Image: Manhattan Associates.
It's hard to appreciate the logistical challenges involved in bringing goods to market. With the help of Manhattan Associates (MANH 2.10%), many companies are able to handle their supply chains much more effectively, and companies ranging from athletic apparel giant Under Armour (UA 17.00%) to much smaller retailers use Manhattan Associates' products to perform these critical functions more efficiently.
Coming into Manhattan Associates' first-quarter financial report on Tuesday, investors had hoped that the company would continue its record-setting ways, but even they were surprised by the extent to which its results exceeded expectations. Let's look more closely at the latest results from Manhattan Associates and what they indicate about the supply chain specialist's future.
Manhattan Associates posts another record quarter
Investors have gotten spoiled by Manhattan Associates' long run of records, which continued in the first quarter. Revenue climbed 12% to $149.9 million, setting another new record and easily topping the $145 million consensus forecast by analysts. Net income rose 18% to $27.5 million, and after adjusting for equity-based compensation, adjusted earnings of $0.42 per share weighed in $0.03 better than most investors had expected.
Looking more closely at Manhattan Associates' results, you can see facets that are similar to previous quarters. Its services segment led the way higher, providing a 15% boost to revenue and making up more than three-quarters of overall sales. Software licensing revenue rose at a more modest pace of 7%, and hardware-related revenue actually declined slightly from year-ago levels.
As in past quarters, Manhattan Associates found the most success within its home territory in the Americas, where revenue posted a 17% increase and adjusted operating income climbed 27%. Business in the Asia-Pacific region was more sluggish, with minimal gains in sales and income, and the Europe/Middle East/Africa segment posted double-digit percentage declines on its top and bottom lines.
The pace of new big-ticket customers coming to Manhattan Associates fell slightly, with just three new relationships bringing in licensing revenue of $1 million or more. However, the company had several software licensing wins with new customers, and existing relationships with Under Armour and two dozen other companies showed the breadth of the appeal of Manhattan Associates supply chain tracking platform.
CEO Eddie Capel once again celebrated the company's progress. "We posted record financial results," he said, "and our competitive win rates remain strong as our associates continue to execute very well serving our customers." He also noted that investments in the omnichannel area should continue to produce more growth in 2016 and beyond.
What's ahead for Manhattan Associates?
Manhattan Associates sees itself as well-positioned to grow in line with expectations, and its guidance highlighted its commitment to growth. The company's new full-year 2016 revenue range rose to between $615 million and $620 million, corresponding to growth of 10.5% to 11.5% for the year, up a percentage point from last quarter's projections. Manhattan Associates also added $0.04 per share to its adjusted earnings range and is now calling for between $1.73 and $1.76 per share in adjusted earnings for 2016.
Under Armour has played a big role in demonstrating Manhattan Associates' ability to help companies grow. The supply chain manager has used Under Armour as a case study, pointing to the implementation of its warehouse management, extended enterprise management, and slotting optimization solutions. In the face of extremely fast growth, Under Armour had to find ways to provide enhanced automated capabilities to its workforce, and replace its older systems for managing its warehouses. Because it was using Manhattan's platform, Under Armour has been more comfortable making commitments to purchasers and customers, and both companies hope that this profitable collaboration will continue.
Manhattan Associates shareholders were quite pleased with the results, as the stock jumped 7% in the first hour of after-market trading following the announcement. As long as it can keep demonstrating its value to existing and future customers, Manhattan Associates will have a chance to keep climbing.
