Optical Cable Corporation (Nasdaq GM: OCC) announced financial results for its second quarter ended April 30, 2016.

Second Quarter 2016 Financial Results

Consolidated net sales for the second quarter of fiscal year 2016 were $16.3 million, down 12.5%, compared to net sales of $18.7 million for the second quarter of fiscal year 2015. Sequentially, net sales increased 16.3% in the second quarter of fiscal 2016, compared to net sales of $14.0 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2016.

Net sales for the second quarter of fiscal year 2016 were negatively impacted by a decrease in demand in certain industry market segments, including oil & gas and mining specialty markets, as well as the wireless carrier market, when compared to the same period last year. The strong U.S. dollar also impacted sales outside of the U.S. during the second quarter of fiscal year 2016.

Gross profit was $4.6 million in the second quarter of fiscal year 2016, compared to $5.7 million in the second quarter of fiscal year 2015. Sequentially, gross profit increased 29.9% in the second quarter, compared to the first quarter of fiscal year 2016.

Gross profit margin, or gross profit as a percentage of net sales, was 27.9% in the second quarter of fiscal year 2016, compared to 30.4% in the second quarter of fiscal year 2015, and compared to 24.9% in the first quarter of fiscal year 2016.

SG&A expenses decreased 17.3% to $5.4 million for the second quarter of fiscal year 2016 from $6.5 million for the second quarter of fiscal year 2015. The decrease in SG&A expenses during the second quarter of fiscal 2016 compared to the same period last year was the result of targeted cost reduction efforts across all expense categories.

OCC recorded a net loss attributable to the Company of $983,000, or $0.15 per basic and diluted share, for the second quarter of fiscal year 2016, compared to a net loss attributable to the Company of $490,000, or $0.08per basic and diluted share, for the second quarter of fiscal year 2015. Bottom line results were negatively impacted by an increase of $421,000 in income tax expense in the second quarter of fiscal year 2016, compared to the second quarter of fiscal year 2015.

Fiscal Year-to-Date 2016 Financial Results

Consolidated net sales for the first half of fiscal year 2016 were $30.4 million, a decrease of 15.7% compared to net sales of $36.0 million for the same period in fiscal year 2015. The Company experienced a decrease in net sales in both its enterprise and specialty markets in the first half of fiscal year 2016, compared to the same period last year.

Gross profit was $8.1 million in the first half of fiscal year 2016, compared to $11.1 million in the first half of fiscal 2015. Gross profit margin was 26.5% in the first half of fiscal year 2016, compared to 30.7% in the first half of fiscal year 2015. Gross profit margin for the first half of fiscal 2016 was impacted primarily by lower sales volumes overall and by the sale of certain lower margin products.

OCC recorded a net loss attributable to the Company of $2.7 million, or $0.43 per basic and diluted share, for the first half of fiscal year 2016, compared to a net loss of $718,000, or $0.12 per basic and diluted share, for the same period last year. Results for the first half of fiscal year 2016 were impacted by an increase of$690,000 in income tax expense, compared to the first half of fiscal year 2015.

Management's Comments

Neil Wilkin, President and Chief Executive Officer of OCC, said, "During the second quarter, we achieved improved net sales, gross profit and gross profit margins compared to our first quarter of the fiscal year, while controlling SG&A costs. Throughout the first half of 2016, we experienced increased weakness and pricing pressures in certain of our markets consistent with ongoing macroeconomic and market conditions. Our results in the second quarter demonstrate our improved sales efforts, as well as our targeted cost reduction efforts, despite these headwinds. Looking ahead, we intend to build on our positive momentum in the second half of the year by continuing to successfully execute on our strategies to drive growth and enhance shareholder value."

Company Information

Optical Cable Corporation ("OCC®") is a leading manufacturer of a comprehensive range of top-tier fiber optic and copper communication cabling and connectivity products and solutions—primarily for the enterprise market, various harsh environment and specialty markets, and the wireless carrier market.

OCC® is internationally recognized for pioneering innovative fiber optic and copper communications technologies, including fiber optic cable designs for the most demanding environments and applications, copper connectivity designs to meet the highest data communication industry standards, as well as a broad product offering built on the evolution of these fundamental technologies.

OCC uses its expertise to deliver cabling and connectivity products and integrated solutions that are best suited to the performance requirements of each end-user's application. And, OCC's solutions offerings cover a broad range of applications—from commercial, enterprise network, datacenter, residential and campus installations to customized products for specialty applications and harsh environments, including military, industrial, mining, petrochemical and broadcast applications, as well as for the wireless carrier market.

Founded in 1983, OCC is headquartered in Roanoke, Virginia with offices, manufacturing and warehouse facilities located in Roanoke, Virginia, near Asheville, North Carolina and near Dallas, Texas. OCC's facilities are ISO 9001:2008 registered and OCC's Roanoke and Dallas facilities are MIL-STD-790F certified.

Optical Cable Corporation™, OCC®, Procyon®, Procyon Blade™, Superior Modular Products™, SMP Data Communications™, Applied Optical Systems™, and associated logos are trademarks of Optical Cable Corporation.

Further information about OCC® is available at www.occfiber.com.