Houston Wire & Cable Company Reports Results for the Quarter and Year Ended December 31, 2018


HOUSTON, March 14, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Houston Wire & Cable Company (NASDAQ: HWCC) (the “Company”) announced operating results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2018.

Fourth Quarter 2018 Highlights

  • Net income of $1.6 million, or $0.10 per diluted share
  • Sales growth of 7.0% to $87.9 million
  • Operating income of $3.2 million, increase of $0.2 million

Full Year 2018 Highlights

  • Net income of $8.6 million, or $0.52 per diluted share
  • Sales of $356.9 million, up 12.3%
  • Gross margin of 23.9%, improvement of 100 basis points
  • Operating expense to sales of 20.0%, improvement of 140 basis points
  • Operating income of $13.9 million, increase of $9.3 million
  • Cash from operating activities of $5.3 million

Fourth Quarter Summary
James Pokluda, President and Chief Executive Officer commented, “We are pleased that the upward momentum we experienced in the third quarter continued into the fourth quarter. This marks the eighth consecutive quarter with year-over-year growth since Q4 2016.  We estimate that aggregate decreases in metals prices in 2018 reduced sales by approximately 1% during the quarter.  We estimate sales for our project business, which targets end markets for Utility Power Generation, Environmental Compliance, Engineering & Construction, Industrials, and Mechanical Wire Rope, decreased 1%, while Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) sales increased 10%, as compared to the fourth quarter of 2017.”

Gross margin at 23.9% decreased 150 basis points from the fourth quarter of 2017, primarily due to adjustments to customer and supplier rebates in the prior year which to some degree was offset by incrementally higher product margins driven by pricing discipline and product mix.  Sequentially, gross margin increased 10 basis points, indicating that the margin improvement plan is continuing to work.  Operating expenses of $17.8 million were down half a percentage point from the fourth quarter of 2017 and down 3.0% sequentially.  Operating expenses as a percentage of sales decreased 160 basis points to 20.2% from 21.8% in Q4 2017.

Quarterly interest expense of $0.8 million was up 29.3% from $0.6 million in the prior year period.  Average debt levels for the quarter of $70.8 million decreased $4.4 million or 5.9% from $75.3 million in 2017, while the effective interest rate increased from 3.0% to 4.1% in 2018.

The effective tax rate for the quarter was 33.3% compared to the 2017 rate of 16.4%.  The main differences resulted from a 2017 valuation allowance credit of 43.7% that was partially offset by an additional deferred tax expense of 13.7% from the 2017 Tax Cuts & Jobs Act. 

The results of operations produced net income of $1.6 million, as compared to $2.0 million in 2017.

Twelve Month Summary
Sales for the year ended December 31, 2018 were $356.9 million, up 12.3% from $317.7 million in 2017. We estimate that higher metals prices in 2018 represented approximately 4% of the sales increase.  We estimate sales for our project business increased 17%, while MRO sales increased 11%, as compared to 2017.

Gross margin at 23.9% was up 100 basis points from the 2017 period.  “Improved pricing discipline and greater customer product demand contributed to the margin increase,” said Mr. Pokluda.

Operating expenses at $71.3 million increased 4.8% from the prior year amount of $68.1 million. The majority of the increase was due to increased variable compensation and operating expenses associated with increased activity and profitability.  Operating expenses as a percentage of sales decreased 140 basis points from 21.4% in 2017 to 20.0% in 2018.

Interest expense of $2.9 million increased 40.2% from $2.1 million in 2017.  The increase reflected a combination of higher average debt to fund additional working capital of $5.0 million and higher average interest rates, which rose from 2.8% in 2017 to 3.7% in 2018.

Income tax expense decreased 14.5% to $2.4 million from $2.8 million in 2017 as the effective income tax rate was 21.4% in 2018 compared to 108.8% in 2017. The 2018 tax rate included a benefit of 9.5% for the release of the valuation allowance on our net deferred tax assets and an expense of 1.2% for share-based compensation. This compares to the 2017 tax rate which included a 41.0% charge for the establishment of a valuation allowance on our net deferred tax assets, 15.2% for share-based compensation expense and a 12.9% charge for deferred tax expense resulting from the 2017 Tax Cuts & Jobs Act.

The results of operations generated net income of $8.6 million, compared to a net loss of $0.2 million in 2017.  Mr. Pokluda commented, “2018 continued to be a year of recovery and overall I am pleased with these results when compared to 2017.  The increase in net income of $8.9 million was realized through the very hard work of our valued team members, outstanding pricing discipline, and very high levels of profitability pull-through to the bottom line through superior execution of our strategic plan. I am also pleased that we have extended, at substantially the same terms, our credit facility with Bank of America until March 12, 2024.”     

Conference Call
The Company will host a conference call to discuss fourth quarter and full year results, Friday, March 15, 2019, at 10:00 a.m., C.D.T.  Hosting the call will be James Pokluda, President and Chief Executive Officer and Christopher Micklas, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

A live audio web cast of the call will be available on the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website www.houwire.com.  

Live call dial-in numbers are as follow:
Toll-Free: (800) 936-7954
International: (720) 545-0048
Conference ID #9994212

Approximately two hours after the completion of the live call, a telephone replay will be available until March 22, 2019.

Replay, Toll-Free #: (855)859-2056
Replay, Toll #: (404) 537-3406
Conference ID # 9994212

About the Company
With 44 years of experience in the industry, Houston Wire & Cable Company, an industrial distributor, is a large provider of products in the U.S. market. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, the Company has sales and distribution facilities strategically located throughout the United States.

Standard stock items available for immediate delivery include continuous and interlocked armor cable; instrumentation cable; medium voltage cable; high temperature wire; portable cord; power cable; primary and secondary aluminum distribution cable; private branded products, including LifeGuard™, a low-smoke, zero-halogen cable; mechanical wire and cable and related hardware, including wire rope, lifting products and synthetic rope and slings; corrosion resistant fasteners, hose clamps, and rivets.

Comprehensive value-added services include same-day shipping, knowledgeable sales staff, inventory management programs, just-in-time delivery, logistics support, customized online ordering capabilities and 24/7/365 service.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains comments concerning management’s view of the Company’s future expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and projections about future events may, and often do, vary materially from actual results.
                       
Other risk factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from statements made in this press release can be found in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and other documents filed with the SEC.  These documents are available under the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at www.houwire.com.

Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update such statements.


Houston Wire & Cable Company
Consolidated Balance Sheets

  December 31, 
  2018  2017 
  (In thousands, except
share data)
 
       
Assets        
Current assets:        
Cash $1,393  $ 
Accounts receivable, net        
  Trade  52,946   51,031 
  Other  6,847   6,365 
Inventories, net  94,325   88,115 
Income tax receivable  435   449 
Prepaids  737   1,938 
Total current assets  156,683   147,898 
         
Property and equipment, net  11,456   11,355 
Intangible assets, net  11,179   12,015 
Goodwill  22,353   22,353 
Deferred income taxes  930    
Other assets  456   418 
Total assets $203,057  $194,039 
         
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity        
Current liabilities:        
Book overdraft $  $3,028 
Trade accounts payable  11,253   8,449 
Accrued and other current liabilities  19,232   16,823 
Total current liabilities  30,485   28,300 
         
Debt  71,316   73,555 
Deferred income taxes     414 
Other long-term obligations  578   1,026 
Total liabilities  102,379   103,295 
         
Stockholders’ equity:        
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized, none issued and
  outstanding
      
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized: 20,988,952
  shares issued: 16,611,651 and 16,491,181 shares outstanding at December 31,
  2018 and 2017, respectively
  21   21 
Additional paid-in capital  53,514   54,006 
Retained earnings  105,975   97,336 
Treasury stock  (58,832)  (60,619)
Total stockholders’ equity  100,678   90,744 
         
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $203,057  $194,039 



Houston Wire & Cable Company
 Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In thousands except, share and per share data)

  Three Months Ended  Year Ended 
  December 31,  December 31, 
  2018  2017  2018  2017 
       
Sales $87,906  $82,146  $356,858  $317,697 
Cost of sales  66,927   61,303   271,650   245,035 
Gross profit  20,979   20,843   85,208   72,662 
                 
Operating expenses:                
Salaries and commissions  9,232   9,923   38,110   36,570 
Other operating expenses  7,946   7,413   30,962   28,716 
Depreciation and amortization  551   538   2,178   2,772 
Impairment charge  60      60    
Total operating expenses  17,789   17,874   71,310   68,058 
                 
Operating income  3,190   2,969   13,898   4,604 
Interest expense  751   581   2,907   2,073 
Income before income taxes  2,439   2,388   10,991   2,531 
Income taxes  811   392   2,355   2,753 
Net income $1,628  $1,996  $8,636  $(222
                 
Earnings per share:                
Basic $0.10  $0.12  $0.53  $(0.01
Diluted $0.10  $0.12  $0.52  $(0.01
Weighted average common shares outstanding:                
Basic  16,416,785   16,295,570   16,389,876   16,269,611 
Diluted  16,563,221   16,391,330   16,523,599   16,269,611 
                 


Houston Wire & Cable Company

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)
  

  Year Ended December 31,
  2018  2017 
    
Operating activities        
Net income $8,636  $(222
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
operating activities:
        
Impairment charge  60    
Depreciation and amortization  2,178   2,772 
Amortization of unearned stock compensation  1,298   1,176 
Provision for doubtful accounts  73   68 
Provision for inventory obsolescence  615   34 
Deferred income taxes  (1,344)  1,314 
Other non-cash items  62   222 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:        
Accounts receivable  (2,507)  (12,719
Inventories  (6,825  (7,942)
Income taxes  14   1,499 
Prepaid expenses  1,201   (1,368)
Book overdraft  (3,028)  (153
Trade accounts payable  2,804   38 
Accrued and other current liabilities  2,460   3,571 
Other operating activities  (359  368 
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities  5,338   (11,342
         
Investing activities        
Expenditures for property and equipment  (1503)  (1,769)
Proceeds from disposals of property and equipment  20   8 
Cash paid for acquisition     193 
Net cash used in investing activities  (1,483)  (1,568)
         
Financing activities        
Borrowings on revolver  367,513   333,301 
Payments on revolver  (369,752)  (320,133)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options      
Payment of dividends  (48)  (81)
Purchase of treasury stock  (175)  (177)
Net cash used in financing activities  (2,462)  12,910 
         
Net change in cash  1,393    
Cash at beginning of year      
         
Cash at end of year $1,393  $ 
Supplemental disclosures        
Cash paid during the year for interest $2,811  $1,961 
Cash paid during the year for income taxes $3,696  $64 


            

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