Universal Forest Products posts Q3 net earnings of C$5.6M, up from US$2.6M a year earlier, CEO attributes stronger profit to cost-cutting efforts, more stable lumber market

Wendy Lisney

GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan , October 12, 2011 (press release) – Universal Forest Products, Inc. today announced third-quarter 2011 results, including net earnings of $5.6 million, or $0.29 per diluted share, up from net earnings of $2.6 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2010. Net sales of $468.9 million in the third quarter of 2011 were down 2.4 percent from net sales of $480.6 million for the same period of last year.

The Company grew sales in three of its five markets: commercial construction and concrete forming, industrial, and manufactured housing. The residential construction and retail building materials markets continue to be soft and saw sales decline in the third quarter of 2011 compared to a year ago.

"Our cost-cutting efforts and a more stable lumber market helped us generate a stronger profit in the quarter," said Chief Executive Officer Matthew J. Missad. "Our sales suffered from a stagnant economy, which is likely to remain weak for the near term. Since we can't rely on an improved economy to grow our business, we are pursuing other avenues of growth."

Missad noted that the Company remains financially strong and is well-positioned to weather a tough economy, even through the typically weak winter months. "If current forecasts are accurate, we believe significant overcapacity exists in the markets we serve," he said. "We expect that many companies will struggle to make it through the winter, and we remain poised for opportunities to consolidate our markets and improve our value to our customers and our shareholders."

"We have a lot of work ahead of us, but I'm confident in the ability of our people to create opportunity and success," Missad added. "We're a solid company, built and operated by hard-working entrepreneurs who will do what it takes to be successful in this new economy."

By market, Universal posted the following gross sales results for the third quarter of 2011:

Retail building materials: $210.9 million, a decrease of 5.4 percent from the same period of 2010.

Unit sales to this market declined 2.0 percent as consumer demand remained soft. Sales to big box customers declined while sales to regional retailers grew. The Home Improvement Research Institute states that acceleration in the growth of home improvement products will be held back by continuing weakness in the housing market, and calls for growth of home improvement product sales averaging 3.7 percent over 2012-2013. Universal is aggressively focusing on providing new products for this market, and remains persistent in its efforts to be the low-cost producer.

Industrial packaging/components: $128.3 million, up 6.4 percent over the third quarter of 2010.

The Company grew sales at a time when industrial production in the United States increased just 0.9 percent and 0.2 percent, respectively, in July and August 2011. The Company continues to focus on adding customers and products, as well as on expanding its reach into non-wood packaging materials and on providing complete packaging solutions.

Manufactured housing and recreational vehicles: $65.7 million, an increase of 2.4 percent over 2010.

Unit sales to this market increased by 3.0 percent primarily due to increased sales in the Company's distribution business. According to the most recent statistics available, shipments of HUD-Code homes in July and August 2011 were down 3 percent from the previous year. Universal remains committed to this market and continues to execute on its strategy to expand its product offering by building on the early success of its distribution operations.

Residential construction: $52.2 million, down 17.0 percent from the same period of 2010.

The Company saw a unit sales decline of approximately 16 percent in the third quarter of 2011, due to plant closures in Texas and California since the third quarter of 2010. The Company remains focused on multifamily projects, where it sees stronger opportunity for growth than in single-family construction. The most recent statistics available indicate that single-family housing starts were down 1.7 percent June through August 2011 from the same period of 2010, while multifamily starts increased 28.1 percent in the same period of 2011 over the previous year.

Commercial construction and concrete forming: $21.2 million, an increase of 11.7 percent over 2010.

Universal continues to see opportunity in the concrete forming business, in which it manufactures and/or supplies forms and other materials for concrete construction projects. This is a highly fragmented market that capitalizes on Universal's engineering and manufacturing capabilities and on its nationwide presence.

OUTLOOK

The Company believes continued challenging economic conditions and uncertainties in the housing market limit its ability to provide meaningful guidance for ranges of likely financial performance; therefore, the Company will not resume the practice of providing guidance in the foreseeable future.

CONFERENCE CALL

Universal Forest Products will conduct a conference call to discuss information included in this news release and related matters at 8:30 a.m. ET on Thursday, October 13, 2011. The call will be hosted by CEO Matthew J. Missad and CFO Michael Cole, and will be available for analysts and institutional investors domestically at 866.314.9013 or internationally at 617.213.8053. Use conference pass code 63245938. The conference call will be available simultaneously and in its entirety to all interested investors and news media through a webcast at http://www.ufpi.com . A replay of the call will be available through November 13, 2011, domestically at 888-286-8010 or internationally at 617-801-6888. Use replay pass code 50523221.

UNIVERSAL FOREST PRODUCTS, INC.

Universal Forest Products, Inc. is a holding company that provides capital, management and administrative resources to subsidiaries that design, manufacture and market wood and wood-alternative products for DIY/retail home centers and other retailers, structural lumber products for the manufactured housing industry, engineered wood components for residential and commercial construction, specialty wood packaging and components for various industries, and forming products for concrete construction. The Company's consumer products subsidiary offers a large portfolio of outdoor living products, including wood composite decking, decorative balusters, post caps and plastic lattice. Its lawn and garden group offers an array of products, such as trellises and arches, to retailers nationwide. Universal's subsidiaries also provide framing services for the site-built construction market. Founded in 1955, Universal Forest Products is headquartered in Grand Rapids, Mich., with operations throughout North America. For more about Universal Forest Products, go to www.ufpi.com .

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