Ufpi reports gains of 19.2 percent in net earnings and 8.5 percent in
sales for q2
Grand rapids, mich.--(business wire)--universal forest products, inc. (nasdaq: ufpi) today reported net earnings of $26.0 million for the second quarter of 2015, up 19.2 percent over net earnings of $21.8 million for the same period of 2014. second-quarter 2015 diluted earnings per share were $1.28, compared to diluted earnings per share of $1.08 for the second quarter of 2014. net sales of $838.2 million in the second quarter of 2015 represent an increase of 8.5 percent over net sales of $772.8 for the same period of 2014. overall unit sales were up 10 percent over 2014, led by a 16.9 percent increase in sales to industrial customers. the company saw strong sales to retail customers, with an increase of 8.3 percent over the same period last year. average lumber prices declined nine percent since the first quarter of 2015 and, year-over-year for the second quarter of 2015 were down 12.6 percent, adversely impacting the company’s selling prices. “we were pleased with our improvement in gross and operating margins as we continue to enhance and diversify our product offering, allowing us to grow our capabilities and our value to our customers,” said ceo matthew j. missad. “these factors, and others, helped us overcome a decline in lumber prices, which hurt our profit margins on treated lumber and other similarly priced products. but our people did an excellent job managing through this challenge.” “these results highlight the strength of our business model, which allows us to withstand adversity in one business market as well as adverse trends in the lumber market and still grow sales and profitability,” missad added. “they also highlight the strength of our growth strategies, including our focus on sales to the industrial market and on new product development.” new product sales in the quarter were up more than 22 percent over the second quarter of 2014. by market, the company posted the following gross sales results: retail: $376.2 million, up 8.3 percent over the second quarter of 2014the company’s performance in this market benefited from pent-up demand in the busy building season following challenging winter weather, success with new product sales, and growth with independent and big box retailers, the latter of which saw healthy increases in comparable store sales in their most recently reported quarters. the company anticipates healthy demand through the building season, barring adverse weather conditions and other unforeseen events. industrial: $240.0 million, up 16.9 percent over the second quarter of 2014this follows a first-quarter year-over-year increase of 23 percent, and is indicative of the ongoing opportunity in this market, in which the company sells packaging, material handling and related products for industrial and agricultural customers. the company’s growth strategies in this market include both wood and alternative materials solutions as well as packaging solutions for existing and new customers. construction: $234.6 million, up 1.3 percent over the same period of 2014the company saw a 15 percent unit sales increase in its commercial construction and concrete forming business, and unit sales increases of 2 and 3 percent, respectively, in manufactured housing and residential construction. the company notes that recent mergers and acquisitions in this market are in line with its expectations, and could serve to rationalize capacity. conference calluniversal forest products will conduct a conference call to discuss information included in this news release and related matters at 8:30 a.m. et on thursday, july 16, 2015. the call will be hosted by ceo matthew j. missad and cfo michael cole, and will be available for analysts and institutional investors domestically at (800) 295-4740 and internationally at (617) 614-3925. use conference pass code 28727901. the conference call will be available simultaneously and in its entirety to all interested investors and news media through a webcast at http://www.ufpi.com. a replay of the call will be available through august 16, 2015, domestically at (888) 286-8010 and internationally at (617) 801-6888. use replay pass code 84538911. universal forest products, inc.universal forest products, inc. is a holding company with subsidiaries throughout north america and in australia that supply wood, wood composite and other products to three robust markets: retail, construction and industrial. the company is headquartered in grand rapids, mich., and is celebrating its 60th year in business. for more information about universal forest products, inc., or its affiliated operations, go to www.ufpi.com. this press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of section 21e of the securities exchange act, as amended, that are based on management’s beliefs, assumptions, current expectations, estimates and projections about the markets we serve, the economy and the company itself. words like “anticipates,” “believes,” “confident,” “estimates,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “likely,” “plans,” “projects,” “should,” variations of such words, and similar expressions identify such forward-looking statements. these statements do not guarantee future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict with regard to timing, extent, likelihood and degree of occurrence. the company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect facts, circumstances, events, or assumptions that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made. actual results could differ materially from those included in such forward-looking statements. investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainty. among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements are the following: fluctuations in the price of lumber; adverse or unusual weather conditions; adverse economic conditions in the markets we serve; government regulations, particularly involving environmental and safety regulations; and our ability to make successful business acquisitions. certain of these risk factors as well as other risk factors and additional information are included in the company's reports on form 10-k and 10-q on file with the securities and exchange commission. supplemental sales data market classification june 2015/2014
