Houston Wire & Cable Company Reports Results for the Quarter Ended June 30, 2016

HOUSTON, TX--(Marketwired - Aug 9, 2016) - Houston Wire & Cable Company (NASDAQ: HWCC) (the "Company") announced operating results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2016.

Selected quarterly results were:

• Sales of $62.5 million
• Net loss from operations of $2.6 million
• Adjusted net loss (non-GAAP) of $0.7 million, excluding the impairment charge
• Cash flow from operations of $5.5 million
• Declared a dividend of $0.03 per share on August 9, 2016
  
  

Second Quarter Summary
Jim Pokluda, President and Chief Executive Officer commented, "The weak levels of industrial demand and the depressed oil and gas market experienced in the first quarter continued into the second quarter. While transactional activity increased in the early part of the quarter, indicative of a possible sales rebound, we closed the period with a return to more sluggish demand levels. Overall transactional activity, as measured by invoice count, increased by only 0.5% over the prior year period. While activity was slightly up over the first quarter, the sales shortfall was particularly impacted by the decrease in project activity. Sales decreased 19.9% or approximately 11% on a metals adjusted basis from the second quarter of 2015. We estimate that Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO) sales decreased 14% or approximately 5% on a metals adjusted basis, while project sales decreased 35% or approximately 26% on a metals adjusted basis."

Gross margin at 19.9% decreased 180 basis points from the second quarter of 2015, as lower industrial demand and extremely competitive market conditions collectively drove prices down. Operating expenses decreased $1.7 million or 9.8% to $15.5 million from $17.2 million in 2015. Excluding the impairments in both periods, operating expenses fell $1.1 million or 7.5% to $13.1 million in 2016 from $14.2 million in 2015. As market conditions remain depressed, cost reductions and judicious expense management are the primary areas of emphasis to ensure maximum operating leverage and efficiency.

Interest expense of $0.1 million was down 31.3% from $0.2 million in the prior year period. Average debt levels decreased by 28.9% from $45.1 million in 2015 to $32.0 million in 2016, while the effective interest rate decreased from 2.0% in 2015 to 1.7% in 2016. 

The results of operations produced a net loss of $2.6 million, as compared to a net loss of $0.6 million in 2015. Excluding the impairments in both periods, the second quarter of 2016 produced a net loss of $0.7 million, compared to net income of $1.5 million in the prior year period.

Mr. Pokluda further commented "The sales reduction continues to heavily impact our operating results. While we have continued to cut our operating expenses, we cannot make up for the current lower sales operating margin contribution. We are experiencing sales successes through our commercial product line expansions; however, these sales channels, while a helpful revenue addition, cannot compensate for the reduced level of industrial demand, including project, oil and gas and MRO activity." 

Pokluda continued, "Although our operating results were disappointing, I was pleased with our ability to efficiently manage our working capital investment and the resulting $5.5 million in operating cash flow that was generated. This allowed us to reduce our debt and purchase an additional 104,000 shares of stock. The Company considers its performance, stock price, dividend yield and financial position in deciding the best way to return value to our shareholders. In order to allow the Company to continue to invest in its business, including through its stock repurchase program, given the recent financial performance and the continuing difficult industrial market, the upcoming dividend will be paid at the rate of $0.03 per share."

Six month summary
Sales for the six month period were down 20.3% versus the prior year period and down approximately 12% on a metals adjusted basis. We estimate that MRO sales decreased 7%, and project sales decreased 22%, in each case on a metals adjusted basis. 

Gross margin at 20.3% was down from the 21.7% level of the 2015 period. "Heavy market pricing pressure continued in light of the depressed level of industrial demand including the overall lackluster level of activity in the oil and gas arena," said Mr. Pokluda. Gross profit dollars decreased $8.8 million or 25.5%, primarily due to the decrease in sales.

Operating expenses decreased $2.2 million or 7.2% to $28.9 million from $31.2 million. Excluding the impairment charges from both periods, operating expenses decreased $1.6 million or 5.8%. 

Interest expense of $0.3 million decreased 32.8% from $0.5 million. Average debt levels decreased 27.0% to $34.4 million in 2016, from $47.1 million in 2015, while interest rates fell to 1.7% from 2.0% in 2015.

The results of operations produced a net loss of $2.7 million, as compared to net income of $1.6 million in 2015. Excluding the impairments in both periods, the net loss for 2016 was $0.9 million, compared to a net income of $3.7 million in the prior year period.

Conference Call
The Company will host a conference call to discuss second quarter results on Tuesday, August 9, 2016 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 16, 2016.

Replay, Toll-Free #: 855-859-2056
Replay, Toll #: 404-537-3406
Conference ID # 52903287

About the Company
With over 40 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 cable; instrumentation cable; medium voltage cable; high temperature wire; 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 online 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

Non-GAAP Financial Disclosures and Reconciliations

While the Company reports financial results in accordance with U.S. GAAP, this press release includes non-GAAP measures. We use the non-GAAP measures to evaluate and manage our operations and provide the information to assist investors in performing financial analysis that is consistent with financial models developed by research analysts. Investors should consider non-GAAP measures in addition to, not as a substitute for, or as superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.

HOUSTON WIRE & CABLE COMPANY
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except per share data)
Adjusted net income (loss) and adjusted diluted EPS	Three Months Ended June 30, 2016								Three Months Ended June 30, 2015
	Net Income				Diluted EPS				Net Income				Diluted EPS
Net income (loss), as reported under GAAP	$	(2,557	)		$	(0.16	)		$	(619	)		$	(0.04	)
Impairment charge		2,384				0.15				2,994				0.18
Tax effect of impairment charge		(498	)			(0.03	)			(838	)			(0.05	)
Adjusted net income (loss)	$	(671	)		$	(0.04	)		$	1,537			$	0.09

Adjusted net income (loss) and adjusted diluted EPS	Six Months Ended June 30, 2016								Six Months Ended June 30, 2015
	Net Income				Diluted EPS				Net Income				Diluted EPS
Net income (loss), as reported under GAAP	$	(2,741	)		$	(0.17	)		$	1,567			$	0.09
Impairment charge		2,384				0.15				2,994				0.18
Tax effect of impairment charge		(498	)			(0.03	)			(838	)			(0.05	)
Adjusted net income (loss)	$	(855	)		$	(0.05	)		$	3,723			$	0.22

HOUSTON WIRE & CABLE COMPANY
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except share data)
		June 30,				December 31,
		2016				2015
		(unaudited)
Assets
Current assets:
	Accounts receivable, net	$	41,505			$	46,250
	Inventories, net		64,580				75,777
	Deferred income taxes		3,591				3,074
	Income taxes		1,139				932
	Prepaids		1,384				648
Total current assets			112,199				126,681
Property and equipment, net			10,814				10,899
Intangible assets, net			5,138				5,984
Goodwill			12,504				14,866
Deferred income taxes			442				264
Other assets			424				419
Total assets		$	141,521			$	159,113
Liabilities and stockholders' equity
Current liabilities:
	Book overdraft	$	491			$	3,701
	Trade accounts payable		8,352				6,380
	Accrued and other current liabilities		7,800				9,568
Total current liabilities			16,643				19,649
Debt			30,092				39,188
Other long term obligations			511				275
Total liabilities			47,246				59,112
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: 16,490,559 and 16,712,626 outstanding at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively		21				21
	Additional paid-in-capital		54,847				54,621
	Retained earnings		101,308				106,048
	Treasury stock		(61,901	)			(60,689	)
Total stockholders' equity			94,275				100,001
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity		$	141,521			$	159,113

HOUSTON WIRE & CABLE COMPANY
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
			Three Months Ended								Six Months Ended
			June 30,								June 30,
			2016				2015				2016				2015
Sales			$	62,454			$	77,959			$	127,165			$	159,559
Cost of sales				50,024				61,024				101,336				124,900
Gross profit				12,430				16,935				25,829				34,659
Operating expenses:
	Salaries and commissions			6,838				7,168				13,747				14,406
	Other operating expenses			5,496				6,281				11,333				12,329
	Depreciation and amortization			774				726				1,466				1,438
	Impairment charge			2,384				2,994				2,384				2,994
Total operating expenses				15,492				17,169				28,930				31,167
Operating income (loss)				(3,062	)			(234	)			(3,101	)			3,492
Interest expense				149				217				324				482
Income (loss) before income taxes				(3,211	)			(451	)			(3,425	)			3,010
Income tax expense (benefit)				(654	)			168				(684	)			1,443
Net income (loss)			$	(2,557	)		$	(619	)		$	(2,741	)		$	1,567
Earnings (loss) per share:
	Basic		$	(0.16	)		$	(0.04	)		$	(0.17	)		$	0.09
	Diluted		$	(0.16	)		$	(0.04	)		$	(0.17	)		$	0.09
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
	Basic			16,383,630				17,101,952				16,432,376				17,198,927
	Diluted			16,383,630				17,101,952				16,432,376				17,251,178
Dividend declared per share			$	0.06			$	0.12			$	0.12			$	0.24

HOUSTON WIRE & CABLE COMPANY
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)
			Six Months Ended June 30,
			2016				2015
Operating activities
Net income (loss)			$	(2,741	)		$	1,567
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
	Impairment charge			2,384				2,994
	Depreciation and amortization			1,466				1,438
	Amortization of unearned stock compensation			422				463
	Provision for inventory obsolescence			357				330
	Deferred income taxes			(695	)			(670	)
	Other non-cash items			27				83
	Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
		Accounts receivable		4,738				8,564
		Inventories		10,840				12,359
		Book overdraft		(3,210	)			(1,883	)
		Trade accounts payable		1,972				2,783
		Accrued and other current liabilities		(1,757	)			(4,009	)
		Income taxes		(207	)			(1,069	)
		Other operating activities		(525	)			(520	)
Net cash provided by operating activities				13,071				22,430
Investing activities
	Expenditures for property and equipment			(557	)			(1,545	)
Net cash used in investing activities				(557	)			(1,545	)
Financing activities
	Borrowings on revolver			124,312				151,366
	Payments on revolver			(133,408	)			(164,874	)
	Payment of dividends			(1,990	)			(4,110	)
	Purchase of treasury stock			(1,428	)			(3,267	)
Net cash used in financing activities				(12,514	)			(20,885	)
Net change in cash				--				--
Cash at beginning of period				--				--
Cash at end of period			$	--			$	--