GMS Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2019 Results

Q4 Net Sales up 22.7%; Organic Net Sales up 7.0%

Reported Q4 Net Income of $16.6 Million, or $0.39 per Diluted Share

Adjusted Q4 Net Income of $28.7 Million, or $0.68 per Diluted Share

Q4 Adjusted EBITDA of $73.5 million or 9.4% of net sales

GMS Inc. (NYSE:GMS), a leading North American specialty distributor of interior building products, today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended April 30, 2019.

Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2019 Highlights

• Net sales of $780.1 million increased 22.7% from $635.8 million in the fourth quarter of the prior fiscal year. Organic net sales increased 7.0% year over year as a result of higher volumes and pricing improvement across all product groups.
• Reported net income of $16.6 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, compared to $9.9 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of the prior fiscal year.
• Adjusted net income of $28.7 million, or $0.68 per diluted share, compared to $23.5 million, or $0.56 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of the prior fiscal year.
• Adjusted EBITDA of $73.5 million, or 9.4% of net sales compared to Adjusted EBITDA of $50.1 million, or 7.9% of net sales, in the fourth quarter of the prior fiscal year.
• Cash provided by operating activities of $88.2 million and free cash flow of $82.8 million increased from $24.9 million and $14.6 million, respectively, in the fourth quarter of the prior fiscal year.
• Net leverage decreased to 3.6 times at the end of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019 from 3.8 times at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2019.
• The Company completed one business acquisition and four greenfield openings during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019.
• The Company repurchased $5.0 million of common stock during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019.

Full Year Fiscal 2019 Highlights

• Net sales of $3.12 billion increased 24.1% from $2.51 billion in the prior fiscal year. Organic net sales increased 7.1% year over year.
• Reported net income of $56.0 million, or $1.31 per diluted share, compared to $63.0 million, or $1.49 per diluted share, in the prior fiscal year.
• Adjusted net income of $119.5 million, or $2.80 per diluted share, compared to $84.7 million, or $2.01 per diluted share, in the prior fiscal year.
• Adjusted EBITDA of $295.7 million, or 9.5% of net sales, compared to Adjusted EBITDA of $199.3 million, or 7.9% of net sales, in the prior fiscal year.
• Cash provided by operating activities of $193.6 million and free cash flow of $174.8 million increased from $91.3 million and $67.5 million, respectively, in the prior fiscal year.
• Net leverage decreased to 3.6 times at the end of fiscal 2019 from 4.2 times at the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2019, following the acquisition of Titan.
• The Company completed three business acquisitions and eight greenfield openings during fiscal 2019.
• The Company repurchased $16.5 million of common stock during fiscal 2019.

"We were pleased to deliver a strong finish to fiscal 2019 with record net sales and earnings for our fourth fiscal quarter," said Mike Callahan, Chief Executive Officer. "Strong organic sales growth of 7.0% reflects higher volumes and pricing across all our product groups. Activity levels across our end markets in the United States remain solid and continue to exhibit healthy fundamentals. While long-term factors contributing to housing demand and overall economic growth for Canada remain positive, we currently face some challenging conditions in the Canadian single-family housing market. We generated significant cash from operations and free cash flow in the quarter, enabling us to execute on our capital allocation priorities, which include reducing our net leverage, expanding through accretive acquisitions and greenfield investments and repurchasing our common stock."

Mr. Callahan continued, "We made significant progress throughout fiscal 2019 on a number of fronts, surpassing $3.0 billion in net sales through both organic growth and acquisitions, including the strategic acquisition of WSB Titan, which increased our scale and footprint in North America, provided entry into the highly attractive Canadian market, and created a well-balanced platform for long-term growth. At the same time, we significantly improved our operating leverage in fiscal 2019. We believe our market-leading position, broad product portfolio and diversified exposure across attractive commercial and residential new and R&R construction markets will enable us to continue to take advantage of further growth opportunities."

Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2019 Results

Net sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019 were $780.1 million, up 22.7%, or 7.0% on an organic basis, compared to $635.8 million for the fourth quarter of the prior fiscal year.

• Wallboard sales of $322.3 million increased 15.1% (3.8% on an organic basis) compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018, driven by acquisitions, higher organic volumes and pricing.
• Ceilings sales of $112.2 million increased 17.4% (13.7% on an organic basis) compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018, primarily due to higher organic volumes as a result of increased commercial business, the positive impact of acquisitions and pricing.
• Steel framing sales of $124.5 million increased 16.3% (8.3% on an organic basis) compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018, driven by the positive impact of acquisitions, higher organic volumes as a result of greater commercial activity and pricing.
• Other product sales of $221.1 million increased 44.4% (7.8% on an organic basis) compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018, as a result of the positive impact of acquisitions, as well as higher organic growth.

Gross profit of $256.9 million increased 24.8% compared to $205.8 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018, as a result of higher sales, both organically and including the positive impact of acquisitions, as well as pricing improvement. Gross margin of 32.9% improved 50 basis points from 32.4% a year ago due to contributions from the Titan acquisition, favorable price-cost dynamics and mix. On a sequential basis, gross margin also improved 50 basis points from 32.4% in the third quarter of fiscal 2019.

Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expense as a percentage of net sales was 24.4% for the quarter compared to 25.4% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018. Adjusted SG&A expense as a percentage of net sales was 23.6% compared to 24.6% in the prior year quarter. Of the 100 basis point improvement in adjusted SG&A, 20 basis points was the result of increased cost efficiencies which were partially offset by inflationary pressures, primarily in logistics, as well as unanticipated insurance costs and the timing of certain other expenses. The remaining 80 basis points was the result of the amendment of certain equipment operating leases that are now being accounted for as capital leases.

Net income of $16.6 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, compared to $9.9 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018. Adjusted net income of $28.7 million, or $0.68 per diluted share, compared to $23.5 million, or $0.56 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018. Adjusted EBITDA of $73.5 million increased 46.9% year over year and represented an Adjusted EBITDA margin of 9.4%.

Capital Allocation and Expansion Activity

As of April 30, 2019, the Company had cash of $47.3 million and total debt of $1.14 billion, compared to cash of $74.3 million and total debt of $1.23 billion, as of January 31, 2019. During the fourth fiscal quarter, the Company reduced its net debt by $65.6 million and net leverage was 3.6 times as of the end of the quarter and fiscal year.

Under the previously announced $75.0 million stock repurchase program, the Company repurchased $5.0 million, or approximately 287,000 shares, of common stock during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019. As of April 30, 2019, approximately $58.5 million of availability remained under the program.

During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019, the Company completed the previously-announced acquisition of Commercial Builders Group, LLC in southern Louisiana and opened four greenfield locations in Carrollton, TX, Fredericksburg, VA, Harrisburg, PA and Portland, ME. For fiscal year 2019, the Company completed a total of three business acquisitions and opened eight greenfield locations.

Conference Call and Webcast

GMS will host a conference call and webcast to discuss its results for the fourth quarter and full year ended April 30, 2019 and other information related to its business at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on June 27, 2019. Investors who wish to participate in the call should dial 877-407-3982 (domestic) or 201-493-6780 (international) at least 5 minutes prior to the start of the call. The live webcast will be available on the Investors section of the Company's website at www.gms.com. There will be a slide presentation of the results available on that page of the website as well. Replays of the call will be available through July 27, 2019 and can be accessed at 844-512-2921 (domestic) or 412-317-6671 (international) and entering the pass code 13691409.

About GMS Inc.

Founded in 1971, GMS operates a network of more than 250 distribution centers across the United States and Canada. GMS's extensive product offering of wallboard, suspended ceilings systems, or ceilings, and complementary construction products is designed to provide a comprehensive one-stop-shop for our core customer, the interior contractor who installs these products in commercial and residential buildings.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

GMS reports its financial results in accordance with GAAP. However, it presents Adjusted net income, free cash flow, Adjusted SG&A, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin, which are not recognized financial measures under GAAP. GMS believes that Adjusted net income, free cash flow, Adjusted SG&A, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin assist investors and analysts in comparing its operating performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis by excluding items that the Company does not believe are indicative of its core operating performance. The Company's management believes Adjusted net income, Adjusted SG&A, free cash flow, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin are helpful in highlighting trends in its operating results, while other measures can differ significantly depending on long-term strategic decisions regarding capital structure, the tax jurisdictions in which the Company operates and capital investments. In addition, the Company utilizes Adjusted EBITDA in certain calculations under its senior secured asset based revolving credit facility and its senior secured first lien term loan facility.

You are encouraged to evaluate each adjustment and the reasons GMS considers it appropriate for supplemental analysis. In addition, in evaluating Adjusted net income, Adjusted SG&A and Adjusted EBITDA, you should be aware that in the future, the Company may incur expenses similar to the adjustments in the presentation of Adjusted net income, Adjusted SG&A and Adjusted EBITDA. The Company's presentation of Adjusted net income, Adjusted SG&A and Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an inference that its future results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring items. In addition, Adjusted net income, free cash flow, Adjusted SG&A and Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies in GMS's industry or across different industries. Please see the tables at the end of this release for a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA, free cash flow, Adjusted SG&A and Adjusted net income to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.

Forward-Looking Statements and Information:

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can generally identify forward-looking statements by the Company's use of forward-looking terminology such as "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "might," "plan," "potential," "predict," "seek," or "should," or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology. In particular, statements about the markets in which GMS operates and the economy generally and statements about growth potential across the Company's business and the ability to deliver growth and value creation contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. The Company has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections. While the Company believes these expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections are reasonable, such forward-looking statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond its control. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, economic, competitive, governmental and technological factors outside of the Company's control, that may cause its business, strategy or actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties may include, among other things: changes in the prices, supply, and/or demand for products which GMS distributes; general economic and business conditions in the United States and Canada; the activities of competitors; changes in significant operating expenses; changes in the availability of capital and interest rates; adverse weather patterns or conditions; cybersecurity breaches and other disruptions to our IT systems; our recently announced leadership succession plan; variations in the performance of the financial markets, including the credit markets; the possibility that the expected synergies and cost savings and final impacts from the Titan acquisition will not be realized, or will not be realized within the expected time period; the risk that the GMS and Titan businesses will not be integrated successfully; disruption from the transaction making it more difficult to maintain business and operational relationships and to accomplish other GMS objectives; the risk of customer attrition; our ability to efficiently manage and control our costs and the success of our previously announced cost reduction plan; and other factors described in the "Risk Factors" section in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and in its other periodic reports filed with the SEC. In addition, the statements in this release are made as of June 27, 2019. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements made herein, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in expectation or otherwise. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company's views as of any date subsequent to June 27, 2019.

(1) The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share of common stock for periods presented:

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