Commercial Metals Company Reports Profits of $8.0 Million or $0.07 Diluted EPS for the Fourth Quarter

IRVING, Texas, Oct. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Commercial Metals Company (NYSE: CMC) today reported net earnings of $8.0 million or $0.07 per diluted share on net sales of $1.8 billion for the quarter ended August 31, 2010.  This compares with net earnings of $7.2 million or $0.06 per diluted share on net sales of $1.4 billion for the fourth quarter last year. This year's fourth quarter included after-tax LIFO income of $23.4 million or $0.20 per share compared with income of $24.4 million or $0.21 per share in last year's fourth quarter.  At quarter end, our LIFO reserve totaled $230.3 million. LIFO is an inventory costing method that assumes the most recent inventory purchases or goods manufactured are sold first, which in periods of declining prices results in income that eliminates the effect of deflation from operating results. Changes in LIFO are not write-downs, write-offs or market adjustments. They are changes in cost components based on an assumption of physical inventory flows.

Net loss for the year ended August 31, 2010 was $205.3 million or $1.81 per diluted share on net sales of $6.3 billion.  For the same period last year, net earnings were $20.8 million or $0.18 per diluted share on net sales of $6.4 billion.  The annual results included after-tax LIFO income of $7.4 million or $0.07 per diluted share. This compares with after-tax LIFO income of $208.4 million or $1.83 per diluted share last year.

General Conditions

CMC Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Murray R. McClean said, "An expected seasonal uptick did lift operations in our fourth quarter, but it was absent of indicators of a sustainable economic recovery in the United States. Major European economies, led by Germany, had more encouraging results. China was at an extreme, attempting to slow down booming growth. Ferrous scrap and finished goods pricing fell through the period, but netted overall higher metal margins; pricing movement was driven by international demand. Our geographic diversification and lower cost structure allowed four of our five segments to be profitable – Americas Fabrication continues to face difficult markets."

Americas Recycling

McClean said, "The segment had an adjusted operating profit of $8.3 million (including pre-tax LIFO income of $3.1 million). The operating loss in the fourth quarter of last year was $18.7 million, including pre-tax LIFO expense of $8.3 million. Ferrous prices bottomed in mid-quarter as export demand for U.S. origin scrap diminished; late in the quarter prices rallied with renewed export buying, primarily Turkey, prior to the Ramadan holiday period. Compared to the fourth quarter of last year, ferrous pricing was stronger as domestic mill operating rates increased and general manufacturing output was higher. Nonferrous pricing followed similar patterns, but principally due to supply constraints as U.S. industrial production remains subdued. The average ferrous scrap sales price for the fourth quarter was $269 per short ton, a 39% increase over the prior year fourth quarter. Average nonferrous scrap pricing was $2,637 per short ton, up 34% from the prior year. Shipments of ferrous scrap totaled 587 thousand tons, an increase of 14% from the fourth quarter of last year. Nonferrous scrap shipments totaled 64 thousand tons, 14% higher than last year. We exported 6% of our ferrous scrap tonnage and 45% of our nonferrous scrap tonnage during the quarter."

Americas Mills

McClean said, "On the strength of higher sales prices, metal margins increased for the fourth consecutive quarter. For the first time this fiscal year, metal margins were higher than the comparable quarter last year. Excluding our new micromill in Arizona, volumes shipped were slightly ahead of last year's quarter. Public works continues to be the major end-use market. Our mills ran at 63% of capacity during the quarter.

"Our steel mills had an adjusted operating profit of $39.5 million compared to an adjusted operating profit of $28.0 million in the same quarter last year. The quarter had pre-tax LIFO income of $8.8 million compared to pre-tax LIFO expense of $5.3 million in last year's quarter. Our metal margin for the quarter was $344 per ton, up from the third quarter's margin of $303 per ton, and ahead of last year's fourth quarter of $302 per ton. The price of ferrous scrap consumed at the mills during the quarter increased $31 per ton compared to last year; however, the average selling prices increased by $73 per ton. Sales volumes were 549 thousand tons (including CMC Steel Arizona) of which 65 thousand tons were billets compared with 42 thousand tons of billets sold in the fourth quarter of last year. Comparing fourth quarter to fourth quarter between years, tonnage melted (including CMC Steel Arizona) was up 14% to 533 thousand tons and tonnage rolled increased 7% to 457 thousand tons."

McClean added, "Our micromill, CMC Steel Arizona, completed its first year of operations by melting, rolling, and shipping over 56 thousand tons during the quarter. For the fiscal year, our micromill melted 160 thousand tons, rolled 153 thousand tons and shipped 142 thousand tons. Our copper tube mill reported adjusted operating loss of $2.2 million (pre-tax LIFO income of $1.8 million) compared to $1.5 million adjusted operating profit (pre-tax LIFO expense of $3.4 million) in last year's fourth quarter."

Americas Fabrication (Excluding Discontinued Operations)

According to McClean, "Downstream operations continued to face challenging market conditions. Strong competition, weakening selling prices, lackluster demand, and higher steel costs eroded margins. The environment was particularly acute in the west where state budgetary concerns were heightened. Fourth quarter rebar shipments were the highest of the fiscal year, but were margin constrained. Public works remained as the most consistent end-use market. On a better note, our post plants were profitable as were our specialty heat treating operations. The segment reported an adjusted operating loss of $17.1 million compared to last year's fourth quarter adjusted operating profit of $14.3 million. The current quarter had pre-tax LIFO income of $6.6 million compared to last year's fourth quarter pre-tax LIFO income of $21.8 million. The composite average fab selling price (excluding stock and buyouts) was $778 per ton, 8% below last year's fourth quarter price."

International Mills

McClean said, "Safety remains paramount. Our mill in Poland achieved a significant milestone. For the second time CMCZ recorded over one million man hours without a recordable injury. Our International Mills segment broke into profitability for the first quarter in over two years as pricing trends strengthened in Poland and our mill in Croatia entered the final phase of its capital expenditure program. Metal margins were significantly higher in Poland, both in comparison to the fourth quarter of last year and the third quarter of this year. Poland's GDP continued to grow at plus 3% and was positively affected by Germany's stronger economic results. CMC Croatia set records for production of blooms and pipes in August."

McClean continued, "CMC Zawiercie had adjusted operating income of $17.3 million compared to a loss of $4.1 million in the fourth quarter of last year. Shipments totaled 387 thousand tons (66 thousand tons of billets) compared to 398 thousand tons (129 thousand tons of billets) in the prior year's fourth quarter. Tons melted were 382 thousand tons compared to 412 thousand tons, and tons rolled were 310 thousand tons compared to 281 thousand tons. Average selling prices increased 37% to PLN 1,584 per ton compared to PLN 1,157 per ton for the same period last year. The cost of scrap entering production increased 32%. The average metal margin per ton increased to PLN 653 from PLN 451 in last year's fourth quarter and PLN 481 in this year's third quarter. We commissioned the finishing end of our new flexible rolling mill.

"Though continuing a string of disappointing results, CMC Croatia's adjusted operating loss of $6.4 million for the quarter was, nonetheless, the lowest sustained this year. During the quarter we melted 34 thousand tons (almost double our previous best), rolled 19 thousand tons, and shipped 20 thousand tons, a record."

International Marketing & Distribution

According to McClean, "Our International Marketing and Distribution segment remained profitable in each quarter of this fiscal year. The recoveries of some European economies aided results as did the continuing strong Chinese economy. Each of our major geographic marketing operations was again profitable. Of particular significance was our Australian operations' safety record; they finished the fiscal year with no recordable injuries. The segment recorded adjusted operating profit of $12.5 million compared to $2.3 million adjusted operating profit in last year's fourth quarter. Our U.S.-based steel import operation is on LIFO; for the quarter it had pre-tax LIFO income of $6.6 million compared to pre-tax LIFO income of $24.2 million last year."

Financial Condition

McClean said, "We continue to maintain a strong balance sheet; at August 31, 2010, we had cash and short-term investments of $399 million. Substantial portions of our accounts receivable are backed by letters of credit or are credit insured; we have established an allowance for doubtful accounts of $29.7 million. The majority of our domestic inventories are valued on LIFO with a reserve of $230 million at year end.  The current ratio was 2.0. We had no drawings on our domestic accounts receivable securitization program, and our $400 million revolver was available save for $10 million of commercial paper outstanding.  

"In accordance with our February 26, 2010 amendments to our $400 million revolver and $100 million accounts receivable securitization agreement, we are required to maintain $300 million in liquidity as defined and an EBITDA to interest coverage ratio of 2.5. We met both covenants."

Outlook

McClean concluded, "There is no clear catalyst for market improvement.  Overall market conditions prevailing in our fiscal 2010 fourth quarter continue into the first quarter of fiscal 2011, but we anticipate that some seasonal weakness will set in by the end of the quarter. Ferrous scrap prices should trend marginally higher; nonferrous pricing remains strong. Rebar pricing should remain relatively stable; metal margins may trend slightly lower. Volumes and margins in Poland should be fairly constant. We are performing major maintenance in Croatia and, when combined with start-up costs of our new ladle metallurgical station, this will result in a loss. In summary, we anticipate the first quarter to be breakeven absent any consideration for LIFO."

Conference Call

CMC invites you to listen to a live broadcast of its fourth quarter 2010 conference call today, Friday, October 29, 2010, at 11:00 a.m. ET.  The call will be hosted by Murray McClean, Chairman, President and CEO; Joe Alvarado, Executive Vice President and COO; and Bill Larson, Senior Vice President and CFO, and can be accessed via our website at www.cmc.com or at www.streetevents.com.  In the event you are unable to listen to the live broadcast, the call will be archived and available for replay within two hours of the webcast.  Financial and statistical information presented in the broadcast can be found on CMC's website under "Investor Relations."

Commercial Metals Company and subsidiaries manufacture, recycle and market steel and metal products, related materials and services through a network including steel minimills, steel fabrication and processing plants, construction-related product warehouses, a copper tube mill, metal recycling facilities and marketing and distribution offices in the United States and in strategic international markets.

This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding the outlook for the Company's financial results including net earnings (loss), economic conditions, credit availability, product pricing and demand, currency valuation, production rates, energy expense, interest rates, inventory levels, acquisitions, construction and operation of new facilities and general market conditions. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by phrases such as we, the company or its management "expects," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "intends," "plans to," "ought," "could," "will," "should," "likely," "appears," "projects," "forecasts," "outlook," or other similar words or phrases.  There are inherent risks and uncertainties in any forward-looking statements. Variances will occur and some could be materially different from our current opinion.

Developments that could impact the Company's expectations include the following: absence of global economic recovery or possible recession relapse; solvency of financial institutions and their ability or willingness to lend; success or failure of governmental efforts to stimulate the economy, including restoring credit availability and confidence in a recovery; continued debt problems in Greece and other countries within the euro zone; customer non-compliance with contracts; construction activity; decisions by governments affecting the level of steel imports, including tariffs and duties; litigation claims and settlements; difficulties or delays in the execution of construction contracts resulting in cost overruns or contract disputes; unsuccessful implementation of new technology; metals pricing over which the Company exerts little influence; increased capacity and product availability from competing steel minimills and other steel suppliers, including import quantities and pricing; execution of cost minimization strategies; ability to retain key executives; court decisions; industry consolidation or changes in production capacity or utilization; global factors, including political and military uncertainties; currency fluctuations; interest rate changes; scrap metal, energy, insurance and supply prices; severe weather, especially in Poland; and the pace of overall economic activity, particularly in China.

SOURCE Commercial Metals Company