WINCHESTER, VA  - American Woodmark Corporation (NASDAQ: AMWD) today announced results for its third fiscal quarter ended January 31, 2014.

Net sales for the third fiscal quarter increased 12% to $169.0 million compared with the same quarter of the prior fiscal year. Net sales for the first nine months of the current fiscal year increased 17% to $537.7 million from the comparable period of the prior fiscal year. The Company experienced growth in both remodeling and new construction during the third quarter of fiscal year 2014, with new construction growth in excess of 25%.

Net income was $2.9 million ($0.18 per diluted share) and $14.8 million ($0.95 per diluted share) for the third quarter and first nine months, respectively, of the current fiscal year compared with $2.1 million ($0.14 per diluted share) and $4.6 million ($0.31 per diluted share) for the third quarter and first nine months, respectively, of the prior fiscal year. Exclusive of after-tax restructuring charges and insurance proceeds, the Company generated $2.9 million ($0.18 per diluted share) and $14.9 million ($0.95 per diluted share) of net income for the third quarter and first nine months, respectively, of the current fiscal year compared with $2.1 million ($0.14 per diluted share) and $4.9 million ($0.33 per diluted share) for the third quarter and first nine months, respectively, of the prior fiscal year.

Gross profit for the third quarter of the current fiscal year was 15.4% of net sales compared with 15.5% in the same quarter of the prior year. Gross profit for the first nine months of the current fiscal year was 17.1% of net sales compared with 15.3% for the same period in the prior year. Gross profit in both the three month and nine month periods was favorably impacted by higher sales volume and improved labor efficiency. This favorability was offset by higher material and distribution costs.

Selling, general and administrative costs for the third quarter of the current fiscal year were 12.4% of net sales compared with 13.0% in the same quarter of the prior year. Selling, general and administrative costs for the first nine months of the current fiscal year were 12.5% of net sales compared with 13.4% for the same period in the prior year. The improvement in the Company's operating expense ratio in both periods was driven by favorable leverage from increased sales, on-going expense control, and lower performance based compensation costs. This favorability was partially offset by increases in variable costs related to higher sales activity.

The Company generated net cash from operating activities of $23.5 million during the first nine months of fiscal year 2014 compared with $2.2 million during the same period in the prior year. The improvement in the Company's cash from operating activities was driven primarily by higher operating profitability, lower increases in inventory levels to support higher sales, timing associated with the payment of various accrued liabilities, and lower pension contributions. Net cash used by investing activities increased to $8.3 million during the first nine months of the current fiscal year compared with $4.2 million during the same period of the prior year due primarily to proceeds from asset sales in the prior year which did not reoccur in the current fiscal year.

American Woodmark Corporation manufactures and distributes kitchen cabinets and vanities for the remodeling and new home construction markets. Its products are sold on a national basis directly to home centers, major builders and through a network of independent distributors. The Company presently operates nine manufacturing facilities and nine service centers across the country.

SOURCE American Woodmark Corporation