MSC Industrial Direct : Reports Fiscal 2017 First Quarter Results

MELVILLE, N.Y.and DAVIDSON, N.C., Jan. 11, 2017/PRNewswire / --

FISCAL Q1 2017 HIGHLIGHTS

• Net sales of $686.3 million, a decline of 2.9% year-over-year
• Gross margin of 45.0% reflecting continued stabilization in a challenging pricing environment
• Operating margin of 13.2%, an increase year-over-year, despite a decline in net sales
• Diluted EPS of $0.95, which was 3 centsabove the midpoint of guidance

MSC INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY CO. (NYSE: MSM), 'MSC' or the 'Company,' a premier distributor of Metalworking and Maintenance, Repair and Operations ('MRO') products and services to industrial customers throughout North America, today reported financial results for its fiscal 2017 first quarter ended December 3, 2016.

Financial Highlights		FY17 Q1		FY16 Q1		Change
Net Sales		$686.3		$706.8		-2.9%
Operating Income		90.6		90.4		0.2%
% of Net Sales		13.2%		12.8%
Net Income		54.1		55.0		-1.7%
Diluted EPS		$0.95		$0.89		6.7%
In millions unless noted. Based on 56.6 million diluted shares outstanding for FY17 Q1.Based on 61.4 million diluted shares outstanding for FY16 Q1.

Erik Gershwind, president and chief executive officer, said, 'While the demand environment remained difficult in our first quarter and pricing remained soft, we saw a better than expected November. As we moved into December, the start of our fiscal second quarter, we saw growth in sales, as well as improvement across all of our customer types and a higher mix of machinery, machine tool accessories, tool holders, and tooling package orders. These capital-related sales have historically increased when customers are more optimistic about investing in their businesses.'

Rustom Jilla, executive vice president and chief financial officer, added, 'Our first quarter operating margin of 13.2 percent improved over the prior year period despite lower sales, with stable gross margins and continued expense discipline, which offers a glimpse into our leverage potential. Diluted earnings per share were 3 centsabove the mid-point of our guidance, with approximately 2 centsfrom higher than expected sales and the remainder as a result of tight expense management. Our EPS also increased 6 centsyear-over-year due to lower operating expenses and last August's share buyback. Finally, our cash flow conversion remained strong, with 139 percent of our net income translating into cash flow from operations.'

Gershwind concluded, 'We have operated in the midst of a prolonged industrial recession, one that was particularly acute in our primary end markets of metalworking manufacturing. We are, however, seeing signs of greater optimism. At present, it appears that there is a leveling in manufacturing occurring and, in December, we saw greater spending on categories that are indicative of customer optimism. We are certainly more positive than even a few short months ago. Even so, we would need to see sustained increases in order activity before we declare that the environment has turned.'

Outlook

Based on current market conditions, the Company expects net sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2017 to be between $688 million and $701 million. At the midpoint, average daily sales are expected to increase roughly 1.5%, as compared to last year's second quarter. The Company expects diluted earnings per share for the fiscal second quarter 2017 to be between $0.86 and $0.90.

Conference Call Information

MSC will host a conference call today at 8:30 a.m. ESTto review the Company's fiscal 2017 first quarter results. The call, accompanying slides, and other operational statistics may be accessed at: http://investor.mscdirect.com. The conference call may also be accessed at 1-877-443-5575 (U.S.), 1-855-669-9657 (Canada) or 1-412-902-6618 (international).

An online archive of the broadcast will be available until January 18, 2017.

The Company's reporting date for fiscal 2017 second quarter results will be April 13, 2017.

About MSC Industrial Supply Co. MSC Industrial Supply Co. (NYSE:MSM) is a leading North American distributor of metalworking and maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) products and services. We help our customers drive greater productivity, profitability and growth with more than 1 million products, inventory management and other supply chain solutions, and deep expertise from over 75 years of working with customers across industries.

Our experienced team of more than 6,000 associates is dedicated to working side by side with our customers to help drive results for their businesses - from keeping operations running efficiently today to continuously rethinking, retooling, and optimizing for a more productive tomorrow.

For more information on MSC, please visit mscdirect.com.

Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

Statements in this Press Release may constitute 'forward-looking statements' under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that we expect, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future, including statements about expected future results, expected benefits from our investment and strategic plans, and expected future margins, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by these forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The inclusion of any statement in this release does not constitute an admission by MSC or any other person that the events or circumstances described in such statement are material. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include: general economic conditions in the markets in which we operate, current economic, political and social conditions, changing customer and product mixes, competition, industry consolidation, volatility in commodity and energy prices, credit risk of our customers, risk of cancellation or rescheduling of orders, work stoppages or other business interruptions (including those due to extreme weather conditions) at transportation centers or shipping ports, financial restrictions on outstanding borrowings, dependence on our information systems and the risk of business disruptions arising from changes to our information systems, disruptions due to computer system or network failures, computer viruses, physical or electronics break-ins and cyber-attacks, the inability to successfully manage the upgrade of our core financial systems, the loss of key suppliers or supply chain disruptions, problems with successfully integrating acquired operations, opening or expanding our customer fulfillment centers exposes us to risks of delays, the risk of war, terrorism and similar hostilities, dependence on key personnel, goodwill and intangible assets recorded as a result of our acquisitions could be impaired, and the outcome of potential government or regulatory proceedings or future litigation relating to pending or future claims, inquiries or audits. Additional information concerning these and other risks is described under 'Risk Factors' and 'Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations' in the reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q that we file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. We assume no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements.

MSC INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (In thousands)
	December 3,			September 3,
	2016			2016
	(unaudited)
ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	32,122		$	52,890
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts		391,685			392,463
Inventories		453,965			444,221
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		41,473			45,290
Deferred income taxes		-			46,627
Total current assets		919,245			981,491
Property, plant and equipment, net		319,696			320,544
Goodwill		623,473			624,081
Identifiable intangibles, net		103,140			105,307
Other assets		33,925			33,528
Total assets	$	1,999,479		$	2,064,951
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
Revolving credit note	$	166,000		$	217,000
Current maturities of long-term debt		72,356			50,050
Accounts payable		112,357			110,601
Accrued liabilities		107,744			100,951
Total current liabilities		458,457			478,602
Long-term debt, net of current maturities		305,416			339,772
Deferred income taxes and tax uncertainties		101,574			148,201
Total liabilities		865,447			966,575
Commitments and Contingencies
Shareholders' Equity:
Preferred Stock		-			-
Class A common stock		53			53
Class B common stock		12			12
Additional paid-in capital		595,118			584,017
Retained earnings		1,068,617			1,040,148
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(20,645)			(19,098)
Class A treasury stock, at cost		(509,123)			(506,756)
Total shareholders' equity		1,134,032			1,098,376
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$	1,999,479		$	2,064,951

MSC INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (In thousands, except per share data) (Unaudited)
	Thirteen Weeks Ended
	December 3,			November 28,
	2016			2015
Net sales	$	686,271		$	706,819
Cost of goods sold		377,536			387,847
Gross profit		308,735			318,972
Operating expenses		218,135			228,584
Income from operations		90,600			90,388
Other (expense) income:
Interest expense		(2,934)			(1,556)
Interest income		163			163
Other (expense) income, net		(284)			63
Total other expense		(3,055)			(1,330)
Income before provision for income taxes		87,545			89,058
Provision for income taxes		33,442			34,029
Net income	$	54,103		$	55,029
Per Share Information:
Net income per common share:
Basic	$	0.96		$	0.89
Diluted	$	0.95		$	0.89
Weighted average shares used in computing net income per common share:
Basic		56,381			61,296
Diluted		56,572			61,408
Cash dividends declared per common share	$	0.45		$	0.43

MSC INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (In thousands) (Unaudited)
	Thirteen Weeks Ended
	December 3,			November 28,
	2016			2015
Net income, as reported	$	54,103		$	55,029
Foreign currency translation adjustments		(1,547)			(1,115)
Comprehensive income	$	52,556		$	53,914

MSC INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (In thousands) (Unaudited)
	Thirteen Weeks Ended
	December 3,			November 28,
	2016			2015
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income	$	54,103		$	55,029
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		15,447			17,925
Stock-based compensation		3,538			3,621
Loss on disposal of property, plant, and equipment		49			247
Provision for doubtful accounts		1,305			2,997
Deferred income taxes and tax uncertainties		-			(78)
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation		(525)			(154)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable		(1,021)			12,567
Inventories		(10,299)			13,832
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		3,792			(3,226)
Other assets		(465)			583
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		9,511			18,767
Total adjustments		21,332			67,081
Net cash provided by operating activities		75,435			122,110
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Expenditures for property, plant and equipment		(12,497)			(15,575)
Net cash used in investing activities		(12,497)			(15,575)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Repurchases of common stock		(3,207)			(5,796)
Payments of cash dividends		(25,495)			(26,391)
Payments on capital lease and financing obligations		(388)			(161)
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation		525			154
Proceeds from sale of Class A common stock in connection with associate stock purchase plan		909			826
Proceeds from exercise of Class A common stock options		6,931			268
Borrowings under financing obligations		739			453
Borrowings under Credit Facility		15,000			35,000
Private Placement Loan financing costs		(142)			-
Payments of notes payable and revolving credit note under the Credit Facility		(78,500)			(111,250)
Net cash used in financing activities		(83,628)			(106,897)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		(78)			(26)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents		(20,768)			(388)
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of year		52,890			38,267
Cash and cash equivalents - end of year	$	32,122		$	37,879
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information:
Cash paid for income taxes	$	1,983		$	4,495
Cash paid for interest	$	1,400		$	1,247

SOURCE MSC Industrial Supply Co.

For further information: Investors: John G. Chironna, Vice President, Investor Relations and Treasurer, [phone]; Media: Paul Mason, Director, Corporate Communications, [phone]