BBSI Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020 Financial Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Barrett Business Services, Inc. (BBSI) reported Q4 2020 net income of $7.2 million ($0.93/share), down from $11.7 million ($1.51/share) a year ago. Full Year 2020 results showed net income of $33.8 million ($4.39/share), a decline from $48.3 million ($6.27/share) in 2019. Net revenues decreased 5% in Q4 to $233.2 million and 7% for the year to $880.8 million, largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, unrestricted cash and investments rose 34% to $169.9 million. BBSI expects 2021 gross billings growth of 2%-5% and an increase in average worksite employees of 1%-3%.

Positive

• Unrestricted cash and investments increased 34% to $169.9 million.
• Initiated a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.30 per share.
• Non-GAAP gross workers' compensation expense as a percent of gross billings improved to 3.7% in Q4.

Negative

• Q4 2020 net revenues decreased by 5% year-over-year.
• Full Year 2020 net revenues down 7% compared to 2019.
• Average worksite employees declined by 6% in Q4 and 5% for the year.

- Q4 2020 Net Income of $7.2 Million, or $0.93 per Diluted Share -

- Full Year 2020 Net Income of $33.8 Million, or $4.39 per Diluted Share -

VANCOUVER, Wash., March 03, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Barrett Business Services, Inc. (“BBSI” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: BBSI), a leading provider of business management solutions, reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2020.

Fourth Quarter 2020 Financial Summary vs. Year-Ago Quarter

• Net revenues down 5% to $233.2 million.
• Gross billings up 1% to $1.60 billion.
• Average worksite employees (“WSEs”) down 6%.
• Net income of $7.2 million, or $0.93 per diluted share, compared to $11.7 million, or $1.51 per diluted share.
• Unrestricted cash and investments up 34% to $169.9 million.
  

Full Year 2020 Financial Summary vs. 2019

• Net revenues down 7% to $880.8 million.
• Gross billings down 1% to $5.92 billion.
• Average WSEs down 5%.
• Net income of $33.8 million, or $4.39 per diluted share, compared to $48.3 million, or $6.27 per diluted share.

“Once again, we had a stronger-than-expected quarter, finishing out an extremely challenging year with continued resilience,” said BBSI President and CEO, Gary Kramer. “While business volume and earnings were impacted by the pandemic, I am extremely proud of the work that our teams performed throughout the year. We helped thousands of small businesses in a year of great need while at the same time implementing strategies to make BBSI even stronger coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Fourth Quarter 2020 Financial Results

Net revenues in the fourth quarter of 2020 decreased 5% to $233.2 million compared to $245.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2019.

Total gross billings in the fourth quarter increased 1% to $1.60 billion compared to $1.59 billion in the same year-ago quarter (see “Key Performance Metrics and Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below). The increase was primarily due to higher average payroll per WSE, partially offset by a 6% decrease in average WSEs attributable to the effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Non-GAAP gross workers’ compensation expense as a percent of gross billings was 3.7% in the fourth quarter of 2020 and benefited from a favorable one-time adjustment of prior accident year liability of $1.2 million, as well as other cost-saving measures. This compares to 4.2% in the fourth quarter of 2019.

Net income for the fourth quarter of 2020 decreased to $7.2 million, or $0.93 per diluted share, compared to $11.7 million, or $1.51 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter. The decline in net income is primarily attributable to a lower level of favorable development on prior year claims and lower investment income in the quarter.

Full Year 2020 Financial Results

Net revenues in 2020 decreased to $880.8 million compared to $942.3 million in 2019.

Total gross billings in 2020 decreased 1% to $5.92 billion compared to $5.97 billion in 2019 (see “Key Performance Metrics and Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below). The decrease was directly attributable to the effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the economy and operations of small businesses, including a decrease in average WSEs of 5% for the year, offset in part by higher average payroll per WSE.

Non-GAAP gross workers’ compensation expense as a percent of gross billings was 3.8% in 2020 and benefited from favorable adjustments of prior accident year liability of $6.4 million, as well as other cost-saving measures. This compares to 4.1% in 2019.

Net income in 2020 decreased to $33.8 million, or $4.39 per diluted share, compared to $48.3 million, or $6.27 per diluted share, in 2019. The decline in net income is primarily attributable to a lower level of favorable development on prior year claims compared to 2019, as well as lower billing volume and investment income, partially offset by reductions in operating expenses in 2020.

Liquidity

As of December 31, 2020, unrestricted cash and investments increased 34% to $169.9 million compared to $127.2 million in the year-ago quarter. BBSI remains debt free apart from the $3.7 million mortgage on its corporate headquarters.

Capital Allocation

BBSI’s board of directors has confirmed its regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.30 per share. The cash dividend will be paid on April 2, 2021 to all stockholders of record as of March 19, 2021. Since the repurchases reported in its last earnings release, the Company also repurchased an additional 28,000 shares at an average price of $71.80 per share.

Outlook

In 2021, BBSI expects the following:

• Gross billings growth of 2% to 5%
• Growth in the average number of WSEs of 1% to 3%
• Gross margin as a percent of gross billings of 2.9% to 3.1%
• Effective annual tax rate of 21% to 23%

Conference Call

BBSI will conduct a conference call on Wednesday, March 3, 2021, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time (2:00 p.m. Pacific time) to discuss its financial results for the fourth quarter and the full year ended December 31, 2020.

BBSI’s CEO Gary Kramer and CFO Anthony Harris will host the conference call, followed by a question and answer period.

Date: Wednesday, March 3, 2021
Time: 5:00 p.m. Eastern time (2:00 p.m. Pacific time)
Toll-free dial-in number: 1-877-407-4018
International dial-in number: 1-201-689-8471
Conference ID: 13716825

Please call the conference telephone number 5-10 minutes prior to the start time. An operator will register your name and organization. If you have any difficulty connecting with the conference call, please contact Gateway Investor Relations at 1-949-574-3860.

The conference call will be broadcast live and available for replay here and via the Investors section of the BBSI website at www.bbsi.com.

A replay of the conference call will be available after 8:00 p.m. Eastern time on the same day through April 3, 2021.

Toll-free replay number: 1-844-512-2921
International replay number: 1-412-317-6671
Replay ID: 13716825

Key Performance Metrics and Non-GAAP Financial Measures        

We report PEO revenues net of direct payroll costs because we are not the primary obligor for wage payments to our clients’ employees. However, management believes that gross billings and wages are useful in understanding the volume of our business activity and serve as an important performance metric in managing our operations, including the preparation of internal operating forecasts and establishing executive compensation performance goals. We therefore present for purposes of analysis gross billings and wage information for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.

	(Unaudited)						(Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended December 31,						Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands)	2020			2019			2020			2019
Gross billings	$	1,603,521		$	1,593,919		$	5,924,539		$	5,971,008
PEO and staffing wages	$	1,387,816		$	1,365,527		$	5,098,604		$	5,090,943

Because safety incentives represent consideration payable to PEO customers, safety incentive costs are netted against PEO revenue in our consolidated statements of operations. Management considers safety incentives to be closely connected to our workers’ compensation program because they encourage client companies to maintain safe work practices and minimize workplace injuries. We therefore present below for purposes of analysis non-GAAP gross workers’ compensation expense, which represents workers’ compensation costs including safety incentive costs. We believe this non-GAAP measure is useful in evaluating the total costs of our workers’ compensation program.

	(Unaudited)						(Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended December 31,						Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands)	2020			2019			2020			2019
Workers' compensation	$	54,624		$	57,600		$	200,744		$	211,890
Safety incentive costs		4,394			8,862			23,544			31,663
Non-GAAP gross workers' compensation	$	59,018		$	66,462		$	224,288		$	243,553

In monitoring and evaluating the performance of our operations, management also reviews the following ratios, which represent selected amounts as a percentage of gross billings. Management believes these ratios are useful in understanding the efficiency and profitability of our service offerings.

	(Unaudited)				(Unaudited)
	Percentage of Gross Billings				Percentage of Gross Billings
	Three Months Ended December 31,				Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
PEO and staffing wages	86.5%		85.7%		86.1%		85.3%
Payroll taxes and benefits	6.6%		6.8%		7.1%		7.2%
Non-GAAP gross workers' compensation	3.7%		4.2%		3.8%		4.1%
Gross margin	3.2%		3.4%		3.1%		3.5%

We refer to employees of our PEO clients as WSEs. Management reviews average and ending WSE growth to monitor and evaluate the performance of our operations. Average WSEs are calculated by dividing the number of unique individuals paid in each month by the number of months in the period. Ending WSEs represents the number of unique individuals paid in the last month of the period.

	(Unaudited)
	Year Ended December 31,
	2020			% Change			2019			% Change			2018
Average WSEs		108,249			-5.3	%		114,341			4.1	%		109,859
Ending WSEs		109,292			-4.6	%		114,584			4.6	%		109,527

About BBSI

BBSI (NASDAQ: BBSI) is a leading provider of business management solutions, combining human resource outsourcing and professional management consulting to create a unique operational platform that differentiates it from competitors. The Company’s integrated platform is built upon expertise in payroll processing, employee benefits, workers’ compensation coverage, risk management and workplace safety programs, and human resource administration. BBSI’s partnerships help businesses of all sizes improve the efficiency of their operations. The Company works with more than 7,500 clients across all lines of business in 39 states. For more information, please visit www.bbsi.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this release about future events or performance, including expectations regarding the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business operations and product relevance, and future growth in gross billings, average number of WSEs, earnings per share, workers’ compensation expense as a percentage of gross billings, gross margin as a percentage of gross billings and effective annual tax rates, are forward-looking statements. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results of the Company to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could affect future results include economic conditions in the Company's service areas, the effects of governmental orders imposing business closures and stay-at-home and physical distancing requirements, the effect of changes in the Company's mix of services on gross margin, the Company's ability to retain current clients and attract new clients and to achieve revenue growth, the availability of financing or other sources of capital, the Company's relationship with its primary bank lender, the potential for material deviations from expected future workers' compensation claims experience, changes in the workers’ compensation regulatory environment in the Company’s primary markets, litigation costs, security breaches or failures in the Company's information technology systems, the collectability of accounts receivable, changes in executive management, the carrying value of deferred income tax assets and goodwill, and the effects of the pandemic, economic slowdown, and conditions in the global capital markets on the Company’s investment portfolio, among others. Other important factors that may affect the Company’s prospects are described in the Company’s 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K and in subsequent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Although forward-looking statements help to provide complete information about the Company, readers should keep in mind that forward-looking statements are less reliable than historical information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements in this release to reflect events or changes in circumstances that occur after the date of this release.

Barrett Business Services, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)

	December 31,			December 31,
(in thousands)	2020			2019
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	68,688		$	44,570
Investments		101,244			82,590
Trade accounts receivable, net		118,506			163,561
Income taxes receivable		6,485			1,335
Prepaid expenses and other		15,961			14,919
Restricted cash and investments		96,991			116,873
Total current assets		407,875			423,848
Property, equipment and software, net		34,916			31,724
Operating lease right-of-use assets		23,025			23,805
Restricted cash and investments		258,153			327,326
Goodwill		47,820			47,820
Other assets		3,161			3,618
Deferred income taxes		—			2,788
	$	774,950		$	860,929
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	$	221		$	221
Accounts payable		4,746			5,993
Accrued payroll, payroll taxes and related benefits		149,989			174,168
Current operating lease liabilities		7,539			6,671
Other accrued liabilities		7,275			8,846
Workers' compensation claims liabilities		102,040			118,273
Safety incentives liability		18,827			27,950
Total current liabilities		290,637			342,122
Long-term workers' compensation claims liabilities		255,706			320,713
Long-term debt		3,510			3,730
Deferred income taxes		4,518			—
Long-term operating lease liabilities		16,419			17,883
Customer deposits and other long-term liabilities		5,925			4,682
Stockholders' equity		198,235			171,799
	$	774,950		$	860,929

Barrett Business Services, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)

(in thousands, except per share amounts)	Three Months Ended						Year Ended
	December 31,						December 31,
	2020			2019			2020			2019
Revenues:
Professional employer service fees	$	204,268		$	212,033		$	777,430		$	819,873
Staffing services		28,908			33,119			103,394			122,438
Total revenues		233,176			245,152			880,824			942,311
Cost of revenues:
Direct payroll costs		22,055			25,157			78,380			92,455
Payroll taxes and benefits		105,518			108,372			418,793			429,713
Workers' compensation		54,624			57,600			200,744			211,890
Total cost of revenues		182,197			191,129			697,917			734,058
Gross margin		50,979			54,023			182,907			208,253
Selling, general and administrative expenses		40,959			40,362			141,916			153,879
Depreciation and amortization		1,332			977			4,844			3,886
Income from operations		8,688			12,684			36,147			50,488
Other income, net		756			2,704			6,449			10,650
Income before income taxes		9,444			15,388			42,596			61,138
Provision for income taxes		2,293			3,674			8,831			12,846
Net income	$	7,151		$	11,714		$	33,765		$	48,292
Basic income per common share	$	0.94		$	1.57		$	4.46		$	6.48
Weighted average basic common shares outstanding		7,590			7,505			7,577			7,451
Diluted income per common share	$	0.93		$	1.51		$	4.39		$	6.27
Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding		7,686			7,736			7,688			7,699

Investor Relations:
Gateway Investor Relations
Cody Slach
Tel 1-949-574-3860
BBSI@gatewayir.com

FAQ

What were BBSI's Q4 2020 net income results?

BBSI reported a net income of $7.2 million or $0.93 per diluted share for Q4 2020.

How did BBSI perform financially in 2020?

For the full year 2020, BBSI reported a net income of $33.8 million or $4.39 per diluted share, down from $48.3 million in 2019.

What is BBSI's outlook for 2021?

BBSI expects gross billings growth of 2% to 5% and an increase in average worksite employees of 1% to 3% in 2021.

What were BBSI's cash reserves at the end of 2020?

BBSI's unrestricted cash and investments rose to $169.9 million at the end of 2020.

What was the change in BBSI's gross billings in 2020?

BBSI's gross billings decreased by 1% to $5.92 billion in 2020 compared to $5.97 billion in 2019.