WIRE Encore Wire Corporation

Encore Wire Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: WIRE) today announced results for the first quarter of 2018.

Net sales for the first quarter ended March 31, 2018 were $291.4 million compared to $279.4 million during the first quarter of 2017. Copper unit volume, measured in pounds of copper contained in the wire sold, decreased 7.9% in the first quarter of 2018 versus the first quarter of 2017. The average selling price of wire per copper pound sold increased 15.6% in the first quarter of 2018 versus the first quarter of 2017. Copper wire sales prices increased primarily due to the higher price of copper purchased, which increased 18.3% versus the first quarter of 2017. Net income for the first quarter of 2018 was $11.4 million versus $13.6 million in the first quarter of 2017. Fully diluted net earnings per common share were $0.54 in the first quarter of 2018 versus $0.65 in the first quarter of 2017.

On a sequential quarter comparison, net sales for the first quarter of 2018 were $291.4 million versus $301.3 million during the fourth quarter of 2017. Sales dollars decreased due to a 3.9% unit volume decrease of copper building wire sold, offset by a 1.3% increase in the average selling price per pound of copper wire sold on a sequential quarter comparison. Copper wire sales prices increased primarily due to an increase of 2.2% in the price of copper purchased. Net income for the first quarter of 2018 was $11.4 million versus $28.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2017. Fully diluted net income per common share was $0.54 in the first quarter of 2018 versus $1.36 in the fourth quarter of 2017.

Commenting on the results, Daniel L. Jones, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Encore Wire Corporation, said, “We are pleased with our results in the first quarter, with some key items to note. Net sales dollars increased in the quarter, driven primarily by higher copper raw material prices. Copper margins increased strongly in the quarterly comparison of 2018 versus 2017. 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. The copper spread increased 10.1% in the first quarter of 2018 versus the first quarter of 2017. The copper spread expanded 10.1% as the average price of copper purchased increased 18.3% in the first quarter of 2018 versus the first quarter of 2017, while the average selling price of wire sold increased 15.6%. The percentage change on sales is on a higher nominal dollar amount than on purchases and, therefore, spreads change on a nominal dollar basis. Unit volumes in the first three months of 2018, decreased 7.9% in copper pounds shipped versus the first three months of last year. We believe volumes were impacted primarily by rough winter weather that slowed construction projects, particularly in January.

The U.S. economy appears strong, as is construction activity. We believe that some of our financially stressed competitors have struggled and acted erratically in what we consider a strong business environment, when volumes are good and margins should also be strong. Based on discussions with our distributor customers and their contractor customers, we believe there is a good outlook for construction projects for the next year. 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 orders come in from electrical contractors, the distributors can count on our order fill rates to ensure quick deliveries from coast to coast. 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 $107.8 million in cash at the end of 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 they are continuing to prove valuable now. We thank our employees and associates for their outstanding effort and our shareholders for their continued support.”

The Company will host a conference call to discuss the first quarter results on Wednesday, May 2, 2018, at 10:00 am Central time. Hosting the call will be Daniel Jones, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Frank Bilban, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. To participate in the call, the dial-in number is 866-352-2112, and the passcode is 6783418#. A telephone replay of this conference call will be available at 888-843-7419, conference reference 6783418#, until June 1, 2018. A replay of this conference call will also be accessible in the Investors section of our website for a limited time.

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 2017 on previous 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 March 31, In Thousands   2018     2017 Net Income $ 11,353   $ 13,632 Income Tax Expense 3,597 6,852 Interest Expense 59 58 Depreciation and Amortization   4,109     3,798 EBITDA $ 19,118   $ 24,340     Encore Wire Corporation Consolidated Balance Sheets (In Thousands)   March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017 (Unaudited) ASSETS Current Assets Cash $ 107,827 $ 123,362 Receivables, net 248,466 228,885 Inventories 94,498 92,365 Prepaid Expenses and Other   1,751     2,372   Total Current Assets 452,542 446,984 Property, Plant and Equipment, net 290,112 286,798 Other Assets   193     193   Total Assets $ 742,847   $ 733,975     LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY Current Liabilities Accounts Payable $ 41,097 $ 36,330 Accrued Liabilities and Other   27,826     35,301   Total Current Liabilities 68,923 71,631 Long-Term Liabilities Deferred Income Taxes   20,688     20,999   Total Long-Term Liabilities   20,688     20,999   Total Liabilities 89,611 92,630 Stockholders’ Equity Common Stock 269 269 Additional Paid-in Capital 59,147 58,192 Treasury Stock (91,056 ) (91,056 ) Retained Earnings   684,876     673,940   Total Stockholders’ Equity   653,236     641,345   Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity $ 742,847   $ 733,975     Encore Wire Corporation Consolidated Statements of Income (In thousands, except per share data)   Quarter Ended March 31, 2018     2017   (Unaudited)     Net Sales $ 291,431 100.0 % $ 279,392 100.0 % Cost of Goods Sold   253,937   87.1 %   240,187   86.0 % Gross Profit 37,494 12.9 % 39,205 14.0 %   Selling, General and Administrative Expenses   22,887   7.9 %   18,737   6.7 % Operating Income 14,607 5.0 % 20,468 7.3 %   Net Interest & Other Income   343   0.1 %   16   — % Income before Income Taxes 14,950 5.1 % 20,484 7.3 %   Provision for Income Taxes   3,597   1.2 %   6,852   2.5 % Net Income $ 11,353   3.9 % $ 13,632   4.9 %   Basic Earnings Per Share $ 0.54 $ 0.66 Diluted Earnings Per Share $ 0.54 $ 0.65 Weighted Average Common and Common Equivalent Shares Outstanding: Basic   20,835   20,738 Diluted   20,911   20,834 Cash Dividends Declared per Share $ 0.02 $ 0.02

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Encore Wire CorporationFrank J. Bilban, 972-562-9473Vice President & CFO