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CTS Reports Strong Results for the Second Quarter; Full-Year 2004 Earnings Guidance Raised

ELKHART, Ind.--July 20, 2004--CTS Corporation today announced second quarter 2004 revenues of $137.6 million, an 18% increase over the second quarter of 2003. Diluted earnings per share of $0.19, which included a $0.06 earnings per share gain on the sale of excess land, improved over the 2003 second quarter of $0.06 per share.

Revenues for the first six months of $259.8 million were 17% above 2003 first-half revenues of $222.5 million. Diluted earnings per share for the 2004 first half were $0.26 compared to the $0.07 for the first half of 2003.

"We were pleased with our second quarter performance. Sales were the highest since the second quarter of 2001 and operating earnings were the best since the fourth quarter of 2000. Automotive products, components for communication infrastructure and Electronics Manufacturing Services all saw double digit year-over-year sales growth, benefiting from our continuing focus on new products, customer expansion and business execution," commented Donald Schwanz, CTS Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

Based on the first-half 2004 results, the Company has increased its expectations for full-year 2004 sales growth to be in the range of 10% to 14% over 2003. Earnings per share, inclusive of the gain from the sale of excess land in the second quarter, are now expected to be in the range of $0.50 to $0.54 for full-year 2004.

General Comments:

-- The Company generated free cash flow of $14.4 million in the second quarter of 2004 and $17.5 million year to date. Free cash flow is defined by the Company as operating cash flow plus cash flow from investing activities.

-- Total debt net of cash was $36.8 million, $11.5 million lower than the first quarter and $13.7 million lower than year-end 2003.

-- The Company lowered its estimated full-year effective income tax rate from 25% to 23% after it received confirmation of a tax incentive which lowered the statutory tax rate in one of its foreign jurisdictions and due to greater taxable income being generated in countries with lower tax rates.

-- In May 20, 200404, the Company completed its offering of $60 million in senior subordinated convertible notes at a 2-1/8% coupon rate, convertible at $15 per share into the Company's common stock under specified conditions, representing a 36.24% premium over the closing price on May 5, 2004. The Company utilized $40 million of the proceeds from this offering to repay industrial revenue bonds which had an average coupon of 7.5%. Beginning in the third quarter 2004, this will reduce interest expense by nearly $0.5 million pre-tax per quarter.

SECOND QUARTER RESULTS - SEGMENT INFORMATION
(Dollars in millions)

                 Second Quarter    Second Quarter     First Quarter
                      2004              2003              2004
                ----------------- ----------------- -----------------
                        Segment           Segment           Segment
                  Net   Operating   Net   Operating   Net   Operating
                 Sales  Earnings   Sales  Earnings   Sales  Earnings
                ------- --------- ------- --------- ------- ---------
Components &
 Sensors        $ 68.2    $  8.7  $ 64.0    $  1.8  $ 63.5    $  3.0
Electronics
 Manufacturing
 Services (EMS)   69.4       1.9    52.7       2.7    58.6       1.9
                 ------    ------  ------    ------  ------    ------
          Total $137.6    $ 10.6  $116.7    $  4.5  $122.1    $  4.9
                 ======    ======  ======    ======  ======    ======

Components & Sensors: Components and sensors sales increased by $4.2 million, or 7%, over the second quarter of 2003 driven primarily by strong automotive sensor and communications infrastructure component sales. Segment operating earnings increased as a result of improved product mix, better capacity utilization, favorable currency exchange and the gain from the sale of excess land.

The second quarter components and sensors sales increased from the first quarter of 2004 by $4.7 million, or 7%, reflecting improving demand and normal seasonal factors. Segment operating earnings were improved over the first quarter as a result of the higher sales, product mix improvements, and the gain from the sale of excess land.

EMS: EMS second quarter 2004 sales increased by $16.7 million, or 32%, from the second quarter of 2003, primarily driven by increased demand for communications infrastructure equipment.

Segment operating earnings were lower than the second quarter of 2003, primarily due to the additional costs associated with the start-up of EMS operations within our Singapore facility, pricing and unfavorable currency exchange.

The second quarter EMS revenues were $10.8 million, or 18% above the 2004 first quarter sales, due to continuing demand growth in both the computing and communications equipment industry for the Company's products and services. EMS segment operating earnings were unchanged compared to the first quarter of 2004 as contributions from incremental sales were offset by Singapore expansion costs.

CTS Corporation is a leading designer and manufacturer of electronic components and sensors, and a provider of EMS products and services for the automotive, computer and communications markets. The Company manufactures products in North America, Europe and Asia. A network of direct sales personnel, independent manufacturers' representatives and electronic distributors provides worldwide sales coverage. The Company's stock is traded on the NYSE under the ticker symbol "CTS." To find out more, visit the CTS Web site at www.ctscorp.com.

                   CTS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
       CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS - UNAUDITED
               (In thousands, except per share amounts)

                               Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
                               ------------------- -------------------
                               June 27,  June 29,  June 27,  June 29,
                                 2004      2003      2004      2003
                               --------- --------- --------- ---------

 Net sales                     $137,624  $116,697  $259,771  $222,466

 Costs and expenses:
      Cost of goods sold        108,707    92,177   206,245   176,863
      Selling, general and
       administrative expenses   16,622    14,623    31,499    27,471
      Research and
       development expenses       4,673     5,390     9,557    11,031
      Gain on sale of assets     (3,006)        -    (3,067)        -
                                --------  --------  --------  --------
 Operating earnings              10,628     4,507    15,537     7,101

 Other expenses (income):
      Interest expense            1,590     1,899     3,123     3,871
      Other                         168       (36)      184      (175)
                                --------  --------  --------  --------
          Total other expenses    1,758     1,863     3,307     3,696
                                --------  --------  --------  --------
          Earnings before
           income taxes           8,870     2,644    12,230     3,405

 Income tax expense               1,973       661     2,813       851
                                --------  --------  --------  --------

 Net earnings                  $  6,897  $  1,983  $  9,417  $  2,554
                                --------  --------  --------  --------

 Net earnings per share:
    Basic                      $   0.19  $   0.06  $   0.26  $   0.07
                                --------  --------  --------  --------
    Diluted                    $   0.19  $   0.06  $   0.26  $   0.07
                                --------  --------  --------  --------

 Cash dividends declared
  per share                    $   0.03  $   0.03  $   0.06  $   0.06

 Average common shares
  outstanding:
    Basic                        35,986    34,227    35,971    34,125

    Diluted                      36,253    34,569    36,248    34,415



                   CTS Corporation and Subsidiaries
           Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - Unaudited
                      (In thousands of dollars)


                                              June 27,    December 31,
                                                2004        2003 (a)
                                            ------------  ------------
                                            (Unaudited)

Cash and equivalents                        $    48,199   $    25,346
Accounts receivable, net                         82,549        72,290
Inventories, net                                 44,471        31,925
Other current assets                             36,820        35,205
                                             -----------   -----------
   Total current assets                         212,039       164,766
                                             -----------   -----------

Property, Plant & Equipment, net                116,914       122,481
Other Assets                                    183,127       195,003

                                             -----------   -----------
        Total Assets                        $   512,080   $   482,250
                                             ===========   ===========



Accounts payable                            $    64,352   $    52,252
Other accrued liabilities                        43,584        43,437
                                             -----------   -----------
   Total current liabilities                    107,936        95,689
                                             -----------   -----------

Long-term debt                                   85,000        75,880
Other obligations                                16,440        16,490
Shareholders' equity                            302,704       294,191

                                             -----------   -----------
        Total Liabilities and
         Shareholders' Equity               $   512,080   $   482,250
                                             ===========   ===========

(a) The balance sheet at December 31, 2003 has been derived from the
    audited financial statements at that date.



                   CTS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
                    OTHER SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

The following table summarizes free cash flow for the Company:

                               Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
                               June 27,  June 29,  June 27,  June 29,
                                 2004      2003      2004      2003
                               --------- --------- --------- ---------
                                      (In thousands of dollars)

Net cash provided by
 (used in) operations          $ 11,448  $ (1,310) $  4,708  $  6,889
Net cash provided by
 (used in) investing
 activities                       2,934    (2,306)   12,823      (634)
                                --------  --------  --------  --------
Free cash flow                 $ 14,382  $ (3,616) $ 17,531  $  6,255
                                ========  ========  ========  ========

Management believes that free cash flow provides useful information to
investors regarding the Company's ability to generate cash from
business operations that is available for internal growth, service of
debt principal, dividends, share repurchases and acquisitions and
other investments.  Management uses free cash flow as one measure to
monitor and evaluate the performance of the Company.