H&E Equipment Services, Inc. announced results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2019.
- Revenues increased 9.6% to $353.0 million versus $322.1 million a year ago.
- Net income increased 33.4% to $28.4 million in the third quarter compared to net income of $21.3 million a year ago. The effective income tax rate was 26.7% in the third quarter of 2019 and 26.4% in the third quarter of 2018.
- Adjusted EBITDA increased 17.9% to $127.5 million in the third quarter compared to $108.2 million a year ago, yielding a margin of 36.1% of revenues compared to 33.6% a year ago.
- Total equipment rental revenues for the third quarter of 2019 were $204.1 million, an increase of $31.4 million, or 18.2%, compared to $172.8 million a year ago (as adjusted).(1) Rental revenues (as previously reported) for the third quarter of 2019 were $184.8 million, an increase of $28.8 million, or 18.4%, compared to $156.0 million in the third quarter of 2018.(1)
- New equipment sales decreased 4.7% to $65.0 million in the third quarter compared to $68.2 million a year ago.
- Used equipment sales increased 2.9% to $31.2 million in the third quarter compared to $30.3 million a year ago.
- Gross margin was 37.4% compared to 35.6% a year ago. The increase in gross margin was largely the result of a shift in revenue mix to rentals and higher equipment rental gross margins.
- Total equipment rental gross margins were 46.3% in the third quarter of 2019 compared to 45.2% in the third quarter of 2018 (as adjusted).(1) Rental gross margins (as previously reported) were 50.8% in the third quarter of 2019 compared to 50.0% a year ago.(1)
- Average time utilization (based on original equipment cost) was 71.4% compared to 71.0% a year ago. The size of the Company’s rental fleet based on original acquisition cost increased 12.3% from a year ago, to $2.0 billion.
- Average rental rates increased 2.4% compared to a year ago and 1.0% sequentially.
- Dollar utilization was 37.5% in the third quarter compared to 35.9% a year ago.
- Average rental fleet age at September 30, 2019, was 34.9 months compared to an industry average age of 45.6 months.
Brad Barber, H&E Equipment Services’ chief executive officer and president, said, “Our third quarter results were solid as we continued to experience broad-based demand for rental equipment throughout our end-user construction markets. We achieved a 2.4% improvement in rates compared to a year ago and physical utilization increased 40 basis points to 71.4%, which helped drive an 18.4% increase in rental revenues.”
Barber concluded, “We are pleased with our year-to-date performance and ability to capitalize on the ongoing strength and opportunities in the well-diversified construction markets we serve throughout our 23-state footprint. Increasing the scale of our rental business continues to be a strategic priority for our business. We expect to achieve this goal through organic growth, acquisitions and warm-start store openings. Based on our current performance, solid level of project activity and our customers’ feedback, our market outlook remains positive.”
FINANCIAL DISCUSSION FOR THIRD QUARTER 2019:
Revenue
Total revenues increased 9.6% to $353.0 million in the third quarter of 2019 from $322.1 million in the third quarter of 2018. Total equipment rental revenues increased 18.2% to $204.1 million compared to $172.8 million in the third quarter of 2018 (as adjusted).(1) Rental revenues (as previously reported) increased 18.4% to $184.8 million compared to $156.0 million in the third quarter of 2018.(1) New equipment sales were $65.0 million compared to $68.2 million a year ago. Used equipment sales increased 2.9% to $31.2 million compared to $30.3 million a year ago. Parts sales were $31.5 million, the same as the year ago period. Service revenues increased 10.2% to $18.1 million compared to $16.4 million a year ago.
Gross Profit
Gross profit increased 15.2% to $132.1 million from $114.7 million in the third quarter of 2018. Gross margin was 37.4% for the quarter ended September 30, 2019, as compared to 35.6% for the quarter ended September 30, 2018. On a segment basis, gross margin on total equipment rentals was 46.3% in the third quarter of 2019 compared to 45.2% in the third quarter of 2018 (as adjusted).(1) Rental margins (as previously reported) were 50.8% in the third quarter of 2019 compared to 50.0% a year ago.(1) On average, rental rates were 2.4% higher than rates in the third quarter of 2018. Time utilization (based on original equipment cost) was 71.4% in the third quarter of 2019 compared to 71.0% a year ago.
Gross margins on new equipment sales were 11.6% in the third quarter compared to 11.5% a year ago. Gross margins on used equipment sales were 31.3% compared to 32.3% a year ago. Gross margins on parts sales were 26.4% in the third quarter of 2019 compared to 26.5% a year ago. Gross margins on service revenues increased to 67.4% for the third quarter of 2019 compared to 65.7% in the third quarter of 2018.
Rental Fleet
At the end of the third quarter of 2019, the original acquisition cost of the Company’s rental fleet was $2.0 billion, an increase of $216.2 million from the end of the third quarter of 2018. Dollar utilization for the third quarter of 2019 was 37.5% compared to 35.9% for the third quarter of 2018.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
SG&A expenses for the third quarter of 2019 were $77.3 million compared with $70.3 million the prior year, a $7.0 million, or 9.9%, increase. SG&A expenses in the third quarter of 2019 as a percentage of total revenues were 21.9% compared to 21.8% a year ago. Employee salaries, wages, payroll taxes and related employee benefit and other employee related expenses increased $3.1 million, primarily as a result of our acquisition since September 30, 2018, and a larger workforce and higher incentive compensation related to increased profitability. Facility related expenses, primarily rent expense, increased $1.0 million. Insurance expense increased $0.7 million and depreciation and amortization increased $0.6 million. Expenses related to Greenfield branch expansions increased $0.8 million compared to a year ago.
Income from Operations
Income from operations for the third quarter of 2019 increased 22.5% to $55.5 million, or 15.7% of revenues, compared to $45.3 million, or 14.1% of revenues, a year ago.
Interest Expense
Interest expense was $17.3 million for the third quarter of 2019 compared to $16.7 million a year ago.
Net Income
Net income was $28.4 million, or $0.79 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2019 compared to net income of $21.3 million, or $0.59 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2018. The effective income tax rate was 26.7% in the third quarter of 2019 and 26.4% in the third quarter of 2018.
Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter of 2019 increased 17.9% to $127.5 million compared to $108.2 million in the third quarter of 2018. Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenues was 36.1% compared with 33.6% in the third quarter of 2018.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This press release contains certain Non-GAAP measures (EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and recasting of certain revenue and cost of revenue numbers detailed below). Please refer to our Current Report on Form 8-K for a description of these measures and of our use of these measures. These measures as calculated by the Company are not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Additionally, these Non-GAAP measures are not a measurement of financial performance or liquidity under GAAP and should not be considered as alternatives to the Company's other financial information determined under GAAP.
