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Fleetwood Reports Second Quarter Fiscal 2005 Results

Net Income More Than Doubles, Revenues Increase 6%

RIVERSIDE, Calif., Dec. 3 -- Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc. , one of the nation's leading manufacturers of recreational vehicles and a leading producer and retailer of manufactured housing, announced today its financial results for the second quarter and first half of fiscal 2005, ended October 24, 2004. Consolidated revenues for the quarter were $712.7 million, up 6 percent from $674.7 million in last year's second quarter. Net income more than doubled to $8.1 million, or $0.15 per basic share and $0.14 per diluted share, compared with net income of $3.8 million, or $0.10 per basic and diluted share, in last year's second quarter.

"Fleetwood demonstrated both top-line and bottom-line growth in the quarter," said Edward B. Caudill, Fleetwood's president and chief executive officer. "Our motor home division continued to perform well, and the Housing Group's strong performance, led by the wholesale division, is particularly encouraging."

For the first six months of fiscal 2005, revenues increased 9 percent to $1.44 billion from $1.32 billion for the first half of last year. Net income was $14.8 million, or $0.27 per basic share and $0.26 per diluted share, compared with $5.7 million, or $0.16 per basic share and $0.15 per diluted share, in the first six months of fiscal 2004.

Housing Group Results

Quarterly revenues for the Housing Group were $244.1 million, a 14 percent improvement from $214.3 million in last year's second quarter. Revenues included $213.9 million of wholesale factory sales and $64.6 million of retail sales from Company-operated sales centers, before elimination of intercompany sales of $34.4 million. Wholesale division revenues were up 18 percent from last year's $181.0 million, while retail division sales declined 7 percent from $69.7 million, and intercompany sales were down 6 percent from $36.4 million. Operating income for the Group was $4.8 million compared with an operating loss in the prior year of $2.5 million. The wholesale division's operating income grew nearly twofold to $11.7 million from $6.2 million. The Group's results were also aided by a 24 percent improvement in the retail division's results from an $8.4 million loss to a $6.4 million loss. Wholesale unit volume improved 21 percent to 6,680 homes, including intercompany sales of 996 homes, while homes sold at Company-operated stores declined 18 percent to 1,141.

For the first half of the fiscal year, Housing Group revenues increased 14 percent to $470.5 million from $414.6 million in the prior year. Revenues included $409.6 million of wholesale factory sales and $131.3 million of retail sales from Company-operated stores, before elimination of intercompany sales of $70.4 million. Wholesale grew 17 percent and retail increased 3 percent compared with $350.8 million and $127.3 million, respectively, last year, before eliminating intercompany sales of $63.5 million. Operating income for the wholesale division climbed to $17.8 million for the first six months, compared with $8.0 million last year. The retail division's operating loss declined from $16.9 million to $12.4 million. The wholesale division shipped 12,744 homes in the first half of fiscal 2005, including intercompany sales of 1,952, up 17 percent from last year. Company-operated store sales declined by 8 percent to 2,327 units.

"Fleetwood's Housing Group operations are improving significantly, although the manufactured housing industry as a whole has not recovered as participants and analysts had projected," Caudill said. "Our wholesale division benefited from the emergency-related orders for states affected by the hurricanes, although the extreme weather conditions hurt sales at our retail stores, as set-up procedures were delayed. The Housing Group's inherent leverage is becoming apparent, as the wholesale division showed a 90 percent improvement in operating income on 18 percent revenue growth. We are anticipating an improvement in industry shipments in calendar 2005, resulting primarily from lower inventory levels of repossessed houses and increased lending interest."

Caudill also indicated that the Group continued its aggressive investment for growth during the first half of the fiscal year. Two plants were reopened: one in Alma, Georgia, and the other in Waco, Texas. Product investment continued with the successful launch of a low-end product in the Beacon Hill series, and a new loan origination system was developed for HomeOne, the Company's housing finance subsidiary.

RV Group Results

The RV Group earned an operating profit of $8.6 million for the quarter on sales of $450.3 million, compared with $16.4 million in operating profits on revenues of $450.0 million in the prior year. In the first six months of fiscal 2005, revenues climbed 6 percent to $936.0 million from $886.6 million in the comparable period last year. Operating profit for the first half declined to $24.2 million from $32.1 million in fiscal 2004. Results in the towable division hampered the Group's profitability. While the motor home division's operating income improved to $15.1 million, a 3 percent gain year over year, towables incurred a loss of $6.5 million compared with operating income of $1.7 million in the prior year. The loss was primarily due to lower sales, which were down 16 percent to $148.0 million, compounded by higher material costs, lower production efficiencies and higher new product development expenses. Sales were impacted by the division's relatively late introduction of new 2005 models, which began toward the end of the second quarter. The release of additional 2005 products will continue in the third quarter.

"Our new lineup of travel trailers, some of which were introduced as recently as this week at the national RV show in Louisville, Ky., is set to overcome some persistent production challenges," Caudill said, "with innovative designs that incorporate much-improved manufacturability and materials usage. The dealers responded favorably to our new products and recognized our integration of customer and dealer design requests. We have completed the consolidation of travel and folding trailer operations, which is beginning to yield cost savings, and have integrated the financial reporting of the two divisions into the towable division."

Investments in Fleetwood's motor home business continued during the first half of the year, and many of the tangible results were unveiled at the Louisville show. Full-body paint facilities were completed at the Company's manufacturing plants in Paxinos, Penn., and Riverside, Calif., which led to the launch of full-body painted units in the Pace Arrow and Southwind lines, Fleetwood's high-end Class A gasoline models. Pace Arrow was introduced at the show with a unique full-wall, 23-foot-long slide out. In addition, Southwind was totally redesigned, as were Revolution and Revolution LE models in the mid-level diesel line. The Company also introduced revolutionary new Class C Tioga and Jamboree products, which were co-designed with BMW Designworks USA.

"With respect to our lawsuit against The Coleman Company, the Kansas State Court granted us a permanent injunction against Coleman licensing the Coleman name in the recreational vehicle industry to any company besides Fleetwood," Caudill continued. "We are gratified by this decision, and we believe that the absence of this distraction will allow Fleetwood Folding Trailers to begin to regain the market share and profitability that the division has historically enjoyed."

Caudill concluded, "Providing the products and services that our customers and dealers demand has enabled us to generate improving financial results for shareholders. We continue to be encouraged by the long-term demographics in both of our industries. With a gradually improving outlook for manufactured housing and the strong reception dealers gave our RV products at the Louisville show, we are optimistic about the future. We anticipate profitability for fiscal 2005 based on the performance of the motor home and wholesale housing divisions, although operating losses at the towable and retail housing divisions are projected. Even though we expect a net loss in our third quarter due to the seasonal slowdown, we look forward to a year-over-year improvement in those results."

About Fleetwood

Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc., is one of the nation's largest producers of recreational vehicles, from motor homes to travel and folding trailers, and is a leader in the building, retailing and financing of manufactured homes. This Fortune 1000 company, headquartered in Riverside, Calif., is dedicated to providing quality, innovative products that offer exceptional value to its customers. Fleetwood operates facilities strategically located throughout the nation, including recreational vehicle and manufactured housing plants, retail home centers, and supply subsidiary plants. For more information, visit the Company's website at www.fleetwood.com.

                         FLEETWOOD ENTERPRISES, INC.
                CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (CONDENSED)
                                 (Unaudited)
                 (Amounts in thousands except per share data)

                           13 Weeks Ended             26 Weeks Ended
                     October 24,  October 26,  October 24,  October 26,
                        2004         2003         2004         2003
   Net Sales:
     RV Group         $450,280     $450,018      $935,983     $886,551
     Housing Group     244,109      214,329       470,480      414,637
     Supply Group       16,172        9,288        30,232       17,694
     Financial
      Services           2,121        1,108         3,746        1,992
                       712,682      674,743     1,440,441    1,320,874

   Cost of
    products sold      576,159      549,308     1,167,373    1,078,363
     Gross profit      136,523      125,435       273,068      242,511

   Operating expenses  118,705      108,681       236,910      211,722
   Financial services
    expenses             2,184        1,479         4,170        2,893
   Other, net               (2)          29           183         (695)
                       120,887      110,189       241,263      213,920
     Operating income   15,636       15,246        31,805       28,591
   Other income
    (expense):
     Investment income     498          602         1,010        1,390
     Interest expense   (7,268)     (11,069)      (14,763)     (22,104)
     Other, net             --           --        (1,608)          --
                        (6,770)     (10,467)      (15,361)     (20,714)

   Income before
    income taxes         8,866        4,779        16,444        7,877
   Provision for
    income taxes          (731)      (1,021)       (1,641)      (2,203)

   Net income           $8,135       $3,758       $14,803       $5,674

          Basic Diluted   Basic Diluted  Basic Diluted  Basic Diluted

   Net
    income
    per
    common
    share  $0.15   $0.14   $0.10   $0.10  $0.27   $0.26   $0.16   $0.15

   Weighted
    average
    common
    shares 55,419  57,154 36,124  37,116 55,044  56,823  36,030  36,868

                         FLEETWOOD ENTERPRISES, INC.
                   CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (CONDENSED)
                                 (Unaudited)
                            (Amounts in thousands)

                             October 24,        July 25,      October 26,
                                 2004             2004           2003
   ASSETS
   Current assets:
   Cash                             $68          $11,551        $16,289
   Marketable investments --
    available for sale           40,006           48,301         60,350
   Receivables                  238,610          203,031        177,346
   Inventories                  327,403          280,080        241,294
   Deferred taxes, net           58,065           56,904         58,488
   Other current assets          22,511           19,839         16,513
     Total current assets       686,663          619,706        570,280

   Finance loans
    receivable, net              60,248           50,326         29,329
   Property, plant and
    equipment, net              265,263          262,983        254,723
   Deferred taxes, net           17,858           17,859         31,275
   Cash value of
    Company-owned life
    insurance, net               49,341           48,533         56,151
   Goodwill                       6,316            6,316          6,316
   Other assets                  48,591           49,998         30,893
     Total assets            $1,134,280       $1,055,721       $978,967

   LIABILITIES & SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
   Current liabilities:
   Accounts payable            $100,731          $90,460        $83,721
   Employee compensation &
    benefits                     80,970           74,142         74,272
   Product warranty reserve      58,443           57,059         58,037
   Retail flooring liability     28,065           25,567         16,747
   Other short-term borrowings   54,920            8,892         26,949
   Accrued interest              44,899           39,502         32,617
   Other current liabilities     65,841           69,760         74,609
     Total current liabilities  433,869          365,382        366,952

   Deferred compensation
    and retirement benefits      50,798           50,205         58,705
   Insurance reserves            32,693           32,614         31,492
   Long-term debt               108,688          109,310          2,354
   Convertible subordinated
    debentures                  210,142          210,142        374,993
     Total liabilities          836,190          767,653        834,496

   Commitments and contingencies

   Shareholders' equity:
     Common stock                55,464           55,386         38,667
     Additional paid-in-capital 421,719          421,202        272,865
     Accumulated deficit       (180,534)        (188,669)      (167,402)
     Accumulated other
      comprehensive income
      (loss)                      1,441              149            341
       Total shareholders'
        equity                  298,090          288,068        144,471
       Total liabilities
        and shareholders'
        equity               $1,134,280       $1,055,721       $978,967

                         FLEETWOOD ENTERPRISES, INC.
                Business Segment and Unit Shipment Information
                                 (Unaudited)
                            (Amounts in thousands)

                              13 Weeks Ended            26 Weeks Ended
                           Oct. 24,    Oct. 26,      Oct. 24,    Oct. 26,
                             2004        2003          2004        2003
   OPERATING REVENUES:
   Recreational
    vehicles              $450,280    $450,018     $935,983     $886,551
   Housing                 244,109     214,329      470,480      414,637
   Supply operations        16,172       9,288       30,232       17,694
   Financial services        2,121       1,108        3,746        1,992
                          $712,682    $674,743   $1,440,441   $1,320,874

   OPERATING INCOME (LOSS):
   Recreational
    vehicles                $8,585     $16,430      $24,153      $32,080
   Housing                   4,823      (2,470)       5,229       (8,470)
   Supply operations                     1,745          402        2,772
                             1,142
   Financial services          (63)       (370)        (423)        (901)
   Corporate and Other         546       1,254           74        4,740

                           $15,636     $15,246      $31,805      $28,591

   UNITS SOLD:
   Manufactured
    housing --
     Factory shipments       6,680       5,509       12,744       10,881
     Retail sales            1,141       1,389        2,327        2,537
     Less intercompany        (996)     (1,078)      (1,952)      (1,896)
                             6,825       5,820       13,119       11,522
   Recreational
    vehicles --
     Motor homes             2,868       2,826        6,113        5,520
     Towables               10,739      13,005       22,001       25,787
                            13,607      15,831       28,114       31,307