Vishay Precision Group, Inc. (VPG) FY 2024 MD&A
This page reproduces the company's own Item 7 MD&A text from the linked SEC filing. It is filer text, not grepcent analysis, scoring, or investment advice.
Item 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Overview
VPG is a global leader in precision measurement and sensing technologies that help power the future by bridging the physical world with the digital one. Many of our specialized sensors, weighing solutions, and measurement systems are “designed-in” by our customers, and address growing applications across a diverse array of industries and markets. Our products are marketed under brand names that we believe are characterized as having a very high level of precision and quality, and we employ an operationally diversified structure to manage our businesses.
Driven by the continued proliferation of data generated by the expanding use of sensors across a widening array of industrial and technology-driven applications, precision measurement and sensing technologies help ensure and deliver required levels of quality of mission-critical or high-value data. VPG’s products are often at the first stage of a data value chain (i.e., the process of converting the physical world into a digital format that can be used for a specific purpose) and as such impact the effectiveness of vast number of critical, high-value downstream processes. Over the past few years, we have seen a broadening of precision sensing applications in both our traditional industrial markets and new markets, due to the development of higher functionality in our customers' end products. Our precision measurement solutions are used across a wide variety of end markets upon which we focus, including test and measurement, industrial, transportation, steel, avionics, military and space, as well as other markets such as agriculture, consumer, and medical. The Company has a long heritage of innovation in sensor technologies that provide accuracy, reliability and repeatability that make our customers' products safer, smarter, and more productive. As the functionality of customers' products continues to increase, and they integrate more precision measurement sensors and related systems into their solutions, we believe this will offer substantial growth opportunities for our products and expertise.
The impact of the recent Israel-Hamas war
In October 2023, Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israel’s southern border from the Gaza Strip and conducted a series of attacks on civilian and military targets. resulting in extensive casualties and military engagement. In addition, Hezbollah, another terrorist organization based in Lebanon began attacking Israel. While Israel has entered into ceasefire agreements with Hamas and Hezbollah, the threat of new attacks remains, including from additional extremist groups.
As of February 25, 2025 (the date of this filing), our operations in Israel have operated at normal levels. The extent and duration of the current war, as well as the possibility of further spread of the conflict to other countries in the region as well as involving other political and military entities in the Middle East, poses risks to our operations and may lead to disruptions which could adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
While sales to customers in Israel account for a relatively small portion of our revenues, our operations in Israel include executive offices, which are the workplace for key executives including our chief executive officer, as well as two manufacturing facilities located in the central part of Israel which manufacture products representing approximately 26 percent of our total worldwide revenues. As of February 25, 2025, these facilities remain open and operational. We have implemented a contingency plan that we believe will secure supply of materials and logistics, build safety stock of finished goods and transfer these goods to our distribution centers outside of Israel, and we continue to take measures with regards to the safety of our employees. We may, however, determine to temporarily discontinue production in Israel for the safety of our employees. We could also face future production slowdowns or interruptions at either manufacturing location in Israel due to the impacts of the war, including personnel absences as a number of our employees have been called to active military duty, or due to other resource constraints such as the inability to source materials for production.
Overview of Financial Results
VPG reports in three product segments: Sensors segment, Weighing Solutions segment, and Measurement Systems segment. The Sensors reporting segment is comprised of the foil resistor and strain gage operating segments. The Weighing Solutions segment is comprised of specialized modules and systems used to precisely measure weight, force torque, and pressure. The Measurement Systems reporting segment is comprised of highly specialized systems for steel production, materials development, and safety testing.
Net revenues for the year ended December 31, 2024 were $306.5 million compared to net revenues of $355.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Net earnings attributable to VPG stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2024 were $9.9 million, or $0.74 per diluted share, compared to $25.7 million, or $1.88 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2023.
The results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 include items affecting comparability as listed in the reconciliations below. The reconciliations below include certain financial measures which are not recognized in accordance
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with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), including adjusted gross profits, adjusted gross profit margin, adjusted operating income, adjusted operating margin, adjusted net earnings, adjusted net earnings per diluted share, EBITDA, and adjusted EBITDA. These non-GAAP measures should not be viewed as an alternative to GAAP measures of performance. Non-GAAP measures such as adjusted gross profits, adjusted gross profit margin, adjusted operating income, adjusted operating margin, adjusted net earnings, adjusted net earnings per diluted share, EBITDA, and adjusted EBITDA do not have uniform definitions. These measures, as calculated by VPG, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. Management believes that these non-GAAP measures are useful to investors because each presents what management views as our core operating results for the relevant period. The adjustments to the applicable GAAP measures relate to occurrences or events that are outside of our core operations, and management believes that the use of these non-GAAP measures provides a consistent basis to evaluate our operating profitability and performance trends across comparable periods. In addition, the Company has historically provided these or similar non-GAAP measures and understands that some investors and financial analysts find this information helpful in analyzing the Company’s performance and in comparing the Company’s financial performance to that of its peer companies and competitors. Management believes that the Company’s non-GAAP measures are regarded as supplemental to its GAAP financial results.
The items affecting comparability are (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts):
| Gross Profit | Operating Income | Net Earnings Attributable to VPG Stockholders | Diluted Earnings Per share | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiscal Year Ended December 31, | 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| As reported - GAAP | 125,532 | 150,342 | 16,864 | 41,954 | $ | 9,911 | $ | 25,707 | $ | 0.74 | $ | 1.88 | ||||||||||||||||||
| As reported - GAAP Margins | 41.0 | % | 42.3 | % | 5.5 | % | 11.8 | % | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| Acquisition purchase accounting adjustments (a) | 79 | 335 | 79 | 335 | 79 | 335 | 0.01 | 0.02 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Acquisition costs (b) | — | — | 101 | — | 101 | — | 0.01 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Restructuring costs | — | — | 1,062 | 1,560 | 1,062 | 1,560 | 0.08 | 0.11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange (gain)/loss (c) | — | — | — | — | (1,879) | 822 | (0.14) | 0.06 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Less: Tax effect of reconciling items and discrete tax items | — | — | — | — | (3,079) | (1,245) | (0.24) | (0.10) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| As Adjusted - Non GAAP | $ | 125,611 | $ | 150,677 | $ | 18,453 | $ | 43,849 | $ | 12,700 | $ | 29,669 | $ | 0.95 | $ | 2.17 | ||||||||||||||
| As Adjusted - Non GAAP Margins | 41.0 | % | 42.4 | % | 6.0 | % | 12.4 | % |
| Year ended | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||
| Net earnings attributable to VPG stockholders | $ | 9,911 | $ | 25,707 | |||
| Interest Expense | 2,512 | 3,974 | |||||
| Income tax expense | 7,730 | 12,426 | |||||
| Depreciation | 12,022 | 11,798 | |||||
| Amortization | 3,783 | 3,752 | |||||
| EBITDA | $ | 35,958 | $ | 57,657 | |||
| EBITDA MARGIN | 11.7 | % | 16.2 | % | |||
| Acquisition purchase accounting adjustments (a) | 79 | 335 | |||||
| Acquisition costs (b) | 101 | — | |||||
| Restructuring costs | 1,062 | 1,560 | |||||
| Severance cost | 347 | — | |||||
| Foreign exchange (gain) loss (c) | (1,879) | 822 | |||||
| ADJUSTED EBITDA | 35,668 | 60,374 | |||||
| ADJUSTED EBITDA MARGIN | 11.6 | % | 17.0 | % |
(a) Acquisition purchase accounting adjustments include fair market value adjustments associated with inventory recorded as a component of costs of products sold.
(b) Acquisition costs associated with the acquisition of Nokra in September 2024
(c) Impact of foreign currency exchange rates on assets and liabilities.
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Financial Metrics
We utilize several financial measures and metrics to evaluate the performance and assess the future direction of our business. These key financial measures and metrics include net revenues, gross profit margin, end-of-period backlog, book-to-bill ratio, and inventory turnover.
Gross profit margin is gross profit shown as a percentage of net revenues. Gross profit is generally net revenues less costs of products sold, but could also include certain other period costs. Gross profit margin is clearly a function of net revenues, but also reflects our cost-cutting programs and our ability to contain fixed costs.
End-of-period backlog is one indicator of potential future sales. We include in our backlog only open orders that have been released by the customer for shipment in the next twelve months. If demand falls below customers’ forecasts, or if customers do not control their inventory effectively, they may cancel or reschedule the shipments that are included in our backlog, in many instances without the payment of any penalty. Therefore, the backlog is not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for future periods.
Another important indicator of demand in our industry is the book-to-bill ratio, which is the ratio of the amount of product ordered during a period compared with the product that we ship during that period. A book-to-bill ratio that is greater than one indicates that demand is higher than current revenues and manufacturing capacities, and it indicates that we may generate increasing revenues in future periods. Conversely, a book-to-bill ratio that is less than one is an indicator of lower demand compared to existing revenues and current capacities and may foretell declining sales.
We focus on our inventory turnover as a measure of how well we are managing our inventory. We define inventory turnover for a financial reporting period as our costs of products sold for the four fiscal quarters ending on the last day of the reporting period divided by our average inventory (computed using each quarter-end balance) for this same period. A higher level of inventory turnover reflects more efficient use of our capital.
The quarter-to-quarter trends in these financial metrics can also be an important indicator of the likely direction of our business. The following table shows net revenues, gross profit margin, the end-of-period backlog, the book-to-bill ratio, and the inventory turnover for our business as a whole during the five quarters beginning with the fourth quarter of 2023 and through the fourth quarter of 2024 (dollars in thousands):
| 4th Quarter | 1st Quarter | 2nd Quarter | 3rd Quarter | 4th Quarter | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2024 | 2024 | 2024 | 2024 | ||||||||||||||
| Net revenues | $ | 89,528 | $ | 80,783 | $ | 77,359 | $ | 75,727 | $ | 72,653 | ||||||||
| Gross profit margin | 43.0 | % | 43.4 | % | 41.9 | % | 40.0 | % | 38.2 | % | ||||||||
| End-of-period backlog | $ | 117,300 | $ | 109,603 | $ | 104,858 | $ | 100,191 | $ | 96,189 | ||||||||
| Book-to-bill ratio | 0.84 | 0.93 | 0.95 | 0.91 | 1.00 | |||||||||||||
| Inventory turnover | 2.27 | 2.05 | 1.99 | 2.01 | 2.06 |
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| 4th Quarter | 1st Quarter | 2nd Quarter | 3rd Quarter | 4th Quarter | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2024 | 2024 | 2024 | 2024 | ||||||||||||||
| Sensors | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net revenues | $ | 34,259 | $ | 29,414 | $ | 28,869 | $ | 28,201 | $ | 25,755 | ||||||||
| Gross profit margin | 40.2 | % | 36.5 | % | 38.3 | % | 31.0 | % | 32.0 | % | ||||||||
| End-of-period backlog | $ | 49,000 | $ | 45,024 | $ | 41,627 | $ | 39,995 | $ | 39,605 | ||||||||
| Book-to-bill ratio | 0.85 | 0.91 | 0.90 | 0.89 | 1.04 | |||||||||||||
| Inventory turnover | 2.36 | 2.09 | 2.02 | 2.28 | 2.15 | |||||||||||||
| Weighing Solutions | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net revenues | $ | 30,438 | $ | 28,845 | $ | 27,447 | $ | 25,174 | $ | 25,739 | ||||||||
| Gross profit margin | 35.6 | % | 39.1 | % | 37.6 | % | 35.1 | % | 34.1 | % | ||||||||
| End-of-period backlog | $ | 28,800 | $ | 27,109 | $ | 25,077 | $ | 25,590 | $ | 28,003 | ||||||||
| Book-to-bill ratio | 0.91 | 0.95 | 0.93 | 1.00 | 1.12 | |||||||||||||
| Inventory turnover | 2.46 | 2.31 | 2.20 | 2.10 | 2.35 | |||||||||||||
| Measurement Systems | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net revenues | $ | 24,831 | $ | 22,524 | $ | 21,043 | $ | 22,352 | $ | 21,160 | ||||||||
| Gross profit margin | 56.0 | % | 58.1 | % | 52.4 | % | 56.8 | % | 50.9 | % | ||||||||
| End-of-period backlog | $ | 39,500 | $ | 37,470 | $ | 38,154 | $ | 34,605 | $ | 28,581 | ||||||||
| Book-to-bill ratio | 0.73 | 0.94 | 1.04 | 0.82 | 0.78 | |||||||||||||
| Inventory turnover | 1.87 | 1.62 | 1.65 | 1.55 | 1.62 |
Net revenues of $72.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2024 decreased 4.1% from the net revenues of $75.7 million reported in the third quarter of 2024, and decreased 18.8% from $89.5 million for the comparable prior year period.
Net revenues in the Sensors segment of $25.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 decreased 8.7% from $28.2 million in the third quarter of 2024, and decreased 24.8% from $34.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. Sequentially, the decline in revenues primarily reflected lower sales of advanced sensors in our Other markets for consumer applications and lower precision resistor sales in the Test and Measurement market. The year-over-year decrease in revenues was primarily attributable to lower sales of precision resistors in the Test & Measurement market and lower sales of advanced sensors in our Other markets for consumer applications.
Net revenues in the Weighing Solutions segment of $25.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 increased 2.2% compared to revenues of $25.2 million in the third quarter of 2024. The sequential increase in revenues reflected higher revenue in our Industrial Weighing market and in our Other markets, which offset lower revenue in the Transportation market. Net revenues in the fourth quarter of 2024 decreased 15.4% compared to $30.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 mainly due to lower revenues in our Other markets from OEM customers for precision agriculture and construction applications and lower revenues in the Transportation and General Industrial markets.
Net revenues in the Measurement Systems segment of $21.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 decreased 5.3% from $22.4 million in the third quarter of 2024 and decreased 14.8% from $24.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. The sequential decline in revenue was primarily attributable to lower sales of DSI products, which was partially offset by the added revenues related to the acquisition of Nokra on September 30, 2024. The year-over-year decline in revenues was primarily attributable to lower sales of DTS products, which offset the added revenue related to the acquisition of Nokra on September 30, 2024.
The gross profit margin for the fourth quarter of 2024 decreased 1.8% compared to the third quarter of 2024, and decreased 4.8% from the fourth quarter of 2023.
Sequentially, gross profit margins improved in the Sensors segment, decreased in the Weighing Solutions segment, and decreased in the Measurement Systems segments. Sequentially, the increase in gross profit margin in the Sensors segment was primarily due to improved manufacturing efficiencies, which offset the impact of lower volume. The decrease in gross margin for the Weighing Solutions segment was primarily due to higher material costs and the reduction in inventory which offset higher volume. In the Measurement Systems segment, the lower adjusted gross profit margin in the fourth quarter of 2024 reflected lower volume and unfavorable product mix.
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Compared to the fourth quarter of 2023, gross profit margins decreased in all of the reporting segments. In the Sensors segment, the decreased in gross profit margin was primarily due to lower volume and unfavorable product mix, which was partially offset by improved manufacturing efficiencies. In the Weighing Solutions segment, the decreased in gross profit margin was primarily due to lower volume. In the Measurement Systems segment, gross profit margin decreased reflecting lower volume and unfavorable product mix.
Operationally Diversified
Each of VPG's business segments maintains and deploys distinct go-to-market strategies, technical expertise, capital requirements, and acquisition opportunities. We use an operationally diversified strategy and structure to be close to our customers and to leverage our high-level engineering expertise to optimize and enhance the performance of our customers' solutions. We seek to maximize the performance and value of our businesses by leveraging our accumulated experience, methodologies, and expertise in driving operational excellence across our functional areas, as well as in the allocation of capital and investment.
Optimize Core Competence
The Company’s core competencies include our innovative deep technical and applications-specific expertise, our strong brands and customer relationships, our focus on operational excellence, our ability to select and develop our management teams, and our proven M&A strategy. We continue to optimize all aspects of our development, manufacturing and sales processes, including by increasing our technical sales efforts; continuing to innovate in product performance and design; and refining our manufacturing processes.
Our Sensors segment research group developed innovations that enhance the capability and performance of our strain gages, while simultaneously reducing their size and power consumption as part of our advanced sensors product line. We believe this unique foil technology will create new markets as customers “design in” these next generation products in existing and new applications. Our development engineering team is also responsible for creating new processes to further automate manufacturing, and improve productivity and quality. Our advanced sensors manufacturing technology also offers us the capability to produce high-quality foil strain gages in a highly automated environment, which we believe results in reduced manufacturing and lead times, improved quality and increased margins. As a sign of our commitment to these businesses, we signed a long-term lease for a state-of-the-art facility that has been constructed in Israel and fully transitioned to this facility in the third quarter of fiscal 2021.
Our design, research, and product development teams, in partnership with our marketing teams, drive our efforts to bring innovations to market. We intend to leverage our insights into customer demand to continually develop and roll out new, innovative products within our existing lines and to modify our existing core products in ways that make them more appealing, addressing changing customer needs and industry trends in terms of form, fit, and function.
We also seek to achieve significant production cost savings through the transfer, expansion, and construction of manufacturing operations in countries such as India, Japan, and Israel, where we can benefit from improved efficiencies or available tax and other government-sponsored incentives. In the past several years, we incurred restructuring expense related to closing and downsizing of facilities as part of the manufacturing transitions of our load cell products to facilities in India, which marked key milestones in our ongoing strategic initiatives to align and consolidate our manufacturing footprint.
Acquisition Strategy
We expect to continue to make strategic acquisitions where opportunities present themselves to grow and expand our segments. Our acquisition strategy is focused on identifying and acquiring high-value, growing technology-driven businesses that augment, expand and/or leverage our current offering in precision measurement and sensor markets. We expect to expand our expertise and acquisition focus to other precision measurement solutions, including in the fields of measurement of force, weight, pressure, torque, tilt, motion, and acceleration. We believe acquired businesses will benefit from improvements we implement to reduce redundant functions and from our current global manufacturing and distribution footprint.
Research and Development
Research and development will continue to play a key role in our efforts to introduce innovative products to generate new sales and to improve profitability. We expect to continue to expand our position as a leading supplier of precision foil technology products. We believe our R&D efforts should provide us with a variety of opportunities to leverage technology, products, and our manufacturing base in order to ultimately improve our financial performance. The amount charged to expense for research and development was $20.0 million, $20.4 million, and $19.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively.
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Cost Management
To be successful, we believe we must seek new strategies for controlling operating costs. Through automation in our plants, we believe we can optimize our capital and labor resources in production, inventory management, quality control, and warehousing. We are in the process of moving some manufacturing to more cost effective locations. This may enable us to become more efficient and cost competitive, and also maintain tighter controls of the operation.
Production transfers, facility consolidations, and other long-term cost-cutting measures require us to initially incur significant severance and other exit costs. We are realizing the benefits of our restructuring through lower labor costs and other operating expenses, and expect to continue reaping these benefits in future periods. However, these programs to improve our profitability also involve certain risks which could materially impact our future operating results, as further detailed in Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The Company recorded restructuring costs of $1.1 million, $1.6 million, and $1.5 million during the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively, which were comprised primarily of employee termination costs, including severance and statutory retirement allowances.
We are evaluating plans to further reduce our costs by consolidating additional manufacturing operations. These plans may require us to incur restructuring and severance costs in future periods. While streamlining and reducing fixed overhead, we are exercising caution so that we will not negatively impact our customer service or our ability to further develop products and processes.
Foreign Currency
We are exposed to foreign currency exchange rate risks, particularly due to transactions in currencies other than the functional currencies of certain subsidiaries. U.S. GAAP requires that entities identify the “functional currency” of each of their subsidiaries and measure all elements of the financial statements in that functional currency. A subsidiary’s functional currency is the currency of the primary economic environment in which it operates. In cases where a subsidiary is relatively self-contained within a particular country, the local currency is generally deemed to be the functional currency. However, a foreign subsidiary that is a direct and integral component or extension of the parent company’s operations generally would have the parent company’s currency as its functional currency. We have subsidiaries that fall into each of these categories.
Foreign Subsidiaries which use the Local Currency as the Functional Currency
Our operations in Europe, Canada, and certain locations in Asia primarily generate and expend cash using local currencies, and accordingly, these subsidiaries utilize the local currency as their functional currency. For those subsidiaries where the local currency is the functional currency, assets and liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets have been translated at the rate of exchange as of the balance sheet date. Translation adjustments do not impact the results of operations and are reported as a separate component of equity.
For those subsidiaries where the local currency is the functional currency, revenues and expenses are translated at the average exchange rate for the year. While the translation of revenues and expenses into U.S. dollars does not directly impact the consolidated statements of operations, the translation effectively increases or decreases the U.S. dollar equivalent of revenues generated and expenses incurred in those foreign currencies.
Foreign Subsidiaries which use the U.S. Dollar as the Functional Currency
Our operations in Israel and certain locations in Asia primarily generate cash in U.S. dollars, and accordingly, these subsidiaries utilize the U.S. dollar as their functional currency. For those foreign subsidiaries where the U.S. dollar is the functional currency, all foreign currency financial statement amounts are remeasured into U.S. dollars. Exchange gains and losses arising from remeasurement of foreign currency-denominated monetary assets and liabilities are included in the results of operations. While these subsidiaries transact most business in U.S. dollars, they may have significant costs, particularly related to payroll, which are incurred in the local currency and significant lease assets and liabilities.
Effects of Foreign Exchange Rate on Operations
For the year ended December 31, 2024, foreign exchange rate impacts decreased net revenues by $0.9 million and decrease costs of products sold and selling, general, and administrative expenses by $1.1 million. For the year ended December 31, 2023, foreign exchange rate impacts decreased net revenues by $2.2 million and decreased costs of products sold and selling, general, and administrative expenses by $9.1 million.
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Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our significant accounting policies are summarized in Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements. We identify here a number of policies that entail significant judgments or estimates by management.
Inventories
We value our inventories at the lower of cost or market, with cost determined under the first-in, first-out method, and market based upon net realizable value. The valuation of our inventories requires management to make costing and market estimates. For work in process goods, we are required to estimate the cost to completion of the products and the prices at which we will be able to sell the products. For finished goods, we must assess the prices at which we believe the inventory can be sold. Inventories are also adjusted for estimated obsolescence and written down to net realizable value based upon estimates of future demand, technology developments, and market conditions.
Business Combinations
The Company allocates the purchase price of an acquired company, including when applicable, the fair value of contingent consideration between tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed from the acquired businesses based on estimated fair values, with any residual of the purchase price recorded as goodwill. Third party appraisal firms and other consultants are engaged to assist management in determining the fair values of certain assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Different valuations approaches are used to value different types of intangible assets. The Company primarily uses the income approach in the valuation of intangible assets. The income approach to valuation is based on the present value of future cash flows attributable to each identifiable intangible asset. This approach to valuation requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions including but not limited to: discount rates, future cash flows and the economic lives of trade names, technology, and customer relationships. These estimates are based on historical experience and information obtained from the management of the acquired companies, and are inherently uncertain.
Goodwill and Other Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets
Goodwill and indefinite-lived trademarks are tested for impairment at least annually, and whenever events or changes in circumstances occur indicating that it is "more likely than not" impairment may have been incurred. We have the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is "more likely than not" that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value as a basis for determining if it is necessary to perform the quantitative goodwill impairment test. However, if we conclude otherwise, then we are required to perform the quantitative impairment test by calculating the fair value of the reporting unit and comparing it against its carrying value.
The Company has four reporting units to which goodwill was allocated: steel, on-board weighing, DSI, and DTS. In 2024 the Company performed a quantitative impairment test for all its reporting units. In estimating the fair value of our reporting units the Company used the income approach. The income approach to valuation requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions related to future revenues, profitability, working capital requirements and selection of discount rate and long term growth rate. Changes in these estimates and assumptions could have a significant impact on the fair value of the reporting units. If the fair value exceeds the carrying value, no further evaluation is required and no impairment loss is recognized. An impairment charge would be recognized to the extent the carrying value of goodwill exceeds the reporting unit fair value.
The indefinite-lived trade names are tested for impairment either by employing the qualitative approach outlined above, or by comparing the carrying value to the fair value based on current revenue projections of the related operations, under the relief from royalty method. Any excess carrying value over the applicable fair value is recognized as impairment. Any impairment would be recognized in the reporting period in which it has been identified.
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits
Accounting for defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans involves numerous assumptions and estimates. The discount rate at which obligations could effectively be settled and the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets are two critical assumptions in measuring the cost and benefit obligations of our pension and other postretirement benefit plans. Other important assumptions include the anticipated rate of future increases in compensation levels, estimated mortality, and for postretirement medical plans, increases or trends in health care costs. Management reviews these assumptions at least annually. We use independent actuaries to assist us in formulating assumptions and making estimates. These assumptions are updated periodically to reflect the actual experience and expectations on a plan-specific basis, as appropriate.
Our defined benefit plans are concentrated in the United States, Japan and the United Kingdom. Plans in these countries comprise approximately 86% of our retirement obligations at December 31, 2024. We utilize published long-term high-quality bond indices to determine the discount rate at the measurement date. We utilize bond yields at various maturity dates to reflect
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the timing of expected future benefit payments. We believe the discount rates selected are the rates at which these obligations could effectively be settled.
For benefit plans which are funded, we establish strategic asset allocation percentage targets and appropriate benchmarks for significant asset classes with the aim of achieving a prudent balance between return and risk. We set the expected long-term rate of return based on the expected long-term average rates of return to be achieved by the underlying investment portfolios. In establishing this rate, we consider historical and expected returns for the asset classes in which the plans are invested, advice from pension consultants and investment advisors, and current economic and capital market conditions. The expected return on plan assets is incorporated into the computation of pension expense. The difference between this expected return and the actual return on plan assets is deferred.
We believe that the current assumptions used to estimate plan obligations and annual expense are appropriate in the current economic environment. However, if economic conditions change, we may be inclined to change some of our assumptions, and the resulting change could have a material impact on the consolidated statements of operations and on the consolidated balance sheets.
Income Taxes
We are subject to income taxes in the United States and numerous foreign jurisdictions. Our annual effective tax rate is based on pre-tax earnings, statutory tax rates and enacted tax laws. Significant judgments and estimates must be made in determining our consolidated income tax expense as presented in our financial statements.
We must assess the likelihood that we will realize deferred tax assets which requires significant judgment. If we determine that deferred tax assets are not "more likely than not" to be realized, we record a valuation allowance to reduce deferred tax assets to a level that is expected to be realized. If we subsequently determine that realization of a deferred tax asset becomes "more likely than not", the valuation allowance will be reversed. Any change in valuation allowances could have a significant impact on our financial results.
The calculation of our tax liabilities involves an assessment of uncertainties in the application of complex tax laws and regulations in multiple jurisdictions. We record a benefit from an uncertain tax position when it is "more likely than not" that a tax return position will be sustained upon examination, including resolutions of any related appeals or litigation based on the technical merits of the position. If the position is not "more likely than not" to be sustained, a liability for the tax return position is established. We adjust the liability when our judgment changes as a result of the evaluation of new information. The ultimate tax due in a jurisdiction may result in a payment that is materially different from our most recent estimate of the liability. Further judgment is required in determining whether an uncertain tax position is effectively settled. Any change in the analysis will impact income tax expense.
We consider the earnings of most of our non-U.S. subsidiaries to be indefinitely invested outside the United States based on our estimates that future domestic cash generation will be sufficient to meet future domestic cash needs and our plans for reinvestment of foreign subsidiary earnings. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had provided for a deferred tax liability of $2.3 million of withholding tax associated with $25.3 million of unremitted, non-permanently reinvested earnings. Additional withholding taxes of approximately $32.0 million are estimated to be payable upon the distribution of the remaining unremitted earnings at December 31, 2024. If we decide to distribute any portion of the balance of our unremitted earnings to the United States from a foreign country, we would adjust our income tax provision in the period we determine that the earnings are no longer indefinitely invested outside the United States.
Additional information about income taxes is included in Note 7 to our consolidated financial statements.
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Results of Operations – Years Ended December 31, 2024 and 2023
Refer to Item 7, "Results of Operations - Years Ended December 2023 and 2022 in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 for a comparison of the year ended December 31, 2023 to the year ended December 31, 2022.
Statement of operations’ captions as a percentage of net revenues and the effective tax rates were as follows:
| Years ended December 31, | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||
| Costs of products sold | 59.0 | % | 57.7 | % | |
| Gross profit | 41.0 | % | 42.3 | % | |
| Selling, general, and administrative expenses | 35.1 | % | 30.1 | % | |
| Operating income | 5.5 | % | 11.8 | % | |
| Income before taxes | 5.7 | % | 10.8 | % | |
| Net earnings | 3.2 | % | 7.3 | % | |
| Net earnings attributable to VPG stockholders | 3.2 | % | 7.2 | % | |
| Effective tax rate | 44.0 | % | 32.3 | % |
Net Revenues
Net revenues were as follows (dollars in thousands):
| Years ended December 31, | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||
| Net revenues | $ | 306,522 | $ | 355,048 | ||
| Change versus prior year | $ | (48,526) | ||||
| Percentage change versus prior year | (13.7) | % |
Changes in net revenues were attributable to the following:
| 2024 vs. 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Change attributable to: | ||
| Change in volume | (13.8) | % |
| Change in average selling prices | 0.5 | % |
| Foreign currency effects | (0.4) | % |
| Net change | (13.7) | % |
During the year ended December 31, 2024, net revenues decreased 13.7% over the prior year in all three reporting segments.
Gross Profit Margin
Gross profit as a percentage of net revenues was as follows:
| Years ended December 31, | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||
| Gross profit margin | 41.0 | % | 42.3 | % |
The gross profit margin for the year ended December 31, 2024 decreased 1.3% over the prior year. The decrease in gross profit margin was primarily due to decreased gross profit margins in the Weighing Solutions and Sensors reporting segments partially offset by increased gross profit margin in the Measurement Systems reporting segment.
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Segments
Analysis of revenues and gross profit margins for our reportable segments is provided below.
Sensors
Net revenues of the Sensors segment were as follows (dollars in thousands):
| Years ended December 31, | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||
| Net revenues | $ | 112,238 | $ | 139,783 | ||
| Change versus prior year | $ | (27,545) | ||||
| Percentage change versus prior year | (19.7) | % |
Changes in Sensors segment net revenues were attributable to the following:
| 2024 vs. 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Change attributable to: | ||
| Change in volume | (19.8) | % |
| Change in average selling prices | 0.9 | % |
| Foreign currency effects | (0.8) | % |
| Net change | (19.7) | % |
For the year ended December 31, 2024, net revenues decreased 19.7% as compared to the prior year, due to lower sales of precision resistors in the Test and Measurement and the AMS markets, and lower sales of advanced sensors products primarily in the AMS market.
Gross profit as a percentage of net revenues for the Sensors segment was as follows:
| Years ended December 31, | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||
| Gross profit margin | 34.5 | % | 39.4 | % |
For the year ended December 31, 2024, the gross profit margin decreased 4.9% as compared to the prior year primarily due to lower volume.
Weighing Solutions
Net revenues of the Weighing Solutions segment were as follows (dollars in thousands):
| Years ended December 31, | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||
| Net revenues | $ | 107,205 | $ | 122,528 | ||
| Change versus prior year | $ | (15,323) | ||||
| Percentage change versus prior year | (12.5) | % |
Changes in Weighing Solutions segment net revenues were attributable to the following:
| 2024 vs. 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Change attributable to: | ||
| Change in volume | (12.8) | % |
| Change in average selling prices | 0.0 | % |
| Foreign currency effects | 0.3 | % |
| Net change | (12.5) | % |
For the year ended December 31, 2024, net revenues decreased 12.5% from the prior year.
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Gross profit as a percentage of net revenues for the Weighing Solutions segment was as follows:
| Years ended December 31, | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||
| Gross profit margin | 36.6 | % | 37.0 | % |
For the year ended December 31, 2024, the gross profit margin decreased 0.4% as compared to the prior year, due to lower volume.
Measurement Systems
Net revenues of the Measurement Systems segment were as follows (dollars in thousands):
| Years ended December 31, | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||
| Net revenues | $ | 87,079 | $ | 92,737 | ||
| Change versus prior year | $ | (5,658) | ||||
| Percentage change versus prior year | (6.1) | % |
Changes in Measurement Systems segment net revenues were attributable to the following:
| 2024 vs. 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Change attributable to: | ||
| Change in volume | (6.0) | % |
| Change in average selling prices | 0.5 | % |
| Foreign currency effects | (0.6) | % |
| Net change | (6.1) | % |
For the year ended December 31, 2024, net revenues decreased 6.1% as compared to the prior year, primarily attributable to lower sales of DSI and DTS products partially offset by the added revenue related to the acquisition of Nokra on September 30, 2024.
Gross profit as a percentage of net revenues for the Measurement Systems segment was as follows:
| Years ended December 31, | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||
| Gross profit margin | 54.6 | % | 53.8 | % |
For the year ended December 31, 2024, the gross profit margin increased 0.8% from the prior year mostly due to favorable product mix partially offset by lower volume.
Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general, and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses were as follows (dollars in thousands):
| Years ended December 31, | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||
| Total SG&A expenses | $ | 107,505 | $ | 106,828 | ||
| as a percentage of net revenues | 35.1 | % | 30.1 | % |
SG&A expenses for the year ended December 31, 2024 increased $0.7 million as compared to the prior year mostly due to added personnel costs related to the acquisition of Nokra on September 30, 2024.
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Impairment of Goodwill and Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets
For the years ended December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, no impairment of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets was recorded.
Restructuring Costs
Restructuring costs reflect the cost reduction programs implemented by the Company. Restructuring costs are expensed during the period in which the Company determines it will incur those costs and all requirements for accrual are met. Because these costs are recorded based upon estimates, actual expenditures for the restructuring activities may differ from the initially recorded costs. If the initial estimates are too low or too high, the Company could be required to either record additional expense in future periods, or to reverse part of the previously recorded charges.
The Company recorded restructuring costs of $1.1 million and $1.6 million during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Restructuring costs were comprised primarily of employee termination costs, including severance and statutory retirement allowances, and were incurred in connection with various cost reduction programs.
Acquisition Costs
For the year ended December 31, 2024, we recorded acquisition costs in our consolidated statements of operations of $0.1 million in connection with the acquisition of Nokra. There were no acquisition costs recorded in our consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Other Income (Expense)
Interest Expense
The Company recorded interest expense of $2.5 million, and $4.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Interest expense was lower in 2024 compared to 2023 mainly due to partial repayment of loans that occurred in the second half of 2023 and lower borrowing rates during 2024.
Other
The following table analyzes the components of the line “Other” on the consolidated statements of operations (in thousands):
| Years ended December 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | Change | ||||||||
| Foreign currency exchange gain/(loss) | $ | 1,878 | $ | (822) | $ | 2,700 | ||||
| Interest income | 1,673 | 1,651 | 22 | |||||||
| Pension expense | (55) | (52) | (3) | |||||||
| Other | (284) | (321) | 37 | |||||||
| $ | 3,212 | $ | 456 | $ | 2,756 |
Foreign currency exchange gains and losses represent the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. The change in foreign currency exchange gains / (losses) for the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to the prior year period, is primarily due to fluctuations in the Japanese Yen, Israeli shekel and the Canadian dollar.
Income Taxes
Our effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2024 was 44.0%, as compared to 32.3% for the year ended December 31, 2023. Our effective tax rate was higher in 2024 compared to 2023 primarily due to increases in valuation allowances and changes in our geographical mix of income.
We reassessed our ability to realize our U.S. deferred tax assets during 2024 and have concluded that realization of those deferred tax assets is still not "more likely than not". Our tax rate is affected by recurring items, such as tax rates in foreign jurisdictions as compared to the U.S. federal statutory tax rate, and the relative amount of income earned in each jurisdiction. The tax rate is also impacted by discrete items that vary from year to year and may not be indicative of the tax rate on continuing operations. The following items had the most significant impact on the difference between the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate and our effective tax rate:
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2024
•15.3% increase related to the effects of foreign operations primarily related to the difference between the U.S. statutory rate and foreign tax rates
•7.6% increase related to changes in valuation allowances
•1.0% increase related to statutory tax rate changes
•2.9% decrease related to specialty tax credits, such as research credits
2023
•6.2% increase related to the effects of foreign operations primarily related to the difference between the U.S. statutory rate and foreign tax rates
•3.3% increase related to changes in valuation allowances
•2.3% increase related to residual U.S. tax on foreign earnings
•1.2% increase related to changes in reserves for uncertain tax positions
•1.4% decrease related to specialty tax credits, such as research credits
Additional information about income taxes is included in Note 7 to our consolidated financial statements.
Financial Condition, Liquidity, and Capital Resources
Refer to Item 7. “Financial Condition, Liquidity, and Capital Resources” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 for a comparison of the year ended December 31, 2023 to the year ended December 31, 2022.
We believe that our current cash and cash equivalents, credit facilities, and projected cash from operations will be sufficient to meet our liquidity needs for at least the next 12 months.
On August 15, 2024, the Company entered into a Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “2024 Credit Agreement”) among the Company, the lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and HSBC as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunner, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A, as agent for such lenders (the “Agent”), pursuant to which the Company’s existing credit facility was amended and restated to, among other things, extend the maturity date from March 20, 2025 to August 15, 2029 and adjust the interest rate and commitment fee. The 2024 Credit Agreement provides for a multi-currency, secured credit facility (the “2024 Revolving Facility”) in an aggregate principal amount of $75.0 million, with a sublimit of $10.0 million which can be used for letters of credit for the account of the Company or its subsidiaries that are parties to the 2024 Credit Agreement, the proceeds of which may be used for working capital and general corporate purposes, and a portion of which were used to refinance the Company’s existing revolving credit facility. The aggregate principal amount of the 2024 Revolving Facility may be increased by a maximum of $25.0 million upon the request of the Company, subject to the terms of the 2024 Credit Agreement. The Company may elect to make loans under the 2024 Revolving Facility in US Dollars, Euros, Canadian Dollars, Sterling, Japanese Yen or such other freely convertible foreign currency.
Amounts borrowed under the 2024 Revolving Facility accrue interest in an amount equal to a floating rate plus a specified margin. Such floating rates are (i) for loans denominated in US Dollars, at the Company’s option, either (a) the greatest of: the Agent’s prime rate, the Federal Funds rate, or a 1.00% floor (the “US Base Rate”), or (b) the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), (ii) for loans denominated in Canadian Dollars, at the Company’s option, either (x) the greatest of: the PRIMCAN Index rate, the average 30 day rate for loans accruing interest based on the Canadian Overnight Repo Rate Average (“CORRA”) (the “Canadian Base Rate”), or (y) CORRA, (iii) for loans denominated in Pounds Sterling, the Sterling Overnight Index Average (“SONIA”), (iv) for loans denominated in Euros, the Euro Interbank Offered Rate (“EURIBOR"), and (v) for loans denominated in Japanese Yen, the Tokyo Interbank Offered Rate (“TIBOR”).
The specified interest margin for US Base Rate Loans and Canadian Base Rate Loans is 0.25%. Depending upon the Company’s leverage ratio, the interest rate margin for loans based on SOFR, CORRA, SONIA, EURIBOR and TIBOR ranges from 1.75% to 3.00% per annum. The Company is required to pay a quarterly fee of 0.20% per annum to 0.40% per annum on the unused portion of the 2024 Revolving Facility, which is also determined based on the Company’s leverage ratio. Additional customary fees apply with respect to letters of credit.
The obligations of the Company under the 2024 Credit Agreement are secured by pledges of stock in certain domestic and foreign subsidiaries, as well as guarantees by substantially all of the Company’s domestic subsidiaries. The obligations of the Company and the guarantors under the 2024 Credit Agreement are secured by substantially all the assets (excluding real estate) of the Company and such guarantors. The 2024 Credit Agreement restricts the Company from paying cash dividends and requires the Company to comply with other customary covenants, representations, and warranties, including the maintenance of a specified interest coverage ratio and a leverage ratio, each tested as of the last day of each fiscal quarter. If the Company is not in compliance with any of these covenant restrictions, the 2024 Revolving Facility could be terminated by the lenders, and all amounts outstanding pursuant to the 2024 Credit Agreement could become immediately payable.
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Our business has historically generated significant cash flow. Our cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $19.8 million as compared to $45.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Our net cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $12.9 million, compared to $15.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Our net cash used in financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $9.4 million, which included a pay down on the 2020 credit facility of $0.0 million, as compared to $35.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Approximately 94% and 92% of our cash and cash equivalents balance at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, was held by our non-U.S. subsidiaries. See the following table for the percentage of cash and cash equivalents, by region of subsidiary, at December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
| December 31, | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||
| Asia | 21 | % | 22 | % | |
| United States | 6 | % | 8 | % | |
| Israel | 56 | % | 36 | % | |
| Europe | 14 | % | 23 | % | |
| Canada | 3 | % | 11 | % | |
| Total | 100 | % | 100 | % |
We earn a significant amount of our operating income outside the United States, the majority of which is deemed to be indefinitely reinvested in the foreign jurisdictions. As a result, as discussed above, a significant portion of our cash and short-term investments are held by foreign subsidiaries. The Company will continue to evaluate its cash needs, however we currently do not intend, nor do we foresee a need, to repatriate funds in excess of what is already planned. The Company will evaluate the possibility of repatriating future cash provided such repatriation can be accomplished in a tax efficient manner. In addition, we expect existing domestic cash, short-term investments, and cash flows from operations to continue to be sufficient to fund our domestic operating activities and cash commitments for investing and financing activities, such as debt repayment and capital expenditures, for at least the next 12 months and thereafter for the foreseeable future.
If we should require more capital in the United States than is generated by our domestic operations, for example, to fund significant discretionary activities, such as business acquisitions, we could elect to repatriate future earnings from foreign jurisdictions or raise capital in the United States through debt or equity issuances. These alternatives could result in higher tax expense, increased interest expense, or dilution of our earnings. We consider the majority of the undistributed earnings of our foreign subsidiaries, as of December 31, 2024, to be indefinitely reinvested.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, we generated adjusted free cash flow of $11.3 million. We define “adjusted free cash flow,” a measure which management uses to evaluate our ability to fund acquisitions, as the amount of cash provided by operating activities ($19.8 million) in excess of our capital expenditures ($9.2 million) and net of proceeds from the sale of assets ($0.7 million).
The following table summarizes the components of net cash at December 31, 2024 and at December 31, 2023 (in thousands):
| December 31, | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 79,272 | $ | 83,965 | ||
| Third-party debt, including current and long-term | ||||||
| Revolving debt | 32,000 | 32,000 | ||||
| Deferred financing costs | (559) | (144) | ||||
| Total third-party debt | 31,441 | 31,856 | ||||
| Net cash | $ | 47,831 | $ | 52,109 |
Measurements such as “adjusted free cash flow” and “net cash" do not have uniform definitions and are not recognized in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Such measures should not be viewed as alternatives to GAAP measures of performance or liquidity. However, management believes that “adjusted free cash flow” is a meaningful measure of our ability to fund acquisitions, and that an analysis of “net cash” assists investors in understanding aspects of our cash and debt management. These measures, as calculated by us, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.
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Our financial condition as of December 31, 2024 is strong, with a current ratio (current assets to current liabilities) of 4.5 to 1.0, as compared to a current ratio of 3.9 to 1.0 at December 31, 2023.
Cash paid for property and equipment for the year ended December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 was $9.2 million and $15.2 million, respectively. Capital spending for 2024 was comprised of building projects related to capacity expansion in Israel and Asia, and other projects related to the normal maintenance of business. Capital expenditures for 2025 are expected to be approximately $12.4 million.
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.
Inflation
Normally, inflation does not have a significant impact on our operations as our products are not generally sold on long-term contracts. Consequently, we can adjust our selling prices, to the extent permitted by competition, to reflect cost increases caused by inflation.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements for a discussion of recent accounting pronouncements.
Forward-Looking Statements
From time to time, information provided by us, including, but not limited to, statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, or other statements made by or on our behalf, may contain or constitute "forward-looking" information within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties, and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control, which may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those anticipated.
Such statements are based on current expectations only, and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, expected, estimated, or projected. Among the factors that could cause actual results to materially differ include: general business and economic conditions; impact of inflation; potential issues respecting the United States federal government debt ceiling; global labor and supply chain challenges; difficulties or delays in identifying, negotiating and completing acquisitions and integrating acquired companies; the inability to realize anticipated synergies and expansion possibilities; difficulties in new product development; changes in competition and technology in the markets that we serve and the mix of our products required to address these changes; changes in foreign currency exchange rates; political, economic, and health (including pandemics) instabilities; instability caused by military hostilities in the regions or countries in which we operate (including Israel); difficulties in implementing our cost reduction strategies, such as underutilization of production facilities, labor unrest or legal challenges to our lay-off or termination plans, operation of redundant facilities due to difficulties in transferring production to achieve efficiencies; compliance issues under applicable laws, such as export control laws, including the outcome of our voluntary self-disclosure of export control non-compliance; significant developments from the recent and potential changes in tariffs and trade regulation; our ability to execute our new corporate strategy and business continuity, operational and budget plans; and other factors affecting our operations, markets, products, services, and prices that are set forth in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024. We caution you not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report or as of the dates otherwise indicated in such forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.