Release Details

Universal Forest Products Posts Record First Quarter Results

April 15, 2002
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Apr 15, 2002 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Universal Forest Products (Nasdaq: UFPI) today announced record results for the first quarter of 2002, including net sales for the quarter of $341.7 million, a 20.3% increase over net sales of $284.1 million reported in the same quarter last year. Diluted earnings per share for the quarter totaled $0.32.

At the beginning of 2002, the Company adopted a new accounting standard, which discontinued the amortization of goodwill. Under the new standard, pro forma diluted earnings per share for the first quarter of 2001 would have been $0.28 compared to the reported amount of $0.25.

"Our performance this quarter is a result of the exceptional execution by the people of Universal," said William G. Currie, UFPI's chief executive officer. "We were also aided by a combination of factors, including a relatively mild winter, a favorable lumber market, a redemption of our shares, and sound acquisitions we completed in 2001."

By market, Universal posted first quarter sales of:

* $147.2 million in D-I-Y/retail, up 15.3% over last year;

* $68.5 million in site-built construction, an increase of 10.9% over last year;

* $67.2 million in manufactured housing, a 35.8% increase over last year; and

* $58.7 million in industrial/agricultural, up 30.1% over last year.

The Company continues to target annual sales growth of 6% to 10% and diluted earnings per share growth of 18% to 22%, which includes the effect of discontinuing goodwill amortization in 2002.

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, April 16, 2002. The conference call will be hosted by William G. Currie and will be available for analysts and institutional investors domestically at 800-521-5414 or internationally at 303-224-6997. Use conference call ID #1439502. The conference call will be available simultaneously, and in its entirety, to all interested investors and news media through a web cast at www.ufpi.com .

Universal Forest Products markets, manufactures, and engineers 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. For information about Universal Forest Products on the Internet, please contact the Company's web site at 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.

    Financial Highlights to Follow

               CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (UNAUDITED)
                          FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED
                               MARCH 2002/2001

                                                   Quarter Period
    (In thousands, except per share data)       2002             2001


    NET SALES                             $341,656   100%  $284,069   100%

    COST OF GOODS SOLD                     290,379  84.99   240,950  84.82

    GROSS PROFIT                            51,277  15.01    43,119  15.18

    SELLING, GENERAL AND
       ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES              37,798  11.06    32,273  11.36

    EARNINGS  FROM  OPERATIONS              13,479   3.95    10,846   3.82

    INTEREST EXPENSE                         2,908   0.85     3,199   1.13
    INTEREST REVENUE                          (113) -0.03       (72) -0.03
                                             2,795   0.82     3,127   1.10
    EARNINGS BEFORE INCOME TAXES,
      MINORITY INTEREST AND EQUITY
      IN EARNINGS (LOSS) OF INVESTEE        10,684   3.13     7,719   2.72

    INCOME TAXES                             3,973   1.16     2,856   1.01

    EARNINGS BEFORE MINORITY
      INTEREST AND EQUITY IN
      EARNINGS OF INVESTEE                   6,711   1.96     4,863   1.71

    MINORITY INTEREST                         (629) -0.18       (67) -0.02

    EQUITY IN EARNINGS
      OF INVESTEE                                -   0.00       181   0.06

    REPORTED NET EARNINGS                   $6,082   1.78    $4,977   1.75
    ADD: GOODWILL AMORTIZATION,
      net of tax                                                695   0.24

    ADJUSTED NET EARNINGS                   $6,082   1.78    $5,672   2.00

    REPORTED EARNINGS PER SHARE - BASIC      $0.33            $0.25
    ADD: GOODWILL AMORTIZATION,
      net of tax                                               0.04

    ADJUSTED EARNINGS PER SHARE - BASIC      $0.33            $0.29

    REPORTED EARNINGS PER SHARE - DILUTED    $0.32            $0.25
    ADD: GOODWILL AMORTIZATION,
      net of tax                                               0.03

    ADJUSTED EARNINGS PER SHARE - DILUTED    $0.32            $0.28

    WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES
      OUTSTANDING                           18,210           19,714

    WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES
      OUTSTANDING WITH COMMON
      STOCK EQUIVALENTS                     19,024           20,243



               CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (UNAUDITED)
                          FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED
                               MARCH 2002/2001

                                                    Year to Date
    (In thousands, except per share data)       2002             2001


    NET SALES                             $341,656   100%  $284,069   100%

    COST OF GOODS SOLD                     290,379  84.99   240,950  84.82

    GROSS PROFIT                            51,277  15.01    43,119  15.18

    SELLING, GENERAL AND
       ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES              37,798  11.06    32,273  11.36

    EARNINGS FROM OPERATIONS                13,479   3.95    10,846   3.82

    INTEREST EXPENSE                         2,908   0.85     3,199   1.13
    INTEREST REVENUE                          (113) -0.03       (72) -0.03
                                             2,795   0.82     3,127   1.10
    EARNINGS BEFORE INCOME TAXES,
      MINORITY INTEREST AND EQUITY
      IN EARNINGS (LOSS) OF INVESTEE        10,684   3.13     7,719   2.72

    INCOME TAXES                             3,973   1.16     2,856   1.01

    EARNINGS BEFORE MINORITY
      INTEREST AND EQUITY IN
      EARNINGS OF INVESTEE                   6,711   1.96     4,863   1.71

    MINORITY INTEREST                         (629) -0.18       (67) -0.02

    EQUITY IN EARNINGS
      OF INVESTEE                                -   0.00       181   0.06

    REPORTED NET EARNINGS                   $6,082   1.78    $4,977   1.75
    ADD: GOODWILL AMORTIZATION,
      net of tax                                                695   0.24

    ADJUSTED NET EARNINGS                   $6,082   1.78    $5,672   2.00

    REPORTED EARNINGS PER SHARE - BASIC      $0.33            $0.25
    ADD: GOODWILL AMORTIZATION,
      net of tax                                               0.04

    ADJUSTED EARNINGS PER SHARE - BASIC      $0.33            $0.29

    REPORTED EARNINGS PER SHARE - DILUTED    $0.32            $0.25
    ADD: GOODWILL AMORTIZATION,
      net of tax                                               0.03

    ADJUSTED EARNINGS PER SHARE - DILUTED    $0.32            $0.28

    WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES
      OUTSTANDING                           18,210           19,714

    WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES
      OUTSTANDING WITH COMMON
      STOCK EQUIVALENTS                     19,024           20,243


    SUPPLEMENTAL SALES DATA
                                                   Quarter Period
    Market Classification                     2002     %       2001     %
    Do-It-Yourself                        $147,224    43%  $127,674    45%
    Site-Built Construction                 68,485    20%    61,736    22%
    Manufactured Housing                    67,200    20%    49,489    17%
    Industrial and Other                    58,747    17%    45,170    16%
    Total                                 $341,656   100%  $284,069   100%


    SUPPLEMENTAL SALES DATA
                                                Year to Date
    Market Classification                     2002     %       2001     %
    Do-It-Yourself                        $147,224    43%  $127,674    45%
    Site-Built Construction                 68,485    20%    61,736    22%
    Manufactured Housing                    67,200    20%    49,489    17%
    Industrial and Other                    58,747    17%    45,170    16%
    Total                                 $341,656   100%  $284,069   100%



                   CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
                               MARCH 2002/2001

    (In thousands)

    ASSETS             2002     2001    LIABILITIES AND
                                        SHAREHOLDERS'
                                        EQUITY                2002      2001



    CURRENT ASSETS                      CURRENT LIABILITIES
      Cash and cash
       equivalents   $12,503   $5,273     Notes payable      $2,025      $795
      Restricted cash                     Accounts payable
        equivalents        -    1,281       and accrued
      Accounts                              liabilities     111,567    89,798
        receivable   135,218  105,338     Current portion
      Inventories    167,661  148,187       of long-term
      Other current                         debt and capital
        assets         3,472    8,852       leases           20,512    18,260


    TOTAL CURRENT                       TOTAL CURRENT
     ASSETS         318,854  268,931     LIABILITIES        134,104   108,853

    OTHER ASSETS      6,548   11,758    LONG-TERM DEBT
                                         AND CAPITAL
    GOODWILL AND                         LEASES, less
     NON-COMPETE    123,523  113,671     current portion    240,174   197,336
                                        OTHER
                                         LIABILITIES         24,962    18,458
    PROPERTY, PLANT
     AND EQUIPMENT,                     SHAREHOLDERS'
     NET            187,531  170,752    EQUITY              237,216   240,465

                                        TOTAL LIABILITIES
                                        AND SHAREHOLDERS'
    TOTAL ASSETS   $636,456  565,112    EQUITY             $636,456  $565,112



              CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
                          FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED
                               MARCH 2002/2001

    (In thousands)                                    2002               2001

    CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING
     ACTIVITIES:
    Net earnings                                    $6,082             $4,977
    Adjustments to reconcile net
     earnings to net cash
     from operating activities:
       Depreciation                                  5,611              4,577
       Amortization of non-compete
         agreements and goodwill                       301              1,045
       Loss on sale or impairment of
         property, plant and equipment                  66                  -
       Changes in:
         Accounts receivable                       (46,490)           (37,032)
         Inventories                               (44,856)           (23,587)
         Accounts payable                           22,111             22,600
         Accrued liabilities and other                 915             (7,198)
           NET CASH FROM OPERATING
             ACTIVITIES                            (56,260)           (34,618)

    CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING
     ACTIVITIES:
    Purchases of property, plant, and
     equipment                                      (5,255)            (7,781)
    Acquisitions, net of cash received                (359)           (10,498)
    Proceeds from sale of property,
     plant and equipment                               161                481
    Other                                            1,222               (391)
           NET CASH FROM INVESTING
           ACTIVITIES                               (4,231)           (18,189)

    CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING
     ACTIVITIES:
    Net borrowings under revolving
     credit facilities and notes payable            86,453             58,759
    Repayment of long-term debt                       (158)            (2,864)
    Proceeds from issuance of common
     stock                                              62                 48
    Distributions to minority
     shareholder                                      (250)                 -
    Repurchase of common stock                     (36,000)              (255)
           NET CASH FROM FINANCING
           ACTIVITIES                               50,107             55,688


    NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH
     EQUIVALENTS                                   (10,384)             2,881

    CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING
      OF PERIOD                                     22,887              2,392

    CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF
     PERIOD                                        $12,503             $5,273



SOURCE Universal Forest Products

CONTACT: Michael R. Cole, Chief Financial Officer of Universal Forest Products, +1-616-364-6161; or Jim Ankner, Vice President of Fleishman Hillard, +1-212-453-2198, for Universal Forest Products