D. Andrew Edwards
Analyst · Credit Suisse
Thanks, Craig, and good morning, everyone. Let's take a look at our second quarter financial results. Revenues for the second quarter improved $54 million, or 2.5%, to $2.19 billion when compared to last year's second quarter. For the year-to-date period, revenues increased $148 million, or 3.5%, to $4.4 billion when compared to the first 6 months of 2011. The increase in year-over-year quarterly revenues resulted primarily from growth in sales to existing customers while the year-to-date revenue growth mainly came from both increased sales to existing customers and new customers. On the gross margin front, our year-over-year gross margin percentage for the quarter declined 47 basis points. However, on a sequential basis, gross margin was about the same as the first quarter of this year. The reason for the decline in the year-over-year quarterly gross margin percentage is similar to what we discussed last quarter, which is primarily the result of changes in our customer mix, including lower margins from large integrated health networks, as well as competitive pressures. As we have discussed in the past, achieving synergies and optimizing performance on large integrated network accounts can take time. Cost control continues to be a bright spot for us. Second quarter SG&A declined by $6.1 million and was 45 basis points lower as a percentage of revenue compared with last year. This improvement more than offset the year-over-year decline in gross margin dollars and percentage. The factors that contributed to favorable SG&A performance for the quarter were: first, a $4.3 million improvement in fee-for-service operating expenses. You may recall that at the same time last year, we were incurring expenses for the transition of a major 3PL customer; second, a $1.8 million decrease in traditional distribution and operating expenses despite an increase in related revenues of $54 million. Our improvement in traditional distribution costs were due to the realignment steps taken in the fourth quarter of last year, as well as a keen focus on managing expenses. The story on SG&A for the first 6 months of this year is the same as the story for the second quarter with the expenses declining $1.4 million on revenue growth of $148 million, and more than offsetting the $1.1 million gross margin dollar decline that occurred during the same timeframe. As part of our strategic initiatives, we continue to invest in our infrastructure, which resulted in a $300,000 increase in depreciation and amortization expense to $8.5 million for the second quarter. Year-to-date depreciation and amortization was $17.1 million, essentially unchanged from the year before. The changes in depreciation and amortization primarily resulted from investments in warehouse equipment technology and leasehold improvements, partially offset by lower amortization resulting from the expiration of noncompete agreements. Now taking a look at other operating income. On a net basis, we had income of $600,000 for the second quarter compared to a loss of $500,000 last year. This year-over-year improvement for the quarter of $1.1 million was due to higher finance charge income of $500,000 and lower corporate development expenses of $500,000. For the first 6 months of this year, other operating income on a net basis was $2.2 million compared to a loss of $500,000 last year. This year-to-date improvement for the quarter of $2.7 million was primarily due to higher finance charge income of $700,000, income of $500,000 from a class action settlement and lower corporate development expenses of $1.1 million. Now turning to second quarter operating earnings. For the quarter, operating earnings increased 4.2% to $53.2 million for an operating earnings margin of 2.43% versus 2.39% in last year's second quarter. On a year-to-date basis, operating earnings increased 3% to $105 million for an operating earnings margin of 2.39% versus 2.4% last year. The quarter and the year-to-date improvements in operating earnings were primarily driven by our cost reduction efforts and lower corporate development expenses, which more than offset the decrease in gross margin dollars. Interest expense, a component of net income but not operating earnings, increased by $500,000 to $3.5 million for the second quarter and increased slightly to $6.9 million for the 6 months when compared to the same period a year ago. For the first 6 months of this year, our effective interest rate was 6.5% on average borrowings of $214 million compared to a rate of 6.4% from the first half of 2011 on average borrowings of $211 million. The effective income tax rate was 39.4% for the quarter and year-to-date period compared to 39.3% and 39.2% for the same period a year ago. Net income for the second quarter increased by $1 million to $30.1 million or $0.48 per diluted share, an increase of $0.02 compared to last year. On a year-to-date basis, net income was $59.5 million, an increase of 2.7% from the prior year period. On a year-to-date basis, diluted EPS was $0.94, or an improvement of $0.03 when compared to the year before. Moving on to asset liability management, which has been another bright spot for us this year. DSO declined to a record low of 19.5 days, and inventory turns were at a near term high of 10.8. These improvements, combined with operating earnings, resulted in strong cash flow from operations of $143 million for the first half of 2012. So far this year, expenditures have been devoted to operational efficiency initiatives including information technology investments. Our capital spending year to date of $18 million is a bit off-pace of our planned level of $50 million, primarily due to timing. Thank you. Now I will turn it over to Jim for his remarks.