Watsco Reports Full Year and Fourth Quarter Operating Results

February 8, 2001 at 8:03 AM EST

MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 8, 2001--Watsco, Inc. (NYSE:WSO) today announced its operating results for the year and quarter ended December 31, 2000.

Revenue for the year increased 5% to a record $1.3 billion, including same-store sales growth of 6% in the Company's core HVAC business, which was offset by lower sales volume to the manufactured housing segment. Excluding restructuring and other non-cash charges (as detailed in a press release issued by the Company on January 22, 2001), diluted earnings per share was 99 cents (69 cents after charges).

Fourth quarter revenue totaled $289 million, including same-store sales growth of 5% in the Company's core HVAC business, which was offset by lower sales to the manufactured housing segment. The Company reported a 1 cent loss per share for the quarter, excluding the charges mentioned above (a loss of 31 cents after charges).

"Once again we delivered market share growth," commented Albert Nahmad, Watsco's Chief Executive Officer. "Same-store sales growth of 6% in our core HVAC business compares very favorably to industry data published by the Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Institute, which indicate that U.S. distributor shipments increased 1% during all of last year. We look forward to 2001 with goals of building further market share, targeting a 4-5% increase in sales, improving operating margins by 50 basis-points and achieving 15% growth in earnings per share."

Watsco reported strong operating cash flow of $49 million for the year, exceeding net income, which was used to pay down $23 million of long-term borrowings and to repurchase of $18 million of the Company's common stock.

Watsco is the nation's largest distributor of air conditioning, heating and refrigeration equipment and related products in the distribution segment of the HVAC/R industry, currently operating 300 locations serving customers in 30 states. Additional information about Watsco may be found on the Internet at http://www.watsco.com.

This document includes certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may differ materially from these expectations due to changes in economic, business, competitive market and regulatory factors. More detailed information about those factors is contained in Watsco's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                             WATSCO, INC.
                         Results of Operations
                   (In thousands, except share data)

                                            Year Ended
                                           December 31,
                              ---------------------------------------
                                 As        Pro-forma, as       As
                               Reported      adjusted       Reported
                                 2000         2000(D)         1999
                              ----------    -----------    ----------
Revenue                       $1,306,642    $ 1,306,642    $1,246,272
Cost of sales                  1,003,386   (A)  998,329       954,434
                              ----------    -----------    ----------
Gross profit                     303,256        308,313       291,838
SG&A expenses                    257,441   (B)  251,498       232,399
                              ----------    -----------    ----------
Operating profit                  45,815         56,815        59,439
Interest expense, net            (13,211)       (13,211)      (12,643)
Other expense                     (2,169)  (C)    --            --
                              ----------    -----------    ----------
Income before income taxes        30,435         43,604        46,796
Income tax provision             (11,321)       (16,221)      (17,315)
                              ----------    -----------    ----------
Net income                    $   19,114    $    27,383    $   29,481
Basic earnings per share      $     0.72    $      1.03    $     1.03
Diluted earnings per share    $     0.69    $      0.99    $     0.99

Weighted average shares
 used to calculate earnings
 per share:
Basic                             26,549         26,549        28,499
Diluted                           27,793         27,793        29,741

                                        Three Months Ended
                                          December 31,
                              -----------------------------------
                                  As     Pro-forma, as     As
                               Reported    adjusted     Reported
                                 2000       2000(D)       1999
                              ----------   ---------    ---------
Revenue                       $ 288,833    $ 288,833    $ 290,410
Cost of sales                   226,169  (A) 221,112      221,328
                              ---------    ---------    ---------
Gross profit                     62,664       67,721       69,082
SG&A expenses                    70,593  (B)  64,650       61,033
                              ---------    ---------    ---------
Operating profit (loss)          (7,929)       3,071        8,049
Interest expense, net            (3,393)      (3,393)      (2,442)
Other expense                    (2,169) (C)   --           --
                              ---------    ---------    ---------
Income (loss) before income
 taxes                          (13,491)        (322)       5,607
Income tax (provision)
 benefit                          5,019          120       (1,952)
                              ---------    ---------    ---------
Net income (loss)             $  (8,472)   $    (202)   $   3,655

Basic earnings (loss)
 per share                    $   (0.32)   $   (0.01)   $    0.13
Diluted earnings (loss)
 per share                    $   (0.31)   $   (0.01)   $    0.13

Weighted average shares
 used to calculate earnings
 (loss) per share:
Basic                            26,073       26,073       27,948
Diluted                          27,135       27,135       28,920

(A) Cost of sales includes non-cash charges of $5,057 related to discontinued product lines and to the elimination of other unproductive SKUs.

(B) SG&A expenses include restructuring charges of $4,212 related to location integration and closures, administrative costs related to the discontinuance of certain product lines and other restructuring activities in the Company's manufactured housing segment. Also includes a non-cash charge of $1,731 related to additional accounts receivable valuation reserves in the manufactured housing segment.

(C) Other expense represents the write-down of an impaired investment in one of the Company's primary competitors. (D) Excludes the impact for items in (A), (B), and (C) above.


                            Balance Sheets
                            (In thousands)

                                       December 31, December 31,
                                           2000       1999
                                         --------   --------
Cash and cash equivalents                $  4,781   $  7,484
Accounts receivable, net                  162,769    167,335
Inventories                               205,906    222,853
Other current assets                       18,179
                                                      17,397
                                         --------   --------
     Total current assets                 391,635    415,069
Property, plant & equipment, net           30,258     31,427
Other non-current assets                  141,577    142,410
                                         --------   --------
     Total assets                        $563,470   $588,906
                                         ========   ========

Accounts payable & accrued liabilities   $113,240   $116,892
Other current liabilities                   1,887      5,915
                                         --------   --------
                                          115,127    122,807
Borrowings under revolving
     credit agreement                     138,000    155,000
Other long-term obligations                 7,212      9,383
                                         --------   --------
     Total liabilities                    260,339    287,190
Shareholders' equity                      303,131    301,716
                                         --------   --------
     Total liabilities and equity        $563,470   $588,906
                                         ========   ========

                   Condensed Statement of Cash Flows
                            (In thousands)

                                         Year Ended
                                        December 31,
                                    --------------------
                                      2000        1999
                                    --------    --------
Provided by operating activities    $ 48,993    $ 41,894
Used in investing activities          (9,918)    (11,871)
Used in financing activities         (41,778)    (29,788)
                                    --------    --------
  Net (decrease) increase in cash     (2,703)
                                                     235
Cash, beginning of the year            7,484       7,249
                                    --------    --------
Cash, end of the year               $  4,781    $  7,484
                                    ========    ========

CONTACT:
Watsco, Inc., Miami
Barry S. Logan, 305/714-4102
e-mail: blogan@watsco.com