Mueller Industries, Inc. Reports Third Quarter Results



Quarterly and Year-to-Date Earnings

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Oct. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Harvey L. Karp, Chairman of Mueller Industries, Inc. (NYSE: MLI), announced today that Mueller's net income in the third quarter was $10.5 million, or 27 cents per diluted share, on net sales of $585.8 million. This compares with net income of $18.9 million, or 50 cents per diluted share, on net sales of $507.2 million in the third quarter of 2010. The third quarter 2011 results were affected by the precipitous decline in copper prices, resulting in a pretax charge of $6.8 million (or approximately 12 cents per diluted share after tax). Without these charges, earnings would have been 39 cents per diluted share.

Year-to-date, the Company earned $73.4 million, or $1.92 per diluted share, which includes a gain of 18 cents per diluted share related to a favorable litigation settlement. For the same period of 2010, net income was $68.4 million, or $1.81 per diluted share, which includes an insurance settlement gain of 59 cents per diluted share.

Net sales for the first nine months of 2011 were $1.93 billion compared with net sales of $1.53 billion for the same period a year ago.

Financial and Operating Highlights

Regarding the third quarter of 2011, Mr. Karp said:


Business Outlook

Regarding the outlook, Mr. Karp said, "The near-term outlook for the housing sector continues to be subdued; however, the construction of multi-family housing is improving. Commercial construction is also showing glimmers of better times ahead.

"We believe that the employment picture must brighten as a prerequisite for improvement in the housing market."

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.

                  ********************                        



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



October 1,


September 25,


October 1,


September 25,



2011


2010


2011


2010



(Unaudited)


(Unaudited)










Net sales


$ 585,809


$       507,240


$ 1,926,413


$    1,532,896










Cost of goods sold


523,984


437,597


1,687,735


1,317,290

Depreciation and amortization


8,716


9,934


27,581


30,372

Selling, general, and administrative expense


34,245


28,810


102,944


99,601

Litigation settlement


-


-


(10,500)


-

Insurance settlement


-


12


-


(21,284)










Operating income


18,864


30,887


118,653


106,917










Interest expense


(2,822)


(3,072)


(9,004)


(8,568)

Other income (expense), net


102


30


1,425


(2,348)










Income before income taxes


16,144


27,845


111,074


96,001










Income tax expense


(5,403)


(9,098)


(37,060)


(26,418)










Consolidated net income


10,741


18,747


74,014


69,583










Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest


(266)


162


(621)


(1,158)










Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.


$   10,475


$         18,909


$      73,393


$         68,425










Weighted average shares









for basic earnings per share


37,878


37,710


37,779


37,657

Effect of dilutive stock-based awards


483


92


367


77










Adjusted weighted average shares









for diluted earnings per share


38,361


37,802


38,146


37,734










Basic earnings per share


$       0.28


$             0.50


$          1.94


$             1.82










Diluted earnings per share


$       0.27


$             0.50


$          1.92


$             1.81










Dividends per share


$       0.10


$             0.10


$          0.30


$             0.30










Summary Segment Data:









Net sales:









Plumbing & Refrigeration Segment


$ 325,776


$       282,735


$ 1,053,434


$       825,114

OEM Segment


266,560


228,981


899,982


718,965

Elimination of intersegment sales


(6,527)


(4,476)


(27,003)


(11,183)










Net sales


$ 585,809


$       507,240


$ 1,926,413


$    1,532,896










Operating income:









Plumbing & Refrigeration Segment


$   13,884


$         11,511


$      68,357


$         71,710

OEM Segment


12,172


22,994


60,634


56,057

Unallocated expenses


(7,192)


(3,618)


(10,338)


(20,850)










Operating income


$   18,864


$         30,887


$    118,653


$       106,917



MUELLER INDUSTRIES, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands)








October 1,


December 25,



2011


2010



(Unaudited)

ASSETS





Cash and cash equivalents


$    448,853


$      394,139

Accounts receivable, net


315,709


269,258

Inventories


214,868


209,892

Other current assets


53,366


39,025






   Total current assets


1,032,796


912,314






Property, plant, and equipment, net


207,761


229,498

Other assets


118,353


117,184








$ 1,358,910


$   1,258,996











LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY





Current portion of debt


$      52,827


$        32,020

Accounts payable


65,743


67,849

Other current liabilities


113,823


95,258






   Total current liabilities


232,393


195,127






Long-term debt


156,726


158,226

Pension and postretirement liabilities


39,649


40,939

Environmental reserves


23,111


23,902

Deferred income taxes


19,788


24,081

Other noncurrent liabilities


2,187


824






   Total liabilities


473,854


443,099






Total Mueller Industries, Inc. stockholders' equity


856,189


788,736

Noncontrolling interest


28,867


27,161






   Total equity


885,056


815,897








$ 1,358,910


$   1,258,996





MUELLER INDUSTRIES, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)












For the Nine Months Ended





October 1,


September 25,





2011


2010





(Unaudited)

Operating activities:





Consolidated net income


$   74,014


$    69,583

Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by






operating activities:







Depreciation and amortization


27,844


30,550



Stock-based compensation expense


2,583


2,185



(Gain) loss on disposal of properties


(99)


252



Insurance settlement


-


(21,284)



Insurance proceeds - noncapital related


10,000


5,561



Deferred income taxes


(2,785)


(8,386)



Income tax benefit from exercise of stock options


(867)


(89)



Changes in assets and liabilities, net of business acquired:







Receivables


(38,480)


(50,810)



Inventories


(10,432)


2,800



Other assets


(9,263)


6,158



Current liabilities


13,703


21,562



Other liabilities


1,907


2,839



Other, net


759


(225)








Net cash provided by operating activities


68,884


60,696








Investing activities:





Capital expenditures


(13,128)


(14,210)

Acquisition of business


(6,882)


(2,021)

Insurance proceeds


-


17,703

Proceeds from sales of properties


1,745


26

Net (deposits into) withdrawals from restricted cash balances


(5,120)


1,649








Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities


(23,385)


3,147








Financing activities:





Dividends paid


(11,345)


(11,300)

Debt issuance costs


(1,942)


-

Issuance of shares under stock-based incentive plans






from treasury


11,885


2,463

Income tax benefit from exercise of stock options


867


89

Acquisition of treasury stock


(8,211)


(85)

Repayments of long-term debt


(1,902)


-

Issuance (repayment) of debt by joint venture, net


19,316


(1,097)








Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities


8,668


(9,930)








Effect of exchange rate changes on cash


547


202








Increase in cash and cash equivalents


54,714


54,115








Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period


394,139


346,001








Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period


$ 448,853


$   400,116



MUELLER INDUSTRIES, INC.

RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME AS REPORTED

TO NET INCOME BEFORE LOWER-OF-COST-OR-MARKET RESERVE

(In thousands, except per share data)


Earnings without the lower-of-cost-or-market (LCM) reserve in the third quarter of 2011 is a measurement not derived in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).  Excluding the LCM reserve is useful as it assists in comparing our results to competitors.  The LCM reserve resulted from the decrease in copper prices experienced near the end of the quarter, causing the Company to write-down approximately $6.8 million of certain inventories valued using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) and average cost methods to the lower-of-cost-or-market.  Reconciliation of net income as reported to earnings without the LCM reserve is as follows:





For the Three Months Ended October 1, 2011






Impact of


Pro forma




As


LCM


Without




Reported


Reserve


LCM Reserve




(Unaudited)









Operating income



$ 18,864


$  6,796


$       25,660









Interest expense



(2,822)


-


(2,822)

Other income, net



102


-


102









Income before income taxes



16,144


6,796


22,940

Income tax expense



(5,403)


(2,379)


(7,782)









Consolidated net income



10,741


4,417


15,158









Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest




(266)


-


(266)









Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.



$ 10,475


$  4,417


$       14,892

















Diluted earnings per share



$     0.27


$    0.12


$           0.39



MUELLER INDUSTRIES, INC.

RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME AS REPORTED

TO NET INCOME BEFORE LITIGATION SETTLEMENT, LOWER-OF-COST-OR-MARKET RESERVE,  

AND INSURANCE SETTLEMENT

(In thousands, except per share data)


Earnings without the litigation settlement and lower-of-cost-or-market (LCM) reserve in 2011 and without the insurance settlement in 2010 is a measurement not derived in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).  Excluding the LCM reserve is useful as it assists in comparing our results to competitors. Excluding the litigation settlement and 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 LCM reserve resulted from the decrease in copper prices experienced near the end of the quarter, causing the Company to write-down approximately $6.8 million of certain inventories valued using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) and average cost methods to the lower-of-cost-or-market. The litigation settlement resulted from the collection of proceeds from the lawsuit against Peter Berkman, Jeffrey Berkman, and Homewerks Worldwide LLC.  The insurance settlement resulted from the final settlement 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. Reconciliations of net income as reported to earnings without the litigation settlement, LCM reserve, and insurance settlement are as follows:













For the Nine Months Ended October 1, 2011









Pro forma









Without





Impact of


Impact of


Litigation



As


Litigation


LCM


Settlement



Reported


Settlement


Reserve


& LCM



(Unaudited)










Operating income


$ 118,653


$ (10,500)


$    6,796


$ 114,949










Interest expense


(9,004)


-


-


(9,004)

Other income, net


1,425


-


-


1,425










Income before income taxes


111,074


(10,500)


6,796


107,370

Income tax expense


(37,060)


3,675


(2,379)


(35,764)










Consolidated net income


74,014


(6,825)


4,417


71,606










Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest


(621)


-


-


(621)










Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.


$   73,393


$   (6,825)


$    4,417


$   70,985



















Diluted earnings per share


$       1.92


$     (0.18)


$      0.12


$       1.86























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 expense, 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










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.





CONTACT: Kent A. McKee, +1-901-753-3208