Stantec reports first quarter 2016 results and dividend

EDMONTON, ALBERTA and NEW YORK, NEW YORK -- (Marketwired) -- 05/12/16 -- (TSX:STN)(NYSE:STN) -

With contributions from strategic acquisitions, strong organic performance in its Buildings and Infrastructure business operating units, and improving performance in its US operations, Stantec achieved good overall revenue growth in the first quarter of 2016. Results were negatively impacted by a decrease in gross margin and an increase in administrative and marketing expenses due to acquisition-related costs.

"Our growing presence in the United States and recent public support of infrastructure development benefited our Buildings and Infrastructure business operating units, which led our Company in revenue growth," says Bob Gomes, Stantec president and chief executive officer. "And with the addition of recently acquired companies -- including the significant MWH Global acquisition announcement -- we look forward to expanding the breadth of our experience and delivering a broader range of services around the world."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Financial Summary ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- For the period ended March 31 (In millions of Canadian dollars, except 2016 2015 % Change for share amounts and %) Q1 Q1 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gross revenue 755.4 705.7 7.0% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net income 30.6 38.0 (19.5%) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Adjusted diluted earnings per share (1) 0.40 0.46 (13.0%) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cash dividends declared per common share 0.1125 0.1050 7.1% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) Adjusted diluted earnings per share is a non-IFRS measure as defined in the Cautionary Statements section. 

During the quarter, Stantec continued to execute its acquisition strategy by welcoming Austin, Texas-based Bury Inc. and by signing a definitive agreement to acquire Chicago, Illinois-based VOA Associates Inc. The companies will further strengthen Stantec's presence in the United States regional operating unit, which achieved a 26.3% increase in gross revenue in Q1 16 over Q1 15. Subsequent to the quarter, Stantec acquired MWH Global, the 6,800-person Broomfield, Colorado-based world leader in water and infrastructure. This acquisition is the largest in Stantec's history and will result in the Company's water practice becoming one of the largest in the world. The addition of MWH Global expands Stantec's presence into new geographies around the world and adds new top-tier global capabilities in dams and hydropower to the Company's overall portfolio of services.

The MWH Global acquisition and recent federal government infrastructure spending announcements bode well for Stantec's Infrastructure business operating unit, which achieved strong organic gross revenue growth of 8.6% when comparing Q1 16 to Q1 15. Growth was primarily due to opportunities in the Transportation sector. The rebounding US economy and Stantec's strategic North American market position led to increased opportunities in major light rail transit, roadway, and bridge projects. For example, as part of the development of a new rail trail, Stantec was recently awarded the design services for the rehabilitation of two historic stone-arch bridges. The structures, each more than 150 years old, are part of the Twin Cities Rail Project, which will transform an abandoned rail corridor into a recreational trail connecting the cities of Leominster and Fitchburg in Massachusetts.

The Buildings business operating unit achieved organic revenue growth of 5.1% when compared to the same quarter last year. The majority of revenue was generated in the Education, Healthcare, and Commercial sectors. Stantec also created a Civic sector in response to the growing urbanization trend in cities across North America. Stantec has already secured work in this sector. The Company recently secured a master service agreement as architect of record for all of Cadillac Fairview Corporation's major retail and office buildings throughout British Columbia and in other locations in western Canada.

By contrast, low commodity prices continue to impact the Energy & Resources and Environmental Services business operating units, which retracted quarter over quarter by 35.2% and 6.4% respectively. Throughout the decline in the oil and gas sector, Stantec effectively managed cost margins and maintained strong client relationships. The Company's strong presence in the energy sector continued to result in project wins. Stantec was recently awarded civil, structural, and electrical engineering design services for the transmission infrastructure, substations, and underground collector systems associated with two 50-megawatt ground-mount solar farms in Ontario. The Company also recently won a project for the proposed Aurora liquefied natural gas export terminal off Digby Island, southwest of Prince Rupert, British Columbia. This project involves completing the marine geotechnical investigation to evaluate the soil and rock conditions for the marine offload facility and main ship-loading jetty.

Additional Company Activity

On May 11, 2016, Stantec declared a cash dividend of $0.1125 per share, payable on July 14, 2016, to shareholders of record on June 30, 2016.

Stantec recently published its 2015 Sustainability Report. Prepared in accordance with the internationally recognized Global Reporting Initiative's G4 framework, the report shares Stantec's ongoing commitment to social, environmental, and economic sustainability; addresses the Company's sustainability performance for fiscal year 2015; and outlines its forward-looking plans for 2016. It also fulfills Stantec's commitment to reporting on the United Nations Global Compact's 10 principles of sustainability and corporate citizenship. The report is available at www.stantec.com/about-us/sustainability.html.

Conference Call and Company Information

Stantec's first quarter conference call -- to be held Thursday, May 12, 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 wanting to participate in the earnings conference call are invited to call 1-800-499-4035 and provide the operator with confirmation code 1458024.

Stantec's Annual General Meeting of Shareholders will be held on Thursday, May 12, 2016, at 10:30 AM MDT (12:30 PM EDT) at Stantec Centre, 10160 - 112 Street NW, Edmonton, Alberta.

Stantec's Investor Day will be held on June 2, 2016, in Boston, Massachusetts. Stantec executives will share their insight about the Company's performance, strategy, and outlook with the financial community. The presentation will be recorded and archived in its entirety in the Investors section of www.stantec.com.

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 approximately 22,000 employees working in over 400 locations across six continents. We collaborate across disciplines and industries to bring buildings, energy and resource, environmental, and infrastructure projects to life. Our work -- engineering, architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, surveying, environmental sciences, project management, and project economics, from initial project concept and planning through design, construction, and commissioning -- begins at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships.

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. Visit us at www.stantec.com or find us on social media.

Cautionary Statements

Stantec's adjusted diluted earnings per share is a non-IFRS measure. For a definition and explanation of non-IFRS measures, refer to the Critical Accounting Estimates, Developments, and Measures section of the Company's 2015 Annual Report and the Company's 2016 First Quarter Management's Discussion and Analysis.

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 about how other material risk factors could affect results, refer to the Risk Factors section and Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements in our 2015 Annual Report and the 2016 First Quarter Management's Discussion and Analysis. Stantec's 40-F has been filed with the SEC, and you may obtain this document by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. You may obtain our complete audited annual consolidated financial statements and associated Management's Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2015 (which form our 2015 Annual Report) by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov, on the CSA website at www.sedar.com, or at www.stantec.com. Alternatively, you may obtain a hard copy of the 2015 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 2016 2015 (In thousands of Canadian dollars) $ $ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASSETS Current Cash and deposits 45,423 67,342 Cash in escrow 12,221 8,646 Trade and other receivables 501,233 570,577 Unbilled revenue 255,887 228,970 Income taxes recoverable 23,563 19,727 Prepaid expenses 29,275 29,022 Other financial assets 32,861 27,108 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total current assets 900,463 951,392 Non-current Property and equipment 161,688 158,085 Goodwill 986,798 966,480 Intangible assets 158,028 138,079 Investments in joint ventures and associates 4,343 4,467 Deferred tax assets 10,876 11,254 Other financial assets 112,084 112,122 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total assets 2,334,280 2,341,879 ============================================================================ LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Current Bank indebtedness 7,048 - Trade and other payables 257,527 352,199 Billings in excess of costs 105,109 109,159 Long-term debt 142,145 133,055 Provisions 21,971 22,878 Other financial liabilities 15,745 2,601 Other liabilities 15,630 12,162 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total current liabilities 565,175 632,054 Non-current Long-term debt 356,421 232,301 Provisions 61,380 62,572 Deferred tax liabilities 18,792 21,256 Other financial liabilities 2,605 2,748 Other liabilities 60,855 67,688 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total liabilities 1,065,228 1,018,619 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shareholders' equity Share capital 288,060 289,118 Contributed surplus 16,593 15,788 Retained earnings 856,422 852,725 Accumulated other comprehensive income 107,977 165,629 ============================================================================ Total shareholders' equity 1,269,052 1,323,260 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total liabilities and shareholders' equity 2,334,280 2,341,879 ============================================================================ Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) For the quarter ended March 31 ------------------------------- 2016 2015 (In thousands of Canadian dollars, except per share amounts) $ $ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gross revenue 755,383 705,723 Less subconsultant and other direct expenses 126,735 113,439 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net revenue 628,648 592,284 Direct payroll costs 289,509 265,133 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gross margin 339,139 327,151 Administrative and marketing expenses 271,677 251,458 Depreciation of property and equipment 10,057 10,842 Amortization of intangible assets 10,803 10,227 Net interest expense 3,088 2,666 Other net finance expense 1,128 838 Share of income from joint ventures and associates (372) (639) Foreign exchange loss (gain) 104 (128) Other expense (income) 125 (468) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Income before income taxes 42,529 52,355 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Income taxes Current 14,041 14,101 Deferred (2,133) 297 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total income taxes 11,908 14,398 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net income for the period 30,621 37,957 ============================================================================ Weighted average number of shares outstanding - basic 93,957,468 93,864,528 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Weighted average number of shares outstanding - diluted 94,358,094 94,503,760 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shares outstanding, end of period 93,890,761 93,932,307 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Earnings per share Basic 0.33 0.40 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Diluted 0.32 0.40 ============================================================================ 

Contacts:
Media Contact
Stephanie Smith
Stantec Media Relations
780-917-7230
stephanie.smith2@stantec.com

Investor Contact
Sonia Kirby
Stantec Investor Relations
780-616-2785
sonia.kirby@stantec.com
www.stantec.com