Elbit Systems reports $4.51 billion revenues for 2019

By Editor 08-Apr-2020

Elbit Systems Ltd, the international high technology company, reported its consolidated results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2019. Revenues for the year ended December 31, 2019 were $4,508.4 million, as compared to $3,683.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2018.

The leading contributors to revenue growth were the airborne systems and land systems areas of operation. The increase in revenues in the airborne systems area of operation was primarily due to increased sales of commercial avionics equipment in the U.S. of a subsidiary that was acquired in the second quarter of 2018. Additionally, there was an increase of sales in the U.S. of military avionic equipment for airborne platforms. Revenues from land systems increased primarily due to an increase in sales of land electronic warfare systems and armored vehicle systems in Europe and the revenues of IMI to Israel.

On a geographic basis, the increase in North America was mainly a result of higher sales of airborne systems and revenues of commercial avionics and programs for military airborne platforms. The increase in Israel was mainly a result of revenues of IMI. The increase in Asia-Pacific was mainly a result of higher sales of remote weapon systems, radios and artillery systems.

Bezhalel (Butzi) Machlis, President and CEO of Elbit Systems, commented:“We are pleased with the solid revenue growth across all our major end-markets in 2019 and a record backlog that grew by 7% to over $10 billion for the first time. To date we have not experienced a material impact on our ongoing business from the Covid-19 pandemic. However, we continue to monitor the situation, including its macro-economic impacts, and have initiated a series of measures to protect our employees while maintaining our ongoing commitments to our customers.

Looking forward into 2020 and beyond,  Elbit Systems is a strong and stable business, with a healthy balance sheet and a broad long-term backlog that should support our globally diversified sales.”

Acquisition of Elbit Night Vision

On September 2019, Elbit completed the acquisition of the night vision business of L3Harris Technologies (the Night Vision Business) for a purchase price of  approximately $350 million.  Located in Roanoke, Virginia, the Night Vision Business is engaged in the development, production and supply of night vision technology for the U.S. and allied military and security forces and for the U.S. federal homeland security market.  Following the acquisition, the Night Vision Business operates as Elbit Night Vision ("ENV"). The financial results of ENV were included in our consolidated reports commencing the date of the acquisition.

In the fourth quarter of 2019, following the completion of the acquisition of ENV it recorded expenses of $55 million in our Cost of Revenues. These expenses were mainly related to inventory write-offs. The expenses were eliminated in the non-GAAP results due to their non-recurring nature.

Fourth quarter 2019 results:

Revenues in the fourth quarter of  2019 were $1,321.5 million, as compared to $1,077.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2018. Growth in the quarter was driven by the contributions of ENV and IMI Systems Ltd. ("IMI"), as well as growth in our legacy businesses.

Non-GAAP(*) gross profit amounted to $345.8 million (26.2% of revenues) in the fourth quarter of 2019, as compared to $306.7 million (28.5% of revenues) in the fourth quarter of 2018. GAAP gross profit in the fourth quarter of 2019 was $284.3 million (21.5% of revenues), as compared to $234.9 million (21.8% of revenues) in the fourth quarter of 2018. The gross profit in the fourth quarter of 2019 and 2018 included expenses of $55.0 and $66.6 million, respectively, related to the acquisition of ENV in 2019 and IMI in 2018.

Research and development expenses, net were $97.6 million (7.4% of revenues) in the fourth quarter of 2019, as compared to $73.0 million (6.8% of revenues) in the fourth quarter of 2018.