10-Q 1 wire-20170930x10q.htm 10-Q Document

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
___________________________________________
FORM 10-Q
___________________________________________
(Mark One)
x
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2017
or
¨
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from                      to                     
Commission File Number: 000-20278
___________________________________________
ENCORE WIRE CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
___________________________________________
Delaware
 
75-2274963
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 
 
 
1329 Millwood Road
McKinney, Texas
 
75069
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (972) 562-9473
N/A
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
___________________________________________
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.     Yes  x    No  ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  x    No  ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
x
Accelerated filer
¨
 
 
 
 
Non-accelerated filer
¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company
¨
 
 
 
 
 
 
Emerging growth company
o
 
 
 
 
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).       Yes  ¨    No  x
Number of shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01, outstanding as of November 1, 2017: 20,815,248


ENCORE WIRE CORPORATION
FORM 10-Q
FOR THE QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2017

Table of Contents



PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements.
Encore Wire Corporation
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
 
September 30, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
 
(Unaudited)
 
(See Note)
Assets
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
101,367

 
$
95,753

Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $2,027 and $2,036
222,951

 
184,876

Inventories
95,419

 
93,274

Prepaid expenses and other
2,906

 
2,479

Total current assets
422,643

 
376,382

 
 
 
 
Property, plant and equipment - at cost:
 
 
 
Land and land improvements
51,024

 
50,934

Construction-in-progress
16,122

 
35,825

Buildings and improvements
141,339

 
121,432

Machinery and equipment
303,344

 
289,493

Furniture and fixtures
9,522

 
9,204

Total property, plant and equipment
521,351

 
506,888

Accumulated depreciation
(235,822
)
 
(225,499
)
Property, plant and equipment - net
285,529

 
281,389

 
 
 
 
Other assets
193

 
193

Total assets
$
708,365

 
$
657,964

 
 
 
 
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
 
 
 
Current liabilities:
 
 
 
Trade accounts payable
$
32,158

 
$
18,577

Accrued liabilities
29,525

 
27,986

Income taxes payable
276

 
4,319

Total current liabilities
61,959

 
50,882

 
 
 
 
Deferred income taxes
33,763

 
33,973

Commitments and contingencies


 


 
 
 
 
Stockholders’ equity:
 
 
 
Preferred stock, $.01 par value:
 
 
 
Authorized shares – 2,000,000; none issued
—

 
—

Common stock, $.01 par value:
 
 
 
Authorized shares – 40,000,000;
 
 
 
Issued shares – 26,840,203 and 26,762,703
268

 
268

Additional paid-in capital
57,563

 
55,311

Treasury stock, at cost – 6,027,455 and 6,027,455 shares
(91,056
)
 
(91,056
)
Retained earnings
645,868

 
608,586

Total stockholders’ equity
612,643

 
573,109

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$
708,365

 
$
657,964

Note:    The consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2016, as presented, is derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at that date.
See accompanying notes.

1

Encore Wire Corporation
Consolidated Statements of Income
(In thousands, except per share data)
 
Quarter Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
 
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net sales
$
292,030

 
$
237,168

 
$
862,956

 
$
701,543

Cost of goods sold
252,943

 
209,350

 
748,792

 
614,951

Gross profit
39,087

 
27,818

 
114,164

 
86,592

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Selling, general, and administrative expenses
19,142

 
18,721

 
57,198

 
52,756

Operating income
19,945

 
9,097

 
56,966

 
33,836

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net interest and other income
148

 
9

 
184

 
32

Income before income taxes
20,093

 
9,106

 
57,150

 
33,868

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Provision for income taxes
6,129

 
3,107

 
18,621

 
11,431

Net income
$
13,964

 
$
5,999

 
$
38,529

 
$
22,437

Earnings per common and common equivalent share – basic
$
0.67

 
$
0.29

 
$
1.86

 
$
1.08

Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding – basic
20,758

 
20,704

 
20,749

 
20,696

Earnings per common and common equivalent share – diluted
$
0.67

 
$
0.29

 
$
1.85

 
$
1.08

Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding – diluted
20,837

 
20,775

 
20,835

 
20,763

Cash dividends declared per share
$
0.02

 
$
0.02

 
$
0.06

 
$
0.06

See accompanying notes.


2

Encore Wire Corporation
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow
(In thousands)
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2017
 
2016
 
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
 
Operating Activities:
 
 
 
Net income
$
38,529

 
$
22,437

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
11,613

 
13,008

Deferred income taxes
(210
)
 
1,705

Excess tax benefits of options exercised
—

 
(32
)
Stock-based compensation attributable to equity awards
837

 
647

Other
(401
)
 
1,565

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts receivable
(37,844
)
 
2,534

Inventories
(2,145
)
 
839

Other assets
(464
)
 
(424
)
Trade accounts payable and accrued liabilities
15,077

 
(7,946
)
Current income taxes receivable / payable
(4,043
)
 
5,230

Net cash provided by operating activities
20,949

 
39,563

 
 
 
 
Investing Activities:
 
 
 
Purchases of property, plant and equipment
(16,195
)
 
(38,607
)
Proceeds from sale of assets
923

 
44

Net cash used in investing activities
(15,272
)
 
(38,563
)
 
 
 
 
Financing Activities:
 
 
 
Deferred financing fees
(1
)
 
(150
)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net
1,184

 
1,135

Dividends paid
(1,246
)
 
(1,242
)
Excess tax benefits of options exercised
—

 
32

Net cash used in financing activities
(63
)
 
(225
)
 
 
 
 
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
5,614

 
775

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
95,753

 
79,152

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
101,367

 
$
79,927

See accompanying notes.


3

ENCORE WIRE CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
September 30, 2017
NOTE 1 – BASIS OF PRESENTATION
The unaudited consolidated financial statements of Encore Wire Corporation (the “Company”) have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim information and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete annual financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation, have been included. Results of operations for interim periods presented do not necessarily indicate the results that may be expected for the entire year. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements
 
The Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) is the sole source of authoritative U.S. GAAP other than Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") issued rules and regulations that apply only to SEC registrants. The FASB issues an Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) to communicate changes to the codification. The Company considers the applicability and impact of all ASUs. The followings are those ASUs that are relevant to the Company.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, “Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718),” to simplify several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and forfeitures, as well as classification in the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-09 became effective for the Company on January 1, 2017. The standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606),” which supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in ASC Topic 605, “Revenue Recognition,” and most industry-specific guidance. This ASU is based on the principle that revenue is recognized to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The ASU also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments, and assets recognized from costs incurred to obtain or fulfill a contract. We are currently evaluating the provisions of this ASU and assessing the impact, if any, that it may have on our financial position and results of operations. As part of our assessment work to date, our team has taken training of the new ASU’s five-step revenue recognition model, formed a project assessment and adoption team and completed a revenue stream scoping analysis. Under our current accounting policy (as described in Note 1 of our 2016 Form 10-K), we recognize revenue when title and risk of loss pass to the customer and collectability is reasonably assured. We are continuing our assessment of sales and related contract terms and assessing the impact on the consolidated financial statements upon adoption of the new standard. The standard is effective for annual and interim periods beginning January 1, 2018. We currently expect to apply the modified retrospective method of adoption at that time and do not expect the standard to materially impact our financial statements.
NOTE 2 – INVENTORIES
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost, determined by the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method, or market.
Inventories consist of the following:
In Thousands
September 30, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
 
 
 
 
Raw materials
$
35,210

 
$
23,144

Work-in-process
21,792

 
20,889

Finished goods
85,920

 
81,764

Total Inventory at FIFO cost
142,922

 
125,797

Adjust to LIFO cost
(47,503
)
 
(32,523
)
Inventory, net
$
95,419

 
$
93,274


4

LIFO pools are established at the end of each fiscal year. During the first three quarters of every year, LIFO calculations are based on the inventory levels and costs at that time. Accordingly, interim LIFO balances will fluctuate depending on those inventory levels and costs.
In the third quarter of 2017, LIFO adjustments were recorded, increasing cost of sales by $11.0 million, versus LIFO adjustments increasing cost of sales by $2.6 million in the third quarter of 2016. In the first nine months of 2017, LIFO adjustments were recorded, increasing cost of sales by $15.0 million, versus LIFO adjustments increasing cost of sales by $1.7 million in the first nine months of 2016.
NOTE 3 – ACCRUED LIABILITIES
Accrued liabilities consist of the following:
In Thousands
September 30, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
 
 
 
 
Sales rebates payable
$
15,473

 
$
13,590

Property taxes payable
3,035

 
3,932

Accrued salaries
6,197

 
6,198

Other accrued liabilities
4,820

 
4,266

Total accrued liabilities
$
29,525

 
$
27,986


NOTE 4 – INCOME TAXES
Income taxes were accrued at an effective rate of 30.5% in the third quarter of 2017 versus 34.1% in the third quarter of 2016, consistent with the Company’s estimated liabilities. For the nine months ended September 30, the Company’s tax rate was approximately 32.6% in 2017 and 33.8% in 2016. The differences between the provisions for income taxes and the income taxes computed using the federal income tax statutory rate are due to changes in the proportional effects of permanent differences between transactions reported for financial reporting and tax purposes, primarily the domestic production activity deduction.
NOTE 5 – EARNINGS PER SHARE
Earnings per common and common equivalent share are computed using the weighted average number of shares of common stock and common stock equivalents outstanding during each period. If dilutive, the effect of stock options, treated as common stock equivalents, is calculated using the treasury stock method.
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:
 
 
Quarter Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
In Thousands
 
2017

2016
 
2017
 
2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Numerator:
 



 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
13,964

 
$
5,999

 
$
38,529

 
$
22,437

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Denominator:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Denominator for basic earnings per share – weighted average shares
 
20,758

 
20,704

 
20,749

 
20,696

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Effect of dilutive securities:
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
Employee stock options
 
79


71

 
86

 
67

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Denominator for diluted earnings per share – weighted average shares
 
20,837

 
20,775

 
20,835

 
20,763

The weighted average of employee stock options excluded from the determination of diluted earnings per common and common equivalent share for the third quarter was 129,000 in both 2017 and 2016. The weighted average of employee stock options

5

excluded from the determination of diluted earnings per common and common equivalent share for the nine months ended September 30 was 123,963 in 2017 and 148,000 in 2016. Such options were anti-dilutive for their respective periods.
NOTE 6 – DEBT
The Company is party to a Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with two banks, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent and letter of credit issuer, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as syndication agent. The Credit Agreement, as amended, extends through October 1, 2021 and provides for maximum borrowings of $150.0 million. At our request, and subject to certain conditions, the commitments under the Credit Agreement may be increased by a maximum of up to $100.0 million as long as existing or new lenders agree to provide such additional commitments. Borrowings under the line of credit bear interest, at the Company’s option, at either (1) LIBOR plus a margin that varies from 0.875% to 1.75% depending upon the Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement), or (2) the base rate (which is the highest of the federal funds rate plus 0.5%, the prime rate, or LIBOR plus 1.0%) plus 0% to 0.25% (depending upon the Leverage Ratio). A commitment fee ranging from 0.15% to 0.30% (depending upon the Leverage Ratio) is payable on the unused line of credit. At September 30, 2017, there were no borrowings outstanding under the Credit Agreement, and letters of credit outstanding in the amount of $1.3 million left $148.7 million of credit available under the Credit Agreement. Obligations under the Credit Agreement are the only contractual borrowing obligations or commercial borrowing commitments of the Company.
Obligations under the Credit Agreement are unsecured and contain customary covenants and events of default. The Company was in compliance with the covenants as of September 30, 2017.
NOTE 7 – STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
On November 10, 2006, the Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program authorizing the Company to repurchase up to an authorized number of shares of its common stock on the open market or through privately negotiated transactions at prices determined by the President of the Company during the term of the program. The Company’s Board of Directors has authorized several increases and annual extensions of this stock repurchase program, and, as of September 30, 2017, 1,132,946 shares remained authorized for repurchase through March 31, 2018. The Company did not repurchase any shares of its stock in the nine months ended September 30, 2017 or 2016. There were no changes to stockholders’ equity for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 other than net income, the declaration of dividends, stock compensation, and the issuance of immaterial amounts of shares of common stock.
NOTE 8 - CONTINGENCIES

The Company is from time to time involved in litigation, certain other claims and arbitration matters arising in the ordinary course of its business. The Company accrues for a liability when it is both probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Significant judgment is required in both the determination of the probability of a loss and the determination as to whether a loss is reasonably estimable. Any such accruals are reviewed at least quarterly and adjusted to reflect the effects of negotiations, settlements, rulings, advice of legal counsel and technical experts and other information and events pertaining to a particular matter. To the extent there is a reasonable possibility (within the meaning of ASC 450) that probable losses could exceed amounts already accrued, if any, and the additional loss or range of loss is able to be estimated, management discloses the additional loss or range of loss.

For matters where the Company has evaluated that a loss is not probable, but is reasonably possible, the Company will disclose an estimate of the possible loss or range of loss or make a statement that such an estimate cannot be made. In some instances, for reasonably possible losses, the Company cannot estimate the possible loss or range of loss. The nature and progression of litigation can make it difficult to predict the impact a particular lawsuit will have on the Company. There are many reasons that the Company cannot make these assessments, including, among others, one or more of the following: the early stages of a proceeding; damages sought that are unspecified, unsupportable, unexplained or uncertain; discovery is incomplete; the complexity of the facts that are in dispute; the difficulty of assessing novel claims; the parties not having engaged in any meaningful settlement discussions; the possibility that other parties may share in any ultimate liability; and/or the often slow pace of litigation.

On July 7, 2009, Southwire Company, a Delaware corporation (“Southwire”), filed a complaint for patent infringement against the Company and Cerro Wire, Inc. (“Cerro”) in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. In the complaint, Southwire alleged that the Company infringed one or more claims of United States Patent No. 7,557,301 (the “301 Patent”), entitled “Method of Manufacturing Electrical Cable Having Reduced Required Force for Installation,” by making and selling electrical cables, including the Company’s Super Slick cables. The case has been transferred to the Northern District of Georgia and the parties have agreed to stay it pending reexamination of the 301 Patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. One reexamination proceeding - a reexamination request by Cerro - remains pending. In that reexamination, the examiner rejected all the claims, and the Patent Trial and Appeal Board affirmed the examiner’s rejection. Southwire appealed the decision to the

6

Federal Circuit, and on September 8, 2017, the Federal Circuit affirmed the Patent Trial and Appeal Board affirmance of the examiner’s rejection. On October 10, 2017, Southwire filed a Petition for Rehearing en banc (a rehearing by the full court). The Court has not entered an order regarding Southwire’s petition.

The potentially applicable factual and legal issues related to the above claims asserted against the Company have not been resolved. The Company disputes all of Southwire’s claims and alleged damages and intends to vigorously defend the lawsuits and vigorously pursue its own claims against Southwire if and when the litigation resumes.

At this time, given the status of the proceedings, the complexities of the facts in dispute and the multiple claims involved, the Company has not concluded that a probable loss exists with respect to the Southwire litigation. Accordingly, no accrual has been made. Additionally, given the aforementioned uncertainties, while it is reasonably possible that we may incur a loss, the Company is unable to estimate any possible loss or range of losses for disclosure purposes.
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Encore believes it is a low-cost manufacturer of electrical building wire and cable. The Company is a significant supplier of building wire for interior electrical wiring in commercial and industrial buildings, homes, apartments, and manufactured housing.
The Company’s operating results in any given period are driven by several key factors, including the volume of product produced and shipped, the cost of copper and other raw materials, the competitive pricing environment in the wire industry and the resulting influence on gross margin and the efficiency with which the Company’s plants operate during the period, among others. Price competition for electrical wire and cable is intense, and the Company sells its products in accordance with prevailing market prices. Copper, a commodity product, is the principal raw material used by the Company in manufacturing its products. Copper accounted for approximately 65.2%, 72.1%, and 74.7% of the Company’s cost of goods sold during fiscal 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The price of copper fluctuates depending on general economic conditions and in relation to supply and demand and other factors, which causes monthly variations in the cost of the Company’s purchased copper. Additionally, the SEC allows shares of certain physically backed copper exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) to be listed and publicly traded. Such funds and other copper ETFs like them hold copper cathode as collateral against their shares. The acquisition of copper cathode by copper ETFs may materially decrease or interrupt the availability of copper for immediate delivery in the United States, which could materially increase the Company’s cost of copper. In addition to rising copper prices and potential supply shortages, we believe that ETFs and similar copper-backed derivative products could lead to increased price volatility for copper. The Company cannot predict copper prices or the effect of fluctuations in the cost of copper on the Company’s future operating results. Wire prices can, and frequently do, change on a daily basis. This competitive pricing market for wire does not always mirror changes in copper prices, making margins highly volatile. Aluminum wire sales represented 9.9% and 10.3% of net sales in 2015 and 2016, respectively. Historically, the cost of aluminum has been much lower than copper and also less volatile. With the volatility of both raw material prices and wire prices in the Company’s end market, hedging raw materials can be risky. Historically, the Company has not engaged in hedging strategies for raw material purchases. The tables below highlight the range of closing prices of copper on the Comex exchange for the periods shown.
COMEX COPPER CLOSING PRICE 2017

July 2017
 
August 2017
 
September 2017
 
Quarter Ended September 30, 2017
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
High
$
2.89

 
$
3.08

 
$
3.13

 
$
3.13

 
$
3.13

Low
2.64

 
2.88

 
2.90

 
2.64

 
2.48

Average
2.73

 
2.96

 
2.98

 
2.89

 
2.71

COMEX COPPER CLOSING PRICE 2016

July 2016
 
August 2016
 
September 2016
 
Quarter Ended September 30, 2016
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016
High
$
2.26

 
$
2.21

 
$
2.20

 
$
2.26

 
$
2.29

Low
2.12

 
2.07

 
2.07

 
2.07

 
1.94

Average
2.21

 
2.14

 
2.14

 
2.16

 
2.13

The following discussion and analysis relates to factors that have affected the operating results of the Company for the quarters and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016. Reference should also be made to the audited financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.

7

Results of Operations
Quarter Ended September 30, 2017 Compared to Quarter Ended September 30, 2016
Net sales were $292.0 million in the third quarter of 2017 compared to $237.2 million in the third quarter of 2016. This 23.1% increase in net sales is primarily the result of a 26.6% increase in copper wire sales, driven by a 25.7% increase in the average selling price of copper wire and a 0.7% increase in copper wire unit volume shipped. Additionally, there was a 6.1% decrease in aluminum wire sales, driven by a 6.5% decrease in aluminum wire unit volume shipped, offset somewhat by a 0.4% increase in the average selling price of aluminum wire. Unit volume is measured in pounds of copper or aluminum contained in the wire shipped during the period. Fluctuations in sales prices are primarily a result of changing copper and other raw material prices and product price competition. The average cost per pound of raw copper purchased increased 30.1% in the third quarter of 2017 compared to the third quarter of 2016, and was the principal driver of the increased average sales price of copper wire. In the third quarter of 2017, aluminum building wire constituted 8.0% of the Company’s net sales dollars compared to 10.6% in the third quarter of 2016.
Cost of goods sold was $252.9 million, or 86.6% of net sales, in the third quarter of 2017, compared to $209.4 million, or 88.3% of net sales, in the third quarter of 2016. Gross profit increased to $39.1 million, or 13.4% of net sales, in the third quarter of 2017 versus $27.8 million, or 11.7% of net sales, in the third quarter of 2016.
The increase in gross profit margin percentage was driven primarily by increased spreads. The spread between the average price paid for a pound of raw copper and the average sales price for a pound of copper contained in finished wire increased 17.8% in the third quarter of 2017 versus the third quarter of 2016. The spread increased as a result of the average sales price per copper pound sold increasing 25.7% while the per pound cost of raw copper increased 30.1%. The aluminum wire spread decreased 9.3% in the same quarterly comparison. The percentage change on sales is on a higher nominal dollar amount than on purchases and, therefore, spreads change on a nominal dollar basis. The margin changes were due primarily to the competitive pricing environment in the industry, along with the impact from the hurricanes that hit portions of the U.S. in the quarter. We took prices up somewhat above our competitors in mid-August, 2017, in an attempt to lead an industry margin increase. Our volumes decreased slightly as a result, but we held our ground until, coincidentally, Hurricane Harvey hit the Gulf Coast. With the concentration of petrochemical plants in that area, including many plastic plants on which our industry relies, we held prices up to protect the supply of wire for customers who need and appreciate timely delivery. We chose this course in the face of the uncertainty of plastic supplies in September. While this course of action impacted our unit volumes, it culminated in very strong earnings, once again highlighting the fact that our earnings are driven by spreads.
Total raw materials cost, including the LIFO adjustment, increased to 74.8% of net sales in the third quarter of 2017, from 74.0% of net sales in the third quarter of 2016. Lower overhead costs as a percentage of net sales, offset somewhat by this increase in total raw materials cost as a percentage of net sales, resulted in the increased gross profit margin percentage. Overheads contained some fixed and semi-fixed components which will fluctuate as a percentage of sales when sales dollars vary.
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost, using the last-in, first out (LIFO) method, or market. The Company maintains two inventory pools for LIFO purposes. As permitted by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, the Company maintains its inventory costs and cost of goods sold on a first-in, first-out (FIFO) basis and makes a monthly adjustment to adjust total inventory and cost of goods sold from FIFO to LIFO. The Company applies the lower of cost or market (LCM) test by comparing the LIFO cost of its raw materials, work-in-process and finished goods inventories to estimated market values, which are based primarily upon the most recent quoted market price of copper, aluminum and finished wire prices as of the end of each reporting period. The Company performs a lower of cost or market calculation quarterly. As of September 30, 2017, no LCM adjustment was required. However, decreases in copper and other material prices could necessitate establishing an LCM reserve in future periods. Additionally, future reductions in the quantity of inventory on hand could cause copper or other raw materials that are carried in inventory at costs different from the cost of copper and other raw materials in the period in which the reduction occurs to be included in costs of goods sold for that period at the different price.

Due primarily to increases in copper costs, partially offset by price and volume movements of other materials, a LIFO adjustment was recorded, increasing cost of sales by $11.0 million during the third quarter of 2017. During the third quarter of 2016, a LIFO adjustment was recorded, increasing cost of sales by $2.6 million.
Selling expenses, consisting of commissions and freight, for the third quarter of 2017 were $13.7 million, or 4.7% of net sales, compared to $12.3 million, or 5.2% of net sales, in the third quarter of 2016. Commissions paid to independent manufacturers’ representatives are paid as a relatively stable percentage of sales dollars and, therefore, exhibited little change in percentage terms. Freight costs as a percentage of net sales decreased to 2.2% of net sales in the third quarter of 2017 from 2.7% of net sales in the third quarter of 2016, primarily due to the increase in top line sales dollars as well as small changes in the mix of products sold, fuel costs and the geographical distribution of product sold. General and administrative expenses for the third quarter of 2017

8

were $5.4 million, or 1.9% of net sales, compared to $6.4 million, or 2.7% of net sales, in the third quarter of 2016. The Company did not record any bad debt expense during the third quarters of 2017 or 2016.
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016
Net sales for the first nine months of 2017 were $863.0 million compared to net sales of $701.5 million for the first nine months of 2016. This 23.0% increase in net sales is primarily the result of a 25.5% increase in copper wire sales, driven by an 18.8% increase in the average selling price of copper wire, coupled with a 5.6% increase in copper wire unit volume shipped. Additionally, during the first nine months of 2017 compared to the first nine months of 2016, there was a 1.4% increase in aluminum wire sales, driven by a 4.3% increase in aluminum wire unit volume shipped, somewhat offset by a 2.8% decrease in the average selling price of aluminum wire. Unit volume is measured in pounds of copper or aluminum contained in the wire shipped during the period. Fluctuations in sales prices are primarily a result of changing copper and other raw material prices and product price competition. The average cost per pound of raw copper purchased increased 23.8% in the first nine months of 2017 compared to the first nine months of 2016, and was the principal driver of the increased average sales price of copper wire. In the first nine months of 2017, aluminum building wire constituted 8.5% of the Company’s net sales dollars compared to 10.3% in the first nine months of 2016.

Cost of goods sold increased to $748.8 million in the first nine months of 2017, compared to $615.0 million in the first nine months of 2016. Gross profit increased to $114.2 million, or 13.2% of net sales, in the first nine months of 2017 versus $86.6 million, or 12.3% of net sales, in the first nine months of 2016.

The increase in gross profit margin percentage was primarily the result of an increase in the spread between the average price paid for a pound of raw copper and the average sale price for a pound of copper in the first nine months of 2017 versus the first nine months of 2016 due primarily to competitive industry pricing. Fluctuations in sales prices are primarily a result of changing copper raw material prices and product price competition. The copper spread increased 9.8% in the first nine months of 2017 versus the first nine months of 2016. The spread increased as a result of the 18.8% increase in the average sales price per copper pound sold while the per pound cost of raw copper increased 23.8%. In nominal dollars, the sales price increased more than the cost of copper. Aluminum wire went in the opposite direction, with the spread decreasing 13.1% in the same year-to-date comparison.

Due primarily to increases in copper costs and a small decrease in copper inventory quantities on hand, aided somewhat by price and volume movements of other materials in the first nine months of 2017, LIFO adjustments were recorded, increasing cost of sales by $15.0 million. During the same period in 2016, LIFO adjustments were recorded, increasing cost of sales by $1.7 million. Based on current copper prices, there is no LCM adjustment necessary. Future reductions in the price of copper could require the Company to record an LCM adjustment against the related inventory balance, which would result in a negative impact on net income.

Selling expenses for the first nine months of 2017 increased to $41.3 million, or 4.8% of net sales, compared to $35.7 million, or 5.1% of net sales, in the same period of 2016. Commissions paid to independent manufacturers’ representatives are paid as a relatively stable percentage of sales dollars, and therefore, exhibited little change in percentage terms, increasing $3.9 million in concert with the increased sales dollars. Freight costs for the first nine months of 2017 decreased to 2.3% of net sales, versus 2.6% of net sales for the first nine months of 2016. General and administrative expenses were $15.9 million, or 1.8% of net sales, in the first nine months of 2017 compared to $17.1 million, or 2.4% of net sales, in the first nine months of 2016. The Company did not record any bad debt expense during the first nine months of 2017 and 2016.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company maintains a substantial inventory of finished products to satisfy customers’ delivery requirements promptly. As is customary in the building wire industry, the Company provides payment terms to most of its customers that exceed terms that it receives from its suppliers. Copper suppliers generally give very short payment terms (less than 15 days) while the Company and the building wire industry give customers much longer terms. In general, the Company’s standard payment terms result in the collection of a significant majority of net sales within approximately 75 days of the date of invoice. As a result of this timing difference, building wire companies must have sufficient cash and access to capital resources to finance their working capital needs, thereby creating a barrier to entry for companies who do not have sufficient liquidity and capital resources. The two largest components of working capital, receivables and inventory, and to a lesser extent, capital expenditures, are the primary drivers of the Company’s liquidity needs. Generally, these needs will cause the Company’s cash balance to rise and fall inversely to the receivables and inventory balances. The Company’s receivables and inventories will rise and fall in concert with several factors, most notably the price of copper and other raw materials and the level of unit sales. Capital expenditures have historically been necessary to expand and update the production capacity of the Company’s manufacturing operations. The Company has historically satisfied its liquidity and capital expenditure needs with cash generated from operations and borrowings under its various debt arrangements. The Company historically uses its revolving credit facility to manage day to day operating cash needs as required by daily fluctuations in working capital, and has the facility in place should such a need arise in the future.

9

For more information on the Company’s revolving credit facility, see Note 6 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements included in Item 1 to this report, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Cash provided by operating activities was $20.9 million in the first nine months of 2017 compared to $39.6 million in the first nine months of 2016. The following changes in components of cash flow from operations were notable. The Company had net income of $38.5 million in the first nine months of 2017 compared to net income of $22.4 million in the first nine months of 2016. Accounts receivable increased $37.8 million in the first nine months of 2017 compared to decreasing $2.5 million in the first nine months of 2016, resulting in a source of cash in 2016 and a use of cash in 2017, a net decrease of $40.3 million. Accounts receivable generally fluctuate in proportion to dollar sales and, to a lesser extent, are affected by the timing of when sales occur during a given quarter. With an average of 60 to 75 days of sales outstanding, quarters in which sales are more back-end loaded will have higher accounts receivable balances outstanding at quarter-end. Inventory value increased in the first nine months of 2017, using cash of $2.1 million versus a source of cash of $0.8 million in the first nine months of 2016, resulting in a negative swing in cash flow of $2.9 million. Trade accounts payable and accrued liabilities provided cash of $15.1 million in 2017 versus a $7.9 million use of cash in 2016, resulting in a change in cash flow of $23.0 million. In the first nine months of 2017, changes in current and deferred taxes used cash of $4.3 million versus provided cash of $6.9 million in the first nine months of 2016. These changes in cash flow were the primary drivers of the $18.6 million decrease in cash provided by operations in the first nine months of 2017 compared to the first nine months of 2016.
Cash used in investing activities decreased to $15.3 million in the first nine months of 2017 from $38.6 million in the first nine months of 2016, due to lower capital expenditures on plant and equipment. Cash used in financing activities consisted of $1.2 million of cash dividends paid, offset by $1.2 million of proceeds from exercised stock options. These changes in cash flow were the primary drivers of the $0.1 million of cash used in financing activities for the first nine months of 2017 versus $0.2 million used in the first nine months of 2016. As of September 30, 2017, the balance on the Company’s revolving line of credit remained at zero. The Company’s cash balance was $101.4 million at September 30, 2017 versus $79.9 million at September 30, 2016.
During the remainder of 2017, the Company expects its capital expenditures will consist primarily of expenditures related to the purchases of manufacturing equipment throughout its facilities to update equipment and address production bottlenecks. The total capital expenditures for all of 2017 associated with these projects are currently estimated to be between $24 million and $28 million. The Company also expects its future working capital requirements to fluctuate as a result of changes in unit sales volumes and the price of copper and other raw materials. The Company believes that the current cash balance, cash flow from operations, and the financing available from its revolving credit facility will satisfy anticipated working capital and capital expenditure requirements during 2017.
Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This quarterly report on Form 10-Q contains various “forward-looking statements” (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) and information that is based on management’s belief as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to management. The words “believes”, “estimates”, “anticipates”, “plans”, “seeks”, “expects”, “intends” and similar expressions identify some of the forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. 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 expected. Among the key factors that may have a direct bearing on the Company’s operating results are fluctuations in the economy and in the level of activity in the building and construction industry, demand for the Company’s products, the impact of price competition and fluctuations in the price of copper and other raw materials. For more information regarding “forward-looking statements” see “Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in Part II, Item 7 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
There have been no material changes from the information provided in Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
The Company maintains controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by it in the reports it files with or submits to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in such reports is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive and

10

Chief Financial Officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on an evaluation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) as of the end of the period covered by this report conducted by the Company’s management, with the participation of the Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officers, the Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officers concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files with or submits to the SEC is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in such reports is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
There have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting or in other factors that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, internal control over financial reporting during the period covered by this report.

11

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
For information on the Company’s legal proceedings, see Note 8 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements included in Item 1 to this report and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
There have been no material changes to the Company’s risk factors as disclosed in Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
Note 7 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements included in Item 1 to this report is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Item 6. Exhibits.
Exhibit
Number
Description
3.1

3.2

4.1
Form of certificate for Common Stock (filed as Exhibit 1 to the Company’s registration statement on Form 8-A, filed with the SEC on June 4, 1992, and incorporated herein by reference).
31.1

31.2

32.1

32.2

101.INS
XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document


12

SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
ENCORE WIRE CORPORATION
 
(Registrant)
 
 
Dated: November 2, 2017
/s/ DANIEL L. JONES
 
Daniel L. Jones
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
 
 
Dated: November 2, 2017
/s/ FRANK J. BILBAN
 
Frank J. Bilban
Vice President-Finance, Treasurer,
Secretary and Chief Financial Officer

13