Quarterlytics / Basic Materials / Paper, Lumber & Forest Products / UFP Industries

UFP Industries

ufpi · NASDAQ Basic Materials
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Ticker ufpi
Exchange NASDAQ
Sector Basic Materials
Industry Paper, Lumber & Forest Products
Employees 5001-10,000
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FY2018 Annual Report · UFP Industries
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Report to Shareholders 

2018 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The time your game is most vulnerable is when you’re ahead. Never let up. 

– Rod Laver 

To our Shareholders:  

It is safe to say that both of us essentially have grown up with Universal Forest Products. One of us  

(Bill Currie, Chairman of the Board) is in his 48th year with the company; the other (Matt Missad, CEO)  

has been around for almost 41 years (which includes his early years on the maintenance crew).  

We have worked side-by-side with at least two generations of UFP leaders and teammates: people  

who have not only worked together but also celebrated life together. We’ve worked in and served our 

operations together, developed and implemented strategies, attended family weddings, grieved with  

each other at times of loss and celebrated births — we’ve lived, worked and learned together. This has 

created a rich, rewarding culture that permeates the Universal family of companies.  

It is in this culture and with this spirit that future leaders of our company are learning and growing: bright 

young people who will lead this company through an era that doesn’t count years, but nanoseconds; that 

doesn’t celebrate the innovation of the decade or year, but of the day. A time when 90 percent of the 

world’s data was created in the last two years (there are 2.5 quintillion bytes of data created each day, 

and the pace is accelerating). What does that mean for next year and the following?  

For us at Universal — in an industry known less for its agility than its perceived lumbering practices 

(excuse the pun) — it means not just adapting to change, but creating it, anticipating it, BEING it. And 

that’s the backdrop against which everything is done these days at the companies of Universal. It’s at the 

root of our theme for 2018 — >B4 (Greater than Before) — and of our messaging. Look at your job. Did 

you do it well? Great — how can you do it better? What new product or service can we create to make our 

customers (and the consumer’s life) better? How can we fulfill a previously unmet customer need? What 

can we do to make our company more valuable? Do we have good leadership today? Great, but let’s 

make sure the leaders of tomorrow are even better.  

ii 

 
 
 
 
 
We back our message of continuously improving with incentive programs that encourage our people  

to improve every day. There’s nothing we like better than to share our success — with shareholders  

and our employees (many of whom are also shareholders).  

We were able to do that in 2018, thanks to the results our people created: Net sales of $4.49 billion and 

net earnings attributable to controlling interest of $148.6 million were up 14 percent and 24 percent, 

respectively, over 2017. Operating profit was up 14.2 percent and diluted earnings per share for the year 

of $2.40 represented an increase of 24 percent over the previous year. By market, our 2018 results were:  

Retail  

In our retail business, we sell hundreds of products ranging from decking, fencing and accessories to 

loose lumber. Our 2018 results included $1.66 billion in gross sales, up 11 percent over 2017, led by  

a 7 percent increase in selling prices and a 4 percent increase in unit sales. Acquisitions and organic 

growth each contributed 2 percent of the sales growth. Sales to big box retailers increased 8 percent 

while sales to others increased 17 percent. Among our retail products and brands are ProWood® lumber 

(www.prowoodlumber.com), Deckorators® decking and accessories (www.deckorators.com), the shiplap 

siding and trim boards in our UFP-Edge portfolio (www.ufpedge.com), and lattice and panel products sold 

under our Dimensions™ brand (www.dimensionsdiy.com). 

Construction 

In this market, we serve residential construction customers, who build traditional site-built  

single-family and multifamily construction, factory-built homes (both HUD-code and modular homes), 

commercial construction and concrete forming. Our 2018 results were $1.35 billion in gross sales, up  

15 percent over the previous year, driven by a 7 percent increase in unit sales and an 8 percent increase 

in prices. Residential unit sales grew 7 percent, commercial unit sales grew 14 percent and 

manufactured housing unit sales grew 4 percent. Acquisitions contributed 1 percent to growth. 

Industrial  

In this market, we supply specialty crates and packaging to numerous industries, ranging from aerospace 

to agriculture, as well as components for products, like wood frames for bedding and furniture. Our 2018 

results included $1.56 billion in gross sales, up 16 percent over the previous year. Unit sales increased 

10 percent, of which 5 percent came from acquisitions and 5 percent from organic growth.  

iii 

 
 
 
These markets comprise a balanced business model that makes us unique and more resilient to market 

fluctuations than most. It allows us to use all grades of wood for our products, making us an attractive 

customer for the world’s largest mills. It provides many avenues for growth in new markets and with new 

products. And it has been a strong foundation on which to build over the decades and continues to be a 

competitive advantage.  

In 2018, we welcomed the people of seven companies to the Universal family by completing the following 

acquisitions:  

•  Pak-Rite, Ltd., a designer and manufacturer of packaging for high-value products, such as 

medical, aerospace and automation equipment. This acquisition allows us to grow our portfolio  

of packaging products and our presence in this market. 

• 

The Pallet Place, LLC, which manufactures and distributes total packaging solutions in timber, 

crates, skids and pallets. The acquisition of Pallet Place allows us to increase our industrial 

business and creates operating leverage by consolidating with another regional operation. 

•  North American Container Corp., a manufacturer of structural packaging products, including 

steel, corrugated and hardwood packaging, that allows us to enhance our presence in this region, 

expand our product offering, and serve customers more cost effectively. 

•  Fontana Wood Products, a manufacturer and distributor of lumber and trusses in Southern 

California. This acquisition allows us to expand our manufactured housing business and creates 

operating leverage by consolidating with another regional operation. 

•  Expert Packaging, a manufacturer and distributor of total packaging solutions in timber, crates, 

pallets and skids. Expert had annual sales of approximately $3.6 million. The acquisition of 

Expert allows us to make progress on our goal of becoming a global provider of packaging 

solutions. 

•  Spinner Wood Products, LLC, which manufactures and distributes agricultural bins and various 

industrial packaging, allowing us to expand our industrial packaging product offering and creating 

operating leverage by consolidating with other regional operations. 

•  Great Northern Lumber, LLC, a manufacturer of industrial products as well as serving the 

concrete forming market in the Chicago area. The acquisition of Great Northern Lumber enables 

us to expand our concrete forming product offering and regional coverage. 

Our challenges aren’t unlike those faced by other businesses across the spectrum: the need for skilled 

labor and work-ready graduates, economic fluctuations exacerbated by an unpredictable political climate, 

soaring medical costs that put a burden on benefits, and the availability of trucks and trains to move our 

products, among others. We pride ourselves on our ability to anticipate problems and tackle them 

creatively; we don’t make excuses --- we create solutions.  

iv 

 
The people who succeed at Universal, those who build our success, are people who are energized, not 

daunted or intimidated, by challenge. The successful people of Universal are driven by practical, old-

fashioned values that are steeped in our Midwest roots: gritty determination, a solid work ethic, the 

highest regard for integrity and respect, a focus on the American Dream. The two of us have been 

fortunate enough to achieve many of our dreams. It is an understatement to say that neither of us was 

born with a silver spoon in his mouth. We definitely did not start out on third base thinking we hit a triple!  

It also is an understatement to say that Universal provided us with opportunity to build success for our 

company, ourselves and our families that we couldn’t have anticipated. The joy in this, though, is doing 

the same for others: helping that next generation achieve so that they can take the company to new 

heights and new levels of success, creating opportunities for all those around them. Those people are 

provided the very best training; they’re being given opportunities to tackle new challenges not just to see 

how they perform, but to give them the experience they need to help lead this company now, and for 

many years to come.  

Thanks for believing and investing in us. You motivate us every day to be better today than we were the 

day before so that the return we provide to all stakeholders makes them pleased to be –and to own -- a 

part of this great company.  

Cordially, 

William G. Currie 
Chairman of the Board   

Matthew J. Missad 
Chief Executive Officer 

v 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
UNIVERSAL FOREST PRODUCTS, INC. 
FINANCIAL INFORMATION 

Table of Contents 

Selected Financial Data 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017 

Consolidated Statements of Earnings and Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended December 29, 2018, 

December 30, 2017, and December 31, 2016 

Exhibit 13 

2

3-24

25

26

27

28

29

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for the Years Ended December 29, 2018, December 30, 2017, 

30

and December 31, 2016 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 29, 2018, December 30, 2017, and 

31

December 31, 2016 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

Market Information for our Common Stock 

Stock Performance Graph 

Directors and Executive Officers 

Shareholder Information 

32-54

55

56

57

58

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA 
(In thousands, except per share and statistics data) 

2018 

2017 

2016 

2015 

2014 

Consolidated Statement of Earnings 
Data 
Net sales 
Gross profit 
Earnings before income taxes(6) 
Net earnings attributable to controlling 
interest 
Diluted earnings per share 
Dividends per share 
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data 
Working capital(1) 
Total assets 
Total debt 
Shareholders’ equity 
Statistics 
Gross profit as a percentage of net sales   
Net earnings attributable to controlling 
interest as a percentage of net sales 
Return on beginning equity(2) 
Current ratio(4) 
Debt to equity ratio(5) 
Book value per common share(3) 

  $ 4,489,180
   592,894
   197,853

  $ 148,598
2.40
  $
0.360
  $

  $ 685,108
   1,647,548
   202,278
   1,088,684

$ 3,941,182
542,826
176,007

$ 3,240,493
474,590
160,671

$  2,887,071  
 399,904  
 131,002  

$ 2,660,329
325,342
95,713

$ 119,512
1.94
$
0.320
$

$ 101,179
1.65
$
0.290
$

$ 
$ 
$ 

 80,595  
 1.33  
 0.273  

$
$

57,551
0.95
0.203

$ 560,241
1,464,677
146,003
974,023

$ 484,661
1,292,058
111,693
860,466

$ 

 444,057  
 1,107,679  
 85,895  
 766,409  

397,546
$
  1,023,800
98,645
699,560

13.2 %  

13.8 %  

14.6 %  

 13.9 %   

12.2 %

3.3 %  
15.3 %  
3.21
0.19
17.88

$

3.0 %  
13.9 %  
2.85
0.15
15.92

$

3.1 %  
13.2 %  
2.78
0.13
14.10

$ 

 2.8 %   
 11.5 %   
 3.17  
 0.11  
 12.68  

$

2.2 %
8.8 %
3.27
0.14
11.67

  $

(1)  Current assets less current liabilities. 
(2)  Net earnings attributable to controlling interest divided by beginning shareholders’ equity. 
(3)  Shareholders’ equity divided by common stock outstanding. 
(4)  Current assets divided by current liabilities. 
(5)  Total debt divided by shareholders’ equity. 
(6)  2018 includes an approximately $7 million gain on the sale of one of our facilities. 

Acquisition growth is one of the primary contributing factors to material increases over the period from 2014 to 2018.  
Refer to Note C under the “Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements” for further discussion on the Company’s 
business combinations and impact on financials. 

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UNIVERSAL FOREST PRODUCTS, INC. 
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF 
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 

Universal Forest Products, Inc. is a holding company with subsidiaries throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and in 
Australia  that  supply  wood,  wood  composite  and  other  products  to  three  robust  markets: retail,  industrial,  and 
construction. The  Company  is  headquartered  in  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.  For  more  information  about  Universal  Forest 
Products, Inc., or its affiliated operations, go to www.ufpi.com. 

This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act, as 
amended, that are based on management’s beliefs, assumptions, current expectations, estimates and projections about the 
markets we serve, the economy and the Company itself. Words like “anticipates,” “believes,” “confident,” “estimates,” 
“expects,” “forecasts,” “likely,” “plans,” “projects,” “should,” variations of such words, and similar expressions identify 
such  forward-looking  statements.  These  statements  do  not  guarantee  future  performance  and  involve  certain  risks, 
uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict with regard to timing, extent, likelihood and degree of occurrence. 
The  Company  does  not  undertake  to  update  forward-looking  statements  to  reflect  facts,  circumstances,  events,  or 
assumptions that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made. Actual results could differ materially from 
those included in such forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve 
risks  and  uncertainty.  Among  the  factors  that  could  cause  actual  results  to  differ  materially  from  forward-looking 
statements are the following: fluctuations in the price of lumber; adverse or unusual weather conditions; adverse economic 
conditions in the markets we serve; government regulations, particularly involving environmental and safety regulations; 
and our ability to make successful business acquisitions. Certain of these risk factors as well as other risk factors and 
additional  information  are  included  in  the  Company’s  reports  on  Form 10-K  and  10-Q  on  file  with  the  Securities  and 
Exchange Commission. We are pleased to present this overview of 2018. 

Our results for 2018 were impacted by the following: 

OVERVIEW 

  Our sales increased almost 14% in 2018 due to a 7% increase in our unit sales and a 7% increase in overall selling 
prices (see “Historical Lumber Prices”). Our unit sales increased in all three of our markets - retail, industrial, 
and construction - and were driven by a combination of acquisition and organic growth. Overall, businesses we 
acquired contributed 3% to our unit sales growth in 2018 (see Note C of the Notes to Consolidated Financial 
Statements) and we achieved 4% organic unit sales growth.   

  The  Home  Improvement  Research  Institute  reported  a  5%  increase  in  home  improvement  sales  in  2018. 
Comparatively, our unit sales to the retail market increased 4% in 2018, including approximately 2% contributed 
from acquired businesses. 

  Our unit sales to the industrial market increased 10% in 2018. Businesses we acquired contributed 5% to unit 
sales  growth.  Comparatively,  the  Federal  Reserve’s  Industrial  Production  noted  that  national  industrial 
production increased almost 4% in 2018. 

  National housing starts increased approximately 4% in the period from December 2017 through November 2018, 
compared to the same period of the prior year (our sales trail housing starts by about a month). Comparatively, 
our unit sales to residential construction customers increased 7% in 2018. 

  Production of HUD code manufactured homes were up 5% in the period from January through November 2018, 
compared to the same period of the prior year. Comparatively, our unit sales to the manufactured housing market 
increased 4% in 2018. 

  Our earnings from operations increased 14.2% to $207.3 million in 2018 from $181.5 million in 2017, which 
includes a pre-tax gain of approximately $6.7 million as a result of the sale of certain assets including our Medley, 

3 

UNIVERSAL FOREST PRODUCTS, INC. 
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF 
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 

FL, plant for $36.0 million in proceeds.  Acquired businesses contributed approximately $1.1 million to earnings 
from operations for the year.  The remaining $18.0 million, or 9.9%, increase was primarily driven by our strong 
organic unit sales growth and favorable improvements in sales mix, among other factors. 

  Net earnings attributable to controlling interest increased 24% to $148.6 million due to the factors above along 
with the reduction in our U.S Federal income tax rate in 2018.  Our overall effective rate decreased from 29.5% 
in 2017 to 23.0% in 2018. 

  Our cash flow from operating activities decreased by $20 million due to an increase in our investment in working 
capital (See “Liquidity and Capital Resources”) and opportunistic purchases of inventory in the second half of 
2018. 

  We re-invested $95.9 million in capital expenditures to support and grow our business organically and invested 

$54.0 million in acquired businesses. 

  We returned $22.1 million to shareholders through dividends and bought back $24.6 million of our common stock 

at an average price of $28.62 per share. 

  Finally, our net debt (debt plus cash overdraft less surplus cash) increased to $202.3 million, representing a ratio 
of 0.76x earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, which we believe along with other factors, 
indicates a strong credit profile. 

The following table presents the Random Lengths framing lumber composite price. 

HISTORICAL LUMBER PRICES 

Random Lengths Composite 
Average $/MBF 
2017 

2016 

2018 

January 
February 
March 
April 
May 
June 
July 
August 
September 
October 
November 
December 

Annual average 
Annual percentage change 

$

449  
496  
505  
496  
554  
572  
525  
449  
443  
375  
339  
338  

$ 

$

 356  
 393  
 401  
 424  
 416  
 399  
 411  
 417  
 416  
 437  
 436  
 433  

$

462  
$ 
12.1 %    

 412  
 19.8 %  

$

316
310
321
345
356
353
351
367
354
356
346
357

344

4 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
     
     
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
UNIVERSAL FOREST PRODUCTS, INC. 
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF 
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 

In  addition,  a  Southern  Yellow  Pine  (“SYP”)  composite  price,  which  we  prepare  and  use,  is  presented  below. Our 
purchases of this species comprise approximately 58% of total lumber purchases, excluding plywood, for 2018 and 2017. 

January 
February 
March 
April 
May 
June 
July 
August 
September 
October 
November 
December 

Annual average 
Annual percentage change 

Southern Yellow Pine 
Average $/MBF 
2017 

2018 

2016 

$

$

418  
459  
480  
483  
535  
562  
512  
449  
440  
410  
378  
377  

$ 

 397
 420
 433
 438
 416
 399
 381
 383
 387
 417
 412
 418

$

$ 
459  
12.5 %    

$

 408
 7.1 %  

358
357
366
389
397
382
380
391
375
385
387
400

381

IMPACT OF THE LUMBER MARKET ON OUR OPERATING RESULTS 

We  experience  significant  fluctuations  in  the  cost  of  commodity  lumber  products  from  primary  producers  ("Lumber 
Market"). We generally price our products to pass lumber costs through to our customers so that our profitability is based 
on the value-added manufacturing, distribution, engineering, and other services we provide. As a result, our sales levels 
(and working capital requirements) are impacted by the lumber costs of our products. Lumber costs were 50.6%, 49.1%, 
and 48.4% of our gross sales in 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively. 

Our gross margins are impacted by (1) the relative level of the Lumber Market (i.e. whether prices are higher or lower 
from comparative periods), and (2) the trend in the market price of lumber (i.e. whether the price of lumber is increasing 
or decreasing within a period or from period to period). Moreover, as explained below, our products are priced differently. 
Some  of  our  products  have  fixed  selling  prices,  while  the  selling  prices  of  other  products  are  indexed  to  the  reported 
Lumber Market with a fixed dollar adder to cover conversion costs and profits. Consequently, the level and trend of the 
Lumber Market impact our products differently. 

Below is a general description of the primary ways in which our products are priced. 

  Products with fixed selling prices. These products include value-added products such as decking and fencing sold 
to retail building materials customers, as well as trusses, wall panels and other components sold to the residential 
construction market, and most industrial packaging products. Prices for these products are generally fixed at the 
time of the sales quotation for a specified period of time or are based upon a specific quantity. In order to maintain 
margins and reduce any exposure to adverse trends in the price of component lumber products, we attempt to 
lock  in  costs  with  our  suppliers  for  these  sales  commitments.  Also,  the  time  period  and  quantity  limitations 
generally allow us to eventually re-price our products for changes in lumber costs from our suppliers. 

  Products  with  selling  prices  indexed  to  the  reported  Lumber  Market  with  a  fixed  dollar  "adder"  to  cover 
conversion  costs  and  profits.  These  products  primarily  include  treated  lumber,  remanufactured  lumber,  and 

5 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
     
     
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
UNIVERSAL FOREST PRODUCTS, INC. 
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF 
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 

trusses sold to the manufactured housing industry. For these products, we estimate the customers’ needs and we 
carry anticipated levels of inventory. Because lumber costs are incurred in advance of final sale prices, subsequent 
increases or decreases in the market price of lumber impact our profitability. In other words, for these products, 
our margins are exposed to changes in the trend of lumber prices.  We believe our sales of these products are at 
their highest relative level in our second quarter, primarily due to treated lumber sold to the retail market. 

The greatest risk associated with changes in the trend of lumber prices is on the following products: 

  Products with significant inventory levels with low turnover rates, whose selling prices are indexed to the Lumber 
Market. In other words, the longer the period of time these products remain in inventory, the greater the exposure 
to changes in the price of lumber. This would include treated lumber, which comprises approximately 18% of our 
total sales. This exposure is less significant with remanufactured lumber, trusses sold to the manufactured housing 
market, and other similar products, due to our higher rate of inventory turnover of these products. We attempt to 
mitigate the risk associated with treated lumber through vendor consignment inventory programs. (Please refer 
to  the “Risk Factors” section of our  annual  report on  form  10-K,  filed  with  the United States Securities  and 
Exchange Commission.) 

  Products with fixed selling prices sold under long-term supply arrangements, particularly those involving multi-
family construction projects. We attempt to mitigate this risk through our purchasing practices by locking in costs 
or including re-pricing triggers if lumber prices change in excess of an agreed upon percentage. 

In  addition  to  the  impact  of  the  Lumber  Market  trends  on  gross  margins,  changes  in  the  level  of  the  market  cause 
fluctuations in gross margins when comparing operating results from period to period. This is explained in the following 
example, which assumes the price of lumber has increased from period one to period two, with no changes in the trend 
within each period. 

Lumber cost 
Conversion cost 
 = Product cost 
Adder 
 = Sell price 
Gross margin 

      Period 1 

$ 

$ 

$

 300  
 50  
 350  
 50  
$
 400  
 12.5 %  

Period 2 
400
50
450
50
500
10.0 %

As is apparent from the preceding example, the level of lumber prices does not impact our overall profits but does impact 
our  margins.  Gross  margins  and  operating  margins  are  negatively  impacted  during  periods  of  high  lumber  prices; 
conversely, we experience margin improvement when lumber prices are relatively low. As a result of this factor, we believe 
it is useful to compare our change in units shipped with our change in gross profits, operating profits, and selling, general, 
and administrative expenses as a method of evaluating our profitability and efficiency. 

BUSINESS COMBINATIONS AND ASSET PURCHASES 

We completed seven business acquisitions during 2018 and four during 2017. The annual historical sales attributable to 
acquisitions  in  2018  and  2017  were  approximately  $140  million  and  $127  million,  respectively.  These  business 
combinations were not significant to our operating results individually or in aggregate, and thus pro forma results for 2018 
and 2017 are not presented. 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note C, "Business Combinations" for additional information. 

6 

 
 
 
 
 
     
  
  
  
  
  
 
UNIVERSAL FOREST PRODUCTS, INC. 
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF 
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 

The  following  table  presents,  for  the  periods  indicated,  the  components  of  our  Consolidated  Statements  of 

Earnings as a percentage of net sales. 

Net sales 
Cost of goods sold 
Gross profit 
Selling, general, and administrative expenses 
Net gain on disposition  and impairment of assets
Earnings from operations 
Other expense (income), net 
Earnings before income taxes 
Income taxes 
Net earnings 
Less net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest
Net earnings attributable to controlling interest

2018 

2016 

100.0 %   

Year Ended 
    December 29,      December 30,      December 31,  
2017 
 100.0 %  
 86.2   
 13.8   
 9.1   
 —   
 4.6   
 0.1   
 4.5   
 1.3   
 3.1   
 (0.1)  
 3.0 %  

86.8
13.2
8.8
(0.1)
4.6
0.2
4.4
1.0
3.4
(0.1)
3.3 %   

100.0 %
85.4
14.6
9.6
—
5.1
0.1
5.0
1.7
3.3
(0.1)
3.1 %

Note: Actual percentages are calculated and may not sum to total due to rounding. 

The following table presents, for the periods indicated, the components of our Consolidated Statements of Earnings as a 
percentage of sales, adjusted to restate 2017 and 2018 sales and cost of goods sold at lumber prices.  The restated sales 
amounts were calculated by applying unit sales growth from 2017 and 2018 to 2016 sales levels.  By eliminating the “pass-
through” impact of higher or lower lumber prices on sales and cost of goods sold from year to year, we believe this provides 
an enhanced view of our change in profitability and costs as a percentage of sales.  The amount of the adjustment to 2017 
and 2018 sales was also applied to cost of goods sold so that gross profit remains unchanged. 

Net sales 
Cost of goods sold 
Gross profit 
Selling, general, and administrative expenses 
Net gain on disposition  and impairment of assets
Earnings from operations 
Other expense (income), net 
Earnings before income taxes 
Income taxes 
Net earnings 
Less net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest
Net earnings attributable to controlling interest

2018 

2016 

100.0 %   

Adjusted for Lumber Market Volatility 
Year Ended 
    December 29,      December 30,      December 31,  
2017 
 100.0 %  
 85.4   
 14.6   
 9.7   
 —   
 4.9   
 0.1   
 4.7   
 1.4   
 3.3   
 (0.1)  
 3.2 %  

85.1
14.9
9.9
(0.2)
5.2
0.2
5.0
1.1
3.8
(0.1)
3.7 %   

100.0 %
85.4
14.6
9.6
—
5.1
0.1
5.0
1.7
3.3
(0.1)
3.1 %

The  following  table  presents,  for  the  periods  included,  our  selling,  general,  and  administrative  (SG&A)  costs  as  a 
percentage of gross profit.  Given our strategies to enhance our capabilities and improve our value-added product offering 

7 

 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
UNIVERSAL FOREST PRODUCTS, INC. 
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF 
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 

and recognizing the higher relative level of SG&A costs these strategies require, we believe this ratio provides an enhanced 
view of our efficiency in managing these costs. 

SG&A as a Percentage of Gross Profit 
Year Ended 
December 30, 
2017 

December 29, 
2018 

December 31, 
2016 

Gross profit 
Selling, general, and administrative expenses 
SG&A as percentage of gross profit 

592,894
392,235
66.2%

542,826   
362,220   
66.7%   

474,590
310,152
65.4%

GROSS SALES 

We design, manufacture and market wood and wood-alternative products for national home centers and other retailers, 
structural lumber and other products for the manufactured housing industry, engineered wood components for residential 
and commercial construction, specialty wood packaging, components and packing materials for various industries, and 
customized interior fixtures used in a variety of retail stores, commercial and other structures. Our strategic long-term sales 
objectives include: 

  Maximizing unit sales growth while achieving return on investment goals 

  Diversifying our end market sales mix by increasing sales of specialty wood and other packaging to industrial 
users,  increasing  our  penetration  of  the  concrete  forming  market,  increasing  our  sales  of  engineered  wood 
components for custom home, multi-family, military and light commercial construction, increasing our market 
share  with  independent  retailers,  and  increasing  our  sales  of  customized  interior  fixtures  used  in  a  variety  of 
markets. 

  Expanding geographically in our core businesses, domestically and internationally. 

 

Increasing  sales  of  "value-added"  products,  which  primarily  consist  of  fencing,  decking,  lattice,  and  other 
specialty products sold to the retail  market, specialty wood packaging, engineered wood components, customized 
interior fixtures, and "wood alternative" products. Engineered wood components include roof trusses, wall panels, 
and floor systems. Wood alternative products consist primarily of composite wood and plastics. Although we 
consider the treatment of dimensional lumber with certain chemical preservatives a value-added process, treated 
lumber is not presently included in the value-added sales. 

The following table presents, for the periods indicated, our percentage of value-added and commodity-based sales to 

total sales. Value-added products generally carry higher gross margins than our commodity-based products.  

2018 
2017 
2016 

      Value-Added 

Commodity-Based 

62.5 %    
63.3 %    
62.6 %    

37.5 %
36.7 %
37.4 %

  Developing new products and expanding our product offering. New product sales are presented by market in the 

table below (in thousands).  

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UNIVERSAL FOREST PRODUCTS, INC. 
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF 
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 

Market Classification 
Retail 
Industrial 
Construction 
Total New Product Sales 

      December 29,

2018 

  $  291,654
141,791
79,735
513,180

New Product Sales by Market 
Twelve Months Ended 
     December 30,     
2017 
241,662
113,120
67,929
422,711

% 
  Change  
20.7
25.3
17.4
21.4

$

% 

  Change  

December 31, 
2016 
 191,619
 97,718
 49,290
 338,627

26.1   $ 
15.8  
37.8  
24.8  

Note:  Certain prior year product reclassifications resulted in a decrease and increase in new product sales in 2017 and 2016,        
respectively. 

Our goal is for our new product sales to comprise at least 10% of our total sales. 

The following table presents, for the periods indicated, our gross sales (in thousands) and percentage change in gross sales 
by market classification. 

December 29,      % 

     December 30,       % 

     December 31,

Year Ended 

Market Classification 
Retail 
Industrial 
Construction 
Total Gross Sales 
Sales Allowances 
Total Net Sales 

2018 
$ 1,662,895
1,557,011
1,345,843
4,565,749
(76,569)
$ 4,489,180

  Change 
11.4
16.1
14.8
14.0
17.8
13.9

2017 
$ 1,492,552   
1,341,319   
1,172,332   
4,006,203   
(65,021)  
$ 3,941,182   

  Change 

2016 

 15.4   $ 1,293,797
988,050
 35.8  
1,015,530
 15.4  
3,297,377
 21.5  
 14.3  
(56,884)
 21.6   $ 3,240,493

Note: During 2018, certain customers were reclassified to a different market. Prior year information has been restated to reflect these changes. 

The  following  table  presents  estimates,  for  the  periods  indicated,  of  our percentage  change  in  gross  sales  which  were 
attributable to changes in overall selling prices versus changes in units shipped. 

2018 versus 2017 
2017 versus 2016 
2016 versus 2015 

Retail: 

% Change 

in Sales       in Selling Prices     
 7.0 %  
 6.6 %  
 1.2 %  

14.0 %   
21.5 %   
12.4 %   

in Units   
7.0 %
14.9 %
11.2 %

Gross sales to the retail market increased over 11% in 2018 compared to 2017 due to a 4% increase in unit sales and a 7% 
increase in selling prices. Within this market, sales to our big box customers increased 8% while our sales to other retailers 
increased 17%. Businesses we acquired contributed 2% to our growth, while new products contributed to our 2% organic 
unit sales growth. Comparatively, our large retail customers reported year over year store sales growth of approximately 
6% during the first nine months of 2018, the latest information available to us.  In the third and fourth quarter of 2017, our 
sales increased due to hurricanes Irma and Harvey. 

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UNIVERSAL FOREST PRODUCTS, INC. 
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF 
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 

Gross sales to the retail market increased over 15% in 2017 compared to 2016 due to a 10% increase in unit sales and a 
5% increase in selling prices. Within this market, sales to our big box customers increased 16% while our sales to other 
retailers increased 14%. Businesses we acquired contributed 7% to our growth, while new products contributed to our 3% 
organic unit sales growth. Comparatively, our large retail customers reported year over year same store sales growth of 
approximately 8% during the first nine months of 2017, the latest information available to us. 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note C, "Business Combinations" for additional information concerning 
acquired businesses. 

Industrial: 

Gross sales to the industrial market increased 16% in 2018 compared to 2017, resulting from a 10% increase in overall 
unit sales and a 6% increase in selling prices. Businesses we acquired contributed 5% to our growth in unit sales. Our 
organic unit sales growth of 5% was primarily achieved through share gains including adding 200 new customers during 
the year and increasing the number of locations we serve of existing customers by 346. 

Gross sales to the industrial market increased 36% in 2017 compared to 2016, resulting from a 30% increase in overall 
unit sales and a 6% increase in selling prices. Businesses we acquired contributed 25% to our growth in unit sales. Our 
organic unit sales growth of 5% was primarily achieved through share gains including adding 390 new customers during 
the year and increasing the number of locations we serve existing customers by 142. 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note C, "Business Combinations" for additional information concerning 
acquired businesses. 

Construction: 

Gross sales to the construction market increased almost 15% in 2018 compared to 2017, due to a unit sales increase of 7% 
and an 8% increase in selling prices. Unit sales increased due to a 7% increase in units shipped to residential construction 
customers, a 4% increase in shipments to manufactured housing customers, and a 14% increase in unit sales to commercial 
construction customers. Businesses we acquired in 2018 contributed 4% to our commercial construction unit sales growth. 
Comparatively, the Mortgage Bankers Association of America reported year over year national housing starts increased 
4%, the United States Census Bureau reported commercial construction market increased 6% and the National Association 
of Home Builders reported industry production of HUD-code homes increased almost 5%.  

Gross sales to the construction market increased almost 16% in 2017 compared to 2016, due to a unit sales increase of 7% 
and a 9% increase in selling prices. Unit sales increased due to a 7% increase in units shipped to residential construction 
customers and a 9% increase in shipments to manufactured housing customers while unit sales to commercial construction 
customers  remained  flat.  Businesses  we  acquired  in  2017  contributed  1%  to  unit  sales  growth.  Comparatively,  the 
Mortgage Bankers Association of America reported year over year national housing starts increased 4%, the United States 
Census Bureau reported commercial construction market increased 3% and the National Association of Home Builders 
reported industry production of HUD-code homes increased over 15%. 

COST OF GOODS SOLD AND GROSS PROFIT 

Our gross profit percentage decreased from 13.8% in 2017 to 13.2% in 2018 due, in part, to the high level of lumber prices 
in 2018. This is evident when comparing our increase in gross profits with our increase in units shipped.  Our gross profit 

10 

UNIVERSAL FOREST PRODUCTS, INC. 
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF 
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 

dollars increased by over $50 million, or 9.2%, which exceeds our 6.8% increase in unit sales. Our profitability in 2018 
was impacted by the following factors: 

  An $8 million, or 5%, increase in our gross profit on sales to the retail market, primarily driven by a 4% increase 

in unit sales. 

  A $27 million, or 13%, increase in our gross profit on sales to the industrial market, primarily driven by a 10% 
increase in unit sales as well as favorable changes in product mix and a decline in lumber prices in the last six 
months of 2018.  Most products sold to this market have fixed selling prices for a period of time. 

  A $24 million, or 15%, increase in gross profit on sales to the construction market, primarily driven by unit growth 
and a decline in lumber prices in the last six months of 2018.  Acquired businesses contributed $1 million of this 
gross profit increase. 

  The remaining $9 million decrease in our gross profit was due to a variety of factors including unfavorable labor 
and overhead cost variances in certain areas of our business and an increase in customer rebates compared to 
2017. 

Our gross profit percentage decreased from 14.6% in 2016 to 13.8% in 2017 due, in part, to the high level of lumber prices. 
This is evident when comparing our increase in gross profits with our increase in units shipped.  Our gross profit dollars 
increased by over $68 million, or 14%, which is slightly below our 15% increase in unit sales. Our profitability in 2017 
was impacted by the following factors: 

  An $8 million, or 5%, increase in our gross profit on sales to the retail market,  was primarily driven by a 10% 
increase in unit sales to that market. Businesses we acquired in 2017 contributed $1.6 million of our gross profit 
increase.  Our increase in gross profit was less than our increase in unit sales as a result of adverse changes in 
lumber  prices,  particularly  in  the  second  quarter  which  is  our  primary  selling  season,  and  the  acquisition  of 
Robbins in the first quarter of 2017, which primarily sells lower margin treated lumber products. 

  Our 30% growth in unit sales to the industrial market resulted in a $34 million, or 20%, increase in our gross 
profit, which was due primarily to businesses we acquired in 2017 and 2016. Our increase in gross profit was less 
than our increase in unit sales primarily due to the impact of higher lumber prices on our products sold with fixed 
selling prices during part of the year. 

  Almost $13 million, or 9%, of our gross profit improvement was primarily due to 7% unit sales growth on sales 
to  the  construction  market.    Our  gross  profit  increase  exceeded  our  increase  in  unit  sales  primarily  due  to 
leveraging our fixed manufacturing costs, which helped offset the impact of higher lumber prices on products 
sold with fixed selling prices during part of the year and higher labor rates and benefit costs. 

  The remaining $13 million increase in our gross profit was due to a variety of factors including favorable labor 
and  overhead  cost  variances  in  certain  areas  of  our  business,  increases  in  vendor  rebates,  and  a  decrease  in 
customer rebates compared to 2016. 

SELLING, GENERAL, AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES 

Selling,  general  and  administrative  ("SG&A")  expenses  increased  by  approximately  $30.0  million,  or  8.3%,  in  2018 
compared to 2017, while we reported a 7% increase in unit sales. Acquired businesses contributed $8.3 million to our 
increase. The remaining increase in SG&A was primarily due to an $11.4 million increase in compensation and benefit 
costs resulting from annual raises, healthcare cost increases, and hiring additional personnel to support sales growth, and 

11 

UNIVERSAL FOREST PRODUCTS, INC. 
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF 
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 

a $6.1 million increase in sales and other incentive compensation.  Finally, our annual bonus expense increased by $4 
million to almost $48 million in 2018 compared to last year.  Our annual bonus expense is tied to operating profits and 
return on investment. 

Selling,  general  and  administrative  ("SG&A")  expenses  increased  by  approximately  $52.1  million,  or  16.7%,  in  2017 
compared to 2016, while we reported a 15% increase in unit sales. Acquired businesses contributed $41.0 million to our 
increase. The remaining increase in SG&A was primarily due to an $11.1 million increase in compensation and related 
costs resulting from annual raises, greater benefit costs, and hiring additional personnel to support sales growth.  Finally, 
our annual bonus expense was almost $44 million compared to $45 million in 2016.  This decrease, in spite of an increase 
in profits, was due to a decline in our return on investment, a key performance metric for determining the annual bonus 
amount. 

INTEREST, NET 

Net interest costs were higher in 2018 compared to 2017, due to a higher outstanding balance on our revolving line of 
credit throughout 2018, an increase in variable borrowing rates, and issuance of additional long-term Senior Notes under 
our shelf facility at an average rate of 4.23%. 

Net interest costs were higher in 2017 compared to 2016, due to a higher outstanding balance on our revolving line of 
credit throughout 2017 as well as an increase in the borrowing rate on our revolving credit facility which is tied to LIBOR. 

INCOME TAXES 

Effective tax rates differ from statutory federal income tax rates, primarily due to provisions for state and local income 
taxes, permanent tax differences, and the impact of the Tax Act in the U.S. Our effective tax rate decreased to 23.0% in 
2018 compared to 29.5% in 2017.  The decrease in the 2018 effective tax rate was primarily due to the impact of the Tax 
Act, which reduced the statutory federal income tax rate from 35% to 21%. 

Our effective tax rate decreased to 29.5% in 2017 compared to 34.3% in 2016.  The decrease in the 2017 tax rate was 
primarily due to the impact of the Tax Act, which resulted in a $6.4 million reduction in our net deferred tax liability at 
the end of December 2017.  The remaining decrease was due to increases in tax credits and permanent tax differences. 

SEGMENT REPORTING 

The following tables present, for the periods indicated, our net sales and earnings from operations by reportable segment 
(in thousands). 

Net Sales 

North 
South 
West 
All Other 
Total 

  December 29,
2018 
$ 1,279,459
1,024,747
1,599,274
585,700
$ 4,489,180

  December 30,
2017 
$ 1,133,656
837,370
1,417,924
552,232
$ 3,941,182

12 

  December 31,    % Change    % Change  
    2018 vs 2017      2017 vs 2016  
13.3 %
17.6
13.3
99.3
21.6 %

2016 
$ 1,000,426  
711,862  
1,251,093  
277,112  
$ 3,240,493  

 12.9 %  
 22.4   
 12.8   
 6.1   
 13.9 %  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
    
    
 
UNIVERSAL FOREST PRODUCTS, INC. 
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF 
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 

Earnings from Operations 

North 
South 
West 
All Other 
Corporate1 
Total 

$

  December 29,
2018 
66,239
60,049
103,357
6,779
(29,161)
$ 207,263

$

2017 
61,326
46,646
82,465
17,296
(26,264)
$ 181,469

$

$

2016 
59,408  
47,146  
76,875  
16,639  
(35,630)  
164,438   

  % Change    % Change  
    2018 vs 2017      2017 vs 2016  
3.2 %
(1.1)
7.3
3.9
26.3
10.4 %

 8.0 %  
 28.7   
 25.3   
 (60.8)  
 (11.0)  
 14.2 %

  December 30,    December 31, 

1.  Corporate primarily represents over (under) allocated administrative costs and certain incentive compensation expense. 

North 

Market Classification 
Retail 
Industrial 
Construction 
Total Gross Sales 
Sales Allowances 
Total Net Sales 

 Net Sales of North Segment by Market 
Twelve Months Ended 

  December 29,   December 30,   December 31,   % Change   

  $

2018 
541,798
213,178
550,630
1,305,606
(26,147)
  $ 1,279,459

$

2017 
489,269
157,633
510,144
1,157,046
(23,390)
$ 1,133,656

$

2016 
465,601
115,867
438,968
1,020,436
(20,010)
$ 1,000,426

    2018 vs 2017     

 10.7 %   
 35.2  
 7.9  
 12.8 % 
 (11.8) 
 12.9 % 

% Change  
2017 vs 2016 

5.1 %

36.0
16.2
13.4 %
(16.9)
13.3 %

Net sales attributable to the North reportable segment increased by $145.8 million, or 12.9%, in 2018, due primarily to the 
following factors: 

  Acquired operations contributed almost $27 million and $6 million to our growth in sales to the industrial and 

construction markets, respectively. 

  Higher lumber prices resulted in an increase in our selling prices. 

  Organic unit sales growth primarily to the retail and industrial markets. 

Earnings from operations for the North reportable segment increased in 2018 by $4.9 million, or 8.0%, due to an increase 
in  gross profit  of $7.9  million, offset  by  a  $3.0  million  increase  in  SG&A  expenses  compared  to  last  year.    Acquired 
operations contributed $1.6 million to the North’s operating profits in 2018.  Gross profits and SG&A were impacted by 
the  same  factors  discussed  under  “Cost  of  Goods  Sold  and  Gross  Profit”  and  “Selling,  General,  and  Administrative 
Expenses.” 

Net sales attributable to the North reportable segment increased by $133 million, or 13.3%, in 2017, due primarily to the 
following factors: 

  Acquired operations contributed over $29 million to our growth in sales to the industrial market. 

  Higher lumber prices resulted in an increase in our selling prices. 

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UNIVERSAL FOREST PRODUCTS, INC. 
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF 
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 

  Organic unit sales growth to the industrial and construction markets was offset slightly by a decrease in unit sales 

to the retail market due to a decline in demand from certain customers. 

Earnings from operations for the North reportable segment increased in 2017 by $1.9 million, or 3.2%, due to an increase 
in  gross profit  of $9.2  million, offset  by  a  $7.3  million  increase  in  SG&A  expenses  compared  to  last  year.    Acquired 
operations contributed $1.5 million to the North’s operating profits in 2017.  Gross profits and SG&A were impacted by 
the  same  factors  discussed  under  “Cost  of  Goods  Sold  and  Gross  Profit”  and  “Selling,  General,  and  Administrative 
Expenses.” 

South 

Market Classification 
Retail 
Industrial 
Construction 
Total Gross Sales 
Sales Allowances 
Total Net Sales 

Net Sales of South Segment by Market 
Twelve Months Ended 

  December 29,   December 30,  December 31,  % Change    

     2018 vs 2017      

% Change  
2017 vs 2016 

  $

2018 
441,050
392,971
211,792
1,045,813
(21,066)
  $ 1,024,747

2017 
$ 388,273
276,848
191,139
856,260
(18,890)
$ 837,370

2016 
$ 317,003
251,475
157,612
726,090
(14,228)
$ 711,862

 13.6 %   
 41.9  
 10.8  
 22.1 % 
 (11.5) 
 22.4 % 

22.5 %
10.1
21.3
17.9 %
(32.8)
17.6 %

Net sales attributable to the South reportable segment increased by $187 million, or 22.4%, in 2018, primarily due to the 
following factors: 

  Acquired operations contributed $33 million and $40 million to our retail and industrial markets, respectively. 

  Higher lumber prices increased our selling prices. 

  Strong organic unit sales growth, particularly to the industrial market. 

Earnings from operations for the South reportable segment increased in 2018 by $13.4 million, or 28.7%, which includes 
a $6.7 million gain from the sale of our Medley, Florida, plant and an increase in gross profit of $8.9 million, which was 
offset  by  a  $2.2  million  increase  in  SG&A  expenses  compared  to  last  year.    Acquired  operations  had  a  $0.3  million 
operating loss in 2018.   

Net sales attributable to the South reportable segment increased by $125 million, or 17.6%, in 2017, primarily due to the 
following factors: 

  Acquired  operations  contributed  $88.4  million,  $5.0  million,  and  $6.1  million  to  our  retail,  industrial,  and 

construction markets, respectively. 

  Higher lumber prices increased our selling prices. 

  Organic unit sales growth to the construction and industrial markets was offset by a decline in unit sales to the 
retail  market  as  a  result  of  transferring  our  import  and  export  business  to  our  International  segment  and 

14 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
    
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
UNIVERSAL FOREST PRODUCTS, INC. 
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF 
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 

management  team.    Our  International  segment  was  formed,  among  other  reasons,  to  gain  efficiencies  by 
consolidating our international business into one unit. 

Earnings from operations for the South reportable segment decreased in 2017 by $0.5 million, or 1.1%, as the increase in 
gross profit of $3.9 million was more than offset by a $4.4 million increase in SG&A expenses compared to last year.  
Acquired operations contributed $3.5 million to our operating profits in 2017.  Our decline in profitability was due to 
customer attrition in our East Central and Southeast regions. 

West 

Market Classification 
Retail 
Industrial 
Construction 
Total Gross Sales 
Sales Allowances 
Total Net Sales 

Net Sales of West Segment by Market 
Twelve Months Ended 

  December 29,   December 30,   December 31,   % Change   

  $

2018 
479,494
559,277
582,761
1,621,532
(22,258)
  $ 1,599,274

$

2017 
438,967
525,946
470,346
1,435,259
(17,335)
$ 1,417,924

$

2016 
383,899
464,686
418,946
1,267,531
(16,438)
$ 1,251,093

    2018 vs 2017     

 9.2 %   
 6.3  
 23.9  
 13.0 % 
 28.4  
 12.8 % 

% Change  
2017 vs 2016 

14.3 %
13.2
12.3
13.2 %
5.5
13.3 %

Net sales of the West reportable segment increased by $181 million, or 12.8%, in 2018, primarily due to the following 
factors: 

  Higher lumber prices increased our selling prices. 

  Organic unit sales growth to the retail and construction markets. 

Earnings from operations for the West reportable segment increased in 2018 by $20.9 million, or 25.3%, due to an increase 
in gross profit of $26.3 million, offset by a $5.4 million increase in SG&A expenses compared to last year due to the same 
factors discussed under “Cost of Goods Sold and Gross Profit” and “Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses.”  

Net sales of the West reportable segment increased by $167 million, or 13.3%, in 2017, primarily due to the following 
factors: 

  Acquired  operations  contributed  $4.9  million,  $3.2  million,  and  $6.8  million  to  our  retail,  industrial,  and 

construction markets, respectively. 

  Higher lumber prices increased our selling prices. 

  Organic unit sales growth in each of our markets due to the factors discussed under “Gross Sales”. 

Earnings from operations for the West reportable segment increased in 2017 by $5.6 million, or 7.3%, due to an increase 
in gross profit of $12.1 million, offset by a $6.5 million increase in SG&A expenses compared to last year due to the same 
factors discussed under “Cost of Goods Sold and Gross Profit” and “Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses.” 

15 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
    
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
UNIVERSAL FOREST PRODUCTS, INC. 
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF 
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 

Net Sales of All Other Segment by Market 
Twelve Months Ended 

2018 

    December 29,  December 30,  December 31,  % Change    % Change 
     2018 vs 2017    2017 vs 2016
38.3
144.1
9,533.3
96.7
(19.6)
99.3

2016 
$ 127,294  
156,022  
 3  
283,319  
(6,207) 
$ 277,112   

  $ 200,554
391,585
659
592,798
(7,098)
$ 585,700

2017 
$ 176,043
380,892
289
557,224
(4,992)
$ 552,232

 13.9
 2.8
 128.0
 6.4
 42.2
 6.1

All Other 

Market Classification 
Retail 
Industrial 
Construction 
Total Gross Sales 
Sales Allowances 
Total Net Sales 

Note that prior years have been restated to reflect the reclassification of captive insurance external revenue from the sales allowances line item into the 
industrial market.  We believe these amounts to be immaterial to the financial statements. 

Our All Other reportable segment consists of our Alternative Materials, International, idX, and certain other segments 
which are not significant. 

Net sales of all other segments increased $33.5 million, or 6.1%, in 2018 primarily due to: 

  Acquired operations contributed $2 million to our sales growth to the industrial market.   

  Our increase in sales to the retail and industrial markets was primarily due to an increase in our import and export 

business within the international segment. 

Earnings from operations for the All Other reportable segment decreased in 2018 by $10.5 million, or 60.8%, due to a 
decrease in gross profit of $5.2 million and a $5.3 million increase in SG&A expenses compared to last year.  The decrease 
in earnings from operations was primarily due to our idX operations, as a result of increased costs related to a facility 
relocation and unfavorable labor and overhead cost variances due in part to new business and related inefficiencies. 

Net sales of all other segments increased $275.1 million, or 99.3%, in 2017 primarily due to: 

  Acquired  operations,  including  idX,  contributed  $196  million  to  our  sales  growth  to  the  industrial  market.  
Additionally, the Mexico reporting unit of our international segment increased its sales to the industrial market. 

  Our  increase  in  sales  to  the  retail  market  was  due  to  the  transfer  of  our  import  and  export  business  into  our 

international segment. 

Earnings  from  operations  for  the  All  Other  reportable  segment  increased  in  2017  by  $0.7  million,  or  3.9%,  due  to  an 
increase in gross profit of $46.5 million, offset by a $45.8 million increase in SG&A expenses compared to last year.  
Acquired operations increased earnings from operations by $1.7 million in 2017. 

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UNIVERSAL FOREST PRODUCTS, INC. 
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF 
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 

OFF-BALANCE SHEET COMMITMENTS AND CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS 

We have no significant off-balance sheet commitments other than operating leases. The following table summarizes our 
contractual obligations as of December 29, 2018 (in thousands). 

Contractual Obligation 
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations 
Estimated interest on long-term debt and capital lease 
obligations 
Operating leases 
Capital project purchase obligations 
Total 

Payments Due by Period 

     Less than     
1 Year 
81

$

1 – 3 
Years 
$ 2,780

3 – 5 
Years 

      After 
5 Years 
$ 81,161   $ 118,256

Total 
$ 202,278

7,717
17,242
14,316
$ 39,356

15,163
21,753
—
$ 39,696

13,825  
14,728  
 —  

    19,155
    22,498
 —
$ 109,714   $ 159,909

55,860
76,221
14,316
$ 348,675

As of December 29, 2018, we also had $30.3 million in outstanding letters of credit issued during the normal course of 
business, as required by some vendor contracts. 

The table below presents, for the periods indicated, a summary of our cash flow statement (in thousands): 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES 

Cash from operating activities
Cash used in investing activities 
Cash from (used in) financing activities 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash 
Net change in cash and cash equivalents 
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, beginning of year
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, end of year

  December 29,   December 30,  December 31,

2017 
2018 
116,685     
 136,583 
(121,232)      (137,659)
 (5,247)
 650 
 (5,673)
 34,489 
 28,816  $

4,393     
(464)    
(618)    
28,816     
28,198   $ 

2016 
172,520
(227,657)
3,211
(1,927)
(53,853)
88,342
34,489

$

In general, we financed our growth in the past through a combination of operating cash flows, our revolving credit facility, 
industrial development bonds (when circumstances permit), and issuance of long-term notes payable at times when interest 
rates are favorable. We manage our capital structure by attempting to maintain a targeted ratio of debt to equity and debt 
to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. We believe these financial ratios are among many other 
important factors to maintaining a strong credit profile, which in turn helps ensure timely access to capital when needed. 

Seasonality has a significant impact on our working capital due to our primary selling season which occurs during the 
period from March to August. Consequently, our working capital increases during our first and second quarters resulting 
in negative or modest cash flows from operations during those periods. Conversely, we experience a substantial decrease 
in working capital once we move beyond our peak selling season which typically results in significant cash flows from 
operations in our third and fourth quarters. 

17 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
    
    
 
UNIVERSAL FOREST PRODUCTS, INC. 
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF 
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 

Due to the seasonality of our business and the effects of the Lumber Market, we believe our cash cycle (days of sales 
outstanding  plus days  supply  of  inventory  less days  payables  outstanding)  is  a  good  indicator  of  our  working  capital 
management. As indicated in the table below, our cash cycle increased to 54 days in 2018 from 52 days in 2017. 

Days of sales outstanding 
Days supply of inventory 
Days payables outstanding 
Days in cash cycle 

Twelve Months Ended 

  December 29,  December 30,  December 31,

2018 

2017 

2016 

32    
43
(21)
54

31      
41  
(20) 
52  

 31
 38
 (21)
 48

The increase in our days’ supply of inventory from 2016 to 2017 was due to idX as its business requires a higher investment 
in inventory due to the long project lead time of its customers.  The increase in our days’ supply of inventory from 2017 
to 2018 was primarily due to opportunistic lumber purchases in the second half of 2018. 

Our cash flows from operating activities in 2018 was $116.7 million, which was comprised of net earnings of $152.4 
million and $61.1 million of non-cash expenses, offset by a $96.8 million increase in working capital since the end of 
December 2017.  Comparatively,  cash  generated  from  operating  activities  was  approximately  $136.6  million  in  2017, 
which was comprised of net earnings of $124.0 million, $47.7 million of non-cash expenses, and an $35.1 million increase 
in  working  capital  since  the  end  of  2016.      The  increase  in  working  capital  is  primarily  due  to  planned  increases  in 
inventory. 

Our cash used in investing activities during 2018 was $121.2 million, which was comprised primarily of purchases of 
property, plant, and equipment totaling $95.9 million and business acquisitions totaling $54.0 million, offset by the sale 
of property, plant, and equipment totaling $38.4 million, including the sale of our Medley, FL, plant for $36 million.   The 
increase  in  our  capital  expenditures  in  2018  is  primarily  due  to  the  additional  requirements  of  our  recently  acquired 
operations  and  an  increase  in  our  “expansionary  and  efficiency”  capital  expenditures  tied  to  initiatives  including  new 
products,  value-added  product  capacity  expansion,  automation,  and  the  purchase  of  certain  real  estate  related  to 
geographical  expansion.  Outstanding  purchase  commitments  on  existing  capital  projects  totaled  approximately  $14.3 
million on December 29, 2018.  The sale and purchase of investments totaling $3.7 million and $13.3 million, respectively, 
are due to investment activity in our captive insurance subsidiary.  

In 2017, investments in business acquisitions and purchases of property, plant, and equipment were $60.6 million and 
$71.1 million, respectively.  Outstanding purchase commitments on existing capital projects totaled approximately $7.7 
million on December 30, 2017. 

Cash flows from financing activities primarily consisted of the issuance of $75 million in Senior Notes under our shelf 
facility (See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements “Debt”), offset by net repayments under our revolving credit 
facility  of  approximately  $16.1  million,  $22.1  million  in  dividend  payments,  and  $24.6  million  in  repurchases  of  our 
common stock.  We paid semi-annual dividends in June and December at a rate of $0.18 per share.  Repurchases of our 
common stock were at an average price of $28.62 per share.  Comparatively in 2017, cash flows from financing activities 
primarily consisted of net borrowings under our revolving credit facility of approximately $35.6 million, offset by $19.6 
million in dividend payments and almost $13 million of stock repurchases at an average price of $29.11 per share.  

On November 1, 2018, we entered into a five-year, $375 million unsecured revolving credit facility with a syndicate of 
U.S. and Canadian banks led by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as 
syndication agent.  The facilities include up to $40 million which may be advanced in the form of letters of credit, and up 
to $100 million (U.S. dollar equivalent) which may be advanced in Canadian dollars, Australian dollars, pounds Sterling, 

18 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
  
  
  
 
UNIVERSAL FOREST PRODUCTS, INC. 
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF 
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 

Euros and such other foreign currencies as may subsequently be agreed upon among the parties. This facility replaced our 
$295 million unsecured revolving credit facility. 

On December 29, 2018, we had $42.5 million outstanding on our $375 million revolving credit facility. The revolving 
credit facility also supports letters of credit totaling approximately $9.8 million on December 29, 2018. As a result, we 
have  approximately  $323  million  in  remaining  availability  on  our  revolver.  Additionally,  we  have  $150  million  in 
availability  under  a  "shelf  agreement"  for  long  term  debt  with  a  current  lender.  Financial  covenants  on  the  unsecured 
revolving  credit  facility  and  unsecured  notes  include  minimum  interest  tests  and  a  maximum  leverage  ratio.  The 
agreements also restrict the amount of additional indebtedness we may incur and the amount of assets which may be sold. 
We were in compliance with all our covenant requirements on December 29, 2018. 

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS AND REGULATIONS 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note M, “Commitments, Contingencies, and Guarantees”. 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES 

In preparing our consolidated financial statements, we follow accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. 
These principles require us to make certain estimates and apply judgments that affect our financial position and results of 
operations. We continually review our accounting policies and financial information disclosures. Following is a summary 
of  our  more  significant  accounting  policies  that  require  the  use  of  estimates  and  judgments  in  preparing  the  financial 
statements. 

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE ALLOWANCES 

We  record  provisions  against  gross  revenues  for  estimated  returns  and  cash  discounts  in  the  period  when  the  related 
revenue is recorded. These estimates are based on factors that include, but are not limited to, historical discounts taken, 
analysis of credit memorandums activity, and customer demand. We also evaluate the allowance for uncollectible accounts 
receivable and discounts based on historical collection experience and specific identification of other potential problems, 
including the economic climate. Actual collections can differ, requiring adjustments to the allowances. 

LONG-LIVED ASSETS AND GOODWILL 

We evaluate long-lived assets for indicators of impairment when events or circumstances indicate that this risk may be 
present. Our judgments regarding the existence of impairment are based on market conditions, operational performance 
and estimated future cash flows. As a result of favorable factors in each of these areas combined with substantial excess 
equity value over carrying value from the prior year analysis, management has determined that the carryforward method 
is appropriate to use with the exception of the idX reporting unit where a more in-depth analysis was completed. The 
discounted cash flow analysis, from prior years, uses the following assumption:  a business is worth today what it can 
generate in future cash flows; cash received today is worth more than an equal amount of cash received in the future; and 
future cash flows can be reasonably estimated. The discounted cash flow analysis is based on the present value of projected 
cash flows and residual values. 

As our annual testing date of October 1, 2018, based on the carryforward method and the analysis, the fair values would 
exceed the carrying values for each of the Company’s reporting units. 

If the carrying value of a long-lived asset is considered impaired, a level two analysis will be conducted and an impairment 
charge is recorded to adjust the asset to its fair value. Changes in forecasted operations and changes in discount rates can 
materially affect these estimates. In addition, we test goodwill annually for impairment or more frequently if changes in 

19 

UNIVERSAL FOREST PRODUCTS, INC. 
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF 
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 

circumstances or the occurrence of other events suggest impairments exist. The test for impairment requires us to make 
several estimates about fair value, most of which are based on projected future cash flows and market valuation multiples. 
Changes in these estimates may result in the recognition of an impairment loss. 

INSURANCE RESERVES 

We are primarily self-insured for certain employee health benefits, and have self-funded retentions for general liability, 
automobile  liability,  property  and  workers’  compensation.  We  are  fully  self-insured  for  environmental  liabilities.  The 
general liability, automobile liability, property, workers’ compensation, and certain environmental liabilities are managed 
through a wholly-owned insurance company, the related assets and liabilities of which are included in the consolidated 
financial statements as of December 29, 2018. Our accounting policies with respect to the reserves are as follows: 

  General  liability,  automobile,  and  workers’  compensation  reserves  are  accrued  based  on  third  party  actuarial 

valuations of the expected future liabilities. 

  Health benefits are self-insured up to our pre-determined stop loss limits. These reserves, including incurred but 
not  reported  claims,  are  based  on  internal  computations.  These  computations  consider  our  historical  claims 
experience, independent statistics, and trends. 

  The environmental reserve is based on known remediation activities at certain wood preservation facilities and 
the potential for undetected environmental matters at other sites. The reserve for known activities is based on 
expected  future  costs  and  is  computed  by  in-house  experts  responsible  for  managing  our  monitoring  and 
remediation activities. 

In  addition  to  providing  coverage  for  the  Company,  our  wholly-owned  insurance  company,  Ardellis  Insurance  Ltd., 
provides Excess Loss Insurance (primarily medical and prescription drug) to certain third parties. As of December 29, 
2018, there were 39 such contracts in place. Reserves associated with these contracts were $4.9 million at December 29, 
2018 and $3.4 million at December 30, 2017, and are accrued based on third party actuarial valuations of the expected 
future liabilities. 

On April 14, 2017 the U.S. Branch of Ardellis Insurance Ltd. was granted its Certificate of Authority to transact property 
and casualty insurance lines as an admitted carrier in the State of Michigan. 

INCOME TAXES 

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are computed for differences between the financial statement and tax basis of 
assets and liabilities that will result in taxable or deductible amounts in the future. Such deferred income tax asset and 
liability computations are based on enacted tax laws and rates. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to 
reduce  deferred  income  tax  assets  to  the  amounts  expected  to  be  realized.  Income  tax  expense  is  the  tax  payable  or 
refundable for the period plus or minus the change during the period in deferred income tax assets and liabilities. 

Tax laws are complex and subject to different interpretations by taxpayers and respective government taxing authorities, 
which  results  in  judgment  in  determining  our  tax  expense  and  in  evaluating  our  tax  positions.  Our  tax  positions  are 
reviewed quarterly and adjusted as new information becomes available. 

REVENUE RECOGNITION 

Revenue for product sales is recognized at the time the performance obligation is satisfied, which is primarily when the 
goods are delivered to the carrier, Free On Board (FOB) shipping point.  Generally, title passes at the time of shipment. In 

20 

UNIVERSAL FOREST PRODUCTS, INC. 
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF 
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 

certain circumstances, the customer takes title when the shipment arrives at the destination. However, our shipping process 
is typically completed the same day. 

Performance on construction contracts is reflected in operations using percentage-of-completion accounting, under either 
the  cost  to  cost  or  units  of  delivery  methods,  depending  on  the  nature  of  the  business  at  individual  operations. 
Under percentage-of-completion using the cost to cost method, revenues and related earnings on construction contracts 
are  measured  by  the  relationships  of  actual  costs  incurred  related  to  the  total  estimated  costs.  Under percentage-of-
completion using the units of delivery method, revenues and related earnings on construction contracts are measured by 
the  relationships  of  actual  units  produced  related  to  the  total  number  of  units  per  the  contract.  Revisions  in  earnings 
estimates on the construction contracts are recorded in the accounting period in which the basis for such revisions becomes 
known.  Projected  losses  on  individual  contracts  are  charged  to  operations  in  their  entirety  when  such  losses  become 
apparent. 

Our construction contracts are generally entered into with a fixed price and completion of the projects can range from 6 to 
18 months  in  duration.  Therefore,  our  operating  results  are  impacted  by,  among  many  other  things,  labor  rates  and 
commodity  costs.  During  the year,  we  update  our  estimated  costs  to  complete  our  projects  using  current  labor  and 
commodity costs and recognize losses to the extent that they exist. 

GOALS 

FORWARD OUTLOOK 

The Company’s goal is to achieve long-term sales growth that exceeds positive U.S. GDP growth by 4 percent to 6 percent. 

Our general long-term objectives also include: 

  Achieving  sales  growth  primarily  through  new  product  introduction,  international  business  expansion,  and 
gaining additional market share, particularly in our core retail, industrial and commercial construction markets; 

 

 

Identifying new growth opportunities in businesses with adjacencies to our core businesses, primarily through 
strategic business acquisitions; 

Increasing our profitability through cost reductions, productivity improvements as volume improves, and a more 
favorable mix of value-added products; and 

  Earning a return on invested capital in excess of our weighted average cost of capital. 

RETAIL MARKET 

The Home Improvement Research Institute (“HIRI”) anticipates growth in home improvement spending and has forecasted 
a 3.5% compounded annual growth rate through 2022. 

We continue to compete for market share for certain retail customers and face intense pricing pressure from other suppliers 
to this market. 

Our long-term goal is to achieve sales growth by: 

 

Increasing our market share of value-added products, including our Deckorators product line. 

21 

UNIVERSAL FOREST PRODUCTS, INC. 
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF 
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 

  Developing new, value-added products, such as our Eovations product line. 

  Adding new products and customers through strategic business acquisitions or alliances. 

 

Increasing our emphasis on product innovation and product differentiation in order to counter commoditization 
trends and influences. 

INDUSTRIAL MARKET 

Our goal is to increase our sales of wood, wood alternative, and other packaging products to a wide variety of industrial 
and OEM users. We believe the vast amount of hardwood and softwood lumber consumed for industrial applications, 
combined  with  the  highly  fragmented  nature  of  this  market,  provides  us  with  growth  opportunities  as  a  result  of  our 
competitive  advantages  in  manufacturing,  purchasing,  and  material  utilization.  In  addition,  purchasers  of  packaging 
products increasingly desire to reduce the number of suppliers they buy from, which provides an opportunity to gain market 
share  due  to  our  geographic  footprint.    We  plan  to  continue  to  obtain  market  share  by  expanding  our  manufacturing 
capacity capabilities and product offerings and increasing the size of our dedicated industrial design and sales personnel. 
We also plan to pursue strategic acquisition opportunities. 

CONSTRUCTION MARKET 

The National Association of Home Builders forecasts a 14% increase in manufactured home shipments in 2019 followed 
by an 8% increase in 2020. We currently supply approximately 40% of the trusses used in manufactured housing and we 
will strive to maintain our market share of trusses produced for this market. 

The  Mortgage  Bankers  Association  of  America  forecasts  a  2%  increase  in  national  housing  starts  to  an  estimated  1.3 
million starts in 2019. The National Association of Home Builders forecasts starts of 1.3 million, a 1% increase from 2018. 
We believe we are well-positioned to capture our share of any increase that may occur in housing starts in the regions we 
operate.  However,  due  to  our  conservative  approach  to  adding  capacity  to  serve  this  market  and  focus  on  managing 
potential channel conflicts with certain customers, our growth may trail the market in future years. 

GROSS PROFIT 

We believe the following factors may impact our gross profits and margins in the future: 

  End market demand and our ability to grow and leverage fixed costs. 

  Our ability to maintain market share and gross margins on products sold to our largest customers. We believe our 
level of service, geographic diversity, and quality of products provides an added value to our customers. However, 
if our customers are unwilling to pay for these advantages, our sales and gross margins may be reduced. Excess 
capacity exists for suppliers in certain of our markets. As a result, we may experience pricing pressure in the 
future. 

  Sales mix of value-added and commodity products. 

  Fluctuations in the relative level of the Lumber Market and the trend in the market place of lumber. (See "Impact 

of the Lumber Market on our Operating Results.") 

  Fuel and transportation costs. 

22 

UNIVERSAL FOREST PRODUCTS, INC. 
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF 
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 

  Rising labor and benefit costs. 

  Our  ability  to  continue  to  achieve  productivity  improvements  as  our  unit  sales  increase  and  planned  cost 

reductions through our continuous improvement, automation, and other initiatives. 

SELLING, GENERAL, AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES 

In recent years, selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses have increased as we have added personnel needed 
to take advantage of growth opportunities and execute our initiatives designed to increase our sales of new products and 
improve our sales mix of value-added products. We anticipate our trend of increases in these costs will continue in 2019; 
however, our objective is to reduce these costs on a per unit basis and as a percentage of gross profits as we grow as a 
result of fixed costs and through the improved productivity of our people. In addition, bonus and other incentive expenses 
for  all  salaried  and  sales  employees  is  based  on  our  profitability  and  the  effective  management  of  our  assets  and  will 
continue to fluctuate based on our results. 

On a long-term basis, we expect that our SG&A expenses will primarily be impacted by: 

  Our growth in sales to the industrial market and the construction market. Our sales to these markets require a 

higher ratio of SG&A costs due, in part, to product design and engineering requirements. 

  Sales  of  new  products  which  generally  require  higher  development,  marketing,  advertising,  and  other  selling 

costs. 

  Our incentive compensation programs which are tied to gross profits, pre-bonus earnings from operations and 

return on investment. 

  Our growth and success in achieving continuous improvement objectives designed to improve our productivity 

and leveraging our fixed costs. 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES 

Our  cash  cycle  will  continue  to  be  impacted  in  the  future  by  our  mix  of  sales  by  market.  Sales  to  the  residential  and 
commercial construction and industrial markets require a greater investment in working capital (inventory and accounts 
receivable) than our sales to the retail and manufactured housing markets. Additionally, our investment in trade receivables 
and inventory will continue to be impacted by the level of lumber prices. 

Additionally,  management  expects  to  spend  approximately  $95  million  on  capital  expenditures,  incur  depreciation  of 
approximately $60 million, and incur amortization and other non-cash expenses of approximately $12 million in 2019.  

On December 29, 2018, we had outstanding purchase commitments on capital projects of approximately $14 million. We 
intend to fund capital expenditures and purchase commitments through our operating cash flows and availability under 
our revolving credit facility which is considered sufficient to meet these commitments and working capital needs. 

We have no present plan to change our dividend policy, which was recently increased by 6% to a semi-annual rate of $0.18 
per share. Our dividend rates are reviewed and approved at our April and October board meetings and payments are made 
in June and December of each year. 

We  have  a  share  repurchase  program  approved  by  our  Board  of  Directors,  and  as  of  December 29,  2018,  we  have 
authorization to buy back approximately 1.9 million shares. In the past, we have repurchased shares in order to offset the 

23 

UNIVERSAL FOREST PRODUCTS, INC. 
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF 
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 

effect  of  issuances  resulting  from  our  employee  benefit  plans  and  at  opportune  times  when  our  stock  price  falls  to 
predetermined levels. 

24 

 
 
 
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting 

The  management  of  Universal  Forest  Products, Inc.  is  responsible  for  establishing  and  maintaining  adequate 
internal control over financial reporting. Our internal control system was designed to provide reasonable assurance to us 
and the Board of Directors regarding the preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements. 

All  internal  control  systems,  no  matter  how  well  designed,  have  inherent  limitations.  Therefore,  even  those 
systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation 
and presentation. 

We assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 29, 2018, based on 
the framework in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the 
Treadway Commission (2013 Framework)  (“COSO”). Based on that evaluation, management has concluded that as of 
December 29, 2018, our internal control over financial reporting was effective. 

The  effectiveness  of  the  Company’s  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  has  been  audited  by  Deloitte & 

Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report, which follows our report. 

Universal Forest Products, Inc. 

February 27, 2019 

25 

 
 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM  

To the shareholders and the Board of Directors of Universal Forest Products, Inc. 

Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting 

We  have  audited  the  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  of  Universal  Forest  Products,  Inc.  and  subsidiaries  (the 
“Company”) as of December 29, 2018, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) 
issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In our opinion, the Company 
maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 29, 2018, based on 
criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO. 

We  have  also  audited,  in  accordance  with  the  standards  of  the  Public  Company  Accounting  Oversight  Board  (United 
States) (PCAOB), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 29, 2018, of the Company 
and our report dated February 27, 2019, expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements. 

Basis for Opinion  

The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its 
assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s 
Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s 
internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB 
and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and 
the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB. 

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform 
the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained 
in  all  material  respects.  Our  audit  included  obtaining  an  understanding  of  internal  control  over  financial  reporting, 
assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal 
control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. 
We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion. 

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting 

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the 
reliability  of  financial  reporting  and  the  preparation  of  financial  statements  for  external  purposes  in  accordance  with 
generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies 
and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the 
transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded 
as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, 
and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management 
and  directors  of  the  company;  and  (3)  provide  reasonable  assurance  regarding  prevention  or  timely  detection  of 
unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial 
statements. 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, 
projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate 
because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. 

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP 

Grand Rapids, Michigan    
February 27, 2019 

26 

 
 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM  

To the shareholders and the Board of Directors of Universal Forest Products, Inc. 

Opinion on the Financial Statements 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Universal Forest Products, Inc. and subsidiaries (the 
"Company") as of December 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017, the related consolidated statements of earnings and 
comprehensive income, shareholders' equity, and cash flows, for each of the three years in the period ended December 
29, 2018, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). In our opinion, the financial 
statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 29, 2018 and 
December 30, 2017, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended 
December 29, 2018, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. 

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United 
States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 29, 2018, based on criteria 
established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations 
of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 27, 2019, expressed an unqualified opinion on the 
Company's internal control over financial reporting. 

Basis for Opinion 

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an 
opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the 
PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities 
laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB. 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and 
perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material 
misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material 
misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those 
risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the 
financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made 
by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits 
provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. 

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP 

Grand Rapids, Michigan   
February 27, 2019 

We have served as the Company's auditor since 2014. 

27 

 
 
 
 
UNIVERSAL FOREST PRODUCTS, INC. 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS 

(in thousands, except share data) 

ASSETS 
CURRENT ASSETS: 

Cash and cash equivalents 
Investments 
Restricted cash  
Accounts receivable, net 
Inventories: 

Raw materials 
Finished goods 

Total inventories 

Refundable income taxes 
Other current assets 

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES 
RESTRICTED INVESTMENTS 
OTHER ASSETS 
GOODWILL 
INDEFINITE-LIVED INTANGIBLE ASSETS 
OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET 
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT: 
   Land and improvements 
   Building and improvements 
   Machinery and equipment 
   Furniture and fixtures 
   Construction in progress 

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT,GROSS

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization 
        PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, NET 

TOTAL ASSETS 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY 
CURRENT LIABILITIES: 

Cash overdraft 
Accounts payable 
Accrued liabilities: 

Compensation and benefits 
Other 

Current portion of long-term debt 

TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES 

LONG-TERM DEBT 
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES 
OTHER LIABILITIES 

TOTAL LIABILITIES 

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY: 

Controlling interest shareholders’ equity: 

Preferred stock, no par value; shares authorized 1,000,000; issued and outstanding, none
Common stock, $1 par value; shares authorized 80,000,000; issued and outstanding, 60,883,749 
and 61,191,888 
Additional paid-in capital 
Retained earnings 
Accumulated other comprehensive income 

Total controlling interest shareholders’ equity 

Noncontrolling interest 

TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

See notes to consolidated financial statements. 

28 

$

$

$

$

December 29, 
2018 

December 30, 
2017 

    $

 27,316      $
 14,755     
 882     
 343,450     

28,339
11,269
477
327,751

234,354
225,954
460,308
7,228
28,115
863,487
1,865
8,359
7,368
212,644
7,415
34,910

134,916
213,384
372,628
25,251
16,922
763,101
(434,472)
328,629
1,464,677

25,851
140,106

97,556
38,404
1,329
303,246
144,674
14,079
28,655
490,654

 271,871     
 284,349     
 556,220     
 14,130     
 38,525     

 995,278   

 2,668     

 13,267   

 8,662     
 224,117     
 7,360     
 41,486     

 120,324   
 239,906   
 419,115   
 16,960   
 18,340   
 814,645     
 (459,935)   
 354,710   
 1,647,548   

$

 27,367      $

 136,901     

 104,109     
 41,645     
 148     
 310,170     
 202,130     
 15,687     
 30,877     
 558,864     

 —      $

—

 60,884     
 178,540     
 839,917     
 (5,938)   
 1,073,403     
 15,281     
 1,088,684     
 1,647,548      $

61,192
161,928
736,212
144
959,476
14,547
974,023
1,464,677

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     
     
 
   
 
 
   
 
  
  
  
 
   
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
  
 
   
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
   
 
 
   
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
UNIVERSAL FOREST PRODUCTS, INC. 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME 

(in thousands, except per share data) 

December 29,   
2018 

Year Ended 
December 30,   
2017 

December 31, 
2016 

   $ 4,489,180   $   3,941,182     $ 3,240,493
2,765,903
474,590
310,152
—
164,438
4,575
(541)
(267)
3,767
160,671
55,174
105,497

 3,398,356    
 542,826    
 362,220    
 (863) 
 181,469    
 6,218    
 (731)   
 (25)   
 5,462    
 176,007    
 51,967    
 124,040    

3,896,286  
592,894  
392,235  
(6,604)
207,263  
8,893  
(1,371)  
1,888  
9,410  
197,853  
45,441  
152,412  

(3,814)  
148,598   $ 

 (4,528)   
 119,512     $

(4,318)
101,179

2.41   $ 
2.40   $ 

 1.95     $
 1.94     $

1.66
1.65

$

$
$

152,412  
(5,076)  
147,336  

 124,040    
 6,130    
 130,170    

105,497
(2,703)
102,794

(3,873)  

 (4,884)   

(2,660)

$

143,463   $ 

 125,286     $

100,134

NET SALES 
COST OF GOODS SOLD 
GROSS PROFIT 
SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES
NET (GAIN) ON DISPOSITION OF ASSETS 
EARNINGS FROM OPERATIONS 
INTEREST EXPENSE 
INTEREST INCOME 
UNREALIZED LOSS (GAIN) ON INVESTMENTS AND OTHER

EARNINGS BEFORE INCOME TAXES 
INCOME TAXES 
NET EARNINGS 
LESS NET EARNINGS ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING 
INTEREST 
NET EARNINGS ATTRIBUTABLE TO CONTROLLING INTEREST

EARNINGS PER SHARE - BASIC 
EARNINGS PER SHARE - DILUTED 

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME: 
NET EARNINGS 
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE GAIN (LOSS) 
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME 
LESS COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO 
NONCONTROLLING INTEREST 
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO CONTROLLING 
INTEREST 

See notes to consolidated financial statements. 

29 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
    
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
UNIVERSAL FOREST PRODUCTS, INC. 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY 

(in thousands, except share and per share data) 

Controlling Interest Shareholders’ Equity 

Balance at  December 26, 2015 
Net earnings 
Foreign currency translation adjustment 
Unrealized gain (loss) on investment 
Noncontrolling interest associated with business acquisitions   
Distributions to noncontrolling interest 
Net purchase and dissolution of noncontrolling interest 
Cash dividends - $0.140 & $0.150 per share - semiannually 
Issuance of 20,439 shares under employee stock plans 
Issuance of 407,271 shares under stock grant programs 
Issuance of 173,370 shares under deferred compensation 
plans 
Repurchase of 13,613 shares 
Tax benefits from non-qualified stock options exercised 
Expense associated with share-based compensation 
arrangements 
Accrued expense under deferred compensation plans 
Balance at December 31, 2016 
Net earnings 
Foreign currency translation adjustment 
Unrealized gain (loss) on investment & foreign currency 
Distributions to noncontrolling interest 
Additional purchases of noncontrolling interest 
Net purchase and dissolution of noncontrolling interest 
Cash dividends - $0.150 & $0.170 per share - semiannually 
Issuance of 23,691 shares under employee stock plans 
Issuance of 428,622 shares under stock grant programs 
Issuance of 159,108 shares under deferred compensation 
plans 
Repurchase of 445,740 shares 
Expense associated with share-based compensation 
arrangements 
Accrued expense under deferred compensation plans 
Balance at December 30, 2017 
Net earnings 
Foreign currency translation adjustment 
Unrealized gain (loss) on investment & foreign currency 
Distributions to noncontrolling interest 
Cash dividends - $0.180 per share - semiannually 
Issuance of 37,794 shares under employee stock purchase 
plans 
Issuance of 348,208 shares under stock grant programs 
Issuance of 166,528 shares under deferred compensation 
plans 
Repurchase of 860,669 shares 
Expense associated with share-based compensation 
arrangements 
Accrued expense under deferred compensation plans 
Balance at December 29, 2018 

  $

  $

  $

Common 
Stock 

Additional 
Paid-In 
Capital 

60,425

$

131,279   $

Retained 
Earnings 

565,636
101,179

  $

Accumulated   
Other 

  Comprehensive   Noncontrolling  

Earnings 

Interest 

Total 

$

(4,585)    $ 

(1,316) 
271  

 13,654     $
 4,318    
 (1,658)   

 —  
 (3,280) 
 (1,748) 

21
407

173
—

856  

515  
4,890  

(173)  

—

(17,680)

—  

2,208
5,074
 144,649   $

 61,026

$

24
429

159
(446)

637  
5,769  

(159)  
297

3,618
7,117

61,192

$

161,928   $

38
348

167
(861)

988  
4,827  

(167)  

3,379
7,585

 649,135
119,512

$

 (5,630)    $ 

5,070  
704  

 11,286     $
 4,528    
 356    

 (4,032) 
 2,409    
 —  

(19,607)

(12,828)

736,212
148,598

947  

(22,072)

(23,768)

$

144     $ 

(4,973) 
(1,109) 

 14,547     $
 3,814    
 59    

 (3,139) 

60,884

$

178,540   $

839,917

$

(5,938)    $ 

 15,281     $

766,409
105,497
(2,974)
271
—
(3,280)
(892)
(17,680)
536
5,297

—
—
—

2,208
5,074
 860,466
124,040
5,426
704
(4,032)
2,409
—
(19,607)
661
6,198

—
(12,977)

3,618
7,117
974,023
152,412
(4,914)
(162)
(3,139)
(22,072)

1,026
5,175

—
(24,629)

3,379
7,585
1,088,684

See notes to consolidated financial statements 

30 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     
    
    
    
     
     
 
 
 
 
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
    
 
 
 
 
      
 
 
 
 
 
      
 
 
 
 
      
 
 
 
 
    
  
    
 
 
 
     
 
   
 
 
 
     
 
   
 
 
 
     
 
   
 
 
 
      
    
 
 
 
 
    
  
    
 
 
 
 
    
  
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
   
    
 
 
 
 
 
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
    
 
 
 
 
 
      
 
 
 
 
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
  
    
 
 
 
     
 
   
 
 
 
     
 
   
 
 
 
     
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
  
    
 
 
 
 
    
  
    
 
 
 
 
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
    
 
 
 
 
 
      
 
 
 
 
    
  
    
 
 
 
     
 
   
 
 
 
     
 
   
 
 
 
     
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
  
    
 
 
 
 
    
  
    
 
UNIVERSAL FOREST PRODUCTS, INC. 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS 

(in thousands) 

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: 
Net earnings 
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash from operating activities:

Depreciation 
Amortization of intangibles 
Expense associated with share-based and grant compensation arrangements
Deferred income taxes (credits) 
Unrealized loss (gain) on investments and other 
Net (gain) on disposition of assets 
Changes in: 

Accounts receivable 
Inventories 
Accounts payable and cash overdraft 
Accrued liabilities and other 

NET CASH FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: 
Purchases of property, plant and equipment 
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 
Acquisitions, net of cash received 
Repayments of debt of acquiree 
Purchase and dissolution of remaining noncontrolling interest in subsidiary
Advances of notes receivable 
Collections on notes receivable 
Purchases of investments 
Proceeds from sale of investments 
Other 

NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: 
Borrowings under revolving credit facilities 
Repayments under revolving credit facilities 
Borrowings of debt 
Repayment of debt 
Issuance of long-term debt 
Proceeds from issuance of common stock 
Dividends paid to shareholders 
Distributions to noncontrolling interest 
Repurchase of common stock 
Other 

NET CASH FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash 
NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH, BEGINNING OF YEAR
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH, END OF PERIOD

RECONCILIATION OF CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH: 
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 
Restricted cash, beginning of period 
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, beginning of period 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period 
Restricted cash, end of period 
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, end of period 

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION: 

Interest paid 
Income taxes paid 

NON-CASH FINANCING ACTIVITIES: 
Common stock issued under deferred compensation plans 

See notes to consolidated financial statements 

31 

December 29,  
2018 

Year Ended 
December 30,  
2017 

December 31,
2016 

$

152,412        $ 

 124,040     $

105,497

54,949   
6,393   
3,574   
 857   
1,888   
(6,604)  

(8,512)  
(84,304)  
(5,213)  
1,245   
116,685   

(95,862)  
38,373   
(54,017)  
 —   
 —   
 (434)  
 768   
(13,338)  
3,678   
 (400)  
(121,232)  

732,370   
(748,496)  
 927   
(5,540)  
75,000   
1,026   
(22,072)  
(3,139)  
(24,629)  
(1,054)  
4,393   
 (464)  
 (618)  
28,816   
28,198   

28,339   
 477   
28,816   

27,316   
 882   
28,198   

8,860   
51,578   

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

 48,536
 4,860
 3,805
 (8,629)
(25)
(863)

 (30,787)
 (49,262)
 21,159
 23,749
 136,583

 (71,116)
 2,919
 (60,587)
—
—
(234)
 1,509
 (13,518)
 5,103
 (1,735)
 (137,659)

 758,287
 (722,725)
 8,525
 (13,347)
—
660
 (19,607)
 (4,032)
 (12,977)
(31)
 (5,247)
650
 (5,673)
 34,489
 28,816

 34,091
398
 34,489

 28,339
477
 28,816

 6,020
 56,663

5,837   

$ 

 5,116

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

40,823
2,795
2,335
2,464
(267)
—

(5,119)
(3,245)
11,259
15,978
172,520

(53,762)
3,126
(80,077)
(92,830)
(892)
(6,012)
7,899
(5,666)
2,568
(2,011)
(227,657)

131,002
(107,294)
—
—
—
536
(17,680)
(3,280)
—
(73)
3,211
(1,927)
(53,853)
88,342
34,489

87,756
586
88,342

34,091
398
34,489

4,550
57,311

4,353

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
     
    
   
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
   
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
UNIVERSAL FOREST PRODUCTS, INC. 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

A. 

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES 

OPERATIONS 

We  design,  manufacture  and  market  wood  and  wood-alternative  products  for  large  home  centers  and  other 
retailers;  structural  lumber,  engineered  wood  components,  framing  services,  and  other  products  for  the  construction 
market; specialty wood packaging, components, packing materials, and other wood-based products for various industries; 
and  design,  manufacture,  and  install  customized  interior  fixtures  used  in  retail  and  commercial  structures  for  various 
markets. 

PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION 

The consolidated financial statements include our accounts and those of our wholly-owned and majority-owned 
subsidiaries and partnerships. In addition, we consolidate any entity which we own 50% or more and exercise control. 
Intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated. 

NONCONTROLLING INTEREST IN SUBSIDIARIES 

Noncontrolling  interest  in  results  of  operations  of  consolidated  subsidiaries  represents  the  noncontrolling 
shareholders’ share of  the  income  or  loss of  various  consolidated  subsidiaries.  The noncontrolling  interest  reflects  the 
original investment by these noncontrolling shareholders combined with their proportional share of the earnings or losses 
of these subsidiaries, net of distributions paid. 

FISCAL YEAR 

Our fiscal year is a 52 or 53 week period, ending on the last Saturday of December. Unless otherwise stated, 
references  to  2018,  2017,  and  2016  relate  to  the  fiscal years  ended  December 29,  2018,  December 30,  2017,  and 
December 31,  2016,  respectively.  Fiscal year  2016  was  comprised  of  53  weeks,  which  contributed  an  additional  $60 
million in sales in 2016 compared to fiscal years 2018 and 2017, which were comprised of 52 weeks. 

FAIR VALUE DISCLOSURES OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS 

We follow ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, which provides a consistent definition of 
fair value, focuses on exit price, prioritizes the use of market-based inputs over entity-specific inputs for measuring fair 
value and establishes a three-tier hierarchy for fair value measurements. This topic requires fair value measurements to be 
classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories: 

  Level 1 — Financial instruments with unadjusted, quoted prices listed on active market exchanges. 

  Level 2 — Financial instruments lacking unadjusted, quoted prices from active market exchanges, including over-
the-counter  traded financial  instruments.  Financial  instrument  values  are  determined  using  prices  for  recently 
traded financial instruments with similar underlying terms and direct or indirect observational inputs, such as 
interest rates and yield curves at commonly quoted intervals. 

  Level  3 —  Financial  instruments  not  actively  traded  on  a  market  exchange  and  there  is  little,  if  any,  market 

activity. Values are determined using significant unobservable inputs or valuation techniques. 

32 

 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 

Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and highly-liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of 

three months or less. 

In  November  2016,  the  Financial  Accounting  Standards  Board  (FASB)  issued  Accounting  Standard  Update 
(ASU)  No.  2016-18,  “Statement  of  Cash  Flows  (Topic  230)”  (ASU  2016-18).  Under  ASU  2016-18,  an  entity  will  be 
required to explain changes in the statement of cash flows during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and 
amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents.  Therefore, amounts generally described as 
restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the 
beginning-of-period  and  end-of-period  total  amounts  shown  on  the  statement  of  cash  flows.  The  amendments  in  this 
update should be applied using retrospective transition method to each period presented.  Companies are required to adopt 
the  new  standard  for  fiscal  years  beginning  after  December  15,  2017.  Early  adoption  of  ASU  2016-18  is  permitted, 
including adoption in an interim period. The Company has early adopted this standard during the first quarter of 2017. 

INVESTMENTS 

Investments are deemed to be "available for sale" and are, accordingly, carried at fair value being the quoted 

market value.  

In  January  2016,  the  FASB  issued ASU No. 2016-01,  Recognition  and  Measurement  of  Financial  Assets  and 
Financial Liabilities, which amends ASC 825-10, Financial Instruments – Overall, this ASU changes the treatment for 
available-for-sale equity investments by recognizing unrealized fair value changes directly in net income and no longer in 
other comprehensive income. For public entities, the amendment is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 
2017.  The ASU was adopted during fiscal 2018 with a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings of $0.9 million 
at the beginning of 2018. The available-for-sale equity securities balance at December 29, 2018 is $10.7 million, which 
resulted in an unrealized loss recorded as a non-operating expense of $1.9 million.  

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE AND ALLOWANCES 

We  perform  periodic  credit  evaluations  of  our  customers  and  generally  do  not  require  collateral.  Accounts 
receivable  are  due  under  a  range  of  terms  we  offer  to  our  customers.  Discounts  are  offered,  in  most  instances,  as  an 
incentive for early payment. 

We base our allowances related to receivables on historical credit and collections experience, and the specific 
identification of other potential problems, including the general economic climate. Actual collections can differ, requiring 
adjustments  to  the  allowances.  Individual  accounts  receivable  balances  are  evaluated  on  a monthly  basis,  and  those 
balances considered uncollectible are charged to the allowance. 

The following table presents the activity in our accounts receivable allowances (in thousands): 

     Additions       
  Charged to  
  Beginning  Costs and   
  Ending 
  Balance   Expenses    Deductions*   Balance

Year Ended December 29,2018: 

Allowance for possible losses on accounts receivable

$ 2,424

$ 38,963   $  (38,786) $ 2,601

Year Ended December 30, 2017: 

Allowance for possible losses on accounts receivable

$ 2,845

$ 28,102   $  (28,523) $ 2,424

Year Ended December 31, 2016: 

Allowance for possible losses on accounts receivable

$ 2,672

$ 28,405   $  (28,232) $ 2,845

* 

Includes accounts charged off, discounts given to customers and actual customer returns and allowances. 

33 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     
 
 
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
       
 
 
 
    
  
 
 
 
    
  
 
 
 
We record estimated sales returns, discounts, and other applicable adjustments as a reduction of net sales in the 

same period revenue is recognized. 

Accounts receivable retainage amounts related to long term construction contracts totaled $5.5 million and $4.8 
million as of December 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017, respectively. All amounts are expected to be collected within 
18 months. Concentration of accounts receivable related to our largest customer totaled $44.5 million and $55.9 million 
as of December 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017, respectively. 

INVENTORIES 

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. The cost of inventories includes raw materials, direct labor, 
and  manufacturing  overhead.  Cost  is  determined  on  a  weighted  average  basis.  Raw  materials  consist  primarily  of 
unfinished wood products expected to be manufactured or treated prior to sale, while finished goods represent various 
manufactured and treated wood products ready for sale. We have inventory on consignment at customer locations valued 
at $16.8 million as of December 29, 2018 and $14.8 million as of December 30, 2017.  

PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT 

Property, plant, and equipment are stated at cost. Expenditures for renewals and betterments are capitalized, and 
maintenance  and  repairs  are  expensed  as  incurred.  Amortization  of  assets  held  under  capital  leases  is  included  in 
depreciation  and  amortized over  the  shorter  of  the  estimated  useful  life  of  the  asset  or  the  lease  term.  Depreciation  is 
computed principally by the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows: 

Land improvements 
Buildings and improvements 
Machinery, equipment and office furniture 

LONG-LIVED ASSETS 

     5 to 15 years
   10 to 32 years
2 to 8 years

In  accordance  with  ASC  360,  Property,  Plant,  and  Equipment  (“ASC  360”),  when  an  indicator  of  potential 
impairment exists, we evaluate the recoverability of our long-lived assets by determining whether unamortized balances 
could be recovered through undiscounted future operating cash flows over the remaining lives of the assets. If the sum of 
the expected future cash flows was less than the carrying value of the assets, an impairment loss would be recognized for 
the excess of the carrying value over the fair value. 

LEASES 

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standard Update (ASU) 
No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842)” (ASU 2016-02). Under ASU 2016-02, an entity will be required to recognize assets 
and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by leases on the entity’s balance sheet for both finance and operating 
leases. For leases with a term of 12 months or less, an entity can elect to not recognize lease assets and lease liabilities and 
expense the lease over a straight-line basis for the term of the lease. ASU 2016-02 will require new disclosures that depict 
the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows pertaining to an entity’s leases. Companies are required to adopt the 
new  standard  for  annual  and  interim  periods  beginning  after  December 15,  2018.  Early  adoption  of  ASU  2016-02  is 
permitted. The FASB has decided to amend certain aspects of its new leasing standard in an attempt to provide a relief 
from  implementation  costs.    Specifically,  entities  may  elect  not  to  restate  their  comparative  periods  in  the  period  of 
adoption  when  transitioning  to  the  new  standard.    The  Company  will  elect  practical  expedients  permitted  under  the 
transition  guidance  within  the  new  standard,  which  among  other  things,  allows  the  carryforward  of  historical  lease 
classification, lease and related non-lease components accounted as a single component, and hindsight practical expedient 
to determine the reasonably certain lease term for existing leases. As required by the standard, the Company expects to 
make additional disclosures related to the nature and type of leases, practical expedients applied, and adoption method in 
the first quarter of 2019 fiscal year.  The Company expects $60-80 million impact on our consolidated balance sheets and 
no material impact on our consolidated income statement. 

34 

 
 
 
  
 
GOODWILL 

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of net tangible and identifiable intangible 
assets of acquired businesses. Goodwill and intangible assets deemed to have indefinite lives are not amortized, but are 
subject to impairment tests at least annually in accordance with ASC 350, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other. We review the 
carrying amounts of goodwill and other non-amortizable intangibles by reporting unit to determine if such assets may be 
impaired. As the carrying amount of these assets are recoverable based upon a discounted cash flow and market approach 
analysis, no impairment was recognized. 

Our annual testing date for evaluating goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment is the first day 
of the Company’s fourth fiscal quarter for all reporting units. Additionally, the Company reviews various triggering events 
throughout the year to ensure that a mid-year impairment analysis is not required. 

FOREIGN CURRENCY 

Our foreign operations use the local currency as their functional currency. Accordingly, assets and liabilities are 
translated at exchange rates as of the balance sheet date and revenues and expenses are translated using weighted average 
rates, with translation adjustments included as a separate component of shareholders’ equity. Gains and losses arising from 
re-measuring foreign currency transactions are included in earnings. 

INSURANCE RESERVES 

Our wholly-owned insurance company, Ardellis Insurance Ltd.(“Ardellis”), was incorporated on April 21, 2001 
under the laws of Bermuda and is licensed as a Class 3A insurer under the Insurance Act 1978 of Bermuda.  On April 14, 
2017 the U.S. Branch of Ardellis Insurance Ltd. was granted its Certificate of Authority to transact property and casualty 
insurance lines as an admitted carrier in the State of Michigan. 

We are primarily self-insured for certain employee health benefits, and have self-funded retentions for general 
liability, automobile liability, property and workers’ compensation. We are fully self-insured for environmental liabilities. 
The  general  liability,  automobile  liability,  property,  workers’  compensation,  and  certain  environmental  liabilities  are 
managed through Ardellis; the related assets and liabilities of which are included in the consolidated financial statements 
as  of December 29, 2018  and December 30,  2017. Our policy  is  to  accrue  amounts  equal  to  actuarially  determined or 
internally computed liabilities. The actuarial and internal valuations are based on historical information along with certain 
assumptions  about  future  events.  Changes  in  assumptions  for  such  matters  as  legal  actions,  medical  cost  trends,  and 
changes in claims experience could cause these estimates to change in the future. 

In addition to providing coverage for the Company, Ardellis provides Excess Loss Insurance (primarily medical 
and prescription drug) to certain third parties. As of December 29, 2018, Ardellis had 39 such contracts in place. Reserves 
associated with these contracts were $4.9 million at December 29, 2018 and $3.4 million at December 30, 2017, and are 
accrued based on third party actuarial valuations of the expected future liabilities. 

INCOME TAXES 

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are computed for differences between the financial statement and tax 
basis of assets and liabilities that will result in taxable or deductible amounts in the future. Such deferred income tax asset 
and liability computations are based on enacted tax laws and rates. Valuation allowances are established when necessary 
to reduce deferred income tax assets to the amounts expected to be realized. Income tax expense is the tax payable or 
refundable for the period plus or minus the change during the period in deferred income tax assets and liabilities. 

REVENUE RECOGNITION 

On May 28, 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09 (Accounting Standard Codification 606), Revenue from 
Contracts  with  Customers.  Topic  606  supersedes  the  revenue  recognition  requirements  in  Accounting  Standards 
Codification Topic 605, Revenue Recognition, and requires the recognition of revenue when promised goods or services 

35 

are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the considerations to which the entity expects to be entitled to in 
exchange  for  those  goods  or  services.  The  ASU  requires  additional  disclosure  about  the  nature,  amount,  timing  and 
uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in 
judgments. The Company has adopted the requirements of the new standard as of January 1, 2018, and utilized the modified 
retrospective method of transition which was applied to all contracts. 

The  Company  completed  the  new  revenue  recognition  standard  assessment  and  determined  that  there  was  no 
material  impact  to  our  consolidated  financial  statements,  aside  from  additional  required  disclosures,  thus  no  needed 
adjustment to the opening retained earnings for the annual reporting period. 

Within  the  three  markets  (retail,  industrial,  and  construction)  that  the  Company  operates,  there  are  a  variety  of 
written  and  oral  contracts  that  are  utilized  to  generate  revenue  from  the  sale  of  wood,  wood  composite  and  other 
products.  The transaction price is stated at the purchase order level, which includes shipping and/or freight costs and any 
applicable governmental authority taxes.  The majority of our contracts have a single performance obligation concentrated 
around the delivery of goods to the carrier, Free On Board (FOB) shipping point.  Therefore, revenue is recognized when 
this  performance  obligation  is  satisfied.  Generally,  title  and  control  passes  at  the  time  of  shipment.  In  certain 
circumstances, the customer takes title when the shipment arrives at the destination. However, our shipping process is 
typically completed the same day. 

Certain customer products that we provide require installation by the Company or a 3rd party.  Installation revenue 
is  recognized  upon  completion,  which  is  typically  2-3  days  after  receipt.  If  it  is  determined  to  utilize  a  3rd party  for 
installation,  the  party  will  act  as  an  agent  to  the  Company  until  completion  of  the  installation.  Installation  revenue 
represents an immaterial share of the Company’s total sales. 

The Company utilizes rebates, credits, discounts and/or cash-based incentives with certain customers which are 
accounted for as variable consideration. We estimate these amounts based on historical and anticipated customer sales and 
reduce recognized revenues accordingly. We believe that there will not be significant changes to our estimates of variable 
consideration.  Our estimates of variable consideration are considered not constrained as the likelihood and magnitude of 
a significant reversal are not probable.  The allocation of these costs are applied at the invoice level and recognized in 
conjunction with revenue.  Additionally, the volume returns and refunds are estimated on a historical and expected basis 
which is a reduction of revenue recognized. 

Earnings on construction contracts are reflected in operations using over time accounting, under either cost to cost 
or units of delivery methods, depending on the nature of the business at individual operations, which is in accordance with 
ASC 606 as revenue is recognized when certain performance obligations are performed. Under over time accounting using 
the cost to cost method, revenues and related earnings on construction contracts are measured by the relationships of actual 
costs incurred related to the total estimated costs. Under over time accounting using the units of delivery method, revenues 
and related earnings on construction contracts are measured by the relationships of actual units produced related to the 
total number of units. Revisions in earnings estimates on the construction contracts are recorded in the accounting period 
in which the basis for such revisions becomes known. Projected losses on individual contracts are charged to operations 
in their entirety when such losses become apparent.  

Our  construction  contracts  are  generally  entered  into  with  a  fixed  price  and  completion  of  the  projects  and 
performance obligations can range from 6 to 18 months in duration.  Therefore, our operating results are impacted by, 
among many other things, labor rates and commodity costs.  Invoices are issued routinely throughout the projects’ life and 
payments are primarily due 45-60 days after invoice date.  During the year, we update our estimated costs to complete our 
projects using current labor and commodity costs and recognize losses to the extent that they exist. 

36 

 
 
 
The following table presents our gross revenues disaggregated by revenue source: 

(in thousands) 
Market Classification 
FOB Shipping Point Revenue 
Construction Contract Revenue 
Total Gross Sales 
Sales Allowances 
Total Net Sales 

December 29, 
2018 

December 30, 
2017 

  % Change 

4,440,098
125,651
4,565,749
(76,569)
4,489,180

$

$

 3,867,781   
 138,422   
 4,006,203   
 (65,021) 
 3,941,182  

14.8%
-9.2%
14.0%
17.8%
13.9%

$

$

In 2018, $77.8 million and $47.8 million of our construction contract revenue was attributable to our North and West 
segments, respectively.  Construction contract revenue is primarily made up of site-built and framing customers. 

The  following  table  presents  the  balances  of percentage-of-completion  accounts  on  December 29,  2018  and 

December 30, 2017 which are included in other current assets and other accrued liabilities, respectively (in thousands): 

Cost and Earnings in Excess of Billings 
Billings in Excess of Cost and Earnings 

SHIPPING AND HANDLING OF PRODUCT 

December 29,   
2018 

December 30,
2017 

    $ 

 6,945      $
 3,245   

5,005
4,435

Shipping and handling costs that are charged to and reimbursed by the customer are recognized as revenue. Costs 

incurred related to the shipment and handling of products are classified in cost of goods sold. 

EARNINGS PER SHARE 

The computation of earnings per share (“EPS”) is as follows (in thousands), which incorporate the retroactive 

effect of the Company’s 3 for 1 stock split: 

Numerator: 

Net earnings attributable to controlling interest
Adjustment for earnings allocated to non-vested restricted common stock
Net earnings for calculating EPS 

$

$

148,598   $ 
(3,396)  
145,202   $ 

 119,512   $ 101,179
(1,595)
99,584

 (2,225) 
 117,287   $

     December 29,      December 30,      December 31,

2018 

2017 

2016 

Denominator: 

Weighted average shares outstanding 
Adjustment for non-vested restricted common stock
Shares for calculating basic EPS 
Effect of dilutive restricted common stock 
Shares for calculating diluted EPS 

Net earnings per share: 

Basic 
Diluted 

61,762  
(1,411)  
60,351  
82  
60,433  

 61,416  
 (1,143) 
 60,273  
 90  
 60,363  

61,089
(963)
60,126
99
60,225

$
$

2.41   $ 
2.40   $ 

 1.95   $
 1.94   $

1.66
1.65

No options were excluded from the computation of diluted EPS for 2018, 2017, or 2016. 

37 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
    
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
      
    
 
  
   
  
    
 
  
  
  
  
  
   
  
    
 
 
USE OF ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United 
States requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure 
of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements as well as the reported amounts of revenues and 
expenses during the reporting period. We believe our estimates to be reasonable; however, actual results could differ from 
these estimates. 

B. 

FAIR VALUE 

We  apply  the  provisions  of  ASC  820,  Fair  Value  Measurements  and  Disclosures,  to  assets  and  liabilities 

measured at fair value. Assets and liabilities measured at fair value are as follows: 

Quoted 
Prices in 
Active 
  Markets 
      (Level 1)      
  $ 

 56     $

 3,387 
 7,262 
 — 

December 29, 2018 

Prices with
Other 

Prices with   
  Observable Unobservable 

Inputs 
(Level 2) 

5,267 $
9,738
—
—

Inputs 
(Level 3) 

Total 
—    $ 5,323    $
—
—
1,756

13,125
7,262
1,756

Quoted 
Prices in   
Active 

December 30, 2017 
Prices with  
Other 

  Observable  

  Markets   

(Level 1)       

Inputs 
(Level 2)      

 64     $ 

1,182  
10,710  

Total 
 3,071    $ 3,135
8,156
 6,974
10,710
 —

 2,846 
 937 
 237 
 796 
 1,318 
 6,134 
  $   16,839 
 $   16,839 

—
—
—
—
—
—
$ 15,005
$ 15,005

—
—
—
—
—
—
1,756
1,756

2,846
937
237
796
1,318
6,134
$ 33,600
$ 33,600

 367  
 91  
 270  
 209  

 —
 —
 —
 —

367
91
270
209

 937  

 —
$ 12,893   $   10,045
$ 12,893   $   10,045

937
$ 22,938
$ 22,938

(in thousands) 
Money market funds 
Fixed income funds 
Equity securities 
Hedge funds 
Mutual funds: 

Domestic stock funds 
International stock funds 
Target funds 
Bond funds 
Alternative funds 
Total mutual funds 
Total  

Assets at fair value 

We maintain money market, mutual funds, bonds, and/or stocks in our non-qualified deferred compensation plan 
and our wholly owned licensed captive insurance company. These funds are valued at prices quoted in an active exchange 
market and are included in "Cash and Cash Equivalents", "Investments", and "Other Assets". We have elected not to apply 
the fair value option under ASC 825, Financial Instruments, to any of our financial instruments except for those expressly 
required by U.S. GAAP. 

The valuations of the Level 2 assets or liabilities rely on quoted prices in markets that are not active or observable 

inputs over the full term of the asset or liability.  

During 2018, we purchased a private real estate income trust which will be valued as a Level 3 asset.  We did not maintain 
any Level 3 assets or liabilities at December 30, 2017. 

In  2017, our  wholly-owned  captive,  Ardellis  Insurance Ltd.  (“Ardellis”) transferred fixed  income  securities  to  a  newly 
formed collateral trust account in line with regulatory requirements in the State of Michigan to allow Ardellis to act as an 
admitted carrier in the State.  These funds are intended to safeguard the insureds of the Michigan Branch of Ardellis.  The 
funds are classified as “Restricted Investments”. 

38 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
  
  
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
       
 
  
  
 
  
  
 
  
  
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
In  accordance  with  our  investment  policy,  our  wholly-owned  company,  Ardellis  Insurance Ltd.  ("Ardellis"), 
maintains an investment portfolio, totaling $27.4 million as of December 29, 2018, consisting of mutual funds, domestic 
and international stocks, and fixed income bonds. 

Ardellis’ available for sale investment portfolio consists of the following: 

Fixed Income 
Equity 
Mutual Funds 
Hedge Funds 
Total 

$ 13,301    $
7,141
5,815
1,722
$ 27,979

$

(176)   $ 13,125
7,262
121  
5,248
(567)  
1,756
34  
(588)   $ 27,391

December 29,2018 
  Unrealized  
     Gain/(Loss)    Fair Value     Cost 

     Cost 

December 30,2017 
  Unrealized  
     Gain/(Loss)    Fair Value
 (14)   $ 8,156
10,709
—
—
 1,510   $ 18,865

 1,524  
 —  
 —  

$ 8,170     $ 
9,185  
 —  
 —  
$ 17,355   $ 

Our fixed income investments consist of a blend of US Government and Agency bonds and investment grade 
corporate bonds with varying maturities.  Our equity investments consist of small, mid, and large cap growth and value 
funds, as well as international equity. Our hedge funds consist of the private real estate income trust which is valued as a 
Level 3 asset.  The net pre-tax unrealized loss was $0.5 million. Carrying amounts above are recorded in the investments 
and restricted investments line items within the balance sheet as of December 29, 2018.  

C. 

BUSINESS COMBINATIONS 

We completed the following business combinations in fiscal 2018 and 2017, which were accounted for using the 

purchase method (in thousands). 

Company 
Name 

Pak-Rite, LTD ("Pak-Rite") 

Acquisition  
Date

October 22, 2018 

Purchase Price
$15,115 
cash paid for 100% asset 
purchase

$

Net  

Intangible  
Assets

Tangible   Operating
Segment

Assets 

 8,592  $ 

 6,523 North 

A designer and manufacturer of packaging for high-value products, such as medical, aerospace 
and automation equipment.  Pak-Rite had annual sales of approximately $15 million.  The 
acquisition of Pak-Rite allows us to grow our portfolio of packaging products and our presence 
in this region.

July 31, 2018 

$1,016 
cash paid for 100% asset 
purchase

$

 250  $ 

 766 West 

The Pallet Place, LLC ("Pallet Place") A manufacturer and distributor of total packaging solutions in timber, crates, skids, and pallets. 

Pallet Place had annual sales of approximately $5 million.  The acquisition of Pallet Place 
allows us to increase our industrial business and creates operating leverage by consolidating 
with another regional operation.

June 1, 2018 

$23,866 
cash paid for 100% asset 
purchase

$

 12,497  $ 

 11,369

South 

North American Container 
Corporation ("NACC") 

A manufacturer of structural packaging products, including steel, corrugated and hardwood 
packaging.  NACC had annual sales of approximately $71 million.  The acquisition of NACC 
allows us to enhance our presence in this region, expand our product offering, and serve 
customers more cost effectively.

39 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
Company 
Name 

Acquisition  
Date

April 9, 2018 

Purchase Price
$3,890 
cash paid for 100% asset 
purchase

$

Net  

Intangible  
Assets

Tangible   Operating
Segment

Assets 

 2,235  $ 

 1,655 West 

Fontana Wood Products ("Fontana")  A manufacturer and distributor of lumber and trusses in the Southern California region.  

Fontana had annual sales of approximately $12 million.  The acquisition of Fontana allows us 
to expand our manufactured housing business and creates operating leverage by consolidating 
with another regional operation.

April 3, 2018 

$1,347 
cash paid for 100% asset 
purchase

$

 1,287  $ 

 60 All Other

Expert Packaging ("Expert") 

A manufacturer and distributor of total packaging solutions in timber, crates, pallets, and skids. 
Expert had annual sales of approximately $3.6 million.  The acquisition of Expert allows us to 
make progress on our goal of becoming a global provider of packaging solutions.

January 23, 2018 

$2,942 
cash paid for 100% asset 
purchase

$

 850  $ 

 2,092 West 

Spinner Wood Products, LLC 
("Spinner") 

A manufacturer and distributor of agricultural bin and various industrial packaging.  Spinner 
had annual sales of approximately $8 million.  The acquisition of Spinner allows us to expand 
our industrial packaging product offering and creates operating leverage by consolidating with 
other regional operations.

Great Northern Lumber, LLC 

January 15, 2018 

$5,784 
cash paid for 100% asset 
purchase

$

 50  $ 

 5,734 North 

A manufacturer of industrial products as well as serving the concrete forming market in the 
Chicago area.  Great Northern Lumber had annual sales of approximately $25 million.  The 
acquisition of Great Northern Lumber enables us to expand our concrete forming product 
offering and regional coverage. 

October 16, 2017 

$931 
cash paid for 100% asset 
purchase

$

 909  $ 

 22 All Other

Silverwater Box 

A manufacturer and distributor of total packaging solutions in timber, plastic, steel, fiberglass, 
and cardboard.  Silverwater Box has annual sales of approximately $2.8 million.  The 
acquisition of Silverwater Box allows us to make progress on our goal of becoming a global 
provider of packaging solutions.

May 26, 2017 

$5,042 
cash paid for 100% asset 
purchase

$

 4,880  $ 

 162

South 

Go Boy Pallets, LLC ("Go Boy")  A manufacturer and distributor of industrial pallets and packaging in Georgia and North 

Carolina.  Go Boy has annual sales of approximately $8 million.  The acquisition of Go Boy 
enabled us to expand our industrial packaging product offering and lumber sourcing in this 
region. 

March 6, 2017 

$31,818 
cash paid for 100% asset 
purchase

$

 7,653  $ 

 24,165

South 

Robbins Manufacturing Co. 
("Robbins") 

A manufacturer of treated wood products with facilities in Florida, Georgia, and North 
Carolina.  Robbins has annual sales of approximately $86 million.  The acquisition of Robbins 
allowed us to expand our presence in this region and serve customers more cost effectively.  

March 6, 2017 

$22,789 
cash paid for 100% asset 
purchase

$

 14,341  $ 

 8,448 North 

Quality Hardwood Sales, LLC 
("Quality") 

A manufacturer and supplier of hardwood products, including components of cabinets used in 
homes and recreational vehicles.  Quality has annual sales of approximately $30 million.  The 
acquisition of Quality enabled us to expand our product offering to include hardwood-based 
products. 

40 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The intangible assets for each acquisition were finalized and allocated to their respective identifiable intangible 
asset and goodwill accounts during 2018, except for our NACC and Pak-Rite acquisitions.  In aggregate, acquisitions not 
consolidated with other operations contributed approximately $110.1 million in revenue and a $1.1 million in operating 
profit during 2018. 

At December 29, 2018, the amounts assigned to major intangible classes for the business combinations mentioned 

above are as follows (in thousands): 

Non- 
Compete 

Customer 

    Goodwill -

Tax 

Pak-Rite 
Pallet Place 
NACC 
Fontana 
Expert Packaging 
Spinner 
Great Northern Lumber 
Silverwater Box 
Go Boy 
Robbins 
Quality 
*(estimate) 

 —

4,300 * $ 

250
3,500 *  
2,235
809

Agreements Relationships  Tradename  Goodwill   Deductible
 —  $ 4,292 * $ 8,592
$
250
 —    
12,497
 —     8,997 *
2,235
 —    
—
 257    
850
 —    
50
 —    
—
 —    
4,880
 —    
7,653
14,341

 —
 —
 —
 —
 909
 —
 450     3,113
 400     7,391

— $
—
—
—
221
850
50
—
225
560
830

—  
—  
—  

4,655
3,530
5,720

The  business  combinations  mentioned  above  were  not  significant  to  our  operating  results  individually  or  in 

aggregate, and thus pro forma results for 2018 and 2017 are not presented.  

D. 

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS 

The changes in the net carrying amount of goodwill by reporting segment for the years ended December 29, 2018 

and December 30, 2017, are as follows (in thousands): 

Balance as of December 31, 2016 
2017 Acquisitions 
Foreign Exchange, Net 
Balance as of December 30, 2017 
2018 Acquisitions 
Foreign Exchange, Net 
Balance as of December 29, 2018 

    North 
43,386
7,391
350
51,127
4,292
(365)
$ 55,054

South 
43,625
3,113
—
46,738
8,996
—
$ 55,734

    West 

      All Other    

 —     
 —     

87,730       23,794
 909
 2,346
87,730       27,049
 —     
 —
 —       (1,450)
$ 87,730   $  25,599

Total 
198,535
11,413
2,696
212,644
13,288
(1,815)
$ 224,117

Indefinite-lived intangible assets totaled $7.4 million as of December 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017 related to 

the idX, International, and Consumer Products reporting units which is included in the All Other reportable segment. 

41 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
    
 
    
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
The following amounts were included in other amortizable intangible assets, net as of December 29, 2018 and 

December 30, 2017 (in thousands): 

Non-compete agreements 
Customer relationships 
Licensing agreements 
Patents 
Tradename 
Total 

2018 
   Accumulated       
Amortization 
$

Assets 
(5,517)  $  9,841
   31,630
(6,843) 
 4,589
(3,909) 
 792
(284) 
 2,420
(760) 
$ (17,313)  $ 49,272

2017 
   Accumulated
Amortization
(4,208)
$
(5,986)
(3,450)
(254)
(464)
$ (14,362)

Assets 
$ 10,232
40,307
4,589
792
2,879
$ 58,799

Amortization is computed principally by the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the intangible 

assets as follows: 

Intangible Asset Type 
Non-compete agreements 
Customer relationship 
Licensing agreements 
Tradename (amortizable) 

    Weighted Average
Estimated Useful Life Amortization Period
6.8 years
11.4 years
10 years
11.7 years

3 to 15 years
5 to 15 years
10 years
5 to 15 years

Amortization expense of intangibles totaled $6.4 million, $4.9 million and $2.8 million in 2018, 2017 and 2016, 
respectively. The estimated amortization expense for intangibles for each of the five succeeding fiscal years is as follows 
(in thousands): 

2019 
2020 
2021 
2022 
2023 
Thereafter 
Total 

E. 

DEBT 

     $

$

6,908
5,802
5,503
5,119
3,800
14,354
41,486

On June 14, 2018, we entered into an unsecured Note Purchase Agreement (the "Agreement") under which we 
issued our 4.20% Series 2018 C Senior Notes, due June 14, 2028, in the aggregate principal amount of $40 million and 
our 4.27% Series 2018 D Senior Notes, due June 14, 2030, in the aggregate principal amount of $35 million. Proceeds 
from the sale of the Series C Senior Notes and Series D Senior Notes were used to pay down our revolving credit facility. 

On December 17, 2012, we entered into an unsecured Note Purchase Agreement (the "Agreement") under which 
we  issued  our  3.89%  Series 2012  A  Senior  Notes,  due  December 17,  2022,  in  the  aggregate  principal  amount  of  $35 
million and our 3.98% Series 2012 B Senior Notes, due December 17, 2024, in the aggregate principal amount of $40 
million. Proceeds from the sale of the Series A Senior Notes and Series B Senior Notes were used to repay amounts due 
on our existing Series 2002-A Senior Notes, Tranche B totaling $40 million and our revolving credit facility. 

On  November 1,  2018,  we  entered  into  a  five-year,  $375  million  unsecured  revolving  credit  facility  with  a 
syndicate of U.S. banks led by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as 
syndication agent. The facilities include up to $40 million which may be advanced in the form of letters of credit, and up 
to $100 million (U.S. dollar equivalent) which may be advanced in Canadian dollars, Australian dollars, pounds Sterling, 
Euros and such other foreign currencies as may subsequently be agreed upon among the parties. This facility replaced our 
$295 million unsecured revolving credit facility. Cash borrowings are charged interest based upon an index selected by 

42 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
the Company, plus a margin that is determined based upon the index selected and upon the financial performance of the 
Company  and  certain  of  its  subsidiaries.  The  Company  is  charged  a  facility  fee  on  the  entire  amount  of  the  lending 
commitment,  at  a  per  annum  rate  ranging from  12.5  to  30.0  basis  points,  also  determined  based upon  the  Company’s 
performance. The facility fee is payable quarterly in arrears. 

Outstanding letters of credit extended on our behalf on December 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017 aggregated 
$30.3 million and $26.5 million; respectively, which includes approximately $9.8 million related to industrial development 
revenue bonds.  The Company had an outstanding balance of $42.5 million and $59.4 million on its revolver at December 
29, 2018, and December 30, 2017, respectively.   After considering letters of credit, the Company had $322.7 million and 
$225.7 million in remaining availability on its revolver on December 29, 2018, and December 30, 2017, respectively.  
Additionally, we have $150 million in availability under a "shelf agreement" for long term debt with a current lender. 
Letters of credit have one year terms and include an automatic renewal clause. The letters of credit related to industrial 
development  revenue  bonds  are  charged  an  annual  interest  rate  of  112.5  basis  points,  based  upon  our  financial 
performance. The letters of credit related to workers’ compensation are charged an annual interest rate of 75 basis points. 

Long-term debt obligations are summarized as follows on December 29, 2018 and December 31, 2017 (amounts 

in thousands): 

2018 

2017 

 35,000 

Series 2018 Senior Notes C, due on June 14, 2028, interest payable semi-annually at 4.20%    $   40,000 
Series 2018 Senior Notes D, due on June 14, 2030, interest payable semi-annually at 4.27%   
 35,000 
Series 2012 Senior Notes Tranche A, due on December 17, 2022, interest payable semi-
annually at 3.89% 
Series 2012 Senior Notes Tranche B, due on December 17, 2024, interest payable semi-
annually at 3.98% 
Revolving credit facility totaling $375 million due on November 1, 2023, interest 
payable monthly at a floating rate (3.39% on December 29, 2018 and 2.41% on 
December 30, 2017) 
Series 1999 Industrial Development Revenue Bonds, due on August 1, 2029, interest 
payable monthly at a floating rate (1.94% on December 29, 2018 and 1.08% on 
December 30, 2017) 
Series 2000 Industrial Development Revenue Bonds, due on October 1, 2020, interest 
payable monthly at a floating rate (2.00% on December 29, 2018 and 1.14% on 
December 30, 2017) 
Series 2002 Industrial Development Revenue Bonds, due on December 1, 2022, interest 
payable monthly at a floating rate (1.99% on December 29, 2018 and 1.13% on 
December 30, 2017) 
Capital leases and foreign affiliate debt 

 40,000 

 42,490 

 3,300 

 2,700 

$

—
—

35,000

40,000

59,422

3,300

2,700

3,700
2,058
146,180
(1,329)
(177)
$ 144,674

 3,700 
 311 
    202,501 
 (148)
 (223)
  $  202,130 

Less current portion 
Less debt issuance costs 
Long-term portion 

Financial  covenants on  the  unsecured  revolving  credit  facility  and  unsecured  notes  include  minimum  interest 
coverage tests and a maximum leverage ratio. The agreements also restrict the amount of additional indebtedness we may 
incur and the amount of assets which may be sold among other industry standard covenants. We were within all of our 
lending requirements on December 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017. 

43 

 
 
 
 
 
     
   
  
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
On December 29, 2018, the principal maturities of long-term debt and capital lease obligations are as follows (in 

thousands): 

2019 
2020 
2021 
2022 
2023 
Thereafter 
Total 

     $

$

148
2,834
29
38,700
42,490
118,300
202,501

On December 29, 2018, the estimated fair value of our long-term debt, including the current portion, was $203.1 
million, which was $0.6 million more than the carrying value. The estimated fair value is based on rates anticipated to be 
available to us for debt with similar terms and maturities. We consider the valuations of our long-term debt, including the 
current portion, to be Level 2 liabilities which rely on quoted prices in markets that are not active or observable inputs 
over the full term of the liability. 

F. 

LEASES 

We lease certain real estate under operating lease agreements with original terms ranging from one to ten years. 
We are required to pay real estate taxes and other occupancy costs under these leases. Certain leases carry renewal options 
of five to fifteen years. We also lease motor vehicles, equipment, and an aircraft under operating lease agreements for 
periods of one to ten years. Future minimum payments under non-cancelable operating leases on December 29, 2018 are 
as follows (in thousands):  

2019 
2020 
2021 
2022 
2023 
Thereafter 
Total minimum lease payments 

     Operating 

Leases 

$

$

17,242
11,969
9,784
8,346
6,382
22,498
76,221

Rent  expense  was  approximately  $25.0  million,  $22.3  million,  and  $10.5  million  in  2018,  2017,  and  2016, 

respectively. 

G. 

DEFERRED COMPENSATION 

We have a program whereby certain executives irrevocably elected to defer receipt of certain compensation in 
1985  through  1988.  Deferred  compensation  payments  to  these  executives  will  commence  upon  their  retirement.  We 
purchased  life  insurance  on  these  executives,  payable  to  us  in  amounts  which,  if  assumptions  made  as  to  mortality 
experience, policy dividends, and other factors are realized, will accumulate cash values adequate to reimburse us for all 
payments for insurance and deferred compensation obligations. In the event cash values are not sufficient to fund such 
obligations, the program allows us to reduce benefit payments to such amounts as may be funded by accumulated cash 
values. The deferred compensation liabilities and related cash surrender value of life insurance policies totaled $2.0 million 
on December 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017, and are included in "Other Liabilities" and "Other Assets," respectively. 

We also maintain a non-qualified deferred compensation plan (the "Plan") for the benefit of senior management 
employees who may elect to defer a portion of their annual bonus payments and salaries. The Plan provides investment 
options similar to our 401(k) plan, including our stock. The investment in our stock is funded by the issuance of shares to 
a  Rabbi  trust,  and  may  only  be  distributed  in  kind.  Assets  held  by  the  Plan  totaled  approximately  $1.0  million  on 
December 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017, and are included in "Other Assets."  Related liabilities totaled $27.8 million 

44 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
and $22.6 million on December 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017, respectively, and are included in "Other Liabilities" and 
"Shareholders’  Equity."   Assets  associated  with  the  Plan  are  recorded  at  fair  market  value.  The  related  liabilities  are 
recorded at fair market value, with the exception of obligations associated with investments in our stock which are recorded 
at the market value on the date of deferral. 

H. 

COMMON STOCK 

We maintain and administer our shareholder approved Employee Stock Purchase Plan ("Stock Purchase Plan"). 
The Stock Purchase Plan allows eligible employees to purchase shares of our stock at a share price equal to 85% of fair 
market value on the purchase date. We have expensed the fair value of the compensation associated with these awards, 
which approximates the discount. The amount of expense is nominal. 

We maintain and administer our shareholder approved Directors’ Retainer Stock Plan ("Stock Retainer Plan").  
The Stock Retainer Plan allows eligible members of the Board of Directors to defer the cash portion of their retainer and 
committee fees and receive shares of our stock at the time of or following their retirement, disability or death. The number 
of shares to be received is equal to the amount of the cash portion of their retainer and committee fees deferred multiplied 
by 110%, divided by the fair market value of a share of our stock at the time of deferral. The number of shares is increased 
by the amount of dividends paid on the Company’s common stock. We recognized expense for this plan of $1.7 million 
in 2018, $1.7 million in 2017, and $0.7 million in 2016. Effective January 1, 2017, this plan was amended to allow directors 
to defer payment of the annual retainer paid in the form of our common stock. 

Finally, we maintain and administer our shareholder approved Long Term Stock Incentive Plan (the "LTSIP”). 
The LTSIP provides for the grant of stock options,  stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, performance shares and 
other stock-based awards. 

On October 18, 2017, the Board of Directors approved a three-for-one split of the Company's outstanding shares 
of common stock effected as a stock dividend.  On November 14, 2017, shareholders of record as of October 31, 2017, 
received two additional shares for each share held on the record date. 

There is no unrecognized compensation expense remaining for stock options in 2018, 2017, and 2016. 

Below is a summary of common stock issuances for 2018 and 2017: 

Share Issuance Activity 
Shares issued under the employee stock purchase plan

    Shares issued under the employee stock gift program
    Shares issued under the director retainer stock program
    Shares issued under the long term stock incentive plan
    Shares issued under the executive stock match grants
    Forfeitures 
Total shares issued under stock grant programs

Shares issued under the deferred compensation plans

Share Issuance Activity 

45 

      December 29, 2018 

Common 
Stock 

 38 

$

Average 
Share 
Price 
35.58

 3 
 101 
 164 
 94 
 (14) 
 348 

 167 

33.56
17.17
35.16
32.94
-
29.37

36.98

$

$

      December 30, 2017 

Common 
Stock 

Average 
Share 
Price 

 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
Shares issued under the employee stock purchase plan

    Shares issued under the employee stock gift program
    Shares issued under the director retainer stock program
    Shares issued under the long term stock incentive plan
    Shares issued under the executive stock match grants
    Forfeitures 
Total shares issued under stock grant programs

Shares issued under the deferred compensation plans

 24 

$

32.80

 3 
 62 
 240 
 129 
 (5) 
 429 

 159 

31.92
19.02
31.81
32.03
-
30.06

32.16

$

$

A summary of the nonvested restricted stock awards granted under the LTSIP is as follows: 

Nonvested at December 26, 2015 
Granted 
Vested 
Forfeited 
Nonvested at December 31, 2016 
Granted 
Vested 
Forfeited 
Nonvested at December 30, 2017 
Granted 
Vested 
Forfeited 
Nonvested at December 29, 2018 

  Restricted 

Awards 
623,748
350,892
(180,465)
(2,643)
791,532
388,248
(141,111)
(5,043)
1,033,626
247,068
(107,865)
(12,750)
1,160,079

  Weighted- 
  Average Grant   
  Date Fair Value   
13.66     
23.96     
15.66     
21.45     
19.32     
32.03     
12.71     
30.14     
24.24     
36.52     
18.11     
24.19     
23.32   $ 

$

     Weighted-
  Unrecognized   Average 
  Compensation   Period to 
  Recognize
  Expense 
2.53 years

Expense 
(in millions) 
 5.2

 4.8

1.51 years

 7.1

1.31 years

 7.6

1.12 years

Under the Stock Purchase Plan and LTSIP, we recognized share-based compensation expense of $3.6 million, 
$3.6 million, and $2.2 million and the related total income tax benefits of $0.7 million, $1.0 million, and $1.1 million in 
2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. 

In 2018, 2017 and 2016, cash received from share issuances under our plans was $1.0 million, $0.7 million and 

$0.5 million, respectively.  

On  November 14,  2001,  the  Board  of  Directors  approved  a  share  repurchase  program  (which  succeeded  a 
previous program) allowing us to repurchase up to 2.5 million shares of our common stock. On October 14, 2010, our 
Board authorized an additional 2 million shares to be repurchased under our share repurchase program. We repurchased 
860,669 and 445,740 shares under this program in 2018 and 2017, respectively. As of December 29, 2018, the cumulative 
total authorized shares available for repurchase is approximately 1.9 million shares.   

46 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
     
 
     
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
I. 

RETIREMENT PLANS 

We  have  a  profit  sharing  and  401(k) plan  for  the  benefit  of  substantially  all  of  our  employees,  excluding  the 
employees of certain wholly-owned subsidiaries. Amounts contributed to the plan are made at the discretion of the Board 
of Directors. We matched 25% of employee contributions in 2018, 2017, and 2016, on a discretionary basis, totaling $3.4 
million, $4.8 million, and $4.4 million respectively. The basis for matching contributions may not exceed the lesser of 6% 
of the employee’s annual compensation or the IRS limitation. 

On July 14, 2011, the compensation committee of the board of directors approved a retirement plan for certain 
officers of the Company (who have at least 20 years of service with the Company and at least 10 years of service as an 
officer) whereby we will pay, upon retirement, benefits totaling 150% of the officer’s highest base salary in the three years 
immediately preceding separation from service plus health care benefits for a specified period of time if certain eligibility 
requirements  are  met.  Approximately  $9.1  million  and  $7.8  million  are  accrued  in  “Other  Liabilities”  for  this  plan  at 
December 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017, respectively. 

J. 

INCOME TAXES 

Income tax provisions for the years ended December 29, 2018, December 30, 2017, and December 31, 2016 are 

summarized as follows (in thousands): 

Currently Payable: 

Federal 
State and local 
Foreign 

Net Deferred: 

Federal 
State and local 
Foreign 

The components of earnings before income taxes consist of the following: 

U.S. 
Foreign 
Total 

2018 

2017 

2016 

$ 31,492   $  44,413
 8,579
 6,240
    59,232

7,544  
5,527  
44,563  

$ 42,397
6,341
6,143
54,881

2,965  
(522) 
(1,565) 
878  

    (7,681)
 (864)
 1,280
    (7,265)
$ 45,441   $  51,967

(455)
438
310
293
$ 55,174

2018 

2017 

$ 180,261   $ 151,395
    24,612
$ 197,853   $ 176,007

17,592  

2016 
$ 140,106
20,565
$ 160,671

The effective income tax rates are different from the statutory federal income tax rates for the following reasons: 

Statutory federal income tax rate 
State and local taxes (net of  federal benefits) 
Effect of noncontrolling owned interest in earnings of partnerships
Manufacturing deduction 
Tax credits, including foreign tax credit 
Change in uncertain tax positions reserve 
Other permanent differences 
Other, net 
Impact of Tax Act and reduction of corporate tax rate
Effective income tax rate 

47 

2018 
21.0 %   
 3.8   
(0.1)  
n/a   
(1.6)  
 0.1   
 0.6   
(0.7)  
(0.1) 
23.0 %   

2017 
 35.0 %  
 3.0 
 (0.2)
 (2.5)
 (2.0)
 0.4 
 (0.1)
 (0.6)
 (3.5)
 29.5 %  

2016 
35.0 %
3.1
(0.2)
(2.4)
(1.4)
0.4
0.1
(0.3)
—
34.3 %

 
 
 
 
 
    
 
    
       
  
 
  
  
 
    
  
  
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
     
    
 
 
 
 
 
   
     
     
Temporary differences which give rise to deferred income tax assets and (liabilities) on December 29, 2018 and 

December 30, 2017 are as follows (in thousands): 

Employee benefits 
Net operating loss carryforwards 
Foreign subsidiary capital loss carryforward 
Other tax credits 
Inventory 
Reserves on receivables 
Accrued expenses 
Other, net 
Gross deferred income tax assets 
Valuation allowance 
Deferred income tax assets 
Depreciation 
Intangibles 
Other, net 
Deferred income tax liabilities 
Net deferred income tax liability 

2018 

  $   20,914 
 6,520 
 504 
 586 
 1,090 
 802 
 1,593 
 2,785 
 34,794 
 (2,707)
 32,087 
    (24,881)
    (20,225)
 — 
    (45,106)
  $  (13,019)

2017 
$ 17,048
8,592
546
709
358
714
2,060
1,879
31,906
(4,706)
27,200
(19,992)
(19,422)
—
(39,414)
$ (12,214)

As of December 29, 2018, the company had federal, state and foreign net operating loss carryforwards of $6.5 

million and state tax credit carryforwards of $0.4 million, which will expire at various dates.   

The NOL and credit carryforwards expire as follows: 

Net Operating Losses 

Tax Credits 

2018 – 2022 
2023 - 2027 
2028 - 2032 
2033 - 2037 
Thereafter 
Total 

    U.S. 

$ — $
—
2,859
41
—
$ 2,900

    State 
165
526
672
812
293
$ 2,468

$ 

    Foreign       U.S. 
 347   $ 
 635  
 114  
 —  
 56  
$  1,152   $ 

    State 
381
—
—
—
—
381

 — $
 —
 —
 —
 —
 — $

As of December 29, 2018, we believe that it is more likely than not that the benefit from certain state and foreign 
NOL carryforwards as well as certain state tax credit carryforwards will not be realized. In recognition of this risk, we 
have provided a valuation allowance against various NOL and tax credit carryforwards. Furthermore, there is a valuation 
allowance of $0.5 million against a capital loss carryforward we have for a wholly-owned subsidiary, UFP Canada, Inc. 
Based upon the business activity and the nature of the assets of this subsidiary, our ability to realize a future benefit from 
this carryforward is doubtful. The capital loss has an unlimited carryforward and therefore will not expire unless there is 
a change in control of the subsidiary. 

On December 22, 2017, the U.S. government enacted comprehensive tax legislation commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts 
and Jobs Act (the ”Tax Act”).  The Tax Act makes broad and complex changes to the U.S. tax code that affected 2017, 
including, but not limited to, (1) requiring a one-time transition tax on certain unrepatriated earnings of foreign subsidiaries 
that is payable over eight years and (2) bonus depreciation that will allow for full expensing of qualified property. 

The Tax Act also established new tax laws that will affect 2018, including, but not limited to, (1) reduction of the U.S. 
federal corporate tax rate; (2) elimination of the corporate alternative minimum tax (AMT); (3) the creation of the  base 
erosion anti-abuse tax (BEAT), a new minimum tax: (4) a general elimination of U.S. federal income taxes on dividends 

48 

 
 
 
 
 
 
     
    
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
from foreign subsidiaries; (5) a new provision designed to tax global intangible low-taxed income (GILTI), which allows 
for the possibility of using foreign tax credits (FTCs) and a deduction of up to 50 percent to offset the income tax liability 
(subject to some limitations); (6) a new limitation on deductible interest expense; (7) the repeal of the domestic production 
activity deduction; (8) limitations on the deductibility of certain executive compensation; (9) limitations on the use of 
FTCs to reduce the U.S. income tax liability; and (10) limitations on net operating losses (NOLs) generated after December 
31, 2017, to 80 percent of taxable income. 

The SEC staff issued SAB 118, which provides guidance on accounting for the tax effects of the Tax Act.  SAB 118 
provides a measurement period that should not extend beyond one year from the Tax Act enactment date for companies 
to complete the accounting under ASC 740.  In accordance with SAB 118, a company must reflect the income tax effects 
of those aspects of the Act for which the accounting under ASC 740 is complete.  To the extent that a company’s accounting 
for certain income tax effects of the Tax Act is incomplete but it is able to determine a reasonable estimate, it must record 
a provisional estimate in the financial statements.  If a company cannot determine a provisional estimate to be included in 
the financial statements, it should continue to apply ASC 740 on the basis of the provisions of the tax laws that were in 
effect immediately before the enactment of the Tax Act. 

In connection with our initial analysis of the impact of the Tax Act, we recorded a provisional discrete net tax benefit of 
$6.1 million in the period ending December 30, 2017 which consisted primarily of (1) a net benefit for the corporate rate 
reduction of $8.2 million; (2) a net expenses for the write-down of deferred tax assets for stock based compensation that 
will no longer be deductible for $1.9 million; and (3) a net expense for the transition tax of $0.2 million. We completed 
our accounting for the income tax effects of the Tax Act in 2018 and have recognized an additional measurement-period 
adjustment of a net tax benefit of $0.3 million in the period ending December 29, 2018.  The adjusted total impact of the 
Tax Act is now $6.4 million which consists of the following: (1) the net benefit for the corporate rate reduction remained 
the same at $8.2 million; (2) a net expense for the write-down of the deferred tax assets for stock based compensation was 
reduced by $0.1 million to $1.8 million, and (3) the net expense for the transition tax was eliminated and reduced by $0.2 
million. The effect of the measurement-period adjustment on the 2018 effective tax rate was a reduction of approximately 
0.1 percent. 

Global intangible low taxed income (GILTI):  The Tax Act created a new requirement that certain income (i.e., GILTI) 
earned  by  controlled  foreign  corporations  (CFCs)  must  be  included  currently  in  the  gross  income  of  the  CFCs’  U.S. 
shareholder.   GILTI  is  the  excess  of  the  shareholder’s  “net  CFC  tested  income”  over  the net deemed  tangible  income 
return, which is currently defined as the excess of (1) 10 percent of the aggregate of the U.S. shareholder’s pro rata share 
of the qualified business asset investment of each CFC with respect to which it is a U.S. shareholder over (2) the amount 
of certain interest expense taken into account in the determination of net CFC-tested income. 

In our evaluation of this provision of the Tax Act and the application of ASC 740, we elected under U.S. GAAP,  to make 
the accounting policy of treating taxes due on future U.S. inclusions in taxable income related to GILTI as a current-period 
expense when incurred (the “period cost method”) as opposed to factoring such amounts into a company’s measurement 
of its deferred taxes (the “deferred method”).  For the year ended December 29, 2018, we determined that no GILTI tax 
inclusion was applicable. 

K. 

ACCOUNTING FOR UNCERTAINTY IN INCOME TAXES 

ASC  740,  Income  Taxes  (“ASC  740”)  clarifies  the  accounting  for  income  taxes  by  prescribing  the  minimum 
recognition threshold a tax position is required to meet before being recognized in the financial statements. ASC 740 also 
provides guidance on derecognition, measurement, classification, interest and penalties, and disclosure requirements. 

49 

 
 
 
 
 
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows (in thousands): 

Gross unrecognized tax benefits beginning of year
Increase in tax positions for prior years 
Increase in tax positions due to acquisitions 
Increase in tax positions for current year 
Settlements with taxing authorities 
Lapse in statute of limitations 
Gross unrecognized tax benefits end of year 

2018 

2017 

$ 4,000   $   3,381
 4
 —
 1,107
 (2)
 (490)
$ 4,378   $   4,000

(366)  
 —  
1,326  
 —  
(582)  

2016 
$ 2,209
243
362
905
(32)
(306)
$ 3,381

Our effective tax rate would have been affected by the unrecognized tax benefits had this amount been recognized 

as a reduction to income tax expense. 

We recognized interest and penalties for unrecognized tax benefits in our provision for income taxes. The liability 
for unrecognized tax benefits included accrued interest and penalties of $0.5 million, $0.7 million, and $0.6 million at 
December 29, 2018, December 30, 2017, and December 31, 2016, respectively. 

We file income tax returns in the United States and in various state, local and foreign jurisdictions. The federal 
and a majority of state and foreign jurisdictions are no longer subject to income tax examinations for years before 2015. 
A  number  of  routine  state  and  local  examinations  are  currently  ongoing.  Due  to  the  potential  for  resolution  of  state 
examinations, and the expiration of various statutes of limitation, and new positions that may be taken, it is reasonably 
possible that the amounts of unrecognized tax benefits could change in the next twelve months is $0.8 million. 

L. 

COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES, AND GUARANTEES 

We are self-insured for environmental impairment liability, including certain liabilities which are insured through 

a wholly owned subsidiary, Ardellis Insurance Ltd., a licensed captive insurance company. 

We own and operate a number of facilities throughout the United States that chemically treat lumber products. In 
connection with the ownership and operation of these and other real properties, and the disposal or treatment of hazardous 
or toxic substances, we may, under various federal, state, and local environmental laws, ordinances, and regulations, be 
potentially  liable  for  removal  and  remediation  costs,  as  well  as  other  potential  costs,  damages,  and  expenses. 
Environmental reserves, calculated with no discount rate, have been established to cover remediation activities at wood 
preservation facilities in Stockertown, PA; Elizabeth City, NC; and Auburndale, FL. In addition, a reserve was established 
for our facility in Thornton, CA to remove certain lead containing materials which existed on the property at the time of 
purchase. 

On a consolidated basis, we have reserved approximately $2.1 million and $3.0 million on December 29, 2018 
and  December 30,  2017,  respectively,  representing  the  estimated  costs  to  complete  future  remediation  efforts.  These 
amounts have not been reduced by an insurance receivable. 

Many of our wood treating operations utilize “Subpart W” drip pads, defined as hazardous waste management 
units by the Environmental Protection Agency. The rules regulating drip pads require that a pad be “closed” at the point 
that  it  is  no  longer  intended  to  be  used  for  wood  treating  operations  or  to  manage  hazardous  waste.  Closure  involves 
identification  and disposal of  contaminants which  are  required  to  be removed  from  the  facility.  The  cost of  closure is 
dependent upon a number of factors including, but not limited to, identification and removal of contaminants, cleanup 
standards that vary from state to state, and the time period over which the cleanup would be completed. Based on our 
present knowledge of existing circumstances, it is considered probable that these costs will approximate $0.1 million. As 
a result, this amount is recorded in other long-term liabilities on December 29, 2018. 

In addition, on December 29, 2018, we were parties either as plaintiff or defendant to a number of lawsuits and 
claims  arising  through  the  normal  course  of  our  business. In  the  opinion  of  management,  our  consolidated  financial 
statements will not be materially affected by the outcome of these contingencies and claims. 

50 

 
 
 
 
 
   
     
    
  
  
  
  
  
 
On  December 29,  2018,  we  had  outstanding  purchase  commitments  on  commenced  capital  projects  of 

approximately $14.3 million. 

We provide a variety of warranties for products we manufacture. Historically, warranty claims have not been 
material. We distribute products manufactured by other companies, some of which are no longer in business. While we do 
not warrant these products, we have received claims as a distributor of these products when the manufacturer no longer 
exists  or  has  the  ability  to  pay.  Historically,  these  costs  have  not  had  a  material  affect  on  our  consolidated  financial 
statements. 

As part of our operations, we supply building materials and labor to site-built construction projects or we jointly 
bid  on  contracts  with  framing  companies  for  such  projects.  In  some  instances  we  are  required  to  post  payment  and 
performance bonds to insure the project owner that the products and installation services are completed in accordance with 
our contractual obligations. We have agreed to indemnify the surety for claims made against the bonds. As of December 29, 
2018, we had approximately  $21.1  million  in outstanding payment  and performance  bonds  for open projects. We  had 
approximately $1.0 million in payment and performance bonds outstanding for completed projects which are still under 
warranty. 

On December 29, 2018 we had outstanding letters of credit totaling $30.3 million, primarily related to certain 

insurance contracts and industrial development revenue bonds described further below. 

In  lieu  of  cash  deposits,  we  provide  irrevocable  letters  of  credit  in  favor  of  our  insurers  to  guarantee  our 
performance  under  certain  insurance  contracts.  We  currently  have  irrevocable  letters  of  credit  outstanding  totaling 
approximately $20.5 million for these types of insurance arrangements. We have reserves recorded on our balance sheet, 
in accrued liabilities, that reflect our expected future liabilities under these insurance arrangements. 

We are required to provide irrevocable letters of credit in favor of the bond trustees for all industrial development 
revenue bonds that have been issued. These letters of credit guarantee principal and interest payments to the bondholders. 
We currently have irrevocable letters of credit outstanding totaling approximately $9.8 million related to our outstanding 
industrial development revenue bonds. These letters of credit have varying terms but may be renewed at the option of the 
issuing banks. 

Certain wholly owned domestic subsidiaries have guaranteed the indebtedness of Universal Forest Products, Inc. 
in certain debt agreements, including the Series 2012 Senior Notes, the Series 2018 Senior Notes, and our revolving credit 
facility.  The  maximum  exposure  of  these  guarantees  is  limited  to  the  indebtedness  outstanding  under  these  debt 
arrangements and this exposure will expire concurrent with the expiration of the debt agreements. 

We did not enter into any new guarantee arrangements during 2018 which would require us to recognize a liability 

on our balance sheet. 

M. 

SEGMENT REPORTING 

ASC 280, Segment Reporting (“ASC 280”), defines operating segments as components of an enterprise about 
which  separate  financial  information  is  available  that  is  evaluated  regularly  by  the  chief  operating  decision  maker  in 
deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. 

The  Company  operates  manufacturing,  treating  and  distribution  facilities  throughout  North  America,  Europe, 
Asia and Australia, but primarily in the United States. The Company manages the operations of its individual locations 
primarily  through  a  geographic  reporting  structure  under  which  each  location  is  included  in  a  region  and  regions  are 
included  in  our  North,  South,  West,  and  International  divisions.  The  exceptions  to  this  geographic  reporting  and 
management  structure  are  (a) the  Company’s  Alternative  Materials  Division,  which  offers  a  portfolio  of  non-wood 
products and distributes those products nation-wide and is accounted for as a reporting unit within the All Other segment, 
(b) the Company’s distribution unit (referred to as UFPD) which distributes a variety of products to the manufactured 
housing industry and is accounted for as a reporting unit within the North segment, and (c) idX division, which designs, 
manufactures, and installs customized interior fixtures and is accounted for within the All Other segment. 

51 

With respect to the facilities in the north, south, and west segments, these facilities generally supply the three 
markets  the  Company  serves  nationally -  Retail,  Industrial,  and  Construction.  Also,  substantially  all  of  our  facilities 
support  customers  in  the  immediate  geographical  region  surrounding  the  facility.    One  customer,  The  Home  Depot, 
accounted for approximately 19% of our total sales in fiscal 2018 and 2017, and 20% in 2016. 

Our Alternative Materials, International, and idX divisions have been included in the “All Other” column of the 
table  below.  The  “Corporate”  column  includes  unallocated  administrative  costs  and  certain  incentive  compensation 
expense. 

2018 

All 

Net sales to outside customers 
Intersegment net sales 
Interest expense (income) 
Amortization expense 
Depreciation expense 
Segment earnings from operations 
Segment assets 
Capital expenditures 

North 

  $ 1,279,459
 56,682
58
830
 12,062
 66,239
 386,483
 17,820

South 
$ 1,024,747
76,297
(6)
1,292
8,244
60,049
266,503
9,185

West 
$ 1,599,274
56,004
197
1,998
14,836
103,357
496,939
26,024

    Other 

     Corporate     

Total 

$ 585,700   $
235,905  
(1,486)  
2,273  
10,341  
6,779  
395,727  
39,168  

 —  $ 4,489,180
424,888
 — 
8,893
    10,130 
6,393
 — 
54,949
 9,466 
207,263
    (29,161)
1,647,548
   101,896 
95,862
 3,665 

2017 

All 

Net sales to outside customers 
Intersegment net sales 
Interest expense 
Amortization expense 
Depreciation expense 
Segment earnings from operations 
Segment assets 
Capital expenditures 

North 

  $ 1,133,656
67,161
4
559
10,511
61,326
 351,270
23,026

South 
$ 837,370
74,566
160
607
6,880
46,646
240,661
12,286

West 
$ 1,417,924
83,245
293
1,723
14,116
82,465
462,311
23,212

    Other 

     Corporate      

Total 

$ 552,232   $ 
167,568  
(473)  
1,971  
8,586  
17,296  
356,264  
9,865  

 —   $ 3,941,182
392,540
 —  
6,218
 6,234  
 —  
4,860
48,536
 8,443  
181,469
   (26,264) 
1,464,677
    54,171  
71,116
 2,727  

2016 

All 

Net sales to outside customers 
Intersegment net sales 
Interest expense 
Amortization expense 
Depreciation expense 
Segment earnings from operations 
Segment assets 
Capital expenditures 

North 

  $ 1,000,426
57,770
1
115
8,948
59,408
 302,009
10,902

South 
$ 711,862
38,641
307
—
6,190
47,146
192,085
5,571

West 
$ 1,251,093
88,311
387
1,858
13,326
76,875
438,674
19,648

    Other 

     Corporate      

Total 

$ 277,112   $ 
19,322  
143  
822  
4,531  
16,639  
313,304  
6,037  

 —   $ 3,240,493
204,044
 —  
4,575
 3,737  
2,795
—  
40,823
 7,828  
164,438
   (35,630) 
1,292,058
    45,986  
53,762
    11,604  

52 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
   
   
 
  
  
 
  
 
  
  
 
  
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     
   
   
 
  
  
 
  
  
 
  
  
 
  
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     
   
   
 
  
  
 
  
  
 
  
  
 
  
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
Information regarding principal geographic areas was as follows (in thousands): 

2018 

2017 

2016 

United States 
Foreign 
Total 

     Net Sales 
  $  4,382,356
 106,824
  $  4,489,180

Long-Lived
Tangible 

    Assets 

$ 342,326
34,312
$ 376,638

    Net Sales 
$ 3,821,366
119,816
$ 3,941,182

Long-Lived  
Tangible 

    Assets 

     Net Sales 
$ 313,976   $  3,162,331
 78,162
$ 344,356   $  3,240,493

30,380  

Long-Lived
Tangible 

    Assets 

$ 280,362
26,106
$ 306,468

Sales generated in Canada and Mexico are primarily to customers in the United States of America. 

The  following  table  presents,  for  the  periods  indicated,  our  gross  sales  (in  thousands)  by  major  product 

classification. 

Year Ended 
December 29,   December 30,   December 31,
2017 

2016 

2018 

Value-Added Sales 
Trusses – residential, modular and manufactured housing
Fencing 
Decking and railing – composite,  wood and other
Turn-key framing and installed sales 
Industrial packaging and components 
Engineered wood products (eg. LVL; i-joist) 
In-store fixtures 
Manufactured brite and other lumber 
Wall panels 
Outdoor DIY products (eg. stakes; landscape ties)
Construction and building materials (eg. door packages; drywall)
Lattice – plastic and wood 
Manufactured brite and other panels 
Siding, trim and moulding 
Hardware 
Manufactured treated lumber 
Other 
Total Value-Added Sales 

Commodity-Based Sales 
Non-manufactured brite and other lumber 
Non-manufactured treated lumber 
Non-manufactured brite and other panels 
Non-manufactured treated panels 
Other 
Total Commodity-Based Sales 
Total Gross Sales 
Sales allowances 
Total Net Sales 

53 

$ 421,996   $  368,591   $

334,956
176,668
200,004
141,474
391,610
76,503
87,262
68,517
53,279
106,284
204,732
50,556
60,753
66,048
20,713
17,412
10,967
$ 2,854,661   $ 2,535,008   $ 2,067,738

 187,905  
 244,910  
 149,520  
 471,262  
 76,507  
 260,174  
 78,638  
 61,226  
 110,327  
 265,048  
 48,736  
 75,742  
 85,016  
 21,218  
 17,584  
 12,604  

179,037  
271,499  
151,260  
581,622  
83,212  
252,341  
102,333  
69,889  
124,907  
305,374  
48,614  
97,314  
98,370  
24,662  
20,889  
21,342  

718,456  
647,222  
285,888  
39,768  
19,754  

 576,374  
 575,505  
 271,310  
 34,970  
 13,036  

469,042
479,333
238,806
30,374
12,084
$ 1,711,088   $ 1,471,195   $ 1,229,639
$ 4,565,749   $ 4,006,203   $ 3,297,377
(56,884)
$ 4,489,180   $ 3,941,182   $ 3,240,493

 (65,021) 

(76,569) 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
     
    
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
   
 
   
  
    
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
N. 

QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED) 

The following table sets forth selected financial information for all of the quarters, consisting of 13 and 14 weeks 

during the years ended December 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017, respectively, (in thousands, except per share data): 

First 

Second

Third

Fourth

2018 

2017 
  $ 993,857   $ 846,130   $ 1,294,440
165,689
   120,740  
45,130
 21,634  

   130,889  
 33,582  

2018 

2017 
$ 1,072,375
148,240
34,574

2018 
$ 1,212,702
158,673
42,068

2017 

2018 

$ 1,056,586   $ 988,179
   137,643
 31,633

144,687  
34,669  

2017 
$ 966,091
129,159
33,162

Net sales 
Gross profit 
Net earnings 
Net earnings 
attributable to 
controlling interest   
Basic earnings per 
share 
Diluted earnings per 
share 

 32,833  

 21,062  

44,044

33,642

41,219

33,693  

 30,502

31,115

 0.53  

 0.34  

 0.53  

 0.34  

0.71

0.71

0.55

0.55

0.67

0.66

 0.55  

 0.55  

 0.50

 0.50

0.51

0.51

54 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
    
    
   
   
   
    
   
 
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
MARKET INFORMATION FOR OUR COMMON STOCK 

Our common stock trades on The Nasdaq Stock Market (“NASDAQ”) under the symbol UFPI.  

55 

 
 
STOCK PERFORMANCE GRAPH 

The following graph depicts the cumulative total return on our common stock compared to the cumulative total 
return on the indices for The Nasdaq Stock Market (all U.S. companies) and an industry peer group we selected. The graph 
assumes an investment of $100 on December 28, 2013, and reinvestment of dividends in all cases. 

The companies included in our self-determined industry peer group are as follows: 

American Woodmark Corporation 
Bemis Company, Inc. 
BlueLinx Holdings, Inc. 
BMC Stock Holdings, Inc. 
Boise Cascade, LLC 
Builders FirstSource, Inc. 
Gibraltar Industries, Inc. 
Greif Bros. Corporation 

Louisiana-Pacific Corporation 
Masco Corporation 
NCI Building Systems, Inc. 
Simpson Manufacturing Company,Inc. 
Sonoco Products Company 
Trex Company, Inc. 
Westrock Company 

The returns of each company included in the self-determined peer group are weighted according to each respective 
company’s stock market capitalization at the beginning of each period presented in the graph above. In determining the 
members of our peer group, we considered companies who selected UFPI as a member of their peer group, and looked for 
similarly sized companies or companies that are a good fit with the markets we serve. 

56 

 
 
 
 
 
 
BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Directors and Executive Officers 

William G. Currie 
Chairman of the Board 
Universal Forest Products, Inc. 

Matthew J. Missad 
Chief Executive Officer 
Universal Forest Products, Inc. 

John M. Engler  

Thomas W. Rhodes 
President and Chief Executive Officer 
TWR Enterprises, Inc. 

Bruce A. Merino 

Mary E. Tuuk 
President and Chief Executive Officer 
Grand Rapids Symphony 

Brian C. Walker 
Partner-Strategic Leadership 
Huron Capital 

Michael G. Wooldridge 
Partner 
Varnum, LLP 

Joan A. Budden 
President 
Priority Health 

Matthew J. Missad 
Chief Executive Officer 

Patrick M. Webster 
President and Chief Operating Officer 

Michael R. Cole 
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer 

Allen T. Peters 
President 
UFP Western Division 

Patrick Benton 
President 
UFP Northern Division

Jonathan West 
President 
UFP Southern Division

Robert D. Coleman 
Executive Vice President 
Manufacturing

C. Scott Greene 
Executive Vice President 
Strategy & Development

Donald L. James 
Executive Vice President 
National Sales

Michael F. Mordell 
Executive Vice President 
International Operations

Chad C. Uhlig Eastin 
Executive Vice President 
Purchasing

57 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ANNUAL MEETING 

Shareholder Information 

The annual meeting of Universal Forest Products, Inc. will be held at 8:30 a.m. on April 24, 2019, at 2880 East Beltline 
Lane NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525. 

SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION 

Shares of the Company’s stock are traded under the symbol UFPI on the NASDAQ Stock Market. The Company’s 10-K 
report, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, will be provided free of charge to any shareholder upon written 
request. For more information contact: 

Investor Relations Department 
Universal Forest Products, Inc. 
2801 East Beltline NE 
Grand Rapids, MI 49525 
Telephone:  (616) 364-6161 
Web:  www.ufpi.com 

SECURITIES COUNSEL 

Varnum, LLP 
Grand Rapids, MI 

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM 

Deloitte & Touche LLP 
Grand Rapids, MI 

TRANSFER AGENT/SHAREHOLDER INQUIRIES 

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company serves as the transfer agent for the Corporation. Inquiries relating to stock 
transfers, changes of ownership, lost or stolen stock certificates, changes of address, and dividend payments should be 
addressed to: 

American Stock Transfer & Trust Co. 
6201 15th Ave 
Brooklyn, NY 11219 
Telephone:  (800) 937-5449 

UNIVERSAL FOREST PRODUCTS®, INC., CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS 

2801 East Beltline NE 
Grand Rapids, MI 49525 
Telephone:  (616) 364-6161 
Facsimile:  (616) 364-5558 

58 

 
 
 
UNIVERSAL FOREST PRODUCTS®, INC., AND ITS AFFILIATES 

Locations: 

Adairsville, GA 
Ashburn, GA 
Atco, NJ 
Auburn , NY 
Auburndale, FL 
Belchertown, MA 
Belle Glade, FL 
Berlin, NJ 
Blanchester, OH 
Blue Island, IL 
Bomaderry, Australia 
Burlington, NC 
Cameron, SC 
Cedar Hill, TX 
Chaffee, NY 
Chandler, AZ 
Chesapeake, VA 
Clinton, NC 
Conway, SC 
Dayton, OH 
Eatonton, GA 
Edwardsburg, MI 
Elizabeth City, NC 
Elkhart, IN 
Fernley, NV 
Folkston, GA 
Franklinton, NC 
Fredericksburg, VA 
Gilmer, TX 
Gordon, PA 
Grand Rapids, MI 
Grandview, TX 
Granger, IN 
Haleyville, AL 
Hamilton, OH 
Harrisonville, MO 
Highland Square, NY 
Hillsboro, TX 
Huntsville, TX 
Janesville, WI 
Jefferson, GA 
Kearneysville, WV 
Kyle, TX 
Lafayette, CO 
Lansing, MI 
Lawrenceburg, TN 
Liberty, NC 
Locust, NC 
Lodi, OH 
Magna, UT 
Mcintyre, GA 
Mcminnville, OR 
Milwaukee, WI 
Minneota, MN 
Morristown, TN 
Moultrie, GA 
Naches, WA 
New London, NC 
New Waverly, TX 
New Windsor, MD 

  Freewater, OR 
  Gainesville, GA 
Gilmer, TX 
Grand Haven, MI 
Grand Rapids, MI 
Greene, ME 
Hawkins County, TN 
Hendersonville, NC 
Jeffersonville, IN 
Kansas City, MO 
Kearneysville, WV 
Kyle, TX
Lockhart, FL 
Maricopa County, AZ 
Marietta, GA 
Martin, TN 
Mayville, WI 
Mcminnville, OR 
Medley, FL 
Mexico City, MX 
Morristown, TN 
Moultrie, GA 
Nampa, ID
Nappanee, IN 
Naugatuck, CT 
New Delhi, India 
New Hartford, NY 
New York, NY 
Ontario, CA 
Orangeburg, SC 
Parker, PA
Pitts, GA
Plainville, MA 
Poulsbo, WA 
Prairie Du Chien, WI 
Puerto Rico 
Puyallup, WA 
Rockwell, NC 
Salina, KS
San Antonio, TX 
Shanghai, China 
Sharon, TN 
Shawnee, OK 
South Marston Swindon, Wiltshire
Spring Lake, MI 
St Bernard De Lacolle, Quebec
Stevens Point, WI 
Tampa, FL
Thomaston, GA 
Tokyo, Japan 
Vesper, WI 
White Bear Lake, MN 
Wilcox County, GA 
Windsor, CO 
Wintrop, ME 
Woodburn, OR 
Wujiang City , Jiangsu Province
Yeerongpilly, Australia 

  Newnan, GA
  Ooltewah, TN
  Parker, PA
  Pearisburg, VA
  Peru, IL
  Prairie Du Chien, WI
  Ranson, WV
  Riverside, CA
  Rowesville, SC
  Saginaw, TX
  Saint Bernard De Lacolle, Quebec
  Salisbury, NC
  San Antonio, TX
  Santee, SC
  Sauk Rapids, MN
  Schertz, TX
  Selma, AL
  Shawnee, OK
  Sidney , NY
  Silsbee, TX
  Snohomish, WA
  Stanfield , NC
  Stockertown, PA
  Thornton, CA
  Union City, GA
  Warrens, WI
  Washington, NC
  Waterbury, CT
  Wenatchee, WA
  White Bear Lake, MN
  White Pigeon, MI
  Windsor, CO
  Woodburn, OR
  Yakima, WA
  Aiea, HI
  Athena, OR
  Auburndale, FL
  Aurora, CO
  Bangalore, India
  Barnesville, GA
  Biscoe, NC
  Boise , ID
  Bridgeton, MO
  Chandler, AZ
  Chicago, IL
  Chino, CA
  Columbia, MD
  Comal County, TX
  Condord, ON
  Cordele, GA
  Dallas, TX
  Delano, PA
  Eagan, MN
  Earth City, MO
  Edina, MN
  Elkhart, IN
  Elkwood, VA
  Emlenton, PA
  Erskine Park, Australia
  Fort Worth, TX

59 

 
 
 
 
 
LIST OF REGISTRANT'S SUBSIDIARIES AND AFFILIATES 

UFP Gear, LLC

  UFP Global Holdings Limited

  Delaware 
11032 Tidewater Trail, LLC 
  Delaware 
234 Springs Rd., LLC 
  Delaware 
2875 Needmore Rd. LLC 
621 Hall St., LLC 
  Delaware 
Aljoma Holding Company, LLC    Michigan 
Aljoma Lumber, Inc. 
Ardellis Insurance Ltd. 
CA Truss, Inc. 
Caliper Building Systems, LLC 
Eovations, LLC 
Gulf Coast Components, LLC 
Horizon Terra, Incorporated 
Idaho Western, Inc. 
idX (China) Display System Co., 
Ltd. 
idX (India) Display Private Ltd. 
idX Asia Fixtures Limited 
idX Asia Trading Limited 
idX Chicago, LLC 
idX Corporation 
idX Corporation London Limited   England and Wales ltd. Corp.  UFP Mexico Embalaje y Distribution, S. de R.L. 

UFP Gordon, LLC
UFP Grandview, LLC
UFP Granger, LLC
UFP Great Lakes, LLC
UFP Gulf, LLC
UFP Haleyville, LLC
UFP Hamilton, LLC
UFP Harrisonville, LLC
UFP Hillsboro, LLC
UFP International Employment Services, LLC  
UFP International, LLC

UFP Janesville, LLC
UFP Kyle, LLC
UFP Lafayette, LLC
UFP Lansing, LLC
UFP Magna, LLC
UFP McMinnville, LLC

  Florida 
  Bermuda 
  Michigan 
  Michigan 
  Michigan 
  Michigan 
  Indiana 
  Idaho 

  China 
  India 
  Hong Kong 
  Hong Kong 
  Delaware 
  Delaware 

idX Dallas, LLC 
idX Dayton, LLC 
idX Holdings, Inc. 
idX Impressions, LLC 
idX Los Angeles, LLC 
idX Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V. 
idX Shanghai Trading Company, 
Ltd. 
Integra International Pty Ltd 
Integra Packaging Pty Ltd 
Landura, LLC 
Maine Ornamental, LLC 
Metaworld Technologies, LLC 
Mid-Atlantic Framing, LLC 
North Atlantic Framing, LLC 
Pacific Coast Showcase, Inc. 
Pinelli Universal TKT, S de R.L. 
de C.V. 
Pinelli Universal, S de R.L. de 
C.V. 
PR Distribution, LLC 
Shawnlee Construction, L.L.C. 
Shepardville Construction, LLC 
Store Fixtures Canada Holdings, 
Inc. 
The UBEECO Group Pty Ltd 
TKT Real State, S. de R.L. de 
C.V. 
Tresstar, LLC 
Triangle Systems, Inc. 
U.F.P. Mexico Holdings, S. de 
R.L.de CV 
UFP Albuquerque, LLC 
UFP Altoona, LLC 
UFP Ashburn, LLC 
UFP Atlantic Division, LLC 
UFP Atlantic, LLC 
UFP Auburndale, LLC 

  Delaware 
  Delaware 
  Delaware 
  Delaware 
  Delaware 
  Mexico 
  China 

  Australia 
  Australia 
  Texas 
  Michigan 
  Michigan 
  Michigan 
  Michigan 
  Washington 

  Mexico 

  Mexico 
  Puerto Rico 
  Michigan 
  Michigan 

  Delaware 
  Australia 

  Mexico 
  Michigan 
  New York 

  Mexico 
  Michigan 
  Michigan 
  Michigan 
  Michigan 
  Michigan 
  Michigan 

de C. V.
UFP Mexico Investment, LLC
UFP Mid-Atlantic, LLC
UFP Minneota, LLC
UFP Morristown, LLC
UFP Moultrie, LLC
UFP Mountain West, LLC

  UFP Nappanee, LLC 

UFP National Enterprises II, Inc.
UFP New London, LLC
UFP New Waverly, LLC
UFP New Windsor, LLC
UFP New York, LLC
UFP North Atlantic, LLC
UFP Northeast, LLC
UFP Orlando, LLC

UFP Parker, LLC

UFP Purchasing, Inc.
UFP Ranson, LLC
UFP Real Estate, LLC
UFP Riverside, LLC

UFP Rockwell, LLC
UFP Saginaw, LLC

UFP Salisbury, LLC
UFP San Antonio, LLC
UFP Sauk Rapids, LLC

UFP Schertz, LLC
UFP Shawnee, LLC
UFP Southeast, LLC
UFP Southwest, LLC
UFP Stockertown, LLC
UFP Tampa, LLC
UFP Thomaston, LLC

EXHIBIT 21 

  Michigan
  United Kingdom
  Michigan
  Michigan
  Michigan
  Michigan
  Michigan
  Michigan
  Michigan
  Michigan
  Michigan
  Michigan
  Michigan

  Michigan
  Michigan
  Michigan
  Michigan
  Michigan
  Michigan
  Mexico 

  Michigan
  Michigan
  Michigan
  Michigan
  Michigan
  Michigan
  Michigan 

  Michigan
  Michigan
  Michigan
  Michigan
  Michigan
  Michigan
  Michigan
  Michigan

  Michigan

  Michigan
  Michigan
  Michigan
  Michigan

  Michigan
  Michigan

  Michigan
  Michigan
  Michigan

  Michigan
  Michigan
  Michigan
  Michigan
  Michigan
  Michigan
  Michigan

 
 
 
 
 
 
UFP Aurora, LLC 
UFP Australia Pty Ltd 
UFP Australia Real Estate Pty 
Ltd 
UFP Barnesville, LLC 
UFP Belchertown, LLC 
UFP Berlin, LLC 
UFP Biscoe, LLC 
UFP Blanchester, LLC 
UFP Caldwell, LLC 
UFP Canada, Inc. 
UFP Central Plains, LLC 
UFP Chandler, LLC 
UFP Chicago, LLC 
UFP Dallas, LLC 
UFP Distribution, LLC 
UFP Eagan, LLC 
UFP East Central, LLC 
UFP Eastern Division, Inc. 

UFP Eatonton, LLC 
UFP Elizabeth City, LLC 
UFP Elkwood, LLC 
UFP Far West, LLC 
UFP Folkston, LLC 

UFP Franklinton, LLC 
UFP Gainesville, LLC 

  Michigan 
  Australia 

  Australia 
  Michigan 
  Michigan 
  Michigan 
  Michigan 
  Michigan 
  Michigan 
  Canada 
  Michigan 
  Michigan 
  Michigan 
  Michigan 
  Michigan 
  Michigan 
  Michigan 
  Michigan 

  Michigan 
  Michigan 
  Michigan 
  Michigan 
  Michigan 

  Michigan 
  Michigan 

UFP Thornton, LLC
UFP Transportation, Inc.

  Michigan
  Michigan

  Michigan
  Michigan
  Michigan
  Michigan
  Michigan
  Michigan
  Michigan
  Michigan
  Michigan
  Alabama
  Michigan
  Michigan
  Michigan
  Michigan
  Alberta
  Michigan

UFP Union City, LLC
UFP Ventures II, Inc.
UFP Warranty Corporation
UFP Warrens, LLC
UFP Washington, LLC
UFP Western Division, Inc.
UFP White Bear Lake, LLC
UFP Windsor, LLC
UFP Woodburn, LLC
United Lumber & Reman, LLC
Universal Consumer Products, Inc.
Universal Forest Products RMS, LLC 
Universal Forest Products Texas LLC 
Universal Forest Products, Inc.
Universal Showcase ULC
Upshur Forest Products, LLC
Western Building Professionals of California II 
Limited Partnership
  Michigan
Western Building Professionals of California, Inc.   Michigan
  Michigan
Western Building Professionals, LLC 
  Michigan
Yard & Home, LLC
Pinelli Lumber, Inc.
  Texas
TIBASA Universal Forest Products S. de R.L. de 
C.V.
idX Amsterdam B.V.

  Mexico
  Amsterdam

 
   
   
 
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement Nos. 33-81128, 333-60630, 333-150345, 333-
156596, and 33-84632 on Form S-8 of our reports dated February 27, 2019, relating to the consolidated financial 
statements of Universal Forest Products, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”), and the effectiveness of the Company’s 
internal control over financial reporting, appearing in this Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the year 
ended December 29, 2018. 

Exhibit 23 

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP 

Grand Rapids, Michigan 

February 27, 2019 

 
 
 
Universal Forest Products, Inc. 

Certification 

Exhibit 31(a) 

I, Matthew J. Missad, certify that: 

1.           I have reviewed this report on Form 10-K of Universal Forest Products, Inc.; 

2.           Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a 

material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements 
were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; 

3.           Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly 

present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as 
of, and for, the periods presented in this report; 

4.           The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls 

and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial 
reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have: 

a.           Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures 

to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, 
including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly 
during the period in which this report is being prepared; 

b.           Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial 
reporting to designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability 
of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance 
with generally accepted accounting principles; 

c.           Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this 
report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end 
of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and 

d.           Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that 

occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the 
case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the 
registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and 

5.           The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal 
control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the Audit Committee of registrant's Board of 
Directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): 

a.           All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over 

financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, 
process, summarize and report financial information; and 

b.           Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a 

significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting. 

Date: 

February 27, 2019 

/s/ Matthew J. Missad 
Matthew J. Missad 
Chief Executive Officer and 
Principal Executive Officer 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Universal Forest Products, Inc. 

Certification 

Exhibit 31(b) 

I, Michael R. Cole, certify that: 

1.           I have reviewed this report on Form 10-K of Universal Forest Products, Inc.; 

2.           Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a 

material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements 
were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; 

3.           Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly 

present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as 
of, and for, the periods presented in this report; 

4.           The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls 

and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial 
reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have: 

a.           Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures 

to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, 
including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly 
during the period in which this report is being prepared; 

b.           Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial 
reporting to designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability 
of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance 
with generally accepted accounting principles; 

c.           Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this 
report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end 
of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and 

d.           Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that 

occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the 
case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the 
registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and 

5.           The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal 
control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the Audit Committee of registrant's Board of 
Directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): 

a.           All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over 

financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, 
process, summarize and report financial information; and 

b.           Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a 

significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting. 

Date: 

February 27, 2019 

/s/ Michael R. Cole 
Michael R. Cole
Chief Financial Officer, 
Principal Financial Officer and 
Principal Accounting Officer 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CERTIFICATE OF THE 
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF 
UNIVERSAL FOREST PRODUCTS, INC. 

Exhibit 32(a) 

Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. 1350): 

I,  Matthew  J.  Missad,  Chief  Executive  Officer  of  Universal  Forest  Products,  Inc.,  certify,  to  the  best  of  my 

knowledge and belief, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. 1350) that: 

(1)         The report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 29, 2018, which this statement accompanies, 

fully complies with requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and 

(2)         The information contained in this report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 29, 2018 fairly 

presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of Universal Forest Products, Inc. 

Date:  February 27, 2019 

UNIVERSAL FOREST PRODUCTS, INC.

By: /s/ Matthew J. Missad 
Matthew J. Missad

Its: Chief Executive Officer and 
Principal Executive Officer 

The  signed  original  of  this  written  statement  required  by  Section  906,  or  any  other  document  authenticating, 
acknowledging,  or  otherwise  adopting  the  signature  that  appears  in  typed  form  within  the  electronic  version  of  this 
written statement required by Section 906, has been provided to Universal Forest Products, Inc. and will be retained by 
Universal Forest Products, Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CERTIFICATE OF THE 
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER OF 
UNIVERSAL FOREST PRODUCTS, INC. 

Exhibit 32(b) 

Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. 1350): 

I,  Michael  R.  Cole,  Chief  Financial  Officer  of  Universal  Forest  Products,  Inc.,  certify,  to  the  best  of  my 

knowledge and belief, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. 1350) that: 

(1)         The report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 29, 2018, which this statement accompanies, 

fully complies with requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and 

(2)         The information contained in this report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 29, 2018 fairly 

presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of Universal Forest Products, Inc. 

Date:  February 27, 2019 

UNIVERSAL FOREST PRODUCTS, INC.

By: /s/ Michael R. Cole
Michael R. Cole

Its: Chief Financial Officer, 

Principal Financial Officer and 
Principal Accounting Officer 

The  signed  original  of  this  written  statement  required  by  Section  906,  or  any  other  document  authenticating, 
acknowledging,  or  otherwise  adopting  the  signature  that  appears  in  typed  form  within  the  electronic  version  of  this 
written statement required by Section 906, has been provided to Universal Forest Products, Inc. and will be retained by 
Universal Forest Products, Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.