Press Release Details

HOUSTON, Dec. 08, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IES Holdings, Inc. (or “IES” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ:IESC) today announced financial results for the quarter and year ended September 30, 2017. 

Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2017 Highlights

• Income from operations of $20.3 million for fiscal 2017 and $7.0 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, a decrease of $4.6 million compared with fiscal 2016 and of $2.1 million compared with the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016.  These results include losses of $8.4 million for fiscal 2017 and $2.1 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 at our Denver and Roanoke branches of our Commercial & Industrial segment, which we previously disclosed we are winding down
• Net income attributable to IES for fiscal 2017 of $13.4 million, or $0.62 per diluted share, compared to Net income attributable to IES for fiscal 2016 of $120.8 million, which included the release of significant tax valuation allowances, of which $93.0 million related to future periods
• Adjusted net income attributable to IES (a non-GAAP financial measure, as defined below) for fiscal 2017 of $16.8 million, a decrease of $5.1 million compared with fiscal 2016
• Operating cash flow of $22.3 million for fiscal year 2017, compared to $25.0 million from fiscal year 2016
• Revenue of $810.7 million for fiscal 2017, an increase of 16.5% compared with fiscal 2016, and $206.6 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, an increase of 0.5% compared with the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016
• Backlog of approximately $331 million as of September 30, 2017, as compared to approximately $341 million as of September 30, 2016 and approximately $314 million as of June 30, 2017

Management Commentary
Robert Lewey, President, stated, “We spent 2017 continuing to reposition our operating segments to set IES up for profitable, long-term growth.  In our Infrastructure Solutions segment, the acquisition of Freeman Enclosure Systems in March 2017 added to the portfolio of custom-engineered products and services that we offer our customers. We strengthened our Commercial & Industrial segment by extending our geographic reach with the acquisition of NEXT Electric in July 2017 and expanded our mechanical services capabilities with the acquisition of Technical Services in June 2017.  Additionally, as we disclosed last quarter, we made the decision to exit two underperforming Commercial & Industrial branches in Denver and Roanoke. We do not expect to incur substantial costs related to the wind-down of these two branches in fiscal 2018.”

Mr. Lewey continued, “Our Communications and Residential segments achieved strong organic growth in fiscal 2017. Our Communications segment continues to support the growth of our customers, many of whom are leading and recognizable global technology, social networking and e-commerce brands, resulting in 19% revenue growth in fiscal 2017. Our Residential segment demonstrated strong performance, as highlighted by 21% revenue growth and improved operating margins in fiscal 2017. Heading into 2018, we expect to see continued improvement in Commercial & Industrial and Infrastructure Solutions.” 

Tracy McLauchlin, Chief Financial Officer, added, “We believe that backlog is strong going into 2018, with growth in our Commercial & Industrial business offsetting an expected decrease in multi-family work within our Residential business. During the year we continued to generate strong cash flow that we deployed into three acquisitions, while maintaining significant liquidity to support our organic and acquisition growth strategies.  Additionally, from a cash flow perspective, we will continue to use our net deferred tax assets to reduce our net cash tax exposure and further support our growth. We are closely monitoring any change in the federal tax rate as such a change would impact the value of our net deferred tax assets and our future earnings.”

Net Operating Loss Carryforwards
The Company estimates that it has available Net Operating Loss Carryforwards (NOLs) for U.S. federal income tax purposes of approximately $378 million at September 30, 2017, including approximately $142 million resulting from the additional amortization of personal goodwill.  The Company's common stock is subject to a Rights Plan dated November 8, 2016, which is intended to assist in limiting the number of 5% or more owners of the Company’s common stock and, thereby reduce the risk of a possible “change of ownership” under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Any such “change of ownership” under these rules would limit or eliminate the ability of the Company to use its existing NOLs for federal income tax purposes.  There is no guarantee that the Rights Plan will achieve the objective of preserving the value or realization of the NOLs.

Stock Buyback Plan
The Company’s Board of Directors has authorized and previously announced a stock repurchase program for purchasing up to 1.5 million shares of our common stock from time to time.  During the fiscal year ending September 30, 2017, the Company repurchased 145,484 shares at an average price of $15.37 per share.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Other Adjustments
This press release includes adjusted net income attributable to IES and, in the non-GAAP reconciliation table included herein, adjusted net income before taxes, both of which are financial measures not calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. (“GAAP”). Management believes that these measures provide useful information to our investors by distinguishing certain noncash events such as our valuation allowances release, and that these measures, when reconciled to net income attributable to IES, which is the most directly comparable GAAP measure, help our investors to better identify underlying trends in the operations of our business and facilitate easier comparisons of our financial performance with prior and future periods and to our peers.  Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, financial information calculated in accordance with GAAP.  Investors are encouraged to review the reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.  A reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP results has been provided in the financial tables included in this press release. 

For further details on the Company’s financial results, please refer to the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) by December 8, 2017, and any amendments thereto.

About IES Holdings, Inc.
IES is a holding company that owns and manages diverse operating subsidiaries, comprised of providers of industrial infrastructure services to a variety of end markets. Our approximately 3,500 employees serve clients in the United States. For more information about IES, please visit www.ies-co.com.

Certain statements in this release may be deemed "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, all of which are based upon various estimates and assumptions that the Company believes to be reasonable as of the date hereof. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may," "will," "could," "should," "expect," "plan," "project," "intend," anticipate," "believe," "seek," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "pursue," "target," "continue," the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company's actual future outcomes to differ materially from those set forth in such statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the ability of our controlling shareholder to take action not aligned with other shareholders; the possibility that certain tax benefits of our net operating losses may be restricted or reduced in a change in ownership or a change in the federal tax rate; the potential recognition of valuation allowances on net deferred tax assets; the inability to carry out plans and strategies as expected, including underperformance of our acquisitions or our inability to identify and complete acquisitions that meet our investment criteria in furtherance of our corporate strategy; competition in the industries in which we operate, both from third parties and former employees, which could result in the loss of one or more customers or lead to lower margins on new projects; fluctuations in operating activity due to downturns in levels of construction, seasonality and differing regional economic conditions; and our ability to successfully manage projects,  as well as other risk factors discussed in this document, in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2017 and in the Company’s other reports on file with the SEC.  You should understand that such risk factors could cause future outcomes to differ materially from those experienced previously or those expressed in such forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any information, including information concerning its controlling shareholder, net operating losses, borrowing availability, or cash position, or any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release.

Forward-looking statements are provided in this press release pursuant to the safe harbor established under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and should be evaluated in the context of the estimates, assumptions, uncertainties, and risks described herein.

General information about IES Holdings, Inc. can be found at http://www.ies-co.com under "Investors." The Company's annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, as well as any amendments to those reports, are available free of charge through the Company's website as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed with, or furnished to, the SEC.

Contact: Tracy McLauchlin, CFO
IES Holdings, Inc.
713-860-1500    

Source: IES Holdings, Inc.