, production, support and operation of unmanned aircraft systems (“UAS”) and efficient energy systems (“EES”) for various industries and governmental agencies.

 

Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions of Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation with respect to the interim financial statements have been included. The results of operations for the three months ended July 30, 2016, are not necessarily indicative of the results for the full year ending April 30, 2017. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto for the year ended April 30, 2016, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions, including estimates of anticipated contract costs and revenue utilized in the revenue recognition process, that affect the reported amounts in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

The Company’s consolidated financial statements include the assets, liabilities and operating results of wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

 

In July 2016, the Company dissolved Charger Bicycles, LLC the results of which were not material to the consolidated financial statements.

 

In November 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) No. 2015-17, Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes, which requires entities to present deferred tax assets and liabilities as noncurrent in a classified balance sheet. This guidance simplifies the current guidance, which requires entities to separately present deferred tax assets and liabilities as current and non-current in a classified balance sheet. ASU 2015-17 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those years, with early adoption permitted.  The ASU may be applied either prospectively to all deferred tax assets and liabilities or retrospectively to all periods presented. The Company adopted this pronouncement beginning May 1, 2016 and applied this pronouncement retrospectively. In connection with adopting the pronouncement beginning May 1, 2016, the Company reclassified $5,432,000 from current deferred income tax assets in the consolidated balance sheet as of April 30, 2016 to non-current deferred income tax liabilities.

 

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718), Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. The new standard simplifies the accounting for employee share-based payment transactions, including the accounting for income taxes, forfeitures, and statutory withholding requirements, as well as the related classification in the statement of cash flows. The new standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those years, with early adoption permitted. The standard requires an entity to recognize all excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies as income tax benefit or expense in the income statement as discrete items in the reporting period in which they occur, and such tax benefits and tax deficiencies are not included in the estimate of an entity’s annual effective tax rate, applied on a prospective basis. Further, the standard eliminates the requirement to defer the recognition of excess tax benefits until the benefit is realized

through a reduction to taxes payable. All excess tax benefits previously unrecognized, along with any valuation allowance, are to be recognized on a modified retrospective basis as a cumulative adjustment to retained earnings as of the date of adoption. Under the ASU, an entity that applies the treasury stock method in calculating diluted earnings per share is required to exclude excess tax benefits and deficiencies from the calculation of assumed proceeds since such amounts are recognized in the income statement. Excess tax benefits are also classified as operating activities in the same manner as other cash flows related to income taxes on the statement of cash flows, as such excess tax benefits no longer represent financing activities since they are recognized in the income statement, and are to be applied prospectively or retrospectively to all periods presented. The Company adopted the pronouncement beginning May 1, 2016. In connection with adopting the pronouncement beginning May 1, 2016, the Company recorded a cumulative increase of $265,000 in retained earnings with a corresponding increase in deferred tax assets in the consolidated balance sheet as of April 30, 2016 related to the prior years' unrecognized excess tax benefits. Excess tax benefits related to exercised options and vested restricted stock awards during the three months ended July 30, 2016 have been recognized in the current period’s income statement. The Company also excluded the excess tax benefits from the calculation of diluted earnings per share for the three months ended July 30, 2016. The Company applied the cash flow presentation section of the guidance on a prospective basis, and the prior period statement of cash flows was not adjusted.

 

 

Reclassifications

 

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation related to the adoption of new accounting pronouncements during the three month ended July 30, 2016 impacting the classification of deferred income taxes in the consolidated balance sheets.

 

Segments

 

The Company’s products are sold and divided among two reportable segments to reflect the Company’s strategic goals. Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise from which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The Company’s CODM is the Chief Executive Officer, who reviews the revenue and gross margin results for each of these segments in order to make resource allocation decisions, including the focus of research and development (“R&D”) activities and performance assessment. The Company’s reportable segments are business units that offer different products and services and are managed separately.

 

Investments

 

The Company’s investments are accounted for as held-to-maturity and available-for-sale and reported at amortized cost and fair value, respectively.

 

Fair Values of Financial Instruments

 

Fair values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, unbilled receivables, retentions and accounts payable approximate cost due to the short period of time to maturity.

 

Government Contracts

 

Payments to the Company on government cost reimbursable contracts are based on provisional, or estimated indirect rates, which are subject to an annual audit by the Defense Contract Audit Agency (“DCAA”). The cost audits result in the negotiation and determination of the final indirect cost rates that the Company may use for the period(s) audited. The final rates, if different from the provisional rates, may create an additional receivable or liability for the Company.

 

For example, during the course of its audits, the DCAA may question the Company’s incurred costs, and if the DCAA believes the Company has accounted for such costs in a manner inconsistent with the requirements under Federal Acquisition Regulations, the DCAA auditor may recommend to the Company’s administrative contracting officer to disallow such costs. Historically, the Company has not experienced material disallowed costs as a result of government

audits. However, the Company can provide no assurance that the DCAA or other government audits will not result in material disallowances for incurred costs in the future.

 

The Company’s revenue recognition policy calls for revenue recognized on all cost reimbursable government contracts to be recorded at actual rates unless collectability is not reasonably assured.

 

The Defense Contract Management Agency, or DCMA, disallowed a portion of the Company’s executive compensation and/or other costs included in the Company’s fiscal 2006, 2007 and 2008 incurred cost claims and sought interest for all three years and penalties for Fiscal 2006, based on the disallowed costs.  The Company appealed these cost disallowances to the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals. For Fiscal 2006, as a result of partial settlements and a decision of the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals in March 2016, the government’s remaining claims were dismissed with prejudice.  All of the government’s claims related to the Company’s 2007 and 2008 incurred cost claims were settled as of October 2015 by payment to the government of $50,000 and the government’s claims related to the Company’s 2009 and 2010 incurred cost claims were settled as of October 2015 and April 2016, respectfully, without the payment of any consideration. 

 

As a result of the settlement agreements and the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals ruling, the Company reversed reserves of $3,607,000 related to those fiscal years as a credit to cost of sales, allocated as $3,203,000 to the UAS segment and $404,000 to the EES segment during the fiscal year ended April 30, 2016. At July 30, 2016 and April 30, 2016, the Company did not have any remaining reserves for incurred cost claim audits.

 

Loss Per Share

 

Basic loss per share is computed using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding, excluding shares of unvested restricted stock.

 

The reconciliation of basic to diluted shares is as follows:

 

 

 

Due to the net loss for the three months ended July 30, 2016 and August 1, 2015, no shares reserved for issuance upon exercise of stock options or shares of unvested restricted stock were included in the computation of diluted loss per share as their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive. Potentially dilutive shares not included in the computation of diluted weighted average common shares because their effect would have been antidilutive given the Company’s net loss were 302,332 and 221,589 for the three months ended July 30, 2016 and August 1, 2015, respectfully.

 

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). This ASU requires the lessee to recognize the assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by leases with terms of 12 months or more. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 and interim periods therein, with early adoption permitted. The Company is evaluating the potential impact of this adoption on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, Inventory (Topic 330): Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory.  This ASU does not apply to inventory that is measured using last-in, first-out (LIFO) or the retail inventory method.  The amendments apply to all other inventory, which includes inventory that is measured using first-in, first-out (FIFO) or average cost.  This ASU eliminates from U.S. GAAP the requirement to measure inventory at the lower of cost or market.  Market under the previous requirement could be replacement cost, net realizable value, or net realizable value

less a normal profit margin.  Entities within the scope of this update will now be required to measure inventory at the lower of cost and net realizable value.  Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation.  Subsequent measurement is unchanged for inventory using LIFO or the retail inventory method.  The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted.  The Company is evaluating the potential impact of this adoption on its consolidated financial statements. 

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). The new standard was originally effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and early adoption was not permitted. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 640)-Deferral of the Effective Date. This update approved a one year delay of the effective date to reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, while permitting companies to voluntarily adopt the new standard as of the original effective date. The Company is currently evaluating when to adopt the new standard and the potential impact of adoption on its consolidated financial statements.

 

 

2. Investments

 

Investments consist of the following (in thousands):

 

 

 

Held-To-Maturity Securities

 

As of July 30, 2016 and April 30, 2016, the balance of held-to-maturity securities consisted of state and local government municipal securities, U.S. treasury and agency securities, and corporate bonds. Interest earned from these investments is recorded in interest income.

 

The amortized cost, gross unrealized gains, gross unrealized losses, and estimated fair value of the held-to-maturity investments as of July 30, 2016, were as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

The amortized cost, gross unrealized gains, gross unrealized losses, and estimated fair value of the held-to-maturity investments as of April 30, 2016, were as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

The amortized cost and fair value of the held-to-maturity securities by contractual maturity at July 30, 2016, were as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

Available-For-Sale Securities

 

Auction Rate Securities

 

As of July 30, 2016 and April 30, 2016, the entire balance of available-for-sale, auction rate securities, consisted of two investment grade auction rate municipal bonds, with maturities of approximately 3 and 18 years, respectively. These investments have characteristics similar to short-term investments, because at pre-determined intervals, generally ranging from 30 to 35 days, there is a new auction process at which the interest rates for these securities are reset to current interest rates. At the end of such period, the Company chooses to roll-over its holdings or redeem the investments for cash. A market maker facilitates the redemption of the securities and the underlying issuers are not required to redeem the investment within 365 days. Interest earned from these investments is recorded in interest income.

 

During the fourth quarter of the fiscal year ended April 30, 2008, the Company began experiencing failed auctions on some of its auction rate securities. A failed auction occurs when a buyer for the securities cannot be obtained and the market maker does not buy the security for its own account. The Company continues to earn interest on the investments that failed to settle at auction, at the maximum contractual rate until the next auction occurs. In the event the Company needs to access funds invested in these auction rate securities, the Company may not be able to liquidate these securities at the fair value recorded on July 30, 2016, until a future auction of these securities is successful or a buyer is found outside of the auction process.

 

As a result of the failed auctions, the fair values of these securities are estimated utilizing a discounted cash flow analysis as of July 30, 2016. The analysis considers, among other items, the collateralization underlying the security investments, the creditworthiness of the counterparty, the timing of expected future cash flows, and the estimated date upon which the security is expected to have a successful auction. Based on the Company’s ability to access its cash and cash equivalents, expected operating cash flows, and other sources of cash, the Company does not anticipate that the current lack of liquidity of these investments will affect its ability to operate its business in the ordinary course. The Company believes the current lack of liquidity of these investments is temporary and expects that the securities will be redeemed or refinanced at some point in the future. The Company will continue to monitor the value of its auction rate securities at each reporting period for a possible impairment if a further decline in fair value occurs. The auction rate securities have been in an unrealized loss position for more than 12 months. The Company has the ability and the intent to hold these investments until a recovery of fair value, which may be at maturity and as of July 30, 2016, the Company did not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired.

 

The amortized cost, gross unrealized gains, gross unrealized losses, and estimated fair value of the auction rate securities as of July 30, 2016, were as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

The amortized cost, gross unrealized gains, gross unrealized losses, and estimated fair value of the auction rate securities as of April 30, 2016, were as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

The amortized cost and fair value of the auction rate securities by contractual maturity at July 30, 2016, were as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

Equity Securities

 

At April 30, 2015, the entire balance of available-for-sale equity securities consisted of 618,042 CybAero AB (“CybAero”) common shares. The shares were classified as available-for-sale.  These shares were initially acquired on August 11, 2014, when the Company converted a convertible bond into CybAero common shares. The convertible bond was in the amount of 10 million SEK and was converted into 1,062,699 common shares of CybAero at the conversion price of 9.41 SEK per share. When the Company converted the bond on August 11, 2014, the fair value per share was 37.50 SEK which became the new cost basis going forward, with all subsequent changes in fair value being recorded to other comprehensive income.

 

At August 1, 2015, the Company reviewed these shares for impairment based on criteria that included the extent to which the investment’s carrying value exceeds its related market value, the duration of the market decline, uncertainty as to the recovery period due to sustained losses of the investee and the Company’s intent to hold its investment until recovery. In the three months ended August 1, 2015, the Company determined it was in its best interests to liquidate the remaining shares held. As a result, during the three months ended August 1, 2015, the Company recorded an

other‑than‑temporary-impairment loss of $2,186,000 related to the Company’s investment in the CybAero shares which was recorded to Other expense in the consolidated statement of operations. As a result of recording the impairment charge, the investment’s fair value became its new cost basis.

 

In August 2015, the Company sold its remaining shares in CybAero in a private sale at the price of 12.00 SEK per share, resulting in proceeds of approximately $777,000 resulting in realized gains of $207,000, based on the difference between the original conversion price of 9.41 SEK per share and the sales price at the time of sale, inclusive of the final sale of all shares. At April 30, 2016, the Company did not hold any CybAero shares.

 

 

 

3. Fair Value Measurements

 

Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The fair value hierarchy contains three levels as follows:

 

 

 

 

The Company’s financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis at July 30, 2016, were as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

The following table provides a reconciliation between the beginning and ending balances of items measured at fair value on a recurring basis in the table above that used significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) (in thousands):

 

 

 

The auction rate securities are valued using a discounted cash flow model.  The analysis considers, among other items, the collateralization underlying the security investments, the creditworthiness of the counterparty, the timing of expected future cash flows, and the estimated date upon which the security is expected to have a successful auction.  As of July 30, 2016, the inputs used in the Company’s discounted cash flow analysis included current coupon rates of 0.72% and 0.70%, estimated redemption periods of 3 and 18 years and discount rates of 4.60% and 14.30%. The discount rates were based on market rates for municipal bond securities, as adjusted for a risk premium to reflect the lack of liquidity of these investments.

 

4. Inventories, net

 

Inventories consist of the following (in thousands):

                                                                                                     

 

 

 

5. Warranty Reserves

 

The Company accrues an estimate of its exposure to warranty claims based upon both current and historical product sales data and warranty costs incurred. The warranty reserve is included in other current liabilities. The related expense is included in cost of sales. Warranty reserve activity is summarized as follows for the three months ended July 30, 2016 and August 1, 2015 (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

During the three months ended July 30, 2016, the Company revised its estimates based on the results of additional engineering studies and recorded incremental warranty reserve charges totaling $1,407,000 related to the estimated costs to repair a component of certain small UAS that were delivered in prior periods. At July 30, 2016, the total warranty reserve related to the estimated costs to repair the impacted UAS was $1,959,000. No costs related to this warranty have been incurred as of July 30, 2016.

 

 

6. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss and Reclassifications Adjustments

 

The components of accumulated other comprehensive loss and adjustments are as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7. Customer-Funded Research & Development

 

Customer-funded R&D costs are incurred pursuant to contracts (revenue arrangements) to perform R&D activities according to customer specifications. These costs are direct contract costs and are expensed to cost of sales when the corresponding revenue is recognized, which is generally as the R&D services are performed. Revenue from customer-funded R&D was approximately $14,737,000 and $16,527,000 for the three months ended July 30, 2016 and August 1, 2015, respectively.

 

8. Income Taxes

 

For the three months ended July 30, 2016, the Company recorded a benefit for income taxes of $3,863,000, yielding an effective tax benefit rate of 24.9%.  For the three months ended August 1, 2015, the Company recorded a benefit for income taxes of $4,248,000, yielding an effective tax rate of 37.8%.  The variance from statutory rates for the three months ended July 30, 2016, was primarily due to federal legislation reinstating the federal research and development tax credit during the third quarter of fiscal 2016 and the reversal of a $968,000 reserve, including the related interest, for uncertain tax positions due to the settlement of prior fiscal year audits.

 

9. Share Repurchase

 

In September 2015, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a program to repurchase up to $25,000,000 of the Company’s common stock with no specified termination date for the program. No shares were repurchased under the program during the three months ended July 30, 2016. As of July 30, 2016 and April 30, 2016, approximately $21.2 million remained authorized for future repurchases under this program.

 

10. Segment Data

 

The Company’s product segments are as follows:

 

 

 

The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in Note 1, “Organization and Significant Accounting Policies.” The operating segments do not make sales to each other. Depreciation and amortization related to the manufacturing of goods is included in gross margin for the segments. The Company does not discretely allocate assets to its operating segments, nor does the CODM evaluate operating segments using discrete asset information. Consequently, the Company operates its financial systems as a single segment for accounting and control purposes, maintains a single indirect rate structure across all segments, has no inter-segment sales or corporate elimination transactions, and maintains limited financial statement information by segment. The segment results are as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

ITEM 2.MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

This section and other parts of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “potential,” “predicts,” “projects,” “should,” “will,” “would” or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry, our management’s beliefs and assumptions made by our management. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and our actual results may differ significantly from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2016, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act.

 

Unless required by law, we expressly disclaim any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations discusses our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. When we prepare these consolidated financial statements, we are required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Some of our accounting policies require that we make subjective judgments, including estimates that involve matters that are inherently uncertain. Our most critical estimates include those related to revenue recognition, inventories and reserves for excess and obsolescence, warranty liabilities, self-insured liabilities, accounting for stock-based awards, and income taxes. We base our estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various other factors that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for our judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Our actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

 

There have been no material changes made to the critical accounting estimates during the periods presented in the consolidated financial statements from those disclosed in the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2016.

 

We review cost performance and estimates to complete at least quarterly and in many cases more frequently. Adjustments to original estimates for a contract’s revenue, estimated costs at completion and estimated profit or loss are often required as work progresses under a contract, as experience is gained and as more information is obtained, even though the scope of work required under the contract may not change, or if contract modifications occur. The impact of revisions in profit estimates for all types of contracts are recognized on a cumulative catch-up basis in the period in which the revisions are made. During the three months ended July 30, 2016 and August 1, 2015, changes in accounting estimates on fixed-price contracts recognized using the percentage of completion method of accounting are presented below.

 

For the three months ended July 30, 2016 and August 1, 2015, favorable and unfavorable cumulative catch-up adjustments included in cost of sales were as follows (in thousands):

 

 

For the three months ended July 30, 2016, favorable cumulative catch-up adjustments of $0.4 million were primarily due to final cost adjustments on 10 contracts, which individually were not material. For the same period, unfavorable cumulative catch-up adjustments of $0.3 million were primarily related to higher than expected costs on 13 contracts, which individually were not material.

 

For the three months ended August 1, 2015, favorable cumulative catch-up adjustments of $0.6 million were primarily due to final cost adjustments on 43 contracts, which individually were not material. For the same period, unfavorable cumulative catch-up adjustments of $1.1 million were primarily related to higher than expected costs on 187 contracts, which individually were not material.

 

Fiscal Periods

 

Due to our fixed year end date of April 30, our first and fourth quarters each consist of approximately 13 weeks. The second and third quarters each consist of exactly 13 weeks. Our first three quarters end on a Saturday.  Our 2017 fiscal year ends on April 30, 2017 and our fiscal quarters end on July 30, 2016, October 29, 2016 and January 28, 2017.

 

Results of Operations

 

Our operating segments are Unmanned Aircraft Systems, or UAS, and Efficient Energy Systems, or EES. The accounting policies for each of these segments are the same. In addition, a significant portion of our research and development, or R&D, selling, general and administrative, or SG&A, and general overhead resources are shared across our segments.

 

The following table sets forth our revenue and gross margin generated by each operating segment for the periods indicated (in thousands):

 

Three Months Ended July 30, 2016 Compared to Three Months Ended August 1, 2015

 

 

Revenue. Revenue for the three months ended July 30, 2016 was $36.2 million, as compared to $47.1 million for the three months ended August 1, 2015, representing a decrease of $10.8 million, or 23%. The decrease in revenue was due to a decrease in product deliveries of $10.9 million, partially offset by an increase in service revenue of $0.1 million.

UAS revenue decreased $9.7 million, or 24%, to $30.5 million for the three months ended July 30, 2016, primarily due to a decrease in product deliveries of $9.8 million and a decrease in customer-funded R&D work of $1.8 million, partially offset by an increase in service revenue of $1.9 million. The decrease in product deliveries was primarily due to a decrease in product deliveries of small UAS. The decrease in customer-funded R&D was primarily due to tactical missile system variant programs. The increase in service revenue was primarily due to tactical missile systems and an increase in sustainment activities in small UAS. EES revenue decreased $1.2 million, or 17%, to $5.7 million for the three months ended July 30, 2016, primarily due to a decrease in product deliveries of our power processing products and our industrial fast charge systems.

 

Cost of Sales. Cost of sales for the three months ended July 30, 2016 was $29.5 million, as compared to $31.0 million for the three months ended August 1, 2015, representing a decrease of $1.5 million, or 5%. As a percentage of revenue, cost of sales increased from 66% to 82%. The decrease in cost of sales was primarily due to a decrease in product costs of $1.5 million, primarily due to the decrease in product deliveries, partially offset by an increase in warranty related costs of $1.7 million related to certain small UAS delivered in prior periods and an increase in engineering and technical analyses costs related to existing products of $1.5 million. UAS cost of sales decreased $1.4 million, or 5%, to $25.1 million for the three months ended July 30, 2016, primarily due to the decrease in product deliveries, partially offset by an increase in in warranty related costs of $1.7 million related to certain small UAS delivered in prior periods and an increase in engineering and technical analyses costs. As a percentage of revenue, cost of sales for UAS increased from 66% to 82%, primarily due to the increase in small UAS warranty related costs, the increase in engineering and technical analyses costs related to existing products, the decrease in product sales volume, which resulted in an increase in the per unit fixed manufacturing and engineering overhead support cost, and an unfavorable product mix. EES cost of sales decreased $0.1 million, or 2%, to $4.5 million for the three months ended July 30, 2016, primarily due to the decreased sales volume. As a percentage of revenue, cost of sales for EES increased from 66% to 78% primarily due to the decrease in product sales volume, which resulted in an increase in the per unit fixed manufacturing and engineering overhead support cost and an unfavorable product mix.

 

Gross Margin. Gross margin for the three months ended July 30, 2016 was $6.7 million, as compared to $16.0 million for the three months ended August 1, 2015, representing a decrease of $9.3 million, or 58%. The decrease in gross margin was primarily due to a decrease in product margins of $9.4 million. As a percentage of revenue, gross margin decreased from 34% to 18%, primarily due to an increase in warranty related costs of $1.7 million related to certain small UAS delivered in prior periods, an increase in engineering and technical analyses costs related to existing products of $1.5 million, a decrease in product sales volume, which resulted in an increase in the per unit fixed manufacturing and engineering overhead support cost and an unfavorable product mix. UAS gross margin decreased to $5.4 million for the three months ended July 30, 2016 from $13.7 million. As a percentage of revenue, gross margin for UAS decreased from 34% to 18%, primarily due to the increase in small UAS warranty related costs, the increase in engineering and technical analyses costs related to existing products, the decrease in product sales volume, which resulted in an increase in the per unit fixed manufacturing and engineering overhead support cost, and an unfavorable product mix. EES gross margin decreased $1.1 million, or 45%, to $1.3 million for the three months ended July 30, 2016 primarily due to the decreased sales volume. As a percentage of revenue, EES gross margin decreased from 34% to 22%, primarily due to the decrease in product sales volume, which resulted in an increase in the per unit fixed manufacturing and engineering overhead support cost and an unfavorable product mix.

 

Selling, General and Administrative.  SG&A expense for the three months ended July 30, 2016 was $13.7 million, or 38% of revenue, compared to SG&A expense of $15.3 million, or 32% of revenue, for the three months ended August 1, 2015. SG&A expense decreased by $1.6 million, or 10%, for the three months ended July 30, 2016, primarily due to a decrease in bid and proposal costs, a decrease in bonus expenses as well as other decreases which were not individually significant.

 

Research and Development. R&D expense for the three months ended July 30, 2016 was $8.6 million, or 24% of revenue, compared to R&D expense of $9.8 million, or 21% of revenue, for the three months ended August 1, 2015.  R&D expense decreased by $1.2 million, or 13%, for the three months ended July 30, 2016, primarily due to a decrease in development activities for certain strategic initiatives.

 

Interest Income, net. Interest income, net for the three months ended July 30, 2016 was $0.4 million compared to interest income, net of $0.2 million for the three months ended August 31, 2015.

 

Other Expense, net.  Other expense, net for the three months ended July 30, 2016 was $0.3 million compared to other expense, net of $2.4 million for the three months ended August 1, 2015. The decrease was primarily due to the recording of an other-than-temporary impairment loss on our CybAero equity securities during the three months ended August 1, 2015. The CybAero equity securities were sold during the second quarter of fiscal 2016.

 

Benefit for Income Taxes. Our effective income tax benefit rate was 24.9% for the three months ended July 30, 2016, as compared to an effective income tax benefit rate of 37.8% for the three months ended August 1, 2015. The variance from statutory rates for the three months ended July 30, 2016, was primarily due to federal legislation permanently reinstating the federal research and development tax credit during the three months ended January 30, 2016 and the reversal of a reserve for uncertain tax positions due to the settlement of prior fiscal year audits.

 

Backlog

 

We define funded backlog as unfilled firm orders for products and services for which funding currently is appropriated to us under the contract by the customer. As of July 30, 2016 and April 30, 2016, our funded backlog was approximately $74.7 million and $65.8 million, respectively.

 

In addition to our funded backlog, we also had unfunded backlog of $16.0 million and $16.7 million as of July 30, 2016 and April 30, 2016, respectively.  We define unfunded backlog as the total remaining potential order amounts under cost reimbursable and fixed price contracts with multiple one-year options, and indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity, or IDIQ contracts. Unfunded backlog does not obligate the U.S. government to purchase goods or services. There can be no assurance that unfunded backlog will result in any orders in any particular period, if at all. Management believes that unfunded backlog does not provide a reliable measure of future estimated revenue under our contracts. Unfunded backlog does not include the remaining potential value associated with a U.S. Army IDIQ-type contract for small UAS because the contract was awarded to five companies in 2012, including AeroVironment, and we cannot be certain that we will receive task orders issued against the contract.

 

Because of possible future changes in delivery schedules and/or cancellations of orders, backlog at any particular date is not necessarily representative of actual sales to be expected for any succeeding period, and actual sales for the year may not meet or exceed the backlog represented. Our backlog is typically subject to large variations from quarter to quarter as existing contracts expire, or are renewed, or new contracts are awarded. A majority of our contracts, specifically our IDIQ contracts, do not currently obligate the U.S. government to purchase any goods or services. Additionally, all U.S. government contracts included in backlog, whether or not they are funded, may be terminated at the convenience of the U.S. government.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

We currently have no material cash commitments, except for normal recurring trade payables, accrued expenses and ongoing R&D costs, all of which we anticipate funding through our existing working capital and funds provided by operating activities. The majority of our purchase obligations are pursuant to funded contractual arrangements with our customers. In addition, we believe that our existing cash, cash equivalents, cash provided by operating activities and other financing sources will be sufficient to meet our anticipated working capital and capital expenditure requirements during the next twelve months. There can be no assurance, however, that our business will continue to generate cash flow at current levels. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow from operations, then we may be required to sell assets, reduce capital expenditures or obtain financing. We anticipate that existing sources of liquidity and cash flows from operations will be sufficient to satisfy our cash needs for the foreseeable future.

 

Our primary liquidity needs are for financing working capital, investing in capital expenditures, supporting product development efforts, introducing new products, enhancing existing products and marketing to stimulate acceptance and adoption of our products and services. Our future capital requirements, to a certain extent, are also subject to general conditions in or affecting the defense, commercial and electric vehicle industries and are subject to general economic,

political, financial, competitive, legislative and regulatory factors that are beyond our control. To the extent that existing cash, cash equivalents, and cash from operations are insufficient to fund our future activities, we may need to raise additional funds through public or private equity or debt financing. We may also need to seek additional equity funding or debt financing if we become a party to any agreement or letter of intent for potential investments in, or acquisitions of, businesses, services or technologies.

 

Our working capital requirements vary by contract type. On cost-plus-fee programs, we typically bill our incurred costs and fees monthly as work progresses, and therefore working capital investment is minimal. On fixed-price contracts, we typically are paid as we deliver products, and working capital is needed to fund labor and other expenses incurred during the lead time from contract award until contract deliveries begin.

 

Cash Flows

 

The following table provides our cash flow data for the three months ended July 30, 2016 and August 1, 2015 (in thousands):

 

 

Cash Used in Operating Activities. Net cash used in operating activities for the three months ended July 30, 2016, decreased by $10.1 million to $1.2 million, compared to net cash used in operating activities of $11.3 million for the three months ended August 1, 2015. The decrease in net cash used in operating activities was primarily due to a decrease in the use of cash as a result of changes in operating assets and liabilities of $17.1 million largely resulting from decreases in accounts receivable due to the year over year timing of revenue, partially offset by an increase in net loss of $4.7 million and a decrease in non-cash charges primarily due to the other than temporary impairment charge on the CybAero available-for-sale equity securities of $2.2 million during the three months ended August 1, 2015.

 

Cash (Used in) Provided by Investing Activities. Net cash used in investing activities increased by $14.7 million to $0.9 million for the three months ended July 30, 2016, compared to net cash provided by investing activities of $13.8 million for the three months ended August 1, 2015. The increase in net cash used in investing activities was primarily due to a decrease in net redemptions and purchases of investments of $13.2 million and an increase in cash paid for acquisitions of property and equipment of $1.6 million.

 

Cash Provided by Financing Activities. Net cash provided by financing activities decreased by $0.4 million to $0.2 million for the three months ended July 30, 2016, compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $0.6 million for the three months ended August 1, 2015. The decrease in cash provided by financing activities was primarily due a decrease in cash proceeds from the exercise of stock options.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

During the first quarter, there were no material changes in our off-balance sheet arrangements or contractual obligations and commercial commitments from those disclosed in the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2016.

 

Inflation

 

Our operations have not been, and we do not expect them to be, materially affected by inflation. Historically, we have been successful in adjusting prices to our customers to reflect changes in our material and labor costs.