FirstService : Reports Very Strong Second Quarter Results (Form 6-K)

FirstService Reports Very Strong Second Quarter Results

Performance driven by Robust Organic Growth across all Operations

Operating highlights:

		Three months ended		Six months ended
		June 30		June 30
		2021		2020		2021		2020
Revenues (millions)	$	831.6		$	621.6		$	1,542.7		$	1,255.4
Adjusted EBITDA (millions) (note 1)		89.9			71.2			149.6			115.1
Adjusted EPS (note 2)		1.21			0.86			1.87			1.23
GAAP Operating Earnings		61.4			44.9			95.3			60.9
GAAP EPS		0.83			0.64			1.32			0.77

TORONTO, July 27, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FirstService Corporation (TSX: FSV; NASDAQ: FSV) today reported very strong results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2021. All amounts are in US dollars.

Consolidated revenues for the second quarter were $831.6 million, a 34% increase relative to the same quarter in the prior year, including 25% organic growth. Adjusted EBITDA (note 1) increased 26% to $89.9 million, and Adjusted EPS (note 2) was $1.21, representing 41% growth over the prior year quarter. During the second quarter, FirstService reported GAAP Operating Earnings of $61.4 million, up from $44.9 million in the prior year period. The GAAP diluted earnings per share was $0.83 in the quarter, compared to $0.64 for the same quarter a year ago.

For the six months ended June 30, 2021, consolidated revenues were $1.54 billion, a 23% increase relative to the comparable prior year period, Adjusted EBITDA was $149.6 million, up 30%, and Adjusted EPS was $1.87, an increase of 52% versus the prior year period. FirstService's GAAP Operating Earnings were $95.3 million in the current year period, versus $60.9 million in the prior year. The GAAP diluted earnings per share for the six months year-to-date was $1.32, compared to $0.77 in the prior year period.

'The strong results for this second quarter reflect an acceleration of activity in many of our brands and a resumption of amenity services approaching normalized levels in our property management business,' said Scott Patterson, Chief Executive Officer of FirstService. 'We are very pleased with our performance in the face of a challenging labour market. Recruitment and adding resources to our talented teams is a focus area for us to further capitalize on the strong market demand,' he concluded.

About FirstService Corporation

FirstService Corporation is a North American leader in the essential outsourced property services sector, serving its customers through two industry-leading service platforms: FirstService Residential - North America's largest manager of residential communities; and FirstService Brands - one of North America's largest providers of essential property services delivered through individually branded franchise systems and company-owned operations.

FirstService generates more than US$3.0 billion in annual revenues and has approximately 24,000 employees across North America. With significant insider ownership and an experienced management team, FirstService has a long-term track record of creating value and superior returns for shareholders. The common shares of FirstService trade on the NASDAQ under the symbol 'FSV' and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol 'FSV'. More information is available at www.firstservice.com.

Segmented Quarterly Results
FirstService Residential revenues were $406.2 million for the second quarter, up 20% compared to the prior year quarter, including organic growth of 16%. The strong revenue performance in the quarter reflected a significant increase in labour-driven services, including our amenity management offering which benefited from the reopening of client facilities in the aftermath of the pandemic. Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $46.5 million, versus $37.2 million in the prior year period. GAAP Operating Earnings were $40.4 million, versus $32.0 million for the second quarter of last year. Margin expansion in the division during the quarter was positively impacted by an increase in higher margin ancillary revenues, primarily related to continued strong home resale activity.

FirstService Brands revenues during the second quarter grew to $425.4 million, up 50% relative to the prior year period. Organic growth was 36%, with the balance from recent tuck-under acquisitions. Top-line growth was driven by robust home improvement performance, with strong increases both year-over-year and on a sequential quarterly basis. Growth was also very strong in our restoration operations, which benefited from increased weather-related activity and large loss claims relative to last year. Adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter was $48.2 million, versus $35.8 million in the prior year period. GAAP Operating Earnings were $30.7 million, versus $17.4 million in the prior year quarter. Margin compression resulted from the increased contribution mix of restoration operations to the Brands division for the current quarter, as well as reinvestment in our service lines relative to the pandemic-driven cost reductions in the prior year second quarter.

Corporate costs, as presented in Adjusted EBITDA, were $4.8 million in the second quarter, relative to $1.9 million in the prior year period. On a GAAP basis, corporate costs for the quarter were $9.8 million, relative to $4.4 million in the prior year period. The year-over-year cost increase reflects higher compensation expense compared to the prior year second quarter, which included significant COVID-19 expense reductions.

Conference Call
FirstService will be holding a conference call on Tuesday, July 27, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the quarter's results. The numbers to use for this call are 1) toll-free 1-888-241-0551; or 2) for international callers, 647-427-3415. The call will be simultaneously webcast and can be accessed live or after the call at www.firstservice.com in the 'Investors / Newsroom' section.

Forward-looking Statements
This press release includes or may include forward-looking statements. Much of this information can be identified by words such as 'expect to,' 'expected,' 'will,' 'estimated' or similar expressions suggesting future outcomes or events. FirstService believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements should not be unduly relied upon. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements contemplated in the forward-looking statements. Such factors include: (i) general economic and business conditions, which will, among other things, impact demand for FirstService's services and the cost of providing services; (ii) the ability of FirstService to implement its business strategy, including FirstService's ability to acquire suitable acquisition candidates on acceptable terms and successfully integrate newly acquired businesses with its existing businesses; (iii) changes in or the failure to comply with government regulations; and (iv) other factors which are described in FirstService's annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2020 under the heading 'Risk factors' (a copy of which may be obtained at www.sedar.com) and Annual Report on Form 40-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (a copy of which may be obtained at www.sec.gov), and subsequent filings (which factors are adopted herein). Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and are subject to change. All forward-looking statements in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. Unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, we do not intend, nor do we undertake any obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this press release to reflect subsequent information, events, results or circumstances or otherwise.

Summary financial information is provided in this press release. This press release should be read in conjunction with the Company's consolidated financial statements and MD&A to be made available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Notes
1. Reconciliation of net earnings to adjusted EBITDA:

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net earnings, adjusted to exclude: (i) income tax; (ii) other expense (income); (iii) interest expense; (iv) depreciation and amortization; (v) acquisition-related items; and (vi) stock-based compensation expense. We use adjusted EBITDA to evaluate our own operating performance and our ability to service debt, as well as an integral part of our planning and reporting systems. Additionally, we use this measure in conjunction with discounted cash flow models to determine the Company's overall enterprise valuation and to evaluate acquisition targets. We present adjusted EBITDA as a supplemental measure because we believe such measure is useful to investors as a reasonable indicator of operating performance because of the low capital intensity of the Company's service operations. We believe this measure is a financial metric used by many investors to compare companies, especially in the services industry. This measure is not a recognized measure of financial performance under GAAP in the United States, and should not be considered as a substitute for operating earnings, net earnings or cash flow from operating activities, as determined in accordance with GAAP. Our method of calculating adjusted EBITDA may differ from other issuers and accordingly, this measure may not be comparable to measures used by other issuers. A reconciliation of net earnings to adjusted EBITDA appears below.

		Three months ended		Six months ended
(in thousands of US$)	June 30		June 30
		2021			2020			2021			2020
Net earnings	$	44,020			$	29,917			$	67,863			$	35,697
Income tax		14,280				9,603				22,000				11,149
Other income, net		(888	)			(147	)			(2,756	)			(376	)
Interest expense, net		3,971				5,530				8,158				14,417
Operating earnings		61,383				44,903				95,265				60,887
Depreciation and amortization		23,674				23,488				46,899				46,995
Acquisition-related items		(107	)			397				(206	)			802
Stock-based compensation expense		4,903				2,443				7,690				6,412
Adjusted EBITDA	$	89,853			$	71,231			$	149,648			$	115,096

2. Reconciliation of net earnings and diluted net earnings per share to adjusted net earnings and adjusted net earnings per share:

Adjusted earnings per share is defined as diluted net earnings per share, adjusted for the effect, after income tax, of: (i) the non-controlling interest redemption increment; (ii) acquisition-related items; (iii) amortization expense related to intangible assets recognized in connection with acquisitions; and (iv) stock-based compensation expense. We believe this measure is useful to investors because it provides a supplemental way to understand the underlying operating performance of the Company and enhances the comparability of operating results from period to period. Adjusted earnings per share is not a recognized measure of financial performance under GAAP, and should not be considered as a substitute for diluted net earnings per share, as determined in accordance with GAAP. Our method of calculating this non-GAAP measure may differ from other issuers and, accordingly, this measure may not be comparable to measures used by other issuers. A reconciliation of net earnings to adjusted net earnings and of diluted net earnings per share to adjusted earnings per share appears below.

		Three months ended		Six months ended
(in thousands of US$)	June 30		June 30
		2021			2020			2021			2020
Net earnings	$	44,020			$	29,917			$	67,863			$	35,697
Non-controlling interest share of earnings		(1,596	)			(3,326	)			(5,363	)			(5,081	)
Acquisition-related items		(107	)			397				(206	)			802
Amortization of intangible assets		10,408				10,864				20,420				22,225
Stock-based compensation expense		4,903				2,443				7,690				6,412
Income tax on adjustments		(3,981	)			(3,460	)			(7,309	)			(7,446	)
Non-controlling interest on adjustments		(177	)			(298	)			(352	)			(520	)
Adjusted net earnings	$	53,470			$	36,537			$	82,743			$	52,089
		Three months ended		Six months ended
(in US$)	June 30		June 30
		2021			2020			2021			2020
Diluted net earnings per share	$	0.83			$	0.64			$	1.32			$	0.77
Non-controlling interest redemption increment		0.13				(0.01	)			0.09				(0.04	)
Acquisition-related items		-				0.01				-				0.02
Amortization of intangible assets, net of tax		0.17				0.18				0.33				0.37
Stock-based compensation expense, net of tax		0.08				0.04				0.13				0.11
Adjusted earnings per share	$	1.21			$	0.86			$	1.87			$	1.23

FIRSTSERVICE CORPORATION
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings
(in thousands of US dollars, except per share amounts)
			Three months			Six months
			ended June 30			ended June 30
			2021				2020				2021				2020
Revenues		$	831,630			$	621,597			$	1,542,696			$	1,255,428
Cost of revenues			554,676				412,010				1,045,488				847,159
Selling, general and administrative expenses			192,004				140,799				355,250				299,585
Depreciation			13,266				12,624				26,479				24,770
Amortization of intangible assets			10,408				10,864				20,420				22,225
Acquisition-related items (1)			(107	)			397				(206	)			802
Operating earnings			61,383				44,903				95,265				60,887
Interest expense, net			3,971				5,530				8,158				14,417
Other income			(888	)			(147	)			(2,756	)			(376	)
Earnings before income tax			58,300				39,520				89,863				46,846
Income tax			14,280				9,603				22,000				11,149
Net earnings			44,020				29,917				67,863				35,697
Non-controlling interest share of earnings			1,596				3,326				5,363				5,081
Non-controlling interest redemption increment			5,725				(531	)			3,910				(1,791	)
Net earnings attributable to Company		$	36,699			$	27,122			$	58,590			$	32,407
Net earnings per common share
Basic		$	0.84			$	0.64			$	1.34			$	0.77
Diluted			0.83				0.64				1.32				0.77
Adjusted earnings per share (2)		$	1.21			$	0.86			$	1.87			$	1.23
Weighted average common shares (thousands)
Basic			43,830				42,397				43,764				41,977
Diluted			44,365				42,710				44,287				42,322

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings
(1) Acquisition-related items include transaction costs, and contingent acquisition consideration fair value adjustments.
(2) See definition and reconciliation above.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands of US dollars)
	June 30, 2021		December 31, 2020
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	176,616		$	184,295
Restricted cash		30,805			24,643
Accounts receivable		466,091			418,890
Prepaid and other current assets		213,533			191,488
Current assets		887,045			819,316
Other non-current assets		16,349			14,970
Fixed assets		133,073			126,569
Operating lease right-of-use assets		156,858			153,185
Goodwill and intangible assets		1,119,131			1,082,500
Total assets	$	2,312,456		$	2,196,540
Liabilities and shareholders' equity
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	364,053		$	349,692
Other current liabilities		141,297			102,266
Operating lease liabilities - current		37,826			35,315
Long-term debt - current		56,755			56,478
Current liabilities		599,931			543,751
Long-term debt - non-current		515,590			533,126
Operating lease liabilities - non-current		130,098			128,793
Other liabilities		101,606			96,093
Deferred income tax		40,507			41,345
Redeemable non-controlling interests		201,229			193,034
Shareholders' equity		723,495			660,398
Total liabilities and equity	$	2,312,456		$	2,196,540
Supplemental balance sheet information
Total debt	$	572,345		$	589,604
Total debt, net of cash		395,729			405,309

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands of US dollars)
	Three months ended		Six months ended
	June 30		June 30
		2021			2020			2021			2020
Cash provided by (used in)
Operating activities
Net earnings	$	44,020		$	29,917		$	67,863		$	35,697
Items not affecting cash:
Depreciation and amortization	23,674		23,488		46,899			46,995
Deferred income tax	(981)		(2,149)		(1,730)			(4,205)
Other	5,024		1,845		7,998			5,669
	71,737		53,101		121,030			84,156
Changes in non-cash working capital
Accounts receivable	(46,938)		11,911		(38,686)			32,893
Payables and accruals	18,552		28,814		(8,368)			18,335
Other	36,661		19,396		32,747			17,657
Net cash provided by operating activities		80,012			113,222			106,723			153,041
Investing activities
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired		(37,082)			-			(39,603)			-
Purchases of fixed assets		(15,766)			(6,733)			(29,103)			(22,081)
Other investing activities		(2,210)			(603)			(4,276)			(786)
Net cash used in investing activities		(55,058)			(7,336)			(72,982)			(22,867)
Financing activities
Increase in long-term debt, net		19,748			(105,072)			(17,905)			(121,924)
Proceeds received on common share issuance		-			150,008			-			150,008
Purchases of non-controlling interests, net		(2,009)			(11,316)			(5,400)			(15,067)
Dividends paid to common shareholders		(7,999)			(6,867)			(15,191)			(13,091)
Distributions paid to non-controlling interests		(5,286)			-			(7,156)			(50)
Other financing activities		264			(1,164)			9,861			1,228
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		4,718			25,589			(35,791)			1,104
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash		323			626			533			(284)
Increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		29,995			132,101			(1,517)			130,994
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period		177,426			133,184			208,938			134,291
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period	$	207,421		$	265,285		$	207,421		$	265,285

Segmented Results
(in thousands of US dollars)
		FirstService		FirstService
	Residential		Brands		Corporate		Consolidated
Three months ended June 30
2021
	Revenues	$	406,221		$	425,409		$	-		$	831,630
	Adjusted EBITDA		46,494			48,171			(4,812)			89,853
	Operating earnings		40,404			30,749			(9,770)			61,383
2020
	Revenues	$	338,153		$	283,444		$	-		$	621,597
	Adjusted EBITDA		37,245			35,844			(1,858)			71,231
	Operating earnings		31,980			17,364			(4,441)			44,903
		FirstService		FirstService
		Residential		Brands		Corporate		Consolidated
Six months ended June 30
2021
	Revenues	$	756,701		$	785,995		$	-		$	1,542,696
	Adjusted EBITDA		75,901			81,578			(7,831)			149,648
	Operating earnings		63,648			47,255			(15,638)			95,265
2020
	Revenues	$	677,816		$	577,612		$	-		$	1,255,428
	Adjusted EBITDA		61,135			57,790			(3,829)			115,096
	Operating earnings		49,404			22,271			(10,788)			60,887

COMPANY CONTACTS:

D. Scott Patterson
President & CEO

Jeremy Rakusin
Chief Financial Officer

[phone]