Encore Wire Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2019 Results

McKinney, TX - Encore Wire Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: WIRE) today announced results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2019.

Net sales for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2019 were $302.3 million compared to $319.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2018. Copper unit volume, measured in pounds of copper contained in the wire sold, decreased 1.6% in the fourth quarter of 2019 versus the fourth quarter of 2018.  The average selling price of wire per copper pound sold decreased 5.8% in the fourth quarter of 2019 versus the fourth quarter of 2018. Net income for the fourth quarter of 2019 decreased to $10.5 million versus $25.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2018. Fully diluted net earnings per common share were $0.50 in the fourth quarter of 2019 versus $1.20 in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Net sales for the year ended December 31, 2019 were $1.275 billion compared to $1.289 billion for the year ended December 31, 2018. Copper unit volume, measured in pounds of copper contained in the wire sold, increased 4.1% in the year ended December 31, 2019 versus the year ended December 31, 2018.  The average selling price of wire per copper pound sold decreased 5.8% in the year ended December 31, 2019 versus the year ended December 31, 2018, more than offsetting the unit volume impact on sales dollars. Net income for the year ended December 31, 2019 decreased to $58.1 million versus $78.2 million in the same period in 2018. Fully diluted net earnings per common share were $2.77 in the year ended December 31, 2019 versus $3.74 in the same period in 2018.

On a sequential quarter comparison, net sales for the fourth quarter of 2019 were $302.3 million versus $321.2 million during the third quarter of 2019. Sales dollars decreased due to an 8.1% unit volume decrease of copper building wire sold on a sequential quarter comparison. Copper wire sales prices increased 1.0%, while the price of copper purchased increased 1.4%. Net income for the fourth quarter of 2019 was $10.5 million versus $16.4 million in the third quarter of 2019. Fully diluted net income per common share was $0.50 in the fourth quarter of 2019 versus $0.78 in the third quarter of 2019.

We also have some news to share about our continued expansion plans, which we expect to proceed in two phases.  Phase one will begin late in the first quarter of 2020 with the construction of a new 720,000 square foot facility located at the north end of our existing campus.  This facility will act as a service center, modernizing our logistics to allow for increased throughput and provide the bandwidth necessary to capture incremental sales volumes.  Phase one will allow us to compete at a higher level in the marketplace while further strengthening our industry-leading customer service and order fill rates.  We expect to complete construction in the second quarter of 2021.  Phase two of our expansion plans will commence following phase one and will focus on repurposing our existing distribution center to expand manufacturing capacity significantly and extend our market reach.  Phase two completion is anticipated in 2022.

Commenting on the results and planned expansion, Daniel L. Jones, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Encore Wire Corporation, said, “This is an exciting time for Encore's employees, customers and stakeholders.  We've been under construction since inception and we continue to grow today.  Our two-phase expansion plans will extend our reach and increase manufacturing capacity to meet the growing needs of our customers.  We anticipate total capital expenditures to range from $85 - $95 million in 2020, $70 - $90 million in 2021, and $60 - $80 million in 2022.  Our strong balance sheet and ability to consistently generate high levels of operating cash flow should provide ample allowance to fund planned capital expenditures.   Our business and the markets for our products remain strong as evidenced by a 4.1% increase in unit volumes in 2019 compared to 2018. The unit volume increase was achieved even though we continue to face vigorous competition in the market place. Despite the strong U.S. construction market and demand for building wire, margins were restrained by competitive pricing in the fourth quarter of 2019 versus the fourth quarter of 2018. Gross profit margins fell in concert with a drop in copper prices versus 2018's fourth quarter and full year basis, along with the competitive pressure noted above. 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 decreased 11.2% in the fourth quarter of 2019 versus the fourth quarter of 2018, while decreasing 4.9% in the full year comparison. The copper spread contracted 11.2% as the average price of copper purchased decreased 2.8% in the fourth quarter of 2019 versus the fourth quarter of 2018, while the average selling price of wire sold decreased 5.8%.  It should be noted that the spreads in the fourth quarter of 2018 were the highest in over a decade. However, we still believe that the currently strong end markets can support those margin levels.

In aluminum wire, which represented 8.1% of our net sales in 2019, we successfully enforced our rights under the U.S. trade remedy laws.  As a result of the International Trade Commission’s final affirmative decision, U.S. importers of aluminum wire and cable from China will be required to pay antidumping duties at rates ranging from 47.83% to 52.79%, plus countervailing duties at rates ranging from 33.44% to 165.63%, depending upon the Chinese exporter/supplier.

The U.S. economy appears strong, as is construction activity. 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 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 remains very strong. We have no long-term debt, and our revolving line of credit is paid down to zero. In addition, we had $231.0 million in cash at the end of the year.

Our low-cost structure and strong balance sheet have enabled us to withstand challenges 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 stockholders for their continued support.”

The Company will host a conference call to discuss the fourth quarter and full year results on Wednesday, February 19, 2020, at 10:00 am Central time.  Hosting the call will be Daniel Jones, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Bret Eckert, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.  To participate in the call, the dial-in number is 800-993-8735, and the confirmation number is 49385927.  In order to be put through to the call, you will be required to give the call screener your full name, your company name, your email address and your phone number.  Please call in early to avoid being delayed by the information collection and missing the start of the call.  A replay of this conference call will be accessible in the Investors section of our website, www.encorewire.com, 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 and aluminum pricing environment, the extent of unfair import competition, 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.