Press Release Apr 28, 2015

Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. Reports Earnings for the Second Quarter of Fiscal 2015

PASADENA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. (NYSE:JEC) announced today its financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2015 ended March 27, 2015.

Second Quarter Fiscal 2015 Highlights:

  • Net earnings of $82.0 million, and adjusted net earnings of $91.6 million (adjusted to exclude the impact of the restructuring activities discussed below);
  • Diluted EPS of $0.64, adjusted diluted EPS of $0.72;
  • Backlog at March 27, 2015 of $18.9 billion; and,
  • Repurchase of 3.3 million shares of common stock for $140.5 million.

Jacobs reported today GAAP net earnings of $82.0 million, or $0.64 per diluted share, on revenues of $2.9 billion for its second quarter of fiscal 2015 ended March 27, 2015. This compares to net earnings of $83.5 million, or $0.63 per diluted share, on revenues of $3.2 billion for the second quarter of fiscal 2014 ended March 28, 2014.

Included in the company's results of operations for the second quarter of fiscal 2015 are the after tax costs and expenses related to certain restructuring activities totaling $9.6 million, or $0.08 per diluted share.

Jacobs also announced continued strength in total backlog of $18.9 billion at March 27, 2015, including a technical professional services component of $12.6 billion. This is up approximately 2.5% from total backlog and up approximately 0.4% from technical professional services backlog of $18.4 billion and $12.6 billion, respectively, at March 28, 2014.

Commenting on the results for the second quarter, Jacobs Executive Chairman Noel Watson stated, “Strong sales in our second quarter are reflected in our backlog, which remains at near record levels. Our diversification remains a clear benefit: many of our end-markets continue to be robust, offsetting the current headwinds caused by energy and commodity prices. We continue to be cautious in our short-term outlook and remain confident in the long-term growth potential of our global business.”

Mr. Watson added, “Our strong executive leadership team is fully committed to delivering value to our customers and our shareholders.”

Commenting on the Company’s earnings outlook for the remainder of fiscal 2015, Jacobs Chief Financial Officer Kevin Berryman stated, “Continued headwinds in certain end-markets cause us to remain cautious in our outlook. Our updated guidance for adjusted EPS is now a range of $2.90 to $3.20 for fiscal year 2015. Included in our outlook is our restructuring effort which is critical to drive continued improvements in our cost effectiveness, so that we are able to deliver strong profitable growth as our backlog converts to future revenue growth.”

Jacobs is hosting a conference call at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, April 28, 2015, which it is webcasting live on the internet at www.jacobs.com.

Jacobs is one of the world's largest and most diverse providers of technical professional and construction services.

Statements made in this press release that are not based on historical fact are forward-looking statements. Although such statements are based on management's current estimates and expectations, and currently available competitive, financial, and economic data, forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and you should not place undue reliance on such statements as actual results may differ materially. We caution the reader that there are a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from what is contained, projected or implied by our forward-looking statements. For a description of some of the factors that may occur that could cause actual results to differ from our forward-looking statements see our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended September 26, 2014, and in particular the discussions contained under Item 1 - Business; Item 1A - Risk Factors; Item 3 - Legal Proceedings; and Item 7 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, as well as the Company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We also caution the readers of this release that we do not undertake to update any forward-looking statements made herein.

Financial Highlights:

Results of Operations (in thousands, except per-share data):

                  Three Months Ended       Six Months Ended
                  March 27, 2015       March 28, 2014       March 27, 2015       March 28, 2014
          Revenues       $ 2,903,332         $ 3,176,033         $ 6,090,337         $ 6,244,924  
          Costs and Expenses:                                
          Direct costs of contracts       (2,412,388 )       (2,659,480 )       (5,079,947 )       (5,274,678 )
          Selling, general, and administrative expenses       (357,899 )       (394,119 )       (719,122 )       (702,764 )
          Operating Profit       133,045         122,434         291,268         267,482  
          Other Income (Expense):                                
          Interest income       1,580         3,004         3,856         4,801  
          Interest expense       (4,548 )       (5,116 )       (9,866 )       (4,925 )
          Gain on sale of intellectual property, net               12,147                 12,147  
          Miscellaneous expense, net       (1,115 )       (75 )       (1,601 )       (190 )
          Total other income (expense), net       (4,083 )       9,960         (7,611 )       11,833  
          Earnings Before Taxes       128,962         132,394         283,657         279,315  
          Income Tax Expense       (40,852 )       (41,594 )       (89,352 )       (89,565 )
          Net Earnings of the Group       88,110         90,800         194,305         189,750  
         

Net Earnings Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests

      (6,143 )       (7,340 )       (12,259 )       (12,558 )
          Net Earnings Attributable to Jacobs       $ 81,967         $ 83,460         $ 182,046         $ 177,192  
          Earnings Per Share (“EPS”):                                
          Basic       $ 0.65         $ 0.64         $ 1.43         $ 1.36  
          Diluted       $ 0.64         $ 0.63         $ 1.42         $ 1.34  
                                           
          Weighted Average Shares Used to Calculate EPS:                                
          Basic       125,992         130,384         127,283         130,254  
          Diluted       127,166         132,579         128,530         132,382  
                                                   
                                                   

Other Operational Information (in thousands):

                  Three Months Ended       Six Months Ended
                  March 27, 2015       March 28, 2014       March 27, 2015       March 28, 2014
          Revenues by Major Component:                                
          Technical professional services       $ 1,862,068         $ 1,871,087         $ 3,794,592         $ 3,544,498  
          Field services       1,041,264         1,304,946         2,295,745         2,700,426  
          Total       $ 2,903,332         $ 3,176,033         $ 6,090,337         $ 6,244,924  
                                           
          Depreciation (pre-tax)       $ 25,149         $ 25,368         $ 51,155         $ 45,017  
          Amortization of Intangibles (pre-tax)       $ 12,554         $ 13,051         $ 25,535         $ 21,688  
          Pass-Through Costs Included in Revenues       $ 615,336         $ 700,558         $ 1,322,166         $ 1,452,581  
                                           
          Capital Expenditures       $ (25,402 )       $ (29,004 )       $ (59,177 )       $ (66,952 )
                                                           
                                                           

Selected Balance Sheet and Backlog Information (in thousands):

                  March 27, 2015               March 28, 2014
          Balance Sheet Information:                        
          Cash and cash equivalents       $ 464,950                 $ 691,256
          Working capital       1,411,412                 1,665,970
          Total debt       755,426                 996,337
          Total Jacobs stockholders' equity       $ 4,368,638                 $ 4,419,479
                                   
          Backlog Information:                        
          Technical professional services       $ 12,601,211                 $ 12,554,921
          Field services       6,265,784                 5,857,692
          Total       $ 18,866,995                 $ 18,412,613
                                         
                                         

Non-U.S. GAAP Financial Measures:

The first table below reconciles certain elements of the Company's results of operations excluding the 2015 Restructuring, to its U.S. GAAP results of operations, for the second quarter of fiscal 2015. The second table below reconciles certain elements of the Company's results of operations excluding certain project issues in Europe, unusual impacts of holidays and weather events, SKM related items, and the gain associated with the sale of VCM technology assets for the second quarter of fiscal 2014. Although such information is non-GAAP in nature, it is presented because management believes it provides a better view of the Company’s operating results to investors to assess the Company’s performance and operating trends.

                                   
                  U.S. GAAP      

Effects of 2015

Restructuring

     

Without 2015

Restructuring

          Consolidated pre-tax earnings (loss)       $ 128,962         $ (14,038 )       $ 143,000  
          Tax (expense) benefit       (40,852 )       4,422         (45,274 )
          Net earnings of the Group       88,110         (9,616 )       97,726  
         

Noncontrolling interests

      (6,143 )               (6,143 )
          Net earnings of Jacobs       $ 81,967         $ (9,616 )       $ 91,583  
          Diluted earnings (loss) per share       $ 0.64         $ (0.08 )       $ 0.72  
                                               
                                               
                  U.S. GAAP      

Effects of 2014

Events

     

Without 2014

Events

          Consolidated pre-tax earnings (loss)       $ 132,394         $ (38,573 )       $ 170,967  
          Tax (expense) benefit       (41,594 )       12,699         (54,293 )
          Net earnings of the Group       90,800         (25,874 )       116,674  
         

Noncontrolling interests

      (7,340 )               (7,340 )
          Net earnings of Jacobs       83,460         (25,874 )       109,334  
          Diluted earnings (loss) per share       $ 0.63         $ (0.19 )       $ 0.82  
                                               

Source: Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.

Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.



Kevin C. Berryman



Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer



626-578-3505