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Comfort Systems USA Reports First Quarter 2020 Results

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr. 27, 2020-- Comfort Systems USA, Inc. (NYSE: FIX) today reported results for the quarter ended March 31, 2020.

For the quarter ended March 31, 2020, net income was $17.7 million or $0.48 per diluted share, as compared to $19.9 million or $0.53 per diluted share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2019. Revenue for the first quarter of 2020 was $700.1 million compared to $538.5 million in 2019. The Company reported free cash flow of $15.1 million in the current quarter compared to negative free cash flow of $7.5 million in 2019.

Backlog as of March 31, 2020 was $1.62 billion as compared to $1.60 billion as of December 31, 2019 and $1.14 billion as of March 31, 2019. On a same-store basis, backlog increased from $1.14 billion as of March 31, 2019 to $1.39 billion as of March 31, 2020.

Brian Lane, Comfort Systems USA’s President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “We started 2020 on a good note, particularly in light of the challenges we are all facing with the global pandemic. Our backlog stayed strong, and we are reporting positive first quarter free cash flow, which is a tribute to our team’s focus on cash in a traditionally weak cash flow quarter. We are also happy to report that we completed the acquisition of TAS Energy Inc., which we believe makes us the leading modular and off-site construction expert across the growing modular mechanical contracting industry. Our off-site construction business is strong in the technology, medical and pharmaceutical industries. This gives us an excellent opportunity to cross sell our capabilities to our existing customer base at all of our locations, since those vertical markets now comprise a majority of our industrial revenue, and our industrial revenue has increased to 39% of total revenue in the first quarter.”

Mr. Lane continued, “We earned $0.48 per share in the first quarter, and that result is particularly notable because we had approximately $0.09 of direct COVID-19 impact, and we were additionally impacted in less quantifiable ways by COVID-19, including weakness in service and productivity challenges in project work. We have implemented social distancing and protective measures across our business activities. Alongside all of the country’s other essential workers, our teams continue to work hard, including on many projects that are crucial to the country’s pandemic response. Our employees continue to amaze us with their strength and resilience.”

Mr. Lane concluded, “We expect to experience the most significant impacts from COVID-19 during the months of April, May, and possibly into June; however, that will depend on how national events unfold. We also expect that the consequences of COVID-19 will continue throughout 2020. Assuming that some relief is evident by June, we currently believe that earnings per share in the second quarter will be considerably positive but clearly lower than in the second quarter of 2019. We also anticipate improvement from those levels in the second half of 2020; however, we are preparing for a wide range of economic circumstances in 2020 and beyond.”

The Company will host a webcast and conference call to discuss its financial results and position on Tuesday, April 28, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. Central Time. The call-in number for this conference call is 1-888-713-4213, and enter 43741325 as the passcode. The call and the slide presentation to accompany the remarks can be accessed on the Company’s website at www.comfortsystemsusa.com under the Investor tab. A replay of the entire call will be available on the Company’s website on the next business day following the call.

Comfort Systems USA® is a leading provider of commercial, industrial and institutional heating, ventilation, air conditioning and electrical contracting services, with 142 locations in 116 cities around the nation. For more information, visit the Company’s website at www.comfortsystemsusa.com.

Certain statements and information in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements regarding our future business expectations, which are subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “intend,” “foresee,” “should,” “would,” “could,” or other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which are generally not historic in nature. These forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations and beliefs of Comfort Systems USA, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) concerning future developments and their effect on the Company. While the Company’s management believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made, there can be no assurance that future developments affecting the Company will be those that it anticipates. All comments concerning the Company’s expectations for future revenue and operating results are based on the Company’s forecasts for its existing operations and do not include the potential impact of any future acquisitions. The Company’s forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties (some of which are beyond the Company’s control) and assumptions that could cause actual future results to differ materially from the Company’s historical experience and its present expectations or projections. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: the use of incorrect estimates for bidding a fixed-price contract; undertaking contractual commitments that exceed the Company’s labor resources; failing to perform contractual obligations efficiently enough to maintain profitability; national or regional weakness in construction activity and economic conditions; the Company’s business being negatively affected by health crises or outbreaks of disease, such as epidemics or pandemics; financial difficulties affecting projects, vendors, customers, or subcontractors; the Company’s backlog failing to translate into actual revenue or profits; failure of third party subcontractors and suppliers to complete work as anticipated; difficulty in obtaining or increased costs associated with bonding and insurance; impairment to goodwill; errors in the Company’s percentage-of-completion method of accounting; the result of competition in the Company’s markets; the Company’s decentralized management structure; material failure to comply with varying state and local laws, regulations or requirements; debarment from bidding on or performing government contracts; shortages of labor and specialty building materials; retention of key management; seasonal fluctuations in the demand for mechanical systems; the imposition of past and future liability from environmental, safety, and health regulations including the inherent risk associated with self-insurance; adverse litigation results; an increase in our effective tax rate; an information technology failure or cyber security breach; and other risks detailed in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

For additional information regarding known material factors that could cause the Company’s results to differ from its projected results, please see its filings with the SEC, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements after the date they are made, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

— Financial tables follow —

Comfort Systems USA, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(In Thousands, Except per Share Amounts)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

2020

 

%

 

 

2019

 

%

 

Revenue

 

$

700,131

 

 

100.0

 

%

 

$

538,473

 

 

100.0

 

%

Cost of services

 

 

583,038

 

 

83.3

 

%

 

 

431,808

 

 

80.2

 

%

Gross profit

 

 

117,093

 

 

16.7

 

%

 

 

106,665

 

 

19.8

 

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SG&A

 

 

92,924

 

 

13.3

 

%

 

 

78,905

 

 

14.7

 

%

Gain on sale of assets

 

 

(554

)

 

(0.1

)

%

 

 

(219

)

 

 

Operating income

 

 

24,723

 

 

3.5

 

%

 

 

27,979

 

 

5.2

 

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense, net

 

 

(2,553

)

 

(0.4

)

%

 

 

(1,037

)

 

(0.2

)

%

Changes in the fair value of contingent earn-out obligations

 

 

2,272

 

 

0.3

 

%

 

 

(158

)

 

 

Other income

 

 

25

 

 

 

 

 

15

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

 

 

24,467

 

 

3.5

 

%

 

 

26,799

 

 

5.0

 

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provision for income taxes

 

 

6,751

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,933

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

17,716

 

 

2.5

 

%

 

$

19,866

 

 

3.7

 

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income per share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.48

 

 

 

 

 

$

0.54

 

 

 

 

Diluted

 

$

0.48

 

 

 

 

 

$

0.53

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares used in computing income per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

 

36,674

 

 

 

 

 

 

36,923

 

 

 

 

Diluted

 

 

36,905

 

 

 

 

 

 

37,234

 

 

 

 

Supplemental Non-GAAP Information — Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”) — (Unaudited) (In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

%

 

2019

 

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

17,716

 

 

 

 

$

19,866

 

 

 

 

Provision for income taxes

 

 

6,751

 

 

 

 

 

6,933

 

 

 

 

Other income, net

 

 

(25

)

 

 

 

 

(15

)

 

 

 

Changes in the fair value of contingent earn-out obligations

 

 

(2,272

)

 

 

 

 

158

 

 

 

 

Interest expense, net

 

 

2,553

 

 

 

 

 

1,037

 

 

 

 

Gain on sale of assets

 

 

(554

)

 

 

 

 

(219

)

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

12,691

 

 

 

 

 

10,724

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

$

36,860

 

 

5.3

%

$

38,484

 

 

7.1

%

Note: The Company defines adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”) as net income, provision for income taxes, other expense (income), net, changes in the fair value of contingent earn-out obligations, interest expense, net, gain on sale of assets, goodwill impairment and depreciation and amortization. Other companies may define Adjusted EBITDA differently. Adjusted EBITDA is presented because it is a financial measure that is frequently requested by third parties. However, Adjusted EBITDA is not considered under generally accepted accounting principles as a primary measure of an entity’s financial results, and accordingly, Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered an alternative to operating income, net income, or cash flows as determined under generally accepted accounting principles and as reported by the Company.

 

Comfort Systems USA, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

2019

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

133,264

 

$

50,788

 

Billed accounts receivable, net

 

 

643,748

 

 

619,037

 

Unbilled accounts receivable, net

 

 

51,058

 

 

55,542

 

Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings, net

 

 

7,541

 

 

2,736

 

Other current assets, net

 

 

42,832

 

 

62,081

 

Total current assets

 

 

878,443

 

 

790,184

 

Property and equipment, net

 

 

113,974

 

 

109,796

 

Goodwill

 

 

347,391

 

 

332,447

 

Identifiable intangible assets, net

 

 

167,675

 

 

159,974

 

Other noncurrent assets

 

 

110,584

 

 

112,611

 

Total assets

 

$

1,618,067

 

$

1,505,012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current maturities of long-term debt

 

$

850

 

$

20,817

 

Accounts payable

 

 

184,627

 

 

196,195

 

Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings

 

 

215,106

 

 

166,918

 

Other current liabilities

 

 

199,042

 

 

224,067

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

599,625

 

 

607,997

 

Long-term debt, net

 

 

333,113

 

 

205,318

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

 

92,286

 

 

106,393

 

Total liabilities

 

 

1,025,024

 

 

919,708

 

Total stockholders’ equity

 

 

593,043

 

 

585,304

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

$

1,618,067

 

$

1,505,012

 

Selected Cash Flow Data (Unaudited) (In Thousands)

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

March 31,

 

 

2020

 

2019

Cash provided by (used in):

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating activities

 

$

21,920

 

 

$

991

 

Investing activities

 

$

(15,536

)

 

$

(9,800

)

Financing activities

 

$

76,092

 

 

$

(7,681

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Free cash flow:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash from operating activities

 

$

21,920

 

 

$

991

 

Purchases of property and equipment

 

 

(7,497

)

 

 

(8,844

)

Proceeds from sales of property and equipment

 

 

690

 

 

 

357

 

Free cash flow

 

$

15,113

 

 

$

(7,496

)

Note: Free cash flow is defined as cash flow from operating activities less customary capital expenditures, plus the proceeds from asset sales. Other companies may define free cash flow differently. Free cash flow is presented because it is a financial measure that is frequently requested by third parties. However, free cash flow is not considered under generally accepted accounting principles as a primary measure of an entity’s financial results, and accordingly, free cash flow should not be considered an alternative to operating income, net income, or cash flows as determined under generally accepted accounting principles and as reported by the Company.

William George
Chief Financial Officer
713-830-9650

Source: Comfort Systems USA, Inc.

Our company went public in June 1997, with the intention of becoming a nationwide provider of building systems installation and maintenance.

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