Commercial Metals Company Sees Improved Outlook; Anticipates Return to Profitability in the Third Quarter Following Second Quarter Loss on Large LIFO Expense

IRVING, Texas, March 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Commercial Metals Company (NYSE: CMC) today reported a net loss of $46.2 million or $0.40 per diluted share for the quarter ended February 28, 2011. This compares with a net loss of $173.3 million or $1.53 per diluted share, including a loss of $135.3 million or $1.19 per diluted share from continuing operations, for the second quarter last year. The consolidated pre-tax loss for the Company was $58.7 million, which included pre-tax LIFO expense of $55.7 million compared to pre-tax LIFO expense of $7.4 million in last year's second quarter. At quarter end, the LIFO reserve totaled $291.7 million. Last year's second quarter included $38.1 million of after tax costs associated with our decision to exit the joist and deck business.

Net loss for the six months ended February 28, 2011 was $45.5 million or $0.40 per diluted share. For the same period last year, the Company had a net loss of $204.5 million or $1.81 per diluted share, including a loss from continuing operations of $163.9 million or $1.45 per diluted share. Pre-tax LIFO expense for the six month period was $61.4 million compared to pre-tax LIFO income of $9.8 million last year.

General Conditions

CMC Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Murray R. McClean said, "Consistent with the outlook we provided last quarter, absent LIFO considerations, we incurred a small loss for the second quarter. The accelerating price environment led to significant LIFO expense, which is masking underlying improvements in operations.

"Ferrous scrap prices increased sharply in December and January before reducing slightly in February. Finished steel product prices, while lagging, increased significantly during the quarter. The acceleration in ferrous scrap and steel prices led to significant LIFO expense.

"Our Americas Recycling and Americas Mills segments exceeded our projections due to the favorable price environment. Our Americas Fabrication segment was faced with higher steel input costs, which resulted in losses. Our International Marketing and Distribution segment remained profitable in all major geographic areas, but at seasonally lower levels. Improving demand in Poland led to an unexpected profit for our mill in what is typically our weakest period. Losses in Croatia, while reducing, remain unacceptable. Management is focused on improving performance in that operation. It remains one of our top priorities."

Americas Recycling

The Americas Recycling segment had an adjusted operating profit of $10.9 million (including pre-tax LIFO expense of $6.9 million) compared to the prior year's second quarter adjusted operating loss of $6.8 million (including pre-tax LIFO expense of $6.7 million). Ferrous scrap pricing rose steadily during the quarter due to ongoing export demand, lower seasonal flows, stable U.S. mill operating rates, and low user inventories, reaching levels last seen pre-recession. Prices receded slightly at quarter end with easing of overseas demand. Copper prices hit an all-time high during the quarter; aluminum pricing also increased. The average ferrous scrap sales price for the second quarter was $352 per short ton, a 38% increase from the second quarter of last year. Average nonferrous scrap pricing was $3,385 per short ton, up 29% from the second quarter of last year. Shipments of ferrous scrap totaled 509 thousand tons, an increase of 24% from last year. Nonferrous scrap shipments totaled 64 thousand tons, 19% higher than last year. The segment exported 5% of its ferrous scrap tonnage and 38% of its nonferrous scrap tonnage during the quarter.

Americas Mills

Mill finished goods pricing moved with ferrous scrap increases, but with the time lag resulted in modest mill margin declines from the first quarter. Some pull forward shipments early in the quarter were attributable to customer buying in anticipation of price increases, but this worked its way through by the end of the period. Commercial construction remains weak and needs a rebound in residential construction to jumpstart.  The better nonresidential construction markets remain in infrastructure, health care, and education. The mills ran at 73% of rolling capacity during the quarter, up from 58% in the second quarter of last fiscal year.  CMC Steel Arizona set monthly production records during the quarter and achieved its first monthly net profit in February.

The steel mills had an adjusted operating profit of $6.9 million compared to an adjusted operating loss of $18.5 million in the same quarter last year. The quarter had an elevated pre-tax LIFO expense of $38.5 million as price increases hit; the comparable number last year was a pre-tax LIFO expense of $9.3 million. The metal margin for the quarter was $289 per ton, well ahead of the prior year's metal margin of $249 per ton. The price of ferrous scrap consumed at the mills during the quarter increased $95 per ton compared to last year. Sales volumes were 606 thousand tons, of which 98 thousand tons were billets, compared with 521 thousand tons in the second quarter of last year, including 101 thousand tons of billets. Comparing second quarter to second quarter between years, tonnage melted was up 23% to 598 thousand tons, and tonnage rolled increased 29% to 514 thousand tons.

The copper tube mill reported adjusted operating profit of $4.0 million (pre-tax LIFO expense of $1.2 million) compared to an adjusted operating profit of $0.6 million (pre-tax LIFO expense of $4.6 million) in last year's second quarter. The mill absorbed an internal allocation of $2.2 million as it implemented SAP during the quarter.

Americas Fabrication

The upward trend in finished goods pricing had negative consequences in the short run, but is expected to lay a foundation for profitability as prices stabilize in the future. The rapid run up in pricing during the quarter squeezed metal margins on contracts in backlog, as well as leading to LIFO charges. The same circumstances existed in last year's second quarter. These effects led to an adjusted operating loss of $49.6 million (pre-tax LIFO expense of $7.6 million) compared to last year's second quarter adjusted operating loss of $57.3 million (pre-tax LIFO expense of $5.7 million). The composite average fab selling price (excluding stock and buyouts) was $775 per ton compared to last year's price of $727 per ton. The average pricing in the backlog increased during the quarter, a good sign when steel input costs roll over. Infrastructure and public works remain firm, but commercial work is weak, especially in the West.

International Mills

The Polish economy remained vibrant with calendar year fourth quarter growth of 4.4%. Infrastructure, engineering applications, and consumer goods were strong; exports were made to Germany. Although CMC Zawiercie's (CMCZ) succession of profitable months since last April ended in December, a solid end to the second quarter resulted in net profit for the Polish mill in the quarter, a result consistent with this operation being the largest swing factor for CMC's earnings. It achieved almost three million man hours without a recordable injury. CMCZ had adjusted operating income of $4.0 million compared to a $38.4 million loss in the second quarter of last year, a period suffering from the lowest metal margins since the acquisition of the mill. Shipments totaled 314 thousand tons (45 thousand tons of billets) compared to 282 thousand tons (59 thousand tons of billets) in the prior year's second quarter. Tons melted were 359 thousand tons compared to 293 thousand tons, and tons rolled were 285 thousand tons compared to 236 thousand tons last year. Average selling prices increased 49% from PLN 1,186 in the prior year to PLN 1,768 this year, an indication of the depths of recessionary pricing and an improved product mix from our new rolling mills. The cost of scrap entering production increased 45%. The average metal margin per ton was PLN 637 compared to PLN 408, a historic low.

In Croatia, with the assistance of the technical teams sent this quarter, CMC Sisak (CMCS) has begun to make progress in several essential operating areas. While the loss incurred this quarter is still disappointing, it included a significant scheduled downtime for maintenance and write-downs on inventory and equipment that the new operating plan considers secondary. Also encouraging, safety results are ahead of last year and ahead of plan. CMCS's initial progress is being achieved in quality of personnel and training, efficiency in processes, and opening of markets to sales of blooms, which is expected to be reflected in future financial results. Its adjusted operating loss was $11.3 million compared to $16.0 million in last year's second quarter and $14.1 million in the first quarter of this year. During the quarter, the mill melted 34 thousand tons, rolled 18 thousand tons, and shipped 19 thousand tons.

International Marketing and Distribution

The International Marketing and Distribution segment was once again profitable, achieving second quarter adjusted operating profit of $12.4 million (pre-tax LIFO expense of $1.5 million from the domestic steel import operation), a 12% increase over the adjusted operating profit of $11.1 million (pre-tax LIFO income of $21.2 million) for the second quarter of last year. U.S. customer sentiment is increasingly positive for raw material consumption; stainless and carbon steel markets, aluminum, aerospace, and oil/gas drilling are improving or remain strong. The domestic steel import business improved with emphasis on higher value products. Internationally, the Asian operations returned confident after the Chinese New Year and performed well. The human tragedy is still too current in Japan to make any informed opinion of the effect on metal markets other than the obvious internal demand for rebuilding. The Australian division was marginally profitable; while the resource sector remains strong, the balance of the economy weakened with the end of government stimulus, stagnant nonresidential construction, and the devastating effect of the cyclone and resultant flooding in northern Australia. European results were breakeven.

Financial Condition

McClean said, "We remain financially strong. At February 28, 2011, we had cash and short-term investments of $265 million. Our $400 million revolver had $10 million of commercial paper outstanding; we have significant unused (non-contractual) credit lines. As we met our interest coverage test for the twelve month rolling basis as of February 28, 2011, the $300 million liquidity requirement is no longer effective. We remain investment grade rated."

Outlook

In closing, McClean said, "Looking ahead there appears to be more optimism in world metal markets. As the spring construction season begins, pricing should see a shift from cost push to demand driven. Effective sales prices should rise as previously implemented increases take effect; with scrap pricing stabilizing, metal margins should improve. In this environment, our Recycling segment should continue to do well and our Americas Mills should significantly improve. While our fabrication operations should get some relief, it may not be enough to achieve profitability. Sustainable growth in Northern and Central Europe, particularly Germany, will benefit our CMCZ (Polish) operations, driving higher earnings. CMCS (Croatia) losses should reduce as margins improve and cost reduction efforts take effect. Our raw materials, Asian, European and U.S. divisions should maintain overall profitability for International Marketing and Distribution. Absent LIFO considerations, we would anticipate earnings per share between $0.15 and $0.25 for our third quarter."

Conference Call

CMC invites you to listen to a live broadcast of its second quarter 2011 conference call on Tuesday, March 22, 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.

Forward-Looking Statements

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, 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 sovereign debt problems within the euro zone and other foreign zones; customer non-compliance with contracts; construction activity or lack thereof; decisions by governments affecting the level of steel imports, including tariffs and duties; claims litigation and settlements; difficulties or delays in the execution of construction contracts resulting in cost overruns or contract disputes; unsuccessful or delayed 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 and regulatory rulings; industry consolidation or changes in production capacity or utilization; global factors, including political and military uncertainties; currency fluctuations; interest rate changes; availability and pricing of raw material including scrap metal and energy, insurance and supply prices; passage of new, or interpretation of existing, environmental laws and regulations; severe weather, especially in Poland; and the pace of overall economic activity, particularly in China.

SOURCE Commercial Metals Company