EXHIBIT 99.1

Quanex Building Products Corporation Fiscal 2011 Third Quarter Results

Performance, Before Certain Special Items, In-Line With Prior Year

Repurchased 169,600 Shares of Common Stock for $2.8 million

Truseal Instituted an Oil Based Raw Material Surcharge

HOUSTON, Aug. 25, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Quanex Building Products Corporation (NYSE:NX), a leading manufacturer of engineered materials, components and systems serving domestic and international window and door OEMs through its Engineered Products and Aluminum Sheet Products groups, today released fiscal 2011 third quarter results for the period ending July 31, 2011. Net sales were $252.4 million, 12% higher than a year ago, due primarily to the acquisition of Edgetech.

Quanex reported diluted earnings from continuing operations of $0.24 per share, which included $0.01 per share from Edgetech's results. The $0.24 per share also included special expense items totaling $0.06 per share. In the third quarter of 2010, diluted earnings from continuing operations were $0.27 per share, which included special expense items of $0.02 per share. Excluding results of Edgetech and special expense items, third quarter 2011 earnings were even to a year ago.

Engineered Products Group (EPG) is focused on providing window and door OEMs with fenestration components, products, and systems. Key end markets are residential repair & remodel (R&R) and new home construction. Third quarter net sales were $124.1 million, which included $23.7 million of net sales from Edgetech. Excluding Edgetech, net sales were nearly flat compared to the third quarter of 2010, which had the benefit of a $1500 energy efficient window tax credit program. There were no similar tax credits in the third quarter of 2011.

Third quarter operating income was $14.1 million, which included $1.0 million of operating income from Edgetech. Edgetech's results were negatively impacted in the quarter by a step-up in inventory expense of $0.7 million related to the purchase method of accounting. Excluding Edgetech, operating income was equal to the third quarter of 2010 despite headwinds in the end markets. EPG experienced higher raw material costs in the quarter, which were generally offset by higher prices, surcharges and productivity improvements. Truseal, one of the company's warm edge, insulating glass spacer divisions, initiated an oil based raw material surcharge effective May 1. The surcharge helped Truseal offset the rising cost of butyl, a key raw material of the business.

Quanex believes there is value in measuring its sales performance against industry indexes. EPG compares its sales to US window shipments as reported by Ducker Worldwide, a market intelligence firm. For the 12 months ended July 31, 2011, EPG sales (excluding acquisitions) were down 1% compared to the previous 12 months, versus US window shipments that were down 6%. With the coupling of excellent businesses like Edgetech, the company is confident its long term initiatives will allow EPG to outperform the industry.

Edgetech Integration

With Quanex's purchase of Edgetech, its successful integration into EPG remains a high priority. Excellent progress was made in the quarter and the integration activities remain on schedule. As previously announced, Michael Hovan, Edgetech's past president, assumed the lead role for the sales and marketing team at EPG. A review of that organization's structure was undertaken, and from that evaluation, changes were made to ensure the fullest extent of EPG's value proposition (design/engineering/sales/logistics) is at the disposal of both current and future customers.

Aluminum Sheet Products Group is a leading provider of aluminum sheet through its Nichols Aluminum operation. Key end markets are residential repair & remodel (R&R) and new home construction. Shipments, net sales and operating income in the third quarter were 80 million pounds, $132.1 million and $7.4 million, respectively. Net sales were higher than a year ago due primarily to higher aluminum prices.

Both shipments and operating income were lower compared to the year ago quarter due to weaker demand for residential building & construction sheet. Operating income was further impacted by higher repair & maintenance costs and reduced value-added painted shipments compared to a year ago. Nichols' spread (sales less material costs) was up 13% and 4% from the year ago quarter and the sequential second quarter, respectively, due to aluminum prices that rose faster than material costs.

Nichols Aluminum compares its shipments to the industry's non-can sheet shipments as reported by the Aluminum Association. In the third quarter, Nichols' shipments were down 11% from a year ago, versus Association shipments that were up 4%. Nichols' underperformance is attributed to weaker building and construction demand, where it has a large presence, compared to stronger distribution and transportation demand, where it has a smaller presence.

Corporate and Other Items

Corporate expenses in the quarter were $6.9 million and included, in part, the following items: acquisition related expenses; ERP program expenses; stock based compensation expenses; LIFO expense.

Cash Position

Quanex had a cash balance of $62.4 million and total debt outstanding stood at $1.7 million at the end of the quarter. Cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations for the nine months ended was $9.9 million. The company's $270 million revolving credit facility remained untapped, but due to the facility's EBITDA covenant requirements, the available capacity at quarter end was approximately $204 million. Future uses of cash could be to fund organic growth activities, pay common stock dividends, make acquisitions, and repurchase outstanding shares. During the third quarter, Quanex purchased 169,600 shares of common stock at an average price of $16.42, including commissions. From the end of the third quarter through August 24, the company purchased an additional 239,050 shares of common stock at an average price of $12.21, including commissions.

Business Outlook

Stagnant home construction and R&R activity, high levels of homes available for sale, high unemployment and a tight credit market continues to create a difficult business environment for Quanex. A case for a lack of recovery in the housing market in 2012 continues to build, and the company now anticipates flat to reduced customer demand in the coming quarters. In light of these new expectations, 2011 segment guidance has been reduced at the Aluminum Sheet Products Group.

For 2011, operating income guidance for the Aluminum Sheet Products Group is estimated at about $22 million, compared to previous guidance of about $25 million. The Group earned $30 million in 2010. Operating income in 2011 is down from 2010 due to reduced mill-finished shipments, reduced painted shipments and higher costs, offset somewhat by a higher spread.

For 2011, operating income guidance for the Engineered Products Group is unchanged at about $30 million (excludes an estimated $2 million from Edgetech's results). The Group earned $34 million in 2010. Operating income in 2011 is down from 2010 due to expenses associated with the Group's long term growth initiatives, and higher raw material costs.

Segment guidance excludes certain 2011 expenses that are detailed in the table below:
 

Corporate expenses and capital expenditures include $2 million and $6 million, respectively, of costs associated with the launch of Quanex's $30 million, multi-year ERP program.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Income from Continuing Operations before special items is a non-GAAP financial measure. The company believes this non-GAAP financial measure provides a consistent basis for comparison between periods and enhances the understanding of the performance of its operations.

Set forth below is a reconciliation of reported income from continuing operations and reported diluted earnings per share from continuing operations to income from continuing operations before special items and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations before special items. The company does not intend for this information to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for other measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.
 

Organic Growth Initiatives

EPG's organic programs are focused on driving profitable growth through one sales and marketing organization, coupled with the engineering collaboration of its family of businesses: Mikron, Homeshield, Truseal and Edgetech. Activities are focused on both national and regional window and door companies. EPG is also collectively working to develop new products and systems that provide its customers with the latest innovations in energy efficiency.

On September 12-14, 2011, Quanex will be exhibiting at GlassBuild America, the largest gathering of glass, window and door components companies in North America. Quanex will be highlighting its components, products, and systems, as well as communicating its new marketing strategy to national and regional window and door companies. 

Dividend Declared

The Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.04 per share on the company's common stock, payable September 30, 2011, to shareholders of record on September 15, 2011.

Financial Statistics as of 07/31/11

Book value per common share: $11.80; Total debt to capitalization: 0.4%; Return on invested capital: 2.6%; Actual number of common shares outstanding: 37,312,532.

Definitions

Book value per common share – calculated as total stockholders' equity as of balance sheet date divided by actual number of common shares outstanding;

Total debt to capitalization – calculated as the sum of both the current and long-term portion of debt, as of balance sheet date, divided by the sum of both the current and long-term portion of debt plus total stockholders' equity as of balance sheet date;

Return on invested capital – calculated as the total of the prior 12 months net income plus prior 12 months after-tax interest expense and capitalized interest, the sum of which is divided by the trailing five quarters average total debt (current and long term) and total stockholders' equity.

The Quanex Building Products Corporation logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=1117

Statements that use the words "estimated," "expect," "could," "should," "believe," "will," "might," or similar words reflecting future expectations or beliefs are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, references to synergies derived from the acquisition of Edgetech, future operating results and financial condition of Quanex and Edgetech and future uses of cash. The statements in this release are based on current expectations. Actual results or events may differ materially from this release. Factors that could impact future results may include, without limitation, the effect of both domestic and global economic conditions, the impact of competitive products and pricing, the availability and cost of raw materials, and customer demand. For a more complete discussion of factors that may affect the company's future performance, please refer to the company's 10-K filing on December 20, 2010, under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, in particular the section titled, "Private Securities Litigation Reform Act" contained therein.

CONTACT: Financial Contact: Jeff Galow, 713-877-5327;
         Media Contact: Valerie Calvert, 713-877-5305
         www.quanex.com