Release Details

Universal Forest Products Posts 20% Increase in 2nd Quarter Net Earnings; Year-to-Date Earnings up 35%

July 17, 2006

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 17, 2006--Universal Forest Products (Nasdaq:UFPI) today announced a strong second quarter marked by net earnings of $27.3 million, an increase of 19.9% over the same period last year. Year-to-date net earnings were $43.2 million, a 34.9% increase over the first six months of 2005.

Net sales for the quarter were $826.8 million, up 6.1% over net sales of $779.6 million for the second quarter of 2005. Net sales for the first six months of 2006 were $1.49 billion, up 13.3% over net sales of $1.32 billion for the same period in 2005.

"Our strengths for the quarter included continued market share gains in the site-built construction and industrial markets where we again saw double-digit unit growth," said CEO Michael B. Glenn.

Sales were adversely impacted by the lumber market, with prices down approximately 14% from the prior year quarter. The increase in earnings was driven by a combination of increased sales of value-added products and a continued focus on innovations and cost reductions. Value-added products made up 56% of total sales for the quarter, up from 50% for the same period last year.

"We're continuing our strategy of focusing on sales of value-added products by growing our market share in site-built construction and industrial, as well as introducing products through our new division, Universal Consumer Products," Glenn said.

By market, Universal posted second-quarter sales of:

  • $349.5 million in D-I-Y/retail, up 1.4% compared to the same quarter last year;
  • $227.8 million in site-built construction, an increase of 22.1% over the same quarter last year;
  • $149.4 million in industrial, up 6.4% over the second quarter 2005; and
  • $100.1 million in manufactured housing, a 7.2% decrease from the second quarter of 2005, which reflected a significant decline in lumber prices in 2006 of species relevant to this market.

OUTLOOK

The Company reaffirms its annual target for net earnings growth of 15% to 20% and its unit sales target of 10% to 15% growth in 2006 based upon the following assumptions:

  • Stable housing markets where we have a strong site-built presence and continued opportunities for market share gains.
  • Stability in our D-I-Y/retail and manufacturing housing markets, as well as in lumber prices.
  • Favorable weather conditions for building and home improvement activities, particularly in the fourth quarter.
  • Continuing to gain market share and realize strong unit sales growth in the industrial market.
  • The completion of strategic business acquisitions.

Universal Forest Products will conduct a conference call to discuss information included in this news release and related matters at 11:00 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, July 18, 2006. The conference call will be hosted by CEO Michael B. Glenn and Executive Chairman William G. Currie and will be available for analysts and institutional investors domestically at (866) 383-8008 or internationally at (617) 597-5341. Use conference call ID #73805629.

The conference call will be available simultaneously, and in its entirety, to all interested investors and news media through a webcast at http://www.ufpi.com . A replay of the call will be available through Wednesday, August 16, 2006 domestically at (888) 286-8010 or internationally at (617) 801-6888. Use replay ID # 22096875.

Universal Forest Products markets, manufactures and engineers wood and wood-alternative products for D-I-Y/retail home centers, structural lumber products for the manufactured housing industry, engineered wood components for the site-built construction market and specialty wood packaging for various industries. The Company also provides framing services for the site-built sector. The Company reported sales of nearly $2.7 billion in 2005. Universal has approximately 10,000 employees who work out of more than 100 locations. For information about Universal Forest Products, please visit the Company's Web site at http://www.ufpi.com , or call 888-Buy-UFPI.

Included in this report are certain 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. Such forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of the Company's management as well as on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company at the time such statements were made. Actual results could differ materially from those included in such forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainty. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: Adverse lumber market trends, competitive activity, negative economic trends, government regulations, and weather. These risk factors and additional information are included in the Company's reports on Form 10K and 10Q on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

           CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (UNAUDITED)
                       FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED
                            JUNE 2006/2005

                                              Quarter Period
(In thousands, except per share data)     2006             2005
                                     ---------------- ----------------


NET SALES                            $826,847    100% $779,552    100%

COST OF GOODS SOLD                    706,429  85.44   678,310  87.01
                                     ---------        ---------

GROSS PROFIT                          120,418  14.56   101,242  12.99


SELLING, GENERAL AND
   ADMINISTRATIVE  EXPENSES            70,773   8.56    59,505   7.63
                                     ---------        ---------

EARNINGS  FROM  OPERATIONS             49,645   6.00    41,737   5.35

OTHER EXPENSE (INCOME)
     Interest expense                   3,744   0.45     4,266   0.55
     Interest income                     (352) -0.04      (270) -0.03

Net (gain) loss on sale of real
 estate and interest in subsidiary        (63) -0.01        32   0.00
                                     ---------        ---------
                                        3,329   0.40     4,028   0.52
                                     ---------        ---------

EARNINGS BEFORE INCOME TAXES
  AND MINORITY INTEREST                46,316   5.60    37,709   4.84

INCOME TAXES                           17,885   2.16    14,237   1.83
                                     ---------        ---------


EARNINGS BEFORE MINORITY INTEREST      28,431   3.44    23,472   3.01

MINORITY INTEREST                      (1,117) -0.14      (682) -0.09
                                     ---------        ---------

NET EARNINGS                          $27,314   3.30   $22,790   2.92
                                     =========        =========


EARNINGS PER SHARE - BASIC              $1.45            $1.24

EARNINGS PER SHARE - DILUTED            $1.41            $1.20

WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES
  OUTSTANDING                          18,851           18,323

WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES
  OUTSTANDING WITH COMMON
  STOCK EQUIVALENTS                    19,432           18,984


           CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (UNAUDITED)
                       FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED
                            JUNE 2006/2005

                                             Year to Date
(In thousands, except per share
 data)                                 2006               2005
                                 ------------------ ------------------


NET SALES                        $1,492,456    100% $1,316,712    100%

COST OF GOODS SOLD                1,277,727  85.61   1,148,241  87.21
                                 -----------        -----------

GROSS PROFIT                        214,729  14.39     168,471  12.79


SELLING, GENERAL AND
   ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES          135,302   9.07     109,356   8.31
                                 -----------        -----------

EARNINGS FROM OPERATIONS             79,427   5.32      59,115   4.49

OTHER EXPENSE (INCOME)
     Interest expense                 7,543   0.51       8,041   0.61
     Interest income                   (781) -0.05        (419) -0.03

Net (gain) loss on sale of real
 estate and interest in
 subsidiary                             (63)  0.00      (1,240) -0.09
                                 -----------        -----------
                                      6,699   0.45       6,382   0.48
                                 -----------        -----------

EARNINGS BEFORE INCOME TAXES
  AND MINORITY INTEREST              72,728   4.87      52,733   4.00

INCOME TAXES                         27,641   1.85      19,996   1.52
                                 -----------        -----------


EARNINGS BEFORE MINORITY INTEREST    45,087   3.02      32,737   2.49

MINORITY INTEREST                    (1,907) -0.13        (718) -0.05
                                 -----------        -----------

NET EARNINGS                        $43,180   2.89     $32,019   2.43
                                 ===========        ===========


EARNINGS PER SHARE - BASIC            $2.31              $1.75

EARNINGS PER SHARE - DILUTED          $2.23              $1.69

WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES
  OUTSTANDING                        18,729             18,255

WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES
  OUTSTANDING WITH COMMON
  STOCK EQUIVALENTS                  19,355             18,978


SUPPLEMENTAL SALES DATA
-----------------------
                                                Quarter Period
                                         -----------------------------
Market Classification                      2006       %   2005       %
---------------------                    --------- ---- --------- ----
Do-It-Yourself/Retail                    $349,519   42% $344,624   44%
Site-Built Construction                   227,830   28%  186,626   24%
Manufactured Housing                      100,134   12%  107,925   14%
Industrial                                149,364   18%  140,377   18%
                                         --------- ---- --------- ----
Total                                    $826,847  100% $779,552  100%


SUPPLEMENTAL SALES DATA
-----------------------
                                               Year to Date
                                     ---------------------------------
Market Classification                    2006       %     2005       %
---------------------                ----------- ---- ----------- ----
Do-It-Yourself/Retail                  $562,511   38%   $522,733   40%
Site-Built Construction                 437,588   29%    337,549   26%
Manufactured Housing                    205,254   14%    203,371   15%
Industrial                              287,103   19%    253,059   19%
                                     ----------- ---- ----------- ----
Total                                $1,492,456  100% $1,316,712  100%


               CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
                            JUNE 2006/2005

(In thousands)
                                      LIABILITIES
                                      AND
                                      SHAREHOLDERS'
ASSETS             2006       2005    EQUITY         2006      2005
======================================================================


CURRENT ASSETS                       CURRENT
                                      LIABILITIES
  Cash and cash                       Accounts
   equivalents    $43,309    $27,586   payable and
  Accounts                             accrued
   receivable     242,829    232,600   liabilities $247,524  $229,835
  Inventories     246,810    247,829  Current
  Other current                        portion of
   assets          22,495     13,114   long-term
                                       debt and
                                       capital
                                       leases           902    21,937

TOTAL CURRENT                        TOTAL CURRENT
 ASSETS           555,443    521,129  LIABILITIES   248,426   251,772

OTHER ASSETS        8,003      8,056 LONG-TERM DEBT
                                      AND CAPITAL
INTANGIBLE                            LEASES, less
 ASSETS, NET      147,901    134,373  current
                                      portion       170,192   206,000
                                     OTHER
                                      LIABILITIES    33,050    36,717
PROPERTY, PLANT
AND EQUIPMENT,                       SHAREHOLDERS'
 NET              227,995    222,304  EQUITY        487,674   391,373


                                     TOTAL
                                      LIABILITIES
                                      AND
                                      SHAREHOLDERS'
TOTAL ASSETS     $939,342   $885,862  EQUITY       $939,342  $885,862
                 =========  =========              ========= =========


          CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
                       FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED
                            JUNE 2006/2005

(In thousands)                                        2006      2005
--------------                                      --------- --------

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net earnings                                         $43,180  $32,019
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash
  from operating activities:
      Depreciation                                    16,730   15,200
      Amortization of intangibles                      2,151    1,190
      Expense associated with share-based
       compensation arrangements                         522        -
      Expense associated with stock grant plans          177      133
      Deferred income taxes                             (867)    (516)
      Minority interest                                1,907      718
      Loss (gain) on sale or impairment of
       property, plant and equipment                    (183)  (1,133)
      Changes in:
        Accounts receivable                          (57,246) (80,206)
        Inventories                                    7,768  (31,838)
        Accounts payable                              39,426   50,881
        Accrued liabilities and other                  8,237   17,131
        Excess tax benefits from share-based
         compensation arrangements                    (3,866)       -
          NET CASH FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES          57,936    3,579

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of property, plant, and equipment          (16,234) (21,985)
Acquisitions, net of cash received                   (11,298)  (7,500)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment      565    2,318
Collection of notes receivable                         1,600      323
Advances on notes receivable                          (2,473)       -
Insurance proceeds                                        38    3,013
Other, net                                                 -      135
          NET CASH FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES         (27,802) (23,696)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Net (repayments) borrowings  under revolving credit
 facilities                                          (40,000)  21,140
Repayment of long-term debt                             (325)    (454)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock                 5,389    2,865
Distributions to minority shareholder                   (930)    (369)
Dividends paid to shareholders                        (1,035)    (910)
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation
 arrangements                                          3,866        -
Other, net                                                (5)     157
          NET CASH FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES         (33,040)  22,429


NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS               (2,906)   2,312

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING
  OF PERIOD                                           46,215   25,274

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD             $43,309  $27,586
                                                    ========= ========

CONTACT: Universal Forest Products Lynn Afendoulis, 616-365-1502

SOURCE: Universal Forest Products