Comfort Systems USA Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Results
- Comfort Systems USA, Inc. reported a substantial increase in net income for both the quarter and the twelve months ended December 31, 2023.
- Revenue for the fourth quarter of 2023 reached $1,357.6 million, showing a significant improvement from the previous year.
- Operating cash flow for the quarter and the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, demonstrated strong growth compared to the previous year.
- Backlog as of December 31, 2023, increased by 27% from the previous year, with a same-store backlog surge contributing significantly to the growth.
- Comfort Systems USA's President and CEO highlighted the exceptional performance in 2023, with unprecedented growth, earnings, and cash flow achieved across the company's markets.
- The company's service operations showed continued growth, improved profitability, and benefited from ongoing investments, contributing to the overall success in 2023.
- None.
Insights
The reported earnings by Comfort Systems USA, Inc. show a substantial increase in net income and revenue for both the fourth quarter and the full year of 2023. The growth in net income from $55.4 million to $91.6 million for the quarter and from $245.9 million to $323.4 million for the year, represents a significant improvement in profitability. This is further substantiated by the earnings per share increase, which is a key metric for investors assessing a company's profitability on a per-share basis.
Operating cash flow, which is a critical indicator of a company's financial health and its ability to generate cash from operations, has also seen a marked improvement. The reported operating cash flow for the year nearly doubled from $301.5 million in 2022 to $639.6 million in 2023. This suggests efficient management of working capital and operational efficiency. Moreover, the substantial increase in the company's backlog, from $4.06 billion to $5.16 billion, indicates a robust pipeline of future revenue, which is particularly reassuring for long-term investors.
However, it's essential to consider the broader economic context, such as interest rates and construction trends, to understand the sustainability of this growth. Investors may also want to monitor the company's ability to maintain or improve profit margins in a potentially fluctuating cost environment.
The reported increase in Comfort Systems USA’s backlog, particularly on a same-store basis, suggests that the company has successfully expanded its market share and secured a more considerable amount of future projects. This can be indicative of strong customer relationships and competitive positioning within the construction and building services industry. The mention of notable profit and activity increases in the modular business points to strategic diversification and innovation within the company's operations, which may be a response to evolving industry trends and customer needs.
Moreover, the emphasis on the mechanical and electrical businesses driving annual results highlights sector-specific drivers of growth. The construction industry is often seen as a bellwether for the economy and the company's performance could signal broader economic trends. For stakeholders, the company's performance in these areas may suggest resilience in the face of economic headwinds and the potential for continued growth in a post-pandemic recovery phase.
The financial results of Comfort Systems USA, Inc. reflect a positive economic situation for the construction and building services sector. The robust increase in backlog and revenue is a sign of healthy demand in the market, which may correlate with broader economic indicators such as GDP growth, investment in infrastructure and commercial construction activity. The company's ability to achieve unprecedented growth and cash flow in 2023, despite potential challenges such as supply chain disruptions and labor shortages, suggests operational agility and effective strategic management.
It is also important to analyze the impact of inflationary pressures on the company's cost structure and pricing strategies. As an economist, one would evaluate whether the company's improved profitability is sustainable in an environment where material and labor costs might increase. Furthermore, the company's strong cash flow position provides it with a buffer to navigate economic uncertainties and invest in growth opportunities, which could be beneficial in the event of an economic downturn.
For the quarter ended December 31, 2023, net income was
Backlog as of December 31, 2023 was
The Company reported net income of
Brian Lane, Comfort Systems USA’s President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “2023 was a year of great execution by our people in markets across the country, as they achieved unprecedented growth, earnings, and cash flow. During the fourth quarter both our mechanical and electrical businesses grew and increased margins to drive our annual results to new heights. Construction finished an already strong year on an up note, with particularly notable profit and activity increases in our modular business. Service also achieved superb execution, continued growth, and improved profitability, as our service operations continue to benefit from ongoing investments. Cash flow for the quarter was an extraordinary
Mr. Lane concluded, “Our backlog is up
The Company will host a webcast and conference call to discuss its financial results and position on Friday, February 23, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. Central Time. To register for the call, please visit https://register.vevent.com/register/BI091e4855174e43ea90af68775601723f. Upon registering, participants will receive dial-in information and a unique PIN to join the call. The call and the slide presentation to accompany the remarks can be accessed on the Company’s website at www.comfortsystemsusa.com under the “Investor” tab. A replay of the entire call will be available on the Company’s website on the next business day following the call.
Comfort Systems USA® is a leading provider of commercial, industrial and institutional heating, ventilation, air conditioning and electrical contracting services, with 172 locations in 131 cities across the nation. For more information, visit the Company’s website at www.comfortsystemsusa.com.
Certain statements and information in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements regarding our future business expectations, which are subject to applicable securities laws and regulations. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “intend,” “foresee,” “should,” “would,” “could,” or other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which are generally not historic in nature. These forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations and beliefs of Comfort Systems USA, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) concerning future developments and their effect on the Company. While the Company’s management believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made, there can be no assurance that future developments affecting the Company will be those that it anticipates, and the Company’s actual results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of the industry in which the Company operates, may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. In addition, even if our results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of the industry in which we operate, are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, those results or developments may not be indicative of our results or developments in subsequent periods. All comments concerning the Company’s expectations for future revenue and operating results are based on the Company’s forecasts for its existing operations and do not include the potential impact of any future acquisitions. The Company’s forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties (some of which are beyond the Company’s control) and assumptions that could cause actual future results to differ materially from the Company’s historical experience and its present expectations or projections. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: the use of incorrect estimates for bidding a fixed-price contract; undertaking contractual commitments that exceed the Company’s labor resources; failing to perform contractual obligations efficiently enough to maintain profitability; national or regional weakness in construction activity and economic conditions; rising inflation and fluctuations in interest rates; shortages of labor and specialty building materials or material increases to the cost thereof; the Company’s business being negatively affected by health crises or outbreaks of disease, such as epidemics or pandemics (and related impacts, such as supply chain disruptions); financial difficulties affecting projects, vendors, customers, or subcontractors; the Company’s backlog failing to translate into actual revenue or profits; failure of third party subcontractors and suppliers to complete work as anticipated; difficulty in obtaining, or increased costs associated with, bonding and insurance; impairment to goodwill; errors in the Company’s cost-to-cost input method of accounting; the result of competition in the Company’s markets; the Company’s decentralized management structure; material failure to comply with varying state and local laws, regulations or requirements; debarment from bidding on or performing government contracts; retention of key management; seasonal fluctuations in the demand for mechanical and electrical systems; the imposition of past and future liability from environmental, safety, and health regulations including the inherent risk associated with self-insurance; adverse litigation results; an increase in our effective tax rate; a material information technology failure or a material cyber security breach; risks associated with acquisitions, such as challenges to our ability to integrate those companies into our internal control environment; our ability to manage growth and geographically-dispersed operations; our ability to obtain financing on acceptable terms; extreme weather conditions (such as storms, droughts, extreme heat or cold, wildfires and floods), including as a result of climate change, and any resulting regulations or restrictions related thereto; and other risks detailed in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
For additional information regarding known material factors that could cause the Company’s results to differ from its projected results, please see its filings with the SEC, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements after the date they are made, whether because of new information, future events, or otherwise.
— Financial tables follow —
Comfort Systems USA, Inc.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
Twelve Months Ended |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
December 31, |
|
December 31, |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
(Unaudited) |
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
2023 |
|
% |
|
2022 |
|
% |
|
2023 |
|
% |
|
2022 |
|
% |
||||||||||||||||
Revenue |
|
$ |
1,357,566 |
|
|
100.0 |
|
% |
|
$ |
1,117,188 |
|
|
100.0 |
|
% |
|
$ |
5,206,760 |
|
|
100.0 |
|
% |
|
$ |
4,140,364 |
|
|
100.0 |
|
% |
Cost of services |
|
|
1,077,881 |
|
|
79.4 |
|
% |
|
|
905,940 |
|
|
81.1 |
|
% |
|
|
4,216,251 |
|
|
81.0 |
|
% |
|
|
3,398,756 |
|
|
82.1 |
|
% |
Gross profit |
|
|
279,685 |
|
|
20.6 |
|
% |
|
|
211,248 |
|
|
18.9 |
|
% |
|
|
990,509 |
|
|
19.0 |
|
% |
|
|
741,608 |
|
|
17.9 |
|
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
SG&A |
|
|
160,026 |
|
|
11.8 |
|
% |
|
|
131,650 |
|
|
11.8 |
|
% |
|
|
574,423 |
|
|
11.0 |
|
% |
|
|
489,344 |
|
|
11.8 |
|
% |
Gain on sale of assets |
|
|
(619 |
) |
|
— |
|
|
|
|
(473 |
) |
|
— |
|
|
|
|
(2,302 |
) |
|
— |
|
|
|
|
(1,585 |
) |
|
— |
|
|
Operating income |
|
|
120,278 |
|
|
8.9 |
|
% |
|
|
80,071 |
|
|
7.2 |
|
% |
|
|
418,388 |
|
|
8.0 |
|
% |
|
|
253,849 |
|
|
6.1 |
|
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Interest income (expense), net |
|
|
650 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
(4,556 |
) |
|
(0.4 |
) |
% |
|
|
(6,789 |
) |
|
(0.1 |
) |
% |
|
|
(13,306 |
) |
|
(0.3 |
) |
% |
Changes in the fair value of contingent earn-out obligations |
|
|
(9,400 |
) |
|
(0.7 |
) |
% |
|
|
(5,349 |
) |
|
(0.5 |
) |
% |
|
|
(23,607 |
) |
|
(0.5 |
) |
% |
|
|
(4,819 |
) |
|
(0.1 |
) |
% |
Other income, net |
|
|
201 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
33 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
202 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
134 |
|
|
— |
|
|
Income before income taxes |
|
|
111,729 |
|
|
8.2 |
|
% |
|
|
70,199 |
|
|
6.3 |
|
% |
|
|
388,194 |
|
|
7.5 |
|
% |
|
|
235,858 |
|
|
5.7 |
|
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Provision (benefit) for income taxes |
|
|
20,148 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
14,775 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
64,796 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(10,089 |
) |
|
|
|
||||
Net income |
|
$ |
91,581 |
|
|
6.7 |
|
% |
|
$ |
55,424 |
|
|
5.0 |
|
% |
|
$ |
323,398 |
|
|
6.2 |
|
% |
|
$ |
245,947 |
|
|
5.9 |
|
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Income per share |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Basic |
|
$ |
2.56 |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
1.55 |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
9.03 |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
6.84 |
|
|
|
|
||||
Diluted |
|
$ |
2.55 |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
1.54 |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
9.01 |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
6.82 |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Shares used in computing income per share: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Basic |
|
|
35,752 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
35,828 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
35,802 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
35,932 |
|
|
|
|
||||
Diluted |
|
|
35,852 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
35,948 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
35,895 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
36,046 |
|
|
|
|
||||
Dividends per share |
|
$ |
0.250 |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
0.150 |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
0.850 |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
0.560 |
|
|
|
|
||||
Supplemental Non-GAAP Information — (Unaudited) (In Thousands, Except per Share Amounts) |
||||||||||||||
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
Twelve Months Ended |
||||||||||
|
|
December 31, |
|
December 31, |
||||||||||
|
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Net income |
|
$ |
91,581 |
|
$ |
55,424 |
|
$ |
323,398 |
|
|
$ |
245,947 |
|
Tax gains related to prior years |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
(10,761 |
) |
|
|
(58,933 |
) |
Tax-related SG&A costs, net of tax |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
1,063 |
|
|
|
3,685 |
|
Net income excluding tax gains |
|
$ |
91,581 |
|
$ |
55,424 |
|
$ |
313,700 |
|
|
$ |
190,699 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Diluted income per share |
|
$ |
2.55 |
|
$ |
1.54 |
|
$ |
9.01 |
|
|
$ |
6.82 |
|
Tax gains related to prior years |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
(0.30 |
) |
|
|
(1.64 |
) |
Tax-related SG&A costs, net of tax |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.11 |
|
Diluted income per share excluding tax gains |
|
$ |
2.55 |
|
$ |
1.54 |
|
$ |
8.74 |
|
|
$ |
5.29 |
|
Note: Net income excluding tax gains and diluted income per share excluding tax gains are presented because the Company believes they reflect the results of the core ongoing operations of the Company, and we believe they are responsive to frequent questions we receive from third parties. These amounts, however, are not considered primary measures of an entity’s financial results under generally accepted accounting principles, and accordingly, they should not be considered an alternative to operating results as determined under generally accepted accounting principles and as reported by the Company. |
||||||||||||||
Supplemental Non-GAAP Information — Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”) — (Unaudited) (In Thousands) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
Twelve Months Ended |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
December 31, |
|
December 31, |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
2023 |
|
% |
|
2022 |
|
% |
|
2023 |
|
% |
|
2022 |
|
% |
||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
Net income |
|
$ |
91,581 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
55,424 |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
323,398 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
245,947 |
|
|
|
|
||
Provision (benefit) for income taxes |
|
|
20,148 |
|
|
|
|
|
14,775 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
64,796 |
|
|
|
|
|
(10,089 |
) |
|
|
|
||
Other income, net |
|
|
(201 |
) |
|
|
|
|
(33 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
(202 |
) |
|
|
|
|
(134 |
) |
|
|
|
||
Changes in the fair value of contingent earn-out obligations |
|
|
9,400 |
|
|
|
|
|
5,349 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
23,607 |
|
|
|
|
|
4,819 |
|
|
|
|
||
Interest expense (income), net |
|
|
(650 |
) |
|
|
|
|
4,556 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,789 |
|
|
|
|
|
13,306 |
|
|
|
|
||
Gain on sale of assets |
|
|
(619 |
) |
|
|
|
|
(473 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
(2,302 |
) |
|
|
|
|
(1,585 |
) |
|
|
|
||
Tax-related SG&A costs |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,345 |
|
|
|
|
|
4,665 |
|
|
|
|
||
Amortization |
|
|
11,131 |
|
|
|
|
|
11,193 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
43,404 |
|
|
|
|
|
47,795 |
|
|
|
|
||
Depreciation |
|
|
10,445 |
|
|
|
|
|
8,909 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
38,162 |
|
|
|
|
|
33,552 |
|
|
|
|
||
Adjusted EBITDA |
|
$ |
141,235 |
|
|
10.4 |
% |
$ |
99,700 |
|
|
8.9 |
% |
|
$ |
498,997 |
|
|
9.6 |
% |
$ |
338,276 |
|
|
8.2 |
% |
||
Note: The Company defines adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”) as net income, provision for income taxes, other expense (income), net, changes in the fair value of contingent earn-out obligations, interest expense (income), net, gain on sale of assets, goodwill impairment, other one-time expenses or gains and depreciation and amortization. Other companies may define Adjusted EBITDA differently. Adjusted EBITDA is presented because it is a financial measure that is frequently requested by third parties. However, Adjusted EBITDA is not considered under generally accepted accounting principles as a primary measure of an entity’s financial results, and accordingly, Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered an alternative to operating income, net income, or cash flows as determined under generally accepted accounting principles and as reported by the Company. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Comfort Systems USA, Inc.
|
||||||
|
|
December 31, |
|
December 31, |
||
|
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
$ |
205,150 |
|
$ |
57,214 |
Billed accounts receivable, net |
|
|
1,318,926 |
|
|
1,024,082 |
Unbilled accounts receivable, net |
|
|
72,774 |
|
|
77,030 |
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings, net |
|
|
28,084 |
|
|
27,211 |
Other current assets, net |
|
|
286,166 |
|
|
122,134 |
Total current assets |
|
|
1,911,100 |
|
|
1,307,671 |
Property and equipment, net |
|
|
208,568 |
|
|
143,949 |
Goodwill |
|
|
666,834 |
|
|
611,789 |
Identifiable intangible assets, net |
|
|
280,397 |
|
|
273,901 |
Other noncurrent assets |
|
|
238,680 |
|
|
260,168 |
Total assets |
|
$ |
3,305,579 |
|
$ |
2,597,478 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current maturities of long-term debt |
|
$ |
4,867 |
|
$ |
9,000 |
Accounts payable |
|
|
419,962 |
|
|
337,385 |
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings and deferred revenue |
|
|
909,538 |
|
|
548,293 |
Other current liabilities |
|
|
386,838 |
|
|
276,124 |
Total current liabilities |
|
|
1,721,205 |
|
|
1,170,802 |
Long-term debt |
|
|
39,345 |
|
|
247,245 |
Other long-term liabilities |
|
|
267,200 |
|
|
179,508 |
Total liabilities |
|
|
2,027,750 |
|
|
1,597,555 |
Total stockholders’ equity |
|
|
1,277,829 |
|
|
999,923 |
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity |
|
$ |
3,305,579 |
|
$ |
2,597,478 |
Selected Cash Flow Data (Unaudited) (In Thousands) |
||||||||||||||||
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
Twelve Months Ended |
||||||||||||
|
|
December 31, |
|
December 31, |
||||||||||||
|
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Cash provided by (used in): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Operating activities |
|
$ |
173,008 |
|
|
$ |
132,007 |
|
|
$ |
639,568 |
|
|
$ |
301,531 |
|
Investing activities |
|
$ |
(73,883 |
) |
|
$ |
(14,419 |
) |
|
$ |
(193,008 |
) |
|
$ |
(97,178 |
) |
Financing activities |
|
$ |
(31,598 |
) |
|
$ |
(131,513 |
) |
|
$ |
(298,624 |
) |
|
$ |
(205,915 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Free cash flow: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Cash from operating activities |
|
$ |
173,008 |
|
|
$ |
132,007 |
|
|
$ |
639,568 |
|
|
$ |
301,531 |
|
Purchases of property and equipment |
|
|
(25,264 |
) |
|
|
(13,566 |
) |
|
|
(94,838 |
) |
|
|
(48,359 |
) |
Proceeds from sales of property and equipment |
|
|
858 |
|
|
|
707 |
|
|
|
5,951 |
|
|
|
2,858 |
|
Free cash flow |
|
$ |
148,602 |
|
|
$ |
119,148 |
|
|
$ |
550,681 |
|
|
$ |
256,030 |
|
Note: Free cash flow is defined as cash flow from operating activities less customary capital expenditures, plus the proceeds from asset sales. Other companies may define free cash flow differently. Free cash flow is presented because it is a financial measure that is frequently requested by third parties. However, free cash flow is not considered under generally accepted accounting principles as a primary measure of an entity’s financial results, and accordingly, free cash flow should not be considered an alternative to operating income, net income, or cash flows as determined under generally accepted accounting principles and as reported by the Company. |
||||||||||||||||
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240222387807/en/
Julie Shaeff, Chief Accounting Officer
ir@comfortsystemsusa.com; 713-830-9687
Source: Comfort Systems USA, Inc.
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