Universal Stainless Reports Second Quarter 2009 Results




   --  Company Generates Operating Income
   --  Sales Are $30.8 Million on 40% Fewer Tons Shipped
   --  Net Loss of $0.06 per Share Includes $0.11 per Share
       Negative Tax Adjustment
   --  Cash Flow from Operations Increases to $12.7 Million
       in 2Q09
   --  Cash Increased to $34.4 Million vs. Total Debt of $13.3
       Million
   --  Melt Shop Project Continues On-Time and On-Budget

BRIDGEVILLE, Pa., July 29, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc. (Nasdaq:USAP) reported today that sales for the second quarter of 2009 were $30.8 million, a decline of 52% from the record $63.5 million reported in the second quarter of 2008. Tons shipped declined 40% from the prior year period.

The Company reported a net loss of $400,000 or $0.06 per share in the second quarter of 2009 that included a tax adjustment of $742,000, equivalent to $0.11 per share, primarily for the reconciliation of tax balances to the 2008 federal and state income tax returns to be filed in the third quarter of 2009. Without this adjustment, net income in the second quarter of 2009 would have been $342,000, or $0.05 per diluted share. This compares with net income of $5.3 million, or $0.77 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2008.

For the second quarter of 2009, cash flow from operations totaled $12.7 million, an increase of 168% from the second quarter of 2008. Capital expenditures were $3.9 million including expenditures of $3.2 million for the melt shop upgrade project. At June 30, 2009, cash was $34.4 million, working capital was $97.4 million, and long-term debt was $12.2 million.

For the first six months of 2009, sales were $72.9 million and the Company incurred a net loss of $4.2 million or $0.63 per share, including the tax adjustment in the second quarter and unusual charges recognized in the 2009 first quarter of $3.6 million equivalent to $0.53 per share, after-tax. In the first half of 2008, sales were $120.3 million and net income was $10.0 million, or $1.47 per diluted share.

President and CEO Dennis Oates commented: "During the first quarter, we implemented an aggressive plan to reduce costs, generate cash and adjust our operating levels in the face of difficult economic and credit conditions and significant de-stocking in the specialty steel supply channel. As a result, we were able to report operating income in the second quarter despite 27% lower sales and 29% fewer tons shipped than in the first quarter. Our cost control and working capital management, which included a 19% sequential reduction in WIP inventory, also yielded a nearly four-fold increase in operating cash flow compared to the first quarter and enabled us to increase our net cash position by $8.7 million to $21.1 million.

"Our melt shop upgrade project remains on time and on budget. While not scheduled for completion until mid-2010, the upgrades placed into service have already produced better product quality and improved material yields. The resulting improvement in our on-time delivery and shortened lead times have enabled us to capture additional orders from our customers. We also recently achieved AS9100 certification for our Bridgeville and Dunkirk facilities, which better positions us to serve the international aerospace market.

"In a sign that business is starting to return, total order entry has improved each month since April. However, bookings are well below normal levels and our backlog has dropped to $38 million at June 30 as our end markets remain challenged and inventory restocking has not resumed in the supply channel. Our lean operations, low fixed costs and continued aggressive working capital management should allow us to generate positive cash flow and maintain our strong financial position in the third quarter in spite of the current low volume environment."

Segment Review

For the second quarter of 2009, the Universal Stainless & Alloy Products segment had sales of $26.9 million and operating income of $949,000, yielding an operating margin of 4% of sales. This compares with sales of $53.1 million and operating income of $5.6 million, or 11% of sales, in the second quarter of 2008. In the first quarter of 2009, sales were $36.7 million and there was an operating loss of $3.9 million, including $5.0 million of unusual charges.

Segment sales declined 49% from the second quarter of 2008 primarily due to a 33% decrease in tons shipped and lower surcharges. Increased shipments to forgers and OEMs, mainly of power generation products, were offset by substantially lower shipments to rerollers and to service centers, mainly of tool steel plate. Segment sales decreased 27% from the first quarter of 2009 on 24% fewer tons shipped.

The Dunkirk Specialty Steel segment recorded sales of $10.2 million and an operating loss of $384,000 for the second quarter of 2009. This compares with sales of $21.2 million and operating income of $2.1 million, or 10% of sales, in the second quarter of 2008. In the first quarter of 2009, sales were $11.4 million and the operating loss was $2.5 million, including unusual charges of $1.0 million.

Dunkirk's sales declined 52% from the second quarter of 2008 while tons shipped decreased 31% due to lower shipments to all customer categories and lower surcharges. Dunkirk's sales were 10% lower than in the first quarter of 2009 on a 2% decrease in tons shipped.

Webcast

A simultaneous Webcast of the Company's conference call discussing the second quarter of 2009, scheduled at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern) today, will be available on the Company's website at www.univstainless.com, and thereafter archived on the website.

About Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc.

Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc., headquartered in Bridgeville, Pa., manufactures and markets a broad line of semi-finished and finished specialty steels, including stainless steel, tool steel and certain other alloyed steels. The Company's products are sold to rerollers, forgers, service centers, original equipment manufacturers and wire redrawers. More information is available at www.univstainless.com.

Forward-Looking Information Safe Harbor

Except for historical information contained herein, the statements in this release are forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the Company's actual results in future periods to differ materially from forecasted results. Those risks include, among others, risks associated with the receipt, pricing and timing of future customer orders, risks associated with significant fluctuations that may occur in raw material and energy prices, risks associated with the manufacturing process, labor and production yields, risks related to property, plant and equipment, and risks related to the ultimate outcome of the Company's current and future litigation and regulatory matters. The Company's actual results in future periods also may be impacted by various economic and market risk and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Certain of these risks and other risks are described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over the last 12 months, copies of which are available from the SEC or may be obtained upon request from the Company.



                 UNIVERSAL STAINLESS & ALLOY PRODUCTS, INC.
                           FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
          (Dollars in thousands, except per share information)
                              (Unaudited)

                 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

                              For the                 For the
                            Quarter Ended         Six-Months Ended
                              June 30,                June 30,
                          2009        2008        2009         2008
                          ----        ----        ----         ----
      Net Sales
 
 Stainless steel       $ 25,648    $ 43,760    $ 59,410    $  85,788
 Tool steel               1,563      11,659       4,892       20,766
 High-strength low
  alloy steel             2,367       2,934       5,110        6,945
 High-temperature
  alloy steel               876       3,344       2,895        4,490
 Conversion services        292         448         596          973
 Other                       17       1,337          46        1,365
                       --------    --------    --------    ---------
   Total net sales       30,763      63,482      72,949      120,327
 Cost of products
  sold                   28,092      53,018      71,956       99,797
 Selling and
  administrative
  expenses                2,106       2,634       6,843        5,709
                       --------    --------    --------    ---------
   Operating income         565       7,830      (5,850)      14,821
 Interest expense           (27)        (27)        (51)         (55)
 Other income                35          62          65          149
                       --------    --------    --------    ---------
   Income (loss)
    before taxes            573       7,865      (5,836)       14,915
 Income tax
  provision
  (benefit)                 973       2,595      (1,610)        4,922
                       --------    --------   --------    -----------
   Net income (loss)   $   (400)   $  5,270    $ (4,226)   $    9,993
                       ========    ========   =========   ===========
                       
 Earnings per share    
  - Basic              $  (0.06)   $   0.79    $  (0.63)   $     1.49
                       ========    ========   =========   ===========
 Earnings per share    
  - Diluted            $  (0.06)   $   0.77    $  (0.63)   $     1.47
                       ========    ========   =========   ===========

 Weighted average 
  shares of Common 
  Stock outstanding
   Basic              6,751,739   6,707,523   6,742,012     6,685,368
   Diluted            6,751,739   6,819,546   6,742,012     6,795,514


                               MARKET SEGMENT INFORMATION
                              For the                 For the
                            Quarter Ended         Six-Months Ended
                              June 30,                June 30,
                          2009        2008        2009         2008
                          ----        ----        ----         ----
   Net Sales
 
 Service centers       $ 13,117    $ 33,850    $ 30,649    $  63,084
 Forgers                 10,420      11,142      23,391       20,160
 Rerollers                1,960       9,240       7,964       20,479
 Original equipment
  manufacturers           3,797       5,795       8,196       11,236
 Wire redrawers           1,160       1,692       2,107        3,061
 Conversion services        292         448         596          973
 Other                       17       1,315          46        1,334
                       --------    --------   ---------   -----------
   Total net sales     $ 30,763    $ 63,482    $ 72,949    $ 120,327
                       ========    ========   =========   ===========

 Tons shipped             6,855      11,423      16,448       23,190
                       ========    ========   =========   ===========




                         BUSINESS SEGMENT RESULTS


 Universal Stainless & Alloy Products Segment

                               For the                   For the
                             Quarter Ended          Six-Months Ended
                                June 30,                June 30,
                           2009        2008        2009         2008
                           ----        ----        ----         ----
   Net Sales
 
 Stainless steel         $18,234     $28,901     $44,229     $ 56,211
 Tool steel                1,531      11,278       4,739       19,702
 High-strength low                                         
  alloy steel                647       1,114       1,662        2,227
 High-temperature                                          
  alloy steel                393         929       1,127        1,498
 Conversion services         206         296         394          653
 Other                        11       1,262          40        1,272
                         -------     -------     -------     --------
                          21,022      43,780      52,191       81,563
 Intersegment              5,857       9,312      11,373       19,727
                         -------     -------     -------     --------
                                                           
   Total net sales        26,879      53,092      63,564      101,290
 Material cost of                                          
  sales                   10,445      28,654      30,711       51,993
 Operation cost of                                         
  sales                   14,131      16,936      30,591       34,726
 Selling and                                               
  administrative                                           
  expenses                 1,354       1,869       5,227        4,007
                         -------     -------     -------     --------
                                                           
   Operating income                                        
    (loss)               $   949     $ 5,633     $(2,965)    $ 10,564
                         =======     =======     ========    ========


 Dunkirk Specialty Steel Segment

                               For the                   For the
                             Quarter Ended          Six-Months Ended
                                June 30,                June 30,
                           2009        2008        2009         2008
                           ----        ----        ----         ----
   Net Sales                                           
 
 Stainless steel         $ 7,414     $14,859     $15,181     $ 29,577
 Tool steel                   32         381         153        1,064
 High-strength low                                         
  alloy steel              1,720       1,820       3,448        4,718
 High-temperature                                          
  alloy steel                483       2,415       1,768        2,992
 Conversion services          86         152         202          320
 Other                         6          75           6           93
                         -------     -------     -------     --------
                           9,741      19,702      20,758       38,764
 Intersegment                465       1,474         830        2,462
                         -------     -------     -------     --------
                                                           
   Total net sales        10,206      21,176      21,588       41,226
 Material cost of                                          
  sales                    6,345      13,126      15,139       24,965
 Operation cost of                                         
  sales                    3,493       5,159       7,718        9,648
 Selling and                                               
  administrative                                           
  expenses                   752         765       1,616        1,702
                         -------     -------     -------     --------
                                                           
   Operating income                                        
    (loss)               $  (384)    $ 2,126     $(2,885)    $  4,911
                         =======     =======     ========    ========
                                                           



            
                      CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

                                         June 30,         December 31,
                                           2009              2008
                                           ----              ----
      Assets
 
 Cash                                 $    34,399       $    14,812
 Accounts receivable, net                  19,891            33,057
 Inventory                                 45,175            63,222
 Other current assets                       9,726             8,239
                                      -----------       -----------
                                                      
   Total current assets                   109,191           119,330
 Property, plant & equipment, net          67,937            62,626
 Other assets                               1,309               988
                                      -----------       -----------
                                                      
   Total assets                       $   178,437       $   182,944
                                      ===========       ===========
                                                      
   Liabilities and Stockholders' 
    Equity                              
 
 Trade accounts payable               $     7,500       $    19,350
 Outstanding checks in excess of 
  bank balance                                364               540
 Accrued employment costs                   2,509             3,795
 Current portion of long-term debt          1,015               403
 Other current liabilities                    410               421
                                      -----------       -----------
                                                      
   Total current liabilities               11,798            24,509
 Long-term debt                            12,235             1,046
 Deferred taxes                            12,000            11,689
 Other liabilities                             87                --
                                      -----------       -----------
                                                      
   Total liabilities                       36,120            37,244
 Stockholders' equity                     142,317           145,700
                                      -----------       -----------
                                                      
   Total liabilities and 
    stockholders' equity              $   178,437       $   182,944
                                      ===========       ===========



    
                    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT  OF CASH FLOW DATA 
                     For the Six-month Period Ended June 30,

                                            2009                2008
                                            ----                ----
 Cash flows provided by operating 
  activities:
   Net income (loss)                   $   (4,226)         $    9,993
   Adjustments to reconcile to 
    net cash provided by 
    operating activities:
     Depreciation and 
      amortization                          2,338               2,008
     Deferred tax increase 
      (decrease)                             (262)                304
     Stock based compensation 
      expense                                 499                 413
     Tax benefit from 
      share-based payment 
      arrangements                            (86)               (511)
   Changes in assets and 
    liabilities:
     Accounts receivable, net              13,166              (7,133)
     Inventory                             18,047              (6,827)
     Trade accounts payable               (11,850)              6,836
     Accrued employment costs              (1,286)               (366)
     Other, net                            (1,048)                216
                                       ----------          ----------
 Cash flow provided by 
  operating activities                     15,292               4,933
                                       ----------          ----------
 Cash flow used in investing 
  activities:
   Capital expenditures                    (7,645)             (5,401)
                                       ----------          ----------
 Cash flow used in investing 
  activities                               (7,645)             (5,401)
                                       ----------          ----------
 Cash flows provided by 
  financing activities:
   Long-term debt issuance                 12,000                  --
                                          
   Long-term debt repayments                 (199)               (194)
   Net change in outstanding 
    checks in excess of bank 
    balance                                  (176)              1,848
   Deferred financing costs                   (84)                 --
   Proceeds from issuance of
    common stock                              313                 722
   Tax benefit from share-based
     payment arrangements                      86                 511
                                       ----------          ----------
 Cash flow provided by 
  financing activities                     11,940               2,887
                                       ----------          ----------

     Net cash flow                     $   19,587          $    2,419
                                       ==========          ==========


            

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