HWCC Houston Wire and Cable Company

CHICAGO, July 25 /PRNewswire/ -- William Blair & Company initiated research coverage of Houston Wire & Cable Company (NASDAQ:HWCC) ($17.46) with an Outperform rating and company profile of Aggressive Growth. Houston Wire & Cable is one of the largest distributors of specialty wire and cable and related services to the U.S. electrical/electronic distribution market, as well as targeted industries such as communications, energy, engineering and construction, general manufacturing, infrastructure, petrochemical, transportation, utility, and wastewater treatment. Analyst Jeff Germanotta estimated that the company would earn $0.86 per share in 2006 and $1.04 per share in 2007. "HWCC is well positioned in a growing industry, in our opinion, and its recent strategic sales-and-marketing decisions (e.g., new channel strategies and proprietary products) should continue to drive industry-leading sales investment firm, offering investment banking, asset management, equity research, institutional and private brokerage, and private capital to individual, institutional, and issuing clients. William Blair & Company, L.L.C. has received compensation for investment banking services from the company within the past 12 months, or expects to receive or intends to seek compensation for investment banking services in the next 3 months. William Blair & Company, L.L.C. was a manager or co-manager of a public offering of equity securities within the prior 12 months. William Blair & Company, L.L.C. and its affiliates beneficially own or control (either directly or through its managed accounts) 1% or more of the equity securities of this company as of the end of the month ending not more than 40 days from the date herein. William Blair & Company, L.L.C. is a market maker in the security of this company and may have a long or short position. For important disclosures and information regarding the firm's rating system, valuation methods and potential conflicts of interest, please visit: http://www.williamblair.com/pages/news_story_dept.asp?uid=1074&depID=4 Additional information is available upon request. William Blair & Company, L.L.C. is a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, CRD number 1252. DATASOURCE: William Blair & Company, L.L.C. CONTACT: Tony Zimmer, William Blair & Company, L.L.C., +1-312-364-8611, or Web site: http://www.williamblair.com/

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