American Woodmark Corporation Announces First Quarter Results

WINCHESTER, Va., Aug. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- American Woodmark Corporation (Nasdaq: AMWD) today announced results for its first fiscal quarter ended July 31, 2010.  

Net sales improved by 8% compared with the first quarter of the prior fiscal year to $109,303,000.  The Company experienced an increase in sales in both remodel and new construction, with new construction revenue increasing by more than 20% compared with the first quarter of the prior fiscal year.

The Company generated a net loss of ($3,418,000) or ($0.24) per diluted share during the first quarter of fiscal year 2011, compared with a net loss of ($6,406,000) or ($0.45) per diluted share in the first quarter of its prior fiscal year.  The Company's results in the first quarter of the prior year included $1,596,000 of net-of-tax restructuring charges relating to cost reduction initiatives completed during the prior year.  Exclusive of these charges, net loss for the first quarter of the prior fiscal year was ($4,810,000) or ($0.34) per diluted share.

Gross profit for the first quarter of fiscal year 2011 was 13.2% of net sales, compared with 11.7% in the first quarter of the prior fiscal year.  The improvement in gross profit margin reflected the beneficial impact of increased sales volume on direct labor and manufacturing overhead costs, as well as savings realized from the completed cost reduction initiatives.  These beneficial factors were partially offset by the unfavorable impact of rising material and fuel costs.

Selling, general and administrative costs were 18.2% of net sales in the first quarter of fiscal year 2011, down from 19.4% of net sales in the first quarter of the prior fiscal year.  The Company's operating expense ratio decreased due primarily to a reduction in general and administrative expenses.

The Company generated free cash flow of negative $0.3 million (defined as cash provided by operating activities net of cash used for investing activities) in the first quarter of fiscal year 2011, compared with negative free cash flow generated in the first quarter of the prior fiscal year of $9.1 million. The improvement in free cash flow compared with prior year was driven primarily by the reduction in net loss and the absence of payments made in the prior year related to cost reduction initiatives.

The Company ended the first quarter of fiscal year 2011 with cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash of $66.2 million and a debt-to-capital ratio of 12.9%.

American Woodmark Corporation manufactures and distributes kitchen cabinets and vanities for the remodeling and new home construction markets.  Its products are sold on a national basis directly to home centers, major builders and through a network of independent distributors.  The Company presently operates eleven manufacturing facilities and nine service centers across the country.

Safe harbor statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:  All forwardlooking statements made by the Company involve material risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on factors that may be beyond the Company's control.  Accordingly, the Company's future performance and financial results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in any such forward-looking statements.  Such factors include, but are not limited to, those described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Annual Report to Shareholders.  The Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise its forwardlooking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that any projected results expressed or implied therein will not be realized.

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SOURCE American Woodmark Corporation