Results Continue to Outpace Expectations
Increases 2022 Full Year Guidance
THE WOODLANDS, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. (NasdaqGS: STRL) (“Sterling” or the “Company”) today announced financial results for the third quarter 2022.
Third Quarter 2022 Results
Total Revenue of $556.9 million, an increase of 20% compared to the third quarter of 2021
Net Income was $29.5 million, or $0.97 per diluted share, an increase of 40% and 35%, respectively, compared to the third quarter of 2021
EBITDA(1) of $60.2 million, an increase of 50% compared to the third quarter of 2021
Cash flows from operations was $96.1 million and $130.6 million for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively
Cash and Cash Equivalents totaled $146.5 million at September 30, 2022
Backlog at September 30, 2022 was $1.67 billion, an increase of 12% over December 31, 2021
Combined backlog(2) at September 30, 2022 was $1.90 billion, an increase of 25% over December 31, 2021
(1) The Company defines EBITDA as GAAP net income attributable to Sterling’s common stockholders, adjusted for depreciation and amortization, net interest expense, taxes and net gain or loss on extinguishment of debt.
(2) Combined Backlog includes Unsigned Low-bid Awards of $235.3 million and $22.5 million at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively.
CEO Remarks and Outlook
“The diversity and strength of our portfolio, our commitment to our strategy and the outstanding execution by our teams enabled us to deliver record revenue, net income and EBITDA in the third quarter,” stated Joe Cutillo, Sterling’s Chief Executive Officer.
“Our company’s gross profit increased $24.2 million to $82.0 million, with gross margin increasing 220 basis points to 14.7% from the prior year period. Our strong results were driven by revenue growth from E-Infrastructure Solutions which benefited from organic growth and the acquisition of Petillo in late 2021, and improved margins from Transportation and Building Solutions. Building Solutions’ revenue decreased quarter over quarter, as home ownership became less affordable due to increasing interest rates and inflation. Despite the Building Solutions revenue headwinds, our continued focus on execution of our strategic objectives once again enabled us to generate our record results,” continued Mr. Cutillo.
“Our backlog and combined backlog levels were at all-time highs, primarily as a result of the new large site development projects in E-Infrastructure Solutions and increased bid activity in Transportation Solutions. As a result of our strong third quarter, we are adjusting our full year 2022 guidance. The mid-point of this adjusted guidance improves our net income by 53%, our revenue by 21% and our EPS by 47% over 2021,” Mr. Cutillo concluded.
Full Year 2022 Guidance:
Revenue of $1.90 billion to $1.92 billion
Net Income of $94 million to $98 million
EPS of $3.08 to $3.21
EBITDA of $197 million to $205 million
Conference Call
Sterling’s management will hold a conference call to discuss these results and recent corporate developments on Tuesday, November 1, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. ET/8:00 a.m. CT. Interested parties may participate in the call by dialing (201) 493-6744 or (877) 445-9755. Please call in ten minutes before the conference call is scheduled to begin and ask for the Sterling Infrastructure call. To coincide with the conference call, Sterling will post a slide presentation at www.strlco.com on the Events & Presentations section of the Investor Relations tab. Following management’s opening remarks, there will be a question and answer session.
To listen to a simultaneous webcast of the call, please go to the Company’s website at www.strlco.com at least fifteen 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 thirty days.
About Sterling
Sterling operates through a variety of subsidiaries within three segments specializing in E-Infrastructure, Transportation and Building Solutions in the United States (the “U.S.”), primarily across the Southern, Northeastern, Mid-Atlantic and the Rocky Mountain States, California and Hawaii, as well as other areas with strategic construction opportunities. E-Infrastructure Solutions projects develop advanced, large-scale site development systems and services for data centers, e-commerce distribution centers, warehousing, transportation, energy and more. Transportation Solutions includes infrastructure and rehabilitation projects for highways, roads, bridges, airports, ports, light rail, water, wastewater and storm drainage systems. Building Solutions projects include residential and commercial concrete foundations for single-family and multi-family homes, parking structures, elevated slabs and other concrete work. From strategy to operations, we are committed to sustainability by operating responsibly to safeguard and improve society’s quality of life. Caring for our people and our communities, our customers and our investors – that is The Sterling Way.
Joe Cutillo, CEO, “We build and service the infrastructure that enables our economy to run, 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 U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Company reports financial results in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), but the Company believes that certain Non-GAAP financial measures provide useful supplemental information to investors regarding the underlying business trends and performance of the Company’s ongoing operations and are useful for period-over-period comparisons of those operations.
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 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; 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,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “project,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “pursue,” “target,” “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 U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and elsewhere in those filings. Additional factors or risks that we currently deem immaterial, that are not presently known to us or that arise in the future could also cause our actual results to differ materially from our expected results. Given these uncertainties, investors are cautioned that many of the assumptions upon which our forward-looking statements are based are likely to change after the date the forward-looking statements are made. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements for any reason, whether as a result of new information, future events or developments, changed circumstances, or otherwise, notwithstanding any changes in our assumptions, changes in business plans, actual experience or other changes. These cautionary statements qualify all forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf.
STERLING INFRASTRUCTURE, INC. & SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2022
2021
2022
2021
Revenues
$
556,942
$
463,449
$
1,477,830
$
1,180,431
Cost of revenues
(474,919
)
(405,645
)
(1,271,284
)
(1,021,348
)
Gross profit
82,023
57,804
206,546
159,083
General and administrative expense
(26,466
)
(19,637
)
(72,962
)
(52,565
)
Intangible asset amortization
(3,509
)
(2,866
)
(10,591
)
(8,598
)
Acquisition related costs
(277
)
—
(762
)
—
Other operating expense, net
(4,085
)
(3,270
)
(5,186
)
(10,414
)
Operating income
47,686
32,031
117,045
87,506
Interest income
167
13
207
39
Interest expense
(5,134
)
(3,919
)
(14,201
)
(15,660
)
Gain on extinguishment of debt, net
—
968
2,428
2,032
Income before income taxes
42,719
29,093
105,479
73,917
Income tax expense
(12,562
)
(7,336
)
(29,427
)
(20,275
)
Net income
30,157
21,757
76,052
53,642
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
(634
)
(631
)
(1,316
)
(1,905
)
Net income attributable to Sterling common stockholders
$
29,523
$
21,126
$
74,736
$
51,737
Net income per share attributable to Sterling common stockholders:
Basic
$
0.98
$
0.74
$
2.48
$
1.81
Diluted
$
0.97
$
0.72
$
2.46
$
1.79
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic
30,278
28,710
30,156
28,527
Diluted
30,540
29,213
30,364
28,927
STERLING INFRASTRUCTURE, INC. & SUBSIDIARIES
SEGMENT INFORMATION
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended September 30,
Nine Months Ended September 30,
Revenues
2022
% of
Revenue
2021
% of
Revenue
2022
% of
Revenue
2021
% of
Revenue
E-Infrastructure Solutions
$
255,530
46
%
$
121,286
26
%
$
658,005
45
%
$
341,601
29
%
Transportation Solutions
221,126
40
%
249,898
54
%
573,006
38
%
600,105
51
%
Building Solutions
80,286
14
%
92,265
20
%
246,819
17
%
238,725
20
%
Total Revenues
$
556,942
$
463,449
$
1,477,830
$
1,180,431
Operating Income
E-Infrastructure Solutions
$
37,533
14.7
%
$
19,218
15.8
%
$
91,642
13.9
%
$
61,744
18.1
%
Transportation Solutions
9,635
4.4
%
9,334
3.7
%
18,428
3.2
%
16,796
2.8
%
Building Solutions
9,324
11.6
%
9,238
10.0
%
28,433
11.5
%
23,389
9.8
%
Segment Operating Income
56,492
10.1
%
37,790
8.2
%
138,503
9.4
%
101,929
8.6
%
Corporate
(8,529
)
(5,759
)
(20,696
)
(14,423
)
Acquisition Related Costs
(277
)
—
(762
)
—
Total Operating Income
$
47,686
8.6
%
$
32,031
6.9
%
$
117,045
7.9
%
$
87,506
7.4
%
STERLING INFRASTRUCTURE, INC. & SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
September 30,
2022
December 31,
2021
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$
146,479
$
81,840
Accounts receivable
329,548
232,153
Contract assets
153,666
83,310
Receivables from and equity in construction joint ventures
16,316
16,896
Other current assets
23,549
20,492
Total current assets
669,558
434,691
Property and equipment, net
222,647
204,316
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net
60,384
24,520
Goodwill
252,887
259,791
Other intangibles, net
293,532
303,223
Other non-current assets, net
4,325
4,455
Total assets
$
1,503,333
$
1,230,996
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable
$
192,902
$
144,982
Contract liabilities
224,739
127,932
Current maturities of long-term debt
29,705
28,230
Current portion of long-term lease obligations
17,418
8,841
Accrued compensation
37,448
22,803
Other current liabilities
10,096
18,972
Total current liabilities
512,308
351,760
Long-term debt
407,090
428,588
Long-term lease obligations
43,121
15,831
Members’ interest subject to mandatory redemption and undistributed earnings
55,862
55,115
Deferred tax liability, net
40,311
14,656
Other long-term liabilities
4,754
4,819
Total liabilities
1,063,446
870,769
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock
303
298
Additional paid in capital
281,576
280,274
Retained earnings
154,654
79,918
Accumulated other comprehensive gain (loss)
578
(1,723
)
Total Sterling stockholders’ equity
437,111
358,767
Noncontrolling interests
2,776
1,460
Total stockholders’ equity
439,887
360,227
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$
1,503,333
$
1,230,996
STERLING INFRASTRUCTURE, INC. & SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
Nine Months Ended September 30,
2022
2021
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income
$
76,052
$
53,642
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization
38,550
25,336
Amortization of debt issuance costs and non-cash interest
1,636
1,756
Gain on disposal of property and equipment
(1,926
)
(1,176
)
Gain on debt extinguishment, net
(2,428
)
(2,032
)
Deferred taxes
24,975
17,413
Stock-based compensation
9,195
5,690
Change in fair value of interest rate swap
(320
)
(41
)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
(15,087
)
35,154
Net cash provided by operating activities
130,647
135,742
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired
(3,033
)
—
Capital expenditures
(47,832
)
(39,315
)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment
3,043
2,093
Net cash used in investing activities
(47,822
)
(37,222
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of debt
(17,612
)
(44,184
)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest owners
—
(1,959
)
Other
—
(603
)
Net cash used in financing activities
(17,612
)
(46,746
)
Net change in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash
65,213
51,774
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period
88,693
72,642
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period
153,906
124,416
Less: restricted cash (other current assets)
(7,427
)
(6,714
)
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
146,479
$
117,702
STERLING INFRASTRUCTURE, INC. & SUBSIDIARIES
EBITDA RECONCILIATION
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2022
2021
2022
2021
Net income attributable to Sterling common stockholders
$
29,523
$
21,126
$
74,736
$
51,737
Depreciation and amortization
13,138
8,629
38,550
25,336
Interest expense, net of interest income
4,967
3,906
13,994
15,621
Income tax expense
12,562
7,336
29,427
20,275
Gain on extinguishment of debt, net
—
(968
)
(2,428
)
(2,032
)
EBITDA (1)
$
60,190
$
40,029
$
154,279
$
110,937
(1) The Company defines EBITDA as GAAP net income attributable to Sterling common stockholders, adjusted for depreciation and amortization, net interest expense, taxes, and net gain on extinguishment of debt.
STERLING INFRASTRUCTURE, INC. & SUBSIDIARIES
EBITDA GUIDANCE RECONCILIATION
(In millions)
(Unaudited)
Full Year 2022 Guidance
Low
High
Net income attributable to Sterling common stockholders
$
94
$
98
Depreciation and amortization
50
51
Interest expense, net of interest income
19
20
Income tax expense
36
38
Gain on extinguishment of debt, net
(2
)
(2
)
EBITDA (1)
$
197
$
205
(1) The Company defines EBITDA as GAAP net income attributable to Sterling common stockholders, adjusted for depreciation and amortization, net interest expense, taxes, and net gain on extinguishment of debt.
Contacts
Company:
Sterling Infrastructure, Inc.
Ron Ballschmiede, Chief Financial Officer
281-214-0777
Investor Relations:
The Equity Group Inc.
Jeremy Hellman, CFA
212-836-9626