Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
“Safe Harbor ” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:
The statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K regarding future earnings and operations and other statements relating to the future constitute “forward-looking” statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Factors that would cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, the risks associated with reliance on key customers, including the U.S. government, the Company’s use of estimates when accounting for contracts, actions by significant customers or competitors, competitive factors, new products and technological changes, continued acceptance of the Company’s products in the marketplace, dependence upon third-party vendors, product prices and raw material costs, the Company’s ability to attract and retain key employees, general domestic and international economic conditions, health epidemics and pandemics, external disruptions to the Company’s facilities or supply chain, the Company’s operations in a highly regulated industry, the outcome of any litigation and arbitration proceedings, cybersecurity attacks, volatility in the Company’s stock price, including due to the relatively low trading volume of its common stock, and failure to maintain an effective system of internal controls over financial reporting. The factors listed above are not exhaustive. Other sections of this Form 10-K include additional factors that could materially and adversely impact the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations. Moreover, the Company operates in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for management to predict the impact of all these factors on the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Given these risks and uncertainties, investors should not rely on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. Any or all of the forward-looking statements contained in this Form 10-K and any other public statement made by the Company or its management may turn out to be incorrect. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
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Critical Accounting Estimates
The Company’s significant accounting policies are described in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company believes its most critical accounting policies to be the recognition of revenue and costs on production contracts, income taxes and the valuation of inventory. Each of these areas requires the Company to make use of reasonable estimates, including estimating the cost to complete a contract, the realizable value of its inventory or the market value of its products. Changes in estimates can have a material impact on the Company’s financial position and results of operations.
Revenue Recognition
Revenues for most contracts are reported in operating results over time using the cost-to-cost method. Under this method, revenue is recorded based upon the ratio that incurred costs bear to total estimated contract costs with related cost of revenues recorded as the costs are incurred. Each month management reviews estimated contract costs through a process of aggregating actual costs incurred and estimating additional costs to completion based upon the current available information regarding labor, outside services, materials, overhead costs and status of the contract. The effect of any change in the estimated gross margin rate for a contract is reflected in revenues in the period in which the change is known. Provisions for the full amount of anticipated losses on contracts are made in the period in which they become determinable.
Significant judgment is used in evaluating the financial information for certain contracts to determine an appropriate budget and estimated cost. The Company evaluates this information continuously and bases its judgments on historical experience, design specifications, and expected costs for material and labor.
Inventory
In accordance with industry practice, inventoried costs contain amounts relating to contracts and programs with long production cycles, a portion of which will not be realized within one year. Inventory write downs are established for slow-moving materials based on percentage of usage over a ten-year period, obsolete items on a gradual basis over five years with no usage and costs incurred on programs for which production-level orders cannot be determined as probable. Such write-downs are based upon management’s experience and expectations for future business.
Income Taxes
Our income tax expense, deferred tax asset and liabilities, and liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits reflect management’s best estimate of current and future taxes to be paid. Significant judgments and estimates are required in the determination of the consolidated income tax expense.
Deferred income taxes arise from temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements, which will result in taxable or deductible amounts in the future. Accounting for income taxes requires that a valuation allowance be established when it is more likely than not that all or a portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. In evaluating our ability to recover deferred tax assets in the jurisdiction from which they arise, we consider all positive and negative evidence, including the reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, tax planning strategies, and results of recent operations. In circumstances where there is sufficient negative evidence indicating that the deferred tax assets will not be realizable, we establish a valuation allowance. For the fiscal year ended April 30, 2025, the valuation allowance decreased by approximately $13.9 million from the prior fiscal year primarily due to releasing the majority of the valuation allowance recorded against the deferred tax asset. The change in estimate occurred in the quarter ended January 31, 2025 because Frequency no longer had cumulative losses in recent years due to significant earnings in the quarter ended January 31, 2025.
The Company maintains a valuation allowance of approximately $1.4 million against certain deferred tax assets including state tax credits and capital loss carryforwards because the realization of these tax attributes requires sufficient taxable income be sourced to the respective state jurisdiction and capital gain income is required to utilize capital losses. The Company will continue to evaluate the realizability of its deferred tax assets quarterly. Any further increases or decreases in the valuation allowance could have an unfavorable or favorable impact on the Company’s income tax provision and net income in the period in which such determination is made. As of April 30, 2025, the deferred tax asset is recorded at its more-likely-than-not realizable amount.
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Tax benefits are recognized for an uncertain tax position when, in the Company’s judgment, it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination by a taxing authority. For a tax position that meets the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, the tax benefit is measured as the largest amount that is judged to have a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with a taxing authority. The liability associated with unrecognized tax benefits is adjusted periodically due to changing circumstances and when new information becomes available. Such adjustments are recognized entirely in the period in which they are identified. The effective tax rate includes the net impact of changes in the liability for unrecognized tax benefits and subsequent adjustments as considered appropriate by the Company. While it is often difficult to predict the final outcome or the timing of resolution of any particular tax matter, the Company believes its liability for unrecognized tax benefits is adequate.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Consolidated Results
The table below sets forth for the fiscal years ended April 30, 2025 and 2024, the percentage of consolidated net sales represented by certain items in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations:
Fiscal Years Ended
April 30,
Revenues
FEI-NY
FEI-Zyfer
Less intersegment revenues
Cost of revenues
Gross margin
Selling and administrative expenses
Research and development expenses
Operating income
Other income, net
Benefit from income taxes
Net income
Revenues
Fiscal Years Ended April 30,
(in thousands)
Segment
Change
FEI-NY
FEI-Zyfer
Intersegment revenues
For the fiscal year ended April 30, 2025 revenue increased by approximately $14.5 million, or 26%, compared to the prior fiscal year. The Company is encouraged by the significant revenue growth compared to the prior fiscal year. The majority of the increase in revenue for fiscal year 2025, as compared to fiscal year 2024, was as a result of an increase in sales in the U.S. Government/DOD Satellite market. In fiscal year 2025, revenues from satellite programs, one of the Company’s largest business areas, increased by $17.7 million, or 76%, compared to the prior fiscal year. The increase was due mainly to adjustments in total estimated costs in the current period resulting from efficiencies realized. Satellite program revenues for Government end-use were 53% and 40% of total revenues for fiscal years 2025 and 2024, respectively. Satellite program revenues for commercial end-use were 6% and 2% of total revenue for fiscal years 2025 and 2024, respectively.
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Revenues on satellite program contracts are recorded in the FEI-NY segment and are recognized primarily under the percentage-of-completion (“POC”) method. Revenues from non-space U.S. Government/DOD customers decreased by approximately $2.4 million, or 8%, in fiscal year 2025 compared to fiscal year 2024. These revenues are recorded in both the FEI-NY and FEI-Zyfer segments and accounted for approximately 38% and 52% of consolidated revenues for fiscal years 2025 and 2024, respectively. Other commercial and industrial sales accounted for approximately 3% and 6% of consolidated revenues for fiscal years 2025 and 2024, respectively. Sales in the other commercial and industrial sales area were $2.4 million and $3.1 million for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2025 and the fiscal year ended April 30, 2024, respectively.
Gross Profit
Fiscal Years Ended April 30,
(in thousands)
Change
Gross Profit
Gross Profit Percentage
For the fiscal year ended April 30, 2025, the gross profit and gross profit percentage increased as a result of several factors. The increase in gross profit dollars was directly related to the significant increase in revenues over the prior fiscal year period as well as the increase in gross margin. The majority of the increase in the gross profit percentage, as compared to the prior fiscal year, was in the FEI-NY segment and was attributed to the Company’s performance on several traditional space programs at higher margins, due to favorable cumulative catch-up adjustments, and those programs progressing ahead of schedule. In addition, the Company has new programs that are progressing well, and the Company anticipates that they will generate additional revenue and profit.
Selling and Administrative Expenses
Fiscal Years Ended April 30,
(in thousands)
Change
In fiscal years ended April 30, 2025 and 2024, selling and administrative expenses (“SG&A”) were 18% of consolidated revenues in both periods. While total SG&A expenses increased in fiscal year 2025, as compared to the prior fiscal year, SG&A expenses remained consistent as a percentage of revenue in fiscal year 2025. The approximately $2.1 million dollar increase is made up of mainly payroll related items such as, 401K expense, stock option expense, and bonus accrual. In addition to these expenses, trade show and related costs also increased during fiscal year 2025 as well.
Research and Development Expenses
Fiscal Years Ended April 30,
(in thousands)
Change
As a percentage of consolidated revenue, R&D expense for the fiscal years ended April 30, 2025 and 2024 were 9% and 6%, respectively. The Company funded R&D amount was higher in fiscal year 2025 as compared to the previous fiscal year, partially because the previous fiscal year R&D expenditures was lower than planned and some of the expenses were subsequently captured in fiscal year 2025. The increase in R&D expense also reflects the Company’s commitment to maintaining its technical excellence. The Company expects future R&D investment to be in line with, or even potentially above, historical spending.
The funds received in connection with customer funded R&D appears in revenues and the associated expenses are included in cost of revenues and are not included in the table above. The Company believes that internally generated cash and cash reserves are adequate to fund its future R&D activity.
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Operating Income
Fiscal Years Ended April 30,
(in thousands)
Change
For the fiscal year ended April 30, 2025, the Company recorded operating income of $11.7 million compared to an operating income of $5.0 million in the prior fiscal year. The increase is mainly attributable to the Company’s significant increase in revenue and gross margin during fiscal year 2025, as noted above, from traditional space programs that have been executed ahead of schedule, well within budgets, and performed well technologically. The positive effects of cost cutting measures instituted by management have also contributed to the increase.
Other Income, net
Fiscal Years Ended April 30,
(in thousands)
Change
Income on investments
Interest expense
Other expense, net
The change from the prior fiscal year was relatively minimal. All three categories presented were slightly lower in fiscal year 2025 compared to the prior fiscal year.
Income Tax (Benefit) Provision
Fiscal Years Ended April 30,
(in thousands)
Change
Fiscal Years Ended April 30,
(in thousands)
Effective tax rate on pre-tax book income (loss):
For the fiscal year ended April 30, 2025, the Company recorded an income tax benefit of $11.5 million. For the fiscal year ended April 30, 2024, the Company recorded an income tax benefit of $0.1 million.
The Company’s effective tax rate of (95.0)% for fiscal year 2025 differs from the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21% primarily due to a reduction of the valuation allowance. (See Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a reconciliation of the actual tax benefit to the expected tax provision at the federal statutory rate.)
As of April 30, 2025, the Company has U.S. federal net operating losses of $5 million of which $1.7 million begins to expire in fiscal year 2026 through fiscal year 2031. The U.S. federal net operating losses of $5 million includes $1.7 million which is subject to an annual limitation under Internal Revenue Code Section 382. The remaining U.S. federal net operating losses of $3.4 million have an indefinite carry-forward period. The U.S. federal capital loss carry-forward of $0.8 million expires in fiscal years 2028. U.S. federal R&D credits of $0.7 million begin to expire in fiscal year 2038 through fiscal year 2045. The Company also has state net operating loss carryforwards, and state tax credits that expire in various years and amounts.
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On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed H.R. 1, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”, into law. In accordance with U.S. GAAP, the Company will account for the tax effects of changes in tax law in the period of enactment which is Q1 of fiscal year 2026. The Company is currently in the process of analyzing the tax impacts of the law change, but we do not expect a material impact on our financial statements.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Net cash used in operations was $1.4 million in fiscal year 2025 compared to net cash provided by operations of $8.7 million in fiscal year 2024. The Company’s balance sheet continues to reflect a highly liquid position with working capital of $29.7 million at April 30, 2025 as compared to $27.3 million at April 30, 2024. Included in working capital at April 30, 2025 was $4.7 million consisting of cash and cash equivalents. The Company’s current ratio at April 30, 2025 was 2.3 to 1, compared to 1.9 to 1 at April 30, 2024.
During fiscal years 2025 and 2024, the Company incurred $5.9 million and $4.4 million, respectively, in non-cash charges to earnings, including adjustments relating to net assets and liabilities for operating leases, loss provision accrual, deferred tax assets, depreciation and amortization expense, inventory adjustments, warranty and accounts receivable reserves and certain employee benefit plan expenses, including accounting for stock-based compensation. During fiscal year 2025, cash provided by operations was mainly due to increases in net income, mainly in the U.S. Government/DOD Satellite market, and deferred tax assets primarily due to the reduction of the valuation allowance, and partially offset by a decrease in contract liabilities and contract assets. During fiscal year 2024, cash flows relating to operating activities increased as a result of decreases in the loss provision accrual and other liabilities and increases in contract assets and inventory, partially offset by an increase in contract liabilities and net income.
Net cash used in investing activities for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2025 was $1.8 million compared to $1.5 million used in investing activities for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2024 all relating to purchases of capital expenditures .
Net cash used in financing activities for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2025 was $9.9 million, of which $9.6 million was related to a special cash dividend payment of $1.00 per share of common stock paid on August 29, 2024. There was no cash used in financing activities for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2024.
The Company will continue to expend resources for R&D to develop, improve and acquire products for space applications, guidance and targeting systems, and communication systems that management believes will result in future growth and profitability. The Company anticipates securing additional customer funding for a portion of its R&D activities and will allocate internal funds depending on market conditions and identification of new opportunities. The Company expects internally generated cash will be adequate to fund these R&D efforts. The Company may also pursue acquisitions to expand its range of products and may use internally generated cash and external funding in connection with such acquisitions .
During fiscal year 2025, as in fiscal year 2024, the impact of inflation on the Company’s business was an increases in costs for materials and services. The Company believes this may continue to impact expenses in fiscal year 2026 and future years.
As of April 30, 2025, the Company had retained earnings of $3.7 million. The Company believes that its cash, as of April 30, 2025, and cash flows from operations will provide sufficient liquidity to meet its operating needs in the normal course of business in both the short-term (next twelve months from the date of issuance of these consolidated financial statements) and in the long-term (beyond the next twelve months).
RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures (“ASU 2023-07”), which expands on the required disclosure of incremental segment information. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. We adopted the new standard effective April 30, 2025. As a result, we have enhanced our segment disclosures to include the presentation of cost of revenues by segment and the disclosure of our Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”). The adoption of this ASU has no material effect on the consolidated financial statements and only affects our disclosure.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (“ASU 2023-09”), which requires companies to annually disclose categories in the effective tax rate reconciliation and additional information about income taxes paid. The new guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact that the adoption of ASU No. 2023-09 will have to the financial statements and related disclosures.
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OTHER MATTERS
The financial information reported herein is not necessarily indicative of future operating results or of the future financial condition of the Company.
Morion
The Company has an investment in Morion, a privately-held Russian company, which manufactures high precision quartz resonators and crystal oscillators. The Company has also licensed certain technology to Morion.
The Company’s investment consists of 4.6% of Morion’s outstanding shares, accordingly, the Company accounts for its investment in Morion on a cost basis. During the fiscal year ended April 30, 2025, the Company acquired no product from Morion. During the fiscal year ended April 30, 2024, the Company acquired product from Morion in the aggregate amount of approximately $89,000. During the fiscal years ended April 30, 2025 and 2024, the Company sold no product and no training services to Morion, and the Company received no dividends from Morion.
Due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and resulting sanctions, the future status of FEI’s equity investment in Morion is uncertain. In response to these conditions, in connection with the preparation of the audited financial statements included in the 2022 Form 10-K, the Company impaired its investment in Morion in full.
Prior purchases of materials from Morion consisted mainly of quartz crystal blanks, which were used in the fabrication of quartz resonators. However, on October 30, 2024, the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control designated Morion as a Specially Designated National, resulting in the blocking of all Morion property and property interests. As a result, the Company has terminated all commercial relationships with Morion, including the licensing of technology to Morion and the purchase of any products from Morion. The Company has established alternate sources of supply with respect to items previously acquired from Morion. The Company is also capable of fabricating the crystal blanks in-house.
Morion is a less than wholly-owned subsidiary of Gazprombank, a state-owned Russian bank. The U.S. Ukraine-related sanctions regime has since 2014 included a list of sectoral sanctions identifications (“SSI”) pursuant to Executive Order 13662, which prohibits certain transactions, including certain extensions of credit, with an entity designated as an SSI or certain affiliates of an entity designated as an SSI. On July 16, 2014, after the Company’s investment in Morion, Gazprombank was designated as an SSI.
As previously disclosed, in light of Morion’s relationship with Gazprombank, in 2020, the Company evaluated, with the assistance of external legal counsel, certain sales to Morion and the timing of payments by Morion to the Company in connection with those sales to determine whether payments by Morion may have inadvertently constituted extensions of credit in violation of Directive 1 under Executive Order 13662. The Company determined that certain payments by Morion – the majority of which occurred more than five years ago – were not timely. Following the evaluation, on May 7, 2020, the Company voluntarily disclosed its findings to the Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”). The Company’s voluntary disclosure to OFAC related solely to delays in collection of accounts receivable that exceeded then-applicable payment windows set forth in sanctions regulations and did not relate to any other type of payment or transaction. On February 17, 2021, the Company received a Cautionary Letter from OFAC indicating that OFAC has completed its review of the matter. According to OFAC, the Cautionary Letter was issued instead of pursuing a civil monetary penalty or taking other enforcement action.
