Encore Wire Reports Strong Third Quarter Results; Highlights Increased Volumes; Continued Share Repurchases During Quarter

Encore Wire Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: WIRE) (“Encore Wire” or the “Company”) today announced results for the third quarter of 2023.

Third Quarter and YTD 2023 Highlights

  • Third Quarter Earnings per diluted share of $4.82; YTD Earnings per diluted share of $17.40
  • Third Quarter Net Income of $82.1 million; YTD Net Income of $306.3 million
  • Gross Profit of 23.3% in the third quarter of 2023; 26.9% YTD in 2023
  • Cash on hand of $581.8 million as of September 30, 2023; $730.6 million as of December 31, 2022
  • Capital expenditures of $118.6 million YTD in 2023
  • Company repurchased 710,083 shares during the quarter and 2,185,492 YTD in 2023
  • Total cash outlay for share repurchases of $121.2 million during the quarter and $375.0 million YTD in 2023
  • Company repurchased 5,157,769 shares since the first quarter of 2020, approximately 25% of outstanding shares
  • Remaining share repurchase authorization of 1,289,917 shares of our common stock through March 31, 2024

Net sales for the third quarter ended September 30, 2023 were $637.0 million compared to $762.4 million in the third quarter ended September 30, 2022. Copper unit volume, measured in pounds of copper contained in the wire sold, increased 6.4% in the third quarter of 2023 versus the third quarter of 2022. Aluminum wire represented 12.5% of net sales in the third quarter of 2023 compared to 17.4% in the third quarter of 2022. The decrease in net sales dollars was driven by an anticipated decrease in the average selling prices in the third quarter of 2023 compared to the third quarter of 2022.

Gross profit percentage for the third quarter of 2023 was 23.3% compared to 39.3% in the third quarter of 2022. The average selling price of wire per copper pound sold decreased 16.8% in the third quarter of 2023 versus the third quarter of 2022, while the average cost of copper per pound purchased increased 4.6%. This resulted in the continued gradual, albeit slowing, abatement of copper spreads during the quarter, primarily driven by the decrease in the average selling price of copper pounds sold noted above, which resulted in the decreased gross profit margin in the third quarter of 2023 compared to the third quarter of 2022.

Net income for the third quarter of 2023 was $82.1 million versus $191.8 million in the third quarter of 2022. Fully diluted earnings per common share were $4.82 in the third quarter of 2023 versus $9.97 in the third quarter of 2022.

On a sequential quarter basis, net sales for the third quarter ended September 30, 2023 were $637.0 million compared to $636.5 million in the second quarter ended June 30, 2023. Copper unit volume, measured in pounds of copper contained in the wire sold, increased 6.8% in the third quarter of 2023 versus the second quarter of 2023. Aluminum wire represented 12.5% of net sales in the third quarter of 2023 compared to 14.4% in the second quarter of 2023. The slight increase in net sales dollars was driven by an increase in copper unit volume sold in the third quarter of 2023 compared to the second quarter of 2023, partially offset by decreased average selling prices in the third quarter of 2023.

Gross profit percentage for the third quarter of 2023 was 23.3% compared to 26.1% in the second quarter of 2023. The average selling price of wire per copper pound sold decreased 4.3% in the third quarter of 2023 versus the second quarter of 2023, while the average cost of copper per pound purchased decreased 2.0%. This resulted in the continued gradual, albeit slowing, abatement of copper spreads during the quarter, primarily driven by the decrease in the average selling price noted above, partially offset by a decrease in the average cost per pound of copper purchased, which resulted in the decreased gross profit margin in the third quarter of 2023 compared to the second quarter of 2023.

Net income for the third quarter of 2023 was $82.1 million versus $104.7 million in the second quarter of 2023. Fully diluted earnings per common share were $4.82 in the third quarter of 2023 versus $6.01 in the second quarter of 2023.

Net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 were $1.934 billion compared to $2.324 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2022. Copper unit volume, measured in pounds of copper contained in the wire sold, increased 2.7% in the first nine months of 2023 versus the first nine months of 2022. Aluminum wire represented 13.8% of net sales in the first nine months of 2023 compared to 14.7% in the first nine months of 2022. The decrease in net sales dollars was driven by an anticipated decrease in the average selling prices in the first nine months of 2023 compared to the first nine months of 2022.

Gross profit percentage for the first nine months of 2023 was 26.9% compared to 37.2% in the first nine months of 2022. The average selling price of wire per copper pound sold decreased 18.1% in the first nine months of 2023 versus the first nine months of 2022, while the average cost of copper per pound purchased decreased 5.3%. This resulted in the continued gradual abatement of copper spreads during the first nine months of 2023 versus the first nine months of 2022.

The increase in SG&A in the first nine months of 2023 was primarily due to an increase in Stock Appreciation Rights (“SARs”) expense charges driven by the increase in our stock price at September 30, 2023 versus December 31, 2022. We recorded $16.9 million in SARs expense in the first nine months of 2023 compared to a breakeven SARs benefit recorded in the first nine months of 2022, resulting in a $16.9 million increase in SARs expense. No SARs were granted subsequent to January of 2020. The increased SARs expense was partially offset by a decrease in selling expenses period-over-period.

Net income for the first nine months of 2023 was $306.3 million versus $563.8 million in the first nine months of 2022. Fully diluted earnings per common share were $17.40 in the first nine months of 2023 versus $28.57 in the first nine months of 2022.

Commenting on the results, Daniel L. Jones, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Encore Wire Corporation, said, “Demand for our products has remained strong, and our build-to-ship model, combined with the increased throughput of our modern service center, allowed us to reach a quarterly record of copper and aluminum pounds shipped. Despite continued tightness in raw copper availability, our key suppliers continue to perform at a high level which positioned us favorably to meet customer demand in a timely manner. By continuing to execute on our core values of providing unbeatable customer service and high order fill rates, ongoing margin abatement remained gradual in the third quarter of 2023.

Our balance sheet remains very strong, and we remain committed to returning capital to shareholders, as evidenced by our ongoing share repurchases. We have no long-term debt, and our revolving line of credit remains untapped. We had $581.8 million in cash as of September 30, 2023. During the third quarter we repurchased 710,083 shares of our common stock for a total cash outlay of $121.2 million. Since the first quarter of 2020 we have repurchased 5,157,769 shares of our common stock, approximately 25% of outstanding shares, at an average price of $133.12, for a total cash outlay of $686.6 million. We also declared a $0.02 cash dividend during the quarter.

We remain committed to reinvesting in our business with current and planned projects focused on increasing capacity, efficiency and vertical integration across our campus, which will continue to improve our service model. These types of organic investments have fueled our consistent growth since inception and position us well to continue to profitably capture market share for years to come.

In 2022 we began construction on a new, state of the art, cross-link polyethylene (XLPE) compounding facility to deepen vertical integration related to wire and cable insulation. XLPE insulation is used in many applications including Data Centers, Oil and Gas, Transit, Waste-Water Treatment facilities, Utilities, and Wind and Solar applications. The new facility is substantially complete. Capital spending in 2023 through 2025 will further expand vertical integration in our manufacturing processes to reduce costs as well as modernize select wire manufacturing facilities to increase capacity and efficiency and improve our position as a sustainable and environmentally responsible company. Total capital expenditures were $148.4 million in 2022 and $118.6 million in the first nine months of 2023. We expect total capital expenditures to range from $160 - $170 million in 2023, $150 - $170 million in 2024, and $80 - $100 million in 2025. We expect to continue to fund these investments with existing cash reserves and operating cash flows.

We continue to believe that our operational agility, speed to market, and deep supplier relationships remain competitive advantages in serving our customers’ evolving needs and capturing market share in the current economic environment. As we continue to address near-term challenges, we remain focused on the long-term opportunities for our business. We thank our employees and associates for their outstanding effort and our shareholders for their continued support.”

The Company will host a conference call to discuss the third quarter results on Wednesday, October 25 2023, at 10:00 am Central time. Hosting the call will be Daniel L. Jones, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Bret J. Eckert, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Attendants may register at https://registrations.events/direct/ENC60443 to participate in the call. A confirmation email will be sent to all registrants containing a dial-in number and a unique passcode. Each passcode allows one user on the call. Please plan to join this call at least five minutes prior to the scheduled start time. After entering your dial-in number, you will be prompted to enter your unique passcode, followed by the # key. A replay of this conference call will be accessible in the Investors section of our website, www.encorewire.com, for a limited time.

Encore Wire Corporation is a leading manufacturer of a broad range of copper and aluminum electrical wire and cables, supplying power generation and distribution solutions to meet our customers’ needs today and in the future. The Company focuses on maintaining a low-cost of production while providing exceptional customer service, quickly shipping complete orders coast-to-coast. Our products are proudly made in America at our vertically-integrated, single-site, Texas campus.

The matters discussed in this news release may include forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: “anticipate”, “intend”, “plan”, “goal”, “seek”, “believe”, “project”, “estimate”, “expect”, “strategy”, “future”, “likely”, “may”, “should”, “will” and similar references to future periods. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, such statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, estimated or projected. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Examples of such uncertainties and risks include, but are not limited to, statements about the pricing environment of copper, aluminum and other raw materials, the duration, magnitude and impact of the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic, our order fill rates, profitability and stockholder value, payment of future dividends, future purchases of stock, the impact of competitive pricing and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may vary materially from those anticipated. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

Additional Disclosures:

The term “EBITDA” is used by the Company in presentations, quarterly conference calls and other instances as appropriate. EBITDA is defined as net income before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization. The Company presents EBITDA because it is a required component of financial ratios reported by the Company to the Company’s banks, and is also frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties, in addition to and not in lieu of measures of financial performance calculated and presented in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), to compare to the performance of other companies who also publicize this information. EBITDA is not a measurement of financial performance calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered an alternative to net income as an indicator of the Company’s operating performance or any other measure of financial performance calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP.

The Company has reconciled EBITDA with net income for fiscal years 1996 to 2022 on previous reports on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. EBITDA for each period pertinent to this press release is calculated and reconciled to net income as follows:

 

 

Quarter Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

In Thousands

 

2023

 

2022

 

2023

 

2022

Net Income

 

$

82,052

 

$

191,773

 

$

306,276

 

$

563,843

Income Tax Expense

 

 

24,512

 

 

55,470

 

 

91,387

 

 

162,065

Interest Expense

 

 

103

 

 

103

 

 

305

 

 

305

Depreciation and Amortization

 

 

8,110

 

 

6,514

 

 

23,891

 

 

19,035

EBITDA

 

$

114,777

 

$

253,860

 

$

421,859

 

$

745,248

Encore Wire Corporation

Condensed Balance Sheets

(In Thousands)

 

September 30, 2023

 

December 31, 2022

 

(Unaudited)

 

(Audited)

Assets

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

$

581,753

 

 

$

730,557

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

495,179

 

 

 

498,762

 

Inventories, net

 

158,991

 

 

 

153,187

 

Income tax receivable

 

19,867

 

 

 

15,143

 

Prepaid expenses and other

 

8,766

 

 

 

3,992

 

Total current assets

 

1,264,556

 

 

 

1,401,641

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

713,937

 

 

 

616,601

 

Other assets

 

496

 

 

 

490

 

Total assets

$

1,978,989

 

 

$

2,018,732

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

Trade accounts payable

$

80,914

 

 

$

62,780

 

Accrued liabilities

 

80,502

 

 

 

81,381

 

Total current liabilities

 

161,416

 

 

 

144,161

 

Long-term liabilities:

 

 

 

Deferred income taxes and other

 

55,881

 

 

 

55,905

 

Total long-term liabilities

 

55,881

 

 

 

55,905

 

Total liabilities

 

217,297

 

 

 

200,066

 

Commitments and contingencies

 

 

 

Stockholders’ equity:

 

 

 

Common stock

 

273

 

 

 

271

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

99,984

 

 

 

83,622

 

Treasury stock

 

(781,244

)

 

 

(402,639

)

Retained earnings

 

2,442,679

 

 

 

2,137,412

 

Total stockholders’ equity

 

1,761,692

 

 

 

1,818,666

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$

1,978,989

 

 

$

2,018,732

 

Encore Wire Corporation

Statements of Income

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

 

Quarter Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

2023

 

2022

 

2023

 

2022

 

(Unaudited)

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

$

636,991

 

100.0

%

 

$

762,363

 

100.0

%

 

$

1,933,944

 

100.0

%

 

$

2,323,670

 

100.0

%

Cost of goods sold

 

488,749

 

76.7

%

 

 

462,916

 

60.7

%

 

 

1,414,469

 

73.1

%

 

 

1,459,704

 

62.8

%

Gross profit

 

148,242

 

23.3

%

 

 

299,447

 

39.3

%

 

 

519,475

 

26.9

%

 

 

863,966

 

37.2

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling, general, and administrative expenses

 

50,279

 

7.9

%

 

 

55,291

 

7.3

%

 

 

147,654

 

7.7

%

 

 

141,908

 

6.1

%

Operating income

 

97,963

 

15.4

%

 

 

244,156

 

32.0

%

 

 

371,821

 

19.2

%

 

 

722,058

 

31.1

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest and other income

 

8,601

 

1.4

%

 

 

3,087

 

0.4

%

 

 

25,842

 

1.3

%

 

 

3,850

 

0.2

%

Income before income taxes

 

106,564

 

16.8

%

 

 

247,243

 

32.4

%

 

 

397,663

 

20.5

%

 

 

725,908

 

31.3

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provision for income taxes

 

24,512

 

3.9

%

 

 

55,470

 

7.3

%

 

 

91,387

 

4.7

%

 

 

162,065

 

7.0

%

Net income

$

82,052

 

12.9

%

 

$

191,773

 

25.1

%

 

$

306,276

 

15.8

%

 

$

563,843

 

24.3

%

Earnings per common and common equivalent share – basic

$

4.93

 

 

 

$

10.11

 

 

 

$

17.73

 

 

 

$

28.98

 

 

Earnings per common and common equivalent share – diluted

$

4.82

 

 

 

$

9.97

 

 

 

$

17.40

 

 

 

$

28.57

 

 

Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding – basic

 

16,638

 

 

 

 

18,968

 

 

 

 

17,271

 

 

 

 

19,459

 

 

Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding – diluted

 

17,007

 

 

 

 

19,243

 

 

 

 

17,597

 

 

 

 

19,733

 

 

Cash Dividends Declared per Share

$

0.02

 

 

 

$

0.02

 

 

 

$

0.06

 

 

 

$

0.06

 

 

 

Contacts

Bret J. Eckert

Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

972-562-9473

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