Segment Information | 17. SEGMENT INFORMATION The Company has two operating segments, which are also its reportable segments. The Company's operating segments are organized based upon primary market channels and, in most instances, the end use of products. Through its Electrical Raceway segment, the Company manufactures products that deploy, isolate and protect a structure's electrical circuitry from the original power source to the final outlet. These products, which include electrical conduit, armored cable, cable trays, mounting systems and fittings, are critical components of the electrical infrastructure for maintenance, repair and remodel markets. The vast majority of the Company's Electrical Raceway net sales are made to electrical distributors, who then serve electrical contractors and the Company considers both to be customers. Through the MP&S segment, the Company provides products and services that frame, support and secure component parts in a broad range of structures, equipment and systems in electrical, industrial and construction applications. The Company's principal products in this segment are metal framing products and in-line galvanized mechanical tube. Through its metal framing business, the Company designs, manufactures and installs metal strut and fittings used to assemble mounting structures that support heavy equipment and electrical content in buildings and other structures. Both segments use Adjusted EBITDA as the primary measure of profit and loss. Segment Adjusted EBITDA is the sum of income (loss) from operations before income taxes, adjusted to exclude unallocated expenses, depreciation and amortization, interest expense, net, gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt, restructuring and impairments, stock-based compensation, certain legal matters, transaction costs, gain on sale of joint venture and other items, such as inventory reserves and adjustments, release of indemnified uncertain tax positions, and the impact of foreign exchange gains or losses. Intersegment transactions primarily consist of product sales at designated transfer prices on an arm's-length basis. Gross profit earned and reported within the segment is eliminated in the Company's consolidated results. Certain manufacturing and distribution expenses are allocated between the segments on a pro rata basis due to the shared nature of activities. Recorded amounts represent a proportional amount of the quantity of product produced for each segment. Certain assets, such as machinery and equipment and facilities, are not allocated to each segment despite serving both segments. These shared assets are reported within the MP&S segment. We allocate certain corporate operating expenses that directly benefit our operating segments, such as insurance and information technology, on a basis that reasonably approximates an estimate of the use of these services. Three months ended December 28, 2018 December 29, 2017 (in thousands) External Net Sales Intersegment Sales Adjusted EBITDA External Net Sales Intersegment Sales Adjusted EBITDA Electrical Raceway $ 343,215 $ 191 $ 68,489 $ 316,005 $ 518 $ 56,160 MP&S 108,813 — $ 10,887 98,553 21 $ 10,809 Eliminations — (191 ) — (539 ) Consolidated operations $ 452,028 $ — $ 414,558 $ — Presented below is a reconciliation of operating segment Adjusted EBITDA to Income before income taxes : Three months ended (in thousands) December 28, 2018 December 29, 2017 Operating segment Adjusted EBITDA Electrical Raceway $ 68,489 $ 56,160 MP&S 10,887 10,809 Total 79,376 66,969 Unallocated expenses (a) (9,353 ) (8,482 ) Depreciation and amortization (18,021 ) (17,210 ) Interest expense, net (12,160 ) (6,594 ) Restructuring and impairments (1,387 ) (262 ) Stock-based compensation (2,982 ) (3,564 ) Transaction costs (164 ) (645 ) Other (b) (206 ) (507 ) Income before income taxes $ 35,103 $ 29,705 (a) Represents unallocated selling, general and administrative activities and associated expenses including, in part, executive, legal, finance, human resources, information technology, business development and communications, as well as certain costs and earnings of employee-related benefits plans, such as stock-based compensation and a portion of self-insured medical costs. (b) Represents other items, such as inventory reserves and adjustments, release of indemnified uncertain tax positions and the impact of foreign exchange gains or losses. The Company's net sales by geography were as follows for the three months ended December 28, 2018 and December 29, 2017 : Three months ended (in thousands) December 28, 2018 December 29, 2017 United States $ 395,628 $ 373,828 Other Americas 9,232 8,001 Europe 33,862 20,300 Asia-Pacific 13,306 12,429 Total $ 452,028 $ 414,558 The table below shows the amount of net sales from external customers for each of the Company's product categories which accounted for 10% or more of consolidated net sales in either period for the three months ended December 28, 2018 and December 29, 2017 : (in thousands) December 28, 2018 December 29, 2017 Metal Electrical Conduit and Fittings $ 131,247 $ 108,263 Armored Cable and Fittings 84,345 86,215 PVC Electrical Conduit and Fittings 68,233 76,225 Cable Tray and Cable Ladders 45,774 34,116 Other raceway products 13,616 11,186 Electrical Raceway 343,215 316,005 Mechanical Pipe 60,668 50,645 Metal Framing and Fittings 28,611 24,902 Other MP&S products 19,534 18,150 Impact of Fence and Sprinkler — 4,856 MP&S 108,813 98,553 Net sales $ 452,028 $ 414,558 |