HIGHWAY HOLDINGS REPORTS FISCAL YEAR 2025 THIRD QUARTER AND NINE MONTH RESULTS

• 21% YoY Increase in Revenue for the Fiscal Year 2025 Nine Months

HONG KONG, Jan. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Highway Holdings Limited (Nasdaq: HIHO) (the "Company" or "Highway Holdings") today reported financial results for its fiscal third quarter 2025 and fiscal nine months ended December 31, 2024, with a 21% increase in revenue and a $0.05 increase in diluted earnings per share for the nine months results of fiscal year 2025, compared to the year ago period.

Net revenue for the third quarter of fiscal year 2025 decreased 13.5% to $1.9 million compared with $2.2 million in the year ago period. Net income for the third quarter of fiscal year 2025 decreased to $92,000, or $0.02 per diluted share, compared with $348,000 or $0.08 per diluted share in the year ago period.

Net revenue for the first nine months of fiscal year 2025 increased 21% to $5.9 million, compared with $4.9 million in the year ago period. Net income for the first nine months of 2025 was $421,000, or $0.1 per diluted share, compared with a net income of $223,000, or $0.05 per diluted share for the year ago period.

Roland Kohl, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Highway Holdings, said, "While our revenue growth was healthy for the first nine months of fiscal year 2025, the overall near-term situation remains generally challenged as previously reported. Being an OEM manufacturer, we depend on the business health and quality of our customers. We are seeing some encouraging signs at specific customers, but the broader rebound has been slowed by the uncertain macro environment, following the fallout of COVID, as orders for customer products have been adversely impacted by the Russia/Ukraine war, the conflict in the Middle East, and uncertainty around potential policy changes from the incoming new administration in the U.S. It remains to be seen how much of the uncertainty and paused demand will be short-term in nature."

"Longer-term, we see market changes as a positive and a better option than being stuck in neutral. We are optimistic and focused on leveraging the company's strengths, customer relationships, highly valued experience and healthy financial position to benefit from the eventual uptick in demand and build value for shareholders. As noted last quarter, as part of our business growth strategy, we are evaluating numerous possible ventures, which could substantially improve the Company's future. This includes diligently working a new restructured deal with Synova to reflect the significantly changed market situation. We are separately evaluating other potential strategic transactions regarding both direct and indirect manufacturing outside of Asia which may benefit our company and our customers. Lastly, we are working diligently on creating a new second line of business to help drive growth and diversification. We are confident that with our present efforts we will be less reliant on the business health our customers. In this respect, we are cautiously optimistic that the company is on the right track for a better future as we continue to build on our track record of success over the long-term."

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Gross margin for the third quarter of fiscal year 2025 was 34 percent, compared to 41 percent in the year ago period, mainly reflecting the impact of a different product mix with various margin levels particularly for a large game console customer. Gross margin for the first nine months of fiscal year 2025 increased 250 basis points to 36.5 percent, compared to 34 percent in the year ago period, with the improvement led by higher revenue and slight rebound in utilization levels.  

The Company reported a $144,000 currency exchange gain for the first nine months of fiscal year 2025, compared with a $58,000 currency exchange gain in the year ago period, primarily due to the weakening of the Chinese RMB and Myanmar Kyat. The Company does not engage in currency exchange rate hedging, and the fluctuation in the exchange rate of the RMB and Kyat are expected to affect the Company's future results.

The Company's balance of cash at December 31, 2024 was approximately $5.2 million, or a balance of cash of approximately $1.19 per diluted share.

The Company's current ratio was 2.56:1 at December 31, 2024.

About Highway Holdings 

Highway Holdings is an international manufacturer of a wide variety of quality parts and products for blue chip equipment manufacturers based primarily in Germany. Highway Holdings' administrative offices are located in Hong Kong and its manufacturing facilities are located in Yangon, Myanmar and Shenzhen, China. For more information visit website www.highwayholdings.com.

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements, which involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to economic, competitive, governmental, political and technological factors affecting the company's revenues, operations, markets, products and prices, the impact of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, and other factors discussed in the company's various filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including without limitation, the company's annual reports on Form 20-F.

(Financial Tables Follow)

source: Highway Holdings Limited