Watsco Reports Record 2001 Cash Flow and Earnings Per Share, Excluding Charges

February 14, 2002 at 7:46 AM EST
MIAMI, Feb 14, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Watsco, Inc. (NYSE:WSO) today announced record cash flow and earnings per share, excluding restructuring and certain other charges, for the year ended December 31, 2001.

Earnings per share for 2001 increased 30% to 90 cents per share versus 69 cents in 2000. Net income increased 28% to $24.4 million versus $19.1 million a year ago. Earnings results include the impact of restructuring and other charges of 13 cents per share in 2001 and 30 cents per share in 2000 as summarized in the attached financial schedules. Excluding charges, earnings per share in 2001 increased 4% to a record $1.03 versus 99 cents last year on a 3% increase in net income to $28.1 million.

Operating profit in 2001 increased 5% to $48.3 million. Excluding charges, operating profit was $54.1 million. Operating profit in the Company's distribution segment (96% of 2001 sales) was flat despite lower sales volume with operating margins improving by 10 basis-points to 5.3%. These results were offset by lower profitability in the Company's staffing operation reflecting soft market conditions for temporary staffing services.

Sales in 2001 were $1.24 billion, including a 1% same-store sales decrease in residential and light-commercial HVAC products and a 15% same-store sales decline in manufactured housing products. 2001 sales results also include the closure of 42 distribution and 6 staffing locations, the discontinuance of certain product lines and lower same-store sales in staffing.

Earnings per share in the fourth quarter was 4 cents per share on net income of $1.0 million versus a loss of 32 cents per share on a loss of $8.5 million in 2000 (excluding charges, 1 cent loss per share in 2000 on a net loss of $0.2 million).

Operating profit for the quarter was $3.2 million compared to an operating loss of $7.9 million in 2000. Excluding charges, operating profit improved 4%. Distribution segment operating profit increased 45% on lower sales from a 90 basis-point increase in operating margins. Results were offset by lower profitability in staffing operations.

Fourth quarter sales were $273 million, including a 2% same-store sales decrease in residential and light-commercial HVAC products and a 3% increase in same-store sales of manufactured housing products. Sales results also include the effects of location closures, discontinued HVAC product lines and lower sales in staffing.

Interest expense in 2001 declined 25% to $10.0 million from 20% lower average daily borrowings and lower interest rates. Fourth quarter interest expense decreased 41% to $2.0 million also due to lower borrowings and lower interest rates.

Cash flow from operations in 2001 increased 7% to a record $52.6 million. Free cash flow (operating cash flow less capital expenditures) increased 17% to a record $49.2 million. Cash generated from operations was used to reduce debt by $39.9 million and to repurchase $3.2 million of the Company's common stock. At December 31, 2001, the Company's debt-to-total capitalization ratio was 24% versus 31% a year ago.

Watsco's sales performance during 2001 compares favorably to industry data compiled by the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI). According to the ARI, distributor shipments in 2001 declined 3% in the United States. In contrast, Watsco's same-store sales of similar products decreased 1%, an indicator that a market share increase was achieved.

Albert Nahmad, President and Chief Executive Officer commented: "Soft business conditions affected all companies in the HVAC marketplace this year. We are pleased to have achieved record earnings per share, after excluding the financial impact of restructuring and other charges - all representing important measures that will improve our ongoing operating effectiveness."

Mr. Nahmad added: "We are especially happy with the record level of cash flow in 2001. From 1999 through 2001, we have generated operating cash flow of approximately $144 million, reduced debt by $68 million, repurchased 3.4 million shares of common stock for $35 million and continued our streak of 28 years of paying quarterly dividends - all significant indicators of value to our shareholders."

Watsco is the nation's largest independent distributor of air conditioning, heating and refrigeration equipment and related products in the distribution segment of the HVAC/R industry, currently operating 283 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.
                  Consolidated Results of Operations
                   (In thousands, except share data)
                            Year Ended December 31,
            ----------------------------------------------------------
                As         Pro-forma, as      As        Pro-forma, as
             Reported         Adjusted     Reported        Adjusted
               2001           2001 (A)     2000 (B)        2000 (A)
            -----------    -------------  -----------   -------------
Revenue     $ 1,238,646    $   1,238,646  $ 1,310,166   $   1,310,166
Cost of
 sales          939,606          938,592    1,003,386         998,329
            -----------    -------------  -----------   -------------
Gross profit    299,040          300,054      306,780         311,837
SG&A expenses   250,716          245,935      260,965         255,022
            -----------    -------------  -----------   -------------
Operating
 profit          48,324           54,119       45,815          56,815
Interest
 expense, net    (9,955)          (9,955)     (13,211)        (13,211)
Other expense         -                -       (2,169)              -
            -----------    -------------  -----------   -------------
Income before
 income taxes    38,369           44,164       30,435          43,604
Income tax
 provision      (13,928)         (16,032)     (11,321)        (16,221)
            -----------    -------------  -----------   -------------
Net income  $    24,441    $      28,132  $    19,114   $      27,383
Basic earnings
 per share  $      0.94    $        1.08  $      0.72   $        1.03
Diluted earnings
 per share  $      0.90    $        1.03  $      0.69   $        0.99
Weighted average shares:
Basic            25,946           25,946       26,549          26,549
Diluted          27,251           27,251       27,793          27,793
                                  Quarter Ended December 31,
                         --------------------------------------------
                               As              As       Pro-forma, as
                            Reported        Reported       Adjusted
                              2001          2000 (B)       2000 (A)
                         --------------   ------------  -------------
Revenue                  $      273,376   $    289,646  $     289,646
Cost of sales                   207,830        226,169        221,112
                         --------------   ------------  -------------
Gross profit                     65,546         63,477         68,534
SG&A expenses                    62,347         71,407         65,464
                         --------------   ------------  -------------
Operating profit (loss)           3,199         (7,930)         3,070
Interest expense, net            (2,019)        (3,393)        (3,393)
Other expense                         -         (2,169)             -
                         --------------   ------------  -------------
Income (loss) before
 income taxes                     1,180        (13,492)          (323)
Income tax (provision)
 benefit                           (169)         5,019            120
                         --------------   ------------  -------------
Net income (loss)        $        1,011   $     (8,473) $        (203)
Basic earnings
 (loss) per share        $         0.04   $      (0.32)  $      (0.01)
Diluted earnings
 (loss) per share        $         0.04   $      (0.32)  $      (0.01)
Weighted average shares:
Basic                            25,912         26,073         26,073
Diluted                          27,264         26,073         26,073
(A) See attached Reconciliation of Income Before Income Taxes
Pro-forma, as Adjusted to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.
(B) Certain reclassifications have been made to 2000 amounts to
conform to the 2001 presentation.
Reconciliation of Income Before Income Taxes, Pro-forma as
 Adjusted to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles:
                                                     2001      2000
                                                     ----      ----
Income Before Income Taxes, Pro-forma as Adjusted  $ 44,164  $ 43,604
Restructuring and other charges included in cost
 of sales:
  Discontinued product lines - distribution segment    (328)   (4,269)
  Accrual of workers compensation costs of
   a terminated licensee - staffing segment            (686)        -
  Inventory write-downs - distribution segment            -      (788)
Restructuring and other charges included in SG&A:
   Accounts receivable valuation reserves
    - distribution segment                           (1,085)   (1,731)
   Location integration and closures
    - distribution segment                           (1,791)   (4,212)
   Location integration and closures
    - staffing segment                               (1,078)        -
   Terminated licensees - staffing segment             (827)        -
Other non-operating charges:
   Investment write-down                                  -    (2,169)
                                                    -------- --------
Income before income taxes (GAAP basis)             $ 38,369 $ 30,435
                                                    ======== ========
Pro-forma Segment Information (excludes charges summarized above):
                   Year Ended December 31,  Quarter Ended December 31,
                   -----------------------  --------------------------
Revenue:               2001       2000          2001        2000
                       ----       ----          ----        ----
   Distribution    $1,194,587  $1,243,208    $ 263,596   $ 273,102
   Staffing            44,059      66,958        9,780      16,544
                   ----------  ----------    ---------   ---------
Total              $1,238,646  $1,310,166    $ 273,376   $ 289,646
                   ==========  ==========    =========   =========
Pro-forma
   Operating Profit:
    Distribution   $   63,866  $   64,101    $   7,353   $   5,084
    Staffing              323       2,972          147       1,122
    Corporate         (10,070)    (10,258)      (4,301)     (3,136)
                   ----------  ----------    ---------   ---------
Total              $   54,119  $   56,815    $   3,199   $   3,070
                   ==========  ==========    =========   =========
Pro-forma
   Operating Margin:
    Distribution         5.3%        5.2%         2.8%        1.9%
    Staffing             0.7%        4.4%         1.5%        6.8%
                     Consolidated Balance Sheets
                            (In thousands)
                                       December 31,      December 31,
                                          2001               2000
                                       ------------      ------------
Cash and cash equivalents              $      9,132      $      4,781
Accounts receivable, net                    143,301           163,770
Inventories                                 185,943           205,805
Other current assets                         18,823            18,179
                                       ------------      ------------
     Total current assets                   357,199           392,535
Property  & equipment, net                   30,703            30,258
Other non-current assets                    132,915           140,677
                                       ------------      ------------
     Total assets                      $    520,817      $    563,470
                                       ============      ============
Accounts payable & accrued liabilities $     88,015      $    112,207
Other current liabilities                       429             1,887
                                       ------------      ------------
                                             88,444           114,094
Borrowings - revolving credit agreement      70,000           138,000
Long-term notes                              30,000                --
Other long-term obligations                  10,859             7,212
                                       ------------      ------------
     Total liabilities                      199,303           259,306
Shareholders' equity                        321,514           304,164
                                       ------------      ------------
     Total liabilities and equity      $    520,817      $    563,470
                                       ============      ============
CONTACT:          Watsco, Inc., Miami
                  Barry S. Logan, 305/714-4102           
                  blogan@watsco.com 

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