UFPI Reports Q3 Record Results: Net Earnings of $27.8 Million; Net Sales of $826.7 Million

Year-to-date profits up 30 percent over 2015


GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Oct. 18, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Universal Forest Products, Inc. (Nasdaq:UFPI) today announced recording-breaking 2016 third-quarter results, including net earnings attributable to controlling interests of $27.8 million, an increase of 8.9 percent over the same period of 2015. Year-to-date net earnings attributable to controlling interests were $80.4 million, up 30 percent over 2015. Earnings per diluted share were $1.36 in the third quarter of 2016, up from $1.26 in the third quarter of 2015. Net sales of $826.7 million – also a record for the third quarter – were up 8.4 percent over the same period of 2015.

“The employees of Universal are working hard to top the records they achieved during the last half of 2015, and we are pleased once again to report record results and growth,” said CEO Matthew J. Missad. “We grew sales significantly in two key markets and continue to increase our sales of new products.” Year-to-date new product sales were $247.9 million, a 16 percent increase over the $213.3 million reported for the same period of last year.

“We are continuing to make investments in our business and people to promote and enhance our continued success,” Missad noted. “We have added staff and are investing in their training to support our growth. We also are investing in several significant initiatives, including new international and e-commerce groups, and a research and design center, all of which we believe will contribute to our success in 2017 and beyond.”

Missad added that the Company continues to look for strategic acquisitions. Its purchase of idX Corp. closed near the end of the third quarter. idX is an international provider of highly customized merchandising solutions. Based in St. Louis, Mo., it has a network of more than 20 facilities across North America, Europe and Asia. Its sales in 2015 were approximately $303 million.

By market, the Company posted the following net sales results:

Retail: $339.7 million, up 15 percent over the third quarter of 2015

The Company benefited from a 9 percent increase in unit sales as well as rising lumber prices. Year-to-date retail unit sales are up 10 percent.  During the third quarter, sales to big-box retailers increased 20 percent and sales to other retailers increased 8 percent, in part because of market-share gains and increasing sales of new products. Our retail customers have benefited from improving U.S. consumer demand, as evidenced by the healthy gains in same-store sales they reported in their most recent quarters. 

Construction: $265.6 million, up 10 percent over the same period of 2015

Overall, unit sales in the construction market were up 6 percent over the same period of 2015, led by strong unit sales gains of 9 percent in residential construction. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, housing starts increased approximately 2.4 percent from June through August 2016 compared to the same period of 2015. The Company continues to focus its residential construction efforts in geographic areas of anticipated stable growth and recently added capacity in these markets.

Industrial: $233.8 million, down 1 percent from the third quarter of 2015

The Company has maintained its share of the industrial market but experienced a modest decrease in sales because of the softening U.S. economy, a decrease in U.S. exports, and its efforts to be more selective by focusing on higher-margin, value-added business.

CONFERENCE CALL

Universal Forest Products will conduct a conference call to discuss information included in this news release and related matters at 8:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. The call will be hosted by CEO Matthew J. Missad and CFO Michael Cole, and will be available for analysts and institutional investors domestically at (888) 685-5759 and internationally at (503) 343-6031. Use conference ID 68009457. The conference call will be available simultaneously and in its entirety to all interested investors and news media through a webcast at http://www.ufpi.com. A replay of the call will be available through November 19, 2016, at any of the following numbers: (855) 859-2056 or (404) 537-3406 or (800) 585-8367.

UNIVERSAL FOREST PRODUCTS, INC.

Universal Forest Products, Inc. is a holding company that provides capital, management and administrative resources to subsidiaries in three robust markets: retail, construction and industrial. Founded in 1955, the Company is headquartered in Grand Rapids, Mich., with affiliates throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. For more about Universal Forest Products, go to www.ufpi.com.  

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act, as amended, that are based on management’s beliefs, assumptions, current expectations, estimates and projections about the markets we serve, the economy and the Company itself. Words like “anticipates,” “believes,” “confident,” “estimates,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “likely,” “plans,” “projects,” “should,” variations of such words, and similar expressions identify such forward-looking statements. These statements do not guarantee future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict with regard to timing, extent, likelihood and degree of occurrence. The Company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect facts, circumstances, events, or assumptions that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made. Actual results could differ materially from those included in such forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainty. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements are the following: fluctuations in the price of lumber; adverse or unusual weather conditions; adverse economic conditions in the markets we serve; government regulations, particularly involving environmental and safety regulations; and our ability to make successful business acquisitions. Certain of these risk factors as well as other risk factors and additional information are included in the Company's reports on Form 10-K and 10-Q on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED) 
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED 
SEPTEMBER 2016/2015 
  Quarter Period   Year to Date   
(In thousands, except per share data) 2016   2015   2016   2015   
                  
                  
                  
NET SALES $826,665   100% $762,275   100% $2,380,909   100% $2,233,470   100.0% 
                  
COST OF GOODS SOLD   708,611   85.7   651,569   85.5   2,028,629   85.2   1,930,739   86.4  
                  
GROSS PROFIT  118,054   14.3   110,706   14.5   352,280   14.8   302,731   13.6  
                  
SELLING,  GENERAL  AND                  
  ADMINISTRATIVE  EXPENSES  74,457   9.0   67,951   8.9   223,059   9.4   198,087   8.9  
NET (GAIN) LOSS ON DISPOSITION AND                 
  IMPAIRMENT OF ASSETS  45   -   230   -   94   -   68   -  
                  
EARNINGS FROM OPERATIONS  43,552   5.3   42,525   5.6   129,127   5.4   104,576   4.7  
                  
OTHER EXPENSE, NET  927   0.1   924   0.1   2,602   0.1   3,118   0.1  
                  
EARNINGS BEFORE INCOME TAXES  42,625   5.2   41,601   5.5   126,525   5.3   101,458   4.5  
                  
INCOME TAXES  13,861   1.7   14,718   1.9   43,268   1.8   36,887   1.7  
                  
NET EARNINGS  28,764   3.5   26,883   3.5   83,257   3.5   64,571   2.9  
                  
LESS NET EARNINGS ATTRIBUTABLE TO                 
  NONCONTROLLING INTEREST   (945)  (0.1)  (1,327)  (0.2)  (2,828)  (0.1)  (2,876)  (0.1) 
                  
NET EARNINGS ATTRIBUTABLE TO                 
  CONTROLLING INTEREST $27,819   3.4  $25,556   3.4  $80,429   3.4  $61,695   2.8  
                  
                  
EARNINGS PER SHARE - BASIC  $1.36    $1.26    $3.95    $3.06    
                  
EARNINGS PER SHARE - DILUTED $1.36    $1.26    $3.94    $3.06    
                  
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME  27,608     24,305     81,736     60,365    
                  
LESS COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE                 
  TO NONCONTROLLING INTEREST  (495)    (445)    (1,576)    (1,578)   
                  
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME                 
  ATTRIBUTABLE TO CONTROLLING INTEREST $27,113    $23,860    $80,160    $58,787    
                  
SUPPLEMENTAL SALES DATA                 
  Quarter Period Year to Date 
Market Classification 2016
   2015
 % 2016
   2015
 % 
Retail $339,744    $296,022   15% $1,017,225    $905,826   12% 
Industrial  233,757     235,376   -1%  669,389     683,763   -2% 
Construction  265,563     241,810   10%  733,700     676,228   8% 
Total Gross Sales  839,064     773,208   9%  2,420,314     2,265,817   7% 
Sales Allowances  (12,399)    (10,933)    (39,405)    (32,347)   
Total Net Sales $826,665    $762,275    $2,380,909    $2,233,470    
                  
                  

 

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED) 
SEPTEMBER 2016/2015 
                
(In thousands)             
ASSETS 
2016
 
2015
 LIABILITIES AND EQUITY 
2016
 
2015
 
                
CURRENT ASSETS     CURRENT LIABILITIES     
 Cash and cash equivalents $36,683  $55,373   Cash overdraft $13,940  $-  
 Restricted cash  909   1,139   Accounts payable  137,979   101,117  
 Investments  10,453   5,955   Accrued liabilities  156,653   112,350  
 Accounts receivable  343,771   273,737   Current portion of debt  1,584   834  
 Inventories  369,928   288,209          
 Other current assets  29,043   23,112          
                
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS  790,787   647,525  TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES  310,156   214,301  
                
OTHER ASSETS  11,173   8,934  LONG-TERM DEBT AND     
INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET  224,186   200,929   CAPITAL LEASE OBLIGATIONS  110,362   84,722  
PROPERTY, PLANT     OTHER LIABILITIES  43,029   56,757  
 AND EQUIPMENT,  NET  284,491   254,530  EQUITY  847,090   756,138  
                
                
TOTAL ASSETS $1,310,637  $1,111,918  TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY $1,310,637  $1,111,918  
                
                

 

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED) 
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED 
SEPTEMBER 2016/2015 
(In thousands) 
2016
 
2015
 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:     
Net earnings $83,257  $64,571  
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash from operating activities:     
      
Depreciation  29,014   28,013  
Amortization of intangibles  1,868   2,730  
Expense associated with share-based compensation arrangements  1,568   1,351  
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation arrangements  -   (33) 
Expense associated with stock grant plans  105   85  
Deferred income tax  (53)  (269) 
Equity in earnings of investee  (241)  (283) 
Net loss on disposition and impairment of assets  94   68  
Changes in:     
Accounts receivable  (69,357)  (76,723) 
Inventories  21,683   51,068  
Accounts payable and cash overdraft  35,026   10,864  
Accrued liabilities and other  33,413   39,967  
  NET CASH FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES  136,377   121,409  
      
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:     
Purchases of property, plant, and equipment  (35,723)  (36,520) 
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment  516   2,382  
Acquisitions, net of cash received  (66,615)  (2,584) 
Repayments of debt of acquiree  (92,830)  -  
Purchases of noncontrolling interest  (1,100)  (1,256) 
Advances of notes receivable  (5,400)  (4,403) 
Collections of notes receivable and related interest  5,819   8,784  
Purchases of investments  (4,468)  (5,955) 
Proceeds from sale of investments  1,395   -  
Cash restricted as to use  (323)  (734) 
Other, net  (1,733)  180  
  NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES  (200,462)  (40,106) 
      
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:     
Borrowings under revolving credit facilities  52,479   297,354  
Repayments under revolving credit facilities  (27,177)  (311,253) 
Proceeds from issuance of common stock  396   960  
Distributions to noncontrolling interest  (3,160)  (3,159) 
Dividends paid to shareholders  (8,529)  (8,050) 
Repurchase of common stock  -   (800) 
Other, net  (28)  22  
NET CASH FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES  13,981   (24,926) 
      
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash  (969)  (1,004) 
NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS  (51,073)  55,373  
      
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD  87,756   -  
      
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD $36,683  $55,373  
      
      

            

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