Stantec reports solid first quarter 2014 results and dividend

EDMONTON, ALBERTA and NEW YORK, NEW YORK--(Marketwired - May 15, 2014) - (TSX:STN)(NYSE:STN) -

Today, Stantec announced solid first quarter 2014 results, with several key items to highlight:

• Gross revenue increased 11.8% to C$573.9 million in Q1 14 from C$513.2 million in Q1 13 with organic growth of 5.8%
• Net income increased 18.0% to C$33.5 million in Q1 14 from C$28.4 million in Q1 13
• Diluted earnings per share increased 16.4% to C$0.71 in Q1 14 from C$0.61 in Q1 13
• The Company declared a quarterly dividend of C$0.185 per share
• Stantec closed two acquisitions in Q1 14: Williamsburg Environmental Group, Inc., based in Virginia; and Processes Unlimited International, Inc., based in California
• Subsequent to the quarter, Stantec closed the acquisition of JBR Environmental Consultants Inc., based in Utah; and signed letters of intent for both SHW Group, based in Texas, and USKH Inc., based in Alaska

In Q1 14, Stantec's gross revenue grew organically by 5.8% compared to Q1 13. The Company's performance is a result of sustained activity throughout the organization and increased activity in its Oil & Gas and Water sectors, in addition to continued strength in its Canadian operations.

"The first quarter of 2014 has been a positive start to our 60th year of operations at Stantec and our 20th year on the TSX," says Bob Gomes, Stantec president and chief executive officer. "We are on track to meet our expectations thanks to our hardworking staff who bring their creativity and expertise to every project and to our clients who entrust us with their projects."

Designing with Community in Mind

Stantec collaborates across disciplines and industries to bring buildings, energy and resource, and infrastructure projects to life. With a focus on designing with communities in mind, the Company opened 2014 with solid performance that demonstrates the strength of its business model in an evolving market.

In Stantec's Buildings business operating unit, the Company continues to benefit from activity across its regions. In particular, opportunities for P3 projects continued despite public funding constraints and increased international competition. For instance, during the quarter, Stantec was named as the designer on a team which was selected as the successful proponent for two new hospitals to be constructed on North Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

In its Energy & Resources business operating unit, Stantec is recognized as a top integrated provider of services in a market that continues to be very active. This recognition allowed Stantec to secure project awards during the quarter for engineering and environmental services on major pipelines in Canada with large national clients that transport oil and gas products for export.

In Stantec's Infrastructure business operating unit, population growth, urbanization, flood management activities, and the need to rehabilitate aging infrastructure are driving the requirement for its water, community development, and transportation services. For example, during the quarter, the Company secured a project in Columbus, Ohio, to perform the first physical inspection of the next segment in the city's large Diameter Sewer Assessment Program. In Stantec's Transportation sector, the quarter saw new awards, such as the design rehabilitation work on bridges located in Nassau and Suffolk counties in the state of New York.

Strategic Growth

Focusing on increasing the strength of its Energy & Resources business operating unit, Stantec completed two acquisitions in the first quarter. In January, Stantec expanded its environmental services in the US Mid Atlantic by acquiring Williamsburg Environmental Group, Inc. and Cultural Resources, Inc. This 115-person firm based in Williamsburg, Virginia, has three additional offices across the state with established long-term community relationships. In March, Stantec added significant strength to its oil and gas, and industrial service capabilities in the United States by acquiring Processes Unlimited International, Inc. (ProU). Based in Bakersfield, California, ProU is a 450-person multidisciplinary engineering, project management, and design firm with seven offices across California, Texas, Georgia, and Tennessee.

Subsequent to the quarter, Stantec enhanced its growing environmental service presence and capabilities across the western United States by acquiring JBR Environmental Consultants, Inc. (JBR). Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, JBR is a 140-person full-service environmental consulting firm operating in 12 western United States locations.

Subsequent to the quarter, Stantec also signed letters of intent for the firms SHW Group and USKH Inc. SHW Group, a nearly 300-person Texas-based firm with four offices in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic states, will help diversify Stantec's Buildings business operating unit by growing its education business in an expanding US market. USKH Inc., a 130-person multidiscipline design firm based in Anchorage, Alaska, with offices across Washington and Alaska, will complement Stantec's presence in the Canadian North, enabling Stantec to offer US and Canadian clients a comprehensive suite of services across the emerging resource-rich northern areas of North America.

Additional Company Activity

Subsequent to the quarter end, Stantec declared a dividend of C$0.185 per share, payable on July 17, 2014, to shareholders of record on June 27, 2014.

Conference Call and Company Information

Stantec's first quarter conference call, to be held Thursday, May 15, 2014, at 2:00 PM MDT (4:00 PM EDT), will be broadcast live and archived in the Investors section of www.stantec.com. Financial analysts who wish to participate in the earnings conference call are invited to call 1-800-820-0231 and provide confirmation code 3390176 to the operator.

Stantec's Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders will be held today at 10:30 AM MDT (12:30 PM EDT) at MacEwan University's CN Theatre, Room 5-142, 10500 - 104 Avenue, in Edmonton, Alberta.

About Stantec

We're active members of the communities we serve. That's why at Stantec, we always design with community in mind.

The Stantec community unites more than 13,000 employees working in over 200 locations. We collaborate across disciplines and industries to bring buildings, energy and resource, and infrastructure projects to life. Our work—professional consulting in planning, engineering, architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, surveying, environmental sciences, project management, and project economics—begins at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships.

Since 1954, our local strength, knowledge, and relationships, coupled with our world-class expertise, have allowed us to go anywhere to meet our clients' needs in more creative and personalized ways. With a long-term commitment to the people and places we serve, Stantec has the unique ability to connect to projects on a personal level and advance the quality of life in communities across the globe. Stantec trades on the TSX and the NYSE under the symbol STN.

Cautionary Statements

Stantec's gross revenue is an additional IFRS measure. For a definition and explanation of additional IFRS measures, refer to the Critical Accounting Estimates, Developments, and Measures section of the Company's 2013 Annual Report.

Certain statements contained in this news release constitute forward-looking statements. Any such statements represent the views of management only as of the date hereof and are presented for the purpose of assisting the Company's shareholders in understanding Stantec's operations, objectives, priorities, and anticipated financial performance as at and for the periods ended on the dates presented, and may not be appropriate for other purposes. By their nature, forward-looking statements require us to make assumptions and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties.

We caution readers of this news release not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements since a number of factors could cause actual future results to differ materially from the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the risk of an economic downturn, changing market conditions for Stantec's services, disruptions in government funding, the risk that Stantec will not meet its growth or revenue targets, and the risk that the projects contemplated in this news release will not be completed when expected or at all. Investors and the public should carefully consider these factors, other uncertainties, and potential events, as well as the inherent uncertainty of forward-looking statements, when relying on these statements to make decisions with respect to our Company.

For more information on how other material risk factors could affect our results, refer to the Risk Factors section and Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements in our 2013 Annual Report. You may obtain our 2013 Annual Report by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov or on the CSA website at www.sedar.com or at www.stantec.com. Alternatively, you may obtain a hard copy of the 2013 Annual Report free of charge from our Investor Contact noted below. 

Design with community in mind

Consolidated Statements of Financial Position
(Unaudited)
	March 31		December 31
	2014		2013
(In thousands of Canadian dollars)	$		$
ASSETS
Current
Cash and cash equivalents	120,574		143,030
Trade and other receivables	377,406		384,907
Unbilled revenue	196,960		143,894
Income taxes recoverable	10,501		8,792
Prepaid expenses	22,864		18,959
Other financial assets	25,776		21,418
Other assets	2,863		5,231
Total current assets	756,944		726,231
Non-current
Property and equipment	142,288		133,534
Goodwill	658,757		594,826
Intangible assets	89,506		78,857
Investments in joint ventures and associates	5,710		4,996
Deferred tax assets	43,866		45,383
Other financial assets	85,149		83,163
Other assets	1,076		1,188
Total assets	1,783,296		1,668,178
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current
Trade and other payables	243,154		259,113
Billings in excess of costs	81,161		77,803
Income taxes payable	2,317		9,127
Current portion of long-term debt	47,281		37,130
Provisions	12,618		12,047
Other financial liabilities	3,498		1,927
Other liabilities	10,292		9,837
Total current liabilities	400,321		406,984
Non-current
Long-term debt	269,490		200,943
Provisions	52,432		49,539
Deferred tax liabilities	59,855		58,082
Other financial liabilities	2,168		2,041
Other liabilities	59,731		57,955
Total liabilities	843,997		775,544
Shareholders' equity
Share capital	266,608		262,573
Contributed surplus	12,377		12,369
Retained earnings	630,955		606,056
Accumulated other comprehensive income	29,359		11,636
Total equity	939,299		892,634
Total liabilities and equity	1,783,296		1,668,178

Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited)
	For the quarter ended
	March 31
	2014		2013
(In thousands of Canadian dollars, except per share amounts)	$		$
Gross revenue	573,893		513,207
Less subconsultant and other direct expenses	92,638		86,355
Net revenue	481,255		426,852
Direct payroll costs	219,622		196,525
Gross margin	261,633		230,327
Administrative and marketing expenses	199,912		175,388
Depreciation of property and equipment	8,824		7,282
Amortization of intangible assets	5,364		5,804
Net interest expense	1,525		2,319
Other net finance expense	658		598
Share of income from joint ventures and associates	(805	)	(208	)
Foreign exchange loss	268		106
Other income	(366	)	(308	)
Income before income taxes	46,253		39,346
Income taxes
Current	10,326		10,886
Deferred	2,394		13
Total income taxes	12,720		10,899
Net income for the period	33,533		28,447
Weighted average number of shares outstanding - basic	46,622,544		46,054,787
Weighted average number of shares outstanding - diluted	47,147,352		46,361,858
Shares outstanding, end of the period	46,672,707		46,136,982
Earnings per share
Basic	0.72		0.62
Diluted	0.71		0.61