WESCO 3Q Sales Below Expectations

WESCO is reporting third quarter sales down 3% compared to the 3Q of 2015, but acquisitions are showing a 2.9% positive impact on net sales.  Also, comparing the first nine months of 2016 to 2015, sales are down 2% and gross profit down about $3 million.

WESCO‘s entire press release on 3Q results:

PITTSBURGH — WESCO International, Inc. announces its results for the third quarter of 2016.

Mr. John J. Engel, WESCO’s Chairman, President and CEO, commented, “Sales were below expectations, reflecting a decline in construction in both the U.S. and Canada. Operating margin was in-line with our outlook as we took additional actions to reduce our costs and streamline our organization. Free cash flow generation remained strong, enabling us to reduce our debt and financial leverage in the quarter. We also completed the early redemption of our convertible debentures, which simplifies our capital structure, eliminates future EPS dilution associated with these debt instruments, and secures an ongoing benefit from reduced interest expense.”

The following are results for the three months ended September 30, 2016 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2015:

• Net sales were $1.86 billion for the third quarter of 2016, compared to $1.92 billion for the third quarter of 2015, a decrease of 3.6%. Acquisitions had a 2.9% positive impact on net sales and were partially offset by a 0.3% impact from foreign exchange rates, resulting in a 6.2% decrease in normalized organic sales.
• Cost of goods sold for the third quarter of 2016 was $1.49 billion and gross profit was $365.0 million, compared to cost of goods sold and gross profit of $1.54 billion and $380.8 million for the third quarter of 2015, respectively. As a percentage of net sales, gross profit was 19.7% and 19.8% for the third quarter of 2016 and 2015, respectively.
• Selling, general, and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses were $255.5 million, or 13.8% of net sales for the third quarter of 2016, compared to $258.2 million, or 13.4% of net sales, for the third quarter of 2015.
• Operating profit was $92.6 million for the current quarter, compared to $106.3 million for the third quarter of 2015. Operating profit as a percentage of net sales was 5.0% for the third quarter of 2016, compared to 5.5% for the third quarter of 2015.
• Interest expense for the third quarter of 2016 was $20.8 million, compared to $20.4 million for the third quarter of 2015. Non-cash interest expense for the third quarter of 2016 and 2015, which includes amortization of debt discounts and deferred financing fees, interest related to uncertain tax positions, and accrued interest, was $7.1 million and $4.6 million, respectively.
• Loss on debt redemption of $123.9 million for the third quarter of 2016 was the result of a non-cash charge from the early redemption of the Company’s 6.0% Convertible Senior Debentures due 2029 on September 15, 2016.
• The effective tax rate for the current quarter was 40.5%, compared to 27.4% for the prior year third quarter. As adjusted, the effective tax rate for the current quarter was 28.0%, which is comparable to the effective tax rate for the third quarter of 2015. 
• Net loss attributable to WESCO International, Inc. was $31.6 million for the third quarter of 2016, compared to net income of $63.5 million for the third quarter of 2015. Adjusted net income attributable to WESCO International, Inc. was $51.1 million for the current quarter.
• Loss per diluted share was $0.65 for the third quarter of 2016, based on 48.7 million diluted shares, compared to earnings per diluted share of $1.28 for the third quarter of 2015, based on 49.7 million diluted shares. Adjusted earnings per diluted share for the third quarter of 2016 was $1.05.
• Operating cash flow for the third quarter of 2016 was $78.6 million, compared to $43.3 million for the third quarter of 2015. Free cash flow for the third quarter of 2016 was $72.5 million, or 140% of adjusted net income, compared to $39.7 million, or 64% of adjusted net income for the third quarter of 2015.

The following are results for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2015:

• Net sales were $5.54 billion for the first nine months of 2016, compared to $5.66 billion for the first nine months of 2015, a decrease of 2.0%. Acquisitions and workdays had positive impacts on net sales of 3.5% and 1.1%, respectively, and were partially offset by a 1.2% impact from foreign exchange rates, resulting in a 5.4% decrease in normalized organic sales growth.
• Cost of goods sold for the first nine months of 2016 was $4.44 billion and gross profit was $1.10 billion, compared to cost of goods sold and gross profit of $4.53 billion and $1.13 billion for the first nine months of 2015, respectively. As a percentage of net sales, gross profit was 19.8% and 20.0% for the first nine months of 2016 and 2015, respectively.
• Selling, general, and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses were $799.4 million, or 14.4% of net sales for the first nine months of 2016, compared to $798.0 million, or 14.1% of net sales, for the first nine months of 2015.
• Operating profit was $250.0 million for the first nine months of 2016, compared to $283.8 million for the first nine months of 2015. Operating profit as a percentage of net sales was 4.5% for the first nine months of 2016, compared to 5.0% for the first nine months of 2015.
• Interest expense for the first nine months of 2016 was $59.1 million, compared to $59.9 million for the first nine months of 2015. Non-cash interest expense for the first nine months of 2016 and 2015, which includes amortization of debt discounts and deferred financing fees, interest related to uncertain tax positions, and accrued interest, was $12.0 million and $11.6 million, respectively.
• Loss on debt redemption of $123.9 million for the first nine months of 2016 was the result of a non-cash charge from the early redemption of the Company’s 6.0% Convertible Senior Debentures due 2029 on September 15, 2016.
• The effective tax rate for the first nine months of 2016 was 20.4%, compared to 28.6% for the first nine months of 2015. As adjusted, the effective tax rate for the current year was 28.8%, which is comparable to the effective tax rate for the prior year.
• Net income attributable to WESCO International, Inc. was $54.2 million for the first nine months of 2016, compared to $162.3 million for the first nine months of 2015. Adjusted net income attributable to WESCO International, Inc. was $136.9 million.
• Earnings per diluted share for the first nine months of 2016 was $1.13 per share, based on 48.0 million diluted shares, compared to $3.16 per share for the first nine months of 2015, based on 51.3 million diluted shares. Adjusted earnings per diluted share for 2016 was $2.85.
• Operating cash flow for the first nine months of 2016 was $217.2 million, compared to $176.0 million for the first nine months of 2015. Free cash flow for the first nine months of 2016 of $204.0 million, or 150% of adjusted net income, compared to $159.8 million, or 100% of adjusted net income for the first nine months of 2015.

Mr. Engel continued, “We expect the current end market challenges to continue in the fourth quarter and have reflected them in our revised full year outlook for sales to be down 2% to 3% and adjusted EPS to be $3.75 to $3.90 per diluted share, which excludes the $1.70 impact from the loss on our convertible debt redemption. Despite a year of end market challenges, both our current sales and adjusted EPS outlook are within the original range of the full year guidance provided during our 2016 Outlook call nearly a year ago. We have also increased our free cash flow outlook to at least 125% of adjusted net income.

We remain focused on executing our One WESCO strategy to deliver above-market sales growth, improve profitability, generate strong free cash flow, and increase shareholder value. Our customers rely on our One WESCO value proposition for the comprehensive product and service solutions they need to cost-effectively meet their MRO, OEM, and capital project management requirements.”

Note: Normalized organic sales growth is provided by the Company as an additional financial measure to provide a better understanding of the Company’s sales growth trends. Normalized organic sales growth is calculated by deducting the percentage impact from acquisitions in the first year of ownership, foreign exchange rates and number of workdays from the overall percentage change in consolidated net sales.

Note: Gross profit is provided by the Company as an additional financial measure. Gross profit is calculated by deducting cost of goods sold, excluding depreciation and amortization, from net sales. This amount represents a commonly used financial measure within the distribution industry. Gross margin is calculated by dividing gross profit by net sales.

Note: Financial leverage is a non-GAAP financial measure provided by the Company to illustrate its capital structure position. Financial leverage ratio is calculated by dividing total debt, including debt discount and deferred financing fees, by EBITDA. EBITDA is defined as the trailing twelve months earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.

(1)    See the following page for a reconciliation of adjusted net income.

Note: Free cash flow is provided by the Company as an additional liquidity measure. Capital expenditures are deducted from operating cash flow to determine free cash flow. Free cash flow is available to fund the Company’s other investing and financing activities.

Note: Adjusted net income attributable to WESCO International, Inc. is defined as income (loss) before income taxes plus the loss on debt redemption, less the provision for income taxes excluding the benefit of such loss. Adjusted earnings per diluted share is computed by dividing adjusted net income attributable to WESCO International, Inc. by the weighted-average common shares outstanding and common share equivalents. The Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors’ overall understanding of the Company’s current financial performance and provides a consistent measure for assessing the current and historical financial results.