Release Details

Universal Forest Products Posts Record Second Quarter Results

July 15, 2002
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Jul 15, 2002 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Universal Forest Products (Nasdaq: UFPI) today announced record results for the second quarter and first six months of 2002, including diluted earnings per share of $0.82 for the quarter and $1.14 for the year-to-date. Diluted earnings per share reported for the second quarter and first six months of 2001 were $0.70 and $0.95, respectively.

Net sales for the quarter were $504.9 million, an increase of 4.1% over sales of $485.2 million in the second quarter of 2001, despite a steep decline in lumber prices that were down as much as 29% compared to last year. Net sales for the first six months of 2002 were $846.6 million, a 10.0% increase compared to sales of $769.2 million for the same period of 2001.

"We were able to absorb one of the worst declines in the lumber market I've seen in my 31 years at Universal -- at a time when our operations are at maximum inventory levels for the spring selling season -- and still stay on pace to meet our targets," said UFPI's vice chairman and CEO William G. Currie. "Our ability to show record sales and earnings for the second quarter and the first six months of 2002 is a powerful statement about the strength of Universal's business processes and the spirit of our people."

Universal posted the following second quarter sales by market:

-- $265.4 million in D-I-Y/retail, down 2% from last year;

-- $88.9 million in site-built construction, an increase of 9% over lasty ear;

-- $80.9 million in manufactured housing, an 8% increase compared to last year; and

-- $69.8 million in industrial/agricultural, a 22% increase over last year.

The Company increased unit sales in each of its four markets. However, these increases were partially offset by a steep decline in lumber prices beginning in April of 2002, which adversely impacted the Company's second quarter selling prices compared to the same period 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, July 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 #2041483. 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 , click on Investor Relations.

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 SIX MONTHS ENDED
                                JUNE 2002/2001

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


    NET SALES                             $504,944    100%  $485,153     100%

    COST OF GOODS SOLD                     436,321  86.41    418,756   86.31

    GROSS PROFIT                            68,623  13.59     66,397   13.69

    SELLING, GENERAL AND
       ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES              41,345   8.19     38,869    8.01

    EARNINGS FROM OPERATIONS                27,278   5.40     27,528    5.67

    INTEREST EXPENSE                         3,047   0.60      3,539    0.73
    INTEREST REVENUE                           (52) -0.01       (245)  -0.05
    GAIN ON SALE OF ASSETS                  (1,082) -0.21          -    0.00
                                             1,913   0.38      3,294    0.68
    EARNINGS BEFORE INCOME TAXES,
      MINORITY INTEREST AND EQUITY
      IN EARNINGS (LOSS) OF INVESTEE        25,365   5.02     24,234    5.00

    INCOME TAXES                             9,400   1.86      9,179    1.89

    EARNINGS BEFORE MINORITY
      INTEREST AND EQUITY IN
      EARNINGS (LOSS) OF INVESTEE           15,965   3.16     15,055    3.10

    MINORITY INTEREST                         (611) -0.12       (794)  -0.16

    EQUITY IN EARNINGS (LOSS)
    OF INVESTEE                                  -   0.00        (23)   0.00

    REPORTED NET EARNINGS                  $15,354   3.04    $14,238    2.93
    ADD: GOODWILL AMORTIZATION, net of tax                       761    0.16

    ADJUSTED NET EARNINGS                  $15,354   3.04    $14,999    3.09

    REPORTED EARNINGS PER SHARE - BASIC      $0.86             $0.72
    ADD: GOODWILL AMORTIZATION, net of tax                      0.04

    ADJUSTED EARNINGS PER SHARE - BASIC      $0.86             $0.76

    REPORTED EARNINGS PER SHARE - DILUTED    $0.82             $0.70
    ADD: GOODWILL AMORTIZATION, net of tax                      0.04

    ADJUSTED EARNINGS PER SHARE - DILUTED    $0.82             $0.74


    WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES
      OUTSTANDING                           17,884            19,792

    WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES
      OUTSTANDING WITH COMMON
      STOCK EQUIVALENTS                     18,705            20,388


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


    NET SALES                             $846,600    100%  $769,222     100%

    COST OF GOODS SOLD                     726,700   85.84   659,706   85.76

    GROSS PROFIT                           119,900   14.16   109,516   14.24

    SELLING, GENERAL AND
       ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES              79,143    9.35    71,142    9.25

    EARNINGS FROM OPERATIONS                40,757    4.81    38,374    4.99

    INTEREST EXPENSE                         5,955    0.70     6,738    0.88
    INTEREST REVENUE                          (165)  -0.02      (317)  -0.04
    GAIN ON SALE OF ASSETS                  (1,082)  -0.13         -    0.00
                                             4,708    0.56     6,421    0.83
    EARNINGS BEFORE INCOME TAXES,
      MINORITY INTEREST AND EQUITY
      IN EARNINGS (LOSS) OF INVESTEE        36,049    4.26    31,953    4.15

    INCOME TAXES                            13,373    1.58    12,035    1.56

    EARNINGS BEFORE MINORITY
      INTEREST AND EQUITY IN
      EARNINGS (LOSS) OF INVESTEE           22,676    2.68    19,918    2.59

    MINORITY INTEREST                       (1,240)  -0.15      (861)  -0.11

    EQUITY IN EARNINGS (LOSS)
    OF INVESTEE                                  -    0.00       158    0.02

    REPORTED NET EARNINGS                  $21,436    2.53   $19,215    2.50
    ADD: GOODWILL AMORTIZATION, net of tax                     1,457    0.19

    ADJUSTED NET EARNINGS                  $21,436    2.53   $20,672    2.69

    REPORTED EARNINGS PER SHARE - BASIC      $1.19             $0.97
    ADD: GOODWILL AMORTIZATION, net of tax                      0.07

    ADJUSTED EARNINGS PER SHARE - BASIC      $1.19             $1.05

    REPORTED EARNINGS PER SHARE - DILUTED    $1.14             $0.95
    ADD: GOODWILL AMORTIZATION, net of tax                      0.07

    ADJUSTED EARNINGS PER SHARE - DILUTED    $1.14             $1.02


    WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES
      OUTSTANDING                           18,047            19,753

    WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES
      OUTSTANDING WITH COMMON
      STOCK EQUIVALENTS                     18,865            20,315



    SUPPLEMENTAL SALES DATA
                                                     Quarter Period
    Market Classification                      2002     %        2001     %
    Do-It-Yourself                         $265,359    52%   $271,305    56%
    Site-Built Construction                  88,901    18%     81,773    17%
    Manufactured Housing                     80,850    16%     74,618    15%
    Industrial and Other                     69,834    14%     57,457    12%
    Total                                  $504,944   100%   $485,153   100%

                                                      Year to Date
    Market Classification                      2002     %        2001     %
    Do-It-Yourself                         $412,590    49%   $398,998    52%
    Site-Built Construction                 157,385    19%    143,500    19%
    Manufactured Housing                    148,047    17%    124,104    16%
    Industrial and Other                    128,578    15%    102,620    13%
    Total                                  $846,600   100%   $769,222   100%



                   CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
                                JUNE 2002/2001

    (In thousands)

    ASSETS                 2002      2001   LIABILITIES AND
                                            SHAREHOLDERS'
                                            EQUITY             2002      2001


    CURRENT ASSETS                          CURRENT LIABILITIES
      Cash and cash
       equivalents      $18,020    $8,490   Notes payable    $2,001    $1,020
      Restricted cash
       equivalents            -       723   Accounts payable and
      Accounts                               accrued
       receivable       178,017   140,698    liabilities    140,699   119,875
      Inventories       137,999   148,069   Current portion of long-term
                                             debt and
      Other current                          capital
       assets             3,425     8,210    leases          19,025    21,360

    TOTAL CURRENT                           TOTAL CURRENT
     ASSETS             337,461   306,190    LIABILITIES    161,725   142,255

    OTHER ASSETS          6,334    11,698   LONG-TERM DEBT AND CAPITAL
    GOODWILL AND NON-                        LEASES, less current
     COMPETE            125,583   114,903    portion        219,675   197,197
                                            OTHER
                                             LIABILITIES     25,180    18,862
    PROPERTY, PLANT
     AND EQUIPMENT,                         SHAREHOLDERS'
     NET                188,677   179,581    EQUITY         251,475   254,058


                                            TOTAL LIABILITIES AND
                                             SHAREHOLDERS'
    TOTAL ASSETS       $658,055  $612,372    EQUITY        $658,055  $612,372



              CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
                           FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED
                                JUNE 2002/2001

    (In thousands)                                    2002               2001

    CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING
     ACTIVITIES:
    Net earnings                                   $21,436            $19,215
    Adjustments to reconcile net
     earnings to net cash
     from operating activities:
          Depreciation                              11,322              9,498
          Amortization of intangibles                  587              2,180
          (Gain)/Loss on sale or
           impairment of property, plant
           and equipment                              (949)                38
          Changes in:
            Accounts receivable                    (89,290)           (68,218)
            Inventories                            (15,194)           (21,951)
            Accounts payable                        43,027             36,701
            Accrued liabilities and other            9,347              9,909
              NET CASH FROM OPERATING
               ACTIVITIES                          (19,714)           (12,628)

    CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING
     ACTIVITIES:
    Purchases of property, plant, and
     equipment                                     (13,481)           (17,924)
    Purchases of licensing agreements               (2,000)                 -
    Acquisitions, net of cash received                (359)           (21,559)
    Proceeds from sale of property,
     plant and equipment                             2,545                399
    Other                                            1,094                512
              NET CASH FROM INVESTING
               ACTIVITIES                          (12,201)           (38,572)

    CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING
     ACTIVITIES:
    Net borrowings under revolving
     credit facilities and notes payable            71,827             67,600
    Repayment of long-term debt                     (7,557)            (9,038)
    Proceeds from issuance of common
     stock                                             716                783
    Distributions to minority
     shareholder                                      (585)                 -
    Dividends paid to shareholders                    (806)              (792)
    Repurchase of common stock                     (36,547)            (1,255)
              NET CASH FROM FINANCING
               ACTIVITIES                           27,048             57,298


    NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH
     EQUIVALENTS                                    (4,867)             6,098

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

    CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF
     PERIOD                                        $18,020             $8,490


                    
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