MASTEC INC quarterly report, Q2 FY2011

MasTec, Inc. — Q2 2011 Form 10-Q

Reporting period: Quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011; financial statements are unaudited. MasTec provides infrastructure construction, installation and maintenance services across communications, utilities, energy and government markets.

Financial performance

MetricQ2 2011Q2 2010First half 2011First half 2010
Revenue$750.9 million$495.1 million$1,369.4 million$945.3 million
Gross profit (margin)$107.8 million (14.4%)$77.8 million (15.7%)$197.7 million (14.4%)$139.1 million (14.7%)
Net income attributable to MasTec$44.5 million$14.6 million$65.6 million$22.0 million
Diluted EPS$0.51$0.18$0.77$0.27
Adjusted net income / adjusted diluted EPS$26.8 million / $0.31$14.6 million / $0.18$47.9 million / $0.56$22.0 million / $0.27
Adjusted EBITDA (margin)$70.7 million (9.4%)$46.2 million (9.3%)$128.3 million (9.4%)$80.2 million (8.5%)
  • Q2 revenue rose 51.7%; management attributed 85% of the increase to organic growth. First-half revenue rose 44.9%. Growth was driven by wireless, pipeline, install-to-the-home and energy transmission work; acquisitions contributed $37.8 million of revenue in the first half.
  • Reported Q2 and first-half earnings include a $29.0 million pretax ($17.7 million after-tax) gain from remeasuring MasTec’s prior 33% EC Source investment when it acquired the remaining interest. Adjusted results exclude this gain.
  • Gross margin declined year over year, particularly in Q2, amid pricing discounts on wireless work, higher DIRECTV-related commissions and fuel costs, and project-mix changes. General and administrative expense declined as a share of revenue, reflecting improved scale.
  • Operating cash flow was $5.4 million for the first half, down from $28.3 million. Investing cash use was $102.8 million, principally acquisitions, earn-outs and capital expenditures; financing cash use was $1.8 million. Cash and equivalents ended at $78.5 million, including $18.3 million restricted.
  • Working capital was $235.3 million. Total debt was $423.6 million, including $23.6 million current maturities; long-term debt was $400.0 million. The company had no revolver borrowings and reported $127.8 million of net availability under its $260 million credit facility after letters of credit.

Material changes and business developments

  • MasTec acquired Fabcor (Canadian pipeline services), Cam Communications (telecommunications), Halsted Communications (install-to-the-home), Optima Network Services (wireless) and the remaining 67% of EC Source (high-voltage transmission). Purchase-price allocations and several earn-outs remained preliminary.
  • The EC Source acquisition included 5.13 million MasTec shares, assumed debt and an earn-out. Shares issued for the acquisition were valued at $94.2 million. Total acquisition-related contingent consideration on the balance sheet was $82.4 million at June 30, up from $45.0 million at year-end.
  • The credit facility’s revolving capacity increased from $210 million to $260 million in May 2011. The company exchanged $202.3 million principal amount of 4.0% and 4.25% convertible notes for new notes with cash-settlement features; $12.7 million of original notes remained. The new notes’ accounting discount raises effective interest expense.
  • Estimated 18-month backlog increased to $2.87 billion from $2.35 billion at year-end, excluding approximately $300 million of awarded work subject to financing contingencies. Management cautioned that backlog is not a firm revenue commitment: service agreements can be canceled, and project schedules can shift.

Outlook, risks and contingencies

  • Management estimated 2011 capital expenditures of approximately $50 million and expected operating cash generation, available credit and cash to meet anticipated needs for at least the next 12 months. No specific revenue or earnings guidance was provided.
  • Management described demand as strong in several served markets but noted competitive and economic pressures, timing-related activity changes, fuel-cost exposure, seasonality and weather-related execution risk. More than 40% of Q2 revenue came from non-recurring project-specific work.
  • Customer concentration is significant: the top ten customers generated 72% of Q2 and 75% of first-half revenue. AT&T contributed 24% and 25%, respectively; DIRECTV contributed 20% and 22%; El Paso contributed 12% and 15%.
  • Red Ventures may exercise an option to buy DirectStar between March and November 2012. DirectStar supports DIRECTV marketing and sales; exercise would reduce MasTec’s DIRECTV revenue and profit. Without DirectStar revenue, DIRECTV would have represented 16% of Q2 and 17% of first-half revenue.
  • Convertible-note settlement has a financing constraint: until the credit facility expires in May 2013, MasTec generally cannot use facility borrowings to settle conversions and cannot use more than $10 million of cash for that purpose without lender consent. Additional funding may be required if conversion obligations arise.
  • Contingencies include $526.1 million of performance and payment bonds, $101.0 million of standby letters of credit, self-insurance liabilities and multi-employer pension exposure. Certain pension plans were in critical status; future surcharge amounts were not estimable. A Spanish proceeding alleges damages of approximately €300 million; MasTec says it is vigorously defending the matter, has recorded no loss accrual because potential loss cannot be determined, and reports insurance funding for legal expenses under a reservation of rights.

Important facts for investors to verify

  • How much of reported earnings growth is sustainable after excluding the EC Source remeasurement gain, and whether margin pressure persists.
  • Whether acquisitions deliver expected growth and cash returns, and how final purchase-price allocations and earn-out valuations affect goodwill, liabilities and future results.
  • Working-capital conversion and operating cash flow, given receivables and costs/earnings in excess of billings increased while cash declined.
  • Availability under the credit facility after letters of credit, compliance with covenants, and the company’s ability to fund convertible-note settlements if required.
  • Customer retention, project replacement and the potential effect of Red Ventures exercising its DirectStar option; also confirm progress on the financing-contingent backlog project.
  • Developments in the Spanish litigation, critical-status pension plans, bonding obligations and other contingencies.