Comfort Systems USA Reports Third Quarter Results

November 3, 2009 4:21 PM EST

-- Solid Earnings and Cash Flows --

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Comfort Systems USA, Inc. (NYSE: FIX), a leading provider of commercial, industrial and institutional heating, ventilation and air conditioning ("HVAC") services, today announced net income of $9,540,000 or $0.25 per diluted share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2009, as compared to net income of $13,765,000 or $0.34 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2008. The Company reported revenues from continuing operations of $291,591,000 in the current quarter, as compared to $346,705,000 in 2008. The Company also reported free cash flow of $23,143,000 in the current quarter, as compared to $17,709,000 in 2008. Backlog as of September 30, 2009 was $554,280,000 compared to $639,769,000 as of June 30, 2009. Backlog as of September 30, 2008 was $803,728,000.

Bill Murdy, Comfort Systems USA's Chairman and CEO, said, "Our operations maintained solid profitability and success in a challenging environment. Our workforce continues to deliver quality and results that set a high standard for our industry. As expected, we continue to experience revenue and backlog declines, although we are encouraged by our solid absolute backlog levels and by our ability to book smaller projects and service work. Free cash flow improved both sequentially and year-over-year, with $23.1 million of cash flow in the quarter and an increase in cash balances to $140 million as of September 30, 2009. The strength of our workforce combined with our financial resources leave us confident that we will earn more than our share of available business in the coming months."

The Company reported net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 of $26,580,000 or $0.69 per diluted share, as compared to net income of $37,199,000 or $0.92 per diluted share in 2008. Net income from continuing operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was $27,060,000 or $0.70 per diluted share as compared to $37,084,000 or $0.92 per diluted share for the first nine months of 2008. The Company also reported revenues of $872,214,000 from continuing operations for the first nine months of 2009, as compared to $993,862,000 in 2008. Free cash flow for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was $38,834,000 as compared to free cash flow of $36,834,000 in 2008.

Bill Murdy concluded, "We remain optimistic that we will be solidly profitable and can improve our competitive position in the markets we serve. We will continue to invest in new and existing operations and we believe that over the coming months we can add new businesses in attractive geographies."

As previously announced, the Company will host a conference call to discuss its financial results and position in more depth on Wednesday, November 4, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. Central Time. The call-in number for this conference call is 1-888-680-0878 and enter 64503046 as the passcode. Participants may pre-register for the call at https://www.theconferencingservice.com/prereg/key.process?key=P8JUFUDJG. Pre-registrants will be issued a pin number to use when dialing into the live call which will provide quick access to the conference by bypassing the operator upon connection. The call can also be accessed on the Company's website at www.comfortsystemsusa.com under the Investor tab. A replay of the entire call will be available until 6:00 p.m. Central Time, Wednesday, November 11, 2009 by calling 1-888-286-8010 with the conference passcode of 12896285, and will also be available on our website on the next business day following the call.

Comfort Systems USA(R) is a premier provider of business solutions addressing workplace comfort, with 75 locations in 71 cities around the nation. For more information, visit the Company's website at www.comfortsystemsusa.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on the current plans and expectations of future events of Comfort Systems USA, Inc. and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual future activities and results of operations to be materially different from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ include, among others, the use of incorrect estimates for bidding a fixed-price contract, undertaking contractual commitments that exceed our labor resources, failing to perform contractual obligations efficiently enough to maintain profitability, national or regional weakness in construction activity and economic conditions, financial difficulties affecting projects, vendors, customers, or subcontractors, difficulty in obtaining or increased costs associated with bonding and insurance, shortages of labor and specialty building materials, retention of key management, our backlog failing to translate into actual revenue or profits, errors in our percentage-of-completion method of accounting, the result of competition in our markets, seasonal fluctuations in the demand for HVAC 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 and other risks detailed in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A further list and description of these risks, uncertainties and other factors are discussed under "Item 1A. Company Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this filing. Comfort Systems USA, Inc. expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, developments, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.


Comfort Systems USA, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

For the Three Months and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009 and 2008

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

(unaudited)

              Three Months Ended                            Nine Months Ended

              September 30,                                 September 30,

                2009       %           2008       %           2009       %            2008       %

Revenues      $ 291,591    100.0 %   $ 346,705    100.0 %   $ 872,214    100.00 %   $ 993,862    100.0 %

Cost of         234,186    80.3  %     280,011    80.8  %     701,335    80.4   %     806,784    81.2  %
services

Gross profit    57,405     19.7  %     66,694     19.2  %     170,879    19.6   %     187,078    18.8  %

SG&A            41,713     14.3  %     45,078     13.0  %     126,175    14.5   %     128,397    12.9  %

Gain on sale    (101    )  -           (183    )  (0.1  )%    (98     )  -            (311    )  -
of assets

Operating       15,793     5.4   %     21,799     6.3   %     44,802     5.1    %     58,992     5.9   %
income

Interest
income          (184    )  (0.1  )%    188        0.1   %     (454    )  (0.1   )%    1,004      0.1   %
(expense),
net

Other income    3          -           -          -           5          -            158        -

Income
before          15,612     5.4   %     21,987     6.3   %     44,353     5.1    %     60,154     6.1   %
income taxes

Income tax      6,072                  8,250                  17,293                  23,070
expense

Income from
continuing      9,540      3.3   %     13,737     4.0   %     27,060     3.1    %     37,084     3.7   %
operations

Discontinued
operations:

Operating
income
(loss), net
of income
tax             -                      28                     (387    )               115
(expense)
benefit of $
, $(46),
$133, and $
(145)

Estimated
loss on
disposition,    -                      -                      (93     )               -
net of tax
of $--, $--,
$--, and $--

Net income    $ 9,540                $ 13,765               $ 26,580                $ 37,199

Income per
share:

Basic-

Income from
continuing    $ 0.25                 $ 0.35                 $ 0.71                  $ 0.94
operations

Discontinued
operations -

Income
(loss) from     -                      -                      (0.01   )               -
operations

Estimated
loss on         -                      -                      -                       -
disposition

Net income    $ 0.25                 $ 0.35                 $ 0.70                  $ 0.94

Diluted -

Income from
continuing    $ 0.25                 $ 0.34                 $ 0.70                  $ 0.92
operations

Discontinued
operations -

Income
(loss) from     -                      -                      (0.01   )               -
operations

Estimated
loss on         -                      -                      -                       -
disposition

Net income    $ 0.25                 $ 0.34                 $ 0.69                  $ 0.92

Shares used
in computing
income per
share:

Basic           37,995                 39,403                 38,135                  39,625

Diluted         38,382                 40,048                 38,533                  40,296

Note 1: The diluted earnings per share data presented above reflects the dilutive effect, if any, of
stock options and contingently issuable restricted stock which were outstanding during the periods
presented.




Supplemental Non-GAAP Information - Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes,
Depreciation and Amortization ("Adjusted EBITDA") (Unaudited):

              Three Months Ended                    Nine Months Ended

              September 30,                         September 30,

                2009      %        2008      %        2009      %        2008      %

Net income    $ 9,540            $ 13,765           $ 26,580           $ 37,199

Discontinued    -                  (28    )           480                (115   )
operations

Income taxes    6,072              8,250              17,293             23,070

Other income    (3     )           -                  (5     )           (158   )

Interest
(income)        184                (188   )           454                (1,004 )
expense, net

Gain on sale    (101   )           (183   )           (98    )           (311   )
of assets

Depreciation
and             3,250              3,659              9,802              9,494
amortization

Adjusted      $ 18,942    6.5 %  $ 25,275    7.3 %  $ 54,506    6.2 %  $ 68,175    6.9 %
EBITDA

Note 1: The Company defines adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and
amortization ("Adjusted EBITDA") as net income, excluding discontinued operations,
income taxes, other income, interest (income) expense, net, gain on sale of assets 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)

                                                    September 30,  December 31,

                                                      2009           2008

                                                    (unaudited)

Cash and cash equivalents                           $ 139,863      $ 117,015

Accounts receivable, net                              228,250        266,602

Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings    17,373         19,123

Other current assets                                  44,792         40,905

Assets related to discontinued operations             438            1,544

Total current assets                                  430,716        445,189

Property and equipment, net                           34,083         35,650

Goodwill                                              95,590         90,940

Identifiable intangible assets, net                   13,841         16,281

Other noncurrent assets                               7,096          10,432

Total assets                                        $ 581,326      $ 598,492

Current maturities of long-term debt                $ -            $ -

Current maturities of notes to former owners          2,018          1,336

Accounts payable                                      75,291         98,190

Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings    89,647         97,505

Other current liabilities                             98,993         100,957

Liabilities related to discontinued operations        -              397

Total current liabilities                             265,949        298,385

Long-term debt, net of current maturities             -              -

Notes to former owners, net of current maturities     6,607          9,363

Other long-term liabilities                           5,677          4,273

Total liabilities                                     278,233        312,021

Total stockholders' equity                            303,093        286,471

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity          $ 581,326      $ 598,492




Selected Cash Flow Data (in thousands) (unaudited):

                             Three Months Ended       Nine Months Ended

                             September 30,            September 30,

                               2009        2008         2009         2008

Cash provided by (used in):

Operating activities         $ 24,803    $ 20,943     $ 44,754     $ 46,956

Investing activities         $ (1,438 )  $ (15,514 )  $ (7,241  )  $ (61,121 )

Financing activities         $ (3,917 )  $ (4,637  )  $ (14,665 )  $ (23,166 )

Free cash flow:

Cash from operating          $ 24,803    $ 20,943     $ 44,754     $ 46,956
activities

Purchases of property and      (1,986 )    (3,773  )    (6,420  )    (10,778 )
equipment

Proceeds from sales of         326         539          500          656
property and equipment

Free cash flow               $ 23,143    $ 17,709     $ 38,834     $ 36,834

Note 1: 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.




    Source: Comfort Systems USA, Inc.


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