Clearfield, Inc. Reports Annual Growth and Profitability

Net Income of 31 Cents Per Share for Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2009

    --  Net Revenues: $24.9M, up 6% from previous year
    --  Gross Profit: $8.9M, up 13% from previous year
    --  Income from Operations: $1.2M, up 21.5% from previous year
    --  Net Income: $3.8M, or 31 cents per share, improved from income of $1.5M
        from previous year, or diluted 13 cents per share

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Clearfield, Inc. (Nasdaq:CLFD) today announced results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended September 30, 2009. The Company reported net income of $3,785,000 ($0.31 per diluted share) for fiscal year 2009 compared to $1,514,000 ($0.13 per diluted share) for fiscal 2008. Net income consisted of $1,211,000 in income from operations, compared to $997,000 in fiscal year 2008, an increase of 22%, as well as $201,000 in interest and other income, which compared to $313,223 in fiscal year 2008. Additionally, the reversal of a portion of the valuation allowance associated with the Company's deferred tax assets, consisting primarily of net operating loss carry forwards, added approximately $2,372,000 in income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009. In fiscal year 2008, the Company recorded a valuation allowance against the full amount of the deferred tax assets due to uncertainties related to its ability to utilize it's deferred tax assets.

Revenue for fiscal year 2009 was $24,945,000 in comparison to $23,494,000 for fiscal year 2008, an increase of 6%. Gross profit was $8,871,000 for fiscal year 2009 in comparison to $7,852,000 for the prior year period, an increase of 13%. Gross profit as a percentage of revenue for the year ended September 30, 2009 was 35.6%, up 2.2% from the year ended September 30, 2008. The increase in gross profit was the result of our ongoing efforts to improve manufacturing efficiencies, global sourcing strategies as well as an increasing percentage of our revenues coming from the delivery of branded products to the broadband service provider community.

Cash and investments at September 30, 2009 total $9,680,000 compared to $7,478,000 at September 30, 2008, an increase of $2,202,000.

Revenue by Customer Mix

Revenues to commercial data networks and broadband service providers who are responding to the global demand for fiber to the premise (FTTp) connectivity amounted to $21,390,000, an increase of 16.5% from the previous year. Revenues associated with contract manufacturing for original equipment manufacturers outside of the telecommunications market were $3,555,000, down 31% from the previous year.

Reversal of Deferred Tax Valuation Allowance

During the fiscal year, Clearfield reversed a portion of its valuation allowance on its deferred tax assets in the amount of $2,464,000. This recognition was the result of an evaluation of our historical net operating losses and our more recent history of nine consecutive quarters of profitability. The Company assessed the likelihood that its deferred tax assets would be recovered from future taxable income and, in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2009, determined that recovery was more likely than not based upon the totality of the circumstances. The amount of the valuation allowance reversal was based on management's estimates of taxable income by jurisdiction and the period over which the Company believes deferred tax assets will be recoverable.

Fourth Quarter Reporting

Revenue for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 was $6,619,000 an 8% reduction from $7,188,000 for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008. Income from operations was $332,000 compared to $715,000 for the same period for the prior year. The net income tax benefit for the fourth quarter is $2,472,000 (or $0.20 per diluted share). Fiscal fourth quarter income before taxes was $378,000 compared to $777,000 for the prior year. The decline in revenue for the quarter was primarily attributable to the slowdown in demand from customers purchasing contract manufacturing services from the Company.

Comments on Operations and Market Conditions

"Fiscal year 2009 revenue and income from operations reflect the Company's second consecutive year of growth and profitability resulting from increasing acceptance of the Clearview Cassette and the associated FieldSmart fiber management platform," commented Cheri Beranek, President and CEO of Clearfield.

"A number of companies in the broadband markets are experiencing a market slowdown that many have attributed to the delay of funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act," continued Beranek. "Clearfield has not been immune to these conditions. A very limited portion of these funds have currently been released. While we remain confident of the Company's position to gain market share in fiscal year 2010, we anticipate that the broadband connectivity market during the early stages of this funding period may be sluggish."

"Clearfield remains focused on two primary directives," Beranek said. "We are committed to enhancing our global competitiveness by expanding our presence in the FTTp marketplace. Our efforts are targeted at an expansion of our product portfolio and brand recognition. Secondly, our team is working tirelessly on improving our operating margins through the ongoing design improvements to our product to capture manufacturing efficiencies and the continuation of global sourcing strategies."

About Clearfield, Inc.

Clearfield, Inc. designs and manufactures the FieldSmart Fiber Management Platform, which includes its latest generation FieldSmart Fiber Crossover Distribution System (FxDS), FieldSmart Fiber Scalability Center (FSC) and FieldSmart Fiber Delivery Point (FDP) series. The FxDS, FSC and FDP product lines support a wide range of panel configurations, densities, connectors and adapter options, and are offered alongside an assortment of passive optical components. Clearfield provides a complete line of fiber and copper assemblies for inside plant, outside plant and access networks. Clearfield is a public company, traded on Nasdaq:CLFD. www.ClearfieldConnection.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Forward-looking statements contained herein are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the Company's current expectations and judgments about future developments in the Company's business. Certain important factors could have a material impact on the Company's performance, including, without limitation the effect of the significant downturn in the U.S. economy on Clearfield's customers; the impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act or any other legislation on customer demand and purchasing patterns; cyclical selling cycles; need to introduce new products and effectively compete against competitive products; dependence on third-party manufacturers; limited experience in manufacturing, reliance on key customers; rapid changes in technology; the negative effect of product defects; the need to protect its intellectual property; the impact on its financial results or stock price of its ability to use its deferred tax asset, consisting primarily of net operating loss carryforwards, to offset future taxable income; the valuation of its goodwill and the effect of its stock price, among other factors, on the evaluation of goodwill; and other factors set forth in Clearfield's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect actual events.


Clearfield, Inc.

CONDENSED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (unaudited)

                  Three Months Ended              Year Ended
                  September 30,                   September 30,

                  2009            2008            2009            2008

Revenues          $ 6,618,907     $ 7,188,484     $ 24,944,837    $ 23,493,796

Cost of sales       4,264,713       4,659,503       16,073,817      15,641,961

Gross profit        2,354,194       2,528,981       8,871,020       7,851,835

Operating
expenses

Selling, general
and                 1,991,843       1,813,598       7,628,495       6,854,934
administrative

Gain on disposal    30,794          -               31,144          -
of assets

                    2,022,637       1,813,598       7,659,639       6,854,934

Income from         331,557         715,383         1,211,381       996,901
operations

Interest income     41,164          51,052          124,922         268,063

Interest expense    (925       )    (2,219     )    (5,676     )    (10,721    )

Other income        5,992           12,799          81,810          55,881

                    46,231          61,632          201,056         313,223

Income before       377,788         777,015         1,412,437       1,310,124
income taxes

Income tax
(expense)           2,471,565       (22,355    )    2,372,472       (93,303    )
benefit

Net income from
continuing          2,849,353       754,660         3,784,909       1,216,821
operations

Total income
from                -               -               -               297,439
discontinued
operations

Net income        $ 2,849,353     $ 754,660       $ 3,784,909     $ 1,514,260

Net income per
share:

Continuing        $ 0.24          $ 0.06          $ 0.32          $ 0.10
operations

Discontinued      $ 0.00          $ 0.00          $ 0.00          $ 0.03
operations

Basic             $ 0.24          $ 0.06          $ 0.32          $ 0.13

Diluted           $ 0.23          $ 0.06          $ 0.31          $ 0.13

Weighted average
shares
outstanding:

Basic               11,950,071      11,938,131      11,941,116      11,938,131

Diluted             12,362,555      11,938,131      12,046,539      11,938,131




Clearfield, Inc

CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET (unaudited -continued)

                                            September 30,    September 30,
                                            2009             2008

Assets

Cash and cash equivalents                   $ 4,731,735      $ 4,333,709

Short-term investments                        2,108,566        -

Accounts receivable, net                      2,723,414        2,533,447

Inventories                                   1,153,862        2,088,769

Other current assets                          180,635          115,344

Property, plant and equipment, net            1,319,492        1,604,202

Long-term Investments                         2,840,000        3,036,000

Deferred taxes-long term                      2,231,990        -

Other assets                                  3,139,065        3,287,666

Total assets                                $ 20,428,759     $ 16,999,137

Liabilities

Current liabilities                         $ 2,493,006      $ 3,116,894

Long-term liabilities                         87,942           289,626

Shareholders' equity

Common stock                                  119,746          119,381

Additional paid-in capital                    52,372,139       52,166,219

Accumulated deficit                           (34,644,074 )    (38,428,983 )

Accumulated other comprehensive loss          -                (264,000    )

Total shareholders' equity                    17,847,811       13,592,617

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity  $ 20,428,759     $ 16,999,137




    Source: Clearfield, Inc.