Comfort Systems USA Reports Second Quarter Results

* Reuters is not responsible for the content in this press release.

Thu Jul 31, 2008 4:00pm EDT

Profits and Margins Increase Strongly on Higher Revenues
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
$15,193,000 or $0.38 per diluted share, for the quarter ended June 30,
2008, as compared to net income of $10,501,000 or $0.25 per diluted
share, in the second quarter of 2007.

   Bill Murdy, Comfort Systems USA's Chairman and CEO, said, "We are
delighted to report that earnings per share increased by over 50%
compared to the same quarter a year ago. This improvement continues
our record of success and further demonstrates the productivity,
quality and dedication of our operations and outstanding workforce."

   The Company reported revenues of $355,097,000 ($318,691,000 on a
same store basis) in the current quarter, as compared to $280,520,000
in 2007. The Company also reported free cash flow of $22,843,000 in
the current quarter, as compared to $19,079,000 in 2007. Backlog as of
June 30, 2008 was $780,156,000 compared to $811,255,000 as of March
31, 2008. On a same store basis, backlog as of June 30, 2008 was
$701,055,000 as compared to $719,967,000 on June 30, 2007. Backlog at
our Atlas subsidiary decreased by approximately $36,600,000 over the
same period, which more than accounted for the decrease in total
backlog.

   Murdy continued, "Revenues were up significantly both on absolute
and same store measures. Backlog, although down slightly, remains at
or near record levels at the vast majority of our operations.
Importantly, same store backlog versus one year earlier has increased
excluding the purposeful decrease in backlog at our Atlas subsidiary."

   The Company reported net income for the six months ended June 30,
2008 of $23,434,000 or $0.58 per diluted share, as compared to net
income of $12,307,000 or $0.30 per diluted share in 2007. The Company
also reported revenues of $650,802,000 for the first six months of
2008, as compared to $530,160,000 in 2007. Free cash flow for the six
months ended June 30, 2008 was $19,125,000 as compared to free cash
flow of $3,802,000 in 2007.

   Bill Murdy concluded, "We are mindful of economic and financial
challenges that confront the economy. In light of the consistency of
our cash flows, the strength demonstrated in our backlog, and our
recent success in bringing strong new operations and their excellent
teams into the Comfort Systems USA family, we remain optimistic about
the second half of 2008. Even if a significant nonresidential
construction recession becomes fact, we believe that we can continue
to demonstrate impressive profitability and growth to the fundamental
value of Comfort Systems USA."

   As previously announced, the Company will host a conference call
to discuss its financial results and position in more depth on Friday,
August 1, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. Central Time. The call-in number for this
conference call is 1-888-713-4214 and enter 94297224 as the passcode.
Participants may pre-register for the call at
https://www.theconferencingservice.com/prereg/key.process?key=P8HMPDWV
Y. (Due to its length, this URL may need to be copied/pasted into your
Internet browser's address field. Remove the extra space if one
exists.) 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, Friday, August 8, 2008 by calling
1-888-286-8010 with the conference passcode of 92285007, 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 73 locations in 58 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 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, national or regional weakness in non-residential
construction activity, difficulty in obtaining or increased costs
associated with bonding, shortages of labor and specialty building
materials, the use of incorrect estimates for bidding a fixed price
contract, undertaking contractual commitments that exceed our labor
resources, retention of key management, the Company's backlog failing
to translate into actual revenue or profits, errors in the Company's
percentage of completion method of accounting, the result of
competition in the Company's 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 the Company's reports filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission. Important factors that could
cause actual results to differ are discussed under "Item 1A. Company
Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2007. These forward-looking statements speak only
as of the date of this release. 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 Comfort Systems USA, Inc.'s expectations with
regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on
which any such statement is based.

                        Financial tables follow

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                      Comfort Systems USA, Inc.
                Consolidated Statements of Operations
   For the Three Months and Six Months Ended June 30, 2008 and 2007
               (in thousands, except per share amounts)
                             (unaudited)


                                           Three Months Ended
                                                June 30,
                                    ---------------------------------
                                      2008      %      2007      %
                                    --------- ------ --------- ------
Revenues                            $355,097  100.0% $280,520  100.0%
Cost of services                     287,271   80.9%  228,797   81.6%
                                    ---------        ---------
Gross profit                          67,826   19.1%   51,723   18.4%

SG&A                                  43,363   12.2%   35,207   12.6%
Gain on sale of assets                  (103)   --        (27)   --
                                    ---------        ---------
Operating income                      24,566    6.9%   16,543    5.9%

Interest income, net                     142    --        529    0.2%
Other income                              52    --         24    --
                                    ---------        ---------
Income before income taxes            24,760    7.0%   17,096    6.1%
Income tax expense                     9,567            6,595
                                    ---------        ---------
Net income                          $ 15,193    4.3% $ 10,501    3.7%
                                    =========        =========


Income per share:
  Basic                             $   0.38         $   0.26
  Diluted                           $   0.38         $   0.25

Shares used in computing income per
 share:
  Basic                               39,634           40,655
  Diluted                             40,359           41,407


                                             Six Months Ended
                                                 June 30,
                                     ---------------------------------
                                       2008      %      2007      %
                                     --------- ------ --------- ------
Revenues                             $650,802  100.0% $530,160  100.0%
Cost of services                      529,556   81.4%  441,923   83.4%
                                     ---------        ---------
Gross profit                          121,246   18.6%   88,237   16.6%

SG&A                                   84,003   12.9%   69,584   13.1%
Gain on sale of assets                   (133)   --        (46)   --
                                     ---------        ---------
Operating income                       37,376    5.7%   18,699    3.5%

Interest income, net                      820    0.1%    1,080    0.2%
Other income                              158  --           57  --
                                     ---------        ---------
Income before income taxes             38,354    5.9%   19,836    3.7%
Income tax expense                     14,920            7,529
                                     ---------        ---------
Net income                           $ 23,434    3.6% $ 12,307    2.3%
                                     =========        =========


Income per share:
  Basic                              $   0.59         $   0.30
  Diluted                            $   0.58         $   0.30

Shares used in computing income per
 share:
  Basic                                39,737           40,578
  Diluted                              40,422           41,355
*T

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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.

*T

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

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                   Three Months Ended           Six Months Ended
                        June 30,                    June 30,
               --------------------------- ---------------------------
                 2008    %     2007    %     2008    %     2007    %
               -------- ---- -------- ---- -------- ---- -------- ----
Net income     $15,193       $10,501       $23,434       $12,307
Income taxes     9,567         6,595        14,920         7,529
Other income       (52)          (24)         (158)          (57)
Interest
 income, net      (142)         (529)         (820)       (1,080)
Gain on sale
 of assets        (103)          (27)         (133)          (46)
Depreciation
 and
 amortization    3,341         1,679         5,881         3,223
               --------      --------      --------      --------
Adjusted
 EBITDA        $27,804  7.8% $18,195  6.5% $43,124  6.6% $21,876  4.1%
               ========      ========      ========      ========
*T

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Note 1: The Company defines adjusted earnings before interest, taxes,
 depreciation and amortization ("Adjusted EBITDA") as net income,
 excluding income taxes, other income, interest income, 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.

*T

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                      Comfort Systems USA, Inc.
                Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
                            (in thousands)

                                               June 30,   December 31,
                                                 2008         2007
                                             ------------ ------------
                                             (unaudited)

Cash and cash equivalents                    $    101,508 $    139,631
Accounts receivable, net                          297,762      261,402
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of
 billings                                          25,686       18,463
Other current assets                               33,575       31,127
                                             ------------ ------------
  Total current assets                            458,531      450,623
Property and equipment, net                        32,632       21,442
Goodwill                                           85,956       68,621
Identifiable intangible assets, net                14,753        2,187
Other noncurrent assets                            12,458        4,194
                                             ------------ ------------
  Total assets                               $    604,330 $    547,067
                                             ============ ============

Current maturities of long-term debt         $         -- $ --
Current maturities of notes to former owners        1,708          375
Accounts payable                                  104,910       90,866
Billings in excess of costs and estimated
 earnings                                         117,756      104,236
Other current liabilities                          90,336       86,216
                                             ------------ ------------
  Total current liabilities                       314,710      281,693
Long-term debt, net of current maturities       --           --
Notes to former owners, net of current
 maturities                                        11,125        1,125
Other long-term liabilities                         3,558        1,671
                                             ------------ ------------
Total liabilities                                 329,393      284,489
Total stockholders' equity                        274,937      262,578
                                             ------------ ------------
  Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $    604,330 $    547,067
                                             ============ ============

*T

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Selected Cash Flow Data (in
 thousands) (unaudited):
--------------------------------
                                 Three Months Ended  Six Months Ended
                                      June 30,           June 30,
                                 ------------------ ------------------
                                   2008      2007     2008      2007
                                 --------- -------- --------- --------
Cash provided by (used in):
  Operating activities           $ 27,059  $21,224  $ 26,013  $ 8,396
  Investing activities           $ (1,302) $(2,144) $(45,607) $(9,016)
  Financing activities           $(12,885) $  (186) $(18,529) $(1,734)

Free cash flow:
  Cash from operating activities $ 27,059  $21,224  $ 26,013  $ 8,396
  Purchases of property and
   equipment                       (4,253)  (2,227)   (7,005)  (4,717)
  Proceeds from sales of
   property and equipment              37       82       117      123
                                 --------- -------- --------- --------

Free cash flow                   $ 22,843  $19,079  $ 19,125  $ 3,802
                                 ========= ======== ========= ========
*T

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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.
*T

Comfort Systems USA, Inc., Houston
Chief Financial Officer
William George, 713-830-9600

Copyright Business Wire 2008
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