Mueller Industries, Inc. Reports Third Quarter Results

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Oct. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --

Quarterly and Year-to-Date Earnings

Harvey L. Karp, Chairman of Mueller Industries, Inc. (NYSE: MLI), announced today that Mueller's net income in the third quarter was $18.9 million, or 50 cents per diluted share, on net sales of $507.2 million.  This compares with net income of $18.7 million, or 50 cents per diluted share, on net sales of $419.9 million in the third quarter of 2009.

Year-to-date, the Company earned $68.4 million, or $1.81 per diluted share, which includes an insurance settlement gain of 59 cents per diluted share. This compares with net income of $22.2 million, or 59 cents per diluted share, for the same period of 2009.  Net sales for the first nine months of 2010 were $1.53 billion compared with net sales of $1.11 billion for the same period a year ago.  

Financial and Operating Highlights

Regarding the third quarter of 2010, Mr. Karp said:

    --  "Our Plumbing & Refrigeration segment posted operating earnings of $11.5
        million on net sales of $282.7 million compared with operating earnings
        of $16.0 million on net sales of $240.9 million in the third quarter of
        2009. The benefit of slightly higher shipments was offset by lower
        margins.
    --  "Our OEM segment posted operating earnings of $23.0 million during the
        third quarter of 2010 on net sales of $229.0 million, which compared
        with operating earnings of $16.5 million on net sales of $181.6 million
        for the same period in 2009. Operating income improved in most product
        lines on better volumes.
    --  "The Comex average price of copper was $3.30 per pound in the third
        quarter of 2010, which compares with $2.67 per pound in the third
        quarter of 2009. Higher selling prices due to rising raw material values
        accounted for approximately $57 million of the increase in net sales
        primarily in the Plumbing & Refrigeration segment. Approximately $20
        million of the increase in net sales was attributable to increased unit
        volume primarily in the OEM segment.
    --  "Mueller ended the quarter with $400.1 million in cash, or $10.57 per
        share.
    --  "Total stockholders' equity was $777.0 million which equates to a book
        value per share of $20.54.
    --  "Mueller's current ratio remains excellent at 4.4 to 1 and our working
        capital is $699.0 million. Leverage is conservative with a ratio of debt
        to total capitalization at 18.4 percent."


Business Outlook

Regarding the outlook, Mr. Karp said, "Housing starts continue to stagnate at near the lowest levels of the past 50 years.  However, we believe starts are unlikely to decline further.  Also, the drop in non-residential construction appears to be bottoming out.  We expect to see improving business conditions in 2011, although the recovery in our industry will probably be uneven.  We are encouraged by Mueller's solid performance in 2010 and we are well prepared for an upturn in the economy."

Mueller Industries, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of copper tube and fittings; brass and copper alloy rod, bar and shapes; aluminum and brass forgings; aluminum and copper impact extrusions; plastic fittings and valves; refrigeration valves and fittings; and fabricated tubular products.  Mueller's operations are located throughout the United States and in Canada, Mexico, Great Britain, and China.  Mueller's business is importantly linked to (1) the construction of new homes; (2) the improvement and reconditioning of existing homes and structures; and (3) the commercial construction market which includes office buildings, factories, hotels, hospitals, etc.  


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Statements in this release that are not strictly historical may be "forward-looking" statements, which involve risks and uncertainties. These include economic and currency conditions, continued availability of raw materials and energy, market demand, pricing, competitive and technological factors, and the availability of financing, among others, as set forth in the Company's SEC filings. The words "outlook," "estimate," "project," "intend," "expect," "believe," "target," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The reader should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report. The Company has no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events after the date of this report.


MUELLER INDUSTRIES, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(In thousands, except per share data)





                     For the Quarter Ended         For the Nine Months Ended

                     September 25,  September 26,  September 25,  September 26,

                     2010           2009           2010           2009

                     (Unaudited)                   (Unaudited)



Net sales            $ 507,240      $ 419,890      $ 1,532,896    $ 1,114,248



Cost of goods sold   437,597        354,039        1,317,290      954,775

Depreciation and
amortization         9,934          10,441         30,372         31,276

Selling, general,
and administrative
expense              28,810         27,593         99,601         89,067

Insurance
settlement           12             -              (21,284)       -



Operating income     30,887         27,817         106,917        39,130



Interest expense     (3,072)        (2,435)        (8,568)        (7,553)

Other income
(expense), net       30             (324)          (2,348)        688



Income before
income taxes         27,845         25,058         96,001         32,265

Income tax expense   (9,098)        (6,246)        (26,418)       (9,796)



Consolidated net
income               18,747         18,812         69,583         22,469



Less net loss
(income)
attributable to
noncontrolling
interest             162            (146)          (1,158)        (267)



Net income
attributable to
Mueller Industries,
Inc.                 $ 18,909       $ 18,666       $ 68,425       $ 22,202







Weighted average
shares

 for basic earnings
 per share           37,710         37,474         37,657         37,253

Effect of dilutive
stock-based awards   92             72             77             89



Adjusted weighted
average shares

 for diluted
 earnings per share  37,802         37,546         37,734         37,342



Basic earnings per
share                $ 0.50         $ 0.50         $ 1.82         $ 0.60



Diluted earnings
per share            $ 0.50         $ 0.50         $ 1.81         $ 0.59



Dividends per share  $ 0.10         $ 0.10         $ 0.30         $ 0.30



Summary Segment
Data:

Net sales:

 Plumbing &
 Refrigeration
 Segment             $ 282,735      $ 240,878      $ 825,114      $ 661,035

 OEM Segment         228,981        181,621        718,965        459,898

 Elimination of
 intersegment sales  (4,476)        (2,609)        (11,183)       (6,685)



Net sales            $ 507,240      $ 419,890      $ 1,532,896    $ 1,114,248



Operating income:

 Plumbing &
 Refrigeration
 Segment             $ 11,511       $ 15,986       $ 71,710       $ 38,199

 OEM Segment         22,994         16,530         56,057         18,315

 Unallocated
 expenses            (3,618)        (4,699)        (20,850)       (17,384)



Operating income     $ 30,887       $ 27,817       $ 106,917      $ 39,130






MUELLER INDUSTRIES, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands)







                                              September 25,  December 26,

                                              2010           2009

                                              (Unaudited)

ASSETS

Cash and cash equivalents                     $ 400,116      $ 346,001

Accounts receivable, net                      278,891        228,739

Inventories                                   190,243        191,262

Other current assets                          34,631         42,841



 Total current assets                         903,881        808,843



Property, plant, and equipment, net           235,079        250,395

Other assets                                  123,781        120,903



                                              $ 1,262,741    $ 1,180,141







LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

Current portion of debt                       $ 23,437       $ 24,325

Accounts payable                              80,140         73,837

Other current liabilities                     101,395        85,208



 Total current liabilities                    204,972        183,370



Long-term debt, less current portion          158,226        158,226

Pension and postretirement liabilities        43,589         44,320

Environmental reserves                        25,671         23,268

Deferred income taxes                         25,283         31,128

Other noncurrent liabilities                  891            887



 Total liabilities                            458,632        441,199



Total Mueller Industries, Inc. stockholders'
equity                                        777,025        713,167

Noncontrolling interest                       27,084         25,775



 Total equity                                 804,109        738,942



                                              $ 1,262,741    $ 1,180,141






MUELLER INDUSTRIES, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)



                                                   For the Nine Months Ended

                                                   September 25,  September 26,

                                                   2010           2009

                                                   (Unaudited)

Operating activities:

Consolidated net income                            $ 69,583       $ 22,469

Reconciliation of consolidated net income

 to net cash provided by operating activities:

  Depreciation and amortization                    30,550         31,440

  Stock-based compensation expense                 2,185          1,892

  Insurance settlement                             (21,284)       -

  Insurance proceeds - noncapital related          5,561          -

  Loss on disposal of properties                   252            975

  Deferred income taxes                            (8,386)        (2,012)

  Income tax benefit from exercise of stock
  options                                          (89)           (189)

  Gain on early retirement of debt                 -              (128)

  Changes in assets and liabilities:

               Receivables                         (50,810)       (3,030)

               Inventories                         2,800          35,339

               Other assets                        6,158          4,152

               Current liabilities                 21,562         (6,229)

               Other liabilities                   2,839          (337)

               Other, net                          (225)          17



Net cash provided by operating activities          60,696         84,359



Investing activities:

Capital expenditures                               (14,210)       (11,002)

Business acquired                                  (2,021)        -

Insurance proceeds for property and equipment      17,703         -

Net withdrawals from restricted cash balances      1,649          12,806

Proceeds from sales of properties                  26             611



Net cash provided by investing activities          3,147          2,415



Financing activities:

Dividends paid                                     (11,300)       (11,186)

Repayment of debt by joint venture, net            (1,097)        (11,813)

Repayments of long-term debt                       -              (370)

Dividends paid to noncontrolling interest          -              (1,449)

Acquisition of treasury stock                      (85)           (416)

Issuance of shares under incentive stock option
plans

 from treasury                                     2,463          8,678

Income tax benefit from exercise of stock options  89             189



Net cash used in financing activities              (9,930)        (16,367)



Effect of exchange rate changes on cash            202            4,607



Increase in cash and cash equivalents              54,115         75,014



Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the
period                                             346,001        278,860



Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the
period                                             $ 400,116      $ 353,874






MUELLER INDUSTRIES, INC.

RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME AS REPORTED

TO NET INCOME BEFORE INSURANCE SETTLEMENT

(In thousands, except per share data)



Earnings without insurance settlement is a measurement not derived in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).

Excluding the insurance settlement is useful as it measures the operating
results that are the outcome of daily operating decisions made

in the normal course of business. The insurance settlement resulted from
reimbursement for losses claimed as a result of

a fire at our U.K. subsidiary in November 2008, the results of which are not
impacted by daily operations and are not expected to recur

in future periods. Reconciliation of earnings without insurance settlement to
net income as reported is as follows:





                                 For the Nine Months Ended September 25, 2010

                                                        Pro forma

                                            Impact of   Without

                                 As         Insurance   Insurance

                                 Reported   Settlement  Settlement

                                 (Unaudited)



Operating income                 $ 106,917  $ (21,284)  $ 85,633



Interest expense                 (8,568)    -           (8,568)

Other income, net                (2,348)    -           (2,348)



Income before income taxes       96,001     (21,284)    74,717

Income tax expense (Note A)      (26,418)   (1,090)     (27,508)



Consolidated net income          69,583     (22,374)    47,209



Less net income attributable to
noncontrolling interest          (1,158)    -           (1,158)



Net income attributable to
Mueller Industries, Inc.         $ 68,425   $ (22,374)  $ 46,051





Diluted earnings per share       $ 1.81     $ (0.59)    $ 1.22





(A) Realization of this insurance settlement resulted in a tax benefit
primarily from the utilization of U.K. net operating losses that were
previously reserved.





SOURCE Mueller Industries, Inc.