Stantec reports second quarter 2016 results and dividend

Ad blocking detected

Thank you for visiting CanadianInsider.com. We have detected you cannot see ads being served on our site due to blocking. Unfortunately, due to the high cost of data, we cannot serve the requested page without the accompanied ads.

If you have installed ad-blocking software, please disable it (sometimes a complete uninstall is necessary). Private browsing Firefox users should be able to disable tracking protection while visiting our website. Visit Mozilla support for more information. If you do not believe you have any ad-blocking software on your browser, you may want to try another browser, computer or internet service provider. Alternatively, you may consider the following if you want an ad-free experience.

Canadian Insider Ultra Club
$500/ year*
Daily Morning INK newsletter
+3 months archive
Canadian Market INK weekly newsletter
+3 months archive
30 publication downloads per month from the PDF store
Top 20 Gold, Top 30 Energy, Top 40 Stock downloads from the PDF store
All benefits of basic registration
No 3rd party display ads
JOIN THE CLUB

* Price is subject to applicable taxes.

Paid subscriptions and memberships are auto-renewing unless cancelled (easily done via the Account Settings Membership Status page after logging in). Once cancelled, a subscription or membership will terminate at the end of the current term.

Stantec reports second quarter 2016 results and dividend

EDMONTON, ALBERTA and NEW YORK, NEW YORK--(Marketwired - Aug. 4, 2016) - (TSX:STN)(NYSE:STN)

Contributions from acquisitions and steady organic gross revenue growth in Stantec's Infrastructure business operating unit and US regional operating unit resulted in strong overall gross revenue growth of over 47% in the second quarter of 2016. The MWH Global (MWH) acquisition, which closed in early May, added significant gross revenue to many areas of Stantec's legacy Consulting Services business and greatly expanded Global operations.

Results were impacted by a slight decrease in gross margin--from 54.0% in Q2 15 to 53.6% in Q2 16--due to the addition of the Construction Services business, which generates a lower margin than the Consulting Services business. In addition, there were downward pressures on fees in some sectors, coupled with execution challenges on certain projects in the Buildings business operating unit and the Transportation sector. Administrative and marketing expenses were also higher, mainly due to acquisition-related costs and lease exit costs associated with optimizing office leases. In addition, borrowing required to fund the MWH acquisition resulted in increased interest expense, and a breakage fee was incurred on the renegotiation of new credit facilities.

"We continued to see steady organic gross revenue growth in our Infrastructure business operating unit and in our US operations," says Bob Gomes, Stantec president and chief executive officer. "And with MWH officially part of our team, we have deeper capabilities and expertise to draw from, particularly in terms of water and natural resources infrastructure, and we have established a global platform to allow us to further expand. As a combined company, we offer clients and communities around the world stronger and more diverse services."

 
Financial Summary
For the quarter ended June 30
(In millions of Canadian dollars, except for share amounts and %)
2016
Q2
2015
Q2
%
Change
Gross revenue $1,046.6 $710.3 47.3
Adjusted EBITDA(1) $84.6 $75.8 11.6
Adjusted diluted earnings per share (1) $0.37 $0.45 (17.8)
Cash dividends declared per common share $0.1125 $0.105 7.1
(1) Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted diluted earnings per share are non-IFRS measures as defined in the Cautionary Statements.

In addition to MWH, Stantec closed the acquisition of VOA Associates, Inc. (VOA) during the quarter, demonstrating the Company's ability to execute its acquisition strategy at multiple levels simultaneously. VOA will further expand Stantec's architecture presence in several US states.

With the addition of MWH, Stantec's business is now organized into two primary service offerings: Consulting Services--which includes the Company's legacy business and is augmented by MWH's expertise in infrastructure, energy and resources, and environmental services--and Construction Services, which is composed of MWH's well-respected construction management business.

Since the close of the MWH Global acquisition, Stantec has focused on aligning its financial systems to facilitate external reporting and is completing the detailed integration-level diligence required to chart a path for ultimate integration. The Company expects to review various segments of MWH's business over the course of 2016 and anticipates these segments to be fully integrated into Consulting Services by early 2017. The review and integration of some of MWH's global operations are not expected to occur until later in 2017. Construction Services will not be integrated into Stantec's Consulting Services platform and will be reported as a separate business segment.

Consulting Services experienced gross revenue growth in the Infrastructure, Energy & Resources, and Environmental Services business operating units and the US and Global regional operating units when comparing Q2 16 to Q2 15, primarily due to contributions from acquisitions. During the quarter, the Infrastructure business operating unit achieved strong organic gross revenue growth of 5.3%. This area of the business continues to benefit from government spending in transportation infrastructure in North America. The continued market expansion in the United States resulted in organic gross revenue growth of 3.7% in that regional operating unit when compared to the same quarter last year.

Though Energy & Resources and Environmental Services achieved an overall increase in gross revenue, both business units experienced organic revenue retraction during the quarter due to the ongoing effects of low commodity prices. As a result, gross revenue from Stantec's Canadian operations decreased quarter over quarter and year to date. Gross revenue for the Buildings business operating unit increased 7.9% year to date but decreased 0.4% when comparing Q2 16 to Q2 15 due to execution challenges on certain projects. Despite this, Stantec continued to win significant buildings work during the quarter. For example, the Company was awarded full professional services for architecture and interior design for a new applied sciences building at Tarleton State University, in Stephenville, Texas, which is part of the Texas A&M University System. The 97,812 square-foot (9,087 square-metre), three-story building will provide state-of-the-art classroom and laboratory space, parking facilities, and academic enhancement areas to compensate for the university's recent growth.

Gross revenue for Construction Services, which provides construction management services primarily in the United Kingdom and the United States, was $140.7 million since the close of the MWH acquisition. The United Kingdom generated $58.0 million while the United States generated $82.7 million, highlighted by a recent win on the Avon Lake Water Pollution Control Center Plant in Avon Lake, Ohio. The improvement project will see construction of a new raw sewage pump station, screening building, sludge thickener, and final clarifier as well as major renovation of the grit facility, primary settling tanks, aeration, UV disinfection, and sludge dewatering facilities.

Additional Company Activity

On August 3, 2016, Stantec declared a cash dividend of $0.1125 per share, payable on October 13, 2016, to shareholders of record on September 30, 2016.

Conference Call and Company Information

Stantec's second quarter conference call-to be held Thursday, August 4, at 2:00 PM MDT (4:00 PM EDT)-will be broadcast live and archived in the Investors section of stantec.com. Financial analysts wanting to participate in the earnings conference call are invited to call 1-800-499-4035 and provide the operator with confirmation code 1143030.

About Stantec

We're active members of the communities we serve. That's why at Stantec, we always design with community in mind.

The Stantec community unites approximately 22,000 employees working in over 400 locations across six continents. Our work--engineering, architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, surveying, environmental sciences, project management, and project economics, from initial project concept and planning through design, construction, and commissioning--begins at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships. With a long-term commitment to the people and places we serve, Stantec has the unique ability to connect to projects on a personal level and advance the quality of life in communities across the globe. Stantec trades on the TSX and the NYSE under the symbol STN. Visit us at stantec.com or find us on social media.

Cautionary Statements

Stantec's adjusted EBITDA and adjusted diluted earnings per share are non-IFRS measures. For a definition and explanation of non-IFRS measures, refer to the Critical Accounting Estimates, Developments, and Measures section of the Company's 2015 Annual Report and the Company's 2016 Second Quarter Management's Discussion and Analysis.

Certain statements contained in this news release constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to: our expectation that the VOA acquisition will expand our architectural presence, our expectation on the timing for completion of the MWH integration, and statements regarding the anticipated results of projects contemplated herein. Any such statements represent the views of management only as of the date hereof and are presented for the purpose of assisting the Company's shareholders in understanding Stantec's operations, objectives, priorities, and anticipated financial performance as at and for the periods ended on the dates presented, and may not be appropriate for other purposes. By their nature, forward-looking statements require us to make assumptions and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties.

We caution readers of this news release not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements since a number of factors could cause actual future results to differ materially from the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the risk of an economic downturn, changing market conditions for Stantec's services, disruptions in government funding, the risk that Stantec will not meet its growth or revenue targets, and the risk that the projects contemplated in this news release will not be completed when expected or at all. Investors and the public should carefully consider these factors, other uncertainties, and potential events, as well as the inherent uncertainty of forward-looking statements, when relying on these statements to make decisions with respect to our Company.

For more information about how other material risk factors could affect results, refer to the Risk Factors section and Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements in our 2015 Annual Report and the 2016 Second Quarter Management's Discussion and Analysis. Stantec's 40-F has been filed with the SEC, and you may obtain this document by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. You may obtain our complete audited annual consolidated financial statements and associated Management's Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2015 (which form our 2015 Annual Report) by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov, on the CSA website at www.sedar.com, or at www.stantec.com. Alternatively, you may obtain a hard copy of the 2015 Annual Report free of charge from our Investor Contact noted below.

Design with community in mind

   Consolidated Statements of Financial Position
   (Unaudited)
     
  June 30 December 31
  2016 2015
(In thousands of Canadian dollars) $ $
     
ASSETS    
Current    
Cash and deposits 156,173 67,342
Cash in escrow 13,086 8,646
Trade and other receivables 766,534 570,577
Unbilled revenue 463,463 228,970
Income taxes recoverable 54,129 19,727
Prepaid expenses 62,170 29,022
Other financial assets 24,150 26,722
Other assets 2,629 386
     
Total current assets 1,542,334 951,392
Non-current    
Property and equipment 208,454 158,085
Goodwill 1,744,403 966,480
Intangible assets 422,299 138,079
Investments in joint ventures and associates 9,627 4,467
Deferred tax assets 22,049 11,254
Other financial assets 141,470 111,479
Other assets 5,184 643
Total assets 4,095,820 2,341,879
     
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY    
Current    
Trade and other payables 621,324 352,199
Billings in excess of costs 202,270 109,159
Income taxes payable 3,115 -
Long-term debt 83,490 133,055
Provisions 35,000 22,878
Other financial liabilities 1,711 2,601
Other liabilities 18,221 12,162
     
Total current liabilities 965,131 632,054
Non-current    
Long-term debt 1,022,888 232,301
Provisions 75,047 62,572
Net employee defined benefit liability 25,441 -
Deferred tax liabilities 61,702 21,256
Other financial liabilities 4,447 2,748
Other liabilities 80,153 67,688
     
Total liabilities 2,234,809 1,018,619
     
Shareholders' equity    
Share capital 867,450 289,118
Contributed surplus 17,188 15,788
Retained earnings 864,779 852,725
Accumulated other comprehensive income 110,891 165,629
     
Total shareholders' equity 1,860,308 1,323,260
     
Non-controlling interests 703 -
     
Total liabilities and equity 4,095,820 2,341,879
   
   
   
Consolidated Statements of Income  
(Unaudited)  
         
  For the quarter ended   For the two quarters ended  
  June 30   June 30  
(In thousands of Canadian dollars, except per share amounts) 2016
$
  2015
$
  2016
$
  2015
$
 
                 
Gross revenue 1,046,642   710,254   1,802,025   1,415,977  
Less subconsultant and other direct expenses 269,316   116,336   396,051   229,775  
                 
Net revenue 777,326   593,918   1,405,974   1,186,202  
Direct payroll costs 360,420   273,138   649,929   538,271  
                 
Gross margin 416,906   320,780   756,045   647,931  
Administrative and marketing expenses 341,630   244,968   613,307   496,426  
Depreciation of property and equipment 12,547   11,162   22,604   22,004  
Amortization of intangible assets 19,941   8,679   30,744   18,906  
Net interest expense 10,843   2,863   13,931   5,529  
Other net finance expense 2,524   739   3,652   1,577  
Share of income from joint ventures and associates (704 ) (516 ) (1,076 ) (1,155 )
Foreign exchange (gain) loss (39 ) 94   65   (34 )
Other income (253 ) (6,749 ) (128 ) (7,217 )
                 
Income before income taxes 30,417   59,540   72,946   111,895  
                 
Income taxes                
Current 6,868   17,103   20,909   31,204  
Deferred 2,378   (730 ) 245   (433 )
                 
Total income taxes 9,246   16,373   21,154   30,771  
                 
Net income for the period 21,171   43,167   51,792   81,124  
                 
Weighted average number of shares outstanding - basic 106,207,939   94,037,462   100,049,233   93,950,055  
                 
Weighted average number of shares outstanding - diluted 106,621,988   94,645,377   100,451,362   94,495,416  
                 
Shares outstanding, end of the period 113,907,017   94,186,720   113,907,017   94,186,720  
                 
Earnings per share                
Basic 0.20   0.46   0.52   0.86  
                 
Diluted 0.20   0.46   0.52   0.86  

Media Contact
Stephanie Smith
Stantec Media Relations
780-917-7230
[email protected]

Investor Contact
Sonia Kirby
Stantec Investor Relations
780-616-2785
[email protected]

Comment On!

140
Upload limit is up to 1mb only
To post messages to your Socail Media account, you must first give authorization from the websites. Select the platform you wish to connect your account to CanadianInsider.com (via Easy Blurb).