Moore-Handley: Quarterly Earnings



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For: Moore-Handley, Inc.                 Contact: L. Ward Edwards
     P.O. Box 2607                                 (404) 577-5532
     Birmingham, Al. 35202

           MOORE-HANDLEY REPORTS RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
               FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 1997


     BIRMINGHAM, Al., April 15 - Moore-Handley, Inc. (NASDAQ -
MHCO) reports a first quarter loss of $381,000 or $.18 per share
on sales of $37.8 million, down slightly from $38.7 million last
year.  The reported loss includes a $225,000 pre-tax charge for
severance payments.

     The Company reported that net income in the quarter
continued to be penalized by aftereffects of the major warehouse
construction project of last year.

     At the end of the quarter, E. H. White, the Company's
President and Chief Executive Officer, resigned.  The Board
elected Chairman William Riley to the additional post of Chief
Executive Officer and Michael J. Gaines, Vice President of
Merchandising, to be President and Chief Operating Officer.

     Summary results of operations follow:
                                                                         
                            Summary Statement of Operations
                         (in thousands, except per share data)

                                 Quarter Ended March 31,
                                    1997        1996

Sales                              $37,842     $38,680
Total gross margin                   5,511       5,913
Warehouse & delivery expense         2,294       2,203
Gross profit                         3,217       3,710
Selling & administrative expense     3,498       3,339
Operating income (loss)               (281)        371
Interest expense                       280         199
Income (loss) before provision
  for income tax (benefit)            (561)        172
Income tax (benefit)                  (180)         64
Net income (loss)                  $  (381)    $   108

Net income (loss) per share        $ ( .18)    $   .05               
                               ****
041597
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