FirstService Reports Strong Fourth Quarter and Full Year Results

Rhea-AI Summary

FirstService Corporation (FSV) reported robust financial results for Q4 and the full year 2021, with revenues of $856.9 million for Q4, a rise of 11% year-over-year, and $3.25 billion for the year, up 17%. Adjusted EBITDA reached $83.5 million in Q4 (up 5%) and $327.4 million for the year (up 15%). Adjusted EPS grew by 19% to $1.21 in Q4 and 32% to $4.57 for the year. Despite a decline in GAAP Operating Earnings in Q4 to $44.9 million, the company expressed confidence in sustaining growth, driven by a strong market and strategic acquisitions.

Positive

• Q4 revenues increased by 11% year-over-year.
• Full year revenues rose 17% to $3.25 billion.
• Adjusted EPS improved by 32% for the full year, reaching $4.57.
• Adjusted EBITDA increased by 15% to $327.4 million for the year.

Negative

• GAAP Operating Earnings decreased to $44.9 million in Q4 from $49.4 million the previous year.
• Increased corporate costs led to a rise in overall expenses, impacting profitability.

Broad-Based Top-Line Growth Drives Performance

Operating highlights:

	Three months ended						Year ended
	December 31						December 31
	2021			2020			2021			2020
Revenues (millions)	$	856.9		$	775.1		$	3,249.1		$	2,772.4
Adjusted EBITDA (millions) (note 1)		83.5			79.9			327.4			283.7
Adjusted EPS (note 2)		1.21			1.02			4.57			3.46
GAAP Operating Earnings		44.9			49.4			201.6			169.4
GAAP EPS		0.70			0.50			3.05			2.02

TORONTO, Feb. 15, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FirstService Corporation (TSX: FSV; NASDAQ: FSV) today announced strong fourth quarter and full year results for the year ended December 31, 2021. All amounts are in US dollars.

Revenues for the fourth quarter were $856.9 million, an 11% increase relative to the same quarter in the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA (note 1) was $83.5 million, up 5%, and Adjusted EPS (note 2) was $1.21, up 19% from the prior year quarter. GAAP Operating Earnings were $44.9 million, relative to $49.4 million in the prior year period. GAAP diluted EPS was $0.70 per share in the quarter, compared to $0.50 for the same quarter a year ago.

For the year ended December 31, 2021, revenues were $3.25 billion, a 17% increase relative to the prior year, including 10% consolidated organic growth. Adjusted EBITDA was $327.4 million, up 15%, and Adjusted EPS was $4.57, up 32% versus the prior year of $3.46. GAAP Operating Earnings were $201.6 million, versus $169.4 million in the prior year period. GAAP earnings per share was $3.05, compared to $2.02 in the prior year.

“We are pleased to have delivered another year of very strong organic and overall revenue growth with all of our businesses demonstrating their ability to win market share, despite a challenging labour environment,” said Scott Patterson, Chief Executive Officer of FirstService. “Our focus during the coming year is to further strengthen our teams and increase capacity to meet robust demand for our services. The continued strength in our end market fundamentals, together with the recent addition of strategic tuck-under acquisitions, provide us with confidence in our top-line growth outlook for 2022,” he concluded.

About FirstService Corporation
FirstService Corporation is a North American leader in the property services sector serving its customers through two industry leading platforms: FirstService Residential - North America’s largest manager of residential communities; and FirstService Brands - one of North America’s largest providers of essential property services delivered through individually branded franchise systems and company-owned operations.

FirstService generates more than US$3.2 billion in annual revenues and has approximately 25,000 employees across North America. With significant insider ownership and an experienced management team, FirstService has a long-term track record of creating value and superior returns for shareholders. The Common Shares of FirstService trade on the NASDAQ under the symbol “FSV” and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “FSV”, and are included in the S&P/TSX 60 Index. More information is available at www.firstservice.com.

Segmented Fourth Quarter Results
FirstService Residential revenues totalled $405.7 million for the fourth quarter, up 12% relative to the prior year quarter, including 5% organic growth and the remaining contribution from recent tuck-under acquisitions. Organic growth was driven by an increase in our sited labour revenue across all markets. Adjusted EBITDA was $35.7 million, compared to $35.5 million reported in the prior year period. GAAP Operating Earnings were $25.7 million, versus $28.0 million for the fourth quarter of last year. Operating margins declined in the quarter due to increased wage inflation across our operations and a decrease in higher margin ancillary revenue compared to the significant performance in the prior year fourth quarter.

FirstService Brands revenues totalled $451.3 million, up 9% versus $412.5 million in the prior year period. The increase included 2% organic growth, with the balance from recent tuck-under acquisitions. Organic growth for the quarter included significant strength across our home improvement service lines, largely offset by our restoration operations, which delivered fourth quarter revenues in line with the prior year and a modest decline on an organic basis due to stronger weather-related and large loss claims activity in the prior year period. Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $53.3 million, up 10% versus the prior year quarter. GAAP Operating Earnings were $28.3 million, versus $28.1 million in the prior year quarter. The division EBITDA margin was relatively in line with the prior year quarter, while the operating earnings margin declined year-over-year due to increased intangible asset amortization arising from recent acquisitions.

Corporate costs, as presented in Adjusted EBITDA were $5.5 million in the fourth quarter, relative to $4.2 million in the prior year period. On a GAAP basis, corporate costs for the quarter were $9.1 million, relative to $6.6 million in the prior year period.

Segmented Full Year Results
FirstService Residential revenues were $1.59 billion, up 12% relative to 2020, with the increase comprised of 8% organic growth and the balance from acquisitions. Organic growth was primarily driven by labour-related services compared to the prior year period. Adjusted EBITDA was $156.7 million, up 13% versus the prior year. GAAP Operating Earnings were $127.3 million, compared to $112.6 million in the prior year.

FirstService Brands revenues for the year totalled $1.66 billion, up 23% versus the prior year, comprised of 13% organic growth and the balance from tuck-under acquisitions. Organic revenue growth was broad-based across the division and included double-digit organic growth in our restoration and home improvement operations. Adjusted EBITDA for the year was $187.9 million, up 21% relative to the prior year. GAAP Operating Earnings were $106.6 million, versus $78.8 million a year ago.

Corporate costs, as presented in Adjusted EBITDA, were $17.2 million for the full year, relative to $9.8 million in the prior year, with the increase primarily attributable to higher compensation expense versus 2020 when significant COVID-related cost reductions were incurred, as well as the impact of foreign exchange. On a GAAP basis, corporate costs were $32.2 million, relative to $21.9 million a year ago.

Conference Call & Presentation
FirstService will be holding a conference call on Tuesday, February 15, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the results for the fourth quarter and full year. The number to use for this call is toll-free 1) 1-888-241-0551 or 2) 647-427-3415 for international callers. The call will be simultaneously web cast and can be accessed live or after the call at www.firstservice.com in the Investors / Newsroom section.

Forward-looking Statements
This press release includes or may include forward-looking statements. Much of this information can be identified by words such as “expect to,” “expected,” “will,” “estimated” or similar expressions suggesting future outcomes or events. FirstService believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements should not be unduly relied upon. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements contemplated in the forward-looking statements. Such factors include: (i) general economic and business conditions, which will, among other things, impact demand for FirstService’s services and the cost of providing services; (ii) the ability of FirstService to implement its business strategy, including FirstService’s ability to acquire suitable acquisition candidates on acceptable terms and successfully integrate newly acquired businesses with its existing businesses; (iii) changes in or the failure to comply with government regulations; and (iv) other factors which are described in FirstService’s annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2020 under the heading “Risk factors” (a copy of which may be obtained at www.sedar.com) and Annual Report on Form 40-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (a copy of which may be obtained at www.sec.gov), and subsequent filings (which factors are adopted herein). Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and are subject to change. All forward-looking statements in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. Unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, we do not intend, nor do we undertake any obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this press release to reflect subsequent information, events, results or circumstances or otherwise.

Summary financial information is provided in this press release. This press release should be read in conjunction with the Company's consolidated financial statements and MD&A to be made available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

COMPANY CONTACTS:

D. Scott Patterson
President & CEO

Jeremy Rakusin
Chief Financial Officer

(416) 960-9566

Notes
1. Reconciliation of net earnings to adjusted EBITDA:

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net earnings, adjusted to exclude: (i) income tax; (ii) other expense (income); (iii) interest expense; (iv) depreciation and amortization; (v) acquisition-related items; and (vi) stock-based compensation expense. The Company uses Adjusted EBITDA to evaluate its own operating performance and its ability to service debt, as well as an integral part of its planning and reporting systems. Additionally, this measure is used in conjunction with discounted cash flow models to determine the Company’s overall enterprise valuation and to evaluate acquisition targets. Adjusted EBITDA is presented as a supplemental measure because the Company believes such measure is useful to investors as a reasonable indicator of operating performance because of the low capital intensity of its service operations. The Company believes this measure is a financial metric used by many investors to compare companies, especially in the services industry. This measure is not a recognized measure of financial performance under GAAP in the United States, and should not be considered as a substitute for operating earnings, net earnings or cash flow from operating activities, as determined in accordance with GAAP. The Company’s method of calculating Adjusted EBITDA may differ from other issuers and accordingly, this measure may not be comparable to measures used by other issuers. A reconciliation of net earnings to Adjusted EBITDA appears below.

	Three months ended								Twelve months ended
(in thousands of US$)	December 31								December 31
		2021				2020				2021				2020
Net earnings	$	35,395			$	32,927			$	156,130			$	109,590
Income tax		13,554				11,747				52,875				35,865
Other expense (income)		(8,104	)			284				(23,399	)			(361	)
Interest expense, net		4,005				4,437				16,036				24,318
Operating earnings		44,850				49,395				201,642				169,412
Depreciation and amortization		28,089				25,203				98,965				98,382
Acquisition-related items		7,077				2,548				12,023				4,300
Stock-based compensation expense		3,516				2,748				14,746				11,628
Adjusted EBITDA	$	83,532			$	79,894			$	327,376			$	283,722

2. Reconciliation of net earnings and net earnings (loss) per common share to adjusted net earnings and adjusted net earnings per share:

Adjusted EPS is defined as diluted net earnings per share, adjusted for the effect, after income tax, of: (i) the non-controlling interest redemption increment; (ii) acquisition-related items; (iii) amortization of intangible assets recognized in connection with acquisitions; and (iv) stock-based compensation expense. The Company believes this measure is useful to investors because it provides a supplemental way to understand the underlying operating performance of the Company and enhances the comparability of operating results from period to period. Adjusted EPS is not a recognized measure of financial performance under GAAP, and should not be considered as a substitute for diluted net earnings per common share, as determined in accordance with GAAP. The Company’s method of calculating this non-GAAP measure may differ from other issuers and, accordingly, this measure may not be comparable to measures used by other issuers. A reconciliation of diluted net earnings per common share to Adjusted EPS appears below.

	Three months ended								Twelve months ended
(in thousands of US$)	December 31								December 31
	2021				2020				2021				2020
Net earnings	$	35,395			$	32,927			$	156,130			$	109,590
Non-controlling interest share of earnings		(495	)			(513	)			(7,422	)			(6,354	)
Acquisition-related items		7,077				2,548				12,023				4,300
Amortization of intangible assets		12,904				11,048				43,891				46,464
Stock-based compensation expense		3,516				2,748				14,746				11,628
Income tax on adjustments		(4,269	)			(3,587	)			(15,246	)			(15,104	)
Non-controlling interest on adjustments		(369	)			(304	)			(1,125	)			(1,127	)
Adjusted net earnings	$	53,759			$	44,867			$	202,997			$	149,397
	Three months ended								Twelve months ended
(in US$)	December 31								December 31
	2021				2020				2021				2020
Diluted net earnings per share	$	0.70			$	0.50			$	3.05			$	2.02
Non-controlling interest redemption increment		0.09				0.24				0.30				0.37
Acquisition-related items		0.15				0.05				0.26				0.10
Amortization of intangible assets, net of tax		0.21				0.18				0.71				0.77
Stock-based compensation expense, net of tax		0.06				0.05				0.25				0.20
Adjusted earnings per share	$	1.21			$	1.02			$	4.57			$	3.46

FIRSTSERVICE CORPORATION
Operating Results
(in thousands of US$, except per share amounts)

	Three months								Twelve months
	ended December 31								ended December 31
		2021				2020				2021				2020
Revenues	$	856,945			$	775,055			$	3,249,072			$	2,772,415
Cost of revenues		578,043				528,272				2,202,840				1,871,798
Selling, general and administrative expenses		198,886				169,637				733,602				628,523
Depreciation		15,185				14,155				55,074				51,918
Amortization of intangible assets		12,904				11,048				43,891				46,464
Acquisition-related items (1)		7,077				2,548				12,023				4,300
Operating earnings		44,850				49,395				201,642				169,412
Interest expense, net		4,005				4,437				16,036				24,318
Other expense (income) (2)		(8,104	)			284				(23,399	)			(361	)
Earnings before income tax		48,949				44,674				209,005				145,455
Income tax		13,554				11,747				52,875				35,865
Net earnings		35,395				32,927				156,130				109,590
Non-controlling interest share of earnings		495				513				7,422				6,354
Non-controlling interest redemption increment		3,893				10,389				13,496				15,977
Net earnings attributable to Company	$	31,007			$	22,025			$	135,212			$	87,259
Net earnings per common share
Basic	$	0.71			$	0.51			$	3.08			$	2.04
Diluted		0.70				0.50				3.05				2.02
Adjusted earnings per share (3)	$	1.21			$	1.02			$	4.57			$	3.46
Weighted average common shares (thousands)
Basic		43,969				43,577				43,841				42,756
Diluted		44,576				44,091				44,401				43,184

(1)	Acquisition-related items include transaction costs, and contingent acquisition consideration fair value adjustments.
(2)	Other income includes a $12.5 million pre-tax gain from the divestiture of a small, non-core operation in the FirstService Residential segment. Also included in other income is a pre-tax gain of $7.3 million from the sale of a building in South Florida.
(3)	See definition and reconciliation above.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands of US$)

											December 31, 2021															December 31, 2020
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents											$		165,665													$				184,295
Restricted cash													28,606																	24,643
Accounts receivable													551,564																	418,890
Other current assets													218,825																	191,488
			Current assets										964,660																	819,316
Other non-current assets													21,098																	14,970
Fixed assets													138,066																	126,569
Operating lease right-of-use assets													159,730																	153,185
Goodwill and intangible assets													1,225,469																	1,082,500
			Total assets								$		2,509,023													$				2,196,540
Liabilities and shareholders' equity
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities											$		386,529													$				349,692
Other current liabilities													126,460																	102,266
Operating lease liabilities - current													48,047																	35,315
Long-term debt - current													57,436																	56,478
			Current liabilities										618,472																	543,751
Long-term debt - non-current													595,368																	533,126
Operating lease liabilities - non-current													122,337																	128,793
Other liabilities													111,919																	96,093
Deferred income tax													42,070																	41,345
Redeemable non-controlling interests													219,135																	193,034
Shareholders' equity													799,722																	660,398
			Total liabilities and equity								$		2,509,023													$				2,196,540
Supplemental balance sheet information
Total debt											$		652,804													$				589,604
Total debt, net of cash													487,139																	405,309

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands of US$)

									Three months ended																			Twelve months ended
									December 31																			December 31
											2021								2020											2021					2020
Cash provided by (used in)
Operating activities
Net earnings									$		35,395							$	32,927									$		156,130				$	109,590
Items not affecting cash:
		Depreciation and amortization									28,089								25,203											98,965					98,382
		Deferred income tax									109								(11,715							)				(2,616		)			(18,054		)
		Other									2,182								4,152											6,182					12,307
											65,775								50,567											258,661					202,225
Changes in non-cash working capital
		Accounts receivable									(7,122					)			3,399											(86,943		)			8,908
		Payables and accruals									(16,522					)			37,992											(2,817		)			90,622
		Other									3,147								4,847											11,641					(9,990		)
Contingent acquisition consideration paid											(13,273					)			-											(13,273		)			-
Net cash provided by operating activities											32,005								96,805											167,269					291,765
Investing activities
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired											(77,210					)			(34,052							)				(163,221		)			(98,559		)
Disposal of business, net of cash disposed											-								-											15,780					-
Purchases of fixed assets											(15,856					)			(8,514							)				(58,204		)			(39,415		)
Other investing activities											5,437								(2,958							)				(675		)			(4,288		)
Net cash used in investing activities											(87,629					)			(45,524							)				(206,320		)			(142,262		)
Financing activities
Increase (decrease) in long-term debt, net											86,885								(15,500							)				62,058					(179,287		)
Proceeds received on common share issuance											-								-											-					150,008
Purchases of non-controlling interests, net											(834					)			(1,441							)				(6,510		)			(20,231		)
Dividends paid to common shareholders											(8,017					)			(7,189							)				(31,207		)			(27,448		)
Distributions paid to non-controlling interests											-								-											(9,241		)			(5,084		)
Other financing activities											(213					)			(1,303							)				9,331					6,846
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities											77,821								(25,433							)				24,431					(75,196		)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash											(49					)			725											(47		)			340
Increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash											22,148								26,573											(14,667		)			74,647
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, start of period											172,123								182,365											208,938					134,291
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period									$		194,271							$	208,938									$		194,271				$	208,938

Segmented Results
(in thousands of US$)

				FirstService				FirstService
				Residential				Brands									Corporate								Consolidated
Three months ended December 31
2021
	Revenues			$	405,661			$	451,284								$	-							$		856,945
	Adjusted EBITDA				35,734				53,295									(5,497					)				83,532
	Operating earnings				25,651				28,250									(9,051					)				44,850
2020
	Revenues			$	362,549			$	412,506								$	-							$		775,055
	Adjusted EBITDA				35,484				48,632									(4,222					)				79,894
	Operating earnings				27,951				28,064									(6,620					)				49,395
				FirstService				FirstService
				Residential				Brands									Corporate								Consolidated
Year ended December 31
2021
	Revenues			$	1,585,431			$	1,663,641								$	-							$		3,249,072
	Adjusted EBITDA				156,718				187,882									(17,224					)				327,376
	Operating earnings				127,297				106,579									(32,234					)				201,642
2020
	Revenues			$	1,415,121			$	1,357,294								$	-							$		2,772,415
	Adjusted EBITDA				138,424				155,100									(9,802					)				283,722
	Operating earnings				112,555				78,786									(21,929					)				169,412

FAQ

What were FirstService Corporation's revenues for Q4 2021?

FirstService Corporation reported revenues of $856.9 million for Q4 2021, an 11% increase year-over-year.

How did FirstService's Adjusted EPS change in 2021?

FirstService Corporation's Adjusted EPS increased by 32% for the full year 2021, reaching $4.57.

What was the total revenue for FirstService for the year ended December 31, 2021?

FirstService Corporation's total revenue for 2021 was $3.25 billion, a 17% increase compared to the previous year.

How did FirstService's GAAP Operating Earnings perform in Q4 2021?

GAAP Operating Earnings for FirstService Corporation decreased to $44.9 million in Q4 2021, down from $49.4 million in the same quarter the previous year.

What are the key growth drivers for FirstService Corporation as stated in their press release?

FirstService Corporation attributes its growth to strong market fundamentals, organic growth, and strategic tuck-under acquisitions.