Worthington Reports Second Quarter Fiscal 2017 Results

COLUMBUS, OH--(Marketwired - Dec 19, 2016) - Worthington Industries, Inc. ( NYSE : WOR ) today reported net sales of $727.8 million and net earnings of $46.6 million, or $0.72 per diluted share, for its fiscal 2017 second quarter ended November 30, 2016. Net earnings in the quarter included pre-tax restructuring charges totaling $3.3 million. The after-tax impact of these charges reduced earnings per diluted share by $0.03. In the second quarter of fiscal 2016, the Company reported net sales of $699.8 million and net earnings of $23.4 million, or $0.36 per diluted share. Net earnings in the second quarter of fiscal 2016 included pre-tax impairment and restructuring charges totaling $24.5 million. The after-tax impact of these charges reduced earnings per diluted share by $0.24.

Financial highlights for the current and comparative periods are as follows:

(U.S. dollars in millions, except per share data)
		2Q 2017			1Q 2017			2Q 2016			6M 2017			6M 2016
Net sales		$	727.8		$	737.5		$	699.8		$	1,465.3		$	1,457.9
Operating income			43.0			64.9			12.0			107.9			43.0
Equity income			27.1			34.5			29.2			61.7			55.8
Net earnings			46.6			65.6			23.4			112.1			55.3
Earnings per diluted share		$	0.72		$	1.02		$	0.36		$	1.74		$	0.85

"We had a good second quarter with overall improving results and solid year-over-year growth," said John McConnell, Chairman and CEO. "The Steel Processing business had a record second quarter and our joint ventures were steady. Results were mixed in Pressure Cylinders due to depressed oil and gas markets and declines in industrial products; consumer products had an excellent quarter. Demand was down in Engineered Cabs."

Consolidated Quarterly Results

Net sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2017 were $727.8 million, up 4% from the comparable quarter in the prior year, when net sales were $699.8 million. The increase was the result of higher average direct selling prices in Steel Processing, partially offset by lower volume in Engineered Cabs and certain Pressure Cylinders businesses.

Gross margin increased $13.6 million from the prior year quarter to $122.8 million on a favorable pricing spread in Steel Processing and contributions from the WSP joint venture, which was consolidated effective March 1, 2016.

Operating income for the current quarter was $43.0 million, an increase of $31.1 million from the prior year quarter. The increase was due to lower impairment and restructuring charges in the current quarter combined with an improved gross margin, partially offset by higher SG&A expense primarily related to recent acquisitions.

Interest expense was $7.7 million for the current quarter, compared to $7.8 million in the prior year quarter. The decrease was due to lower short-term borrowings.

Equity income from unconsolidated joint ventures decreased $2.1 million from the prior year quarter to $27.1 million on lower contributions from ClarkDietrich. Equity income from ClarkDietrich in the prior year quarter was favorably impacted by $4.0 million due to a legal settlement. The Company received cash distributions of $24.3 million from unconsolidated joint ventures during the quarter, a 90% cash conversion on equity income.

Income tax expense was $13.5 million in the current quarter compared to $8.7 million in the prior year quarter. The increase was primarily due to higher earnings, partially offset by $6.3 million in favorable discrete items recorded in the quarter. Tax expense in the current quarter reflects an estimated annual effective rate of 28.5% compared to 30.9% for the prior year quarter.

Balance Sheet

At quarter-end, total debt was $577.4 million, down $2.4 million from August 31, 2016, due to lower short-term borrowings. The Company had $175.2 million of cash at quarter-end.

Quarterly Segment Results

Steel Processing's net sales of $508.8 million were up 9%, or $41.0 million, from the comparable prior year quarter driven by higher average direct selling prices and higher tolling volume due to the consolidation of the WSP joint venture effective March 1, 2016. Operating income of $35.4 million was $8.8 million higher than the prior year quarter due to a favorable pricing spread and contributions from the WSP joint venture. The mix of direct versus toll tons processed was 49% to 51% in the current quarter, compared to 62% to 38% in the prior year quarter. The change in mix was primarily the result of the consolidation of the WSP joint venture effective March 1, 2016.

Pressure Cylinders' net sales of $194.7 million were down 3%, or $6.5 million, from the comparable prior year quarter. The decline was driven by lower volume in the oil & gas equipment and industrial products businesses, partially offset by higher average selling prices in consumer products due to an improved product mix. Operating income of $11.3 million was $21.6 million higher than the prior year quarter due to lower impairment and restructuring charges in the current quarter. Declines in the industrial products and oil & gas equipment businesses were largely offset by improvements in consumer products. 

Engineered Cabs' net sales of $22.5 million were down $6.2 million, or 22%, from the prior year quarter due to declines in market demand. The operating loss of $3.4 million was $0.9 million less than the prior year quarter due to lower SG&A expense.

The "Other" category includes the energy innovations business, as well as non-allocated corporate expenses. Net sales in the "Other" category were $1.9 million, a decrease of $0.3 million. The operating loss of $0.3 million for the quarter was driven primarily by losses in the energy innovations business.

Outlook

"I am pleased with the performance of our Company in the first half of fiscal 2017. We experienced some weak markets, but our employees continue to work hard to make improvements, aided by our recently launched Transformation 2.0 that we will continue to roll out in the new year." McConnell added, "I am encouraged by the early views of the economic outlook for 2017 and look forward to pursuing growth opportunities."

Conference Call

Worthington will review fiscal 2017 second quarter results during its quarterly conference call on December 20, 2016, at 2:30 p.m., Eastern Time. Details regarding the conference call can be found on the Company web site at www.WorthingtonIndustries.com .

About Worthington Industries 

Worthington Industries is a leading global diversified metals manufacturing company with 2016 fiscal year sales of $2.8 billion. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Worthington is North America's premier value-added steel processor providing customers with wide ranging capabilities, products and services for a variety of markets including automotive, construction and agriculture; a global leader in manufacturing pressure cylinders for industrial gas and cryogenic applications, CNG and LNG storage, transportation and alternative fuel tanks, oil & gas equipment, and consumer products for camping, grilling, hand torch solutions and helium balloon kits; and a manufacturer of operator cabs for heavy mobile industrial equipment; laser welded blanks for light weighting applications; automotive racking solutions; and through joint ventures, complete ceiling grid solutions; automotive tooling and stampings; and steel framing for commercial construction. Worthington employs approximately 10,000 people and operates 79 facilities in 11 countries. 

Founded in 1955, the Company operates under a long-standing corporate philosophy rooted in the golden rule. Earning money for its shareholders is the first corporate goal. This philosophy serves as the basis for an unwavering commitment to the customer, supplier, and shareholder, and as the Company's foundation for one of the strongest employee-employer partnerships in American industry.

Safe Harbor Statement

The Company wishes to take advantage of the Safe Harbor provisions included in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act"). Statements by the Company relating to outlook, strategy or business plans; the ability to correct performance issues at operations; future or expected growth, forward momentum, performance, sales, volumes, cash flows, earnings, balance sheet strengths, debt, financial condition or other financial measures; pricing trends for raw materials and finished goods and the impact of pricing changes; demand trends for us or our markets; additions to product lines and opportunities to participate in new markets; expected benefits from Transformation efforts; anticipated capital expenditures and asset sales; anticipated improvements and efficiencies in costs, operations, sales, inventory management, sourcing and the supply chain and the results thereof; projected profitability potential, capacity, and working capital needs; the ability to make acquisitions and the projected timing, results, benefits, costs, charges and expenditures related to acquisitions, newly-created joint ventures, headcount reductions and facility dispositions, shutdowns and consolidations; the alignment of operations with demand; the ability to operate profitably and generate cash in down markets; the ability to maintain margins and capture and maintain market share and to develop or take advantage of future opportunities, customer initiatives, new businesses, new products and new markets; expectations for Company and customer inventories, jobs and orders; expectations for the economy and markets or improvements therein; expectations for increasing volatility or improving and sustainable earnings, earnings potential, margins or shareholder value; effects of judicial rulings and other non-historical matters constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Act. Because they are based on beliefs, estimates and assumptions, forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Any number of factors could affect actual results, including, without limitation, the effect of national, regional and global economic conditions generally and within major product markets, including a recurrent slowing economy; the effect of conditions in national and worldwide financial markets; lower oil prices as a factor in demand for products; product demand and pricing; changes in product mix, product substitution and market acceptance of our products; fluctuations in the pricing, quality or availability of raw materials (particularly steel), supplies, transportation, utilities and other items required by operations; effects of facility closures and the consolidation of operations; the effect of financial difficulties, consolidation and other changes within the steel, automotive, construction, oil and gas, and other industries in which we participate; failure to maintain appropriate levels of inventories; financial difficulties (including bankruptcy filings) of original equipment manufacturers, end-users and customers, suppliers, joint venture partners and others with whom we do business; the ability to realize targeted expense reductions from headcount reductions, facility closures and other cost reduction efforts; the ability to realize other cost savings and operational, sales and sourcing improvements and efficiencies, and other expected benefits from Transformation initiatives, on a timely basis; the overall success of, and the ability to integrate, newly-acquired businesses and joint ventures, maintain and develop their customers, and achieve synergies and other expected benefits and cost savings therefrom; capacity levels and efficiencies, within facilities, within major product markets and within the industries as a whole; the effect of disruption in the business of suppliers, customers, facilities and shipping operations due to adverse weather, casualty events, equipment breakdowns, civil unrest, international conflicts, or terrorist activities or other causes; changes in customer demand, inventories, spending patterns, product choices, and supplier choices; risks associated with doing business internationally, including economic, political and social instability, foreign currency exposure and the acceptance of our products in markets; the ability to improve and maintain processes and business practices to keep pace with the economic, competitive and technological environment; the outcome of adverse claims experience with respect to workers' compensation, product recalls or product liability, casualty events or other matters; deviation of actual results from estimates and/or assumptions used by us in the application of our significant accounting policies; level of imports and import prices in our markets; the impact of judicial rulings and governmental regulations, both in the United States and abroad, including those adopted by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and other governmental agencies as contemplated by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010; the effect of changes to healthcare laws in the United States, which may increase our healthcare and other costs and negatively impact our operations and financial results; cyber security risks; and other risks described from time to time in the Company's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including those described in "Part I - Item 1A. - Risk Factors" of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2016.

WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
			Three Months Ended November 30,								Six Months Ended November 30,
			2016				2015				2016				2015
Net sales			$	727,780			$	699,816			$	1,465,329			$	1,457,963
Cost of goods sold				604,977				590,637				1,195,244				1,235,768
	Gross margin			122,803				109,179				270,085				222,195
Selling, general and administrative expense				76,487				72,722				157,543				148,673
Impairment of long-lived assets				-				22,962				-				25,962
Restructuring and other expense				3,272				1,523				4,600				4,592
	Operating income			43,044				11,972				107,942				42,968
Other income (expense):
	Miscellaneous income, net			872				996				1,735				418
	Interest expense			(7,658	)			(7,799	)			(15,528	)			(15,653	)
	Equity in net income of unconsolidated affiliates			27,124				29,247				61,668				55,828
	Earnings before income taxes			63,382				34,416				155,817				83,561
Income tax expense				13,515				8,665				37,414				22,815
Net earnings				49,867				25,751				118,403				60,746
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests				3,302				2,375				6,271				5,402
Net earnings attributable to controlling interest			$	46,565			$	23,376			$	112,132			$	55,344
Basic
Average common shares outstanding				62,348				62,676				62,115				63,338
Earnings per share attributable to controlling interest			$	0.75			$	0.37			$	1.81			$	0.87
Diluted
Average common shares outstanding				64,725				64,663				64,599				65,350
Earnings per share attributable to controlling interest			$	0.72			$	0.36			$	1.74			$	0.85
Common shares outstanding at end of period				62,562				62,101				62,562				62,101
Cash dividends declared per share			$	0.20			$	0.19			$	0.40			$	0.38

WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)
					November 30,			May 31,
					2016			2016
Assets
Current assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents				$	175,180		$	84,188
	Receivables, less allowances of $3,499 and $4,579 at November 30, 2016 and May 31, 2016, respectively					429,011			439,688
	Inventories:
		Raw materials				168,586			162,427
		Work in process				85,933			86,892
		Finished products				83,339			70,016
			Total inventories			337,858			319,335
	Income taxes receivable					7,997			10,535
	Assets held for sale					10,050			10,079
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets					47,385			51,290
		Total current assets				1,007,481			915,115
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates						203,508			191,826
Goodwill						243,918			246,067
Other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $56,220 and $49,532 at November 30, 2016 and May 31, 2016, respectively						88,588			96,164
Other assets						27,914			29,254
Property, plant and equipment:
	Land					18,397			18,537
	Buildings and improvements					257,950			256,973
	Machinery and equipment					973,941			945,951
	Construction in progress					34,732			48,156
		Total property, plant and equipment				1,285,020			1,269,617
		Less: accumulated depreciation				713,705			686,779
Total property, plant and equipment, net						571,315			582,838
Total assets					$	2,142,724		$	2,061,264
Liabilities and equity
Current liabilities:
	Accounts payable				$	278,192		$	290,432
	Short-term borrowings					497			2,651
	Accrued compensation, contributions to employee benefit plans and related taxes					65,308			75,105
	Dividends payable					14,182			13,471
	Other accrued items					41,815			45,056
	Income taxes payable					3,364			2,501
	Current maturities of long-term debt					873			862
		Total current liabilities				404,231			430,078
Other liabilities						63,910			63,487
Distributions in excess of investment in unconsolidated affiliate						67,516			52,983
Long-term debt						576,038			577,491
Deferred income taxes, net						20,267			17,379
		Total liabilities				1,131,962			1,141,418
Shareholders' equity - controlling interest						884,940			793,371
Noncontrolling interests						125,822			126,475
		Total equity				1,010,762			919,846
Total liabilities and equity					$	2,142,724		$	2,061,264

WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
			Three Months Ended November 30,								Six Months Ended November 30,
			2016				2015				2016				2015
Operating activities:
Net earnings			$	49,867			$	25,751			$	118,403			$	60,746
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
	Depreciation and amortization			21,645				20,547				43,476				41,987
	Impairment of long-lived assets			-				22,962				-				25,962
	Provision for (benefit from) deferred income taxes			2,316				(9,851	)			2,336				(15,391	)
	Bad debt (income) expense			232				(2	)			151				8
	Equity in net income of unconsolidated affiliates, net of distributions			(2,824	)			(10,389	)			1,074				(15,902	)
	Net (gain) loss on sale of assets			(2,912	)			(5,854	)			1,484				(4,248	)
	Stock-based compensation			3,824				3,880				6,960				7,657
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of impact of acquisitions:
	Receivables			(7,156	)			23,474				9,798				66,103
	Inventories			31,875				31,645				(18,523	)			23,821
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets			(1,737	)			17,467				5,425				28,633
	Other assets			1,165				(3,245	)			2,411				(2,803	)
	Accounts payable and accrued expenses			(65,946	)			(72,846	)			(22,885	)			(31,220	)
	Other liabilities			950				7,487				2,094				4,300
Net cash provided by operating activities				31,299				51,026				152,204				189,653
Investing activities:
	Investment in property, plant and equipment			(14,730	)			(21,995	)			(31,046	)			(60,492	)
	Acquisitions, net of cash acquired			-				(2,950	)			-				(2,950	)
	Investments in unconsolidated affiliates			-				(226	)			-				(1,913	)
	Proceeds from sale of assets			799				9,325				956				9,456
Net cash used by investing activities				(13,931	)			(15,846	)			(30,090	)			(55,899	)
Financing activities:
	Net proceeds from (repayments of) short-term borrowings			(1,037	)			27,499				(2,154	)			(41,012	)
	Proceeds from long-term debt			-				-				-				921
	Principal payments on long-term debt			(218	)			(220	)			(437	)			(428	)
	Proceeds from issuance of common shares, net of tax withholdings			(2,849	)			3,666				2,972				3,064
	Payments to noncontrolling interests			(6,781	)			(1,564	)			(6,781	)			(4,900	)
	Repurchase of common shares			-				(43,914	)			-				(71,496	)
	Dividends paid			(12,828	)			(12,065	)			(24,722	)			(23,616	)
Net cash used by financing activities				(23,713	)			(26,598	)			(31,122	)			(137,467	)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents				(6,345	)			8,582				90,992				(3,713	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period				181,525				18,772				84,188				31,067
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period			$	175,180			$	27,354			$	175,180			$	27,354

WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC.
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
(In thousands, except volume)
This supplemental information is provided to assist in the analysis of the results of operations.
				Three Months Ended November 30,								Six Months Ended November 30,
				2016				2015				2016				2015
Volume:
	Steel Processing (tons)				1,020,147				828,208				2,051,645				1,694,584
	Pressure Cylinders (units)				16,308,807				16,622,732				35,224,685				35,930,392
Net sales:
	Steel Processing			$	508,806			$	467,812			$	1,014,480			$	958,612
	Pressure Cylinders				194,661				201,173				399,870				425,567
	Engineered Cabs				22,463				28,699				48,044				67,316
	Other				1,850				2,132				2,935				6,468
		Total net sales		$	727,780			$	699,816			$	1,465,329			$	1,457,963
Material cost:
	Steel Processing			$	338,988			$	322,507			$	651,703			$	670,752
	Pressure Cylinders				76,302				85,498				159,230				184,562
	Engineered Cabs				10,173				13,437				21,420				31,418
Selling, general and administrative expense:
	Steel Processing			$	35,806			$	32,925			$	72,688			$	65,840
	Pressure Cylinders				35,530				33,915				72,520				70,789
	Engineered Cabs				3,669				4,800				7,620				10,208
	Other				1,482				1,082				4,715				1,836
		Total selling, general and administrative expense		$	76,487			$	72,722			$	157,543			$	148,673
Operating income (loss):
	Steel Processing			$	35,448			$	26,642			$	90,230			$	50,280
	Pressure Cylinders				11,304				(10,309	)			25,409				6,510
	Engineered Cabs				(3,381	)			(4,290	)			(5,224	)			(13,581	)
	Other				(327	)			(71	)			(2,473	)			(241	)
		Total operating income		$	43,044			$	11,972			$	107,942			$	42,968
Equity income (loss) by unconsolidated affiliate:
	WAVE			$	18,720			$	19,119			$	39,466			$	41,160
	ClarkDietrich				4,262				6,378				12,929				9,024
	Serviacero				2,039				378				3,991				1,181
	ArtiFlex				2,134				2,611				5,027				4,158
	WSP				-				721				-				1,474
	Other				(31	)			40				255				(1,169	)
		Total equity income		$	27,124			$	29,247			$	61,668			$	55,828

WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC.
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
(In thousands, except volume)
The following provides detail of Pressure Cylinders volume and net sales by principal class of products.
				Three Months Ended November 30,								Six Months Ended November 30,
				2016				2015				2016				2015
Volume (units):
	Consumer products				10,383,747				10,523,692				22,472,659				22,501,637
	Industrial products				5,790,436				5,990,875				12,480,584				13,227,314
	Alternative fuels				134,190				107,121				270,252				199,077
	Oil & gas equipment				434				1,044				1,190				2,364
		Total Pressure Cylinders			16,308,807				16,622,732				35,224,685				35,930,392
Net sales:
	Consumer products			$	55,435			$	49,484			$	116,061			$	104,442
	Industrial products				98,868				102,694				199,228				214,428
	Alternative fuels				29,170				23,954				58,932				48,772
	Oil & gas equipment				11,188				25,041				25,649				57,925
		Total Pressure Cylinders		$	194,661			$	201,173			$	399,870			$	425,567
The following provides detail of impairment of long-lived assets and restructuring and other expense included in operating income (loss) by segment.
				Three Months Ended November 30,								Six Months Ended November 30,
				2016				2015				2016				2015
Impairment of long-lived assets:
	Steel Processing			$	-			$	-			$	-			$	-
	Pressure Cylinders				-				22,962				-				22,962
	Engineered Cabs				-				-				-				3,000
	Other				-				-				-				-
		Total impairment of long-lived assets		$	-			$	22,962			$	-			$	25,962
Restructuring and other expense (income):
	Steel Processing			$	318			$	2,258			$	1,284			$	2,720
	Pressure Cylinders				1,963				(16	)			2,109				715
	Engineered Cabs				1,004				765				1,210				2,643
	Other				(13	)			(1,484	)			(3	)			(1,486	)
		Total restructuring and other expense		$	3,272			$	1,523			$	4,600			$	4,592