STRATTEC SECURITY CORP

Previous wording

Volatility in the North American automotive industry is driven by supply chain disruptions, global inflation, thinning labor availability, rising global commodity costs and a changing global trade and geopolitical climate. These macro conditions, coupled with changes in production volumes by OEMs in response to new vehicle consumer demand impact our sales and profitability levels. Lower near term North American light vehicle production estimates, which are subject to change, are a result of recent industry-wide supply chain disruptions, tariff uncertainties, and availability of raw materials including rare earth minerals. As we look forward and navigate these macroeconomic challenges and fluctuating OEM production volumes, we are focused on executing new initiatives to improve our cost structure, continuing to mitigate the impact of incremental tariff costs, driving cash flow through improved working capital utilization and securing new platforms to solidify future sales growth.

Current wording

Volatility in the North American automotive industry is driven by supply chain disruptions, global inflation, thinning labor availability, rising global commodity costs and a changing global trade and geopolitical climate. These macro conditions, coupled with changes in production volumes by OEMs in response to new vehicle consumer demand, impact our sales and profitability levels. An evolving tariff landscape, combined with heightened geopolitical instability in certain global regions has further disrupted supply chains and has added complexity to production and cost planning across the industry. Lower near term North American light vehicle production estimates, which are subject to change, reflect these dynamics in addition to continued industry-wide supply chain disruptions and availability of raw materials including rare earth minerals. As we look forward and navigate these macroeconomic challenges and fluctuating OEM production volumes, we are focused on executing new initiatives to improve our cost structure, continuing to mitigate the impact of incremental tariff costs, driving cash flow through improved working capital utilization and securing new platforms to solidify future sales growth.

Previous wording

Three months ended December 28, 2025 (second quarter fiscal 2026) compared with the three months ended December 29, 2024 (second quarter fiscal 2025)

Current wording

Three months ended March 29, 2026 (third quarter fiscal 2026) compared with the three months ended March 30, 2025 (third quarter fiscal 2025)

Previous wording

Interest income increased $0.5 million due to increased levels of cash and cash equivalents, which are invested in overnight money market funds. Interest expense decreased $0.2 million, the result of the continued paydown of amounts outstanding under revolving credit agreements.

Current wording

Interest income increased $0.4 million due to increased levels of cash and cash equivalents, which are invested in overnight money market funds. Interest expense decreased $0.2 million, the result of a continued reduction in the average amounts outstanding under revolving credit agreements.

Previous wording

Other income (expense) was $1.7 million of income in the current period compared to $0.5 million of expense in the prior year. Changes in other income (expense), reflect foreign currency transaction gains and losses, changes in the fair value of peso forward contracts and non-service post-employment costs.

Current wording

Other income (expense) was $0.7 million of expense in the current period. Changes in other income (expense) reflect foreign currency transaction gains and losses, unrealized mark-to-market gains and losses on foreign currency forward contracts, and non-service post-employment costs.

Previous wording

The effective income tax rate was 23.1% and 22.4% for the second quarter of fiscal 2026 and 2025, respectively. The effective tax rate for each period presented differs from the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21% primarily due to the accrual of foreign income taxes, which are generally higher than the U.S. federal statutory rate, partially offset by the recognition of U.S. research and development tax credits and discrete income tax benefits associated with share-based payments.

Current wording

The effective income tax rate was 25.1% and 22.4% for the third quarter of fiscal 2026 and 2025, respectively. The effective tax rate for each period presented differs from the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21% primarily due to the accrual of foreign income taxes, which are generally higher than the U.S. federal statutory rate, partially offset by the recognition of U.S. research and development tax credits and discrete income tax benefits associated with share-based payments. The effective tax rate for the third quarter of fiscal 2026 increased primarily due to a shift in the geographic mix of earnings toward higher-tax jurisdictions.

Previous wording

Year-to-date net sales totaled $289.9 million, representing an increase of $21.0 million, or 8%, in the comparable prior year period. The year-over-year increase in net sales was primarily driven by $8.3 million of pricing (including $1.9 million of customer recoveries for tariffs), $5.6 million of higher demand, $4.4 million in net new program launches and $2.6 million of favorable mix and content per vehicle.

Current wording

Year-to-date net sales totaled $427.6 million, representing an increase of $14.5 million, or 4%, compared to the prior year period. The year-over-year increase in net sales was primarily driven by $9.5 million of pricing (including $2.6 million of customer recoveries for tariffs), and a $5 million increase in shipment volumes. Sales volumes reflected a $4.6 million increase on existing platforms and $3.8 million of net new program launches, which were partially offset as sales associated with cancelled EV programs declined $3.4 million compared to the prior‑year period.

Previous wording

Year-to-date gross profit was $49.1 million, compared with $36.1 million in the comparable prior year period. Despite unfavorable changes in foreign currency exchange rates of $2.1 million and incremental tariff costs of $1.9 million, gross profit margin improved year-over-year from 13.4% to 16.9%, a 350 basis point improvement. Material costs increased $9.7 million on higher production levels while labor and overhead costs decreased $1.8 million. Lower year-over-year conversion costs on higher sales reflect our focused efforts to manage our cost structure, which includes a $3.0 million labor cost benefit from completed restructuring actions. Annual merit increases of $2.3 million and incremental freight & logistics costs of $0.4 million (due to supply chain disruptions) were offset by reduced aftermarket royalty costs on reduced demand and a $0.5 million lower provision for annual bonuses.

Current wording

Year-to-date gross profit was $71.7 million, compared with $59.2 million in the comparable prior year period. Despite unfavorable changes in foreign currency exchange rates of $4.6 million and incremental tariff costs of $1.9 million, gross profit margin improved year-over-year from 14.3% to 16.8%, a 240 basis point improvement. Material costs increased $4.9 million on higher production levels while labor and overhead costs decreased $2.9 million. Lower year-over-year conversion costs on higher sales reflect our focused efforts to manage our cost structure, which includes a $4.6 million labor cost benefit from completed restructuring actions.

Previous wording

Selling, administrative, and engineering expenses were 11.6% of sales for the six months ended December 28, 2025, compared with 10.7% in the prior year period. Year-to-date expenses were $33.7 million, a $4.9 million increase year-over-year. The increase in costs reflects efforts to improve our cost structure including one-time restructuring and voluntary retirement costs of $1.3 million ($0.3 million in the prior year period) and $1.0 million of business transformation costs ($0.2 million in the prior year period). Higher incentive compensation cost of $0.7 million and $1.6 million associated with headcount additions were partially offset by reduced executive transition costs of $1.6 million.

Current wording

Selling, administrative, and engineering expenses were 12.0% of sales for the nine months ended March 29, 2026, compared with 10.9% in the prior year period. Year-to-date expenses were $51.4 million, a $6.5 million increase year-over-year. The increase in costs reflects $3.0 million associated with headcount additions and higher incentive compensation costs $0.5 million, $2.5 million of business transformation costs ($0.5 million in the prior year period), and efforts to improve our cost structure including restructuring and voluntary retirement costs of $1.7 million ($1.1 million in the prior year period). These increases were partially offset by reduced executive transition costs of $1.4 million.

Previous wording

Interest income increased $1.0 million due to increased levels of cash and cash equivalents, which are invested in overnight money market funds. Interest expense decreased $0.3 million, the result of the repayment of amounts outstanding under revolving credit agreements.

Current wording

Interest income increased $1.4 million due to increased levels of cash and cash equivalents, which are invested in overnight money market funds. Interest expense decreased $0.5 million, the result of a continued reduction in the average amounts outstanding under revolving credit agreements.

Previous wording

Other income (expense) was $1.4 million of income in the current period compared to $0.4 million of expense in the prior year. Changes in other income (expense), reflect foreign currency transaction gains and losses, changes in the fair value of peso forward contracts and non-service post-employment costs.

Current wording

Other income (expense) was $0.7 million of income in the current period. Changes in other income (expense) reflect foreign currency transaction gains and losses, unrealized mark-to-market gains and losses on foreign currency forward contracts, and non-service post-employment costs.

Previous wording

The effective income tax rate was 22.2% and 27.0% for the year-to-date period of fiscal 2026 and 2025, respectively. The higher effective tax rate in the prior year period was impacted by the foreign tax rate differential and a limitation on the utilization of our foreign tax credits on non-deductible items.

Current wording

The effective income tax rate was 22.9% and 24.0% for the year-to-date period of fiscal 2026 and 2025, respectively. The change in the effective rate between period was primarily impacted by earnings mix and the foreign tax rate differential.

Previous wording

At December 28, 2025, we had $99.0 million of cash and cash equivalents, of which $3.6 million was held by our foreign subsidiaries. Excess cash is held in money market funds. The following table summarizes our cash flows provided by (used in) operating, investing and financing activities (in millions):

Current wording

At March 29, 2026, we had $107.0 million of cash and cash equivalents, of which $5.3 million was held by foreign subsidiaries. Excess cash is held in money market funds. The following table summarizes our cash flows provided by (used in) operating, investing and financing activities (in millions):

Previous wording

Cash flow from operations was $25.2 million, and increase of $4.4 million compared with the prior year. Cash provided by operating activities for the year-to-date period of fiscal 2026 reflects cash earnings against flat operating assets and liabilities. Year-to-date cash flow from operations in both periods reflects the payment of annual short-term incentive compensation earned in the prior year and a replenishment of our inventory balance partially offset by the collection of receivables. Cash used in investing activities, which includes capital expenditures to support customer programs and modernization of equipment was $3.9 million year-to-date compared with $3.0 million in the prior year period. Current year net cash used in financing activities resulted from the repayment of $5.5 million under the joint venture revolving credit agreement during fiscal 2026 and the payment of $1.3 million for taxes withheld related to the vesting of share-based awards.

Current wording

Cash flow from operations was $36.7 million, a decrease of $4.8 million compared with the prior year. Current year-to-date cash from operations reflects improved cash earnings, while the prior year period benefited from a $17 million reduction in operating assets and liability, including the benefit of extending vendor accounts payable. Cash used in investing activities, which includes capital expenditures to support customer programs and modernization of equipment was $5.7 million year-to-date compared with $4.2 million in the prior year period. Current year cash used in financing activities resulted from the repayment of $7.0 million under the joint venture revolving credit agreement and the payment of $1.4 million for taxes withheld related to the vesting of share-based awards.

Previous wording

At December 28, 2025, no borrowings were outstanding under the $40.0 million Amended & Restated Credit Agreement and $2.5 million was outstanding under the $18.0 million joint venture revolving credit agreement. The Company was in compliance with all covenants under its credit facilities at December 28, 2025.

Current wording

At March 29, 2026, no borrowings were outstanding under the $40.0 million Amended & Restated Credit Agreement and $1.0 million was outstanding under the $18.0 million joint venture revolving credit agreement.

Previous wording

We believe that the revolving credit lines, combined with our existing cash and anticipated operating cash flows will be adequate to meet operating, debt service and capital expenditure funding requirements in both the short term and beyond.

Current wording

We believe that the revolving credit lines, combined with our existing cash and anticipated operating cash flows will be adequate to meet operating, debt service and capital expenditure funding requirements. In the short-term., cash generated from operations will be reinvested in our business to fund our transformational efforts and growth initiatives.

Previous wording

Primary working capital levels at December 28, 2025 were consistent with the beginning of the fiscal year, as we increased inventory levels $7.2 million to improve customer deliveries, which was offset by reduced accounts receivable of $12.9 million on sequentially lower sales and a $6.3 million reduction in accounts payable due to timing of inventory purchases and payments.

Current wording

Primary working capital levels at March 29, 2026 are higher than the beginning of the fiscal year, as inventory levels were increased $8.7 million to improve customer deliveries.