Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc. Announces 2017 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Financial Results


Fourth Quarter Highlights:

  • Environmental Services segment revenue was a record $74.7 million, growth of 9.4% over 2016
  • Oil Business segment revenue was $41.1 million, and operating profit was a record of $3.3 million
  • EBITDA was $14.2 million and Adjusted EBITDA was $15.9 million, both records for a 16-week quarter

Full Year Highlights:

  • Total Company revenue for fiscal 2017 was a record $366.0 million, growth of 5.3% over 2016
  • EBITDA was $53.4 million and Adjusted EBITDA was $47.2 million, both record highs
  • Diluted earnings per share was a record $1.23 which includes a $0.27 per share impact from the revaluation of our net deferred income tax liability as a result of the new federal income tax law
  • Cash flow from operations was a record $45.3 million

ELGIN, Ill., Feb. 28, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc. (Nasdaq:HCCI), a leading provider of parts cleaning, hazardous and non-hazardous waste services, and used oil re-refining primarily focused on small and mid-sized customers, today announced results for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 and for the full fiscal year, which ended December 30, 2017.

Fourth Quarter Review

Revenue for the fourth quarter of 2017 was $115.8 million compared to $106.7 million for the same quarter of 2016, an increase of 8.5%.

Operating margin decreased to 20.4% from 21.1% in the fourth quarter of 2016 as higher revenue in both segments was more than offset by higher labor and transportation costs compared to the year-ago quarter. Our SG&A expense as a percentage of revenue was 12.7% for the fourth quarter compared to 15.5% of revenue in the fourth quarter of 2016, mainly due to lower severance and incentive compensation costs.

Net income attributable to common shareholders for the fourth quarter was $11.7 million compared to net income attributable to common shareholders of $3.4 million in the year earlier quarter. Basic earnings per share was $0.51 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 compared to earnings of $0.15 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016.

Fiscal 2017 Review

In 2017, we generated $366.0 million of revenue compared to prior year revenue of $347.6 million, an increase of $18.3 million or 5.3%, driven by growth in each of our segments.

Operating margin increased to 20.6% in fiscal 2017 compared to 18.9% in fiscal 2016. The improvement in profitability is due to significantly higher revenues in both segments and a significant improvement in our base oil spread, partially offset by higher labor costs, lower used oil collection charges, and higher transportation costs compared to fiscal 2016. SG&A expense for fiscal 2017 was 14.0% of revenue, down from 15.4% in fiscal 2016, mainly due to lower legal and bank fees year over year.

Net income attributable to common shareholders for fiscal 2017 was $28.1 million compared to net income of $5.8 million for fiscal 2016. Diluted earnings per share for fiscal 2017 was a record $1.23, compared to $0.26 in fiscal 2016. Brian Recatto, the Company’s President and CEO commented, "Looking back at my first year as CEO of the company, I am proud of the challenges we have overcome and the record results we've produced as we look forward to continued success during fiscal 2018."

Segments

Our Environmental Services segment includes parts cleaning, containerized waste, vacuum services, antifreeze recycling, and field services. The Environmental Services segment recorded record revenue of $74.7 million, an increase of $6.4 million, or 9.4%, during the quarter compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016. During fiscal 2017, the Environmental Services segment revenue increased $13.7 million, or 6.1%, compared to fiscal 2016. The increase in this segment was primarily driven by growth in our containerized waste, aqueous parts cleaning, vacuum services, and antifreeze businesses.

Recatto commented, "We are very proud of the strong results our sales team delivered during the fourth quarter and throughout fiscal 2017."

Our Oil Business segment includes used oil collection activities, sales of recycled fuel oil, and re-refining activities. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, Oil Business revenues increased 6.8% to $41.1 million compared to $38.5 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016. The revenue increase was mainly driven by higher pricing for our base oil products, partially offset by lower used oil collection charges. Oil Business segment operating margin was 7.9% in the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to 4.1% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016.

Recatto commented, "We are pleased that we were able to produce strong operating margin for the fourth quarter and record margin for the full fiscal year, driven by improved operating efficiency at our re-refinery and oil-spread management."

Safe Harbor Statement

All references to the “Company,” “we,” “our,” and “us” refer to Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc., and its subsidiaries.

This release contains forward-looking statements that are based upon current management expectations. Generally, the words "aim," "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "project," "should," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," "would" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause our actual results, performance or achievements or industry results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other important factors include, among others: general economic conditions and downturns in the business cycles of automotive repair shops, industrial manufacturing businesses and small businesses in general; increased solvent, fuel and energy costs and volatility, including a drop in the price of crude oil, the selling price of lubricating base oil, solvent, fuel, energy, and commodity costs; our ability to enforce our rights under the FCC Environmental purchase agreement; our ability to pay our debt when due and comply with our debt covenants; our ability to successfully operate our used oil re-refinery and to cost-effectively collect or purchase used oil or generate operating results; increased market supply or decreased demand for base oil; further consolidation and/or declines in the United States automotive repair and manufacturing industries; the impact of extensive environmental, health and safety and employment laws and regulations on our business; legislative or regulatory requirements or changes adversely affecting our business; competition in the industrial and hazardous waste services industries and from other used oil re-refineries; claims and involuntary shutdowns relating to our handling of hazardous substances; the value of our used solvents and oil inventory, which may fluctuate significantly; our ability to expand our non-hazardous programs for parts cleaning; our dependency on key employees; our level of indebtedness, which could affect our ability to fulfill our obligations, impede the implementation of our strategy, and expose us to interest rate risk; our ability to effectively manage our network of branch locations; the control of The Heritage Group over the Company; and the risks identified in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 3, 2017. Given these uncertainties, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We assume no obligation to update or revise them or provide reasons why actual results may differ. The information in this release should be read in light of such risks and in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included elsewhere in this release.

About Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc.

Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc. provides parts cleaning, used oil re-refining, and hazardous and non-hazardous waste services to small and mid-sized customers in both the manufacturing and vehicle service sectors. Our service programs include parts cleaning, containerized waste management, used oil collection and re-refining, vacuum truck services and waste antifreeze collection and recycling. These services help our customers manage their used chemicals and liquid and solid wastes, while also helping to minimize their regulatory burdens. Our customers include businesses involved in vehicle maintenance operations, such as car dealerships, automotive repair shops, and trucking firms, as well as small manufacturers, such as metal product fabricators and printers. Through our used oil re-refining program, we recycle used oil into high quality lubricating base oil, and we are a supplier to firms that produce and market finished lubricants. Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc. is headquartered in Elgin, Illinois, and operates through 86 branches serving approximately 90,000 customer locations.

Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call on Thursday, March 1, 2018 at 9:30 AM Central Time, during which management will make a brief presentation focusing on the Company's operations and financial results. Interested parties can listen to the audio webcast available through our company website, http://www.crystal-clean.com/investor/FinancialReleases.asp, and can participate in the call by dialing (720) 545-0014.

The Company uses its website to make available information to investors and the public at www.crystal-clean.com.

CONTACT
Mark DeVita, Chief Financial Officer, at (847) 836-5670


Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In Thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
 December 30,
 2017
 December 31,
 2016
ASSETS   
Current Assets:   
Cash and cash equivalents$41,889  $36,610 
Accounts receivable - net45,491  47,533 
Inventory - net21,639  18,558 
Other current assets5,895  6,094 
Total Current Assets114,914  108,795 
Property, plant and equipment - net128,119  131,175 
Equipment at customers - net23,312  23,033 
Software and intangible assets - net16,732  19,821 
Goodwill31,580  31,483 
Total Assets$314,657  $314,307 
    
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY   
Current Liabilities:   
Accounts payable$25,568  $30,984 
Current maturities of long-term debt and term loan  6,936 
Accrued salaries, wages, and benefits6,386  6,312 
Taxes payable5,787  6,729 
Other current liabilities2,690  3,245 
Total Current Liabilities40,431  54,206 
  Term loan, less current maturities - net28,744  56,518 
  Deferred income taxes9,556  5,314 
Total Liabilities$78,731  $116,038 
    
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:   
Common stock$229  $223 
Additional paid-in capital193,640  185,099 
Retained earnings41,359  12,227 
Total Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc. Stockholders' Equity235,228  197,549 
Noncontrolling Interest698  720 
Total Equity235,926  198,269 
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity$314,657  $314,307 



Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In Thousands, Except per Share Amounts)
(Unaudited)
 
   For the Fourth Quarters Ended, For the Fiscal Years Ended,
   December 30,
 2017
 December 31,
 2016
 December 30,
 2017
 December 31,
 2016
          
Revenues        
 Product revenues $43,863  $36,147  $131,958  $111,729 
 Service revenues 71,928  70,602  233,999  235,898 
Total revenues $115,791  $106,749  $365,957  $347,627 
          
Operating expenses        
 Operating costs $87,892  $79,849  $276,102  $267,503 
 Selling, general, and administrative expenses 13,530  15,368  47,401  49,823 
 Depreciation and amortization 5,465  5,549  17,967  17,991 
 Other expense (income) - net 172  176  (10,940) 1,416 
Operating income 8,732  5,807  35,427  10,894 
Interest expense – net 320  637  1,094  2,069 
Income before income taxes 8,412  5,170  34,333  8,825 
(Benefit of) provision for income taxes (3,438) 1,672  5,923  2,811 
Net income $11,850  $3,498  $28,410  $6,014 
Income attributable to noncontrolling interest 130  55  287  172 
Income attributable to Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc. common stockholders $11,720  $3,443  $28,123  $5,842 
         
         
Net income per share: basic $0.51  $0.15  $1.24  $0.26 
Net income per share: diluted $0.51  $0.15  $1.23  $0.26 
         
Number of weighted average shares outstanding: basic 22,887  22,285  22,662  22,258 
Number of weighted average shares outstanding: diluted 23,099  22,603  22,922  22,516 


Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc.
Reconciliation of Operating Segment Information
(In Thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
For the Fourth Quarters Ended,
 
December 30, 2017
   Environmental
Services
 Oil Business Corporate and
Eliminations
 Consolidated
          
Revenues        
 Product revenues $7,957  $35,906  $  $43,863 
 Service revenues 66,748  5,180     71,928 
Total revenues $74,705  $41,086  $  $115,791 
Operating expenses        
 Operating costs 52,214  35,678     87,892 
 Operating depreciation and amortization 2,185  2,150     4,335 
Profit before corporate selling, general, and administrative expenses $20,306  $3,258  $  $23,564 
Selling, general, and administrative expenses     13,530  13,530 
Depreciation and amortization from SG&A     1,130  1,130 
Total selling, general, and administrative expenses     $14,660  $14,660 
Other expense - net     172  172 
Operating income       8,732 
Interest expense - net     320  320 
Income before income taxes       $8,412 
          
December 31, 2016
    

Environmental
Services
 Oil Business Corporate and
Eliminations
 Consolidated
          
Revenues        
 Product revenues $7,056  $29,091  $  $36,147 
 Service revenues 61,242  9,360    70,602 
Total revenues $68,298  $38,451  $  $106,749 
Operating expenses        
 Operating costs 44,968  34,881    79,849 
 Operating depreciation and amortization 2,350  1,996    4,346 
Profit before corporate selling, general, and administrative expenses $20,980  $1,574  $  $22,554 
Selling, general, and administrative expenses     15,368  15,368 
Depreciation and amortization from SG&A     1,203  1,203 
Total selling, general, and administrative expenses     $16,571  $16,571 
Other expense - net     176  176 
Operating income       5,807 
Interest expense - net     637  637 
Income before income taxes       $5,170 


For the Fiscal Years Ended,
 
December 30, 2017
   Environmental
Services
 Oil Business Corporate and
Eliminations
 Consolidated
          
Revenues        
 Product revenues $25,172  $106,786  $  $131,958 
 Service revenues 212,883  21,116    233,999 
Total revenues $238,055  $127,902  $  $365,957 
Operating expenses        
 Operating costs 163,633  112,469    276,102 
 Operating depreciation and amortization 7,526  6,776    14,302 
Profit before corporate selling, general, and administrative expenses $66,896  $8,657  $  $75,553 
Selling, general, and administrative expenses     47,401  47,401 
Depreciation and amortization from SG&A     3,665  3,665 
Total selling, general, and administrative expenses     $51,066  $51,066 
Other (income) - net     (10,940) (10,940)
Operating income       35,427 
Interest expense - net     1,094  1,094 
Income before income taxes       $34,333 


 
December 31, 2016
    

Environmental
Services
 Oil Business Corporate and
Eliminations
 Consolidated
          
Revenues        
 Product revenues $21,882  $89,847  $  $111,729 
 Service revenues 202,496  33,402    235,898 
Total revenues $224,378  $123,249  $  $347,627 
Operating expenses        
 Operating costs 151,860  115,643    267,503 
 Operating depreciation and amortization 7,517  6,784    14,301 
Profit before corporate selling, general, and administrative expenses $65,001  $822  $  $65,823 
Selling, general, and administrative expenses     49,823  49,823 
Depreciation and amortization from SG&A     3,690  3,690 
Total selling, general, and administrative expenses     $53,513  $53,513 
Other expense - net     1,416  1,416 
Operating income       10,894 
Interest expense - net     2,069  2,069 
Income before income taxes       $8,825 

 

Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc. 
Reconciliation of our Net Income Determined in Accordance with U.S. GAAP to Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation
& Amortization (EBITDA) and Adjusted EBITDA
 
(Unaudited) 
  
   For the Fourth Quarters Ended, For the Fiscal Years Ended, 
           
(Thousands) December 30, 2017 December 31, 2016 December 30, 2017 December 31, 2016 
           
Net income $11,850  $3,498  $28,410  $6,014  
           
Interest expense - net 320  637  1,094  2,069  
           
(Benefit of) provision for income taxes (3,438) 1,672  5,923  2,811  
           
Depreciation and amortization 5,465  5,549  17,967  17,991  
           
EBITDA(a) $14,197  $11,356  $53,394  $28,885  
           
Legal Fees (b)   537  727  5,581  
           
Fines and Restitution (c)       1,579  
           
Non-cash compensation (d) 1,074  1,028  3,036  1,926  
           
Inventory write-down (e)       1,651  
           
Gain on sale of property (f)     (3,071)   
           
Severance (g)   1,231  1,221  1,231  
           
Gain from Arbitration award and FCC Settlement (h)     (8,736)   
           
Site Closure Costs (i) 622    622    
           
Adjusted EBITDA (j) $15,893  $14,152  $47,193  $40,853  
           
 (a) EBITDA represents net income before provision for income taxes, interest income, interest expense, depreciation and amortization. We have presented EBITDA because we consider it an important supplemental measure of our performance and believe it is frequently used by analysts, investors, our lenders and other interested parties in the evaluation of companies in our industry. Management uses EBITDA as a measurement tool for evaluating our actual operating performance compared to budget and prior periods. Other companies in our industry may calculate EBITDA differently than we do. EBITDA is not a measure of performance under U.S. GAAP and should not be considered as a substitute for net income prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider it in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under U.S. GAAP. Some of these limitations are: 
 EBITDA does not reflect our cash expenditures, or future requirements, for capital expenditures or contractual commitments; 
 EBITDA does not reflect interest expense or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments on our debt; 
 EBITDA does not reflect tax expense or the cash requirements necessary to pay for tax obligations; and 
 Although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future, and EBITDA does not reflect any cash requirements for such replacements. 
 We compensate for these limitations by relying primarily on our U.S. GAAP results and using EBITDA only as a supplement. 
(b) Legal fees incurred to resolve routine and non-routine matters stemming from the acquisition of FCC Environmental and International Petroleum Corp. 
   
(c) Fines and restitution related to activities at FCC Environmental and International Petroleum Corp. prior to our acquisition of these companies. 
   
(d) Non-Cash compensation expenses which are recorded in SG&A. 
   
(e) The write down of inventory values resulted in lower carrying costs for certain types of inventories. Depending on various factors, it is possible that these lower inventory values may result in lower cost of sales in future periods and thereby positively impact profitability in future periods.
 
   
(f) Gain from having sold a facility located in Pompano Beach, Florida. 
   
(g) Severance charges related to the departure of our former CEO (2016) and former COO (2017). 
   
(h) Gains from partial award for claims made in our arbitration related to our acquisition of FCC Environmental and International Petroleum Corp. in 2014 and settlement of disputes related to the acquisition of FCC Environmental and International Petroleum Corp. of Delaware.
 
   
(i) Costs associated with closure of the Company’s facility located in Wilmington, Delaware. 
   
(j) We have presented Adjusted EBITDA because we consider it an important supplemental measure of our performance and believe it may be used by analysts, investors, our lenders, and other interested parties in the evaluation of our performance. Other companies in our industry may calculate Adjusted EBITDA differently than we do. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of performance under U.S. GAAP and should not be considered as a substitute for net income prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider it in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under U.S. GAAP.
 


Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures 
    
Adjusted net earnings and adjusted net earnings per share are non-GAAP financial measures. Non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, but not as substitute for, financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Management believes that adjusted net earnings and adjusted net earnings per share provide investors and management useful information about the earnings impact of certain severance and related costs. 
 
       
Reconciliation of our Net Earnings and Net Earnings Per Share Determined in Accordance with
U.S. GAAP to our Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Earnings and Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Earnings Per Share
 
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data) 
(Unaudited) 
       
   Fourth Quarters Ended, 
       
   December 30,
2017
 December 31,
2016
 
       
GAAP net earnings  $11,720  $3,443  
       
Site Closure costs (a)  622    
Tax effect on site closure costs  (218)   
       
Severance and related costs (b)    1,527  
Tax effect on severance and related costs    (494) 
       
Tax reform benefit of deferred tax liability (c)  (6,155)   
       
Adjusted net earnings  $5,969  $4,476  
       
GAAP diluted earnings per share $0.51  $0.15  
       
Site closure costs per share 0.03    
Tax effect on site closure costs per share (0.01)   
       
Severance and related costs per share   0.07  
Tax effect on severance and related costs per share   (0.02) 
       
Tax reform benefit of deferred tax liability per share  (0.27)   
       
Adjusted diluted earnings per share $0.26  $0.20  
       
(a) Costs associated with closure of the Company’s facility located in Wilmington, Delaware.   
       
(b) Severance and related costs include severance and expenses for accelerated vesting of retiree restricted stock grants.   
       
(c) Benefit from the revaluation of our net deferred income tax liability as a result of the new federal income tax law.