SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
FORM 10-Q
COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 1-7521
FRIEDMAN INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED
4001 HOMESTEAD ROAD, HOUSTON, TEXAS 77028-5585(Address of principal executive office and zip code)Registrants telephone number, including area code (713) 672-9433
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, and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
At December 31, 2004, the number of shares outstanding of the issuers only class of stock was 6,975,771 shares of Common Stock.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
FRIEDMAN INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATEDCONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
ASSETS
FRIEDMAN INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATEDCONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS UNAUDITED
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS UNAUDITED
CONDENSED NOTES TO QUARTERLY REPORT UNAUDITEDNINE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004
NOTE A BASIS OF PRESENTATION
The accompanying unaudited condensed, consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. For further information, refer to the financial statements and footnotes included in the Companys annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2004.
NOTE B INVENTORIES
Inventories consist of prime coil, non-standard coil and tubular materials. Prime coil inventory consists primarily of raw materials, non-standard coil inventory consists primarily of finished goods and tubular inventory consists of both raw materials and finished goods. Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or replacement market value. Cost for prime coil inventory is determined under the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method. Cost for non-standard coil inventory is determined using the specific identification method. Cost for tubular inventory is determined using the weighted average method.
A summary of inventory values follows:
NOTE C LONG-TERM DEBT
The following summary reflects long-term debt including the current portion thereon:
The Company has a $6 million revolving credit facility which expires April 1, 2006. There were no amounts outstanding pursuant to the facility at December 31, 2004 or March 31, 2004.
NOTE D STOCK BASED COMPENSATION
The Company follows Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees (APB 25), for its employee stock options. Under APB 25, because the exercise price of the Companys employee stock options equals the market price of the underlying stock on the date of grant, no compensation expense is recognized.
The following schedule reflects the impact on net income and earnings per common share if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of Statements of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, to stock based employee compensation for each period indicated:
During the nine months ended December 31, 2004, options for 23,000 shares of the Companys common stock were exercised which resulted in proceeds of $54,730 to the Company. In the 2004 period, no options were granted.
The fair value of options was estimated using a Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions: risk-free interest rates of 3.0%, a dividend yield of 3.4%, volatility factor of the expected market price of the Companys common stock of 0.42, and a weighted average expected life of the option of four years.
NOTE E SEGMENT INFORMATION UNAUDITED
Segment amounts reflected above are stated in thousands. General corporate expenses reflect general and administrative expenses not directly associated with segment operations and consist primarily of corporate executive and accounting salaries, professional fees and services, bad debts, accrued profit sharing expense, corporate insurance expenses and office supplies. Corporate assets consists primarily of cash and cash equivalents and the cash value of officers life insurance.
NOTE F-NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement Financial Accounting Standard No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment (SFAS 123(R)). Statement 123(R) requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the income statement based on their fair values. The effective date of SFAS 123(R) is as of the beginning of the first interim or annual reporting period that begins after June 15, 2005. The Company is currently assessing the effect of SFAS 123(R) on its financial statements.
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Item 2. Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Results of Operations
Nine Months Ended December 31, 2004 Compared to Nine Months Ended December 31, 2003
During the nine months ended December 31, 2004, sales, costs of goods sold and gross profit increased $61,777,310, $53,792,054 and $7,985,256 from the respective amounts recorded during the nine months ended December 31, 2003. The increases in sales and costs of goods were related primarily to increases in the average per ton selling price and average per ton cost of goods sold of approximately 86% and 79%, respectively. Total tons shipped decreased from approximately 224,000 tons in the 2003 period to 219,000 tons in the 2004 period. Gross profit benefited from improved margins. In the 2004 period, gross profit and costs of goods as percentage of sales were approximately 9.0% and 91.0%, respectively, compared to 5.8% and 94.2%, respectively, in the 2003 period. During the 2004 period, the Company experienced a significant improvement in market conditions for its products as compared to market conditions during the 2003 period.
Coil product segment sales increased approximately $37,000,000 during the 2004 period. This increase was related primarily to an increase in the average per ton selling price. Tons shipped actually declined from approximately 121,000 tons in the 2003 period to 105,000 tons in the 2004 period. This decrease was related primarily to a decrease in tons sold by the Companys XSCP Division (XSCP). During the 2004 period, XSCP, which markets non-standard coils received from Nucor Steel Company (NSC), agreed with NSC to suspend the purchase of non-standard coils. XSCP accounted for approximately 3% of total sales during the 2004 period. The Company expects to continue XSCP operations. Currently, the Company is receiving limited shipments of non-standard coils from NSC. In the near term, management expects these limited shipments to continue. When not used by XSCP, XSCP operating assets can be used at the Companys Hickman, Arkansas coil facility (Hickman). Total coil operating profit as a percentage of coil segment sales increased from 2.3% in the 2003 period to 5.0% in the 2004 period. Improved market conditions for coil segment products produced increases in sales and margins during the 2004 period.
In the 2004 period, the Companys Lone Star coil facility (LSCF) continued to experience a lack of supply of coil products from its primary coil supplier, Lone Star Steel Company (LSS). LSCF, which accounted for approximately 8% of total sales in the 2004 period, has from time to time purchased coils from other suppliers. However, freight costs associated with these purchases diminishes the Companys competitiveness in a very competitive industry. LSCF produced a profit from operations in the 2004 period. A further reduction in supply could have an adverse effect on coil segment operations. Management confers regularly with LSS and continues to monitor this situation closely.
The Company is dependent on LSS and NSC for its supply of inventory. NSC continues to supply Hickman with steel coils in amounts that are adequate for the Companys purposes. While current levels are adequate to sustain the Companys operations, a reduction in the supply of steel coils could have an adverse effect on the Companys coil operations.
Tubular product segment sales increased approximately $24,777,000 during the 2004 period. This increase resulted from both an increase in tons shipped and from an approximate 51% increase in the average per ton selling price. Tons shipped increased from approximately 103,000 tons in the 2003 period to 114,000 tons in the 2004 period. Tubular product segment operating profits as a percentage of segment sales were approximately 11.1 % and 5.4 % in the 2004 and 2003 periods, respectively. This segment benefited from significantly improved market conditions for tubular products during the 2004 period as compared to market conditions in the 2003 period.
During the 2004 quarter, LSS, the Companys primary supplier of tubular products and coil material used in pipe manufacturing, continued to supply such products in amounts that were adequate for the Companys purposes. The Company does not currently anticipate any significant change in such supply from LSS.
During the 2004 period, general, selling and administrative costs increased $1,171,602 from the amount recorded during the 2003 period. This increase was related primarily to bonuses associated with increased earnings and an increase in legal and professional expenses.
Interest and other income increased $66,006 from the amount recorded during the 2003 period. This increase was associated primarily with interest earned on improved invested cash positions in the 2004 period.
Income taxes increased $2,579,371 from the comparable amount recorded during the 2003 period. This increase was primarily related to the increase in earnings before taxes. The effective tax rates were 37% and 34% in the 2004 period and 2003 period, respectively. In the 2004 period, the Company recorded additional taxes of $153,780 and $75,750 reflecting the net effect of state income taxes and taxes related to the surrender of life insurance policies, respectively.
Three Months Ended December 31, 2004 Compared to Three Months Ended December 31, 2003
During the quarter ended December 31, 2004, sales, costs of goods sold and gross profit increased $18,456,224, $16,249,051 and $2,207,173, from the respective amounts recorded during the quarter ended December 31, 2003. The increases in sales and costs of goods were related primarily to increases in the average per ton selling price and average per ton cost of goods sold of approximately 100% and 92%, respectively. Total tons shipped declined from approximately 72,000 tons in the 2003 quarter to approximately 63,000 tons in the 2004 quarter. Gross profit benefited from improved margins. In the 2004 quarter, gross profit and costs of goods as percentage of sales were approximately 7.3% and 92.7%, respectively, compared to 3.8% and 96.2%, respectively, in the 2003 quarter. During the 2004 quarter, the Company experienced a significant improvement in market conditions for its products as compared to market conditions during the 2003 quarter.
Coil product segment sales increased approximately $8,859,000 during the 2004 quarter. This increase was related primarily to an increase in the average per ton selling price of approximately 136%. Tons shipped declined from approximately 38,000 tons in the 2003 quarter to 27,000 tons in the 2004 quarter. This decrease was related primarily to a decrease in tons sold by XSCP. In the 2003 quarter, coil operations reflected an operating loss of approximately 1% of coil sales compared to an operating profit of approximately 3% of coil sales in the 2004 quarter. Significantly improved market conditions for coil segment products produced increased sales and margins during the 2004 quarter.
Tubular product segment sales increased approximately $9,597,000 during the 2004 quarter. This increase primarily resulted from an approximate 72% increase in the average per ton selling price. Tons shipped remained relatively constant during both quarters at approximately 35,000 tons. Tubular product segment operating profits as a percentage of segment sales were approximately 8.7% and 4.2% in the 2004 and 2003 quarters, respectively. This segment benefited from improved market conditions for tubular products during the 2004 quarter as compared to market conditions in the 2003 quarter.
During the 2004 quarter, general, selling and administrative costs increased $292,309 from the amount recorded during the 2003 quarter. This increase was related primarily to bonuses associated with increased earnings and legal and professional expenses.
Income taxes increased $721,848 from the comparable amount recorded during the 2003 quarter. This increase was primarily related to the increase in earnings before taxes. The effective tax rates were 37% and 34% in the 2004 quarter and 2003 quarter, respectively. In the 2004 quarter, the Company recorded additional taxes of $39,600 and $25,250 reflecting the net effect of state income taxes and taxes related to the surrender of life insurance policies, respectively.
FINANCIAL POSITION, LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
The Company remained in a strong, liquid position at December 31, 2004. Current ratios were 2.7 and 3.0 at December 31, 2004 and March 31, 2004, respectively. Working capital was $26,972,919 at December 31, 2004 and $25,189,938 at March 31, 2004.
At December 31, 2004, the Company maintained assets and liabilities at levels it believed were commensurate with operations. Prime coil inventories increased due to increases in costs and tons. The increase in tons was primarily related to early shipments by NSC. The Company expects to continue to monitor, evaluate and manage balance sheet components depending on changes in the market conditions and the Companys operations.
On December 13, 2004, the Company purchased 624,207 shares of the common stock of the Company from Mr. Harold Friedman for approximately $4.434 per share or a total of $2,767,734. Effective as of December 31, 2004, Mr. Friedman resigned as Vice Chairman of the Board and retired as a full-time employee of the Company.
During the nine months ended December 31, 2004, the Company purchased approximately $617,387 in fixed assets. This purchase was related primarily to a small diameter pipe mill which began operation in April 2004.
In June 2004 and July 2004, the Company surrendered for cash, certain split-dollar life insurance policies on the lives of Jack and Harold Friedman, respectively. The Company received the total cash surrender value of $812,432.
During the nine months ended December 31, 2004, cash and cash equivalents increased $3,266,252 primarily as the result of earnings during the 2004 period.
The Company has an arrangement with a bank which provides for a revolving line of credit facility (the revolving facility). Pursuant to the revolving facility, which expires April 1, 2006, the Company may borrow up to $6 million at the banks prime rate or 1.5% over LIBOR. The Company uses the revolving facility to support cash flow and will borrow and repay the note as working capital is required. At December 31, 2004 and March 31, 2004, the Company had no borrowings outstanding under the revolving facility.
The Company has in the past and may in the future borrow funds on a term basis to build or improve facilities. The Company currently has no plans to borrow funds on a term basis.
Notwithstanding the current market conditions, the Company believes its cash flows from operations and borrowing capability under its revolving facility are adequate to fund its expected cash requirements for the next twenty-four months.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The preparation of consolidated financial statements requires the Company to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. One such accounting policy which requires significant estimates and judgments is the valuation of LIFO inventories in the Companys quarterly reporting. The quarterly valuation of inventory requires estimates of the year end quantities which is inherently difficult. Historically, these estimates have been materially correct. In addition, the Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts receivable by providing for specifically identified accounts where collectibility is doubtful and a general allowance based on the aging of the receivables compared to past experience and current trends. On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates estimates and judgements. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
From time to time, the Company may make certain statements that contain forward-looking information (as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1996) and that involve risk and uncertainty. These forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, future results of operations, future production capacity and product quality. Forward-looking statements may be made by management orally or in writing including, but not limited to, this Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and other sections of the Companys filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Actual results and trends in the future may differ materially depending on a variety of factors including but not limited to changes in the demand and prices of the Company products, changes in the demand for steel and steel products in general and the Companys success in executing its internal operating plans.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
In the normal course of business the Company is exposed to market risks primarily from changes in the cost of steel in inventory and in interest rates. The Company closely monitors exposure to market risks and develops appropriate strategies to manage risk. With respect to steel purchases, there is no recognized market to purchase derivative financial instruments to reduce the inventory exposure risk on changing commodity prices. The exposure to market risk associated with interest rates relates primarily to debt. Recent debt balances are minimal and, as a result, direct exposure to interest rates changes is not significant.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
The Companys management, with the participation of the Companys principal executive officer (CEO) and principal financial officer (CFO), evaluated the effectiveness of the Companys disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act)) as of the end of the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2004. Based on this evaluation, for the reasons described below, the CEO and CFO concluded that its disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of as of the end of the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2004 to ensure that information that is required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SECs rules and forms.
During the financial reporting process associated with the Companys financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2004, the Company determined that certain errors had occurred with the regard to the accuracy of the Companys accrual for accounts payable in the Companys financial statements for the quarter ended September 30, 2004. As a result, on February 14, 2005, the Company restated its financial statements for the quarter ended September 30, 2004.
In conjunction with the Companys decision to restate its financial statements for the period ended September 30, 2004, the Company identified a material weakness in its internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, Auditing Standard No.2, a material weakness is a significant deficiency, or a combination of significant deficiencies, that results in more than a remote likelihood that a material misstatement of the annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected) and, as a result thereof, reevaluated its disclosure controls and procedures over the accrual of accounts payable and concluded that these controls were not effective. The Company has taken steps to identify, rectify and prevent the recurrence of such circumstances. As part of this undertaking, the Company intends to incorporate additional levels of review of the processes and supporting documentation related to its accruals, including but not limited to those for accounts payable. The Company believes these enhancements to its systems of internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures will be adequate to provide reasonable assurance that the control objectives will be met.
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Part II OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
Not applicable
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
None
Item 5. Other Information
Item 6. Exhibits
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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.
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EXHIBIT INDEX