PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 09, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hill International, Inc. (NYSE:HIL), the global leader in managing construction risk, announced today its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2020 (“Q3 2020”).
“We reported a strong 2020 third quarter with notable improvements in a variety of metrics, while at the same maintaining stability across our operations as we continue to address the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic," said Hill Chief Executive Officer Raouf Ghali. "Our performance this quarter was highlighted by strong bookings and cash flow generation, and a return to net profitability. We generated $154.5 million in new contract awards during the third quarter, representing the best new bookings period this year These new projects cover multiple geographies and end markets, including infrastructure. We believe that this level of new bookings bodes well for our ability to grow our revenue in 2021. Our consulting fee revenue was negatively impacted by the pandemic, which caused delayed project starts, delays in mobilizing billable staff and certain suspensions. We remain confident that our global team of construction management professionals will allow us to effectively navigate these challenges, continue to provide the highest level of client service, and build upon the strong business and operational foundation reflected in our third quarter results."
Mr. Ghali concluded, "As a result of a recent acquisition of an engineering license, Hill is now able to provide resident engineering and inspection services in New York State. We believe that the introduction of these high-value services represents a significant potential growth engine in one of our largest U.S. operating regions and reflects our commitment to client service."
“Our backlog at quarter end was $672.9 million, a $25 million improvement from June 30, 2020 and reflective of strong third quarter bookings," said Todd Weintraub, Hill's Chief Financial Officer. "Additionally, we generated $7.8 million of cash from operations and, when compared to June 30, 2020, increased our total liquidity, consisting of unrestricted cash and available undrawn credit facilities, by $8.8 million to $36.6 million."
Q3 2020 Financial Results Overview
Hill's consulting fee revenue ("CFR") declined to $71.5 million in Q3 2020 from $75.7 million in the third quarter of 2019 ("Q3 2019"), primarily due to delayed projects starts, slower staff mobilization and certain project suspensions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Selling, general, and administrative ("SG&A") expenses were $25.6 million, or 35.8% of CFR, compared to $27.4 million, or 36.2% of CFR, in Q3 2019. This decline was primarily attributable to lower labor, corporate, and business development expenses due to COVID-19 stay at home orders, partially offset by a decline in bad debt recoveries.
Operating profit for Q3 2020 was $4.7 million, a 52.9% increase from operating profit of $3.1 million in Q3 2019, driven primarily by lower SG&A expenses and favorable foreign currency impacts when compared to last year's third quarter. Adjusted operating profit, a non-GAAP measure (see definition and reconciliation below) was $4.4 million in Q3 2020, compared to $4.3 million in Q3 2019.
Net income attributable to Hill in Q3 2020 was $2.1 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, compared to net income attributable to Hill of $2.5 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, in Q3 2019. Adjusted net income, a non-GAAP measure (see definition and reconciliation in the table below), was $1.8 million, compared to $3.6 million in Q3 2019.
Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure (see definition and reconciliation below) was $4.8 million in Q3 2020, compared to $5.6 million in Q3 2019.
Financial Condition and Backlog
Net cash provided by operating activities in Q3 2020 improved to $7.8 million from net cash used in operating activities of $0.7 million in Q3 2019. Free cash flow, a non-GAAP measure (see definition below) for Q3 2020 was $7.7 million, which represents net cash provided by operating activities, less $0.1 million in purchases of property and equipment during the quarter. Free cash flow during Q3 2019 was $(2.1) million, which represents net cash used in operating activities, less $1.4 million in property and equipment purchased during the quarter.
Unrestricted cash at September 30, 2020 was $33.3 million, a $10.1 million improvement from June 30, 2020 and a $17.4 million increase from December 31, 2019. The Company had approximately $3.3 million in available and undrawn credit facilities at September 30, 2020, compared to $4.6 million at June 30, 2020. The Company's total liquidity was $36.6 million at September 30, 2020, up $8.8 million from June 30, 2020.
Cash flow generation and the increases in cash and liquidity during the quarter were achieved primarily from the Company's operating activities.
Backlog (which is a non-GAAP measure; see definition below) improved to $672.9 million at September 30, 2020 from $647.9 million at June 30, 2020, due to strong booking activity, partially offset by COVID-related cancellations and scope reductions. Backlog at September 30 also reflected a joint venture agreement associated with Hill's Hamad International Airport (HIA) project in Doha, Qatar. This agreement allows Hill to elevate its client service and positions the Company to work collaboratively with its new JV partner to secure additional project work, some of which could be significant in size and scope. The agreement decreased Hill's portion of the HIA backlog by $45 million; however, the Company believes that this reduction will be more than offset by the new projects that are expected to be secured by Hill via this new JV relationship.
2020 Financial Guidance
CFR for 2020 is expected to range between $300 - $310 million, consisting of both new awards and extensions of existing contracts. However, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on project start dates and mobilization will likely result in Hill reporting 2020 CFR at the lower end of this range.
Annual gross margin is targeted at 38% - 39% for 2020, consistent with previous guidance.
SG&A for 2020 is expected to approximate $107-109 million, down from the Company's prior estimate of $110 million. The revised outlook for SG&A reflects continuing cost cutting measures in light of the lingering impact of COVID-19 on certain aspects of the Company's business. The Company will continue to manage SG&A and its association with CFR relative to the evolving effects of COVID-19.
Adjusted EBITDA for 2020 had been expected to range between $16 million - $20 million; however, based on its year-to-date performance the Company has increased the lower end of this range and now expects Adjusted EBITDA for 2020 will range between $18 million - $20 million.
Non-GAAP Measures
The following measures below are not measures of financial performance under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") and should be considered in addition to and not as a substitute for, or superior to, the related measure of performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.
Backlog
Backlog represents the Company's estimate of the amount of uncompleted projects under contract and awards in-hand that are expected to be recognized as CFR in future periods as a component of total revenue. Hill's backlog is based upon the binding nature of the underlying contract, commitment or letter of intent, and other factors, including the economic, financial and regulatory viability of the project and the likelihood of the contract being extended, renewed or canceled. Although backlog reflects business that the Company considers to be firm, cancellations or scope adjustments may occur. It is an important indicator of future performance and is used by the Company in planning Hill's operational needs. Backlog is not a measure defined in GAAP and the Company's methodology for determining backlog may not be comparable to the methodology used by other companies in determining their backlog.
Adjusted Operating Profit (Loss)
Adjusted operating profit (loss) is operating profit (loss), adjusted to exclude non-recurring items and non-cash items including unrealized foreign currency exchange losses (gains), share-based compensation and the write-off of leasehold improvements previously included in property and equipment on the Company's consolidated balance sheets. The Company believes that adjusted operating profit (loss) is useful to investors and other external users of Hill's financial statements as a measure of a company's core ongoing operations, without regard to generally non-recurring items and non-cash activity.
Adjusted Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Hill
Adjusted net income (loss) attributable to Hill is net income (loss) attributable to Hill, adjusted to exclude non-recurring and non-cash items including unrealized foreign currency exchange losses (gains), share-based compensation and the write-off of leasehold improvements previously included in property and equipment on the Company's consolidated balance sheets. The Company believes that adjusted net income (loss) attributable to Hill is useful to investors and other external users of Hill's financial statements as a measure of a company's operating performance, without regard to generally non-recurring items and non-cash activity.
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA"), in addition to operating profit, net income, and other GAAP measures, is a useful indicator of Hill's financial and operating performance. Investors should recognize that EBITDA might not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. The Company believes that EBITDA is useful to investors and other external users of Hill's financial statements in evaluating its operating performance because EBITDA is widely used by investors to measure a company’s operating performance without regard to items such as interest expense, taxes, and depreciation and amortization, which can vary substantially from company to company depending upon accounting methods and book value of assets, capital structure and the method by which assets were acquired.
Adjusted EBITDA is EBITDA, adjusted to exclude the impact of certain items, including non-recurring, one-time costs (as presented in the table below) and non-cash items such as unrealized foreign currency exchange losses (benefit) and share-based compensation expense. The Company believes that adjusted EBITDA helps its investors and other external users of Hill’s financial statements understanding of a company’s operating performance, without regard to non-recurring and other non-cash activity.
The Company does not provide a reconciliation of its 2020 financial guidance for such non-GAAP measure to GAAP due to the inherent difficulty in forecasting and quantifying certain amounts that are necessary for such reconciliation, including adjustments that could be made for non-recurring, one-time costs and other charges reflected in its reconciliation of historic numbers.
Free Cash Flow
Free cash flow, a non-GAAP measure, includes net cash provided by (used in) continuing operations, less purchases of property and equipment. Free cash flow is a useful indicator that provides additional perspective on Hill's ability to generate cash that is available to the Company for taxes and other corporate purposes. Investors should recognize that free cash flow might not be comparable to similarly-titled measures of other companies. This measure should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for or superior to, any measure of performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.
About Hill International
Hill International, with approximately 2,700 professionals in more than 69 offices worldwide, provides program management, project management, construction management, and other consulting services to clients in a variety of market sectors. Engineering News-Record magazine recently ranked Hill as the eighth-largest construction management firm in the United States. For more information on Hill, please visit our website at www.hillintl.com.
