FORD Forward Industries Inc

 Forward Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ:FORD), a single source solution provider for the full spectrum of hardware and software product design and engineering services as well as a designer and distributor of carry and protective solutions, today announced financial results for its first quarter ended December 31, 2021.

First Quarter Fiscal 2022 Financial Highlights

• Revenues were $11.6 million, an increase of 19.6% from $9.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2020.
• Gross margin declined to 22.5% compared to 23.3% for the three months ended December 31, 2020.
• Operating income increased by $0.4 million, to $0.2 million, compared to a loss from operations of $0.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2020.
• Net income was $0.2 million compared to $1.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2020 (which, for 2020, included a $1.4 million gain as a result of the forgiveness of a PPP loan).
• Basic and diluted earnings per share was $0.02 compared to $0.12 for the three months ended December 31, 2020.
• Cash balance of $2.4 million at December 31, 2021 as compared to $1.4 million at September 30, 2021.

Terry Wise, Chief Executive Officer of Forward Industries, stated, “We began our 2022 fiscal year profitably. The resilient performance of the business, despite ongoing challenging market conditions, reflects the successful execution of our strategy. The design division continues to show solid growth and is underpinned by a strong pipeline of projects.  Sales within our retail division are steadily growing at a relatively competitive gross margin in a sector significantly impacted by exorbitant freight and shipping costs. Finally, within the OEM distribution sector, we are actively pursuing opportunities outside the declining diabetic sector. Based on this promising first quarter performance, I remain cautiously optimistic of a strong fiscal year.”

The tables below are derived from the Company’s consolidated financial statements included in its Form 10-Q filed on February 10, 2022 with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Please refer to the Form 10-Q for complete financial statements and further information regarding the Company’s results of operations and financial condition relating to the fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2021 and 2020. Please also refer to the Company’s Form 10-K for a discussion of risk factors applicable to the Company and its business. 

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 including statements regarding our pipeline of work and projects, growth in sales for our retail business, and growth in our design division. Forward has tried to identify these forward-looking statements by using words such as “may”, “should,” “expect,” “hope,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to the Company and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause its actual results, performance, prospects or opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. These risks include the inability to expand our customer base, pricing pressures, lack of success of our sales people, failure to develop products at a profit, failure to commercialize products that we develop, continued supply chain issues, inability of our design division’s customers to pay for our services, unanticipated issues with our affiliated sourcing agent, issues at Chinese factories that we source our products as a result of the pandemic or otherwise, and failure to obtain acceptance of our products by big box retail stores. No assurance can be given that the actual results will be consistent with the forward-looking statements. Investors should read carefully the factors described in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s filings with the SEC, including the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2021 for information regarding risk factors that could affect the Company’s results. Except as otherwise required by Federal securities laws, Forward undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or any other reason.

About Forward Industries

Forward is a fully integrated design, development and manufacturing solution provider to top tier medical and technology customers worldwide. Through its acquisitions of Intelligent Product Solutions, Inc. and Kablooe Design, Inc., the Company has expanded its ability to design and develop solutions for its existing multinational client base and expand beyond the diabetic product line into a variety of industries with a full spectrum of hardware and software product design and engineering services. In addition to our existing design and distribution of carry and protective solutions, primarily for handheld electronic devices, we are now a one-stop shop for design development and manufacturing solutions serving a wide range of clients in the industrial, commercial, medical and consumer industries.

For more information, contact:         Anthony Camarda, CFO, Forward Industries, Inc.                (631) 547-3041, acamarda@forwardindustries.com

FORWARD INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
				December 31,				September 30,
					2021				2021
Assets				(Unaudited)
Current assets:
	Cash			$	2,432,225			$	1,410,365
	Accounts receivable, net				8,788,041				8,760,715
	Inventories, net				2,972,134				2,062,557
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets				630,649				561,072
			Total current assets		14,823,049				12,794,709
Property and equipment, net					213,826				167,997
Intangible assets, net					1,265,469				1,318,658
Goodwill					1,758,682				1,758,682
Operating lease right of use assets, net					3,844,425				3,743,242
Other assets					72,251				72,251
			Total assets	$	21,977,702			$	19,855,539
Liabilities and shareholders' equity
Current liabilities:
	Note payable to Forward China			$	1,550,000			$	-
	Accounts payable				307,508				391,992
	Due to Forward China				6,961,599				5,733,708
	Deferred income				752,878				187,695
	Current portion of earnout consideration				25,000				25,000
	Current portion of operating lease liability				334,126				340,151
	Accrued expenses and other current liabilities				662,519				529,497
			Total current liabilities		10,593,630				7,208,043
Other liabilities:
	Note payable to Forward China				-				1,600,000
	Operating lease liability, less current portion				3,676,805				3,559,053
	Earnout consideration, less current portion				45,000				45,000
		Total other liabilities			3,721,805				5,204,053
			Total liabilities		14,315,435				12,412,096
Commitments and contingencies
Shareholders' equity:
	Common stock, par value $0.01 per share; 40,000,000 shares authorized;
		10,061,185 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2021
		and September 30, 2021			100,612				100,612
	Additional paid-in capital				19,953,276				19,914,476
	Accumulated deficit				(12,391,621	)			(12,571,645	)
			Total shareholders' equity		7,662,267				7,443,443
			Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$	21,977,702			$	19,855,539

FORWARD INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(UNAUDITED)
	For the Three Months Ended December 31,
		2021			2020
Revenues, net	$	11,613,741		$	9,717,603
Cost of sales		8,994,973			7,454,717
Gross profit		2,618,768			2,262,886
Sales and marketing expenses		737,677			602,961
General and administrative expenses		1,666,877			1,827,418
Income/(loss) from operations		214,214			(167,493	)
Gain on forgiveness of note payable		-			(1,356,570	)
Fair value adjustment of earn-out consideration		-			(30,000	)
Interest income		-			(22,747	)
Interest expense		32,828			46,392
Other expense/(income), net		1,362			(3,604	)
Income before income taxes		180,024			1,199,036
Provision for income taxes		-			-
Net income	$	180,024		$	1,199,036
Earnings per share:
Basic	$	0.02		$	0.12
Diluted	$	0.02		$	0.12
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic		10,061,185			9,885,563
Diluted		10,337,113			10,039,799