10-KPeriod: FY2009

COMFORT SYSTEMS USA INC Annual Report, Year Ended Dec 31, 2009

Filed March 2, 2010For Securities:FIX

Summary

Comfort Systems USA, Inc. (FIX) filed its 2009 Form 10-K on March 2, 2010, detailing its performance and financial position. The company, a provider of HVAC installation, maintenance, repair, and replacement services, experienced a revenue decline of 14.6% in 2009 compared to 2008, primarily due to reduced activity in manufacturing and office building sectors, along with continued decreases in the multi-family sector. Despite the revenue drop, the company managed to maintain a stable gross profit margin of 20.0% in 2009, slightly improving from 19.7% in 2008, driven by improved profitability in certain operations. The company navigated the challenging economic environment by focusing on operational execution, cost control, and efficient project performance. While backlog decreased year-over-year, management expressed confidence in its ability to maintain profitability in 2010, albeit at lower levels than 2009, due to expected continued weakening in industry conditions. Comfort Systems USA also maintained a strong liquidity position, with zero outstanding borrowings under its revolving credit facility and significant uncommitted cash balances, supported by a decade of positive free cash flow generation. Key risks highlighted include cost overruns on fixed-price contracts, economic downturns impacting construction activity, potential goodwill impairment, and market challenges in the surety and insurance sectors.

Financial Highlights

33 data points
Beta

Revenue

$1.13B

20.0% Gross Margin

Net Income

$34.18M

3.0% Net Margin

EPS (Diluted)

$0.89

Cash & Equivalents

$127.85M

Free Cash Flow

$44.79M

Financial Statements
Beta
Revenue$1.13B
Cost of Revenue$903.36M
Gross Profit$225.55M
SG&A Expenses$169.02M
Operating Income$56.63M
Interest Expense$1.20M
Net Income$34.18M
EPS (Basic)$0.90
EPS (Diluted)$0.89
Shares Outstanding (Basic)38.05M
Shares Outstanding (Diluted)38.45M

Key Highlights

  • 1Revenue declined by 14.6% to $1.13 billion in 2009, attributed to weakened demand in manufacturing, office buildings, and multi-family sectors.
  • 2Gross profit margin improved slightly to 20.0% in 2009 from 19.7% in 2008, indicating effective cost management despite lower revenues.
  • 3The company maintained a strong liquidity position with no outstanding debt under its revolving credit facility and significant cash reserves.
  • 4Backlog as of December 31, 2009, decreased by 26.8% year-over-year to $550.2 million, signaling a cautious outlook for new construction activity.
  • 5Comfort Systems USA is subject to significant risks including cost overruns on fixed-price contracts and the adverse effects of economic downturns on construction activity.
  • 6The company continues to repurchase its common stock, repurchasing 1.2 million shares in 2009 for approximately $12.6 million.
  • 7Operating income for 2009 was $56.6 million, a decrease from $79.4 million in 2008, reflecting the challenging market conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

In 2009, Comfort Systems USA experienced a revenue decrease of 14.6% to $1.13 billion, largely due to a slowdown in construction and commercial projects. However, the company managed to slightly improve its gross profit margin to 20.0% and reported an operating income of $56.6 million. Despite the revenue decline, the company maintained a strong balance sheet with no outstanding borrowings under its credit facility and generated positive free cash flow.

Key risks identified include the potential for cost overruns on fixed-price contracts if costs exceed estimates, the adverse impact of economic downturns on construction activity, potential goodwill impairment charges, difficulties in the surety and insurance markets affecting their ability to secure bonds and insurance, and reliance on the percentage-of-completion method of accounting which can lead to revenue or profit adjustments. Intense competition and labor shortages are also significant concerns.

Comfort Systems USA primarily uses the percentage-of-completion method for recognizing revenue on installation projects, which constitute about 85% of their revenue. This method involves estimating total contract costs and revenue, and recognizing revenue proportionally as costs are incurred. For maintenance, repair, and monitoring services, revenue is recognized as services are performed.

The company anticipates continued weakness in the nonresidential construction sector, expecting industry activity levels to decrease in 2010 compared to recent years. Consequently, profitability is expected to be lower than in 2009, emphasizing a focus on execution, cost controls, and efficient project and service performance to maintain reasonable profits.