Exhibit 99.1

News Release

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P. O. Box 1980

Winchester, VA 22604-8090

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:    Glenn Eanes

  Vice President and Treasurer

  540-665-9100

AMERICAN WOODMARK CORPORATION

ANNOUNCES SECOND QUARTER RESULTS

Winchester, Virginia (November 29, 2005) — American Woodmark Corporation (Nasdaq/NM: AMWD) today announced results for the second quarter ended October 31, 2005.

Net sales increased 8% from the prior year to $214,535,000. The increase in sales was experienced in both the remodeling and new construction sectors due to higher unit volume and an improvement in mix. The Company had previously issued forward guidance that anticipated net sales growth of 8% to 12%. The Company’s previous sales outlook was based on the expectation of stronger seasonal demand in the remodeling and new construction sectors than was actually experienced. The Company believes that reduced consumer confidence and a lingering impact from transportation issues experienced earlier in the year, in certain geographic regions, were the primary reasons sales were at the lower end of previous guidance.

 

Net income for the quarter was $6,172,000, or $0.37 per diluted share, compared with net income of $11,355,000, or $0.67 per diluted share, in the prior year.  Net income was below the Company’s previous forward guidance of $0.50 to $0.60 per diluted share.

Gross profit was 15.7% of sales, down from 21.4% in the previous year. The deterioration in gross profit was the result of the continued rise in transportation expense combined with inefficiencies in labor and overhead costs. Transportation expense increased due to higher fuel costs, inflation in rate structures due to an overall lack of carrier capacity and additional cost from switching selected carriers to improve customer service. Labor and manufacturing overhead costs rose as a percentage of sales as actual sales volumes were at the low end of the Company’s expectation, creating inefficiencies in production due to excess capacity. In addition, manufacturing overhead costs reflected the addition of two new manufacturing facilities in the third quarter of the last fiscal year.

Selling, general and administrative costs decreased to 11.1% of net sales from 12.1% the previous year due to the impact of cost management efforts and lower costs related to the Company’s pay-for-performance employee incentive plans.

 

Reflecting upon the Company’s performance, Chairman and CEO Jake Gosa commented, “We are disappointed with these operating results.  Accordingly, we have performed a detail analysis of our operating margins and identified several operational and strategic initiatives to improve our performance and focus the Company on margin improvement. Operating iniatives, including the adjustment of spending and staffing levels, are being implemented as we begin the third fiscal quarter. In addition, the Company is working with certain customers to either improve margins or transition their business to other suppliers. As these transitions occur over the next several fiscal quarters, the Company will support our strategic customers and minimize the potential adverse impacts.”

Looking forward to the third fiscal quarter of 2006, the Company expects reduced rates of growth in the new construction and remodeling markets due to the lower production outlooks announced by several national home builders, uncertain consumer confidence and the potential for increased interest rates. In addition, the Company anticipates the transition of low margin business will commence during the third quarter. As a result, the Company currently expects fiscal third quarter net sales to increase between 0% and 4% over the same period of the prior year. Exclusive of the transition impact, the Company expects sales to increase between 4% and 8% over the prior year. The Company believes that continued operational improvements will be realized during the third quarter. However, the Company expects these improvements will be more than offset by the impact of additional inefficiences caused by unused manufacturing capacity. Overall, the Company currently believes net income for the third quarter of 2006 will be in the range of $0.20 to $0.30 per diluted share versus $0.42 in fiscal 2005.

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

Safe harbor statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: All forward looking statements made by the Company involve material risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on factors that may be beyond the Company’s control. Accordingly, the Company’s future performance and financial results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in any such forward looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, those described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Annual Report to Shareholders. The Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise its forward looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that any projected results expressed or implied therein will not be realized.

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AMERICAN WOODMARK CORPORATION

Unaudited Financial Highlights

(in thousands, except share data)

Operating Results

	Three Months Ended October 31				Six Months Ended October 31
	2005		2004		2005		2004
Net Sales	$	214,535	$	199,149	$	430,099	$	386,683
Cost of Sales & Distribution		180,808		156,479		359,482		305,143
Gross Profit		33,727		42,670		70,617		81,540
Sales & Marketing Expense		18,115		16,405		35,928		32,531
G&A Expense		5,709		7,623		12,635		14,509
Operating Income		9,903		18,642		22,054		34,500
Interest & Other (Income) Expense		(52)		28		(61)		(18)
Income Tax Expense		3,783		7,259		8,488		13,462
Net Income	$	6,172	$	11,355	$	13,627	$	21,056
Earnings Per Share:
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding – Diluted		16,793,367		16,918,556		16,758,552		16,849,175
Earnings Per Diluted Share	$	0.37	$	0.67	$	0.81	$	1.25

Balance Sheet
	October 31 2005		April 30 2005
Cash & Cash Equivalents	$	37,876	$	24,406
Customer Receivables		45,512		52,877
Inventories		70,648		65,213
Other Current Assets		16,696		14,158
Total Current Assets		170,732		156,654
Property, Plant & Equipment		183,534		185,513
Other Assets		19,691		19,001
Total Assets	$	373,957	$	361,168
Current Portion – Long-Term Debt	$	1,068	$	1,046
Accounts Payable & Accrued Expenses		81,019		81,496
Total Current Liabilities		82,087		82,542
Long-Term Debt		28,779		29,217
Other Liabilities		33,223		34,218
Total Liabilities		144,089		145,977
Stockholders’ Equity		229,868		215,191
Total Liabilities & Stockholders’ Equity	$	373,957	$	361,168