Sales Increase 30% From 2009 Fourth Quarter to $34.7 Million
EPS is $0.21 in 1Q10 vs. 4Q09 EPS (Including Import Duties of $0.06) of $0.14
Backlog Grows 47% Sequentially
BRIDGEVILLE, Pa., April 28, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc. (Nasdaq:USAP) reported today that sales for the first quarter of 2010 were $34.7 million compared with $42.2 million in the first quarter of 2009 and $26.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2009.
Net income for the first quarter of 2010 was $1.4 million, or $0.21 per diluted share. For the first quarter of 2009, the Company reported a net loss of $3.8 million, or $0.57 per diluted share, which included unusual charges. In the fourth quarter of 2009, net income was $956,000, or $0.14 per diluted share, including import duties received of $551,000, equivalent to $0.06 per diluted share.
The Company recorded negative cash flow from operations of $2.8 million for the first quarter of 2010 compared with positive cash flows of $2.6 million in the first quarter of 2009 and $2.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2009. Cash flow decreased due to the investment in managed working capital necessary to support increased sales activity and growing backlogs. In addition, capital expenditures were $1.1 million, including $629,000 for a melt shop upgrade project, which is expected to be completed in the third quarter. At March 31, 2010, the Company had cash of $37.8 million and total debt of $12.9 million.
The Company noted that its first quarter shipment volume to service centers, forgers and rerollers increased 59%, 29% and 62%, respectively, over the fourth quarter of 2009. Shipments to all end markets also demonstrated strong sequential increases, with tons shipped of aerospace products up 26%, power generation products up 11%, petrochemical products up 48% and service center plate products up 94%, compared with the 2009 fourth quarter.
President and CEO Dennis Oates commented: "Recovery continued in the first quarter and we saw a broad- based increase in our shipment volume amid further signs that de-stocking is ending and restocking is beginning in the supply chain. Restocking was most evident in the continued growth of our shipments of service center plate, as sharp recovery in auto production has caused service centers to further replenish their plate inventory after several quarters of heavy destocking."
"We saw strong growth in aerospace bar shipments sequentially, our power generation shipments benefited from higher maintenance spending in the first quarter, and our initiatives in the oil and gas market contributed to the increase in petrochemical volume. The increased volume in the first quarter combined with our continued progress in process and yield improvement, cost savings resulting from capital projects and reduced cycle times resulted in strong improvement in our profitability as measured by our higher margins and lower operating costs per ton."
"Bookings gained momentum in the first quarter and we ended the quarter with backlog of $53 million, an increase of 47% from the end of 2009. Based on the level of our backlog and indications from our customers that restocking is continuing, we expect our second quarter results to demonstrate further sequential growth."
Segment Review
For the first quarter of 2010, the Universal Stainless & Alloy Products segment had sales of $31.2 million and operating income of $1.9 million, yielding an operating margin of 6.2% of sales. This compares with sales of $36.7 million and an operating loss of $3.9 million, including $5.0 million of unusual charges, in the first quarter of 2009. In the fourth quarter of 2009, sales were $23.1 million and operating income was $509,000, or 2.2% of sales.
Segment sales declined 15% from the first quarter of 2009 on a 10% decrease in tons shipped. Lower shipments to rerollers, forgers, OEMs and of bar products to service centers offset a 41% increase in shipments of plate products to service centers, especially tool steel, compared to the first quarter of 2009. Segment sales increased 35% from the fourth quarter of 2009 on a 39% increase in tons shipped, reflecting substantially higher shipments to service centers, forgers, and rerollers, including sales to the Dunkirk segment.
The Dunkirk Specialty Steel segment recorded sales of $10.4 million and operating income of $325,000 for the first quarter of 2010, yielding an operating margin of 3.1% of sales. This compares with sales in the first quarter of 2009 of $11.4 million and an operating loss of $2.5 million, including unusual charges of $1.0 million. In the fourth quarter of 2009, sales were $8.5 million and operating income was $227,000, or 2.7% of sales.
Dunkirk's sales declined 8% from the first quarter of 2009 on 13% fewer tons shipped due to lower shipments to all customer categories offset by a favorable product mix shift and higher selling prices. Dunkirk's sales increased 22% from the fourth quarter of 2009 on a 12% increase in tons shipped, reflecting higher shipments to service centers and higher surcharges.
Webcast
A simultaneous webcast of the Company's conference call discussing the first quarter of 2010, 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 through the end of the second quarter of 2010.
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 Quarter Ended March 31, |
||
| 2010 | 2009 | |
| Net Sales | ||
| Stainless steel | $ 24,032 | $ 33,762 |
| Tool steel | 6,175 | 3,329 |
| High-strength low alloy steel | 2,012 | 2,743 |
| High-temperature alloy steel | 1,892 | 2,019 |
| Conversion services | 411 | 304 |
| Other | 157 | 29 |
| Total net sales | 34,679 | 42,186 |
| Cost of products sold | 29,760 | 43,864 |
| Selling and administrative expenses | 2,660 | 4,737 |
| Operating income (loss) | 2,259 | (6,415) |
| Interest expense | (96) | (24) |
| Other income | -- | 30 |
| Income (loss) before taxes | 2,163 | (6,409) |
| Income tax (benefit) provision | 736 | (2,583) |
| Net income (loss) | $ 1,427 | $ (3,826) |
| Earnings (loss) per share – Basic | $ 0.21 | $ (0.57) |
| Earnings (loss) per share – Diluted | $ 0.21 | $ (0.57) |
| Weighted average shares of Common Stock outstanding | ||
| Basic | 6,773,337 | 6,732,284 |
| Diluted | 6,840,783 | 6,732,284 |
| MARKET SEGMENT INFORMATION | ||
|
For the Quarter Ended March 31, |
||
| 2010 | 2009 | |
| Net Sales | ||
| Service centers | $ 17,231 | $ 17,532 |
| Forgers | 9,984 | 12,971 |
| Rerollers | 3,660 | 6,004 |
| Original equipment manufacturers | 2,430 | 4,399 |
| Wire redrawers | 823 | 947 |
| Conversion services | 411 | 304 |
| Other | 140 | 29 |
| Total net sales | $ 34,679 | $ 42,186 |
| Tons shipped | 8,456 | 9,593 |
| BUSINESS SEGMENT RESULTS | ||
|
Universal Stainless & Alloy Products Segment |
||
|
For the Quarter Ended March 31, |
||
| 2010 | 2009 | |
| Net Sales | ||
| Stainless steel | $ 17,239 | $ 25,995 |
| Tool steel | 5,928 | 3,208 |
| High-strength low alloy steel | 449 | 1,015 |
| High-temperature alloy steel | 591 | 734 |
| Conversion services | 287 | 188 |
| Other | 154 | 29 |
| 24,648 | 31,169 | |
| Intersegment | 6,595 | 5,516 |
| Total net sales | 31,243 | 36,685 |
| Material cost of sales | 14,157 | 20,266 |
| Operation cost of sales | 13,374 | 16,460 |
| Selling and administrative expenses | 1,778 | 3,873 |
| Operating income (loss) | $ 1,934 | $ (3,914) |
|
Dunkirk Specialty Steel Segment |
||
|
For the Quarter Ended March 31, |
||
| 2010 | 2009 | |
| Net Sales | ||
| Stainless steel | $ 6,793 | $ 7,767 |
| Tool steel | 247 | 121 |
| High-strength low alloy steel | 1,563 | 1,728 |
| High-temperature alloy steel | 1,301 | 1,285 |
| Conversion services | 124 | 116 |
| Other | 3 | -- |
| 10,031 | 11,017 | |
| Intersegment | 400 | 365 |
| Total net sales | 10,431 | 11,382 |
| Material cost of sales | 5,955 | 8,794 |
| Operation cost of sales | 3,269 | 4,225 |
| Selling and administrative expenses | 882 | 864 |
| Operating (loss) income | $ 325 | $ (2,501) |
| CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET | ||
|
March 31, 2010 |
December 31, 2009 |
|
| Assets | ||
| Cash | $ 37,834 | $ 42,349 |
| Accounts receivable, net | 23,626 | 17,028 |
| Inventory | 54,199 | 41,322 |
| Other current assets | 9,261 | 9,344 |
| Total current assets | 124,920 | 110,043 |
| Property, plant & equipment, net | 69,834 | 70,085 |
| Other assets | 1,463 | 1,586 |
| Total assets | $ 196,217 | $ 181,714 |
| Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity | ||
| Trade accounts payable | $ 18,906 | $ 7,783 |
| Outstanding checks in excess of bank balance | 134 | 734 |
| Accrued employment costs | 2,382 | 1,178 |
| Current portion of long-term debt | 2,831 | 2,223 |
| Other current liabilities | 1,575 | 553 |
| Total current liabilities | 25,828 | 12,471 |
| Long-term debt | 10,112 | 10,823 |
| Deferred taxes | 14,170 | 14,049 |
| Other liabilities | 224 | 145 |
| Total liabilities | 50,334 | 37,488 |
| Stockholders' equity | 145,883 | 144,226 |
| Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | $ 196,217 | $ 181,714 |
| CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOW DATA | ||
|
For the Three-Month Period Ended March 31, |
||
| 2010 | 2009 | |
| Cash flows provided by operating activities: | ||
| Net income (loss) | $ 1,427 | $ (3,826) |
| Adjustments to reconcile to net cash provided by operating activities: | ||
| Depreciation and amortization | 1,329 | 1,164 |
| Loss on retirement of fixed assets | 17 | -- |
| Deferred tax (decrease) increase | 31 | (609) |
| Stock based compensation expense | 286 | 250 |
| Tax benefit from share-based payment arrangements | (8) | -- |
| Changes in assets and liabilities: | ||
| Accounts receivable, net | (6,598) | 3,867 |
| Inventory, net | (12,877) | 11,825 |
| Trade accounts payable | 11,123 | (7,415) |
| Accrued employment costs | 1,204 | (606) |
| Other, net | 1,309 | (2,013) |
| Cash flow (used in) provided by operating activities | (2,757) | 2,637 |
| Cash flow used in investing activities: | ||
| Proceeds from sale of fixed assets | 17 | -- |
| Capital expenditures | (1,090) | (3,734) |
| Cash flow used in investing activities | (1,073) | (3,734) |
| Cash flows used in financing activities: | ||
| Long-term debt issuance | -- | 12,000 |
| Long-term debt repayments | (103) | (100) |
| Net change in outstanding checks in excess of bank balance | (600) | 250 |
| Deferred financing costs | -- | (84) |
| Proceeds from issuance of common stock | 10 | -- |
| Tax benefit from share-based payment arrangements | 8 | -- |
| Cash flow (used in) provided by financing activities | (685) | 12,066 |
| Net cash flow | $ (4,515) | $ 10,969 |