EXHIBIT 99.1
COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY REPORTS THIRD QUARTER EARNINGS
WITH SIGNIFICANT LIFO CHARGE; EXPECTS STRONGER FOURTH QUARTER;
DECLARES QUARTERLY CASH DIVIDEND
Dallas -- June 17, 2003 -- Commercial Metals Company (NYSE: CMC) today
reported net earnings of $3.0 million or $0.11 per diluted share on net sales of
$774 million for the quarter ended May 31, 2003. This compares with net earnings
of $16.4 million or $0.56 per diluted share on net sales of $652 million for the
third quarter last year.
Net earnings for the nine months ended May 31, 2003 were $8.2 million
or $0.28 per diluted share on net sales of $2.1 billion. For the same period
last year net earnings were $31.5 million or $1.13 per diluted share on net
sales of $1.8 billion.
The current year quarter included a pre-tax LIFO expense of $5.2
million ($0.12 per diluted share) compared to pre-tax LIFO income of $211
thousand (no effect per share) in the prior year quarter. Comparable numbers for
the nine months were $8.0 million expense ($0.18) this year and $155 thousand
income ($0.01) in the previous year's nine months.
CMC Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Stanley A. Rabin
said, "Some of our key markets - particularly those for our Manufacturing
segment - remained under pressure during the quarter, but improved modestly over
the second fiscal quarter of this year. While public construction and
institutional building were steady, commercial construction in the United States
was off about 15% from last year, which continued to impact our downstream
businesses as well as our steel mills. Additionally, business spending and the
industrial side of the economy remained soft. On the other hand, we began to see
some of the expected net benefit from the weaker U.S. dollar."
By segment, our Manufacturing segment again was hurt by a margin
squeeze, with mill price realizations lower than we had anticipated, while the
increase in input costs (scrap/supplies/utilities) outpaced any improvements in
selling prices. Our Manufacturing segment operating profit was substantially
lower than last year's strong third quarter, the best third quarter in our Steel
Group's history. Higher shipments and sales along with cost reduction efforts
helped the segment report better profits than this year's second quarter.
(more)
(CMC 3rd Quarter Release - page 2)
Within Manufacturing, the CMC Steel Group minimills recorded a
considerably lower profit compared with last year's strong third quarter,
exacerbated by their portion of this quarter's LIFO expense ($3.9 million
pre-tax) and despite higher sales, shipments and average selling price. Tons
melted increased 1% to 572,000 tons while tons rolled decreased 2% to 544,000
tons. Shipments increased 4% to 634,000 tons on a year-to-year basis (although
the increase was accounted for by higher billet shipments). Our average total
mill selling price increased $13 per ton above last year's extraordinarily low
price to $280 per ton; however, the average scrap purchase price rose faster at
$22 per ton. The average selling price for finished goods increased $16 per ton
to $289 per ton. Utility costs increased by over $3.5 million compared with the
same period last year, with modestly higher electricity usage and modestly lower
natural gas usage.
Our steel fabrication and related businesses were slightly profitable
versus a solid operating profit in last year's third quarter. Our average
fabricated selling price dropped $78 per ton. Shipments from our fab plants
totaled 286,000 tons, 15% more than the prior year's third quarter; fabricated
rebar shipments were up significantly, however, other categories were mostly
lower. Rebar fabrication, construction-related products, steel fence post plants
and heat treating reported solid profits but joists and structural steel
fabrication recorded losses primarily due to depressed selling prices.
Additionally, last year included a pre-tax gain of $5.2 million on the sale of
SMI Owen Steel, as well as their higher profits preceding the sale. On May 5,
2003 we completed the acquisition of substantially all of the operating assets
of the Denver location of Symons Corp., a construction-related products
business, which extended our market reach into the Rocky Mountains.
The Copper Tube division reported a small operating loss compared with
a profit in last year's third quarter as net sales decreased 13%. The LIFO
expense for the quarter was $777 thousand pre-tax. Although construction held up
relatively well, other market sectors were weaker and the pricing of plumbing
tube and refrigeration tube was down by 9 cents/lb, whereas copper scrap prices
increased 2 cents/lb. Metal spreads were correspondingly lower. Our copper tube
shipments decreased 6% against the same period last year.
The third quarter of FY 2003 was another excellent quarter for the
Recycling segment following several strong quarters. The segment recorded an
operating profit of $5.1 million, more than double the prior year quarter on 21%
higher net sales dollars, with gross margins up 31%. This was after a pre-tax
LIFO expense of $445 thousand. The profit stimulus mainly came from the steel
scrap market, although prices peaked during the quarter as overseas demand
slackened coupled with improved flows of obsolete scrap. Versus last year's
still relatively weak numbers, the average ferrous scrap sales price increased
by $24 per ton to $110 per ton and shipments jumped 17% to 452,000 tons.
Nonferrous markets improved moderately: the average nonferrous scrap sales price
increased 5% compared with a year ago while nonferrous shipments were down 2%.
Total volume of scrap processed, including our CMC Steel Group processing
plants, equaled 768,000 tons against 667,000 tons last year.
(more)
(CMC 3rd Quarter Release - page 3)
Operating profit for the Marketing and Distribution segment was $5.8
million compared with $3.3 million for last year's third quarter. Net sales
leaped 53%, with the predominant increase outside the U.S. After rising for
several quarters, international steel prices generally weakened, mainly because
of a pullback in China. Our volume, however, increased other than imports into
the U.S. Our business into the U.S. reflected the sub-par economy, weaker U.S.
dollar and import duties. Influenced by similar factors, nonferrous semis and
industrial materials results were mixed with respect to volume, price and
margins. Our service centers in Australia continued to perform well and our
joint venture Europickling facility in Belgium reached a record output level for
a quarter. The implementation of new information systems continued to be a
challenge at several of our divisions, but will enhance significantly our
systems capabilities when the conversions are finished.
Our financial position remained strong. At the end of the third quarter
our stockholders' equity was $497 million or $17.84 per share. The current ratio
was 2.0. Our EBITDA to interest coverage remains strong, and our debt to cap
ratio is 32.6%. During the quarter we repurchased 357,800 shares of CMC stock at
an average price of $15.15 per share.
We expect the fourth quarter to be better than the third quarter,
though we do not expect to achieve as strong a fourth quarter as last year,
primarily because of another anticipated LIFO charge. We anticipate FIFO net
earnings of $6.0 to $9.0 million for the quarter. Despite the yet sluggish
global economy, we expect a number of our markets to continue to improve in the
fourth quarter and anticipate better performance in our Manufacturing segment
via an improved metal spread and increases in production, shipments and prices.
During the third quarter we implemented two steel mill product price
increases on most of our products totaling $35 per ton, which partly became
effective in the fiscal third quarter and should become fully effective during
the fourth quarter, which will help restore margins for our steel minimills.
Strong demand for steel scrap and nonferrous scrap combined with the weaker U.S.
dollar will lend support to our Recycling segment, although ferrous prices will
be below the third quarter. Aluminum and copper prices still appear to be
range-bound. Marketing & Distribution results are expected to remain good, but
not as favorable because of reduced demand in China and elsewhere.
The Board of Directors of Commercial Metals Company declared a
quarterly cash dividend of eight cents per share on common stock to shareholders
of record July 3, 2003. The dividend will be paid July 18, 2003. This is the
155th consecutive quarterly dividend paid by Commercial Metals Company.
CMC invites you to listen to a live broadcast of its third quarter 2003
conference call on Tuesday, June 17, at 3:00 p.m. ET. The call will be hosted by
Stan Rabin, Chairman, President and CEO, and Bill Larson, Vice President and
CFO, and can be accessed via our website at www.commercialmetals.com or at
www.streetevents.com. In the event you are unable to listen to the live
broadcast, the call will be archived on CMC's website until July 1, 2003. The
replay will be accessible on the home page within two hours of the webcast.
(more)
(CMC 3rd Quarter Release - page 4)
Commercial Metals Company and subsidiaries manufacture, recycle and
market steel and metal products, related materials and services through a
network of over 130 locations including 4 steel minimills, 29 steel fabrication
plants, a castellated and cellular beam fabricating plant, 5 steel joist plants,
4 steel fence post manufacturing plants, 2 heat treating plants, a railcar
rebuilding facility, 29 construction-related product warehouses, an industrial
products supply company, a railroad salvage company, a copper tube mill, 44
metal recycling facilities and 16 marketing and distribution offices in the
United States and in strategic overseas markets.
Paragraphs twelve and thirteen of this news release contain
forward-looking statements regarding the outlook for the Company's financial
results including net earnings, product pricing and demand, production rates,
LIFO expense, currency rates, steel imports and general market conditions. These
forward-looking statements generally can be identified by phrases such as the
company or its management "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "will," "should,"
"likely," "appear," "projected," or other words or phrases of similar impact.
There is inherent risk and uncertainty in any forward-looking statements.
Variances will occur and some could be materially different from management's
current opinion. Developments that could impact the Company's expectations
include interest rate changes, construction activity, difficulties or delays in
the execution of construction contracts resulting in cost overruns or contract
disputes, 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, court decisions,
global factors including credit availability, currency fluctuations, energy
prices, and decisions by governments impacting the level of steel imports and
pace of overall economic activity.
(more)
(CMC 3rd Quarter Release - page 5)
COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (UNAUDITED)
(in thousands except share data)
<Table>
<Caption>
THREE MONTHS ENDED NINE MONTHS ENDED
------------------------------- -------------------------------
5/31/03 5/31/02 5/31/03 5/31/02
-------------- -------------- -------------- --------------
REVENUES:
Net sales .......................................... $ 774,148 $ 651,600 $ 2,071,135 $ 1,798,085
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Cost of goods sold ................................. 699,732 559,484 1,867,747 1,553,002
Selling, general and administrative expenses ....... 61,442 58,133 168,485 169,838
Employees' retirement plans ........................ 3,123 4,509 9,008 11,441
Interest expense ................................... 4,878 4,575 12,766 14,605
-------------- -------------- -------------- --------------
769,175 626,701 2,058,006 1,748,886
-------------- -------------- -------------- --------------
EARNINGS BEFORE INCOME TAXES ....................... 4,973 24,899 13,129 49,199
INCOME TAXES ....................................... 1,951 8,466 4,969 17,712
-------------- -------------- -------------- --------------
NET EARNINGS ....................................... $ 3,022 $ 16,433 $ 8,160 $ 31,487
-------------- -------------- -------------- --------------
Basic earnings per share ........................... $ 0.11 $ 0.59 $ 0.29 $ 1.17
Diluted earnings per share ......................... $ 0.11 $ 0.56 $ 0.28 $ 1.13
Cash dividends per share ........................... $ 0.08 $ 0.065 $ 0.24 $ 0.195
Average basic shares outstanding ................... 28,047,456 27,983,434 28,284,752 27,007,668
Average diluted shares outstanding ................. 28,147,577 29,131,438 28,645,492 27,904,366
</Table>
<Table>
<Caption>
BUSINESS SEGMENTS
(IN THOUSANDS) THREE MONTHS ENDED NINE MONTHS ENDED
-------------------------------- --------------------------------
5/31/03 5/31/02 5/31/03 5/31/02
-------------- -------------- -------------- --------------
NET SALES:
Manufacturing .................................. $ 354,394 $ 356,872 $ 958,223 $ 1,018,908
Recycling ...................................... 123,749 102,243 320,573 267,792
Marketing and Distribution ..................... 311,071 202,667 832,240 540,241
Corporate and Eliminations ..................... (15,066) (10,182) (39,901) (28,856)
-------------- -------------- -------------- --------------
Total Net Sales .................................... $ 774,148 $ 651,600 $ 2,071,135 $ 1,798,085
============== ============== ============== ==============
OPERATING PROFIT (LOSS):
Manufacturing .................................. $ 2,314 $ 26,139 $ 7,206 $ 62,189
Recycling ...................................... 5,067 2,169 10,521 1,145
Marketing and Distribution ..................... 5,840 3,254 15,953 7,740
Corporate and Eliminations ..................... (3,171) (2,019) (7,275) (6,571)
-------------- -------------- -------------- --------------
Total Operating Profit ............................. $ 10,050 $ 29,543 $ 26,405 $ 64,503
============== ============== ============== ==============
</Table>
(more)
(CMC 3rd Quarter Release - page 6)
COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
(in thousands)
<Table>
<Caption>
MAY 31, August 31,
2003 2002
-------------- --------------
ASSETS:
Current Assets:
Cash ..................................... $ 31,026 $ 33,245
Temporary investments .................... 24,998 91,068
Accounts receivable ...................... 236,653 207,844
Notes receivable from affiliate .......... 133,066 143,041
Inventories .............................. 295,098 268,040
Other .................................... 55,536 50,914
-------------- --------------
Total Current Assets ......................... 776,377 794,152
Net Property, Plant and Equipment ............ 372,013 378,155
Other Assets ................................. 61,412 57,769
-------------- --------------
$ 1,209,802 $ 1,230,076
============== ==============
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Current Liabilities:
Short-term borrowings .................... $ -- $ --
Accounts payable ......................... 270,844 275,209
Accrued expenses and other payables ...... 114,458 133,631
Income taxes payable ..................... 5,262 5,676
Current maturities of long-term debt ..... 567 631
-------------- --------------
Total Current Liabilities .................... 391,131 415,147
Deferred Income Taxes ........................ 34,995 32,813
Other Long-Term Liabilities .................. 28,944 24,841
Long-Term Debt ............................... 257,633 255,969
Stockholders' Equity ......................... 497,099 501,306
-------------- --------------
$ 1,209,802 $ 1,230,076
============== ==============
</Table>
<Table>
<Caption>
THREE MONTHS ENDED NINE MONTHS ENDED
----------------------- -----------------------
(Short Tons in Thousands) 5/31/03 5/31/02 5/31/03 5/31/02
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Steel Mill Rebar Shipments ..................................... 283 268 731 707
Steel Mill Structural and Other Shipments ...................... 351 344 945 882
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
TOTAL MILL TONS SHIPPED ..................................... 634 612 1,676 1,589
Average FOB Mill Selling Price (Total Sales) ................... $ 280 $ 267 $ 274 $ 270
Average FOB Mill Selling Price (Finished Goods Only) ........... $ 289 $ 273 $ 283 $ 275
Average Ferrous Scrap Purchase Price ........................... $ 106 $ 84 $ 96 $ 76
Fab Plant Rebar Shipments ...................................... 188 137 468 414
Fab Plant Structural, Joist, and Post Shipments ................ 98 111 266 324
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
TOTAL FABRICATION TONS SHIPPED .............................. 286 248 734 738
Average Fab Selling Price (Excluding Stock & Buyout Sales) ..... $ 520 $ 598 $ 536 $ 619
SCRAP METAL TONS PROCESSED AND SHIPPED ......................... 767 667 2,079 1, 834
</Table>
(more)
(CMC 3rd Quarter Release - page 7)
COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
(in thousands)
<Table>
<Caption>
NINE MONTHS ENDED
--------------------------------
5/31/03 5/31/02
-------------- --------------
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED BY) OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net earnings ....................................................................... $ 8,160 $ 31,487
Adjustments to earnings not requiring cash:
Depreciation and amortization ................................................ 45,856 46,507
Provision for losses on receivables .......................................... 3,375 2,991
Deferred income taxes ........................................................ 2,182 (3,069)
Tax benefit from exercise of employee stock options .......................... 112 4,316
Gain on sale of SMI-Owen ..................................................... -- (5,234)
Other ........................................................................ 789 54
-------------- --------------
Cash flows from operations before changes in
operating assets and liabilities ............................................. 60,474 77,052
CHANGES IN OPERATING ASSETS AND LIABILITIES, NET OF EFFECT OF COIL STEELS GROUP
AND SYMONS ACQUISITIONS AND SALE OF SMI OWEN:
Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable ................................... (58,666) (27,412)
Funding from accounts receivable sold, net change ............................ 44,973 (18,661)
Decrease (increase) in inventories ........................................... (26,760) (36,528)
Decrease (increase) in other assets .......................................... (9,632) 4,496
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable, accrued
expenses, and income taxes .............................................. (24,031) 36,480
Increase in other liabilities ................................................ 4,103 9,559
-------------- --------------
Net cash from (used by) operating activities ....................................... (9,539) 44,986
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED BY) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment ................................... (35,936) (28,153)
Acquisition of Symons ........................................................ (5,628) --
Acquisition of Coil Steels Group, net of cash acquired ....................... -- (6,834)
Sale of assets of SMI-Owen ................................................... -- 19,705
Sales of property, plant and equipment ....................................... 136 401
Short-term investments ....................................................... 66,070 (38,977)
-------------- --------------
Net cash from (used by) investing activities ....................................... 24,642 (53,858)
CASH FLOWS FROM (USED BY) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Short-term borrowings -- net change .......................................... -- (9,981)
Payments on long-term debt ................................................... (498) (9,036)
Stock issued under incentive and purchase plans .............................. 4,588 29,133
Treasury stock acquired ...................................................... (14,610) --
Dividends paid ............................................................... (6,802) (5,244)
-------------- --------------
Net cash from (used by) financing activities ....................................... (17,322) 4,872
-------------- --------------
Decrease in Cash ................................................................... (2,219) (4,000)
Cash at Beginning of Year .......................................................... 33,245 32,921
-------------- --------------
Cash at End of Period .............................................................. $ 31,026 $ 28,921
============== ==============
</Table>
(more)
(CMC 3rd Quarter Release - page 8)
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
This press release uses financial statement measures not derived in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Reconciliations to the
most comparable GAAP measure are provided below.
EBITDA:
Earnings before interest expense, A/R securitization fees, income taxes,
depreciation, and amortization.
EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure of cash flow generation. It excludes
Commercial Metals Company's largest recurring non-cash charge, depreciation and
amortization. As a measure of cash flow before interest expense, it is one
guideline used to assess the company's ability to pay its current debt
obligations as they mature and a tool to calculate possible future levels of
leverage capacity. EBITDA to interest is a covenant test in certain of the
company's note agreements.
<Table>
For the quarter ended May 31, 2003:
Net earnings $ 3,022
Interest expense 4,878
A/R securitization fees 199
Income taxes 1,951
Depreciation and amortization 15,585
------------
EBITDA $ 25,635
</Table>
EBITDA TO INTEREST COVERAGE (INTEREST PLUS SECURITIZATION FEES) FOR THE QUARTER
ENDED MAY 31, 2003:
$25,635 / 5,077 = 5.0
OPERATING PROFIT:
OPERATING PROFIT is earnings before income taxes and external financing costs
including interest expense and A/R securitization fees.
OPERATING PROFIT provides a core operational earnings measurement that compares
segments without the need to adjust for federal, but more specifically state and
local taxes which have considerable variation between domestic jurisdictions.
Tax regulations in international operations add additional complexity. Operating
profit is also exclusive of interest cost which then presents the results
without consideration of financing alternatives of capital employed.
<Table>
<Caption>
Segment Manufacturing Recycling Marketing and Corporate and Total
Distribution Eliminations
-------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- --------------
Quarter ended May 31, 2003
Net earnings $ 1,378 $ 3,222 $ 3,498 $ (5,076) $ 3,022
Income taxes 837 1,813 947 (1,646) 1,951
Interest expense 38 4 1,332 3,504 4,878
A/R securitization fees 61 28 63 47 199
-------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- --------------
Operating profit $ 2,314 $ 5,067 $ 5,840 $ (3,171) $ 10,050
Quarter ended May 31, 2002
Net earnings $ 16,219 $ 1,379 $ 1,663 $ (2,828) $ 16,433
Income taxes 9,773 757 909 (2,973) 8,466
Interest expense 70 1 623 3,881 4,575
A/R securitization fees 77 32 59 (99) 69
-------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- --------------
Operating profit $ 26,139 $ 2,169 $ 3,254 $ (2,019) $ 29,543
</Table>
(more)
(CMC 3rd Quarter Release - page 9)
OPERATING PROFIT (CONTINUED)
<Table>
Nine months ended May 31, 2003
Net earnings $ 4,383 $ 6,689 $ 10,629 $ (13,541) $ 8,160
Income taxes 2,575 3,762 2,991 (4,359) 4,969
Interest expense 104 4 2,193 10,465 12,766
A/R securitization fees 144 66 140 160 510
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Operating profit $ 7,206 $ 10,521 $ 15,953 $ (7,275) $ 26,405
Nine months ended May 31, 2002
Net earnings $ 38,418 $ 646 $ 3,856 $ (11,433) $ 31,487
Income taxes 23,196 355 2,102 (7,941) 17,712
Interest expense 231 3 1,519 12,852 14,605
A/R securitization fees 344 141 263 (49) 699
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Operating profit $ 62,189 $ 1,145 $ 7,740 $ (6,571) $ 64,503
</Table>
OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION
CURRENT RATIO AS OF MAY 31, 2003:
Current assets divided by current liabilities
$776,377 / 391,131 = 1.98
DEBT TO CAP RATIO AS OF MAY 31, 2003: Debt divided by capitalization Debt is
long-term debt.
Cap (capitalization) is the sum of long-term debt, stockholders' equity, and
deferred taxes.
<Table>
Debt $ 257,633
Stockholders' equity 497,099
Deferred taxes 34,995
------------
Capitalizaton $ 789,727
</Table>
$257,633 / 789,727 = 32.6%
Contact: Bill Larson
Vice President & CFO
214.689.4300
(END)