Strattec Transformation Continues to Deliver Strong Cash Generation; Generated $10.8 Million in Cash from Operations in First Quarter Fiscal 2027

MILWAUKEE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Strattec (Nasdaq: STRT), a global provider of highly engineered access solutions for the automotive and mobility industries, today reported financial results for its first quarter of fiscal 2027, which ended September 27, 2026.

Jennifer Slater, President and CEO of Strattec, said, “Our first quarter financial results demonstrate the impact of our transformation efforts, which enabled us to achieve a 9.2% adjusted EBITDA margin on $147.2 million in net sales. We continue to improve our cost structure through targeted operational initiatives. During the quarter, we took actions in our Mexico operations that are expected to generate $1.3 million in annualized savings. We believe there remain meaningful opportunities to reduce costs through supply chain improvements and automation which we expect to support margin improvement and strengthen our competitive position.”

She added, “Importantly, the strength of our balance sheet provides us the flexibility to invest in our business while also returning capital to shareholders and pursuing strategic growth opportunities. We have an active acquisition funnel that we believe could advance our long-term strategy. Concurrently, we have remained focused on improving the performance of our operations and driving transformational change.”

FY 2027 First Quarter Financial Summary

(compared with prior-year period, except where otherwise noted)

Net sales were $147.2 million, a decrease of $5.2 million, or 3%. Pricing of $1.0 million somewhat offset the $6.2 million impact of lower customer production volumes.

Gross profit was $24.3 million, compared with $26.3 million in the prior-year period, and gross margin contracted 80 basis points to 16.5%. Pricing, $0.9 million in restructuring savings, lower overhead costs and better mix were more than offset by the impact of lower volume, elevated premium freight and annual labor cost increases. Unfavorable foreign currency exchange rates of $1.4 million had a 90 basis point negative impact to gross margin. Sequentially, gross margin improved from 15.6% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026 to 16.5% in the first quarter, on lower sales demonstrating continued progress with the transformation.

Selling, administrative and engineering (“SAE”) expenses were $17.9 million, or 12.2% of sales, compared with $15.9 million, or 10.4% of sales, in the prior-year period. The increase was due to $2.4 million in business development expenses. Excluding business development, business transformation and executive transition costs, adjusted SAE¹ was $15.0 million, or 10.2% of sales, in line with the Company’s target of SAE being 10% to 11% of sales.

Interest income increased $0.1 million to $1.0 million on higher cash balances, while interest expense declined $0.1 million as the Company had no outstanding bank borrowings. Other expense, net was $0.2 million, compared with $0.3 million in the prior-year period.

The effective tax rate was 26.2%, compared with 21.6% in the prior-year period. The higher effective tax rate primarily reflects discrete tax items. Net income attributable to non-controlling interest was $0.5 million, compared with less than $0.1 million in the prior-year period.

Net income attributable to Strattec was $4.8 million, or $1.19 per diluted share, compared with $8.5 million, or $2.07 per diluted share, in the prior-year period. On an adjusted basis, first quarter fiscal 2027 net income attributable to Strattec was $7.5 million, or $1.85 per diluted share, compared with $9.2 million, or $2.22 per diluted share, in the prior-year period. Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $13.5 million, or 9.2% of net sales, compared with $15.6 million, or 10.2% of net sales, in the prior-year period.

Business Development Efforts

The Company maintains an active acquisition funnel of strategic opportunities designed to diversify its customers and geographies, increase the scale of its operations and enhance its product offerings within Permission, Motion and Hold. During the first quarter of fiscal 2027, the Company incurred $2.4 million of business development expenses, primarily related to advancing and evaluating these inorganic growth opportunities. Additional acquisition-related expenses may be incurred in subsequent periods, with the amount and timing dependent on the progress of acquisition activities.

Financial Flexibility with Strong Balance Sheet

Cash provided by operating activities was $10.8 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2027, compared with $11.3 million in the prior-year period. During the quarter, the Company repurchased 67,904 shares of common stock for $5.0 million, leaving $35.0 million remaining available under the Company’s share repurchase authorization.

At September 27, 2026, the Company had $111.8 million in cash and cash equivalents and no debt, compared with $108.2 million in cash and cash equivalents at the end of fiscal 2026 and $90.5 million at the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2026.

First Quarter Fiscal 2027 Webcast and Conference Call

Strattec will host a conference call and webcast tomorrow, Friday, October 30, 2026, at 8:00 am Central Time/9:00 am Eastern Time, to review the financial and operating results for the period ended September 27, 2026, and provide an update on its transformation progress. A question-and-answer session will follow.

You can access the call by phoning +1 (201) 689-8470 or find the webcast and accompanying slide presentation at investors.strattec.com.

A telephonic replay will be available from approximately 12:00 pm CT on the day of the call through Friday, November 13, 2026. To listen to the archived call, dial +1 (412) 317-6671 and enter replay PIN 13762673. The webcast replay will be available on the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at investors.strattec.com, where a transcript will be posted once available.

About Strattec

Strattec is a global automotive access company that designs and delivers safe, secure, and highly engineered access solutions for the automotive and mobility industries. Built on generations of access and security engineering expertise, Strattec partners closely with OEMs to create differentiated, system‑level access experiences for end consumers. Strattec’s portfolio spans the access journey from Permission, enabling secure vehicle entry through advanced mechanical and electronic systems; to Motion, delivering effortless, reliable powered access that enhances everyday usability; and through to Hold, providing precision‑engineered latching solutions that give drivers confidence through proven strength, safety, and durability trusted by OEMs worldwide.

As access becomes increasingly intelligent, connected, and central to vehicle experience, Strattec’s strategy is to expand its market share, further diversify its customers and geographic reach while becoming the most trusted access partner to drive long‑term growth across global automotive and mobility markets. For more information, visit www.strattec.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

Certain statements contained in this release contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking words or phrases such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “planned,” “potential,” “should,” “will,” and “would.” Such forward-looking statements are inherently subject to many uncertainties in the Company’s operations and business environment. These uncertainties include general economic conditions, in particular, relating to the automotive industry, consumer demand for the Company’s and its customers’ products, competitive and technological developments, customer purchasing actions, changes in warranty provisions and customer product recall policies, work stoppages at the Company or at the location of its key customers as a result of labor disputes, foreign currency fluctuations, uncertainties stemming from U.S. trade policies, tariffs and reactions to the same from foreign countries, matters adversely impacting the timing and availability of component parts and raw materials needed for the production of the Company’s products and the products of its customers and fluctuations in costs of operation, the Company’s ability to identify, evaluate, negotiate and complete acquisitions or other strategic transactions on acceptable terms or at all, the costs incurred in pursuing such transactions, and the Company’s ability to integrate any acquired business and realize any potential benefits should a transaction occur. Shareholders, potential investors and other readers are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Such uncertainties and other operational matters are discussed further in the Company’s quarterly and annual filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements made herein are only made as of the date of this press release and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances occurring after the date of this release.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Metrics and Additional Financial Information

In addition to reporting financial results in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, Strattec provides Adjusted Non-GAAP information as additional information for its operating results. References to Adjusted Non-GAAP information are to non-GAAP financial measures. These measures are not required by, in accordance with, or an alternative for, GAAP and may be different from similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. Strattec’s management uses these measures to make strategic decisions, establish budget plans and forecasts, identify trends affecting Strattec’s business, and evaluate performance. Management believes that providing these non-GAAP financial measures to investors, as a supplement to GAAP financial measures, will help investors evaluate Strattec’s core operating and financial performance and business trends consistent with how management evaluates such performance and trends. Investors are encouraged to review the related GAAP financial measures and the reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.

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