Webco Industries, Inc. Reports Fiscal 2017 First Quarter Results

Webco Industries, Inc. Reports Fiscal 2017 First Quarter Results

Webco Industries, Inc. (OTC: WEBC) today reported results for our first quarter of fiscal year 2017, ended October 31, 2016.

For our first quarter of fiscal year 2017, we generated net income of $0.7 million, or $0.86 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $1.2 million, or a loss of $1.47 per diluted share, for the first quarter in fiscal 2016. Net sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2017 were $88.3 million, a 4.3 percent decrease from the $92.3 million of sales in last year’s first quarter. The current quarter includes a non-cash gain of $0.5 million related to our interest swap contract, whereas the prior year first quarter includes a $0.4 million non-cash loss related to the interest swap contract.

In the first quarter of fiscal year 2017, we generated income from operations of $1.5 million, after depreciation of $2.8 million. The first fiscal quarter of the prior year generated a loss from operations of $0.9 million, after depreciation amounting to $3.0 million. Gross profit for the first quarter of fiscal 2017 was $7.9 million, or 9.0 percent of net sales, compared to $5.0 million, or 5.4 percent of net sales, for the first quarter of fiscal 2016.

Dana S. Weber, Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We did better this quarter, much as a result of not having to deal with high cost steel in this lower demand environment. Volumes are still low and the industrial and energy-related economies are sluggish at best. The steel industry, for a number of micro and macro reasons, continues to have cost volatility for both stainless and carbon steel. Most tubing manufacturers continue to struggle in light of low oil prices, commodity volatility, a strong U.S. dollar, foreign competition and general lackluster demand. Expense and working capital management continue to be priorities in this lower demand environment. We continue to invest in our core strengths, including quality, efficiency, yield improvement and capabilities.”

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $6.4 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2017 and $5.8 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2016. Interest expense was $0.7 million in each of the first quarters of fiscal year 2017 and 2016.

We are party to an arrangement that swaps the variable interest rate for $50 million of our debt to a fixed rate through December 2019. We record the interest swap contract at fair value on our balance sheet and non-cash changes in value are reported as unrealized gains or losses on interest contracts. The non-cash income and charges from adjusting the interest swap contract value to market value create volatility in our income statement; however, they have no bearing on cash flow for the quarter because the actual monthly cash swap payments are reflected in interest expense, and therefore earnings.

At October 31, 2016, we had $8.4 million in cash in addition to $26.4 million of available borrowing under our senior revolving credit facility, which had $47.3 million drawn. The revolver has a $120 million cap with availability subject to advance rates on eligible accounts receivable and inventories.

Capital expenditures incurred amounted to $3.7 million in the first fiscal quarter of fiscal 2017. Our fiscal 2017 capital investments are focused on improving efficiencies, yields, quality and capabilities. The first quarter fiscal 2017 adoption of a change in balance sheet presentation of deferred taxes has resulted in current deferred tax assets being netted against long-term deferred income tax liabilities, and presented as a single element on our balance sheet; however, since we changed for future presentation only, our July 31, 2016, balance sheet was not changed.

Webco is a manufacturer and value-added distributor of high-quality carbon steel, stainless steel and other metal tubular products designed to industry and customer specifications. Our tubing products consist primarily of pressure tubing, including heat exchanger and boiler tubing, and specialty tubing for use in durable and capital goods. Webco's long-term strategy involves the pursuit of niche markets within the metal tubing industry through the deployment of leading-edge manufacturing and information technology. We have five tube production facilities in Oklahoma and Pennsylvania and six value-added facilities in Oklahoma, Texas, Illinois and Michigan, serving customers globally.

Forward-looking statements: Certain statements in this release, including, but not limited to, those preceded by or predicated upon the words “anticipates,” “appears,” “available,” “believes,” “can,” “considering,” “expects,” “hopes,” “intended,” “plans,” “projects,” “pursue,” “should,” “would,” or similar words constitute “forward-looking statements.” Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, or industry results, to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied herein. Such risks, uncertainties and factors include the factors discussed above and, among others: general economic and business conditions, including any global economic downturn, reduced oil prices, competition from imports, including any impacts associated with the strength of the U.S. dollar, changes in manufacturing technology, banking environment, including availability of adequate financing, monetary policy, changes in tax rates and regulation, raw material costs and availability, appraised values of inventories which can impact available borrowing under the Company’s credit facility, industry capacity, domestic competition, loss of or reductions in purchases by significant customers and customer work stoppages, the costs associated with providing healthcare benefits to employees, customer claims, technical and data processing capabilities, and insurance costs and availability. The Company assumes no obligation to update publicly such forward-looking statements.

Webco Industries, Inc.
Mike Howard, 918-241-1094
Chief Financial Officer
mhoward@webcoindustries.com

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