Encore Wire Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: WIRE) today announced results for the third quarter of 2015.

Net sales for the third quarter ended September 30, 2015 were $262.8 million compared to $297.4 million during the third quarter of 2014. Copper unit volume, measured in pounds of copper contained in the wire sold, increased 3.0% in the third quarter of 2015 versus the third quarter of 2014. Aluminum building wire sales constituted 10.5% of net sales dollars for the third quarter of 2015 versus 9.4% in the third quarter of 2014. Aluminum unit volume was up 2.2% in the third quarter of 2015 versus the third quarter of 2014. The average selling price of wire per copper pound sold dropped 15.2% in the third quarter of 2015 versus the third quarter of 2014, driving the decrease in net sales dollars. Copper wire sales prices declined primarily due to lower copper prices, which declined 23.1% versus the third quarter of 2014. Net income for the third quarter of 2015 was $14.5 million versus $11.1 million in the third quarter of 2014. Fully diluted net earnings per common share were $0.70 in the third quarter of 2015 versus $0.53 in the third quarter of 2014.

Net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 were $766.8 million compared to $881.6 million during the same period in 2014. The average selling price of wire per copper pound sold dropped 10.7%, while copper unit volume sold declined 3.7% in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 versus the nine months ended September 30, 2014. Copper wire sales prices followed the price of copper purchased, which declined 17.3%. Aluminum building wire sales constituted 9.8% of net sales dollars for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 versus 8.8% in the nine months ended September 30, 2014. Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 was $36.7 million versus $32.1 million in the same period in 2014. Fully diluted net earnings per common share were $1.76 for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 versus $1.54 in the same period in 2014.

On a sequential quarter comparison, net sales for the third quarter of 2015 were $262.8 million versus $253.7 million during the second quarter of 2015. Sales dollars increased, due to a 10.1% unit volume increase of copper building wire sold, offset by a 7.1% decrease in the average selling price per pound of copper wire sold on a sequential quarter comparison. Copper wire sales prices followed the price of copper purchased, which declined 11.9%. Net income for the third quarter of 2015 increased to $14.5 million versus $11.4 million in the second quarter of 2015. Fully diluted net income per common share was $0.70 in the third quarter of 2015 versus $0.54 in the second quarter of 2015.

Commenting on the results, Daniel L. Jones, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Encore Wire Corporation, said, “We are pleased with the third quarter results. Unit volumes bounced back in the third quarter after the rough spring weather we endured in the second quarter. On a sequential quarterly comparison, copper units were up 10.1% and aluminum units were up 20.2%. Margins also improved in both copper and aluminum wire sales. We continue to execute our strategy of attempting to be an industry pricing leader, and believe this contributed to our improved margins during the quarter. One of the key metrics to our earnings is the ‘spread’ between the price of copper wire sold and the cost of raw copper purchased in any given period. That spread increased 4.5% in the third quarter of 2015 versus the third quarter of 2014, and 3.3% on a sequential quarter comparison. The copper spread expanded 4.5% as the average price of copper purchased decreased 23.1% in the third quarter of 2015 versus the third quarter of 2014, but the average selling price of wire sold decreased only 15.2%, as a result of somewhat improved pricing discipline in the industry. The aluminum building wire products grew to 10.5% of net sales in the quarter versus 9.4% in the third quarter of 2014.

We continue to strive to lead and support industry price increases in an effort to maintain and increase margins. We believe our superior order fill rates continue to enhance our competitive position, as our electrical distributor customers are holding lean inventories in the field. As orders come in from electrical contractors, the distributors can count on our order fill rates to ensure quick deliveries from coast to coast. We have been able to accomplish this despite holding what are historically lean inventories for us.

Our balance sheet is very strong. We have no long term debt, and our revolving line of credit is paid down to zero. In addition, we had $58.8 million in cash at the end of the quarter. We repurchased 92,804 shares of our common stock on the open market for approximately $2.9 million during the quarter. We also declared another cash dividend during the quarter.

Our low cost structure and strong balance sheet have enabled us to withstand difficult periods in the past, and we believe are continuing to prove valuable now. We thank our employees and associates for their outstanding effort and our shareholders for their continued support.”

Encore Wire Corporation is a leading manufacturer of a broad range of electrical building wire for interior wiring in commercial and industrial buildings, homes, apartments, and manufactured housing. The Company is focused on maintaining a high level of customer service with low-cost production and the addition of new products that complement its current product line. The matters discussed in this news release, other than the historical financial information, including statements about the copper pricing environment, profitability and stockholder value, may include forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including payment of future dividends, future purchases of stock, fluctuations in the price of copper and other raw materials, the impact of competitive pricing and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may vary materially from those anticipated.

Additional Disclosures:

The term “EBITDA” is used by the Company in presentations, quarterly conference calls and other instances as appropriate. EBITDA is defined as net income before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization. The Company presents EBITDA because it is a required component of financial ratios reported by the Company to the Company’s banks, and is also frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties, in addition to and not in lieu of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) results to compare to the performance of other companies who also publicize this information. EBITDA is not a measurement of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered an alternative to net income as an indicator of the Company’s operating performance or any other measure of performance derived in accordance with GAAP.

The Company has reconciled EBITDA with net income for fiscal years 1996 to 2014 on previous current reports on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. EBITDA for each period pertinent to this press release is calculated and reconciled to net income as follows:

         
  Quarter Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
In Thousands 2015     2014 2015     2014
Net Income $ 14,511 $ 11,063 $ 36,652 $ 32,070
Income Tax Expense 7,779 5,581 19,200 16,593
Interest Expense 63 77 187 223
Depreciation and Amortization   4,124   3,818   11,972   11,631
EBITDA $ 26,477 $ 20,539 $ 68,011 $ 60,517
 
         
Encore Wire Corporation
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In Thousands)

 
September 30, 2015 December 31, 2014
(Unaudited)
ASSETS
Current Assets
Cash $ 58,817 $ 54,664
Receivables, net 192,005 206,908
Inventories 97,834 78,251
Prepaid Expenses and Other   2,732     5,492  
Total Current Assets 351,388 345,315
Property, Plant and Equipment, net 251,473 226,506
Other Assets   454     930  
Total Assets $ 603,315   $ 572,751  
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current Liabilities
Accounts Payable $ 26,051 $ 31,147
Accrued Liabilities and Other   30,667     28,191  
Total Current Liabilities 56,718 59,338
Long Term Liabilities
Non-Current Deferred Income Taxes   19,849     20,226  
Total Long Term Liabilities   19,849     20,226  
Total Liabilities 76,567 79,564
Stockholders’ Equity
Common Stock 267 267
Additional Paid in Capital 51,672 50,598
Treasury Stock (91,056 ) (88,134 )
Retained Earnings   565,865     530,456  
Total Stockholders’ Equity   526,748     493,187  
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity $ 603,315   $ 572,751  
 
         
Encore Wire Corporation
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited)

(In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)

 
Quarter Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
2015     2014 2015     2014
               
Net Sales $ 262,756 100.0 % $ 297,351 100.0 % $ 766,766 100.0 % $ 881,637 100.0 %
Cost of Sales   224,421   85.4 %   263,278   88.5 %   663,095   86.5 %   781,877   88.7 %
Gross Profit 38,335 14.6 % 34,073 11.5 % 103,671 13.5 % 99,760 11.3 %
 
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses   16,063   6.1 %   17,442   5.9 %   47,952   6.3 %   51,129   5.8 %
Operating Income 22,272 8.5 % 16,631 5.6 % 55,719 7.3 % 48,631 5.5 %
 
Net Interest & Other Expense   (18 ) %   (13 ) %   (133 ) %   (32 ) %
Income before Income Taxes 22,290 8.5 % 16,644 5.6 % 55,852 7.3 % 48,663 5.5 %
 
Income Taxes   7,779   3.0 %   5,581   1.9 %   19,200   2.5 %   16,593   1.9 %
Net Income $ 14,511   5.5 % $ 11,063   3.7 % $ 36,652   4.8 % $ 32,070   3.6 %
 
Basic Earnings Per Share $ 0.70   $ 0.53   $ 1.77   $ 1.55  
Diluted Earnings Per Share $ 0.70   $ 0.53   $ 1.76   $ 1.54  
Weighted Average Number of Common and Common Equivalent Shares Outstanding:
Basic   20,716     20,718     20,726     20,712  
Diluted   20,774     20,819     20,797     20,831  
Dividend Declared per Share $ 0.02   $ 0.02   $ 0.06   $ 0.06