Moore-Handley:  Quarterly Earnings


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For:  Moore-Handley, Inc.                    Contact:    Peter B. Covert
P.O. Box 2607                                            (205) 663-8408                                 
Birmingham, AL  35202                                       


                MOORE-HANDLEY REPORTS RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
                  FOR THE QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1999


        BIRMINGHAM, AL. November 3 - Moore-Handley, Inc. (NASDAQ-MHCO)  a
Birmingham, Alabama based distributor of hardware and home-center products,
announced that sales for the quarter ending September 30, 1999 were
$43,566,000 up 12% from last year.  Net loss for the quarter was 2 cents per
share on 1,876,000 average shares outstanding compared to a net loss of 5
cents on 1,967,000 average shares outstanding in 1998.

While sales continued strong for the quarter, the company continues to
experience disproportionately higher warehouse labor costs resulting in lower
earnings per share.

Summary results of operations follows:
                                                                   
                                 Summary Statement of Operations
                                                               
                               (in thousands, except per share data)
                                                              
                            Quarter Ended                  Nine Months Ended
                            September 30                    September 30
                          1999           1998            1999             1998
                                             
Sales                    $43,566       $38,729         $130,933        $117,213
                                        
Total Gross Margin         6,932         5,960           20,215          18,063
Warehouse & 
   Delivery Expense        2,802         2,422            8,350           6,895
Gross profit               4,130         3,538           11,865          11,168
Selling & administrative 
            expense        3,821         3,358           11,021          10,100
Operating income             309           180              844           1,068
Interest expense             378           332            1,014           1,051
Income (loss) before provision                                  
   For income tax (benefit)  (69)         (152)            (170)             17
Income tax (benefit)         (27)          (55)             (64)              7
Net income (loss)        $   (42)      $   (97)        $   (106)       $     10

Net income (loss) 
        per share        $  (.02)      $   (.05)       $    (.06)      $    .01
                                        
Weighted average common                                 
    Shares outstanding   1,871,000     1,967,000        1,871,000     1,892,000
                                        


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