Construction Services (CS)
The CS segment provides construction services for energy, sports, commercial, industrial, and public and private infrastructure clients.
Revenue in the first quarter was $2.0 billion and decreased by 5%. Constant-currency organic3 revenue declined by 2%, due to a decline in Building Construction and a reduced contribution from Power, which were consistent with prior expectations.
Operating income was $11 million compared to $40 million in the year-ago period. On an adjusted basis, operating income1 was $31 million compared to $51 million in the year-ago period. The decline in operating income reflects a lower contribution from Power. Importantly, execution of the Alliant Riverside combined-cycle gas power plant is on schedule and on budget.
Management Services (MS)
The MS segment provides program and facilities management and maintenance, training, logistics, consulting, technical assistance and systems-integration services and information technology services, primarily for agencies of the U.S. government, national governments around the world and commercial customers.
Revenue in the first quarter was $989 million. Revenue and organic3 revenue growth accelerated in the quarter to 17%, reflecting near record levels of backlog and strong funding for the U.S. Departments of Defense and Energy clients.
Operating income was $51 million compared to $40 million in the year-ago period. On an adjusted basis, operating income1 was $61 million compared to $50 million in the year-ago period. The increase in operating income represents strong execution on the segment’s near record backlog, and favorable end market trends.
AECOM Capital (ACAP)
The ACAP segment invests in and develops real estate projects. Revenue in the first quarter was $4 million and operating loss was $0.3 million. After the quarter closed, ACAP completed the sale of a property that resulted in an approximately 40% IRR and an approximately $10 million gain on its investment.
Tax Rate
The effective tax rate in the first quarter was (106.7%), which included a benefit from the release of a $38 million valuation allowance. On an adjusted basis, the effective tax rate was 24.3%. The adjusted tax rate was derived by re-computing the annual effective tax rate on earnings from adjusted net income.5 The adjusted tax expense differs from the GAAP tax expense based on the taxability or deductibility and tax rate applied to each of the adjustments.
Cash Flow
Operating cash flow for the first quarter was ($200) million and free cash flow6 was ($222) million. Cash flow was below expectations due primarily to slower collections from the U.S. Federal government as a result of the shutdown, which negatively impacted cash flow by approximately $200 million. The Company remains on track with its annual free cash flow guidance of $600 million to $800 million for fiscal 2019.
Balance Sheet and Capital Allocation
As of December 31, 2018, AECOM had $838 million of total cash and cash equivalents, $3.1 billion of net debt and $1.01 billion in unused capacity under its $1.35 billion revolving credit facility. During the quarter, the Company repurchased $30 million of stock and, including additional repurchases completed in January, has repurchased 6.7 million shares under its $1 billion Board authorization.
Financial Outlook and Impacts of Strategic Actions
AECOM’s fiscal 2019 financial guidance is as follows:
| Fiscal Year 2019 Outlook | ||
| Adjusted EBITDA1 | $920 - $960 million | |
| Adjusted EPS1 | $2.60 – $2.90 | |
| Free Cash Flow2 | $600 – $800 million | |
| Adjusted Interest Expense
(excluding amortization of deferred financing fees) |
$200 million | |
| Amortization7 | $88 million | |
| Full-Year Share Count | 161 million | |
| Effective Tax Rate for Adjusted Earnings5 | ~25% | |
| Capital Expenditures8 | ~$120 million | |
AECOM continues to expect to incur restructuring costs of between $80 and $90 million in fiscal 2019, nearly all of which have been actioned. The Company continues to expect total cash costs for the restructuring of between $60 and $70 million.
Also included in the Company’s fiscal 2019 guidance is approximately $13 million of EBITDA from AECOM Capital contributions.
Adoption of New Revenue Recognition Standard:
Beginning with its first quarter 2019 financial results, the Company has adopted the new standard for revenue recognition (ASC 606). Adoption of the new standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements, and the impact to first quarter financial performance and fiscal year 2019 financial guidance is immaterial.
Conference Call
AECOM is hosting a conference call today at 12 p.m. Eastern Time, during which management will make a brief presentation focusing on the Company's results, strategies and operating trends. Interested parties can listen to the conference call and view accompanying slides via webcast at http://investors.aecom.com. The webcast will be available for replay following the call.
| 1 Excluding acquisition and integration related items, financing charges in interest expense, foreign exchange gains, the amortization of intangible assets, financial impacts associated with expected and actual dispositions of non-core businesses and assets, restructuring costs and the revaluation of deferred taxes and one-time tax repatriation charge associated with U.S. tax reform. If an individual adjustment has no financial impact then the individual adjustment is not reflected in the Regulation G Information tables. See Regulation G Information for a reconciliation of Non-GAAP measures. |
| 2 On a constant-currency basis. |
| 3 Organic growth is year-over-year at constant currency and excludes revenue associated with actual and planned non-core asset and business dispositions. Results expressed in constant currency are presented excluding the impact from changes in currency exchange rates. |
| 4 Book-to-burn ratio is defined as the amount of wins divided by revenue recognized during the period, including revenue related to work performed in unconsolidated joint ventures. |
| 5 Inclusive of non-controlling interest deduction and adjusted for acquisition and integration expenses, financing charges in interest expense, the amortization of intangible assets and financial impacts associated with actual and planned dispositions of non-core businesses and assets. |
| 6 Free cash flow is defined as cash flow from operations less capital expenditures net of proceeds from disposals. |
| 7 Amortization of intangible assets expense includes the impact of amortization included in equity in earnings of joint ventures and non-controlling interests. |
| 8 Capital expenditures, net of proceeds from disposals. |
