Granite Reports First Quarter 2017 Results

  • Revenue increased to $468.4 million, up 6.6 percent year-over-year
  • Gross profit of $25.1 million; gross profit margin of 5.4 percent
  • Total contract backlog at $3.4 billion, up 1.5 percent year-over-year
  • Construction segment backlog at all-time high of $1.18 billion, up 17.5 percent year-over-year
  • Severe rainfall in West slows business in first quarter

WATSONVILLE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Granite Construction Incorporated (NYSE:GVA) today reported a net loss of $23.8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2017, compared to a loss of $10.4 million in the first quarter of 2016. Loss per diluted share in the quarter was $(0.60), compared to $(0.26) in the prior-year period.

"Despite the loss in the first quarter, we maintain our strong growth expectations for 2017. Overall outlook and direction of our business is excellent, with market improvements being seen across our portfolio," said James H. Roberts, President and Chief Executive Officer of Granite Construction Incorporated. "On April 6th, the California legislature approved SB 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017, which commits to more than $52 billion of incremental investment in the state over the next decade. This combines with the nearly $190 billion of long-term local measures passed by voters in California and Washington State last November to signal a significant, positive shift in public infrastructure investment. Our vertically integrated teams in the West are well prepared to handle the growth, as these businesses are still operating well below capacity.

"Bidding and booking activity remained healthy in the first quarter, driving Construction segment backlog more than 17 percent higher than 2016 to nearly $1.18 billion, an all-time record level," Roberts continued. "Due to significant rainfall throughout the West, the Construction Materials segment was unable to get any traction for production in the quarter. Operations at almost all of our facilities were delayed until materials deposits dried for efficient aggregate and asphalt production, which began at some locations in April. We believe secular demand is improving. Despite the weather-impacted start, we continue to expect stronger demand and execution will spur our materials businesses to deliver top- and bottom-line improvement this year. Similarly, our Construction segment is poised for an exceptional year, having gotten off to a solid start even with weather headwinds.

"During the quarter, we accelerated activity on a number of under-performing, mature projects in our Large Project Construction portfolio, working to hasten completion of these projects in 2017 and 2018. Work on these projects created an increased drag on quarterly results, more than outweighing steady performance of our newer projects. As newer projects gain more portfolio prominence in coming quarters, we expect improved overall segment results," Roberts said.

First Quarter 2017 Results

Total Company

  • First quarter consolidated revenue increased 6.6 percent to $468.4 million compared with $439.5 million in the first quarter of 2016.
  • Gross profit decreased to $25.1 million compared with $39.2 million last year.
  • Gross profit margin was 5.4 percent compared with 8.9 percent in 2016.
  • Total Company backlog was $3.44 billion, up 1.5 percent year-over-year. Construction segment backlog increased 17.5 percent year-over-year to $1.18 billion. Large Project Construction segment backlog decreased 5.3 percent from last year to $2.26 billion.
  • First quarter selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses increased to $61.8 million, with the increase split between selling and stock-based compensation expenses.
  • Our balance sheet remains strong with cash and marketable securities of $297.3 million, as of March 31, 2017.

First Quarter Segment Results

Construction

  • Construction revenue increased 8.3 percent to $226.8 million, compared with $209.5 million last year.
  • Gross profit increased 3.8 percent to $27.9 million compared to $26.9 million last year.
  • Gross profit margin of 12.3 percent was down slightly from 12.9 percent a year ago. First quarter improvement in the desert Southwest and Kenny was offset by weather-impacted operations across the majority of the West.

Large Project Construction

  • Large Project Construction revenue increased 5.9 percent to $207.0 million, compared with $195.4 million last year.
  • Gross profit decreased to $2.6 million compared to $13.5 million last year, as net project write-downs in the first quarter were $13.0 million compared to $2.8 million in 2016. The write-downs were limited to five mature projects, including two nearing completion.
  • Gross profit margin was 1.2 percent compared with 6.9 percent in 2016.
  • We accelerated activity on certain mature projects that represented a significant amount of segment revenue in the quarter, as we continue to work to address under-performance from design, weather, project execution, and owner-related issues.

Construction Materials

  • Construction Materials revenue was flat compared to last year at $34.5 million.
  • First quarter gross loss expanded to $5.4 million compared to a loss of $1.2 million last year.
  • The gross loss increase from last year was attributable to exceptionally wet winter weather, which significantly hampered both aggregate and asphalt production. The lack of production resulted in less fixed-cost absorption in our seasonally weakest quarter. As a result of reduced production, excess capacity was expensed in the period, with the weather also driving higher aggregate per-unit production cost.

Outlook and Guidance

"We recognize and thank our employees for their commitment to do business the right way every day. This is reflected both in being named to the World’s Most Ethical Companies® list for the eighth year in a row and by being named by Forbes as one of the Most Trustworthy Companies in America the past two years," said Roberts. "Granite teams are well positioned to deliver excellent results, and we are maintaining our growth and guidance expectations for 2017," Roberts said.

The Company’s expectations for 2017 remain:

  • Low-double digit consolidated revenue growth
  • Consolidated EBITDA margin1 of 6.5% to 7.5%

1 Please refer to the description and non-GAAP reconciliation in the attached tables.

Conference Call

Granite will conduct a conference call today, May 2, 2017, at 8 a.m. Pacific Time/11 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the results of the quarter ended March 31, 2017. The Company invites investors to listen to a live audio webcast on its Investor Relations website, http://investor.graniteconstruction.com. An archive of the webcast will be available on the website approximately one hour after the call. The live call also is available by calling 1-877-328-5503; international callers may dial 1-412-317-5472. A replay will be available after the live call through May 9, 2017, by calling 1-877-344-7529, replay access code 10105711; international callers may dial 1-412-317-0088.

About Granite

Through its offices and subsidiaries nationwide, Granite Construction Incorporated (NYSE: GVA) is one of the nation’s largest infrastructure contractors and construction materials producers. Granite specializes in complex infrastructure projects including; transportation, industrial and federal contracting, and is a proven leader in alternative procurement project delivery. Granite is an award-winning firm in safety, quality and environmental stewardship, and has been honored as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere Institute for eight consecutive years. Granite is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is part of the S&P MidCap 400 Index, the MSCI KLD 400 Social Index and the Russell 2000 Index. For more information, visit graniteconstruction.com.

Forward-looking Statements

Any statements contained in this news release that are not based on historical facts, including statements regarding future events, occurrences, circumstances, activities, performance, outcomes and results, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are identified by words such as “future,” “outlook,” “assumes,” “believes,” “expects,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “appears,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “continue,” and the negatives thereof or other comparable terminology or by the context in which they are made. These forward-looking statements are estimates reflecting the best judgment of senior management and reflect our current expectations regarding future events, occurrences, circumstances, activities, performance, outcomes and results. These expectations may or may not be realized. Some of these expectations may be based on beliefs, assumptions or estimates that may prove to be incorrect. In addition, our business and operations involve numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, which could result in our expectations not being realized or otherwise materially affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and liquidity. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those described in greater detail in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, particularly those specifically described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.

Due to the inherent risks and uncertainties associated with our forward-looking statements, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on them. The reader is also cautioned that the forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date of this news release and, except as required by law; we undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements for any reason.

 

GRANITE CONSTRUCTION INCORPORATED
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited - in thousands, except share and per share data)
             
   

March 31,
2017

   December 31,
2016		   March 31,
2016
ASSETS            
Current assets            
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 169,501     $ 189,326     $ 198,298  
Short-term marketable securities   67,824     64,884     43,001  
Receivables, net   351,091     419,345     307,483  
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings   90,112     73,102     76,972  
Inventories   58,781     55,245     59,444  
Equity in construction joint ventures   235,683     247,182     240,480  
Other current assets   54,542     39,908     37,100  
Total current assets   1,027,534     1,088,992     962,778  
Property and equipment, net   412,490     406,650     398,750  
Long-term marketable securities   59,989     62,895     72,653  
Investments in affiliates   36,410     35,668     34,619  
Goodwill   53,799     53,799     53,799  
Deferred income taxes, net   —     —     5,119  
Other noncurrent assets   87,997     85,449     84,512  
Total assets   $ 1,678,219     $ 1,733,453     $ 1,612,230  
             
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY            
Current liabilities            
Current maturities of long-term debt   $ 14,796     $ 14,796     $ 14,795  
Accounts payable   170,006     199,029     139,215  
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings   91,527     97,522     89,188  
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities   224,850     218,587     226,276  
Total current liabilities   501,179     529,934     469,474  
Long-term debt   228,306     229,498     243,099  
Deferred income taxes, net   5,609     5,441     —  
Other long-term liabilities   47,066     45,989     43,913  
Commitments and contingencies            
Equity            
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 3,000,000 shares, none outstanding   —     —     —  
Common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 150,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding: 39,815,232 shares as of March 31, 2017, 39,621,140 shares as of December 31, 2016 and 39,563,620 shares as of March 31, 2016   398     396     396  
Additional paid-in capital   152,805     150,337     144,916  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (257 )   (371 )   (1,569 )
Retained earnings   706,571     735,626     683,784  
Total Granite Construction Incorporated shareholders’ equity   859,517     885,988     827,527  
Non-controlling interests   36,542     36,603     28,217  
Total equity   896,059     922,591     855,744  
Total liabilities and equity   $ 1,678,219     $ 1,733,453     $ 1,612,230  
                         
 
GRANITE CONSTRUCTION INCORPORATED
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited - in thousands, except per share data)
         
    Three Months Ended March 31,
    2017   2016
Revenue        
Construction   $ 226,849     $ 209,487  
Large Project Construction   207,033     195,449  
Construction Materials   34,518     34,516  
Total revenue   468,400     439,452  
Cost of revenue        
Construction   198,900     182,554  
Large Project Construction   204,478     181,944  
Construction Materials   39,896     35,709  
Total cost of revenue   443,274     400,207  
Gross profit   25,126     39,245  
Selling, general and administrative expenses   61,837     56,133  
Gain on sales of property and equipment   (270 )   (600 )
Operating loss   (36,441 )   (16,288 )
Other (income) expense        
Interest income   (1,051 )   (836 )
Interest expense   2,743     3,049  
Equity in income of affiliates   (916 )   (1,442 )
Other income, net   (870 )   (1,372 )
Total other income   (94 )   (601 )
Loss before benefit from income taxes   (36,347 )   (15,687 )
Benefit from income taxes   (12,496 )   (5,924 )
Net loss   (23,851 )   (9,763 )
Amount attributable to non-controlling interests   61     (678 )
Net loss attributable to Granite Construction Incorporated   $ (23,790 )   $ (10,441 )
         
Net loss per share attributable to common shareholders:        
Basic   $ (0.60 )   $ (0.26 )
Diluted   $ (0.60 )   $ (0.26 )
Weighted average shares of common stock        
Basic   39,649     39,433  
Diluted   39,649     39,433  
             
 
GRANITE CONSTRUCTION INCORPORATED
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited - in thousands)
         
Three Months Ended March 31,   2017   2016
Operating activities        
Net loss   $ (23,851 )   $ (9,763 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:        
Depreciation, depletion and amortization   14,649     13,736  
Gain on sales of property and equipment   (270 )   (600 )
Stock-based compensation   8,913     5,985  
Equity in net income from unconsolidated joint ventures   (1,456 )   (8,538 )
Changes in assets and liabilities:   15,351     (11,254 )
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities   13,336     (10,434 )
Investing activities        
Purchases of marketable securities   (29,910 )   (19,948 )
Maturities of marketable securities   30,000     5,000  
Proceeds from called marketable securities   —     5,000  
Purchases of property and equipment   (21,372 )   (24,565 )
Proceeds from sales of property and equipment   1,060     772  
Other investing activities, net   67     (274 )
Net cash used in investing activities   (20,155 )   (34,015 )
Financing activities        
Long-term debt principal repayments   (1,250 )   (1,250 )
Cash dividends paid   (5,151 )   (5,124 )
Repurchases of common stock   (6,448 )   (4,459 )
Other financing activities, net   (157 )   744  
Net cash used in financing activities   (13,006 )   (10,089 )
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents   (19,825 )   (54,538 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   189,326     252,836  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period   $ 169,501     $ 198,298  
                 
 
GRANITE CONSTRUCTION INCORPORATED
Business Segment Information
(Unaudited - dollars in thousands)
     
Three Months Ended March 31,   Construction  

Large Project
Construction

  

Construction
Materials
             
2017            
Revenue   $ 226,849     $ 207,033     $ 34,518  
Gross profit (loss)   27,949     2,555     (5,378 )
Gross profit (loss) as a percent of revenue   12.3 %   1.2 %   (15.6 )%
             
2016            
Revenue   $ 209,487     $ 195,449     $ 34,516  
Gross profit (loss)   26,933     13,505     (1,193 )
Gross profit (loss) as a percent of revenue   12.9 %   6.9 %   (3.5 )%
                   
 
GRANITE CONSTRUCTION INCORPORATED
Contract Backlog by Segment
(Unaudited - dollars in thousands)
                             
Contract Backlog by Segment   March 31, 2017     December 31, 2016     March 31, 2016
                             
Construction   $ 1,175,474     34.2 %     $ 1,030,487     29.6 %     $ 999,980     29.5 %
Large Project Construction   2,259,721     65.8 %     2,453,918     70.4 %     2,386,019     70.5 %
Total   $ 3,435,195     100.0 %     $ 3,484,405     100.0 %     $ 3,385,999     100.0 %
                                               
 
GRANITE CONSTRUCTION INCORPORATED
EBITDA(1)
(Unaudited - dollars in thousands)
         
Three Months Ended March 31,   2017   2016
Net loss attributable to Granite Construction Incorporated   $ (23,790 )   $ (10,441 )
Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense(2)   14,649     13,736  
Benefit from income taxes   (12,496 )   (5,924 )
Interest expense, net of interest income   1,692     2,213  
EBITDA   $ (19,945 )   $ (416 )
Consolidated EBITDA Margin(3)   (4.3 )%   (0.1 )%
         
Note:        
(1)We define EBITDA as GAAP net income attributable to Granite Construction Incorporated, adjusted for interest, taxes, depreciation, depletion and amortization. We believe this non-GAAP financial measure and the associated margin are useful in evaluating operating performance and are regularly used by securities analysts, institutional investors and other interested parties in reviewing the Company. However, the reader is cautioned that any non-GAAP financial measures provided by the Company are provided in addition to, and not as alternatives for, the Company's reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP. The methods used by the Company to calculate its non-GAAP financial measures may differ significantly from methods used by other companies to compute similar measures. As a result, any non-GAAP financial measures provided by the Company may not be comparable to similar measures provided by other companies.
 
(2)Amount includes the sum of depreciation, depletion and amortization which are classified as Cost of Revenue and Selling, General and Administrative expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of operations of Granite Construction Incorporated.
 
(3)Represents EBITDA divided by consolidated revenue. Consolidated revenue was $468,400 for three months ended March 31, 2017, and $439,452 for the three months ended March 31, 2016.

 

Granite Construction Incorporated
Ron Botoff, 831-728-7532

Source: Granite Construction Incorporated