December 15, 2004 - 8K

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549


FORM 8-K

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



DATE OF REPORT: December 15, 2004
(Date of earliest event reported)


POWELL INDUSTRIES, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)


8550 Mosley Drive
Houston, Texas

(Address of Principal
Executive Offices)
0-6050
(Commission File Number)
88-0106100
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)


77075-1180

(Zip Code)

(713) 944-6900

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

N/A
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)


Item 2.02 – Results of Operations and Financial Condition

On December 15, 2004, the Company held a conference call to discuss its fiscal 2004 fourth quarter and year ended October 31, 2004 results, as reflected in the attached press release dated December 15, 2004 released earlier that day. The press release refers to free cash flow for the fourth quarter of $5.5 million, which is defined as total cash flow from operations of $7.1 million less all capital expenditures of $1.6 million. A replay of our audio webcast can be accessed through the “Investor Relations/Events” tab at www.powellind.com. The webcast contains forward-looking statements, which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Readers are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties in that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. In the course of operations, the Company is subject to certain risk factors, including but not limited to competition and competitive pressures, sensitivity to general economic and industrial conditions, international political and economic risks, availability and price of raw materials and execution of business strategy. The information in this Current Report is being furnished pursuant to Item 2.02, Results of Operations and Financial Condition. Pursuant to general instruction B.6. of Form 8-K, the information in this Current Report shall not be deemed “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section. The information in this Current Report shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933.

Item 9.01 – Financial Statements and Exhibits

On December 15, 2004, Powell Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ: POWL) announced results for the fiscal 2004 fourth quarter and year ended October 31, 2004. A copy of the press release announcing the results is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by this reference.

(c) Exhibits:

Exhibit
    Number    
Description
99.1 Press Release dated December 15, 2004



SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                        


Date: December 15, 2004
POWELL INDUSTRIES, INC.


By: /s/ DON R. MADISON                                         
       Don R. Madison
       Vice President
       Chief Financial Officer
       (Principal Accounting and Financial Officer)
2004 Fourth Quarter Press Release

EXHIBIT 99.1

PRESS RELEASE




FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts: Don R. Madison, CFO
Powell Industries, Inc.
713-947-4422

Ken Dennard / ksdennard@drg-e.com
Karen Roan / kcroan@drg-e.com
DRG&E / 713-529-6600


POWELL INDUSTRIES REPORTS FISCAL 2004
FOURTH QUARTER AND YEAR END RESULTS

HOUSTON – DECEMBER 15, 2004 – Powell Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ: POWL), a leading manufacturer of equipment and systems for the management and control of electrical energy and other critical processes, today announced results for the fiscal 2004 fourth quarter and year ended October 31, 2004.

         Revenues for the fourth quarter of 2004 were $48.6 million compared to revenues of $57.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2003. The company reported a net loss for the fourth quarter of $415,000, or ($0.04) per diluted share, compared to net income of $1.2 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, in the same period a year ago. This year’s fourth quarter results include pre-tax expenses of $630,000, or $0.04 per diluted share, associated with the consolidation of operations. The company generated $5.5 million in free cash flow, defined as total cash flow from operations of $7.1 million less all capital expenditures of $1.6 million, in the fourth quarter. The company uses this measure because it believes free cash flow is a good indicator of operating efficiency.

         Thomas W. Powell, chairman and chief executive officer, stated, “We are pleased to report that inquiries for our products continue to improve and that new orders in the fourth quarter exceeded $60 million, an order rate that we haven’t experienced in several years. We have substantially completed the consolidation of our manufacturing operations and look to benefit from our improved efficiencies, as well as better market conditions, in fiscal 2005 and beyond.”

         The Electrical Power Products segment recorded revenues of $40.0 million in the fourth quarter compared to $50.2 million in the fourth quarter a year ago. Loss from continuing operations before income taxes for Electrical Power Products totaled $1.5 million versus income of $3.1 million in last year’s fourth quarter and includes pre-tax consolidation costs of $630,000.

         Process Control Systems’ revenues for the fourth quarter were $8.6 million compared to $7.0 million for the same period a year ago. Income from continuing operations before income taxes for Process Control Systems totaled $41,000 versus $523,000 a year ago.

         The company’s order backlog as of October 31, 2004, was $134.3 million compared to $120.4 million at the end of the third quarter of 2004 and $157.5 million at the end of the fourth quarter one year ago. New orders placed during the fourth quarter of 2004 totaled $61.5 million versus $42.1 million in this year’s third quarter and $36.3 million in the fourth quarter a year ago.

         Revenues for fiscal 2004 were $206.1 million compared to revenues of $253.4 million for fiscal 2003. Fiscal year 2004 net income was $1.4 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, versus $7.1 million, or $0.67 per diluted share. Fiscal 2004 net income includes $2.2 million in pre-tax expenses, or $0.13 per diluted share, associated with the consolidation of operations. Fiscal 2003 net income included the effect of a change in accounting principle of $510,000 for the adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.” Excluding the effect of a change in accounting principle, net income from continuing operations for fiscal year 2003 was $7.6 million, or $0.71 per diluted share.

         For fiscal 2004 Electrical Power Products recorded revenues of $173.5 million compared to $227.0 million in fiscal 2003. Loss from continuing operations before income taxes for Electrical Power Products was $87,000 versus income of $12.5 million in fiscal 2003 and includes pre-tax consolidation costs of $2.2 million.

         Process Control Systems revenues for fiscal 2004 were $32.7 million compared to $26.4 million last year. Income from continuing operations before income taxes for Process Control Systems totaled $1.1 million versus $1.4 million a year ago.


OUTLOOK

         The following statements are based on the current expectations of the company. These statements are forward-looking and actual results may differ materially as further elaborated in the last paragraph below.

         Based on current booking trends, Powell Industries expects fiscal 2005 first quarter earnings to range between $0.01 and $0.06 per diluted share, which will include pre-tax expenses of approximately $300,000 to $400,000 to complete the consolidation of operations. Full year 2005 earnings are expected to range between $0.45 and $0.60 per diluted share, which will include approximately $400,000 to $500,000 of pre-tax expenses for consolidation of operations. Fiscal 2005 revenue is expected to range between $215 million and $230 million. Due to the prospect of strong business conditions in fiscal 2005, the company expects to have a use of free cash flow of between $5 million and $10 million for the full year.


CONFERENCE CALL

        Powell Industries has scheduled a conference call for Wednesday, December 15, 2004, at 11:00 a.m. eastern time. To participate in the conference call, dial (303) 262-2140 at least 10 minutes before the call begins and ask for the Powell Industries conference call. A replay of the call will be available approximately two hours after the live broadcast ends and will be accessible until December 22, 2004. To access the replay, dial (303) 590-3000 using a passcode of 11015975.

        Investors, analysts and the general public will also have the opportunity to listen to the conference call over the Internet by visiting http://www.powellind.com. To listen to the live call on the web, please visit the website at least fifteen minutes before the call begins to register, download and install any necessary audio software. For those who cannot listen to the live webcast, an archive will be available shortly after the call and will remain available for approximately 30 days at http://www.powellind.com.

         Powell Industries, Inc., headquartered in Houston, TX, designs, manufactures and services equipment and systems for the management and control of electrical energy and other critical processes. Powell provides products and services to the transportation, environmental, industrial and utility industries. For more information, please visit www.powellind.com.


Any forward-looking statements in the preceding paragraphs of this release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainty in that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. In the course of operations, we are subject to certain risk factors, including but not limited to competition and competitive pressures, sensitivity to general economic and industrial conditions, international political and economic risks, availability and price of raw materials and execution of business strategy. For further information, please refer to the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, copies of which are available from the Company without charge.


– Tables to follow –




POWELL INDUSTRIES, INC. & SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS


Three Months Ended
October 31,
Years Ended
October 31,
     2004           2003           2004           2003     
(Unaudited) (Unaudited)
(In thousands, except per share data)

Revenues     $ 48,634   $ 57,218   $ 206,142   $ 253,381  
Cost of goods sold    40,456    45,223    170,473    204,415  




Gross profit    8,178    11,995    35,669    48,966  
Selling, general and administrative expenses    9,860    8,481    35,434    35,297  




Income (loss) before interest and income taxes    (1,682 )  3,514    235    13,669  
Interest expense    29    58    136    403  
Interest income    (279 )  (191 )  (880 )  (578 )




Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and   
  cumulative effect of change in accounting principle    (1,432 )  3,647    979    13,844  
Income tax provision (benefit)    (994 )  2,407    (427 )  6,216  

Minority Interest
    (23 )  --    (23 )   --  




Income (loss) from continuing operations before cumulative effect   
  of change in accounting principle   $ (415 ) $ 1,240   $ 1,429   $ 7,628  
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of tax   $ --   $ --   $ --   $ (510 )




Net income (loss)   $ (415 ) $ 1,240   $ 1,429   $ 7,118  





Net earnings per common share:
  

Basic:
  
  Earnings (loss) from continuing operations   $ (0.04 ) $ 0.12   $ 0.13   $ 0.72  
  Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle    --    --    --    (0.05 )




  Net earnings (loss)   $ (0.04 ) $ 0.12   $ 0.13   $ 0.67  




Diluted:  
  Earnings (loss) from continuing operations   $ (0.04 ) $ 0.12   $ 0.13   $ 0.71  
  Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle    --    --    --    (0.04 )




  Net earnings (loss)   $ (0.04 ) $ 0.12   $ 0.13   $ 0.67  








Weighted average number of common shares outstanding    10,723    10,626    10,688    10,591  




Weighted average number of common and common equivalent   
  shares outstanding    10,723    10,744    10,774    10,681  




SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA:

  
Capital Expenditures   $ 1,552   $ 1,151   $ 6,472   $ 4,541  




Depreciation and amortization   $ 1,073   $ 1,375   $ 4,469   $ 5,155  







POWELL INDUSTRIES, INC. & SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS


October 31,
     2004     
October 31,
     2003     
(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

Assets:

           
     Current assets   $ 145,414   $ 141,313  

     Property, plant and equipment (net)

    
45,239

   
43,998

 
     Other assets    5,556    5,029  


         Total assets   $ 196,209   $ 190,340  



Liabilities & stockholders’ equity:

  
     Current liabilities   $ 46,245   $ 44,424  

     Long-term debt and capital lease obligations, net of current maturities

    
6,626

   
6,891

 
     Deferred and other long-term liabilities    3,222    2,421  

     Stockholders’ equity and minority interest
    
140,116
   
136,604
 


         Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity   $ 196,209   $ 190,340  





POWELL INDUSTRIES, INC. & SUBSIDIARIES
BUSINESS SEGMENTS


Three Months Ended
October 31,
Years Ended
October 31,
     2004           2003           2004           2003     
(In thousands) (Unaudited) (Unaudited)

Revenues:
                   
           Electrical Power Products   $ 40,048   $ 50,235   $ 173,456   $ 227,012  
           Process Control Systems    8,586    6,983    32,686    26,369  




           Total revenues   $ 48,634   $ 57,218   $ 206,142   $ 253,381  





Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and
  
 cumulative effect of change in accounting principle:

  
           Electrical Power Products   $ (1,473 ) $ 3,124   $ (87 ) $ 12,491  
           Process Control Systems    41    523    1,066    1,353  




  Total income (loss) from continuing operations before income   
  taxes and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle   $ (1,432 ) $ 3,647   $ 979   $ 13,844  








October 31,
     2004     
October 31,
     2003     
(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

Identifiable Tangible Assets:

           
            Electrical Power Products   $ 114,374   $ 127,266  
            Process Control Systems    11,889    14,269  
            Corporate    69,270    48,140  


            Total identifiable tangible assets   $ 195,533   $ 189,675  



Backlog:

  
            Electrical Power Products   $ 89,491   $ 96,986  
            Process Control Systems    44,763    60,473  


            Total backlog   $ 134,254   $ 157,459