AECOM (ACM) Q3 Earnings In Line With Estimates, Revenues Top

AECOM ACM reported third-quarter fiscal 2021 results, wherein earnings were in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate but revenues beat the same. Furthermore, the company increased its fiscal 2021 guidance.

Troy Rudd, AECOM’s chief executive officer, said, “Our third quarterresults were highlighted by accelerating NSR growth in our design business, a new quarterly high for margins, double-digit adjusted earnings growth and strong cash flow. As we look ahead, the pandemic continues to have varied impacts around the world.”

Delving Deeper

Adjusted earnings per share of 73 cents met the consensus mark but grew 33% year over year. Revenues of $3,408 million beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 5.6% and grew 7% year over year.

Improved profitability reflects the company’s efforts to transform itself into a higher-margin and lower-risk Professional Services business.

AECOM Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

AECOM Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

AECOM price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | AECOM Quote

Segment Details

Americas revenues of $2,618.4 million were up 6% from the year-ago level. Yet, net service revenues or NSR of $890 million for the quarter dropped 4% year over year on a constant-currency organic basis. Adjusted operating income of $168 million was up 2% year over year. Adjusted operating margin (on an NSR basis) also expanded 100 basis points or bps. This upside reflected the benefits of the actions taken to boost margins, and investments in technology, shared service centers as well as design centers to improve project delivery efficiencies.

International revenues gained 10% on a year-over-year basis to $789.3 million. On a constant-currency organic basis, NSR increased 7% from a year ago to $633 million for the quarter. Adjusted operating income in the segment rose 38% year on year to $46 million. Adjusted operating margin (on an NSR basis) also jumped 160 bps to 7.3%. Actions taken to improve margins included consolidating real estate, implementing a streamlined G&A structure and exiting lower-returning countries.

Operating Highlights

Adjusted segment operating margin for the quarter amounted to 14.1%, up 90 bps from the year-ago level. This marked a new quarterly high. Adjusted EBITDA also grew 15% year over year to $214 million.

At fiscal third quarter-end, the company’s total backlog was $39.7 billion, down 4% from the prior-year figure. Nonetheless, backlog in the design business grew 8% from a year ago.

Liquidity & Cash Flow

As of Jun 30, 2021, AECOM’s cash and cash equivalents totaled $1,049 million, down from $1,708.3 million at fiscal 2020-end.

As of fiscal third quarter-end, total debt (excluding unamortized debt issuance cost) was $2,233.9 million, marginally up from $2,085 million at fiscal 2020-end.

AECOM has executed $930 million of stock repurchases since the beginning of September 2020. This has reduced the share count by 12% to date. The company has $525 million of capacity remaining under the $1-billion share repurchase authorization.

Fiscal 2021 Guidance Lifted

Adjusted EPS is now expected in the range of $2.75-$2.85 versus the prior guidance of $2.65-$2.85. This indicates a 30% adjusted EPS improvement in fiscal 2021 at the mid-point of the guided range. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2021 earnings is currently pegged at $2.78 per share.

AECOM has also raised its adjusted EBITDA guidance to the range of $810-$830 million from $790-$830 million expected earlier, indicating 10% year-over-year growth at midpoint. The company has reiterated free cash flow projection of $425-$625 million.

Zacks Rank & Peer Releases

AECOM currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Quanta Services Inc. PWR reported second-quarter 2021 results, wherein adjusted earnings and revenues not only surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate but also grew impressively on a year-over-year basis, courtesy of solid performance of the Electric Power Infrastructure Solutions segment.

KBR, Inc. KBR reported impressive second-quarter 2021 results, wherein earnings and revenues topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The company benefited from solid Government Solutions organic growth, strong execution across the business and the acquisition of Centauri.

Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. J reported third-quarter fiscal 2021 (ended Jul 2, 2021) results, wherein earnings and revenues beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate driven by solid project execution. In fact, both the metrics surpassed the consensus mark for the sixth consecutive quarter. Jacobs has lifted fiscal 2021 outlook, given disciplined execution.

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