WEST WARWICK, R.I.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AstroNova, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALOT), a global leader in data visualization technologies, today reported financial results for the fiscal 2017 second quarter ended July 30, 2016.

“We delivered record sales and higher earnings with strong free cash flow in the second quarter, as both our Product Identification and Test & Measurement segments grew year-over-year,” said Gregory A. Woods, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our global sales expansion initiatives, accelerated product innovation process and operating efficiencies are beginning to produce measurable results across the Company.”

Net sales for the second quarter were $25.3 million, an increase of 6% from $23.9 million for the prior-year period. Sales in the Product Identification segment were up 3% to $17.6 million from $17.1 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2016. Sales in the Test & Measurement segment increased 13% to $7.7 million from $6.8 million in the comparable period of fiscal 2016. Domestic sales increased 2% to $17.6 million from $17.3 million a year earlier, while international sales climbed 16% to a new record of $7.7 million compared with $6.6 million in the prior-year period.

“We continue expanding our worldwide distribution channels with the addition of branch offices and dealers in key regions,” Woods said. “Since the end of the fiscal first quarter we opened our first direct sales offices in India and Spain and added dealers in Latin America, Southeast Asia, Europe and Canada.”

Net income for the second quarter of fiscal 2017 was $1.3 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, compared with $1.2 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, for the same period a year earlier.

Operating expenses for the fiscal 2017 second quarter were $8.6 million, compared with $8.0 million for the year-earlier period, due to higher research and development and administrative expenses primarily related to the Company’s rebranding initiative.

Cash and marketable securities ended the quarter at $23.8 million, compared with cash and marketable securities of $20.4 million at year-end fiscal 2016.

Recent Highlights

• AstroNova was selected by The Boeing Company to provide the ToughWriter® 5 model flight deck printer for its B777X aircraft. The multi-year agreement covers flight deck printers for the Boeing 777X family, which includes the 777-8 and 777-9. AstroNova will manufacture the printers at its AstroNova Aerospace production facilities in West Warwick, Rhode Island.
• The Company received the 2015 Boeing Performance Excellence Award for superior supplier performance in areas including on-time delivery and quality.
• AstroNova received the Outstanding Worksite Health Award from Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island (BCBSRI) and the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce (the Chamber) for effective programs encouraging employee health and well-being.

Board Declares Quarterly Dividend

On August 22, 2016, the Board of Directors of AstroNova, Inc. declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.07 per share. The dividend, which represents a cash dividend of $0.28 per share on an annualized basis, is payable on September 23, 2016, to shareholders of record on September 16, 2016.

Business Outlook

“AstroNova has executed successfully through the first two quarters of fiscal 2017, and we are positioned to continue our momentum in the second half of the year,” Woods said. “Propelled by a pipeline of new products, an expanding international presence and a healthy balance sheet, we continue to execute on our strategic priorities.”

Fiscal 2017 Second-Quarter Conference Call

AstroNova will conduct an investor conference call at 9:00 a.m. ET today. Investors can participate in the conference call by dialing 888-397-5339 (U.S. and Canada) or 719-325-2219 (International) with passcode 883390.

Please join the call at least five minutes prior to the start time. You can also hear a live webcast of the call by accessing the Investors section of AstroNova’s website, www.astronovainc.com.

Following the live broadcast, an audio webcast replay of the call will be available at www.astronovainc.com. A telephone replay of the conference call will be available for seven days by dialing 888-203-1112 (U.S. and Canada) or 719-457-0820 (International) with passcode 5117254.

About AstroNova

AstroNova, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALOT), a global leader in data visualization technologies, designs, manufactures, distributes and services a broad range of products that acquire, store, analyze and present data in multiple formats. The Product Identification segment offers a variety of hardware and software products and associated consumables that allow customers to mark, track, and enhance the appearance of their products. Major brands include QuickLabel®, the industry leader in onsite digital color label printing. The Test and Measurement segment includes the T&M Product Group, which offers a suite of products and services that acquire, record and analyze electronic signal data from local and networked sensors. The Test and Measurement segment also includes a line of Aerospace Products such as printers, networking hardware and related accessories. These products are used in the aircraft flight deck to print flight plans, navigation information, and performance data and in the aircraft cabin to print maintenance data, receipts and passenger manifests. AstroNova is a member of the Russell Microcap® Index and the LD Micro Index (INDEXNYSEGIS: LDMICRO). Additional information is available by visiting www.astronovainc.com.