UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM 11-K

(Mark One)

[ X ]  ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended April 30, 2005

OR

[    ]  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from _______to _________

Commission file number 0-23246


 

Daktronics, Inc.
        (Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan)

        A.     Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below:

Daktronics, Inc. 401(k) Plan

        B.     Name of the issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office:

Daktronics, Inc.
331 32nd Avenue
Brookings, SD 57006


DAKTRONICS, INC. 401(k) PLAN
FORM 11-K
For the Plan Year Ended April 30, 2005

TABLE OF CONTENTS

      Page      
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM       1
 
STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS    
    APRIL 30, 2005 AND APRIL 30, 2004       2  
 
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS FOR THE    
    YEARS ENDED APRIL 30, 2005 AND APRIL 30, 2004       3  
                       
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS       4  
 
SCHEDULE H, LINE 4i SCHEDULE OF ASSETS (HELD AT END OF YEAR) - APRIL 30, 2005       7  
 
SIGNATURES       8, 9  
 
EXHIBITS INDEX    
    EX.   23.1     CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM       10  

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Audit Committee
Daktronics, Inc. 401(k) Plan

We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of Daktronics, Inc. 401(k) Plan as of April 30, 2005 and 2004, and the related statements of changes in net assets available for benefits for the years then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Plan's internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Plan's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan at April 30, 2005 and 2004, and changes in its net assets available for benefits for the years then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principals.

Our audits were performed for the purpose of forming an opinion on the financial statements taken as a whole. The accompanying supplemental schedule of assets (held at end of year) as of April 30, 2005 is presented for purposes of additional analysis and is not a required part of the financial statements but is supplementary information required by the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. This supplemental schedule is the responsibility of the Plan’s management. The supplemental schedule has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in our audits of the financial statements and, in our opinion, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the financial statements taken as a whole.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Minneapolis, Minnesota
October 20, 2005


DAKTRONICS, INC. 401(k) PLAN
STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS AS OF
APRIL 30, 2005 AND APRIL 30, 2004

April 30, April 30,
2005 2004


ASSETS    
Investments of fair value    
  Daktronics, Inc. Common Stock     $ 20,820,889   $ 22,296,468  
  Mutual funds       14,373,255     12,122,788  
  Money market mutual fund     1,179,303   1,354,957  
  Common/collective trust       1,055,596     809,271  
  Participant notes receivable     835,772   607,455  


         38,264,815     37,190,939  


Receivables    
  Employer matching contributions     185,310   169,805  
  Employer profit sharing contributions       402,731     533,333  
  Employee contributions     77,229    
  Accrued interest       6,173     6,173  


         671,443     709,311  


Cash           19,451  


  Total assets       38,936,258     37,919,701  


LIABILITIES    
Cash deficit     68,735    
Trustee fees payable       15,370      
Excess contributions payable     43,807   3,147  


  Total liabilities       127,912     3,147  


  Net assets available for benefits     $ 38,808,346   $ 37,916,554  


See accompanying notes to financial statements.    

DAKTRONICS, INC. 401(k) PLAN
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS FOR THE
YEARS ENDED APRIL 30, 2005 AND APRIL 30, 2004


April 30, April 30,
2005 2004


Additions to net assets attributed to:     
Investment income    
  Net appreciation in fair value of investments     $ 80,727   $ 9,925,500  
  Interest and dividends       243,494     218,322  


         324,221     10,143,822  


Contributions:                
  Employer       996,372     1,139,479  
  Participants       2,026,487     1,818,339  


         3,022,859     2,957,818  


  Total additions       3,347,080     13,101,640  


                 
Deductions from net assets attributed to:                
  Benefits paid to participants       2,318,399     839,341  
  Administrative expenses       136,889     102,819  


      Total deductions       2,455,288     942,160  


      Net increase       891,792     12,159,480  
                 
Net assets available for benefits:                
  Beginning of year       37,916,554     25,757,074  


  End of year     38,808,346   37,916,554  


See accompanying notes to financial statements.    

DAKTRONICS, INC. 401(k) PLAN
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 1. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

        Nature of business of Plan Sponsor: Daktronics, Inc. (the “Company”) and its subsidiaries, the sponsoring employer companies, are engaged principally in the design, manufacture, and sales of computer-programmable information display systems.

        Basis of accounting: The accompanying financial statements are prepared on the accrual basis of accounting.

        Use of estimates: The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

        Investment valuation and income recognition: The Daktronics, Inc. 401(k) Plan (the “Plan”) investments are stated at fair value as determined by quoted market prices on the last business day of the Plan year. Participant notes receivable are valued at their outstanding balances, which approximated fair value.

        Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade-date basis. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

        Payment of benefits: Benefit payments are recorded when paid.

        Reclassification: Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current year presentation.

   Note 2. INFORMATION REGARDING THE PLAN

        The following description of the Plan provides only general information. Participants should refer to the Plan agreement for a more complete description of the Plan’s provisions.

        General: The Plan is a defined contribution plan providing benefits for substantially all employees of Daktronics, Inc. and its U.S. based subsidiaries (the Company) who have attained 21 years of age and have completed one year of service. Notwithstanding the preceding, employees are eligible to make salary deferrals to the Plan upon completion of three months of service and attainment of 21 years of age. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).

        Administration: The Company has appointed an Administrative Committee to manage the day-to-day operation and administration of the Plan and an Investment Committee to select and monitor the investments of the Plan.

        Plan amendments: Effective November 23, 2004, the Plan was amended to afford employees hired as a result of an acquisition an appropriate service credit for the length of employment with their former company for purposes of determining eligibility, vesting and contribution allocations for the Plan.

        Effective March 28, 2005, the Plan was amended due to a change in the law with respect to automatic rollover provisions. If the participant terminates employment, and the participant vested interest exceeds $1,000, a distribution may be made to an individual retirement account for the benefit of the participant, if a rollover or distribution is not elected by the participant.

        Participant’s contributions: Participants may elect to have the Company contribute a percentage of their eligible pre-tax compensation not to exceed the maximum amount allowable under the Code. Participants who elect to have the Company contribute a portion of their compensation to the Plan agree to accept an equivalent reduction in taxable compensation. Contributions withheld are invested in accordance with the participant’s direction.

        Participants are also allowed to make rollover contributions of amounts received from other tax-qualified employer-sponsored retirement plans. Such contributions are deposited in the appropriate investment funds in accordance with the participant’s direction and the Plan’s provisions.

        Employer contributions: The Company may make discretionary profit sharing contributions to the accounts of eligible participants as defined in the Plan and as approved by the Board of Directors. In the twelve months ending April 30, 2005 and April 30, 2004, respectively, the Company matched 50% of the first 6% of each eligible participant’s contribution. Additional discretionary contributions were made for year ended April 30, 2004 equal to 2% of pay to a maximum of $187.50 per quarter per participant and for the year ended April 30, 2005 equal to 1.5% of pay to a maximum of $137.50 per quarter per participant.

        Participants’ accounts: Each participant’s account is credited with the participant’s contribution and allocations of the Company’s contribution and Plan earnings, and is charged with an allocation of administrative expenses. Allocations are based on participant earnings or account balances, as defined. The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the benefits that can be provided from the participant’s vested account.

        Vesting: Participants are immediately vested in their voluntary contributions, including rollover contributions from other qualified plans, plus actual earnings thereon. The remainder of their accounts are vested according to the number of years of continuous service. In general, the employee’s accounts become fully vested after five years of credited service, vesting at the rate of twenty percent per year commencing after one year of service.

        Payment of benefits: Distribution of a participant’s vested account balance shall be made as soon as administratively possible following his or her retirement, total disability, death or termination of employment. The amount of distribution under the Plan shall be equal to the participant’s vested account balance. If the participant has any loan balance at the time of distributions, the amount of cash available to the participant or beneficiary shall be reduced by the outstanding principal balance of the loan.

        Investment fund information: Participants may individually direct employee contributions in various mutual funds, common/collective trusts, money market accounts and Daktronics, Inc. common stock. Participants may change their investment options daily.

        Participant loans: Participants may borrow from their accounts up to a maximum equal to the lessor of $50,000 or 50 percent of their vested account balance. Loan transactions are treated as a transfer to (from) the investment funds from (to) the participant notes fund. Loan terms range from one to five years, or longer for the purchase of a primary residence. The loans are secured by the balance in the participant’s account and bear a commercially reasonable rate of interest, which the Employer has determined to be the prime rate as determined by the Plan’s Trustee. Changes in the prime rate are implemented by the Trustee when it is reasonably administratively feasible to do so. Principal and interest is paid ratably no less than biweekly through payroll deductions.

        Forfeited accounts: During the years ended April 30, 2005 and April 30, 2004, respectively, forfeitures due to the non-vested accounts of terminated participants of $4,235 and $7,364 were used to reduce employer contributions.

        No administrative expenses were paid by the Company during fiscal year 2005 and 2004. It not paid by the Company, such expenses become the responsibility of the Plan.

Note 3. INVESTMENTS

        During the years ended April 30, 2005 and April 30, 2004, the Plan’s investments (including investments purchased, sold and held during the year) appreciated (depreciated) in fair value as determined by quoted market prices as follows:

April 30,
2005
April 30,
2004


                  Common stock     $ (804,032 ) $ 7,877,420  
                  Common collective trust       844,883     31,909  
                  Mutual funds       39,876     2,016,171  


                       $ 80,727   $ 9,925,500  


        Investments that represent 5% or more of the fair value Plan’s net assets as of April 30, 2005 and 2004 are as follows:

April 30,
2005
April 30,
2004


         Investments, at fair value:                
            Daktronics, Inc. Common Stock     20,820,889   22,296,468  
            Investment Company of America Fund       3,763,455     3,416,992  
            Growth Fund of America Fund     2,334,057   2,127,303  
            Euro Pac Growth Fund     2,583,979   2,136,582  

        Information about the net assets and the significant components of changes in net assets related to the non-participant-directed investment is as follows:

April 30,
2005
April 30,
2004


      Investments, at fair value:                
            Daktronics, Inc. Common Stock     20,820,889   22,296,468  


        

April 30,
2005
April 30,
2004


      Changes in net assets due to:                
            Contributions     1,388,094   341,258  
            Net realized and unrealized (depreciation) appreciation
            in fair value
      (804,031 )   7,877,420  
            Distributions to participants     (2,059,642 (1,245,555


                             $ (1,475,579 ) $ 6,973,123  


        The above includes both participant and non-participant-directed activity related to the investment in Company stock. Effective December 17, 2003, the employer match became entirely participant directed.

Note 4. PLAN TERMINATION

        Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, the Company has the right under the Plan to discontinue contributions at any time and to terminate the Plan subject to the provisions of ERISA. In the event of plan termination, participants will become 100 percent vested in their accounts.

Note 5. TAX STATUS

        The underlying standardized prototype plan has received an opinion letter from the Internal Revenue Service dated August 30, 2001, stating that the written form of the underlying prototype document is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code (the ”Code”), and that any employer adopting this form of the Plan will be considered to have a plan qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code. Therefore, the related trust is exempt from taxation. Once qualified, the Plan is required to operate in conformity with the Code to maintain its qualification. The plan administrator believes the Plan is being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Code and, therefore, believes that the Plan is qualified and the related trust is tax exempt.

Note 6. RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES

        The Plan invests in various investment securities. Investment securities are exposed to various risks such as interest rate, market and credit risks. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect participant’s account balances and the amounts reported in the statements of net assets available for benefits.


DAKTRONICS, INC. 401(k) PLAN
EIN-46-0306862 PLAN 002
SCHEDULE H, LINE 4i
SCHEDULE OF ASSETS (HELD AT END OF YEAR)
APRIL 30, 2005

                             
   Identity of Issue, Borrower, Lessor, or Similar Party    Shares    Cost    Current Value  




Common Stock:  
    Daktronics, Inc. Common Stock*    1,022,637   $ 4,530,773   $ 20,820,889  
Common collective trust:  
    Wells Fargo Stable Return Fund*    28,534    1,003,154    1,055,596  
Mutual Funds  
    Pimco Total Return Fund    87,932    951,041    940,873  
    Euro Pacific Growth Fund    73,807    2,197,492    2,583,979  
    Growth Fund of America Fund    89,086    2,160,964    2,334,057  
    Investment Company of America Fund    126,588    5,264,988    3,763,455  
    Lord Abbett Mid-Cap Value Fund    37,632    744,547    789,515  
    MFS Total Return Fund    123,302    1,713,314    1,924,751  
    T Rowe Price Mid-Cap Growth Fund    14,598    647,634    688,302  
    T Rowe Price Small Capitalization Fund    41,437    1,076,163    1,206,652  
    Wells Fargo Index Fund*    3,042    141,923    141,671  


          14,898,066    14,373,255  
Money market mutual fund:  
    Wells Fargo Short-term Money Market Fund*    1,179,303   1,179,303   1,179,303  
Participant notes receivable:  
    with interest rates ranging from  
    4.25% to 10.5%, maturing through  
    November, 2013        835,772   835,772  


         $22,447,068   $38,264,815  


*Indicates a party-in-interest to the plan.


SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1934, the trustees (or other persons who administer the employee benefit plan) have duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

DAKTRONICS, INC. 401(k) PLAN
 
By:    /s/ William R. Retterath
William R. Retterath,
Chief Financial Officer
 

Date: October 27, 2005

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Plan Administrator is responsible for administering the Daktronics, Inc. 401(k) Plan has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Brookings, state of South Dakota, on this 27th day of October, 2005.

DAKTRONICS, INC. 401(k) PLAN
 
By:    /s/ Carla S. Gatzke
Carla S. Gatzke
Plan Administrator
 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints James B. Morgan and William R. Retterath, or either of them, his or her attorney-in-fact, each with the power of substitution, for him or her in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments (including all post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and to sign any registration statement for the same offering covered by this registration statement that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, and all post-effective amendments thereto, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact, or his substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

 

Title        

 

Date

 

 

 

 

 

By /s/ James B. Morgan

 

Chief Executive Officer & Director
(principal executive officer)

 

October 27, 2005


James B. Morgan

 

 

 

 

 

By /s/ William R. Retterath

 

Chief Financial Officer;
(principal financial and
accounting officer)

 

October 27, 2005


William R. Retterath

 

 

 

 

 

By /s/ Aelred J. Kurtenbach

 

Director
Chairman of the Board

 

October 27, 2005


Aelred J. Kurtenbach

 

 

 

 

 

By /s/ Frank J. Kurtenbach

 

Director

 

October 27, 2005


Frank J. Kurtenbach

 

 

 

 

 

By /s/ John L. Mulligan

 

Director

 

October 27, 2005


John L. Mulligan

 

 

 

 

 

By /s/ Robert G. Dutcher

 

Director

 

October 27, 2005


Robert G. Dutcher

 

 

 

 

 

By /s/ Duane E. Sander

 

Director

 

October 27, 2005


Duane E. Sander

 

 

 

 

 

By /s/ Nancy D. Frame

 

Director

 

October 27, 2005


Nancy D. Frame

 

 

 

 

 

By /s/ James A. Vellenga

 

Director

 

October 27, 2005


James A. Vellenga