Granite Reports First Quarter 2018 Results

  • Revenue increased to $563.4 million, up 20.3 percent year-over-year
  • Company gross profit more than doubles year-over-year to $56.3 million
  • Company gross profit margin of 10.0 percent, up more than 450 basis points year-over-year
  • All segments deliver year-over-year margin improvement
  • Company backlog of $3.59 billion up 4.4 percent year-over-year

 

WATSONVILLE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Granite Construction Incorporated (NYSE: GVA) today reported a net loss of $11.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2018, compared to a net loss of $23.8 million in the first quarter of 2017. Loss per diluted share in the quarter was $(0.29), up from $(0.60) in the prior-year period. First quarter 2018 results include the impact of acquisition expenses1 related to Granite’s announced and pending acquisition of Layne Christensen Company (LAYN: NASDAQ) and from our recently completed purchase of LiquiForce. Excluding the impact of these expenses, first quarter loss was $5.0 million, or $(0.13) per diluted share.

"We were pleased to deliver solid results with a record-revenue first quarter, carrying through some of the momentum we created in 2017," said James H. Roberts, President and Chief Executive Officer of Granite Construction Incorporated. "All three segments delivered strong revenue growth and improved year-over-year margins. Our Construction segment led the way, with the Construction Materials segment producing strong top-line revenue growth in our seasonally weakest quarter. The Large Project Construction segment again produced solid revenue growth and improved profitability, driven primarily by the contribution of newer projects in our portfolio. While work on under-performing, mature projects had less impact in the first quarter, it remained a drag on overall profitability, and it is expected to negatively impact margins through much of 2018.

"The near- and long-term outlook for demand and funding of infrastructure investment continues to improve. Backlog trends remain steady, even with more than 20 percent revenue growth in the first quarter. Large Project Construction segment backlog at $2.61 billion and Construction segment backlog at nearly $1 billion points to continued solid demand," Roberts said. "The integration of LiquiForce is moving along as planned, and the integration planning related to our announced acquisition of Layne Christensen is progressing very well. Considering the progress that our joint integration teams have made to date, we are increasingly confident that this deal represents the ideal combination of value creation for all stakeholders. We remain on track for a successful closing in the second quarter of 2018."

First Quarter 2018 Results

Total Company

  • Consolidated revenue increased 20.3 percent to $563.4 million, compared with $468.4 million in the first quarter of 2017.
  • Consolidated gross profit increased 124.0 percent to $56.3 million, compared with $25.1 million last year.
  • Consolidated gross profit margin was 10.0 percent, compared with 5.4 percent in 2017.
  • Total Company backlog was $3.59 billion, up 4.4 percent year-over-year. Construction segment backlog decreased 16.8 percent year-over-year to $978.3 million. Large Project Construction segment backlog increased 15.4 percent from last year to $2.61 billion.
  • Selling, general & administrative expenses decreased slightly to $61.3 million from $61.8 million last year.
  • Our balance sheet remains strong with cash and marketable securities of $300.8 million as of March 31, 2018.

First Quarter Segment Results

Construction

  • Construction revenue increased 18.7 percent to $269.2 million, compared with $226.8 million last year.
  • Gross profit increased 40.5 percent to $38.4 million, compared to $27.3 million last year.
  • Gross profit margin of 14.3 percent increased from 12.0 percent a year ago.
  • Solid execution drove the strong revenue and profit increases in the first quarter, which also resulted in year-over-year backlog burn. Project lettings and our bookings ramped up in the quarter, reflecting improvement after soft demand across geographies in the fourth quarter of 2017. As a result, segment backlog finished at $978.3 million, an increase of 9.1 percent sequentially.

Large Project Construction

  • Large Project Construction revenue increased 20.0 percent to $248.4 million, compared with $207.0 million last year.
  • Gross profit increased to $20.4 million, compared to $2.6 million last year.
  • Gross profit margin was 8.2 percent, compared with 1.2 percent in 2017.
  • Revenue and profit improvement was driven primarily by the contribution of newer projects in our portfolio, as work on under-performing, mature projects had less impact. Mature, underperforming projects still represent a significant amount of expected segment revenue in 2018, with these projects expected to impact profitability negatively through much of the year as we work to complete these projects during the remainder of 2018.
  • Segment backlog increased 15.4 percent year-over-year to $2.6 billion, while decreasing 7.6 percent sequentially. The market opportunities remain robust, as we continue to re-shape our project portfolio with improved project and partner selectivity, aligned to increased returns that balance project risk dynamics.

Construction Materials

  • Construction Materials revenue increased 32.5 percent to $45.7 million, compared with $34.5 million last year.
  • Gross loss of $2.5 million improved 47.9 percent from a loss of $4.8 million last year.
  • While remaining negative in the quarter, gross profit margin improved more than 800 basis points from last year to (5.4) percent.
  • The gross profit and margin improvement was attributable primarily to improved external demand across geographies in the West.

Outlook and Guidance

"Our results and our outlook reflect our focus on execution of our strategic and operating plans, building and investing to capture the benefits of positive market trends. Demand continues to point to growth fueled by private market opportunities now combining with improving public funding trends across geographies and end markets. These early-stage dynamics point to broad opportunities for the next three years or more. Aligned to our emphasis on efficiency and disciplined cost control, our expectations for steady top-line growth and solid bottom-line improvement remain in place across our business for 2018 and beyond," said Roberts.

The Company’s expectations for 2018 are:

  • Low-double digit consolidated revenue growth
  • Consolidated EBITDA margin2 of 7.0 percent to 8.0 percent

(1) Please refer to the description and non-GAAP net income and earnings per diluted share reconciliation of the above-noted acquisition-related costs in the attached tables. For additional information, please refer to Note 19 of “NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS” in the Granite Construction Incorporated Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2018, which is expected to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 30, 2018.

(2) On an adjusted basis, excluding the above-noted acquisition-related costs. Please refer to the description and non-GAAP reconciliation in the attached tables.

Conference Call

Granite will conduct a conference call today, April 30, 2018, at 8 a.m. Pacific Time/11 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the results of the quarter ended March 31, 2018. The Company invites investors to listen to a live audio webcast on its Investor Relations website, http://investor.graniteconstruction.com. An archive of the webcast will be available on the website approximately one hour after the call. The live call also is available by calling 1-877-328-5503; international callers may dial 1-412-317-5472. A replay will be available after the live call through May 7, 2018, by calling 1-877-344-7529, replay access code 10119177; international callers may dial 1-412-317-0088.

About Granite

Through its offices and subsidiaries nationwide, Granite Construction Incorporated (NYSE: GVA) is one of the nation’s largest infrastructure contractors and construction materials producers. As America’s Infrastructure Company, Granite specializes in complex infrastructure projects, including transportation, water, industrial and federal contracting, and is a proven leader in alternative procurement project delivery. Granite is an award-winning firm in safety, quality and environmental stewardship, and has been honored as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere Institute for nine consecutive years. Granite is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is part of the S&P MidCap 400 Index, the MSCI KLD 400 Social Index and the Russell 2000 Index. For more information, visit www.graniteconstruction.com.

Forward-looking Statements

Any statements contained in this news release that are not based on historical facts, including statements regarding future events, occurrences, circumstances, activities, performance, outcomes and results, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are identified by words such as “future,” “outlook,” “assumes,” “believes,” “expects,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “appears,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “continue,” and the negatives thereof or other comparable terminology or by the context in which they are made. These forward-looking statements are estimates reflecting the best judgment of senior management and reflect our current expectations regarding future events, occurrences, circumstances, activities, performance, outcomes and results. These expectations may or may not be realized. Some of these expectations may be based on beliefs, assumptions or estimates that may prove to be incorrect. In addition, our business and operations involve numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, which could result in our expectations not being realized or otherwise materially affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and liquidity. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those described in greater detail in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, particularly those specifically described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.

Due to the inherent risks and uncertainties associated with our forward-looking statements, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on them. The reader is also cautioned that the forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date of this news release and, except as required by law; we undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements for any reason.

                   

GRANITE CONSTRUCTION INCORPORATED
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited - in thousands, except share and per share data)
                   
   

March 31,

    

December 31,

    

March 31,

  
    2018     2017     2017  
ASSETS                        
Current assets                        
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 193,581     $ 233,711     $ 169,501  
Short-term marketable securities     39,961       67,775       67,824  
Receivables, net     330,192       479,791       351,091  
Contract assets     178,663       —       —  
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings     —       103,965       90,112  
Inventories     71,295       62,497       58,781  
Equity in construction joint ventures     254,816       247,826       235,683  
Other current assets     43,125       36,513       54,542  
Total current assets     1,111,633       1,232,078       1,027,534  
Property and equipment, net     409,708       407,418       412,490  
Long-term marketable securities     67,305       65,015       59,989  
Investments in affiliates     38,682       38,469       36,410  
Goodwill     53,799       53,799       53,799  
Deferred income taxes, net     3,718       —       —  
Other noncurrent assets     74,382       75,199       87,997  
Total assets   $ 1,759,227     $ 1,871,978     $ 1,678,219  
                         
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY                        
Current liabilities                        
Current maturities of long-term debt   $ 47,298     $ 46,048     $ 14,796  
Accounts payable     226,253       237,673       170,006  
Contract liabilities     71,030       —       —  
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings     —       135,146       91,527  
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities     233,637       236,407       224,850  
Total current liabilities     578,218       655,274       501,179  
Long-term debt     176,011       178,453       228,306  
Deferred income taxes, net     —       1,361       5,609  
Other long-term liabilities     40,104       44,085       47,066  
Commitments and contingencies                        
Equity                        

Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 3,000,000 shares, none outstanding

     —       —       —  

Common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 150,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding: 40,047,187 shares as of March 31, 2018, 39,871,314 shares as of December 31, 2017 and 39,815,232 shares as of March 31, 2017

     400       399       398  
Additional paid-in capital     162,038       160,376       152,805  
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)     1,197       634       (257 )
Retained earnings     751,801       783,699       706,571  
Total Granite Construction Incorporated shareholders’ equity     915,436       945,108       859,517  
Non-controlling interests     49,458       47,697       36,542  
Total equity     964,894       992,805       896,059  
Total liabilities and equity   $ 1,759,227     $ 1,871,978     $ 1,678,219  
                         
             
GRANITE CONSTRUCTION INCORPORATED
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited - in thousands, except per share data)
             

Three Months Ended March 31,

   2018     2017  
Revenue                
Construction   $ 269,243     $ 226,849  
Large Project Construction     248,414       207,033  
Construction Materials     45,722       34,518  
Total revenue     563,379       468,400  
Cost of revenue                
Construction     230,847       199,520  
Large Project Construction     228,048       204,478  
Construction Materials     48,201       39,276  
Total cost of revenue     507,096       443,274  
Gross profit     56,283       25,126  
Selling, general and administrative expenses     61,252       61,837  
Acquisition and integration expenses     8,409       —  
Gain on sales of property and equipment     (543 )     (270 )
Operating loss     (12,835 )     (36,441 )
Other expense (income)                
Interest income     (1,521 )     (1,051 )
Interest expense     2,435       2,743  
Equity in income of affiliates     (224 )     (916 )
Other expense (income), net     268       (870 )
Total other expense (income)     958       (94 )

Loss before benefit from income taxes

     (13,793 )     (36,347 )
Benefit from income taxes     (4,131 )     (12,496 )
Net loss     (9,662 )     (23,851 )
Amount attributable to non-controlling interests     (1,761 )     61  
Net loss attributable to Granite Construction Incorporated   $ (11,423 )   $ (23,790 )
                 
Net loss per share attributable to common shareholders                
Basic   $ (0.29 )   $ (0.60 )
Diluted   $ (0.29 )   $ (0.60 )
Weighted average shares of common stock                
Basic     39,908       39,649  
Diluted     39,908       39,649  
Dividends per common share   $ 0.13     $ 0.13  
                 
             
GRANITE CONSTRUCTION INCORPORATED
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited - in thousands)
             
Three Months Ended March 31,   2018    

2017

  
Operating activities                
Net loss   $ (9,662 )   $ (23,851 )

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:

                
Depreciation, depletion and amortization     15,511       14,649  
Gain on sales of property and equipment, net     (543 )     (270 )
Stock-based compensation     7,772       8,913  
Equity in net income from unconsolidated joint ventures     (2,637 )     (1,456 )
Changes in assets and liabilities:     (48,061 )     15,351  
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities     (37,620 )     13,336  
Investing activities                
Purchases of marketable securities     (9,952 )     (29,910 )
Maturities of marketable securities     35,000       30,000  
Purchases of property and equipment     (15,967 )     (21,372 )
Proceeds from sales of property and equipment     675       1,060  
Other investing activities, net     345       67  
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities     10,101       (20,155 )
Financing activities                
Long-term debt principal repayments     (1,250 )     (1,250 )
Cash dividends paid     (5,183 )     (5,151 )
Repurchases of common stock     (6,119 )     (6,448 )
Other financing activities, net     (59 )     (157 )
Net cash used in financing activities     (12,611 )     (13,006 )
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents     (40,130 )     (19,825 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period     233,711       189,326  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period   $ 193,581     $ 169,501  
                 
   
GRANITE CONSTRUCTION INCORPORATED  
Business Segment Information  
(Unaudited - dollars in thousands)  
       
Three months ended March 31,   Construction     Large Project Construction     Construction Materials  
                         

2018

                        

Revenue

   $ 269,243     $ 248,414     $ 45,722  
Gross profit (loss)     38,396       20,366       (2,479 )
Gross profit (loss) as a percent of revenue     14.3 %     8.2 %     (5.4 %)
                         
2017                        
Revenue   $ 226,849     $ 207,033     $ 34,518  
Gross profit (loss)     27,329       2,555       (4,758 )
Gross profit (loss) as a percent of revenue     12.0 %     1.2 %     (13.8 %)
                         
     
GRANITE CONSTRUCTION INCORPORATED    
Contract Backlog by Segment    
(Unaudited - dollars in thousands)    
                                             

Unearned Revenue(1)

   March 31, 2018                                
Construction   $ 880,976     25.5   %                            
Large Project Construction     2,567,605     74.5                                
Total   $ 3,448,581     100.0   %                            
                                             

Other Awards(2)

   March 31, 2018                                
Construction   $ 97,312     71.0   %                            
Large Project Construction     39,774     29.0                                
Total   $ 137,086     100.0   %                            
                                             
Contract Backlog   March 31, 2018     December 31, 2017     March 31, 2017    
Construction   $ 978,288     27.3   % $ 896,955     24.1   % $ 1,175,474     34.2   %
Large Project Construction     2,607,379     72.7       2,821,202     75.9       2,259,721     65.8    
Total   $ 3,585,667     100.0   % $ 3,718,157     100.0   % $ 3,435,195     100.0   %

(1)Effective January 1, 2018, we adopted Accounting Standards Codification Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers and subsequently issued additional related Accounting Standards Updates (“Topic 606”) using a modified retrospective transition approach. Topic 606 requires, among other things, to disclose unearned revenue. We generally include a project in our unearned revenue at the time a contract is awarded, the contract has been executed and to the extent we believe funding is probable.

(2)Other awards include unissued task orders and unexercised contract options to the extent their issuance or exercise is probable as well as contract awards to the extent we believe contract execution and funding is probable.
 

Non-GAAP Financial Information

The tables below contain financial information calculated other than in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Specifically, management believes that non-GAAP financial measures such as EBITDA and consolidated EBITDA margin are useful in evaluating operating performance and are regularly used by securities analysts, institutional investors and other interested parties, and that such supplemental measures facilitate comparisons between companies that have different capital and financing structures and/or tax rates. We are also providing additional non-GAAP financial measures, including Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted consolidated EBITDA margin and Adjusted net loss attributable to Granite Construction Incorporated, to reflect the impact of acquisition and integration expenses related to the acquisition of LiquiForce and to the pending acquisition of Layne Christensen Company. Management believes that these additional non-GAAP financial measures facilitate comparisons between companies without acquisition transactions by securities analysts, institutional investors and other interested parties. However, the reader is cautioned that any non-GAAP financial measures provided by the Company are provided in addition to, and not as alternatives for, the Company's reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP. Items that may have a significant impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations and cash flows must be considered when assessing the Company's actual financial condition and performance regardless of whether these items are included in non-GAAP financial measures. The methods used by the Company to calculate its non-GAAP financial measures may differ significantly from methods used by other companies to compute similar measures. As a result, any non-GAAP financial measures provided by the Company may not be comparable to similar measures provided by other companies.

   
GRANITE CONSTRUCTION INCORPORATED  
EBITDA(1)  
(Unaudited - dollars in thousands)  
                 
Three Months Ended March 31,   2018     2017  
Net loss attributable to Granite Construction Incorporated   $ (11,423 )   $ (23,790 )
Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense(2)     15,511       14,649  
Benefit from income taxes     (4,131 )     (12,496 )
Interest expense, net of interest income     914       1,692  
EBITDA   $ 871     $ (19,945 )
Consolidated EBITDA Margin(3)     0.2 %     (4.3 %)
                 
Acquisition and integration expenses(4)   $ 8,409     $ —  
Adjusted EBITDA   $ 9,280     $ (19,945 )
Consolidated adjusted EBITDA margin     1.6 %     (4.3 %)

(1)We define EBITDA as GAAP net loss attributable to Granite Construction Incorporated, adjusted for interest, taxes, depreciation, depletion and amortization.

(2)Amount includes the sum of depreciation, depletion and amortization which are classified as cost of revenue and selling, general and administrative expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of operations of Granite Construction Incorporated.

(3)Represents EBITDA divided by consolidated revenue. Consolidated revenue was $563,379 for three months ended March 31, 2018 and $468,400 for the three months ended March 31, 2017.

(4)Acquisition and integration expenses are related to external transaction costs, professional fees and internal travel associated with the acquisition and integration of LiquiForce and the pending acquisition of Layne Christensen Company.
 
             

GRANITE CONSTRUCTION INCORPORATED

Adjusted Net Loss Reconciliation

(in thousands, except per share data)
             

Three Months Ended March 31,

   2018     2017  
Loss before benefit from income taxes   $ (13,793 )   $ (36,347 )

Acquisition and integration expenses(1)

     8,409       —  
Adjusted loss before benefit from income taxes   $ (5,384 )   $ (36,347 )
                 
Benefit from income taxes   $ (4,131 )   $ (12,496 )
Tax effect of the acquisition and integration expenses(2)     1,997       —  
Adjusted benefit from income taxes   $ (2,134 )   $ (12,496 )
                 
Net loss attributable to Granite Construction Incorporated   $ (11,423 )   $ (23,790 )
Acquisition and integration expenses, net of the tax effect     6,412       —  
Adjusted net loss attributable to Granite Construction Incorporated   $ (5,011 )   $ (23,790 )
                 
Net loss per share attributable to common shareholders   $ (0.29 )   $ (0.60 )
Acquisition and integration expenses per share     0.16       —  
Adjusted net loss per share attributable to common shareholders   $ (0.13 )   $ (0.60 )

(1)Acquisition and integration expenses are related to external transaction costs, professional fees and internal travel associated with the acquisition and integration of LiquiForce and the pending acquisition of Layne Christensen Company.

(2)The tax effect of the acquisition and integration expenses was calculated using the Company’s estimated 2018 annual effective tax rate.
 

 

Granite Construction Incorporated
Investors
Ron Botoff, 831-728-7532
or
Media
Jacque Fourchy, 831-761-4741

 

Source: Granite Construction Incorporated