– Net earnings up 26 percent, unit sales up 7 percent –GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Oct. 23, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Universal Forest Products, Inc. (Nasdaq: UFPI), soon to be known as UFP Industries, Inc., today announced net sales of $1.16 billion and record net earnings attributable to controlling interests of $51.9 million, or 84 cents per diluted share, for the quarter ended September 28, 2019.“Our record results are the reflection of the hard work of our employees and the successful execution of our strategies to grow and improve our business. Our growth in organic unit sales was very strong, and we continue to successfully add new, value-added products and services to our offerings that are improving our profitabilty,” said CEO Matthew J. Missad.The Company’s mix of value-added sales relative to commodity sales improved from 62.1 percent in the third quarter of 2018 to 67.6 percent in the third quarter of 2019, and new product sales grew 7 percent over the same period of 2018. Although lower lumber pricing affected the Company’s third-quarter net sales, unit sales increased 7 percent over the same period of last year, driven mostly by organic sales growth. During the third quarter, the Company acquired Hartford, Wisconsin-based Pallet USA and Bonner, Montana-based Northwest Painting, Inc., expanding its value-added offerings and market presence in the Midwest and Northwest.“While we are pleased that so many of our operations are performing so well, we know we have operations that can do much better given our culture of continuous improvement, and we have been making changes to improve their performance. This summer, we announced a new organizational structure beginning January 1, 2020, that will allow for a more specialized and consistent sales approach, more efficient use of resources and capital, and quicker introduction of new, value-added products and services. I’m happy to say we have already made great progress toward the reorganization, and our employees are very excited about the new UFP Industries and the new business and career opportunities that are being created. This truly is an exciting time for our Company.”Third Quarter 2019 Highlights (comparisons on a year-over-year basis):Operating profit of $70.5 million was up 24 percent and net earnings of $51.9 million was up 26 percentEBITDA of $89.7 million was up 23 percent, far exceeding the Company’s unit sales increase of 7 percentUnit sales grew 7 percent; organic sales accounted for 6 percent of the growth while acquisitions added 1 percent New product sales were $142.9 million, up 7 percentNet sales of $1.16 billion represented a 4 percent decrease; lower lumber prices contributed significantly to the gross sales reduction, as selling prices were down by 11 percentSG&A, excluding bonus expense, as a percentage of gross profit fell from 55.4 percent in the third quarter of 2018 to 49.8 percent during the third quarter of 2019By market, the Company reported the following third-quarter 2019 results.Retail$437 million in gross sales, down 1 percent compared to the third quarter of 2018. A unit sales increase of 10 percent was offset by selling prices that were 11 percent lower. Organic growth was responsible for all of the unit sales increase and was largely driven by robust sales of Deckorators decking and deck accessories and new product sales.Industrial·$332.5 million in gross sales, down 6 percent from the third quarter of 2018. A unit sales increase of 4 percent was offset by lower selling prices of 10 percent. Organic growth contributed 2 percent of the unit sales increase; acquisitions were responsible for 2 percent. The Company’s focus on improving its product mix has resulted in more value-added sales and fewer commodity sales, improving gross profits.Construction·$414.4 million in gross sales, down 5 percent compared to the third quarter of 2018, due to a 13 percent decrease in selling prices and an 8 percent increase in overall unit sales. Unit sales growth was entirely organic, with commercial sales growing 15 percent, residential housing sales growing 6 percent and manufactured housing sales growing 1 percent.CONFERENCE CALLUniversal Forest Products, soon to be known as UFP Industries, Inc., will conduct a conference call to discuss information included in this news release and related matters at 8:30 a.m. ET on Thursday, October 24, 2019. The call will be hosted by CEO Matthew J. Missad and CFO Michael Cole and will be available for analysts and institutional investors domestically at 866-518-4547 and internationally at 213-660-0879. Analysts and institutional investors should use conference pass code 4270679. The conference call will be available simultaneously and in its entirety to all interested investors, news media and Universal employees through a webcast at http://www.ufpi.com. A replay of the call will be available through November 24, 2019, at 855-859-2056 or 404-537-3406.UNIVERSAL FOREST PRODUCTS, INC.Universal Forest Products, Inc., soon to be known as UFP Industries, Inc., is a holding company whose subsidiaries supply wood, wood composite and other products to three robust markets: retail, construction and industrial. Founded in 1955, the Company is headquartered in Grand Rapids, Mich., with affiliates throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. For more, go to www.ufpi.com.This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act, as amended, that are based on management’s beliefs, assumptions, current expectations, estimates and projections about the markets we serve, the economy and the Company itself. Words like “anticipates,” “believes,” “confident,” “estimates,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “likely,” “plans,” “projects,” “should,” variations of such words, and similar expressions identify such forward-looking statements. These statements do not guarantee future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict with regard to timing, extent, likelihood and degree of occurrence. The Company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect facts, circumstances, events, or assumptions that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made. Actual results could differ materially from those included in such forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainty. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements are the following: fluctuations in the price of lumber; adverse or unusual weather conditions; adverse economic conditions in the markets we serve; government regulations, particularly involving environmental and safety regulations; and our ability to make successful business acquisitions. Certain of these risk factors as well as other risk factors and additional information are included in the Company’s reports on Form 10-K and 10-Q on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.Non-GAAP Financial InformationThis release includes certain financial information not prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Because not all companies calculate non-GAAP financial information identically (or at all), the presentations herein may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures used by other companies. Management considers EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, an alternative performance measure which may provide useful information to investors.Brandon Froysland
Director of Finance
(616) 365-1589
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