COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Worthington Industries, Inc. (NYSE: WOR) today reported net sales of $626.4 million, and net earnings of $33.1 million, or $0.42 per share, for the fiscal 2010 fourth quarter ended May 31, 2010. In last year’s fourth quarter, the Company reported a net loss of $13.7 million, or $0.17 per share. The prior year fourth quarter included a $6.3 million pre-tax inventory write-down and $6.0 million of pre-tax restructuring charges, for a combined negative impact of $0.15 per share.

“I am very pleased with our strong fourth quarter results” .For the fiscal year ended May 31, 2010, the Company posted net earnings of $45.2 million, or $0.57 per share, driven by the strong fourth quarter. Sales were down 26% from the prior year to $1,943.0 million, primarily due to the reduction in sales volumes in the Metal Framing segment and a 24% decrease in the average market price of steel. Fiscal 2010 earnings were reduced by goodwill impairment, restructuring and certain legal charges totaling $31.0 million or $0.39 per share. The prior year net loss of $108.2 million was impacted by inventory write-downs, goodwill impairment, restructuring charges, and a gain on the sale of the Aegis joint venture, reducing net earnings by $175.7 million or $2.23 per share.

The results for the three- and twelve-month periods ended May 31, 2010 were as follows:

(U.S. dollars in millions, except per share data) 4Q 2010 3Q 2010 4Q 2009 12M 2010 12M 2009 Net sales $626.4 $451.1 $471.6 $1,943.0 $2,631.3 Operating income (loss) 42.6 (35.3) (19.2) 22.0 (175.3) Equity income 18.8 14.6 8.7 64.6 48.6 Net earnings (loss) 33.1 (17.7) (13.7) 45.2 (108.2) Earnings (loss) per share $0.42 $(0.22) $(0.17) $0.57 $(1.37)

“I am very pleased with our strong fourth quarter results,” said John P. McConnell, Chairman and CEO. “The recession has made the past two years very difficult, but I believe we are a better company today because of the way we have responded. I am proud of all Worthington employees for their hard work and commitment in putting us on a much improved track. While our sales were down compared to last year, we improved our bottom line. We are growing the profit potential of existing businesses, investing in higher value-added businesses, and working to reduce our earnings volatility.

“Steel Processing continues to show marked improvement in its operations, despite lower but improving volumes. Pressure Cylinders had a very strong quarter in North America across many of its product lines with some modest improvements showing up in results from the European operations. Metal Worthington Industries Framing has worked diligently to remain cash neutral while market conditions continue to deteriorate. While we expect additional operating improvements to match existing market conditions in our traditional markets for Metal Framing, we have separately launched efforts to identify opportunities in new markets abroad.”

Quarterly Results – Consolidated

Net sales for the fourth quarter ended May 31, 2010, were $626.4 million, a 33% increase from the comparable quarter last year, primarily due to increased volumes in our Steel Processing and Pressure Cylinders segments.

Gross margin for the current quarter was $105.8 million, or 17% of net sales. This represents a $68.5 million increase over the prior year quarter’s gross margin of $37.3 million, or 8% of net sales. An improved spread, primarily in Steel Processing, between the average selling price and the cost of steel, improved the margin by $56.7 million. While volumes were up in both Steel Processing and Pressure Cylinders, the favorable impact was partially offset by volume declines in Metal Framing and the other construction related segments.

SG&A expenses were $12.1 million higher than the prior year quarter due to higher profit sharing and bonus expenses from improved earnings, but declined from 10.7% to 10.0% of net sales.

Operating income for the quarter was $42.6 million, driven by the increase in volume and improved spreads. This compares to the prior year quarter loss of $19.2 million, which included $6.0 million of pre-tax restructuring charges, and a $6.3 million pre-tax inventory write-down.

Interest expense was $3.1 million in the quarter, down from $4.3 million in the prior year due to lower average borrowings and interest rates.

Equity in net income from unconsolidated joint ventures was $18.8 million, an increase of $10.0 million from the comparable year-ago quarter, on sales of $203.7 million. Worthington Armstrong Venture (WAVE) contributed $15.1 million of earnings, a 42% increase from last year's fourth quarter, and dividends of $13.0 million. Four other joint ventures, TWB Company, Worthington Specialty Processing, Serviacero Worthington and Samuel Steel Pickling were all profitable and showed a combined improvement of $5.7 million over the prior year quarter.

For the quarter, income tax expense was $22.8 million compared to the income tax benefit of $2.9 million a year ago. The current quarter reflects an estimated effective income tax rate of 40.8%, excluding earnings from the non-controlling interest. The effective income tax rate for the year is 37.1%. The rates include a $3.0 million valuation allowance that was recorded in the fourth quarter related to certain deferred tax assets of Metal Framing.

Balance Sheet

At quarter end, total debt was $250.2 million, up $29.8 million from the previous quarter. In April of the current quarter, the Company completed the public offering of $150.0 million in senior notes due 2020 at a coupon rate of 6.5%. The Company also utilized $45.0 million of its $100.0 million trade accounts receivable securitization facility. No amount was drawn on the $435.0 million revolving credit facility at the end of the current quarter. The Company remains well within compliance on its debt covenants.

Cash used by operating activities for the quarter was $9.6 million, compared to cash provided by operations of $50.6 million in the year-ago quarter and cash used by operating activities of $14.1 million from the third quarter. As volumes have grown in the current year, so has the need for additional working capital. Also during the current quarter, the Company spent $7.7 million on capital expenditures, primarily on upgrades to Pressure Cylinders’ production lines.

Quarterly Segment Results

Steel Processing’s net sales of $349.6 million were up 95%, or $170.5 million over the prior year quarter. Higher volumes increased sales by $146.9 million while higher average selling prices increased sales by $23.6 million. Sales volumes grew 74% over the prior year quarter and 26% versus the third quarter due to increased sales to the automotive, agricultural, and construction markets and the contribution from the Gibraltar strip steel assets acquired in February 2010.

Steel Processing’s mix of direct versus toll tons processed was 58% to 42% this quarter, the same as the year ago quarter. Operating income improved $50.4 million to $28.3 million, from the prior year’s operating loss of $22.1 million. Higher spreads and volumes offset by increased variable manufacturing expenses drove the increase. Margins continue to benefit from better inventory management and operating improvements implemented as part of the Company’s ongoing Transformation plan. SG&A expenses were higher due to increased profit sharing and bonus expenses and a modest increase in bad debt expense.

Pressure Cylinders’ net sales of $144.8 million were up 12% from the year ago quarter. A 20% increase in net sales in the North American operations was partially offset by an 18% decrease in European operations. The North American operations experienced volume increases in refrigerant cylinders and propane heating tanks. In addition, the acquisitions of Piper and SCI contributed sales of $13.4 million. Industrial gas cylinder volumes in Europe were 11% below the year ago quarter but significantly higher than levels earlier this fiscal year. Air brake tank volumes in the Czech Republic facility improved 85% over the very depressed year ago levels on improving market conditions. Operating income increased 73% from the prior year quarter to $16.0 million, aided by solid North American operations, and slowly improving European operations.

Metal Framing’s net sales of $87.1 million were down 21%, or $23.5 million, from the prior year quarter and volumes were down 25%. This segment has been negatively impacted by a dramatically weakened commercial construction market and pricing pressures. Operating income was $0.4 million, $3.9 million better than the prior year’s loss, due to the impact of improved margins, lower SG&A expense, and lower restructuring charges.

Outlook

“We began to recover from the global recession this fiscal year, rebounding from the only year with an earnings loss in Company history in fiscal year 2009,” McConnell stated. “We have optimized our existing businesses and captured growth opportunities that fit our strategy. As we begin our new fiscal year, we will stay focused on growing the business both organically and through new acquisitions. Our operational efficiency improvement, consolidated sourcing and customer service will continue to be the drivers that lead us to sustainable earnings. We believe the economic environment in which we operate will continue to improve, though not linearly, over the next 24 months.”

Fiscal 2010 Highlights/Activities

•June 1, 2009, purchased the assets related to the business of Piper Metal Forming Corporation, U.S. Respiratory, Inc. and Pacific Cylinders, Inc, for $9.7 million. These assets and expenses have been included in the Pressure Cylinders business segment. •July 13, 2009, the Serviacero Worthington joint venture opened its greenfield steel processing facility near Monterrey, Mexico. The 65,000 square foot facility has rail access and currently operates a slitting and packaging line.

•August 12, 2009, the Metal Framing segment announced the formation of a joint venture with ClarkWestern Building Systems to co-develop a new drywall framing product. ProSTUDTM is lightweight and features a number of technological advances to enhance rigidity. •September 3, 2009, purchased California-based Structural Composites Industries, LLC (SCI). SCI produces lightweight, aluminum-lined, composite-wrapped high pressure cylinders which add to Pressure Cylinders’ growing product line.

•September 30, 2009, announced the consolidation, within the Metal Framing segment, of the Joliet, Ill. roll forming operations into the Hammond, Ind. facility.

•October 5, 2009, the Metal Framing segment announced a significant building code endorsement for metal lath and lath trim products.

•November 2, 2009, the Metal Framing segment announced the formation of a strategic alliance with Bailey Metal Products Limited (Bailey) that included the sale of the Metal Framing operations in Canada to Bailey. The agreement provides for Bailey to be the exclusive distributor of Metal Framing’s proprietary and vinyl products in Canada. Bailey has licensed its paper-faced metal corner bead product to Metal Framing to manufacture and sell in most of the United States.

•February 1, 2010, acquired the steel processing assets of Gibraltar Strip Steel. The acquisition expands the capabilities of the existing cold-rolled strip business and the ability to service the needs of new and existing customers.

•March 2010, the greenfield WAVE manufacturing facility near Pune, India began shipping suspended ceiling grid product. This is the eighth manufacturing location for the joint venture between Worthington and Armstrong.

•April 8, 2010, raised $150 million aggregate principal amount of senior notes due 2020. The notes bear interest at a rate of 6.50%. The net proceeds from the offering were used to repay a portion of the outstanding borrowings under the revolving credit facility and amounts outstanding under the revolving trade accounts receivable securitization facility.

Other

Dividend Declared

On May 25, 2010, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.10 per share payable on June 29, 2010, to shareholders of record June 15, 2010. Conference Call

Worthington will review fourth quarter results during its quarterly conference call on July 1, 2010, at 1:30 p.m., Eastern Daylight Saving Time. Details regarding the conference call can be found on the Company web site at www.WorthingtonIndustries.com.

Corporate Profile

Worthington Industries is a leading diversified metals manufacturing company. The Columbus, Ohio based company is North America’s premier value-added steel processor and a leader in manufactured pressure cylinders products such as propane, oxygen and helium tanks, hand torches, camping cylinders, and scuba tanks; light gauge steel framing for commercial and residential construction; framing systems and stairs for mid-rise buildings; metal ceiling grid systems; current and past model automotive service stampings; steel pallets and racks; and laser welded blanks. Worthington employs approximately 6,400 people and operates 64 facilities in 11 countries.

Founded in 1955, the Company operates under a long-standing corporate philosophy rooted in the golden rule. Earning money for its shareholders is the first corporate goal. This philosophy serves as an unwavering commitment to the customer, supplier, and shareholder, and it serves as the Company’s foundation for one of the strongest employee-employer partnerships in American industry.