Document
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
___________________________________________
FORM 10-Q
___________________________________________
(Mark One)
x
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2019
or
¨
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from                      to                     
Commission File Number: 000-20278
___________________________________________
ENCORE WIRE CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
___________________________________________
Delaware
 
75-2274963
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 
 
 
1329 Millwood Road
McKinney, Texas
 
75069
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (972) 562-9473
N/A
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Trading Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $.01 per share
WIRE
The NASDAQ Global Select Market
_____________________
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.     Yes  x    No  ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).                                 Yes  x    No  ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
x
Accelerated filer
¨
 
 
 
 
Non-accelerated filer
¨  
Smaller reporting company
¨
 
 
 
 
 
 
Emerging growth company
o
 
 
 
 
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).       Yes  ¨    No  x
Number of shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01, outstanding as of May 1, 2019: 20,894,148


ENCORE WIRE CORPORATION
FORM 10-Q
FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2019

Table of Contents

 
Page No.
 
 
 

Table of Contents

PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements.
Encore Wire Corporation
Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
 
March 31, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
 
(Unaudited)
 
(See Note)
Assets
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
177,974

 
$
178,405

Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $2,031 and $2,030
231,470

 
235,353

Inventories, net
101,592

 
102,367

Income tax receivable
—

 
1,389

Prepaid expenses and other
1,019

 
1,723

Total current assets
512,055

 
519,237

 
 
 
 
Property, plant and equipment - at cost:
 
 
 
Land and land improvements
51,169

 
51,169

Construction-in-progress
27,409

 
24,623

Buildings and improvements
152,258

 
151,758

Machinery and equipment
320,153

 
314,175

Furniture and fixtures
9,920

 
9,687

Total property, plant and equipment
560,909

 
551,412

Accumulated depreciation
(256,791
)
 
(252,754
)
Property, plant and equipment - net
304,118

 
298,658

 
 
 
 
Other assets
790

 
165

Total assets
$
816,963

 
$
818,060

 
 
 
 
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
 
 
 
Current liabilities:
 
 
 
Trade accounts payable
$
30,673

 
$
36,706

Accrued liabilities
24,512

 
36,866

Income taxes payable
2,558

 
—

Total current liabilities
57,743

 
73,572

 
 
 
 
Deferred income taxes and other
24,580

 
24,032

Commitments and contingencies


 


 
 
 
 
Stockholders’ equity:
 
 
 
Preferred stock, $.01 par value:
 
 
 
Authorized shares – 2,000,000; none issued
—

 
—

Common stock, $.01 par value:
 
 
 
Authorized shares – 40,000,000;
 
 
 
Issued shares – 26,921,603 and 26,906,603
269

 
269

Additional paid-in capital
62,013

 
60,822

Treasury stock, at cost – 6,027,455 and 6,027,455 shares
(91,056
)
 
(91,056
)
Retained earnings
763,414

 
750,421

Total stockholders’ equity
734,640

 
720,456

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$
816,963

 
$
818,060

Note:    The balance sheet at December 31, 2018, as presented, is derived from the audited financial statements at that date.
See accompanying notes.

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Encore Wire Corporation
Statements of Income
(In thousands, except per share data)
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
 
Net sales
$
314,707

 
$
291,431

Cost of goods sold
273,381

 
253,937

Gross profit
41,326

 
37,494

 
 
 
 
Selling, general, and administrative expenses
24,999

 
22,887

Operating income
16,327

 
14,607

 
 
 
 
Net interest and other income
1,079

 
343

Income before income taxes
17,406

 
14,950

 
 
 
 
Provision for income taxes
3,995

 
3,597

Net income
$
13,411

 
$
11,353

Earnings per common and common equivalent share – basic
$
0.64

 
$
0.54

Earnings per common and common equivalent share – diluted
$
0.64

 
$
0.54

Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding – basic
20,884

 
20,835

Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding – diluted
20,983

 
20,911

Cash dividends declared per share
$
0.02

 
$
0.02

See accompanying notes.


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Encore Wire Corporation
Stockholders' Equity
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2019 and 2018
(In thousands, except per share data)

 
Common Stock
Additional
Paid-In
Capital
Treasury Stock
Retained
Earnings
 
 
Shares
Amount
Shares
Amount
Total
Balance at December 31, 2017
26,859

$
269

$
58,192

6,027

$
(91,056
)
$
673,940

$
641,345

Net income
—

—

—

—

—

11,353

11,353

Exercise of stock options
13

—

306

—

—

—

306

Stock-based compensation
—

—

649

—

—

—

649

Dividend declared—$0.02 per share
—

—

—

—

—

(417
)
(417
)
Balance at March 31, 2018
26,872

$
269

$
59,147

6,027

$
(91,056
)
$
684,876

$
653,236


 
Common Stock
Additional
Paid-In
Capital
Treasury Stock
Retained
Earnings
 
 
Shares
Amount
Shares
Amount
Total
Balance at December 31, 2018
26,907

$
269

$
60,822

6,027

$
(91,056
)
$
750,421

$
720,456

Net income
—

—

—

—

—

13,411

13,411

Exercise of stock options
15

—

431

—

—

—

431

Stock-based compensation
—

—

760

—

—

—

760

Dividend declared—$0.02 per share
—

—

—

—

—

(418
)
(418
)
Balance at March 31, 2019
26,922

$
269

$
62,013

6,027

$
(91,056
)
$
763,414

$
734,640


See accompanying notes.

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Encore Wire Corporation
Statements of Cash Flow
(In thousands)
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
 
Operating Activities:
 
 
 
Net income
$
13,411

 
$
11,353

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
provided by (used in) operating activities:
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
4,344

 
4,109

Deferred income taxes
48

 
(311
)
Stock-based compensation attributable to equity awards
760

 
649

Other
(49
)
 
(7
)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts receivable
3,883

 
(19,581
)
Inventories
775

 
(2,133
)
Other assets
724

 
609

Trade accounts payable and accrued liabilities
(16,437
)
 
(6,558
)
Current income taxes receivable / payable
3,947

 
3,909

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
11,406

 
(7,961
)
 
 
 
 
Investing Activities:
 
 
 
Purchases of property, plant and equipment
(11,872
)
 
(7,463
)
Proceeds from sale of assets
22

 
—

Net cash used in investing activities
(11,850
)
 
(7,463
)
 
 
 
 
Financing Activities:
 
 
 
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net
431

 
306

Dividends paid
(418
)
 
(417
)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
13

 
(111
)
 
 
 
 
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
(431
)
 
(15,535
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
178,405

 
123,362

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
177,974

 
$
107,827

See accompanying notes.


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ENCORE WIRE CORPORATION
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
March 31, 2019
NOTE 1 – SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Presentation
The unaudited financial statements of Encore Wire Corporation (the “Company”) have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim information and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete annual financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation, have been included. Results of operations for interim periods presented do not necessarily indicate the results that may be expected for the entire year. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.
Revenue Recognition
The majority of our revenue is derived by fulfilling customer orders for the purchase of our products, which include electrical building wire and cable. We recognize revenue at the point in time that control of the ordered products is transferred to the customer, which is typically upon shipment to the customer from our manufacturing facilities and based on agreed upon shipping terms on the related purchase order. Amounts billed and due from our customers are classified as accounts receivables on the balance sheet and require payment on a short-term basis through standard payment terms.
Revenue is measured as the amount of consideration we expect to receive in exchange for fulfilling product orders. The amount of consideration we expect to receive and revenue we recognize includes estimates for trade payment discounts and customer rebates which are estimated using historical experience and other relevant factors and is recorded within the same period that the revenue is recognized. We review and update these estimates regularly and the impact of any adjustments are recognized in the period the adjustments are identified. The adjustments resulting from updated estimates of trade payment discounts and customer rebates were not material.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
The Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) is the sole source of authoritative U.S. GAAP other than Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") issued rules and regulations that apply only to SEC registrants. The FASB issues an Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) to communicate changes to the codification. The Company considers the applicability and impact of all ASUs. The following are those ASUs that are relevant to the Company.
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC 606),” which replaces numerous requirements in U.S. GAAP, including industry-specific requirements, and provides companies with a single revenue recognition model for recognizing revenue from contracts with customers. On January 1, 2018, we adopted the requirements of ASC 606 and all the related amendments to all of our contracts using the modified retrospective method. No adjustment was required to the opening balance of retained earnings at the date of initial application. The comparative information has also not been restated and continues to be reported under the accounting standards in effect for those periods. Additional disclosures required by ASC 606 are presented under Revenue Recognition above.
The Company has a minimal number of leases, all of which are classified as operating. As a result of the adoption of ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842),” on January 1, 2019, the Company recorded $0.7 million of right of use assets which are included in other non-current assets in the accompanying balance sheet, $0.2 million of current lease liabilities which are included in accounts payable and $0.5 million of long-term lease liabilities included in other non-current liabilities.  We will evaluate any future lease commitments in conformance with ASU No. 2016-02.

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NOTE 2 – INVENTORIES
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost, determined by the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method, or market.
Inventories consist of the following:
In Thousands
March 31, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
 
 
 
 
Raw materials
$
22,937

 
$
28,455

Work-in-process
27,937

 
30,529

Finished goods
99,825

 
88,708

Total Inventory at FIFO cost
150,699

 
147,692

Adjust to LIFO cost
(49,107
)
 
(45,325
)
Lower of cost or market adjustment
—

 
—

Inventory, net
$
101,592

 
$
102,367

LIFO pools are established at the end of each fiscal year. During the first three quarters of every year, LIFO calculations are based on the inventory levels and costs at that time. Accordingly, interim LIFO balances will fluctuate depending on those inventory levels and costs.
In the first quarter of 2019, LIFO adjustments were recorded, increasing cost of sales by $3.8 million, versus LIFO adjustments increasing cost of sales by $2.0 million in the first quarter of 2018.
NOTE 3 – ACCRUED LIABILITIES
Accrued liabilities consist of the following:
In Thousands
March 31, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
 
 
 
 
Sales rebates payable
$
11,965

 
$
18,565

Property taxes payable
998

 
3,962

Accrued salaries
4,953

 
8,790

Other accrued liabilities
6,596

 
5,549

Total accrued liabilities
$
24,512

 
$
36,866


NOTE 4 – INCOME TAXES
Income taxes were accrued at an effective rate of 23.0% in the first quarter of 2019 versus 24.1% in the first quarter of 2018, consistent with the Company’s estimated liabilities. In 2019, the differences between the provisions for income taxes and the income taxes computed using the federal income tax statutory rate are due primarily to the incremental taxes accrued for state and local taxes.
NOTE 5 – EARNINGS PER SHARE
Earnings per common and common equivalent share are computed using the weighted average number of shares of common stock and common stock equivalents outstanding during each period. If dilutive, the effect of stock options, treated as common stock equivalents, is calculated using the treasury stock method.
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:

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Three Months Ended March 31,
In Thousands
2019
 
2018
 
 
 
 
Numerator:
 
 
 
Net income
$
13,411

 
$
11,353

 
 
 
 
Denominator:
 
 
 
Denominator for basic earnings per share – weighted average shares
20,884

 
20,835

 
 
 
 
Effect of dilutive securities:
 
 
 
Employee stock options
79

 
76

Restricted stock grants
20

 
—

 
 
 
 
Denominator for diluted earnings per share – weighted average shares
20,983

 
20,911

The weighted average of employee stock options excluded from the determination of diluted earnings per common and common equivalent share for the first quarter was 117,500 in 2019 and 146,000 in 2018. Such options were anti-dilutive for their respective periods.
NOTE 6 – DEBT
The Company is party to a Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with two banks, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent and letter of credit issuer, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as syndication agent. The Credit Agreement, as amended, extends through October 1, 2021 and provides for maximum borrowings of $150.0 million. At our request, and subject to certain conditions, the commitments under the Credit Agreement may be increased by a maximum of up to $100.0 million as long as existing or new lenders agree to provide such additional commitments. Borrowings under the line of credit bear interest, at the Company’s option, at either (1) LIBOR plus a margin that varies from 0.875% to 1.75% depending upon the Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement), or (2) the base rate (which is the highest of the federal funds rate plus 0.5%, the prime rate, or LIBOR plus 1.0%) plus 0% to 0.25% (depending upon the Leverage Ratio). A commitment fee ranging from 0.15% to 0.30% (depending upon the Leverage Ratio) is payable on the unused line of credit. At March 31, 2019, there were no borrowings outstanding under the Credit Agreement, and letters of credit outstanding in the amount of $1.3 million left $148.7 million of credit available under the Credit Agreement. Obligations under the Credit Agreement are the only contractual borrowing obligations or commercial borrowing commitments of the Company.
Obligations under the Credit Agreement are unsecured and contain customary covenants and events of default. The Company was in compliance with the covenants as of March 31, 2019.
NOTE 7 – STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
On November 10, 2006, the Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program authorizing the Company to repurchase up to an authorized number of shares of its common stock on the open market or through privately negotiated transactions at prices determined by the President of the Company during the term of the program. The Company’s Board of Directors has authorized several increases and annual extensions of this stock repurchase program, and, as of March 31, 2019, 1,132,946 shares remained authorized for repurchase through March 31, 2020. The Company did not repurchase any shares of its stock in the three months ended March 31, 2019 or 2018.

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NOTE 8 - CONTINGENCIES

There are no material pending proceedings to which the Company is a party or to which any of its property is subject. However, the Company is from time to time involved in litigation, certain other claims and arbitration matters arising in the ordinary course of its business. The Company accrues for a liability when it is both probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Significant judgment is required in both the determination of the probability of a loss and the determination as to whether a loss is reasonably estimable. Any such accruals are reviewed at least quarterly and adjusted to reflect the effects of negotiations, settlements, rulings, advice of legal counsel and technical experts and other information and events pertaining to a particular matter. To the extent there is a reasonable possibility (within the meaning of ASC 450 (Contingencies)) that probable losses could exceed amounts already accrued, if any, and the additional loss or range of loss is able to be estimated, management discloses the additional loss or range of loss.

For matters where the Company has evaluated that a loss is not probable, but is reasonably possible, the Company will disclose an estimate of the possible loss or range of loss or make a statement that such an estimate cannot be made. In some instances, for reasonably possible losses, the Company cannot estimate the possible loss or range of loss. The nature and progression of litigation can make it difficult to predict the impact a particular lawsuit will have on the Company. There are many reasons that the Company cannot make these assessments, including, among others, one or more of the following: the early stages of a proceeding; damages sought that are unspecified, unsupportable, unexplained or uncertain; discovery is incomplete; the complexity of the facts that are in dispute; the difficulty of assessing novel claims; the parties not having engaged in any meaningful settlement discussions; the possibility that other parties may share in any ultimate liability; and/or the often slow pace of litigation.

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Encore believes it is a low-cost manufacturer of electrical building wire and cable. The Company is a significant supplier of building wire for interior electrical wiring in commercial and industrial buildings, homes, apartments, and manufactured housing.
The Company’s operating results in any given period are driven by several key factors, including the volume of product produced and shipped, the cost of copper and other raw materials, the competitive pricing environment in the wire industry and the resulting influence on gross margin and the efficiency with which the Company’s plants operate during the period, among others. Price competition for electrical wire and cable is intense, and the Company sells its products in accordance with prevailing market prices. Copper, a commodity product, is the principal raw material used by the Company in manufacturing its products. Copper accounted for approximately 73.0%, 69.7%, and 65.2% of the Company’s cost of goods sold during fiscal 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The price of copper fluctuates depending on general economic conditions and in relation to supply and demand and other factors, which causes monthly variations in the cost of the Company’s purchased copper. Additionally, the SEC allows shares of certain physically backed copper exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) to be listed and publicly traded. Such funds and other copper ETFs like them hold copper cathode as collateral against their shares. The acquisition of copper cathode by copper ETFs may materially decrease or interrupt the availability of copper for immediate delivery in the United States, which could materially increase the Company’s cost of copper. In addition to rising copper prices and potential supply shortages, we believe that ETFs and similar copper-backed derivative products could lead to increased price volatility for copper. The Company cannot predict copper prices or the effect of fluctuations in the cost of copper on the Company’s future operating results. Wire prices can, and frequently do, change on a daily basis. This competitive pricing market for wire does not always mirror changes in copper prices, making margins highly volatile. With the volatility of both raw material prices and wire prices in the Company’s end market, hedging raw materials can be risky. Historically, the Company has not engaged in hedging strategies for raw material purchases. The tables below highlight the range of closing prices of copper on a per pound basis on the Comex exchange for the periods shown.

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COMEX COPPER CLOSING PRICE 2019

January
2019
 
February
2019
 
March
2019
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2019
High
$
2.79

 
$
2.96

 
$
2.94

 
$
2.96

Low
2.57

 
2.77

 
2.84

 
2.57

Average
2.68

 
2.86

 
2.90

 
2.81

COMEX COPPER CLOSING PRICE 2018

January
2018
 
February
2018
 
March
2018
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
High
$
3.26

 
$
3.24

 
$
3.14

 
$
3.26

Low
3.09

 
3.02

 
2.96

 
2.96

Average
3.19

 
3.17

 
3.07

 
3.14

The following discussion and analysis relate to factors that have affected the operating results of the Company for the quarters ended March 31, 2019 and 2018. Reference should also be made to the audited financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.
Results of Operations
Quarter Ended March 31, 2019 Compared to Quarter Ended March 31, 2018
Net sales were $314.7 million in the first quarter of 2019 compared to $291.4 million in the first quarter of 2018. This 8.0% increase in net sales dollars is primarily the result of a 13.5% increase in copper wire unit volume shipped, offset somewhat by a 5.9% decrease in the average selling price of copper wire. Unit volume is measured in pounds of copper contained in the wire shipped during the period. The 13.5% increase in unit volume shipped was primarily due to particularly rough winter weather that slowed construction and impacted volumes in the first quarter of 2018, particularly in January. Fluctuations in sales prices are primarily a result of changing copper and other raw material prices and product price competition. The average cost per pound of raw copper purchased decreased 9.6% in the first quarter of 2019 compared to the first quarter of 2018 and was the principal driver of the decreased average sales price of copper wire.
Cost of goods sold was $273.4 million, or 86.9% of net sales, in the first quarter of 2019, compared to $253.9 million, or 87.1% of net sales, in the first quarter of 2018. Gross profit increased to $41.3 million, or 13.1% of net sales, in the first quarter of 2019 from $37.5 million, or 12.9% of net sales, in the first quarter of 2018.
The increase in gross profit margin percentage was driven principally by the increase of the copper wire spread. The spread between the average price paid for a pound of raw copper and the average sales price for a pound of copper contained in finished wire increased 2.2% in the first quarter of 2019 versus the first quarter of 2018. The spread increased as a result of the average sales price per pound of copper sold decreasing 5.9% while the per pound cost of raw copper purchased decreased 9.6%. The percentage change on sales is on a higher nominal dollar amount than on purchases and, therefore, spreads change on a nominal dollar basis. The margin changes were due primarily to the competitive pricing environment in the industry. In aluminum wire, which represented 7.8% of our net sales in the first quarter of 2019, we continue to enforce our rights under the U.S. trade remedy laws.  On April 8, 2019, the U.S. Commerce Department imposed preliminary countervailing duties on imports of aluminum wire from China at rates ranging from 11.57 to 164.16 percent.  The final results of the U.S. Government’s ongoing antidumping and countervailing duty investigations are not expected until the end of the year.
Total raw materials cost, including the LIFO adjustment, decreased to 75.0% of net sales in the first quarter of 2019, from 76.5% of net sales in the first quarter of 2018. Increased overhead costs added to the increase in total cost of sales dollars and increased as a percent of net sales. Overheads contain some fixed and semi-fixed components which do not fluctuate as much as sales dollars fluctuate.
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost, using the last-in, first out (LIFO) method, or market. The Company maintains two inventory pools for LIFO purposes. As permitted by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, the Company maintains its inventory costs and cost of goods sold on a first-in, first-out (FIFO) basis and makes a monthly adjustment to adjust total inventory and cost of goods sold from FIFO to LIFO. The Company applies the lower of cost or market (LCM) test by comparing the LIFO cost of its raw materials, work-in-process and finished goods inventories to estimated market values, which are based primarily upon the most recent quoted market price of copper and other material prices as of the end of each reporting period. The Company performs a lower of cost or market calculation quarterly. As of March 31, 2019, no LCM adjustment was required. However,

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decreases in copper and other material prices could necessitate establishing an LCM reserve in future periods. Additionally, future reductions in the quantity of inventory on hand could cause copper or other raw materials that are carried in inventory at costs different from the cost of copper and other raw materials in the period in which the reduction occurs to be included in costs of goods sold for that period at the different price.
Due primarily to increases in copper costs and price and volume movements of other materials, a LIFO adjustment was recorded, increasing cost of sales by $3.8 million during the first quarter of 2019. During the first quarter of 2018, a LIFO adjustment was recorded, increasing cost of sales by $2.0 million.
Selling expenses, consisting of commissions and freight, for the first quarter of 2019 were $16.4 million, or 5.2% of net sales, compared to $15.6 million, or 5.3% of net sales, in the first quarter of 2018. Commissions paid to independent manufacturers’ representatives are paid as a relatively stable percentage of sales dollars and, therefore, exhibited little change in percentage terms. Freight costs decreased to 2.7% of net sales in the first quarter of 2019 from 2.9% of net sales in the first quarter of 2018. General and administrative (“G&A”) expenses for the first quarter of 2019 were $8.6 million, or 2.7% of net sales, compared to $7.3 million, or 2.5% of net sales, in the first quarter of 2018. The G&A increase was driven primarily by increased stock compensation expense, driven primarily by our strong stock price performance driving the mark to market accounting on stock appreciation rights. The net stock compensation expense increased $800,000 in the first quarter of 2019 versus the first quarter of 2018. The Company did not record any bad debt expense during the first quarters of 2019 or 2018.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company maintains a substantial inventory of finished products to satisfy customers’ delivery requirements promptly. As is customary in the building wire industry, the Company provides payment terms to most of its customers that exceed terms that it receives from its suppliers. Copper suppliers generally give very short payment terms (less than 15 days) while the Company and the building wire industry give customers much longer terms. In general, the Company’s standard payment terms result in the collection of a significant majority of net sales within approximately 75 days of the date of invoice. As a result of this timing difference, building wire companies must have sufficient cash and access to capital resources to finance their working capital needs, thereby creating a barrier to entry for companies who do not have sufficient liquidity and capital resources. The two largest components of working capital, receivables and inventory, and to a lesser extent, capital expenditures, are the primary drivers of the Company’s liquidity needs. Generally, these needs will cause the Company’s cash balance to rise and fall inversely to the receivables and inventory balances. The Company’s receivables and inventories will rise and fall in concert with several factors, most notably the price of copper and other raw materials and the level of unit sales. Capital expenditures have historically been necessary to expand and update the production capacity of the Company’s manufacturing operations. The Company has historically satisfied its liquidity and capital expenditure needs with cash generated from operations and borrowings under its various debt arrangements. The Company historically uses its revolving credit facility to manage day to day operating cash needs as required by daily fluctuations in working capital and has the facility in place should such a need arise in the future.
For more information on the Company’s revolving credit facility, see Note 6 to the Company’s financial statements included in Item 1 to this report, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Cash provided by operating activities was $11.4 million in the first three months of 2019 compared to $8.0 million of cash used in the first three months of 2018. The following changes in components of cash flow from operations were notable. The Company had net income of $13.4 million in the first three months of 2019 compared to net income of $11.4 million in the first three months of 2018. Accounts receivable decreased $3.9 million in the first three months of 2019 compared to increasing $19.6 million in the first three months of 2018, resulting in a positive change in cash flow of $23.5 million in the first three months of 2019 versus the first three months of 2018. Accounts receivable generally fluctuate in proportion to dollar sales and, to a lesser extent, are affected by the timing of when sales occur during a given quarter. With an average of 60 to 75 days of sales outstanding, quarters in which sales are more back-end loaded will have higher accounts receivable balances outstanding at quarter-end. Inventory value decreased $0.8 million in the first three months of 2019 compared to increasing $2.1 million in the first three months 2018. Trade accounts payable and accrued liabilities used cash of $16.4 million in the first three months of 2019 versus $6.6 million in the first three months of 2018, resulting in a negative change in cash flow of $9.8 million. In the first three months of 2019, changes in current and deferred taxes provided cash of $4.0 million versus a $3.6 million source of cash in the first three months of 2018. These changes in cash flow were the primary drivers of the $19.4 million increase in cash provided by operations in the first three months of 2019 compared to the first three months of 2018.
Cash used in investing activities increased to $11.9 million in the first three months of 2019 from $7.5 million in the first three months of 2018 due to higher capital expenditures on plant and equipment. Cash provided in financing activities in the first three months of 2019 consisted of $0.4 million of cash dividends paid, offset by $0.4 million of proceeds from exercised stock options. These changes in cash flow provided less than $0.1 million cash in financing activities for the first three months of 2019 versus

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$0.1 million used in the first three months of 2018. As of March 31, 2019, the balance on the Company’s revolving line of credit remained at zero. The Company’s cash balance was $178.0 million at March 31, 2019 versus $107.8 million at March 31, 2018.
During the remainder of 2019, the Company expects its capital expenditures will consist primarily of expenditures related to the purchases of manufacturing equipment throughout its facilities to update equipment and address production bottlenecks. The total capital expenditures for all of 2019 associated with these projects are currently estimated to be between $38 million and $43 million. The Company also expects its future working capital requirements to fluctuate as a result of changes in unit sales volumes and the price of copper and other raw materials. The Company believes that the current cash balance, cash flow from operations, and the financing available from its revolving credit facility will satisfy anticipated working capital and capital expenditure requirements during 2019.
Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This quarterly report on Form 10-Q contains various “forward-looking statements” (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) and information that is based on management’s belief as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to management. The words “believes”, “estimates”, “anticipates”, “plans”, “seeks”, “expects”, “intends” and similar expressions identify some of the forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Such statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those expected. Among the key factors that may have a direct bearing on the Company’s operating results are fluctuations in the economy and in the level of activity in the building and construction industry, demand for the Company’s products, the impact of price competition and fluctuations in the price of copper and other raw materials. For more information regarding “forward-looking statements,” see “Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in Part II, Item 7 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
There have been no material changes from the information provided in Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
The Company maintains controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by it in the reports it files with or submits to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in such reports is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on an evaluation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) as of the end of the period covered by this report conducted by the Company’s management, with the participation of the Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officers, the Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officers concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files with or submits to the SEC is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in such reports is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
There have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting or in other factors that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting during the period covered by this report.

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PART II – OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
For information on the Company’s legal proceedings, see Note 8 to the Company’s financial statements included in Item 1 to this report and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
There have been no material changes to the Company’s risk factors as disclosed in Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
Note 7 to the Company’s financial statements included in Item 1 to this report is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Item 6. Exhibits.
Exhibit
Number
Description
3.1
3.2
4.1
Form of certificate for Common Stock (filed as Exhibit 1 to the Company’s registration statement on Form 8-A, filed with the SEC on June 4, 1992, and incorporated herein by reference).
31.1
31.2
32.1
32.2
101.INS
XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document


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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
ENCORE WIRE CORPORATION
 
(Registrant)
 
 
Dated: May 2, 2019
/s/ DANIEL L. JONES
 
Daniel L. Jones
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
 
 
Dated: May 2, 2019
/s/ FRANK J. BILBAN
 
Frank J. Bilban
Vice President-Finance, Treasurer,
Secretary and Chief Financial Officer

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