Vicor Corporation reported mixed results in the most-recent period with revenues and losses both up. Revenue for the fourth fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2013 increased to $55,258,000, compared to $50,424,000 for the corresponding period a year ago, and increased from $55,091,000 for the third quarter of 2013. Net loss for the fourth quarter of 2013 was ($13,102,000), or ($0.34) per share, compared to a net loss of ($4,814,000), or ($0.12) per share, for the corresponding period a year ago and a net loss of ($932,000), or ($0.02) per share, for the third quarter of 2013.
Revenues for the year ended December 31, 2013, decreased by 8.9% to $199,160,000 from $218,507,000 for the corresponding period a year ago. Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2013 was ($23,640,000), or ($0.60) per share, compared to a net loss of ($4,077,000), or ($0.10) per share, for the corresponding period a year ago. Total backlog at the end of the fourth quarter was $44,659,000, compared to $53,888,000 at the end of the third quarter, and $31,405,000 at the end of 2012.
Commenting on current performance, Patrizio Vinciarelli, Chief Executive Officer, stated, "Despite the reported loss per share, I believe Vicor's progress toward its strategic goals accelerated during the fourth quarter. We have achieved important milestones with new products that will enable us to take advantage of the broad range of opportunities available to our ChiP and SiP platforms. We are encouraged by customers' positive responses and acceptance of our new products which will strengthen our competitive position and add momentum to our strategic repositioning as a vendor of highly differentiated power management components and systems from the power source to the point-of-load."
As in an announcement on March 6, 2014, the Company increased the reserve for all remaining federal net deferred tax assets on our balance sheet as of December 31, 2013, by approximately $10,200,000, which has been recorded in its statement of operations as a corresponding increase in fourth quarter tax provision. The impact of this non-cash increase in quarterly tax provision was to reduce reported earnings (loss) per share for the fourth quarter by approximately $0.26.
Gross margin increased to $23,431,000 for the fourth quarter of 2013, compared to $20,125,000 for the corresponding period a year ago, and increased from $22,980,000 for the third quarter of 2013. Gross margin, as a percentage of revenue, increased to 42.4% for the fourth quarter of 2013, compared to 39.9% for the fourth quarter of 2012, and increased on a sequential basis from 41.7% for the third quarter of 2013.
Dr. Vinciarelli continued, "Our recent financial performance has been affected, not only by the non-cash adjustment we recorded to reduce the carried value of our deferred tax assets, but by the significant increase in legal fees associated with our defense against baseless patent infringement claims made by a competitor that has threatened our customers. For the fourth quarter, but for these legal fees, we would have recorded pre-tax results at roughly the breakeven level. As I have stated in reference to prior quarters' results, Vicor's financial performance near-term likely will reflect the continued uncertainty in markets served by the Brick Business Unit. However, Vicor is well positioned with differentiated products and solutions addressing high growth opportunities."
Depreciation and amortization for the fourth quarter of 2013 summed to approximately $2,453,000, and capital additions totaled $2,152,000. In 2013, depreciation and amortization was $10,008,000 and capital additions totaled $6,179,000, compared to $10,423,000 and $7,396,000, respectively, for 2012. Cash and cash equivalents decreased by $28,215,000 to approximately $56,339,000 at the end of 2013, from $84,554,000 at the end of 2012. Contributing to the decrease in cash and cash equivalents, in addition to the net operating loss and capital additions, was approximately $17,100,000 paid to purchase shares of Common Stock in connection with two tender offers completed in the first and second quarters of 2013.
