Houston Wire & Cable Company Reports Results for the Second Quarter of 2013

HOUSTON, TX--(Marketwired - Aug 6, 2013) - Houston Wire & Cable Company (NASDAQ: HWCC) (the "Company") announced operating results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2013.

Selected highlights were:

• Sales of $99.3 million up 1.3% over Q2 2012
• Operating cash flow of $3.3 million
• Net income of $4.1 million
• Diluted EPS of $0.23 per share
• Debt decreased to $46.6 million, lowest level since Q1 2010
• Declared a dividend of $0.11 per share

Second Quarter Summary
Jim Pokluda, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Continued inconsistencies in regional market conditions limited our sales increase to 1.3% over the prior year period and 5.3% sequentially. However, we estimate a more encouraging increase in sales of approximately 4% over the prior year period and 7.5% sequentially when adjusted for deflation in metal prices. We estimate Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO) sales increased approximately 5% over the second quarter of 2012, while project business from our long term growth initiatives encompassing Environmental Compliance, Engineering & Construction, Industrials, LifeGuard™ (and other private branded products), Utility Power Generation, and Mechanical continued to suffer from a shortage of new large capital projects and was down approximately 5% from the prior year period."

"New product initiatives, including specialty oil and gas cables and aluminum cables, continued to help the top line. Both the operating cash flow generated and the resulting debt reduction exceeded our internal estimates and further strengthened the Company's financial position, as debt decreased to its lowest level in more than three years. We hope to see more consistent market demand in the under-performing regions in the last half of the year, and if this occurs, sales and profitability should improve."

Gross margin at 21.9% decreased 80 basis points from the second quarter of 2012 due to competitive pricing and the impact of metals. Operating expenses were up $0.1 million or 0.9% from the prior year period, principally due to higher salaries partially offset by lower commissions. These items impacted operating margin, which fell to 6.9%, down 80 basis points from 2012.

Interest expense of $0.3 million was down 23% from the prior year period. Outstanding debt fell by the same percentage, from $60.5 million at June 2012 to $46.6 million at June 2013, the lowest quarterly level since March 2010. The average effective interest rate remained flat at 2.1%.

Net income of $4.1 million decreased by $0.4 million from the second quarter of 2012. Diluted earnings per share were $0.23 compared to $0.25 in the prior year period. Pokluda further commented, "I am pleased that our financial performance and strong balance sheet again allowed us to return funds to our shareholders through the $0.11 per share dividend."

Six month summary
Sales for the six month period were up slightly versus the prior year period and increased approximately 3.5% when adjusted for metals price deflation. Project sales within the six long-term growth initiatives remained inconsistent, and were down approximately 5% due to varying levels of geographic and end-market demand. MRO sales increased approximately 4% and continued to reflect a slow but steady recovery across multiple geographies and end markets.

Gross margins at 22.3% were down 20 basis points from the 2012 period. "Pricing remains very competitive in the marketplace, as demand for product remains tepid in several parts of the country. Despite this demand inconsistency, we were pleased to see our margins remain at respectable levels while, we believe, gaining market share as evidenced by our metals adjusted top line growth," said Mr. Pokluda. Gross profit dollars decreased by $0.3 million or 0.7%, primarily due to the decrease in gross margin.

Operating expenses increased by 2.7% or $0.8 million in the current year period, primarily due to the increased headcount, principally in sales and marketing personnel. Pokluda further commented, "Rigorous expense management remains a top priority and we have heightened awareness towards this end given the current level of demand."

Interest expense of $0.5 million was lower than the prior year's $0.6 million as average debt levels fell from $54.3 million in 2012 to $53.3 million in 2013 and as interest rates decreased slightly to 2%. The effective tax rate for the period of 37.8% was lower than the 38.6% rate in the prior year period, due to the impact of a state tax adjustment in the first quarter of 2013.

Net income for the period of $7.9 million fell 6.2% from the $8.4 million level in the prior year period. Accordingly, diluted earnings per share fell, from $0.47 in the prior year period to $0.44 in the current period.

Conference Call
The Company will host a conference call to discuss second quarter results today, Tuesday, August 6, 2013, at 10:00 a.m., C.T. Hosting the call will be James Pokluda, President and Chief Executive Officer and Nicol Graham, 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.

Approximately two hours after the completion of the live call, a telephone replay will be available until August 13, 2013.

Replay, Toll-Free #: 855-859-2056
Replay, Toll #: 404-537-3406
Conference ID # 23820708

About the Company
With over 35 years experience in the industry, Houston Wire & Cable Company is one of the largest providers of wire and cable in the U.S. market. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, the Company has sales and distribution facilities strategically located throughout the nation.

Standard stock items available for immediate delivery include continuous and interlocked armor, instrumentation, medium voltage, high temperature, portable cord, power cables, primary and secondary aluminum distribution cables, 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.

Comprehensive value-added services include same-day shipping, knowledgeable sales staff, inventory management programs, just-in-time delivery, logistics support, customized internet-based 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
(In thousands, except share data)
			June 30,				December 31,
			2013				2012
			(unaudited)
Assets
Current assets:
	Cash		$	--			$	274
	Accounts receivable, net			64,517				65,892
	Inventories, net			83,832				84,662
	Deferred income taxes			2,432				2,455
	Income taxes			649				--
	Prepaids			1,283				841
Total current assets				152,713				154,124
Property and equipment, net				5,788				5,824
Intangible assets, net				11,100				11,967
Goodwill				25,082				25,082
Other assets				140				158
Total assets			$	194,823			$	197,155
Liabilities and stockholders' equity
Current liabilities:
	Book overdraft		$	6,529			$	--
	Trade accounts payable			12,155				12,330
	Accrued and other current liabilities			13,631				15,379
	Income taxes			--				5
Total current liabilities				32,315				27,714
Debt				46,649				58,588
Other long term obligations				103				103
Deferred income taxes				1,497				1,670
Total liabilities				80,564				88,075
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: 17,939,026 and 17,899,499 outstanding at June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively			21				21
	Additional paid-in-capital			55,495				55,291
	Retained earnings			108,580				104,252
	Treasury stock			(49,837	)			(50,484	)
Total stockholders' equity				114,259				109,080
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity			$	194,823			$	197,155

HOUSTON WIRE & CABLE COMPANY
Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
			Three Months Ended						Six Months Ended
			June 30,						June 30,
			2013			2012			2013			2012
Sales			$	99,332		$	98,082		$	193,636		$	192,544
Cost of sales				77,607			75,830			150,532			149,154
Gross profit				21,725			22,252			43,104			43,390
Operating expenses:
	Salaries and commissions			7,785			7,695			15,752			14,924
	Other operating expenses			6,315			6,288			12,596			12,662
	Depreciation and amortization			758			739			1,503			1,472
Total operating expenses				14,858			14,722			29,851			29,058
Operating income				6,867			7,530			13,253			14,332
Interest expense				252			329			525			595
Income before income taxes				6,615			7,201			12,728			13,737
Income taxes				2,562			2,780			4,813			5,300
Net income			$	4,053		$	4,421		$	7,915		$	8,437
Earnings per share:
	Basic		$	0.23		$	0.25		$	0.45		$	0.48
	Diluted		$	0.23		$	0.25		$	0.44		$	0.47
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
	Basic			17,800,056			17,725,549			17,776,500			17,712,075
	Diluted			17,898,911			17,805,979			17,872,307			17,810,441
Dividend declared per share			$	0.11		$	0.09		$	0.20		$	0.18

HOUSTON WIRE & CABLE COMPANY
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)
				Six Months Ended June 30,
				2013				2012
Operating activities
Net income				$	7,915			$	8,437
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
	Depreciation and amortization				1,503				1,472
	Amortization of capitalized loan costs				9				9
	Amortization of unearned stock compensation				433				537
	Provision for doubtful accounts				(59	)			15
	Provision for returns and allowances				35				(55	)
	Provision for inventory obsolescence				226				350
	Deferred income taxes				(183	)			(218	)
	Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
		Accounts receivable			1,399				(2,927	)
		Inventories			604				(12,743	)
		Prepaids			(442	)			(359	)
		Other assets			9				(10	)
		Book overdraft			6,529				386
		Trade accounts payable			(175	)			2,404
		Accrued and other current liabilities			(1,783	)			(7,779	)
		Income taxes			(661	)			1,527
		Other long term obligations			--				(13	)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities					15,359				(8,967	)
Investing activities
	Expenditures for property and equipment				(600	)			(459	)
Net cash used in investing activities					(600	)			(459	)
Financing activities
	Borrowings on revolver				192,540				200,578
	Payments on revolver				(204,479	)			(188,082	)
	Proceeds from exercise of stock options				422				137
	Excess tax benefit for stock options				42				34
	Payment of dividends				(3,552	)			(3,187	)
	Purchase of treasury stock				(6	)			(54	)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities					(15,033	)			9,426
Net change in cash					(274	)			--
Cash at beginning of period					274				--
Cash at end of period				$	--			$	--