FAIRFAX, Va., Feb. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --
Fourth Quarter Highlights:
Full Year Highlights:
ICF (NASDAQ: ICFI), a global consulting and digital services provider, reported results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2020.
Commenting on the results, John Wasson, chairman and chief executive officer, said, "The fourth quarter represented a strong finish to 2020, with total revenues that exceeded the high end of our guidance range and positive service revenue trends that are reflective of ICF's positioning in high growth markets.
"Revenues from federal government and commercial energy clients increased 19% and 9%, respectively, led by our work in IT modernization, public health and energy efficiency and utility consulting, while the exceptional fourth quarter increase in commercial marketing revenue was one-time in nature, tied to the completion of a large contract that primarily involved pass-through revenue.
"Favorable business mix, higher utilization and lower SG&A and fringe benefit costs drove a year-on-year 220 basis point expansion in adjusted EBITDA margin on service revenue in the fourth quarter, resulting in a 15% increase in Non-GAAP EPS.
"In 2020, one of the most challenging business periods in recent history, ICF reported 4% year-on-year growth in service revenue, and won a record $2 billion in contract awards, laying the foundation for strong future growth. This performance demonstrates the resilience of our company and first-rate execution by ICF's employees, who have worked closely with clients throughout the pandemic to seamlessly execute programs and win new business, while working remotely," Mr. Wasson noted.
Fourth Quarter 2020 Results
Fourth quarter 2020 total revenue was $434.3 million, representing 9.5% growth over the $396.6 million reported in the fourth quarter of 2019. Service revenue increased 4.1% year-over-year to $262.2 million, from $251.9 million. Net income amounted to $12.8 million in the 2020 fourth quarter, or $0.67 per diluted share, inclusive of $0.56 of tax-effected special charges, of which $0.51 represented charges relating to the departure of ICF's executive chairman and the early termination and discontinued use of 16 office leases. In the 2019 fourth quarter, net income was $19.4 million, or $1.01 per diluted share, inclusive of $0.09 of tax-effected special charges primarily tied to M&A costs related to the ITG acquisition.
Non-GAAP EPS was $1.36 per share, up from $1.18 per share in 2019 in the fourth quarter. EBITDA¹ was $30.3 million compared to $34.9 million reported in the fourth quarter of 2019. Adjusted EBITDA¹ was $44.9 million compared to $37.4 million in the 2019 fourth quarter. Fourth quarter 2020 adjusted EBITDA margin on service revenue was 17.1% compared to 14.9% in the 2019 fourth quarter.
Full Year 2020 Results
For 2020, total revenue amounted to $1.51 billion, representing 1.9% growth over the $1.48 billion reported for full year 2019. Service revenue increased 4.1% year-over-year to $1.04 billion, from $1.00 billion in 2019. Full year 2020 net income amounted to $55.0 million, or $2.87 per diluted share, inclusive of $0.79 of tax-effected special charges, of which $0.53 represented one-time executive retirement and lease-related charges as referenced above. This compares to net income of $68.9 million reported in 2019, or $3.59 per diluted share, inclusive of $0.24 of special charges.
Non-GAAP EPS was $4.17 per share, up from $4.15 per share. EBITDA was $122.9 million compared to $129.6 million reported in 2019. Adjusted EBITDA was $143.2 million, a 6.2% increase over $134.8 million in 2019. The 2020 adjusted EBITDA margin on service revenue was 13.7% compared to 13.4% in 2019.
Operating cash flow reached $173 million in 2020. The significant increase above our 2020 guidance of $120 million was primarily due to $50 million of unexpected commercial client prepayments related to media placements to be paid in early 2021.
Backlog and New Business Awards
Total backlog was $2.9 billion at the end of the fourth quarter of 2020. Funded backlog was $1.5 billion, or approximately 53% of the total backlog. The total value of contracts awarded in the 2020 fourth quarter was a record $525 million. For full year 2020, contract awards were a record $1.96 billion, representing a book-to-bill ratio of 1.3.
Government Revenue Fourth Quarter 2020 Highlights
Revenue from government clients was $251.5 million, up 3.0% year-over-year.
Key Government Contracts Awarded in the Fourth Quarter 2020
ICF was awarded more than 100 U.S. federal contracts and task orders and more than 200 additional contracts from U.S. state and local and international governments with an aggregate value of over $290 million. Notable awards won in the fourth quarter included:
Energy and Environment
Disaster Management
Research and Evaluation
IT Modernization/ Strategic Communications
Commercial Revenue Fourth Quarter 2020 Highlights
Key Commercial Contacts Awarded in the Fourth Quarter 2020
Commercial contract awards were over $230 million in the fourth quarter 2020. ICF was awarded more than 700 commercial projects globally during the quarter including:
In Energy Markets
In Marketing Services
Dividend Declaration
On February 25, 2021, ICF declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.14 per share, payable on April 13, 2021, to shareholders of record on March 26, 2021.
2020 Recognitions
ICF received several important recognitions in 2020:
Summary and Outlook
"Record contract awards, higher backlog and a business development pipeline in excess of $6.3 billion have positioned ICF for considerable organic growth in service revenue in 2021 and beyond. In addition to the key growth catalysts we identified two years ago, namely IT modernization, public health, disaster management and energy efficiency and utility consulting, ICF's expertise and qualifications also align well with the current administration's priorities in climate, environment and infrastructure, supporting our expectation for considerable growth in the coming years.
"Based on our current portfolio of business, we expect service revenue for full year 2021 to range from $1.095 billion to $1.13 billion, representing year-on-year growth of 6.6% at the midpoint. Pass-through revenues are anticipated at approximately 28% of total revenue in 2021, compared to 31% in 2020, implying total revenue in 2021 of between $1.525 billion and $1.575 billion. EBITDA is expected to range from $145 million to $155 million, equivalent to an EBITDA margin on service revenue of 13.5% at the midpoints of the ranges. GAAP EPS is projected to be $3.90 to $4.20 and Non-GAAP EPS is expected to range from $4.35 to $4.65. Operating cash flow for 2021 is expected to be approximately $100 million.
"Approximately 55% of ICF's 2020 service revenue represented work in the key growth areas noted above in which we expect growth rates, in the aggregate, to approximate 10% or more over the next several years. In 2021 we plan to utilize a portion of the savings from the optimization of our real estate footprint and reduced travel and entertainment expense to invest in people and technology as we further expand our capabilities in these high-growth markets.
"At ICF, we are passionate about addressing and solving some of the most complex environmental and social issues facing the world today. Our work enables us to attract and retain professionals who are committed to making a positive impact on society by providing innovative solutions in areas such as climate, energy efficiency, disaster management, public health and social programs, and supporting our clients' initiatives across a broad range of industries. As a company, ICF has long been committed to the highest standards of corporate responsibility. We encourage you to access our latest Corporate Citizenship report, which is available on our website," Mr. Wasson concluded.
1 Non-GAAP EPS, Service Revenue, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin on Service Revenue are non-GAAP measurements. A reconciliation of all non-GAAP measurements to the most applicable GAAP number is set forth below. Special charges are items that were included within our statement of operations but are not indicative of ongoing performance and have been presented net of applicable U.S. GAAP taxes. The presentation of non-GAAP measurements may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures used by other companies. |
About ICF
ICF (NASDAQ:ICFI) is a global consulting services company with over 7,000 full- and part-time employees, but we are not your typical consultants. At ICF, business analysts and policy specialists work together with digital strategists, data scientists and creatives. We combine unmatched industry expertise with cutting-edge engagement capabilities to help organizations solve their most complex challenges. Since 1969, public and private sector clients have worked with ICF to navigate change and shape the future. Learn more at icf.com.
Caution Concerning Forward-looking Statements
Statements that are not historical facts and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties are "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may concern our current expectations about our future results, plans, operations and prospects and involve certain risks, including those related to the government contracting industry generally; our particular business, including our dependence on contracts with U.S. federal government agencies; our ability to acquire and successfully integrate businesses; and the effects of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and related federal, state and local government actions and reactions on the health of our staff and that of our clients, the continuity of our and our clients' operations, our results of operations and our outlook. These and other factors that could cause our actual results to differ from those indicated in forward-looking statements that are included in the "Risk Factors" section of our securities filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements included herein are only made as of the date hereof, and we specifically disclaim any obligation to update these statements in the future.
ICF International, Inc. and Subsidiaries | ||||||||
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income | ||||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||||
Three Months Ended | Twelve Months Ended | |||||||
December 31, | December 31, | |||||||
(in thousands, except per share amounts) | 2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||
Revenue | $ 434,335 | $ 396,636 | $ 1,506,875 | $ 1,478,525 | ||||
Direct costs | 295,095 | 264,027 | 972,406 | 953,187 | ||||
Operating costs and expenses: | ||||||||
Indirect and selling expenses | 108,963 | 97,664 | 411,612 | 395,763 | ||||
Depreciation and amortization | 5,013 | 4,707 | 20,399 | 20,099 | ||||
Amortization of intangible assets | 3,506 | 1,940 | 13,349 | 8,083 | ||||
Total operating costs and expenses | 117,482 | 104,311 | 445,360 | 423,945 | ||||
Operating income | 21,758 | 28,298 | 89,109 | 101,393 | ||||
Interest expense | (2,971) | (2,508) | (13,892) | (10,719) | ||||
Other expense | (860) | (134) | (544) | (501) | ||||
Income before income taxes | 17,927 | 25,656 | 74,673 | 90,173 | ||||
Provision for income taxes | 5,107 | 6,277 | 19,714 | 21,235 | ||||
Net income | $ 12,820 | $ 19,379 | $ 54,959 | $ 68,938 | ||||
Earnings per Share: | ||||||||
Basic | $ 0.68 | $ 1.03 | $ 2.92 | $ 3.66 | ||||
Diluted | $ 0.67 | $ 1.01 | $ 2.87 | $ 3.59 | ||||
Weighted-average Shares: | ||||||||
Basic | 18,841 | 18,835 | 18,841 | 18,816 | ||||
Diluted | 19,143 | 19,234 | 19,135 | 19,224 | ||||
Cash dividends declared per common share | $ 0.14 | $ 0.14 | $ 0.56 | $ 0.56 | ||||
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | 5,654 | 6,258 | (1,962) | 407 | ||||
Comprehensive income, net of tax | $ 18,474 | $ 25,637 | $ 52,997 | $ 69,345 |
ICF International, Inc. and Subsidiaries | ||||||||
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP financial measures(2) | ||||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||||
Three Months Ended | Twelve Months Ended | |||||||
December 31, | December 31, | |||||||
(in thousands, except per share amounts) | 2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||
Reconciliation of Service Revenue | ||||||||
Revenue | $ 434,335 | $ 396,636 | $ 1,506,875 | $ 1,478,525 | ||||
Subcontractor and other direct costs (3) | (172,148) | (144,728) | (463,364) | (475,717) | ||||
Service revenue | $ 262,187 | $ 251,908 | $ 1,043,511 | $ 1,002,808 | ||||
Reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA | ||||||||
Net income | $ 12,820 | $ 19,379 | $ 54,959 | $ 68,938 | ||||
Other expense | 860 | 134 | 544 | 501 | ||||
Interest expense | 2,971 | 2,508 | 13,892 | 10,719 | ||||
Provision for income taxes | 5,107 | 6,277 | 19,714 | 21,235 | ||||
Depreciation and amortization | 8,519 | 6,647 | 33,748 | 28,182 | ||||
EBITDA | 30,277 | 34,945 | 122,857 | 129,575 | ||||
Adjustment related to impairment of long-lived assets (4) | 3,090 | — | 3,090 | 1,728 | ||||
Special charges related to acquisitions (5) | 30 | 1,574 | 1,983 | 1,771 | ||||
Special charges related to severance for staff realignment (6) | 1,069 | 453 | 4,764 | 1,774 | ||||
Special charges related to facilities consolidations, office closures, | 1,643 | 454 | 1,643 | 717 | ||||
Special charges related to retirement of Executive Chair (8) | 8,825 | — | 8,825 | — | ||||
— | — | — | (782) | |||||
Total special charges | 14,657 | 2,481 | 20,305 | 5,208 | ||||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ 44,934 | $ 37,426 | $ 143,162 | $ 134,783 | ||||
EBITDA Margin Percent on Revenue (10) | 7.0% | 8.8% | 8.2% | 8.8% | ||||
EBITDA Margin Percent on Service Revenue (10) | 11.5% | 13.9% | 11.8% | 12.9% | ||||
Adjusted EBITDA Margin Percent on Revenue (10) | 10.3% | 9.4% | 9.5% | 9.1% | ||||
Adjusted EBITDA Margin Percent on Service Revenue (10) | 17.1% | 14.9% | 13.7% | 13.4% | ||||
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Diluted EPS | ||||||||
Diluted EPS | $ 0.67 | $ 1.01 | $ 2.87 | $ 3.59 | ||||
Adjustment related to impairment of long-lived assets | 0.16 | — | 0.16 | 0.09 | ||||
Special charges related to acquisitions | — | 0.08 | 0.10 | 0.10 | ||||
Special charges related to severance for staff realignment | 0.06 | 0.02 | 0.25 | 0.09 | ||||
Special charges related to facilities consolidations, office closures, | 0.10 | 0.02 | 0.10 | 0.08 | ||||
Special charges related to retirement of Executive Chair | 0.46 | — | 0.46 | — | ||||
Adjustment related to bad debt reserve | — | — | — | (0.04) | ||||
Amortization of intangibles | 0.18 | 0.10 | 0.70 | 0.42 | ||||
Income tax effects (11) | (0.27) | (0.05) | (0.47) | (0.18) | ||||
Non-GAAP EPS | $ 1.36 | $ 1.18 | $ 4.17 | $ 4.15 | ||||
(2)These tables provide reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to the most applicable GAAP numbers. While we believe that these non-GAAP | ||||||||
(3)Subcontractor and other direct costs is direct costs excluding direct labor and fringe costs. | ||||||||
(4) Adjustment related to impairment of long-lived assets: We recognized impairment expense of $3.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2020 related to impairment of | ||||||||
(5) Special charges related to acquisitions: These costs consist primarily of consultants and other outside third-party costs, integration costs associated with an | ||||||||
(6) Special charges related to severance for staff realignment: These costs are mainly due to involuntary employee termination benefits for Company officers, | ||||||||
(7)Special charges related to facilities consolidations, office closures, and our future corporate headquarters: These costs are exit costs associated with | ||||||||
(8) Special charges related to retirement of Executive Chair: These costs include severance, pro rata incentive bonus, welfare benefits, and acceleration of equity | ||||||||
(9)Adjustment related to bad debt reserve: During 2018, we established a bad debt reserve for amounts due from a utility client that had filed for bankruptcy and | ||||||||
(10) EBITDA Margin Percent and Adjusted EBITDA Margin Percent were calculated by dividing the non-GAAP measure by the corresponding revenue. | ||||||||
(11)Income tax effects were calculated using an effective U.S. GAAP tax rate of 28.5% and 24.5% for the three months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, |
ICF International, Inc. and Subsidiaries | ||||
Consolidated Balance Sheets | ||||
(Unaudited) | ||||
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts) | December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2019 | ||
ASSETS | ||||
Current Assets: | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ 13,841 | $ 6,482 | ||
Restricted cash - current | 68,146 | — | ||
Contract receivables, net | 222,850 | 261,176 | ||
Contract assets | 143,369 | 142,337 | ||
Prepaid expenses and other assets | 25,492 | 17,402 | ||
Income tax receivable | 1,977 | 7,320 | ||
Total Current Assets | 475,675 | 434,717 | ||
Property and Equipment, net | 62,434 | 58,237 | ||
Other Assets: | ||||
Goodwill | 909,913 | 719,934 | ||
Other intangible assets, net | 59,887 | 25,829 | ||
Operating lease - right-of-use assets | 127,132 | 133,965 | ||
Other assets | 32,249 | 23,352 | ||
Total Assets | $ 1,667,290 | $ 1,396,034 | ||
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY | ||||
Current Liabilities: | ||||
Current portion of long-term debt | $ 10,000 | $ — | ||
Accounts payable | 91,365 | 134,578 | ||
Contract liabilities | 42,050 | 37,413 | ||
Operating lease liabilities - current | 23,350 | 32,500 | ||
Accrued salaries and benefits | 80,512 | 52,130 | ||
Accrued subcontractors and other direct costs | 78,842 | 45,619 | ||
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities | 100,908 | 35,742 | ||
Total Current Liabilities | 427,027 | 337,982 | ||
Long-term Liabilities: | ||||
Long-term debt | 303,214 | 164,261 | ||
Operating lease liabilities - non-current | 115,614 | 119,250 | ||
Deferred income taxes | 34,330 | 37,621 | ||
Other long-term liabilities | 40,144 | 22,369 | ||
Total Liabilities | 920,329 | 681,483 | ||
Commitments and Contingencies | ||||
Stockholders' Equity: | ||||
Preferred stock, par value $.001; 5,000,000 shares authorized; none issued | — | — | ||
Common stock, $.001 par value; 70,000,000 shares authorized; 23,305,255 and 22,846,374 shares issued; and | 23 | 23 | ||
Additional paid-in capital | 369,058 | 346,795 | ||
Retained earnings | 588,731 | 544,840 | ||
Treasury stock, 4,395,272 and 3,978,819 shares at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively | (196,745) | (164,963) | ||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (14,106) | (12,144) | ||
Total Stockholders' Equity | 746,961 | 714,551 | ||
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity | $ 1,667,290 | $ 1,396,034 |
ICF International, Inc. and Subsidiaries | ||||
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows | ||||
(Unaudited) | ||||
Years ended | ||||
December 31, | ||||
(in thousands) | 2020 | 2019 | ||
Cash Flows from Operating Activities | ||||
Net income | $ 54,959 | $ 68,938 | ||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | ||||
Bad debt expense | 4,062 | 624 | ||
Deferred income taxes | (1,865) | (123) | ||
Non-cash equity compensation | 17,555 | 15,818 | ||
Depreciation and amortization | 33,748 | 28,182 | ||
Non-cash lease expense | (2,307) | (1,247) | ||
Facilities consolidation reserve | (288) | (274) | ||
Amortization of debt issuance costs | 710 | 507 | ||
Impairment of long-lived assets | 3,090 | 1,728 | ||
Other adjustments, net | 964 | 181 | ||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of the effects of acquisitions: | ||||
Net contract assets and liabilities | 6,064 | (11,963) | ||
Contract receivables | 54,384 | (31,300) | ||
Prepaid expenses and other assets | (5,410) | 1,997 | ||
Accounts payable | (51,177) | 31,949 | ||
Accrued salaries and benefits | 26,810 | 8,012 | ||
Accrued subcontractors and other direct costs | 32,544 | (12,293) | ||
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities | (18,198) | (4,951) | ||
Income tax receivable and payable | 5,375 | (4,489) | ||
Other liabilities | 12,125 | 144 | ||
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities | 173,145 | 91,440 | ||
Cash Flows from Investing Activities | ||||
Capital expenditures for property and equipment and capitalized software | (17,683) | (26,901) | ||
Payments for business acquisitions, net of cash acquired | (253,265) | (3,569) | ||
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities | (270,948) | (30,470) | ||
Cash Flows from Financing Activities | ||||
Advances from working capital facilities | 1,020,451 | 686,830 | ||
Payments on working capital facilities | (870,114) | (721,809) | ||
Payments on capital expenditure obligations | (1,712) | (1,621) | ||
Receipt of restricted contract funds | 65,694 | — | ||
Payment of restricted contract funds | (106) | — | ||
Debt issue costs | (2,094) | — | ||
Proceeds from exercise of options | 37 | 2,914 | ||
Dividends paid | (10,551) | (10,540) | ||
Net payments for stock issuances and buybacks | (29,726) | (23,414) | ||
Payments on business acquisition liabilities | (1,924) | — | ||
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities | 169,955 | (67,640) | ||
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash | 3,353 | 166 | ||
Increase (Decrease) in Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash | 75,505 | (6,504) | ||
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash, Beginning of Period | 6,482 | 12,986 | ||
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash, End of Period | $ 81,987 | $ 6,482 | ||
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information | ||||
Cash paid during the period for: | ||||
Interest | $ 14,337 | $ 10,424 | ||
Income taxes | $ 15,954 | $ 26,595 | ||
Non-cash investing and financing transactions: | ||||
Tenant improvements funded by lessor | $ 3,124 | $ — | ||
Exercise of options receivable from shareholders | $ 2,615 | $ — |
ICF International, Inc. and Subsidiaries | ||||||||
Supplemental Schedule(12)(13) | ||||||||
Revenue by client markets | Three Months Ended | Twelve Months Ended | ||||||
December 31, | December 31, | |||||||
2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||
Energy, environment, and infrastructure | 38% | 44% | 41% | 45% | ||||
Health, education, and social programs | 50% | 41% | 44% | 38% | ||||
Safety and security | 6% | 8% | 8% | 8% | ||||
Consumer and financial services | 6% | 7% | 7% | 9% | ||||
Total | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | ||||
Revenue by client type | Three Months Ended | Twelve Months Ended | ||||||
December 31, | December 31, | |||||||
2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||
U.S. federal government | 38% | 35% | 44% | 38% | ||||
U.S. state and local government | 12% | 18% | 15% | 19% | ||||
International government | 8% | 9% | 6% | 8% | ||||
Government | 58% | 62% | 65% | 65% | ||||
Commercial | 42% | 38% | 35% | 35% | ||||
Total | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | ||||
Revenue by contract mix | Three Months Ended | Twelve Months Ended | ||||||
December 31, | December 31, | |||||||
2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||
Time-and-materials | 55% | 49% | 50% | 48% | ||||
Fixed-price | 33% | 38% | 35% | 38% | ||||
Cost-based | 12% | 13% | 15% | 14% | ||||
Total | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | ||||
(12)As is shown in the supplemental schedule, we track revenue by key metrics that provide useful information about the nature of our | ||||||||
(13)Certain immaterial revenue percentages in the prior year have been reclassified due to minor adjustments and reclassifications. |
Investor Contacts:
Lynn Morgen, ADVISIRY PARTNERS, lynn.morgen@advisiry.com +1.212.750.5800
David Gold, ADVISIRY PARTNERS, david.gold@advisiry.com +1.212.750.5800
Company Information Contact:
Lauren Dyke, ICF, lauren.dyke@ICF.com +1.571.373.5577
SOURCE ICF