Standard Motor Products (NYSE: SMP) reported Q4 EPS of $0.59, $0.04 better than the analyst estimate of $0.55. Revenue for the quarter came in at $241.3 million versus the consensus estimate of $250.69 million.

Mr. Eric Sills, Standard Motor Products' Chief Executive Officer and President stated, "We are quite pleased with our 2019 results, as we set records for both sales and earnings. We achieved this despite some softness in sales in the fourth quarter, which was anticipated and previously announced.

"Engine Management sales were up 5.7% for the year. Excluding sales of $28 million from the Pollak acquisition, acquired on April 1, 2019, and wire and cable, a product line in secular decline, Engine Management sales were up 4.6% for the year.

"In the fourth quarter, Engine Management sales, excluding Pollak and wire and cable, were down 3.9%. As we stated in our third quarter release, for much of the year and for a variety of reasons, Engine Management sales ran ahead of the reported customer POS volume. As we know, these balance out over time. The drop in the fourth quarter represented a migration to our customers' POS results and towards our long-term forecast for Engine Management of low single digit growth.

"Engine Management gross margins improved one percentage point for the year to 29.6% and 1.8 percentage points for the quarter to 30.6%. This reflects the completion of the integration of our wire operations in Mexico and a continued emphasis on cost reduction activities. We are quite pleased with the progress we have made, returning to our historic margin levels.

"Temperature Control sales were flat for the year, as we were up against a very warm 2018. However, in the fourth quarter sales were down 12%. Temperature Control sales can vary significantly quarter to quarter based on the timing and size of pre-season orders and how hot it gets during the short selling season. For this product line, it is far more meaningful to look at the year as whole.

"The improvement in Temperature Control SG&A expenses in 2019 of $3.2 million primarily reflects savings in distribution costs as we continue to refine and improve our new automated warehouse system in Lewisville, Texas.

"We completed one acquisition and one business investment during 2019. In April, we acquired Pollak, a long time and highly respected manufacturer of sensors, switches and connectors, primarily for the OE, heavy duty and commercial vehicle markets. We have just completed moving the operation from Canton, Massachusetts and Juarez, Mexico to existing facilities in Reynosa, Mexico and Independence, Kansas, which will improve our cost structure. We plan to grow this product line in the years ahead.

"In August, we acquired a minority interest in Cheyijia New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (CYJ), a manufacturer of air conditioning compressors for electric vehicles, located in Changzhou, China. While CYJ is less than four years old and is still in its early stages, we are pleased that we are now in a position to provide compressors for the rapidly growing electric vehicle market.

"Our combined investment for these two businesses of less than $44 million was funded by the $77 million cash generated from operations in 2019. At year-end, our debt position was $57 million."

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