Building materials distributor Huttig Building Products Inc. (NASDAQ: HBP), St. Louis, MO, reported sales for the first quarter of $175.7 million, an increase of 10.6 percent compared to the same period a year ago. The company reported a loss of $0.9 million, down from $1.4 million in the first quarter of 2016.

“Our first quarter results show the continued growth of our business and an increase in operating expenses resulting from the continued, meaningful investments we are making in our accelerated growth strategy,” said Jon Vrabely, president and CEO of Huttig Building Products. “While these investments are negatively impacting our short-term results, they are truly transformational in nature and provide the best opportunity to generate significant, sustained, profitable growth in the intermediate term.”