Sterling Reports Record Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Results
Provides 2024 Full Year Guidance
The financial information herein is from continuing operations and comparisons are to the prior year quarter, unless otherwise noted.
Fourth Quarter 2023 Results
- Revenues of
$486.0 million , an increase of 8% - Gross margin of 18.9%, an increase from 15.4%
- Net Income of
$40.2 million , or$1.28 per diluted share, an increase of 99% and 94%, respectively - Adjusted Net Income(1) of
$40.7 million , or$1.30 per diluted share, and increase of 99% and 94%, respectively - EBITDA(1) of
$68.4 million , an increase of 37% - Adjusted EBITDA(1) of
$68.9 million , an increase of 37% - Cash flows from operations totaled
$478.6 million for the twelve months endedDecember 31, 2023 - Cash and Cash Equivalents totaled
$471.6 million atDecember 31, 2023 - Backlog at
December 31, 2023 was$2.07 billion , an increase of 46% overDecember 31, 2022 - Combined backlog(2) at
December 31, 2023 was$2.37 billion , an increase of 40% overDecember 31, 2022
For the full year ended
(1) See the "Non-GAAP Measures", "Adjusted Net Income From Continuing Operations Reconciliation", and "EBITDA From Continuing Operations Reconciliation" sections below for more information. |
|
(2) Combined Backlog includes Unsigned Awards of |
CEO Remarks and Outlook
"2023 was another record year for Sterling as we grew our adjusted net income by 43% to deliver adjusted diluted EPS of
"The drivers of multi-year profitability growth across each of our business segments remain strong. In our E-Infrastructure Solutions business, we are seeing strength in data center and large manufacturing activity, particularly in the Southeast. The Northeastern market continues to see softness related to the slowdown in the e-commerce and small warehouse markets. Fourth quarter E-Infrastructure operating margins expanded 520 basis points and operating income grew 26%, driven by a shift toward large, mission critical projects. E-Infrastructure Solutions backlog at year end was up 35%, supporting our expectation for high single to low double-digit revenue growth in 2024. Transportation Solutions had another excellent quarter, with revenue growth of 39% and operating margin expansion of 300 basis points. We are seeing broad-based demand across our Transportation Solutions footprint and end markets and anticipate continued strength in 2024. Building Solutions revenue grew 24% in the fourth quarter, including
"We believe 2024 will be another year of bottom line growth well in excess of our top line growth. Our strong backlog position, visibility into future opportunities, and laser focus on maximizing returns give us confidence in our ability to deliver on our guidance for the year,"
Full Year 2024 Guidance
- Revenue of
$2.125 billion to$2.215 billion - Net Income of
$155 million to$165 million - Diluted EPS of
$4.85 to$5.15 - EBITDA(1) of
$285 million to$300 million
(1) See the "Non-GAAP Measures" and "EBITDA Guidance Reconciliation" sections below for more information. |
Conference Call
Sterling's management will hold a conference call to discuss these results and recent corporate developments on
To listen to a simultaneous webcast of the call, please go to the Company's website at www.strlco.com at least 15 minutes early to download and install any necessary audio software. If you are unable to listen live, the conference call webcast will be archived on the Company's website for 30 days.
About Sterling
Sterling operates through a variety of subsidiaries within three segments specializing in E-Infrastructure, Transportation and
our people to move and our country to grow."
Important Information for Investors and Stockholders
Non-GAAP Measures
This press release contains "Non-GAAP" financial measures as defined under Regulation G of the amended
Non-GAAP measures may include adjusted net income, adjusted EPS, EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA, in each case excluding the impacts of certain identified items. The excluded items represent items that the Company does not consider to be representative of its normal operations. The Company believes that these measures are useful for investors to review, because they provide a consistent measure of the underlying financial results of the Company's ongoing business and, in the Company's view, allow for a supplemental comparison against historical results and expectations for future performance. Furthermore, the Company uses each of these to measure the performance of the Company's operations for budgeting and forecasting, as well as for determining employee incentive compensation. However, Non-GAAP measures should not be considered as substitutes for net income, EPS, or other data prepared and reported in accordance with GAAP and should be viewed in addition to the Company's reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP.
Reconciliations of Non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable GAAP measures are provided in the tables included within this press release.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains statements that are considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, which may include statements about: our business strategy; our financial strategy; our industry outlook; our guidance; our expected margin growth; and our plans, objectives, expectations, forecasts, outlook and intentions. All of these types of statements, other than statements of historical fact included in this press release, are forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "may," "will," "could," "would," "should," "expect," "plan," "project," "intend," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "pursue," "target," "guidance," "continue," the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are largely based on our expectations, which reflect estimates and assumptions made by our management. These estimates and assumptions reflect our best judgment based on currently known market conditions and other factors. Although we believe such estimates and assumptions to be reasonable, they are inherently uncertain and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that are beyond our control. In addition, management's assumptions about future events may prove to be inaccurate. Management cautions all readers that the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are not guarantees of future performance, and we cannot assure any reader that such statements will be realized or the forward-looking events and circumstances will occur. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements due to factors listed in the "Risk Factors" section in our filings with the
Company Contact:
281-214-0795
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (In thousands, except per share data) (Unaudited) |
|||||||
|
|||||||
|
Three Months Ended |
|
Twelve Months Ended |
||||
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
Continuing Operations: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues |
$ 485,978 |
|
$ 448,607 |
|
$ 1,972,229 |
|
$ 1,769,436 |
Cost of revenues |
(394,223) |
|
(379,641) |
|
(1,634,591) |
|
(1,494,869) |
Gross profit |
91,755 |
|
68,966 |
|
337,638 |
|
274,567 |
General and administrative expense |
(26,111) |
|
(23,104) |
|
(98,703) |
|
(86,480) |
Intangible asset amortization |
(4,017) |
|
(3,509) |
|
(15,226) |
|
(14,100) |
Acquisition related costs |
(521) |
|
(265) |
|
(873) |
|
(827) |
Other operating expense, net |
(5,338) |
|
(5,045) |
|
(17,041) |
|
(13,290) |
Operating income |
55,768 |
|
37,043 |
|
205,795 |
|
159,870 |
Interest income |
5,813 |
|
684 |
|
14,140 |
|
885 |
Interest expense |
(6,804) |
|
(6,329) |
|
(29,320) |
|
(20,591) |
Income before income taxes |
54,777 |
|
31,398 |
|
190,615 |
|
140,164 |
Income tax expense |
(12,341) |
|
(10,741) |
|
(47,770) |
|
(41,707) |
Net income, including noncontrolling interests |
42,436 |
|
20,657 |
|
142,845 |
|
98,457 |
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests |
(2,263) |
|
(424) |
|
(4,190) |
|
(1,740) |
Net income from Continuing Operations |
$ 40,173 |
|
$ 20,233 |
|
$ 138,655 |
|
$ 96,717 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Discontinued Operations: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pretax loss |
$ — |
|
$ (1,561) |
|
$ — |
|
$ (4,848) |
Pretax gain on disposition |
— |
|
16,687 |
|
— |
|
16,687 |
Income tax expense |
— |
|
(3,634) |
|
— |
|
(2,095) |
Net income from Discontinued Operations |
$ — |
|
$ 11,492 |
|
$ — |
|
$ 9,744 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income attributable to Sterling common stockholders |
$ 40,173 |
|
$ 31,725 |
|
$ 138,655 |
|
$ 106,461 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income per share from Continuing Operations: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic |
$ 1.30 |
|
$ 0.67 |
|
$ 4.51 |
|
$ 3.20 |
Diluted |
$ 1.28 |
|
$ 0.66 |
|
$ 4.44 |
|
$ 3.16 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss per share from Discontinued Operations: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic |
$ — |
|
$ 0.38 |
|
$ — |
|
$ 0.32 |
Diluted |
$ — |
|
$ 0.37 |
|
$ — |
|
$ 0.32 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income per share attributable to Sterling common stockholders: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic |
$ 1.30 |
|
$ 1.05 |
|
$ 4.51 |
|
$ 3.53 |
Diluted |
$ 1.28 |
|
$ 1.03 |
|
$ 4.44 |
|
$ 3.48 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average common shares outstanding: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic |
30,819 |
|
30,324 |
|
30,755 |
|
30,199 |
Diluted |
31,334 |
|
30,739 |
|
31,208 |
|
30,564 |
SEGMENT INFORMATION (In thousands) (Unaudited) |
|||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||
|
Three Months Ended |
|
Twelve Months Ended |
||||||||||||
Revenues |
2023 |
|
% of |
|
2022 |
|
% of |
|
2023 |
|
% of |
|
2022 |
|
% of |
E-Infrastructure Solutions |
$ 217,472 |
|
45 % |
|
$ 247,272 |
|
55 % |
|
$ 937,408 |
|
48 % |
|
$ 905,277 |
|
51 % |
Transportation Solutions |
175,685 |
|
36 % |
|
126,545 |
|
28 % |
|
630,908 |
|
32 % |
|
542,550 |
|
31 % |
Building Solutions |
92,821 |
|
19 % |
|
74,790 |
|
17 % |
|
403,913 |
|
20 % |
|
321,609 |
|
18 % |
Total Revenues |
$ 485,978 |
|
|
|
$ 448,607 |
|
|
|
$ 1,972,229 |
|
|
|
$ 1,769,436 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating Income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
E-Infrastructure Solutions |
$ 37,616 |
|
17.3 % |
|
$ 29,811 |
|
12.1 % |
|
$ 140,997 |
|
15.0 % |
|
$ 121,453 |
|
13.4 % |
Transportation Solutions |
12,262 |
|
7.0 % |
|
5,070 |
|
4.0 % |
|
41,911 |
|
6.6 % |
|
26,623 |
|
4.9 % |
Building Solutions |
11,164 |
|
12.0 % |
|
8,260 |
|
11.0 % |
|
46,193 |
|
11.4 % |
|
36,693 |
|
11.4 % |
Segment Operating Income |
61,042 |
|
12.6 % |
|
43,141 |
|
9.6 % |
|
229,101 |
|
11.6 % |
|
184,769 |
|
10.4 % |
Corporate G&A Expense |
(4,753) |
|
|
|
(5,833) |
|
|
|
(22,433) |
|
|
|
(24,072) |
|
|
Acquisition Related Costs |
(521) |
|
|
|
(265) |
|
|
|
(873) |
|
|
|
(827) |
|
|
Total Operating Income |
$ 55,768 |
|
11.5 % |
|
$ 37,043 |
|
8.3 % |
|
$ 205,795 |
|
10.4 % |
|
$ 159,870 |
|
9.0 % |
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands, except per share data) (Unaudited) |
|||
|
|||
|
|
|
|
Assets |
|
|
|
Current assets: |
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ 471,563 |
|
$ 181,544 |
Accounts receivable |
252,435 |
|
262,646 |
Contract assets |
88,600 |
|
109,803 |
Receivables from and equity in construction joint ventures |
17,506 |
|
14,122 |
Other current assets |
17,875 |
|
29,139 |
Total current assets |
847,979 |
|
597,254 |
Property and equipment, net |
243,648 |
|
215,482 |
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net |
57,235 |
|
59,415 |
|
281,117 |
|
262,692 |
Other intangibles, net |
328,397 |
|
299,123 |
Other non-current assets, net |
18,808 |
|
7,654 |
Total assets |
$ 1,777,184 |
|
$ 1,441,620 |
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity |
|
|
|
Current liabilities: |
|
|
|
Accounts payable |
$ 145,968 |
|
$ 121,887 |
Contract liabilities |
444,160 |
|
239,297 |
Current maturities of long-term debt |
26,520 |
|
32,610 |
Current portion of long-term lease obligations |
19,641 |
|
19,715 |
Accrued compensation |
27,758 |
|
24,136 |
Other current liabilities |
14,121 |
|
8,966 |
Total current liabilities |
678,168 |
|
446,611 |
Long-term debt |
314,996 |
|
398,735 |
Long-term lease obligations |
37,722 |
|
40,103 |
Members' interest subject to mandatory redemption and undistributed earnings |
29,108 |
|
21,597 |
Deferred tax liability, net |
76,764 |
|
51,659 |
Other long-term liabilities |
16,573 |
|
5,116 |
Total liabilities |
1,153,331 |
|
963,821 |
Stockholders' equity: |
|
|
|
Common stock |
309 |
|
306 |
Additional paid in capital |
293,570 |
|
287,914 |
Retained earnings |
325,034 |
|
186,379 |
Total Sterling stockholders' equity |
618,913 |
|
474,599 |
Noncontrolling interests |
4,940 |
|
3,200 |
Total stockholders' equity |
623,853 |
|
477,799 |
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity |
$ 1,777,184 |
|
$ 1,441,620 |
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In thousands) (Unaudited) |
|||
|
|||
|
Years Ended |
||
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
Cash flows from operating activities: |
|
|
|
Net income |
$ 142,845 |
|
$ 108,201 |
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: |
|
|
|
Depreciation and amortization |
57,403 |
|
52,066 |
Amortization of debt issuance costs and non-cash interest |
1,727 |
|
2,136 |
Gain on disposal of property and equipment |
(5,286) |
|
(2,637) |
Gain on debt extinguishment, net |
— |
|
(2,428) |
Gain on disposition of Myers |
— |
|
(16,687) |
Deferred taxes |
14,746 |
|
36,492 |
Stock-based compensation |
14,622 |
|
12,726 |
Change in fair value of interest rate swap |
— |
|
(203) |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities |
252,527 |
|
29,450 |
Net cash provided by operating activities |
478,584 |
|
219,116 |
Cash flows from investing activities: |
|
|
|
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired |
(51,177) |
|
(18,004) |
Disposition, net of cash disposed |
14,000 |
|
(15,789) |
Capital expenditures |
(64,379) |
|
(60,909) |
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment |
13,804 |
|
4,947 |
Net cash used in investing activities |
(87,752) |
|
(89,755) |
Cash flows from financing activities: |
|
|
|
Cash received from credit facility |
2,562 |
|
— |
Repayments of debt |
(93,491) |
|
(23,373) |
Distributions to noncontrolling interest owners |
(2,450) |
|
— |
Withholding taxes paid on net share settlement of equity awards |
(9,567) |
|
(9,416) |
Debt issuance costs |
(1,572) |
|
— |
Other |
(16) |
|
— |
Net cash used in financing activities |
(104,534) |
|
(32,789) |
Net change in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash |
286,298 |
|
96,572 |
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period |
185,265 |
|
88,693 |
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period |
471,563 |
|
185,265 |
Less: restricted cash - Continuing Operations |
— |
|
(3,721) |
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period - Continuing Operations |
$ 471,563 |
|
$ 181,544 |
ADJUSTED NET INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS RECONCILIATION (In thousands) (Unaudited) |
|||||||
|
|||||||
|
Three Months Ended |
|
Twelve Months Ended |
||||
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
Net income from Continuing Operations |
$ 40,173 |
|
$ 20,233 |
|
$ 138,655 |
|
$ 96,717 |
Acquisition related costs |
521 |
|
265 |
|
873 |
|
827 |
Adjusted Net Income from Continuing Operations (1) |
$ 40,694 |
|
$ 20,498 |
|
$ 139,528 |
|
$ 97,544 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income per share from Continuing Operations: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic |
$ 1.30 |
|
$ 0.67 |
|
$ 4.51 |
|
$ 3.20 |
Diluted |
$ 1.28 |
|
$ 0.66 |
|
$ 4.44 |
|
$ 3.16 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjusted Net income per share from Continuing Operations: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic |
$ 1.32 |
|
$ 0.68 |
|
$ 4.54 |
|
$ 3.23 |
Diluted |
$ 1.30 |
|
$ 0.67 |
|
$ 4.47 |
|
$ 3.19 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average common shares outstanding: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic |
30,819 |
|
30,324 |
|
30,755 |
|
30,199 |
Diluted |
31,334 |
|
30,739 |
|
31,208 |
|
30,564 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) The Company defines adjusted net income from continuing operations as net income from continuing operations excluding the impact of acquisition related costs. |
EBITDA FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS RECONCILIATION (In thousands) (Unaudited) |
|||||||
|
|||||||
|
Three Months Ended |
|
Twelve Months Ended |
||||
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
Net income from Continuing Operations |
$ 40,173 |
|
$ 20,233 |
|
$ 138,655 |
|
$ 96,717 |
Depreciation and amortization |
14,874 |
|
13,253 |
|
57,403 |
|
50,575 |
Interest expense, net of interest income |
991 |
|
5,645 |
|
15,180 |
|
19,706 |
Income tax expense |
12,341 |
|
10,741 |
|
47,770 |
|
41,707 |
EBITDA from Continuing Operations (1) |
68,379 |
|
49,872 |
|
259,008 |
|
208,705 |
Acquisition related costs |
521 |
|
265 |
|
873 |
|
827 |
Adjusted EBITDA from Continuing Operations (2) |
$ 68,900 |
|
$ 50,137 |
|
$ 259,881 |
|
$ 209,532 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) The Company defines EBITDA from continuing operations as GAAP net income from continuing operations, adjusted for depreciation and amortization, net interest expense and taxes. |
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2) The Company defines adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations as EBITDA from continuing operations excluding the impact of acquisition related costs. |
EBITDA GUIDANCE RECONCILIATION (In millions) (Unaudited) |
|||
|
|||
|
Full Year 2024 Guidance |
||
|
Low |
|
High |
Net income attributable to Sterling common stockholders |
$ 155 |
|
$ 165 |
Depreciation and amortization |
62 |
|
64 |
Interest expense, net of interest income |
5 |
|
6 |
Income tax expense |
63 |
|
65 |
EBITDA (1) |
$ 285 |
|
$ 300 |
|
|
|
|
(1) The Company defines EBITDA as GAAP net income attributable to Sterling common stockholders, adjusted for depreciation and amortization, net interest expense, and taxes. |
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