Comfort Systems USA Reports Third Quarter 2022 Results

Comfort Systems USA, Inc. (NYSE: FIX) (the “Company”) today reported results for the quarter ended September 30, 2022.

For the quarter ended September 30, 2022, net income was $61.5 million, or $1.71 per diluted share, as compared to $46.3 million, or $1.27 per diluted share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2021. The third quarter of 2022 included a diluted per share net gain of $0.10 related to legal matters and $0.04 related to estimated tax benefits from years 2019 through 2021. Revenue for the third quarter of 2022 was $1,120.0 million compared to $833.9 million in 2021. The Company reported operating cash flow of $61.2 million in the current quarter compared to $42.6 million in 2021.

Backlog as of September 30, 2022 was $3.25 billion as compared to $2.81 billion as of June 30, 2022 and $1.94 billion as of September 30, 2021. On a same-store basis, backlog increased from $1.94 billion as of September 30, 2021 to $3.04 billion as of September 30, 2022.

Brian Lane, Comfort Systems USA’s President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “Today we report another remarkable quarter, with continued increases in revenue, earnings, and backlog. We are deeply grateful for the success created by our employees amid unique challenges. Our robust cash flow provides tangible evidence of good execution by our teams and that our customers value our ability to perform in a challenging environment.”

The Company reported net income of $190.5 million, or $5.28 per diluted share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, as compared to $105.8 million, or $2.90 per diluted share, in 2021. The first quarter of 2022 included a diluted per share net gain of $1.49 related to the resolution of tax refund claims from years 2016 through 2018 as well as estimated tax benefits from years 2019 through 2021. The third quarter of 2022 included a diluted per share net gain of $0.04 related to estimated tax benefits from years 2019 through 2021. Without those tax gains related to prior years, our diluted per share earnings for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 would have been $3.75. The Company also reported revenue of $3.02 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, as compared to $2.22 billion in 2021. Operating cash flow for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 was $169.5 million, as compared to $152.7 million in 2021.

Mr. Lane concluded, “Bookings increased this quarter, and we continue to experience solid bidding and planning activity. Good activity levels and ongoing cost increases in equipment and inputs produced same-store revenue growth of over 20%. Thanks to our amazing workforce, we continue to anticipate strong revenue, earnings, and cash flow in the coming quarters.”

The Company will host a webcast and conference call to discuss its financial results and position on Thursday, October 27, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. Central Time. The call-in number for this conference call is 1-833-629-0616 and participants should request to join the Comfort Systems USA conference 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 173 locations in 129 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 vaccine mandates or 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 percentage-of-completion 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 as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

— Financial tables follow —

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.

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, 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.

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.

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