10-QPeriod: Q2 FY2011

COMFORT SYSTEMS USA INC Quarterly Report for Q2 Ended Jun 30, 2011

Filed August 2, 2011For Securities:FIX

Summary

Comfort Systems USA, Inc. reported its second quarter 2011 financial results, showing a significant increase in revenue driven by both organic growth and the acquisition of ColonialWebb. While revenue is up, gross profit saw a slight decline as a percentage of revenue due to pricing pressures and the close-out of profitable jobs in the prior year. Selling, General, and Administrative (SG&A) expenses also increased, but on a same-store basis excluding amortization, they decreased, indicating effective cost management. The company experienced a net loss for the six-month period ending June 30, 2011, primarily due to increases in SG&A and a prior year gain on discontinued operations, but a net income was reported for the second quarter. Financially, the company maintains a strong liquidity position with no outstanding borrowings on its revolving credit facility and substantial cash balances. However, cash flow from operations turned negative for both the quarter and the year-to-date period, largely due to increased investments in working capital. The company expects industry activity to remain flat over the next twelve months and is focusing on execution, cost control, and efficient project performance to maintain profitability. Investors should note the ongoing pricing competition and potential impacts from surety market conditions.

Financial Statements
Beta

Key Highlights

  • 1Revenue increased by 25.1% to $312.1 million for Q2 2011 compared to Q2 2010, driven by both same-store growth (8.2%) and the ColonialWebb acquisition (16.9%).
  • 2Gross profit margin declined from 16.8% in Q2 2010 to 15.2% in Q2 2011, primarily attributed to a difficult pricing environment and the wrap-up of profitable projects in the prior year.
  • 3Selling, General & Administrative (SG&A) expenses increased by 17.7% year-over-year, but on a same-store basis excluding amortization, they decreased by 3.9%, highlighting cost control efforts.
  • 4The company reported a net income of $3.2 million for Q2 2011, a significant improvement from the $2.0 million net loss for the six-month period ended June 30, 2011, which was impacted by a prior year gain on discontinued operations.
  • 5Cash flow from operations was negative for both Q2 2011 ($4.4 million) and the year-to-date period ($23.4 million), primarily due to increased investment in working capital.
  • 6Comfort Systems USA maintains a strong liquidity position with $50.1 million in cash and cash equivalents and no outstanding borrowings on its $125 million revolving credit facility as of June 30, 2011.
  • 7Backlog stood at $621.2 million as of June 30, 2011, a 22.6% increase from the prior year, indicating a positive near-term revenue outlook, although new construction activity is expected to remain flat.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary drivers of the revenue increase were a combination of organic growth, referred to as 'same-store' activity, which grew by 8.2%, and the acquisition of ColonialWebb, which contributed an additional 16.9% increase in revenues.

The gross profit margin decreased from 16.8% in Q2 2010 to 15.2% in Q2 2011 primarily due to a challenging pricing environment, particularly in the Maryland operations, and the fact that profitable jobs from the prior year's second quarter were closing out, impacting the year-over-year comparison.

Comfort Systems USA has a strong liquidity position, with no outstanding borrowings on its $125 million revolving credit facility as of June 30, 2011. They held $50.1 million in cash and cash equivalents, and $77.2 million in available credit under the facility. Long-term debt consists mainly of notes to former owners and an industrial revenue bond, totaling $27.6 million net of current maturities.

The company expects weakness in nonresidential construction activity to continue, leading to flat activity levels in its industry over the next twelve months. Their primary focus for the remainder of 2011 is on execution, cost controls, and efficient project and service performance to maintain reasonable profitability, anticipating lower overall profitability compared to 2010.