PITTSBURGH, April 27, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- WESCO International, Inc. (NYSE: WCC), a leading provider of electrical, industrial, and communications MRO and OEM products, construction materials, and advanced supply chain management and logistics services, announces its results for the first quarter of 2017.

Mr. John J. Engel, WESCO's Chairman, President and CEO, commented, "Our first quarter results were in line with our expectations and the outlook we provided in January. Our sales results reflect improving momentum in our business, driven by a return to growth in Industrial and in Canada. Operating margin was also in line with our expectations, as we continue to execute our cost management and supply chain initiatives in a still-challenging and demand-constrained pricing environment. Net income grew in the quarter, and we once again delivered strong free cash flow, enabling us to reduce our debt and further improve our financial leverage ratio. Based upon our first quarter results, we reaffirm our full-year expectations of sales in the range of flat to up 4%, EPS of $3.60 to $4.00 per diluted share, and free cash flow generation of at least 90% of net income."

The following are results for the three months ended March 31, 2017 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2016:


    --  Net sales were $1.77 billion for the first quarter of 2017, compared to
        $1.78 billion for the first quarter of 2016, a decrease of 0.2%.
        Acquisitions and foreign exchange rates had positive impacts on net
        sales of 0.9% and 0.6%, respectively, resulting in a 1.7% decrease in
        organic sales.

    --  Cost of goods sold for both the first quarter of 2017 and 2016 was $1.42
        billion. Gross profit was $350.0 million and $355.2 million for the
        first quarter of 2017 and 2016, respectively. As a percentage of net
        sales, gross profit was 19.7% and 20.0% for the first quarter of 2017
        and 2016, respectively.

    --  Selling, general, and administrative ("SG&A") expenses were $266.9
        million, or 15.1% of net sales for the first quarter of 2017, compared
        to $269.3 million, or 15.2% of net sales, for the first quarter of 2016.

    --  Operating profit was $67.1 million for the current quarter, compared to
        $69.5 million for the first quarter of 2016. Operating profit as a
        percentage of net sales was 3.8% for the first quarter of 2017, compared
        to 3.9% for the first quarter of 2016.

    --  Interest expense for the first quarter of 2017 was $16.7 million,
        compared to $18.8 million for the first quarter of 2016. Non-cash
        interest expense for the first quarter of 2017 and 2016, which includes
        amortization of debt discounts and deferred financing fees, and interest
        related to uncertain tax positions, was $1.1 million and $2.1 million,
        respectively.

    --  The effective tax rate for the current quarter was 25.0%, compared to
        31.9% for the prior year first quarter. In the current quarter, the
        application of Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-09 resulted in a
        discrete benefit from the exercise of stock-based awards, which lowered
        the effective tax rate by 3.1 percentage points. In the first quarter of
        2016, the settlement of an outstanding tax matter increased the
        effective tax rate by 3.4 percentage points.

    --  Net income attributable to WESCO International, Inc. was $37.7 million
        and $36.0 million for the first quarter of 2017 and 2016, respectively.

    --  Earnings per diluted share was $0.76 for the first quarter of 2017,
        based on 49.4 million diluted shares, compared to earnings per diluted
        share of $0.77 for the first quarter of 2016, based on 46.8 million
        diluted shares.

    --  Operating cash flow for the first quarter of 2017 was $47.6 million,
        compared to $78.6 million for the first quarter of 2016. Free cash flow
        for the first quarter of 2017 was $43.1 million, or 114% of net income,
        compared to $75.0 million, or 217% of net income for the first quarter
        of 2016.

Mr. Engel continued, "We remain focused on executing our strategies to deliver above-market sales growth, improve profitability, generate strong cash flow, and increase shareholder value. The free cash flow generation capability of our business supports continued investment in our One WESCO growth initiatives, including acquisitions, while providing us with the ability to return capital to our shareholders. Our efforts remain centered on providing excellent customer service and delivering value to our customers' operations and supply chains by providing comprehensive product and service solutions, which meet their capital project, MRO, and OEM needs."

Webcast and Teleconference Access

WESCO will conduct a webcast and teleconference to discuss the first quarter earnings as described in this News Release on Thursday, April 27, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. E.T. The call will be broadcast live over the internet and can be accessed from the Company's website at http://www.wesco.com. The call will be archived on this Internet site for seven days.

WESCO International, Inc. (NYSE: WCC), a publicly traded Fortune 500 holding company headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a leading provider of electrical, industrial, and communications maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) and original equipment manufacturers (OEM) products, construction materials, and advanced supply chain management and logistic services. 2016 annual sales were approximately $7.3 billion. The company employs approximately 9,000 people, maintains relationships with over 25,000 suppliers, and serves approximately 75,000 active customers worldwide. Customers include commercial and industrial businesses, contractors, government agencies, institutions, telecommunications providers, and utilities. WESCO operates nine fully automated distribution centers and approximately 500 full-service branches in North America and international markets, providing a local presence for customers and a global network to serve multi-location businesses and multi-national corporations.

The matters discussed herein may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. Certain of these risks are set forth in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, as well as the Company's other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


                                                                              WESCO INTERNATIONAL, INC.


                                                                     CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

                                                               (dollar amounts in millions, except per share amounts)

                                                                                     (Unaudited)


                                                                                                                        Three Months Ended

                                                                                                             March 31,                            March 31,
                                                                                                                   2017                                      2016
                                                                                                                   ----                                      ----

    Net sales                                                                                                               $1,772.6                                $1,776.0

    Cost of goods sold (excluding                                                                               1,422.6                    80.3%            1,420.8     80.0%

        depreciation and amortization)

    Selling, general and administrative expenses                                                                  266.9                    15.1%              269.3     15.2%

    Depreciation and amortization                                                                                  16.0                                        16.4
                                                                                                                   ----                                        ----

        Income from operations                                                                                     67.1                     3.8%               69.5      3.9%

    Interest expense, net                                                                                          16.7                                        18.8
                                                                                                                   ----                                        ----

        Income before income taxes                                                                                 50.4                     2.8%               50.7      2.9%

    Provision for income taxes                                                                                     12.6                                        16.2
                                                                                                                   ----                                        ----

        Net income                                                                                                 37.8                     2.1%               34.5      1.9%

    Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests                                                      0.1                                       (1.5)
                                                                                                                    ---                                        ----

        Net income attributable to WESCO International, Inc.                                                                   $37.7             2.1%                  $36.0  2.0%
                                                                                                                               =====                                   =====


    Earnings per diluted common share                                                                                          $0.76                                   $0.77

    Weighted-average common shares outstanding and common

    share equivalents used in computing earnings per diluted

    share (in millions)                                                                                            49.4                                        46.8


                                          WESCO INTERNATIONAL, INC.


                                    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

                                        (dollar amounts in millions)

                                                 (Unaudited)


                                              March 31,              December 31,
                                                   2017                       2016
                                                   ----                       ----

                         Assets

    Current Assets

    Cash and
     cash
     equivalents                                            $103.0                           $110.1

    Trade
     accounts
     receivable,
     net                                        1,060.6                            1,034.4

    Inventories                                   850.1                              821.4

    Other
     current
     assets                                       189.7                              206.5
                                                  -----                              -----

        Total
         current
         assets                                 2,203.4                            2,172.4


    Other
     assets                                     2,307.9                            2,318.5


        Total
         assets                                           $4,511.3                         $4,490.9
                                                          ========                         ========



                    Liabilities and
                  Stockholders' Equity

    Current Liabilities

    Accounts
     payable                                                $712.4                           $684.7

    Current
     debt and
     short-
     term
     borrowings                                    29.3                               22.1

    Other
     current
     liabilities                                  178.4                              190.0
                                                  -----                              -----

        Total
         current
         liabilities                              920.1                              896.8


    Long-term
     debt                                       1,309.8                            1,363.1

    Other
     noncurrent
     liabilities                                  223.9                              221.0
                                                  -----                              -----

        Total
         liabilities                            2,453.8                            2,480.9


    Stockholders' Equity

        Total
         stockholders'
         equity                                 2,057.5                            2,010.0
                                                -------                            -------

        Total
         liabilities
         and
         stockholders'
         equity                                           $4,511.3                         $4,490.9
                                                          ========                         ========


                                       WESCO INTERNATIONAL, INC.


                            CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

                                      (dollar amounts in millions)

                                              (Unaudited)


                                                  Three Months Ended

                                             March 31,              March 31,
                                                   2017                   2016
                                                   ----                   ----

    Operating Activities:

    Net income                                              $37.8                       $34.5

    Add back (deduct):

           Depreciation and
            amortization                           16.0                           16.4

    Deferred income
     taxes                                          2.3                            6.5

    Change in trade
     receivables, net                            (22.1)                          10.6

    Change in
     inventories                                 (26.4)                        (17.5)

    Change in
     accounts payable                              26.1                            3.2

    Other                                          13.9                           24.9
                                                   ----                           ----

    Net cash provided
     by operating
     activities                                    47.6                           78.6


    Investing Activities:

    Capital
     expenditures                                 (4.5)                         (3.6)

    Acquisition
     payments                                         -                        (50.3)

        Other                                         -                         (8.2)
                                                    ---                          ----

    Net cash used in
     investing
     activities                                   (4.5)                        (62.1)


    Financing Activities:

    Debt repayments,
     net                                         (48.2)                        (46.3)

    Equity activity,
     net                                          (6.5)                         (0.5)

    Other                                           4.0                           12.0
                                                    ---                           ----

    Net cash used in
     financing
     activities                                  (50.7)                        (34.8)


    Effect of
     exchange rate
     changes on cash
     and cash
     equivalents                                    0.5                            5.8
                                                    ---                            ---


    Net change in
     cash and cash
     equivalents                                  (7.1)                        (12.5)

    Cash and cash
     equivalents at
     the beginning of
     the period                                   110.1                          160.3
                                                  -----

    Cash and cash
     equivalents at
     the end of the
     period                                                $103.0                      $147.8
                                                           ======                      ======

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

This earnings release includes certain non-GAAP financial measures. These financial measures include organic sales growth, gross profit, financial leverage and free cash flow. The Company believes that these non-GAAP measures are useful to investors in order to provide a better understanding of the Company's sales trends, capital structure position and liquidity on a comparable basis. Management does not use these non-GAAP financial measures for any purpose other than the reasons stated above.


                  WESCO INTERNATIONAL, INC.


        RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

    (dollar amounts in millions, except organic sales data)

                         (Unaudited)


                                          Three Months Ended

    Organic Sales Growth:                      March 31,
                                                        2017
                                                        ----


        Change in net sales                           (0.2)%

        Impact from acquisitions                        0.9%

        Impact from foreign exchange
         rates                                          0.6%

        Impact from number of workdays                    -%
                                                         ---

            Organic sales growth                      (1.7)%
                                                       =====


    Note: Organic sales growth is an additional financial measure
     provided to illustrate the Company's sales trends. Organic sales
     growth is calculated by deducting the percentage impact from
     acquisitions in the first year of ownership, foreign exchange
     rates and number of workdays from the overall percentage change
     in consolidated net sales.


                                                                                                                       Three Months Ended

    Gross Profit:                                                                                             March 31,                  March 31,
                                                                                                                    2017                        2016
                                                                                                                    ----                        ----


    Net sales                                                                                                                $1,772.6                                   $1,776.0

    Cost of goods sold (excluding depreciation

    and amortization)                                                                                            1,422.6                     1,420.8
                                                                                                                 -------                     -------

              Gross profit                                                                                                     $350.0                                     $355.2
                                                                                                                               ======                                     ======

              Gross margin                                                                                                    19.7%                                     20.0%


    Note: Gross profit, which is a commonly used financial measure within the distribution industry, is an additional financial measure provided by the Company. Gross profit is
     calculated by deducting cost of goods sold, excluding depreciation and amortization, from net sales. Gross margin is calculated by dividing gross profit by net sales.


                                          WESCO INTERNATIONAL, INC.


                                RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

                                         (dollar amounts in millions)

                                                 (Unaudited)


                                                         Twelve Months Ended

    Financial Leverage:                        March 31,              December 31,
                                                    2017                       2016
                                                    ----                       ----


    Income from operations                                   $329.6                                           $332.0

    Depreciation and
     amortization                                   66.4                                 66.9
                                                    ----                                 ----

    EBITDA                                                   $396.0                                           $398.9
                                                             ======                                           ======


                                               March 31,              December 31,
                                                    2017                       2016
                                                    ----                       ----

    Current debt and short-
     term borrowings                                          $29.3                                            $22.1

    Long-term debt                               1,309.8                              1,363.1

    Debt discount and
     deferred financing
     fees(1)                                        16.3                                 17.3


    Total debt                                             $1,355.4                                         $1,402.5
                                                           ========                                         ========


    Financial leverage ratio                                  3.4                                              3.5
                                                              ===                                              ===


    (1)    Long-term debt is presented in the condensed consolidated balance sheets net of deferred financing
     fees and debt discount.

    Note: Financial leverage is a financial measure provided by the Company to illustrate its capital structure
     position. Financial leverage ratio is calculated by dividing total debt, including debt discount and
     deferred financing fees, by EBITDA. EBITDA is defined as the trailing twelve months earnings before
     interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.


                                           Three Months Ended

    Free Cash Flow:                       March 31,               March 31,
                                                2017                     2016
                                                ----                     ----


    Cash flow
     provided by
     operations                                          $47.6                                   $78.6

    Less: Capital expenditures                         (4.5)                                  (3.6)
                                                                                               ----

    Free cash flow                                       $43.1                                   $75.0
                                                         =====                                   =====

    Percentage of net income                            114%                                   217%


    Note: Free cash flow is as an additional liquidity measure provided by the Company. Capital expenditures are
     deducted from operating cash flow to determine free cash flow. Free cash flow is available to fund other
     investing and financing activities.

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