MCKINNEY, Texas — Encore Wire Corporation announced results for the first quarter of 2015.
Net sales for the first quarter ended March 31, 2015 were $250.3 million compared to $277.2 million during the first quarter of 2014. Copper unit volume, measured in pounds of copper contained in the wire sold, increased 0.5% in the first quarter of 2015 versus the first quarter of 2014. Aluminum building wire sales constituted 9.4% of net sales dollars for the first quarter of 2015 versus 7.9% in the first quarter of 2014. Aluminum unit volume was up 11.8% in the first quarter of 2015 versus the first quarter of 2014. The average selling price of wire per copper pound sold dropped 11.6% in the first quarter of 2015 versus the first quarter of 2014, accounting for most of the decrease in net sales dollars. Sales prices declined primarily due to lower copper prices, which declined 17.2% versus the first quarter of 2014. Net income for the first quarter of 2015 was $10.8 million versus $10.9 million in the first quarter of 2014. Fully diluted net earnings per common share were $0.52 in the first quarter of 2015 versus $0.52 in the first quarter of 2014.
On a sequential quarter comparison, net sales for the first quarter of 2015 were $250.3 million versus $285.3 million during the fourth quarter of 2014. Sales dollars were down due to a 6.0% decline in the average selling price per pound of copper wire sold and a unit volume decrease of 6.8% of copper building wire sold on a sequential quarter comparison. Net income for the first quarter of 2015 increased to $10.8 million versus $5.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2014. Fully diluted net income per common share was $0.52 in the first quarter of 2015 versus $0.24 in the fourth quarter of 2014.
Commenting on the results, Daniel L. Jones, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Encore Wire Corporation, said, “The first quarter was good from both a volume and margin perspective. Aluminum unit volumes were up strongly in the first quarter of 2015 compared to the first quarter of 2014 as we continue to grow that portion of our building wire business. Copper wire units were up marginally, as the overall construction and building wire markets appear to still be doing okay this quarter but not showing any significant improvement over last year. We believe rough winter weather contributed to the flat copper volumes during the quarter.
“One of the key metrics to our earnings is the “spread” between the price of copper wire sold and the cost of raw copper purchased in any given period. That spread increased 3.0% in the first quarter of 2015 versus the first quarter of 2014, and 6.0% on a sequential quarter comparison. The copper spread expanded 6.0% as the average price of copper purchased declined 10.8% in the first quarter of 2015 versus the fourth quarter of 2014, but the average selling price of wire sold fell only 6.0%, as a result of somewhat improved pricing discipline in the industry. The aluminum building wire products grew to 9.4% of net sales in the quarter, driven by a unit sales increase of 11.8% in the first quarter of 2015 versus the first quarter of 2014.
“We continue to strive to lead and support industry price increases in an effort to maintain and increase margins. We believe our superior order fill rates continue to enhance our competitive position, as our electrical distributor customers are holding lean inventories in the field. As orders come in from electrical contractors, the distributors can count on our order fill rates to ensure quick deliveries from coast to coast. We have been able to accomplish this despite holding what are historically lean inventories for us.
“Our balance sheet is very strong. We have no long term debt, and our revolving line of credit is paid down to zero. In addition, we had $53.3 million in cash at the end of the quarter. We also declared another cash dividend during the quarter.
“Our low cost structure and strong balance sheet have enabled us to withstand difficult periods in the past, and we believe are continuing to prove valuable now. We thank our employees and associates for their outstanding effort and our shareholders for their continued support.”
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