Industry Segments

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]

Industry Segments

Note 5 – Industry Segments

The Company's reportable segments are Plumbing & Refrigeration and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM).  For disclosure purposes, as permitted under Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 280, Segment Reporting, certain operating segments are aggregated into reportable segments.  The Plumbing & Refrigeration segment is composed of Standard Products (SPD), European Operations, and Mexican Operations.  The OEM segment is composed of Industrial Products (IPD), Engineered Products (EPD), and Jiangsu Mueller–Xingrong Copper Industries Limited (Mueller-Xingrong).  These segments are classified primarily by the markets for their products.  Performance of segments is generally evaluated by their operating income.  Intersegment transactions are generally conducted on an arms-length basis.

SPD manufactures copper tube and fittings, plastic fittings, plastic pipe, and line sets.  These products are manufactured in the U.S.  Outside the U.S., the Company's European Operations manufacture copper tube, which is sold in Europe and the Middle East.  SPD also imports and resells brass and plastic plumbing valves, malleable iron fittings, faucets, and plumbing specialty products.  Mexican Operations consist of pipe nipple manufacturing and import distribution businesses including product lines of malleable iron fittings and other plumbing specialties.  The European Operations consist of copper tube manufacturing and the import distribution of fittings, valves, and plumbing specialties primarily in the U.K. and Ireland.  The Plumbing & Refrigeration segment's products are sold primarily to plumbing, refrigeration, and air-conditioning wholesalers, hardware wholesalers and co-ops, and building product retailers.

IPD manufactures brass rod, impact extrusions, and forgings which are used in a wide variety of end products including plumbing brass, automotive components, valves, and fittings. EPD manufactures and fabricates valves and assemblies primarily for the refrigeration, air-conditioning, and gas appliance markets and specialty copper, copper-alloy, and aluminum tubing.  Mueller-Xingrong manufactures engineered copper tube primarily for air-conditioning applications.  These products are sold primarily to OEM customers.

Summarized segment information is as follows:

	For the Quarter Ended March 31, 2012
(In thousands)	Plumbing & Refrigeration Segment			OEM Segment		Corporate and Eliminations			Total
Net sales	$	315,354		$	270,976	$	(8,662	)	$	577,668
Cost of goods sold		265,471			236,200		(8,496	)		493,175
Depreciation and amortization		4,145			3,059		325			7,529
Selling, general, and administrative expense		18,980			6,992		5,630			31,602
Insurance settlement		(1,500	)		-		-			(1,500	)
Operating income		28,258			24,725		(6,121	)		46,862
Interest expense										(2,637	)
Other income, net										254
Income before income taxes									$	44,479

	For the Quarter Ended April 2, 2011
(In thousands)	Plumbing & Refrigeration Segment		OEM Segment		Corporate and Eliminations			Total
Net sales	$	380,589	$	319,336	$	(12,244	)	$	687,681
Cost of goods sold		323,195		278,792		(12,113	)		589,874
Depreciation and amortization		5,834		3,592		273			9,699
Selling, general, and administrative expense		21,877		7,306		6,186			35,369
Litigation settlement		-		-		(10,500	)		(10,500	)
Operating income		29,683		29,646		3,910			63,239
Interest expense									(3,348	)
Other income, net									1,059
Income before income taxes								$	60,950