ZEELAND, MI--(Marketwired - Oct 20, 2016) -  Gentex Corporation (NASDAQ: GNTX) the Zeeland, Michigan-based manufacturer of automotive automatic-dimming rearview mirrors, automotive electronics, dimmable aircraft windows, and fire protection products, today reported financial results for the three months ended September 30, 2016.

3rd Quarter 2016 Quarter over Quarter Highlights

• Revenue growth of 10% on flat light vehicle production
• Gross Margin improved to 40.5% from 39.0%
• Income from Operations increased by 15%
• Net Income increased by 18%
• Earnings per Diluted Share increased by 19% to $0.32 per diluted share
• 1.8 million shares repurchased during the quarter
• $11.9 million of debt repaid during the quarter

For the third quarter of 2016, the Company is pleased to report net sales of $429.6 million, which was an increase of 10% compared to net sales of $389.8 million in the third quarter of 2015. The 10% sales growth was driven by a 9% quarter over quarter increase in auto-dimming mirror unit shipments, while overall automotive light vehicle production, in the Company's primary regions, declined approximately 40 basis points for the third quarter of 2016 when compared with the same quarter in 2015.

The gross profit margin in the third quarter of 2016 was 40.5%, compared with a gross profit margin of 39.0% in the third quarter of 2015. The quarter over quarter increase in the gross profit margin was driven by purchasing cost reductions and favorable product mix, which more than offset annual customer price reductions.

Income from operations for the third quarter of 2016 increased 15% to $134.2 million when compared to income from operations of $116.3 million for the third quarter of 2015 as a result of the improved gross margin and consistent financial discipline in the Company's operating expense growth.

Other income increased to $0.1 million in the third quarter of 2016 compared to a loss of $0.2 million in the third quarter of 2015, primarily due to an increase in realized gains on the sale of equity investments during the most recently completed quarter as compared to the same quarter last year.

Net income for the third quarter of 2016 increased 18% to $92.1 million compared with net income of $78.3 million in the third quarter of 2015.

Earnings per diluted share in the third quarter of 2016 increased 19% to $0.32, compared with earnings per diluted share of $0.27 in the third quarter of 2015. The increase was primarily driven by the increase in net income but was aided by a lower diluted share count on a quarter over quarter basis as a result of the Company continuing to execute a consistent capital allocation strategy.

Automotive net sales in the third quarter of 2016 were $419.8 million, an increase of 11% compared with automotive net sales of $379.9 million in the third quarter of 2015. As noted previously, this increase was driven by a 9% increase in auto-dimming mirror unit shipments quarter over quarter in addition to favorable shifts in product mix.

Other net sales in the third quarter of 2016, which includes dimmable aircraft windows and fire protection products, were $9.8 million, relatively consistent with other sales of $9.9 million in the third quarter of 2015.

Share Repurchases
During the third quarter of 2016, the Company repurchased 1.8 million shares of its common stock. As of September 30, 2016, the Company has approximately 9.0 million shares remaining available for repurchase, including the most recent authorization of 7.5 million shares by the Company's Board of Directors. The Company intends to continue to repurchase additional shares of its common stock in the future depending on macroeconomic issues, market trends and other factors that the Company deems appropriate.

Debt Repayment
During the third quarter of 2016, the Company paid down $10 million on its revolver loan in addition to its normally scheduled principal repayment on the Company's term loan. The Company may, at its discretion, pay additional principal toward its loans in the future, depending on macroeconomic trends, capital expenditure spending, cash and money market interest rates, the amount of available free cash and other factors that it deems appropriate for timing and amounts of incremental debt repayments.

Future Estimates
The Company's forecasts for light vehicle production for the 4th quarter of calendar year 2016 are based on the IHS Automotive October 2016 forecast for light vehicle production in North America, Europe, Japan and Korea.

Based on the October 2016 IHS light vehicle production forecast, current forecasted product mix and expense growth estimates, the Company has updated certain of its 2016 guidance. For the fourth quarter of 2016, the Company estimates that revenue will grow between 5 and 10% versus the same quarter last year.

Despite continued downward revisions to IHS 2017 light vehicle production estimates, the Company reaffirms its previous revenue estimates for calendar year 2017, which continues to be estimated to be over and above the foregoing 2016 revenue estimates in the range of 6 - 10%.

Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The statements contained in this communication that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements give the Company's current expectations or forecasts of future events. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "believe", "could", "estimate", "expect", "forecast", "goal", "hope", "may", "plan", "project", "will", and variations of such words and similar expressions. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that are often difficult to predict and beyond the Company's control, and could cause the Company's results to differ materially from those described. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation: changes in general industry or regional market conditions; changes in consumer and customer preferences for our products; our ability to be awarded new business; continued uncertainty in pricing negotiations with customers; loss of business from increased competition; customer bankruptcies or divestiture of customer brands; fluctuation in vehicle production schedules; changes in product mix; raw material shortages; higher raw material, fuel, energy and other costs; unfavorable fluctuations in currencies or interest rates in the regions in which we operate; costs or difficulties related to the integration of any new or acquired technologies and businesses; changes in regulatory conditions; warranty and recall claims and other litigation and customer reactions thereto; possible adverse results of pending or future litigation or infringement claims; and negative impact of any governmental investigations and associated litigations including securities litigations relating to the conduct of our business. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law or the rules of the NASDAQ Global Select Market. Accordingly, any forward-looking statement should be read in conjunction with the additional information about risks and uncertainties identified under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's latest Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filed with the SEC.

Third Quarter Conference Call
A conference call related to this news release will be simulcast live on the Internet beginning at 9:30 a.m. EDT today, October 20, 2016. The dial-in number to participate in the call is 888-215-7013, passcode 1162056. Participants may listen to the call via audio streaming at www.gentex.com or by visiting http://edge.media-server.com/m/p/8d93i5hd. A webcast replay will be available approximately 24 hours after the conclusion of the call at http://ir.gentex.com/WebcastArchives.

About The Company
Founded in 1974, Gentex Corporation (The NASDAQ Global Select Market: GNTX) is a supplier of automatic-dimming rearview mirrors and electronics to the automotive industry, dimmable aircraft windows for aviation markets, and fire protection products to the fire protection market. Visit the Company's web site at www.gentex.com.

Note: Percent change and amounts may not total due to rounding.