- Sales are $62.3 Million; EPS is $0.45

- Quarter-end Backlog Totals $68.3 Million

BRIDGEVILLE, Pa., Oct. 24, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc. (Nasdaq:USAP) reported today that sales for the third quarter of 2012 were $62.3 million, which was 7% below the third quarter of 2011. The Company previously reported that lower order entry would impact 2012 third quarter sales.

Operating income for the third quarter of 2012 was $5.5 million, or 8.8% of sales, including $0.6 million of ramp-up expense for the Company's North Jackson operation due primarily to a production outage necessary to make modifications to its vacuum induction melting furnace ("VIM"). This compares with operating income of $7.2 million, or 10.7% of sales in the third quarter of 2011, which included $1.7 million of expense for the acquisition and start-up of North Jackson acquired by the Company in August 2011. Excluding the effect of North Jackson in both periods, operating income was 10.1% of sales in the third quarter of 2012 and 13.2% of sales in the third quarter of 2011.

Net income for the third quarter of 2012 was $3.3 million, or $0.45 per diluted share, including $0.06 per diluted share of North Jackson ramp-up expense. In the third quarter of 2011, net income was $3.9 million, or $0.55 per diluted share, including $0.14 per diluted share of after-tax acquisition and start-up expense related to North Jackson.

For the first nine months of 2012, sales increased 8% to $204.8 million from the same period of 2011. Net income for the first nine months of 2012 was $14.1 million, or $1.93 per diluted share, compared with $13.9 million, or $1.97 per diluted share, reported for the prior year period. Net income for the first nine months of 2012 included after-tax operating expense for the North Jackson ramp-up of $0.07 per diluted share compared to $0.22 per diluted share of North Jackson-related expense in the first nine months of 2011.

For the third quarter of 2012, the Company had positive cash flow from operations of $12.4 million despite continued investment in the ramp-up of North Jackson, including $3.5 million of increased inventory to support VIM product and equipment development. Capital expenditures were $10.7 million in the third quarter of 2012, including $6.8 million for the North Jackson operation. At September 30, 2012, the Company had total debt of $113.4 million, or 36.6% of total capitalization.

Shipment volume for the third quarter of 2012 decreased 9% from the third quarter of 2011. This reflected a 13% increase in tons shipped to the aerospace market, offset by decreases of 16%, 30% and 7% in shipments to the petrochemical, power generation and service center plate markets, respectively.

Chairman, President and CEO Dennis Oates commented: "Our third quarter results were in line with continued inventory adjustment by service centers, our largest customer category. While we are encouraged by the continued expansion of our aerospace-related business fueled by the North Jackson investment, other industries have been moving cautiously through the second half of the year because of global economic conditions and uncertainty. This is evidenced in our sales as well as in our lower order entry and backlog. Declining nickel prices and shorter lead times also had a depressing effect on customer purchasing patterns. 

"The reduction in our shipment volume in the third quarter continued to restrain our consolidated operating margin. So did our ongoing investment in the ramp-up of our North Jackson facility, where we are only in the early stages of realizing its full benefits. Most recently, the two newly installed vacuum-arc remelt furnaces were commissioned. As a result, we have increased our internal VAR capacity to 11 furnaces and by 60% this year in support of our aerospace customers.  

"Both the current usage or 'chew-up' rate of specialty metals and the growth prospects for our end markets remain strong. Therefore, channel demand is expected to return to more normal levels as we move through 2013. During the course of 2013, we also expect to complete the ramp-up of North Jackson as well as achieve many of the product certifications and approvals from customers that we have been working towards. The certifications and approvals will position us to capture more market opportunity in new higher-margin product categories while improving our operating profitability — in line with our strategic plan."

Segment Review

For the third quarter of 2012, the Universal Stainless & Alloy Products segment, which includes the North Jackson operation, had sales of $54.2 million and operating income of $2.0 million, yielding an operating margin of 3.7% of sales.  In the third quarter of 2011, sales were $60.6 million and operating income was $4.8 million, or 7.9% of sales, including start-up and acquisition-related costs for North Jackson.   

Segment sales decreased 10% from the third quarter of 2011 on 3% lower tons shipped mainly due to decreased shipments to service centers as well as to forgers and rerollers of products mainly destined for service centers.

Sales for the Dunkirk Specialty Steel segment were $24.8 million for the third quarter of 2012 and operating income was $2.3 million, yielding an operating margin of 9.4% of sales. This compares with sales in the third quarter of 2011 of $25.3 million and operating income of $2.5 million, or 9.9% of sales. 

Dunkirk's sales decreased 2% from the third quarter of 2011 on a 4% decrease in tons shipped. Tons shipped to service centers were up 2% from the third quarter of 2011.

Webcast

The Company has scheduled a conference call for today, October 24, at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern) to discuss third quarter results. A simultaneous webcast will be available on the Company's website at www.univstainless.com, and thereafter archived on the website through the end of the fourth quarter of 2012.  

About Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc.

Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc., headquartered in Bridgeville, PA, manufactures and markets semi-finished and finished specialty steels, including stainless steel, tool steel and certain other alloyed steels. The Company's products are used in a variety of industries, including aerospace, power generation, petrochemical and heavy equipment manufacturing. Established in 1994, the Company, with its experience, technical expertise, and dedicated workforce, stands committed to providing the best quality, delivery, and service possible. More information is available at www.univstainless.com.

Forward-Looking Information Safe Harbor

Except for historical information contained herein, the statements in this release are forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the Company's actual results in future periods to differ materially from forecasted results. Those risks include, among others, the concentrated nature of the Company's customer base to date and the Company's dependence on its significant customers; the receipt, pricing and timing of future customer orders; changes in product mix; the limited number of raw material and energy suppliers and significant fluctuations that may occur in raw material and energy prices; risks related to property, plant and equipment,  including the Company's reliance on the continuing operation of critical manufacturing equipment; risks associated with labor matters; the Company's ongoing requirement for continued compliance with laws and regulations, including applicable safety and environmental regulations; the ultimate outcome of the Company's current and future litigation and matters; risks related to acquisitions that the Company may make; and the impact of various economic, credit and market risk uncertainties. Many of these factors are not within the Company's control and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the Company's actual results in future periods to be materially different from any future performance suggested herein. Any unfavorable change in the foregoing or other factors could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. Further, the Company operates in an industry sector where securities values may be volatile and may be influenced by economic and other factors beyond the Company's control. Certain of these risks and other risks are described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over the last 12 months, copies of which are available from the SEC or may be obtained upon request from the Company. 

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CONTACT: Dennis Oates

         Chairman,

         President and CEO

         (412) 257-7609

         

         Douglas McSorley

         VP Finance, CFO

         and Treasurer

         (412) 257-7606

         

         June Filingeri

         President

         Comm-Partners LLC

         (203) 972-0186