Watsco First Quarter EPS Up 22%

April 23, 2002 at 8:04 AM EDT
MIAMI, Apr 23, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Watsco, Inc. (NYSE:WSO) today announced its operating and cash flow results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2002. Earnings per share for the quarter grew 22% to 11 cents per share versus 9 cents in 2001 on net income of $3.0 million.

Operating profit was $6.6 million for the quarter. Selling and general administrative expenses decreased 9% or $5.8 million and interest expense decreased 35% or $1.0 million due to a 37% reduction in average daily borrowings resulting from strong cash flow. The Company's 2001 operating results include $.9 million of goodwill amortization ($.6 million on an after-tax basis) that is excluded from 2002's results following the Company's implementation of SFAS No. 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets."

First quarter sales in 2002 were $256.8 million, including a 5% same-store sales decrease in residential and light-commercial HVAC products and a 10% same-store sales decline in manufactured housing products. The Company operated 12 fewer distribution locations and 6 fewer staffing locations versus a year ago.

During the quarter, a seasonal period of increased working capital requirements, the Company used $.6 million of operating cash flow versus an operating cash outflow of $16.5 million a year ago, an improvement of $15.9 million. Borrowings at March 31, 2002 were $100.0 million, a reduction of 36% or $56.5 million over last year. In addition, the Company repurchased approximately 194,000 shares of common stock for $2.6 million. The Company's balance sheet strengthened during the quarter with the Company's debt-to-total capitalization ratio improving to 24% from 34% a year ago.

Albert H. Nahmad, President & Chief Executive Officer commented, "We are pleased by our solid start during the first quarter and the continued generation of record cash flow. The first quarter is always the low point in seasonal demand for our products and we are encouraged as these results indicate the prospect of another strong year for Watsco."

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 281 locations serving customers in 31 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 per share data)
                                     Three Months Ended March 31,
                                   -------------------------------
                                   2002                       2001
                                ----------                 ----------
Revenue                         $  256,815                 $  278,113
Cost of sales                      193,840                    209,351
                                ----------                 ----------
Gross profit                        62,975                     68,762
SG&A expenses                       56,344                     61,203
Goodwill amortization                    -                        900
                                ----------                 ----------
Operating profit                     6,631                      6,659
Interest expense, net               (1,867)                    (2,892)
                                ----------                 ----------
Income before income taxes           4,764                      3,767
Income tax provision                (1,722)                    (1,401)
                                ----------                 ----------
Net income                      $    3,042                 $    2,366
                                ==========                 ==========
Basic earnings per share        $     0.12                 $     0.09
Diluted earnings per share      $     0.11                 $     0.09
Weighted average shares:
Basic                               25,837                     25,965
Diluted                             27,549                     27,203
Segment Information:
                                      Three Months Ended
                                          March 31,
                                 -----------------------------
      Revenue:                        2002          2001
                                      ----          ----
           Distribution            $  248,792   $   266,164
           Staffing                     8,023        11,949
                                   ----------   -----------
      Total                        $  256,815   $   278,113
                                   ==========   ===========
      Operating profit:
           Distribution            $    9,270   $     8,776
           Staffing                      (288)           64
           Corporate                   (2,351)       (2,181)
                                   ----------   -----------
      Total                        $    6,631   $     6,659
                                   ==========   ===========
                             WATSCO, INC.
                      Consolidated Balance Sheets
                            (In thousands)
                                    March 31,         December 31,
                                      2002               2001
                                   ----------         -----------
Cash and cash equivalents          $    6,311         $     9,132
Accounts receivable, net              135,959             143,301
Inventories                           193,712             185,943
Other current assets                   26,411              18,823
                                   ----------         -----------
   Total current assets               362,393             357,199
Property & equipment, net              29,511              30,703
Other non-current assets              133,227             132,918
                                   ----------         -----------
   Total assets                    $  525,131         $   520,820
                                   ==========         ===========
Accounts payable & accrued
 liabilities                       $   89,430         $    88,010
Other current liabilities                 384                 429
                                   ----------         -----------
                                       89,814              88,439
Borrowings under revolving
   credit agreement                    70,000              70,000
Long-term notes                        30,000              30,000
Deferred income taxes & other          10,321              10,859
                                   ----------         -----------
   Total liabilities                  200,135             199,298
Shareholders' equity                  324,996             321,522
                                   ----------         -----------
   Total liabilities and equity    $  525,131         $   520,820
                                   ==========         ===========
CONTACT:          Watsco, Inc., Coconut Grove, Fla.
                  Barry S. Logan, 305/714-4102
                  blogan@watsco.com

URL:              http://www.businesswire.com
Today's News On The Net - Business Wire's full file on the Internet
with Hyperlinks to your home page.
Copyright (C) 2002 Business Wire.  All rights reserved.