American Railcar Industries, Inc. Reports Strong Quarterly Revenues and Earnings

Third Quarter 2015 Highlights

• Quarterly revenues of $172.7 million vs. prior year of $162.8 million - up 6%
• Quarterly gross margin of 33.3% vs. prior year of 28.8%
• Quarterly earnings per share of $1.39 vs. prior year of $1.12 - up 24%
• Quarterly adjusted EBITDA of $62.6 million vs. prior year of $48.6 million - up 29%

ST. CHARLES, Mo., Oct. 28, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- American Railcar Industries, Inc. (ARI or the Company) (NASDAQ:ARII) today reported its third quarter 2015 financial results. Jeff Hollister, President and CEO of ARI, commented, "We are maintaining our focus on the core of our business by continuing to efficiently produce high quality hopper and tank railcars at our manufacturing facilities and working to expand our manufacturing flexibility. In addition, we are seeking to further diversify our business by growing our railcar leasing business and expanding our repair capacity to position us to meet the evolving needs of the North American railcar market. Our increasing gross margins through 2015 reflect the successful growth of our railcar leasing segment, combined with continued strong margins in our manufacturing and railcar services segments. Our lease fleet totaled 10,317 railcars at September 30, 2015. " Hollister added.

Third Quarter Summary

Total consolidated revenues were $172.7 million for the third quarter of 2015, an increase of 6% when compared to $162.8 million for the same period in 2014. This increase was primarily driven by increased revenues in the railcar leasing and railcar services segments, partially offset by lower manufacturing revenues.

Manufacturing revenues were $123.3 million for the third quarter of 2015, a decrease of 4% compared to the same period in 2014. Hopper railcar shipments for direct sale decreased during the third quarter of 2015 compared to the same period in 2014 as a higher percentage of hopper railcars were built for the Company's lease fleet. Tank railcar shipments for direct sale also decreased as production has shifted to a larger mix of specialty tank railcars that have higher average selling prices due to the complexity of the design. These higher average selling prices partially offset the overall decrease in direct sale shipments. During the third quarter of 2015, ARI shipped 990 direct sale railcars and 918 railcars built for the Company's lease fleet compared to 1,034 direct sale railcars and 1,117 railcars built for the lease fleet during the same period in 2014. Railcars built for the lease fleet represented 48% of ARI's railcar shipments during the third quarter of 2015 compared to 52% for the same period in 2014. Because revenues and earnings related to leased railcars are recognized over the life of the lease, ARI's quarterly results may vary depending on the mix of lease versus direct sale railcars that the Company ships during a given period.

Manufacturing revenues for the third quarter of 2015 exclude $106.5 million of estimated revenues related to railcars built for the Company's lease fleet compared to $143.7 million for the same period in 2014. Estimated revenues related to railcars built for the Company's lease fleet decreased due to a lower quantity of tank railcars shipped for lease, partially offset by a higher quantity of hopper railcars shipped for lease during the third quarter of 2015 compared to the same period of 2014. This resulted in a higher mix of hopper railcar shipments for our lease fleet, which generally have lower selling prices than tank railcars. Such revenues are based on an estimated fair market value of the leased railcars as if they had been sold to a third party, and are not recognized in consolidated revenues as railcar sales. Rather lease revenues are recognized in accordance with the terms of the contract over the life of the lease.

Railcar leasing revenues were $31.2 million for the third quarter of 2015, an increase of 81% over the $17.2 million for the comparable period in 2014. The primary reason for the increase in revenue was an increase in the number of railcars on lease. ARI had 10,317 railcars in its lease fleet as of September 30, 2015 compared to 6,508 railcars as of September 30, 2014.

Railcar services revenues were $18.2 million for the third quarter of 2015, an increase of 5% compared to $17.4 million for the same period in 2014. The primary reasons for the increase in revenue were an increase in demand, a favorable change in the mix of work at our repair facilities and the additional capacity resulting from our Brookhaven repair facility that became operational during the third quarter of 2014.

Consolidated earnings from operations were $49.8 million for the third quarter of 2015, an increase of 27% over the $39.3 million for the same period in 2014. The increase in consolidated earnings from operations was primarily driven by increased earnings in the railcar leasing and railcar services segments.

Consolidated operating margins increased to 28.8% for the third quarter of 2015 compared to 24.1% for the same period in 2014. This increase was primarily driven by the growth of the Company's lease fleet, as well as higher margins in the Company's manufacturing and railcar services segments due to stronger operating efficiencies and focused cost reduction initiatives.

Manufacturing earnings from operations were $30.3 million for the third quarter of 2015 compared to $30.7 million for the same period in 2014. This decrease was due primarily to fewer direct sale shipments, as discussed above, partially offset by stronger efficiencies and cost reduction initiatives. Estimated profit on railcars built for the Company's lease fleet was $24.7 million and $44.0 million for the third quarter of 2015 and 2014, respectively, and is excluded from manufacturing earnings from operations. Profit on railcars built for the Company's lease fleet is based on an estimated fair market value of revenues as if the railcars had been sold to a third party, less the cost to manufacture.

Railcar leasing earnings from operations were $21.4 million for the third quarter of 2015 compared to $10.8 million for the same period in 2014. This increase was due to the growth in the number of railcars in the Company's lease fleet.

Railcar services earnings from operations were $3.2 million for the third quarter of 2015 compared to $2.7 million for the same period in 2014. This increase was primarily due to the increase in revenues driven by increased demand, a favorable change in the mix of work and the additional capacity resulting from the Company's Brookhaven repair facility, as discussed above.

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $7.8 million for the third quarter of 2015 compared to $7.6 million for the same period in 2014. This $0.2 million decrease was primarily due to lower share-based compensation expense.

EBITDA, adjusted to exclude share-based compensation expense (Adjusted EBITDA), was $62.6 million for the third quarter of 2015 compared to $48.6 million for the comparable quarter of 2014. The increase resulted primarily from increased earnings from operations as discussed above and earnings from joint ventures improving by $1.4 million for the third quarter of 2015 compared to the same period in 2014. The improvement in earnings from joint ventures was primarily driven by increased sales and production levels at the Company's Axis joint venture consistent with railcar industry demand, which has generated improved efficiencies and better profitability. A reconciliation of the Company's net earnings to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA (both non-GAAP financial measures) is set forth in the supplemental disclosure attached to this press release.

Net earnings for the third quarter of 2015 were $29.4 million, or $1.39 per share compared to $23.8 million, or $1.12 per share, in the same period in 2014. This increase was driven primarily by increased consolidated earnings from operations and improved results from the Company's Axis joint venture, as discussed above, partially offset by an increase in interest expense due to a higher average debt balance and a higher weighted average interest rate as a result of refinancing our prior variable rate debt obligations with fixed rate debt, thereby minimizing the effect of any rise in interest rates, and increasing borrowings to support the growth of the Company's lease fleet.

Year-to-Date Results

Consolidated revenues for the first nine months of 2015 were $628.4 million compared to $582.5 million for the comparable period in 2014. The Company shipped 4,385 direct sale railcars and 2,588 railcars built for the Company's lease fleet during the first nine months of 2015 compared to 3,834 direct sale railcars and 2,067 railcars built for the lease fleet during the same period in 2014. Railcars built for the lease fleet represented 37% of ARI's railcar shipments in the first nine months of 2015 compared to 35% for the same period in 2014.

Consolidated earnings from operations for the first nine months of 2015 were $165.1 million, an increase of 29% from $127.6 million for the comparable period in 2014. Consolidated earnings from operations for the first nine months of 2015 and 2014 excluded $85.5 million and $83.4 million, respectively, of profit on railcars built for the lease fleet that is eliminated in consolidation. Operating margins were 26.3% for the first nine months of 2015 compared to 21.9% for the comparable period of 2014. These increases were primarily due to increased earnings due to the growth in the lease fleet and strong efficiencies as a result of increased production of hopper railcars in 2015 and continued improvements at most of our other manufacturing facilities.

Adjusted EBITDA was $203.1 million for the first nine months of 2015, an increase of $46.7 million from $156.4 million for the comparable period in 2014. The increase resulted primarily from increased consolidated earnings from operations, in addition to an improvement of $5.6 million from earnings from joint ventures for the first nine months of 2015 compared to the same period in 2014.

Net earnings for the first nine months of 2015 were $97.3 million, or $4.58 per share compared to $76.8 million, or $3.60 per share, for the comparable period in 2014, due to increased earnings from operations and improved joint venture earnings partially offset by increased interest expense.

Cash Flow and Liquidity

The Company's strong earnings have contributed to cash flow from operations in the first nine months of 2015 of $167.4 million. As of September 30, 2015, ARI had working capital of $218.3 million, including $129.0 million of cash and cash equivalents. In January 2015, the Company raised $625.5 million to refinance its prior lease fleet financings and extend the maturity of its debt. The financing provided the Company with net cash of $211.6 million. As of September 30, 2015, ARI had $608.1 million of debt outstanding under the refinanced lease fleet financing facility.

At the board meeting in October, the Company's board of directors declared a cash dividend of $0.40 per share of common stock of the Company to shareholders of record as of December 16, 2015 that will be paid on December 30, 2015.

Stock Repurchase Program

On July 28, 2015, the Company's Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program (the "Stock Repurchase Program") pursuant to which the Company may, from time to time, repurchase up to $250.0 million of its common stock. The Stock Repurchase Program will end upon the earlier of the date on which it is terminated by the Board or when all authorized repurchases are completed. Under the Stock Repurchase Program, the Company repurchased 1,340,796 shares of common stock, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, at a cost of $51.3 million. The Company repurchased 166,970 shares under the Stock Repurchase Program subsequent to September 30, 2015, at a cost of $6.1 million, resulting in 19,844,531 shares outstanding as of October 27, 2015.

Backlog

ARI's backlog as of September 30, 2015 was 7,936 railcars with an estimated value of $798.1 million. Of the total backlog, 821 railcars, or 10%, were subject to lease with an estimated market value of $79.1 million.

Conference Call and Webcast

ARI will host a webcast and conference call on Thursday, October 29, 2015 at 10:00 am (Eastern Time) to discuss the Company's third quarter 2015 financial results. In conjunction with this press release, ARI has posted a supplemental information presentation to its website. To participate in the webcast, please log-on to ARI's investor relations page through the ARI website at www.americanrailcar.com. To participate in the conference call, please dial 877-745-9389. Participants are asked to log-on to the ARI website or dial in to the conference call approximately 10 to 15 minutes prior to the start time. An audio replay of the call will also be available on the Company's website promptly following the earnings call.

About ARI

ARI is a leading North American designer and manufacturer of hopper and tank railcars. ARI provides its railcar customers with integrated solutions through a comprehensive set of high quality products and related services. ARI manufactures and sells railcars, custom designed railcar parts, and other industrial products. ARI and its subsidiaries also lease railcars manufactured by the Company to certain markets. In addition, ARI provides railcar repair services through its various repair facilities, including mini-shops and mobile units, offering a range of services from full to light repair. More information about American Railcar Industries, Inc. is available on its website at www.americanrailcar.com or call the Investor Relations Department, 636.940.6000.

Forward Looking Statement Disclaimer

This press release contains statements relating to expected financial performance and/or future business prospects, events and plans that are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements represent the Company's estimates and assumptions only as of the date of this press release. Such statements include, without limitation, statements regarding: our projects to expand our manufacturing flexibility and repair capacity, industry, product and market trends, potential regulatory developments, anticipated customer demand for the Company's products, the Company's strategic objectives and long-term strategies, trends related to railcar shipments for direct sale versus lease, trends relating to operating margins or manufacturing efficiencies, anticipated benefits or plans regarding the growth of the Company's leasing business and the mix of railcars in our lease fleet, anticipated benefits or plans regarding the Company's current and potential future efforts to expand its railcar repair business, anticipated future production rates, the sufficiency of the Company's short- and long-term liquidity, the Company's Stock Repurchase Program, the Company's plans regarding future dividends, the Company's backlog and any implication that the Company's backlog may be indicative of future revenues. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results described in or anticipated by the Company's forward-looking statements. The payment of future dividends, if any, and the amount thereof, will be at the discretion of ARI's board of directors and will depend upon the Company's operating results, strategic plans, capital requirements, financial condition, provisions of its borrowing arrangements, applicable law and other factors the Company's board of directors considers relevant. Other potential risks and uncertainties include, among other things: the market price of the Company's stock; the nature of other investment opportunities presented to the Company, cash flows, basing financial or other information on judgments or estimates based on future performance or events; risks relating to the Company's compliance with, and the overall railcar industry's implementation of, United States and Canadian final regulations related to the transportation of flammable liquids by rail released on May 1, 2015; prospects in light of the cyclical nature of ARI's business; the health of and prospects for the overall railcar industry; fluctuations in commodity prices, including oil and gas; the highly competitive nature of the manufacturing, railcar leasing and railcar services industries; the variable purchase patterns of ARI's railcar customers and the timing of completion, customer acceptance and shipment of orders; the Company's ability to manage overhead and variations in production rates; the Company's ability to recruit, retain and train adequate numbers of qualified personnel; ARI's reliance upon a small number of customers that represent a large percentage of revenues and backlog; fluctuating costs of raw materials, including steel, and railcar components and delays in the delivery of such raw materials and components; fluctuations in the supply of components and raw materials that ARI uses in railcar manufacturing; the impact of an economic downturn, adverse market conditions and restricted credit markets; the ongoing benefits and risks related to ARI's relationship with Mr. Carl Icahn, ARI's principal beneficial stockholder, through Icahn Enterprises L.P, and certain of his affiliates; the risk of being unable to market or remarket railcars for sale or lease at favorable prices or on favorable terms or at all; the sufficiency of our liquidity and capital resources, including long-term capital needs to further support the growth of our lease fleet; the impact, costs and expenses of any litigation ARI may be subject to now or in the future; the risks associated with the Company's on-going compliance with environmental, health, safety, and regulatory laws and regulations, which may be subject to change; the conversion of ARI's railcar backlog into revenues; the risks associated with the Company's current joint ventures and anticipated capital needs of, and production at the Company's joint ventures; the risks, impact and anticipated benefits associated with potential joint ventures, acquisitions or new business endeavors; the implementation, integration with other systems or ongoing management of the Company's new enterprise resource planning system; risks related to our indebtedness and compliance with covenants contained in the Company's financing arrangements; and the additional risk factors described in ARI's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company expressly disclaims any duty to provide updates to any forward-looking statements made in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

EBITDA represents net earnings before income tax expense, interest expense (income), loss on debt extinguishment and depreciation of property, plant and equipment. The Company believes EBITDA is useful to investors in evaluating ARI's operating performance compared to that of other companies in the same industry. In addition, ARI's management uses EBITDA to evaluate operating performance. The calculation of EBITDA eliminates the effects of financing, income taxes and the accounting effects of capital spending. These items may vary for different companies for reasons unrelated to the overall operating performance of a company's business. EBITDA is not a financial measure presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (U.S. GAAP). Accordingly, when analyzing the Company's operating performance, investors should not consider EBITDA in isolation or as a substitute for net earnings, cash flows provided by operating activities or other statement of operations or cash flow data prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The calculation of EBITDA is not necessarily comparable to that of other similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

Adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA before share-based compensation (income) expense related to stock appreciation rights (SARs). Management believes that Adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors in evaluating the Company's operating performance, and therefore uses Adjusted EBITDA for that purpose. The Company's SARs, which settle in cash, are revalued each period based primarily upon changes in ARI's stock price. Management believes that eliminating the (income) expense associated with share-based compensation allows management and ARI's investors to understand better the operating results independent of financial changes caused by the fluctuating price and value of the Company's common stock and certain non-recurring events. Adjusted EBITDA is not a financial measure presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Accordingly, when analyzing operating performance, investors should not consider Adjusted EBITDA in isolation or as a substitute for net earnings, cash flows provided by operating activities or other statements of operations or cash flow data prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The Company's calculation of Adjusted EBITDA is not necessarily comparable to that of other similarly titled measures reported by other companies.