NEWS: Stratasys Announces Record '97 Revenue of $29.6 Million; Earnings of $.09 per share 
  MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--February 19, 1998--
  Fourth Quarter Earnings are $0.16 per share on Sales of $10.1
  Million
  Company Sees Continued Strong Growth in 1998
  Stratasys, Inc. (NASDAQ NMS:SSYS) today announced earnings of $0.09 per share for the year ended December 31, 1997 on record revenue of $29,636,370 which is a 29% increase over 1996 revenues of $22,919,818.
  The net income for 1997 was $514,833 or $0.09 per share, compared to a net income of $3,503,024, or $0.63 per share, in 1996 ($0.33 on a pro-forma, fully taxed basis.) Gross profit margin as a percentage of sales increased to 67.3% in 1997 from 65.6% in 1996.
  Revenue growth since 1994 has shown significant momentum, accelerating from $3.8 million in 1994 to $10.3 million in 1995, $22.9 million in 1996 and $29.6 million in 1997.
  Revenues for the fourth quarter of 1997 were $10,117,038 as compared to $10,448,038 in 1996. Net income was $951,368 compared to $2,856,103 in the fourth quarter of 1996. Earnings per share was $0.16 compared to $0.52 in the fourth quarter of 1996 ($0.25 on a pro-forma, fully taxed basis.) Fourth quarter gross profit margin as a percentage of sales rose to 72% from 65% in the fourth quarter of 1996.
  Scott Crump, Chairman and CEO, stated, "We are very encouraged by the high interest level in our FDM Quantum(tm), the large high-speed rapid prototyping (RP) system, which we recently introduced. This system builds parts up to 2.5 to 5 times faster than our current FDM(R) systems. Stratasys RP Systems now cover the entire product development process, from Genisys for fast concept iterations, to high speed FDM Systems for producing precision functional prototypes, tooling patterns and masters."
  Crump continued, "We exceeded all historical sales results in 1997 despite a slower than expected growth in our new Genisys(R) 3D-Printer product and in international sales. Strong demand exists for our entire FDM product line. If you remove Genisys revenues from 1996 and 1997 for comparison purposes, the revenue from our core FDM products grew approximately 50% in 1997 over 1996, greatly exceeding the RP industry growth average. We continue our commitment to Genisys, the 3D-Printer, and have great confidence in the Concept Modeling market."
  Crump concluded, "We believe our strong sales growth is sustainable due to the continued industry need for time compression engineering and the strong growth of low cost 3D solid modeling CAD (computer aided design) seats. We are very fortunate to have developed products which accurately fit the needs of the growing mechanical CAD and engineering segment which has adopted rapid prototyping as a valuable tool in product design and development. Our customers are finding in Stratasys' products an attractive combination of low cost, high accuracy, speed and a variety of modeling materials. These factors make us confident that 1998 will be our most successful sales year in our history."
  Stratasys Inc., founded in 1989, is a manufacturer of rapid prototyping systems for automotive, aerospace, industrial, recreation, electronic, medical and consumer products OEM's. The Company's patented Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) and Genisys rapid prototyping processes create 3-dimensional plastic and wax prototype parts directly from 3-D CAD systems. The Company is located at 14950 Martin Drive, Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55344-2020. See our home page at www.stratasys.com. -0-     Except for the historical information herein, the matters discussed in this news release are forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including the timely development and acceptance of new products, the impact of competitive products and pricing, and the other risks detailed from time to time in the company's SEC reports, including the report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 1996 and on Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended September 30, 1997.
  STRATASYS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
  CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
  ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             December 31,  December 31,
                                                 1997           1996
                                              (audited)      (audited)
  ---------------------------------------------------------------------
  ASSETS
  Current assets
  Cash and cash equivalents                  $ 9,116,232   $ 3,964,968
  Marketable Securities                        4,441,380     6,572,907
  Accounts receivable, less allowance 
   for doubtful
   accounts of $514,461
   in 1997 and $470,000 in 1996               11,666,054    10,607,155
  Inventories                                  5,492,130     2,648,990
  Prepaid expenses                               226,698       344,101
  Deferred taxes                               1,051,000       945,000
                                             -----------   -----------
   Total current assets                       31,993,494    25,083,121
                                             -----------   -----------
  Machinery and Equipment, less accumulated 
    depreciation of $1,700,702 
    in 1997 and $837,715 in 1996               3,445,265     2,184,165
                                             -----------   -----------
  Other assets
   Intangible assets,
    less accumulated amortization              3,376,038     4,119,857
   Sundry                                        169,633        75,576
                                             -----------   -----------
                                               3,545,671     4,195,433
                                             -----------   -----------
                                             $38,984,430   $31,462,719
                                             -----------   -----------
  LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
  Current liabilities
  Obligations under capitalized leases, 
   current portion                               144,137       186,415
  Accounts payable and other 
   current liabilities                         3,066,342     3,622,555
  Unearned maintenance revenue                 2,426,270     1,082,044
                                             -----------   -----------
   Total current liabilities                   5,636,749     4,891,014
                                             -----------   -----------
  Deferred taxes                                 124,000        71,000
  Obligations under capitalized leases,
   less current portion                          136,314        94,977
                                             -----------   -----------
                                                 260,314       165,977
                                             -----------   -----------
  Stockholders' Equity
   Common Stock, $.01 par value, 
    authorized 15,000,000
    shares, issued and outstanding 
    6,079,659 shares in 1997 
    and 5,517,309 shares in 1996                  60,797        55,173
   Capital in excess of par value             33,556,084    27,394,902
   Accumulated deficit                          (529,514)   (1,044,347)
                                             -----------   -----------
          Total Stockholders' Equity          33,087,367    26,405,728
                                             -----------   -----------
                                            $ 38,984,430  $ 31,462,719
                                             -----------   ----------- 
  -0-
  STRATASYS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
  CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                           Three Months Ended      Twelve Months Ended 
                               December 31,            December 31,
                            1997       1996         1997        1996
                         (unaudited)(unaudited)  (audited)   (audited)
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
  Sales                 $10,117,038 $10,448,038 $29,636,370 $22,919,818
  Cost of goods sold      2,833,437   3,612,392   9,696,465   7,888,516
                         ---------- ----------- ----------- -----------
  Gross profit           7,283,601   6,835,646  19,939,905  15,031,302
  Costs and expenses
  Research and 
    development          1,268,650   1,166,121   5,054,767   3,374,039
  Selling, general
   and administrative    4,804,206   3,744,429  14,676,175   9,485,519
                         ---------- ----------- ----------- -----------
                         ---------- ----------- ----------- -----------
                         6,072,856   4,910,550  19,730,942  12,859,558
                         ---------- ----------- ----------- -----------
  Operating income       1,210,745   1,925,096     208,963   2,171,744
                         ---------- ----------- ----------- -----------
  Other income (expense)
  Interest income          126,056     156,463     496,813     585,516
  Interest expense         (20,952)    (10,456)    (61,520)    (39,236)
                         ---------- ----------- ----------- -----------
                         ---------- ----------- ----------- -----------
                           105,104     146,007     435,293     546,280
                         ---------- ----------- ----------- -----------
  Income before 
   income taxes          1,315,849   2,071,103     644,256   2,718,024
  Income taxes (benefit)   364,481    (785,000)    129,423    (785,000)
                         ---------- ----------- ----------- -----------
  Net income              $951,368  $2,856,103    $514,833  $3,503,024
                         ---------- ----------- ----------- -----------
  Income per common 
    and common
    equivalent share
          Basic              $0.16       $0.52       $0.09       $0.67
                        ---------- ----------- ----------- -----------
          Diluted           $ 0.16       $0.52       $0.09       $0.63
                        ---------- ----------- ----------- -----------
  Weighted average number 
    of common and common 
    equivalent shares 
    outstanding
      Basic              5,922,357   5,492,902   5,726,339   5,191,002
                      ------------ ------------ ---------- -----------
      Diluted            6,081,391   5,545,602   6,016,381   5,585,417
                      ------------ ------------ ---------- -----------
  CONTACT: 
  For more information contact:
  Scott Crump, Chairman and President 
  Stratasys, Inc.
  612-937-3000 
  or
  Tom Stenoien, CFO 
  Stratasys, Inc. 
  612-937-3000 
  or
  Derek Caldwell, Executive Vice President 
  Sunrise Financial 
  212-421-1616
  KEYWORD: MINNESOTA
  BW1010  FEB 19,1998
 |