Forward Reports Fiscal 2023 First Quarter Results

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y., Feb. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Forward Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ:FORD), a global design, manufacturing, sourcing and distribution group, today announced financial results for its first quarter ended December 31, 2022.

First Quarter Fiscal Year 2023 Financial Highlights  

• Revenues were $10.8 million, a decrease of 6.9% from $11.6 million for the first quarter of fiscal year 2022.
  
  
• Gross margin declined to 17.7% compared to 22.5% for the first quarter of fiscal year 2022.
  
  
• Operating loss was $0.5 million compared to operating income of $0.2 million for the first quarter of fiscal year 2022.
  
  
• Net loss was $0.4 million compared to net income of $0.2 million for the first quarter of fiscal year 2022.
  
  
• Basic and diluted (loss)/earnings per share was $(0.04) compared to $0.02 for the first quarter of fiscal year 2022.
  
  
• Cash balance of $2.3 million at December 31, 2022 as compared to $2.6 million at September 30, 2022.
  

Terry Wise, Chief Executive Officer of Forward Industries, stated, “This has clearly been a disappointing quarter and start to the fiscal year. Whilst the design division continued to grow, the legacy and logistical challenges within the retail and the OEM divisions have impacted the group’s performance. We are actively addressing these complex issues, and I am confident that in time these will be reflected in a positive performance.”

The tables below are derived from the Company’s consolidated financial statements included in its Form 10-Q filed on February 14, 2023 with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Please refer to the Form 10-Q for complete financial statements and further information regarding the Company’s results of operations and financial condition relating to the fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2022 and 2021. Please also refer to the Company’s Form 10-K for a discussion of risk factors applicable to the Company and its business.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 including statements regarding our optimism for improved performance in fiscal year 2023. Forward has tried to identify these forward-looking statements by using words such as “may”, “should,” “expect,” “hope,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to the Company and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause its actual results, performance, prospects or opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. These risks include the inability to expand our customer base, loss of additional customers, pricing pressures, lack of success of our sales people, failure to develop products at a profit, failure to commercialize products that we develop, continued supply chain issues, inability of our design division’s customers to pay for our services, unanticipated issues with our affiliated sourcing agent, issues at Chinese factories that we source our products as a result of the pandemic or otherwise, and failure to obtain acceptance of our products. No assurance can be given that the actual results will be consistent with the forward-looking statements. Investors should read carefully the factors described in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s filings with the SEC, including the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2022 for information regarding risk factors that could affect the Company’s results. Except as otherwise required by Federal securities laws, Forward undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or any other reason.

About Forward Industries

Forward is a global design, manufacturing, sourcing and distribution group serving top tier medical and technology customers worldwide. Through its acquisitions of Intelligent Product Solutions, Inc. and Kablooe Design, Inc., the Company has expanded its ability to design and develop solutions for its existing multinational client base and expand beyond the diabetic product line into a variety of industries with a full spectrum of hardware and software product design and engineering services. In addition to our existing design and distribution of carry and protective solutions, primarily for handheld electronic devices, we are now a one-stop shop for design development and manufacturing solutions serving a wide range of clients in the industrial, commercial, medical and consumer industries.

For more information, contact:        
Anthony Camarda, CFO, Forward Industries, Inc.                
(631) 547-3041, acamarda@forwardindustries.com

FORWARD INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
				December 31,				September 30,
				2022				2022
Assets				(Unaudited)
Current assets:
	Cash			$	2,331,806			$	2,575,522
	Accounts receivable, net				8,523,079				7,542,666
	Inventories, net				4,138,879				3,801,030
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets				394,343				417,605
			Total current assets		15,388,107				14,336,823
Property and equipment, net					261,917				241,146
Intangible assets, net					1,052,711				1,105,901
Goodwill					1,758,682				1,758,682
Operating lease right of use assets, net					3,328,047				3,427,726
Other assets					68,737				68,737
			Total assets	$	21,858,201			$	20,939,015
Liabilities and shareholders' equity
Current liabilities:
	Accounts payable			$	576,449			$	268,160
	Due to Forward China				9,475,932				7,713,880
	Deferred income				334,588				438,878
	Current portion of earnout consideration				-				25,000
	Current portion of operating lease liability				387,222				377,940
	Accrued expenses and other current liabilities				694,644				1,153,906
			Total current liabilities		11,468,835				9,977,764
Other liabilities:
	Note payable to Forward China				1,350,000				1,400,000
	Operating lease liability, less current portion				3,149,279				3,249,824
	Earnout consideration, less current portion				30,000				45,000
		Total other liabilities			4,529,279				4,694,824
			Total liabilities		15,998,114				14,672,588
Commitments and contingencies
Shareholders' equity:
	Common stock, par value $0.01 per share; 40,000,000 shares authorized;
		10,061,185 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2022
		and September 30, 2022			100,612				100,612
	Additional paid-in capital				20,139,646				20,115,711
	Accumulated deficit				(14,380,171	)			(13,949,896	)
			Total shareholders' equity		5,860,087				6,266,427
			Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$	21,858,201			$	20,939,015

FORWARD INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(UNAUDITED)
	For the Three Months Ended December 31,
	2022				2021
Revenues, net	$	10,809,679			$	11,613,741
Cost of sales		8,890,978				8,994,973
Gross profit		1,918,701				2,618,768
Sales and marketing expenses		690,300				737,677
General and administrative expenses		1,695,278				1,666,877
(Loss)/income from operations		(466,877	)			214,214
Fair value adjustment of earnout consideration		(40,000	)			-
Interest expense		27,958				32,828
Other (income)/expense, net		(24,560	)			1,362
(Loss)/income before income taxes		(430,275	)			180,024
Provision for income taxes		-				-
Net (loss)/income	$	(430,275	)		$	180,024
(Loss)/earnings per share:
Basic	$	(0.04	)		$	0.02
Diluted	$	(0.04	)		$	0.02
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic		10,061,185				10,061,185
Diluted		10,061,185				10,337,113