| • | | Proprietary warehouse technology investments have enabled faster, better and more reliable customer service. Express Pick-up allows contractors to streamline the traditional fulfillment of orders providing quicker service, allowing contractors to complete their work more efficiently. Watsco also launched curbside pick-up and touchless payment capabilities last year to facilitate contactless order fulfillment. More tools have also been developed to optimize demand planning and inventory levels. Taken as a whole, these investments are designed to enhance the customer experience, streamline branch operations and benefit same-store productivity. |
Cash Flow & Dividends
Watsco’s operating cash flow for the first half of 2021 was $82 million versus $261 million for the same period in 2020, reflecting the growth in working capital driven by higher sales growth. The Company has targeted operating cash flow to exceed net income in 2021. Since 2000, operating cash flow was approximately $3.3 billion versus net income of $3.2 billion, surpassing the Company’s goal.
Watsco has paid cash dividends to shareholders for 47 consecutive years. The Company’s philosophy is to share increasing amounts of cash flow through higher dividends while maintaining a conservative financial position with continued capacity to build its distribution network. Effective April 2021, Watsco increased its annual dividend rate by 10% to $7.80 per share.
Acquisitions
On April 9, 2021, Watsco completed the acquisition of TEC. Founded in Chicago in 1935, TEC serves approximately 10,000 HVAC customers from 32 locations in Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin. TEC annual sales were $291 million in 2020. TEC constitutes a joint venture transaction with Carrier Global Corporation (Carrier). Watsco owns 80% of TEC and Carrier 20%.
On May 7, 2021, Watsco completed the acquisition of Acme. Founded in 1945, Acme serves approximately 4,000 HVAC customers from 18 locations in Louisiana and Mississippi. Acme generated $60 million in sales in 2020.
These acquisitions are the latest examples of Watsco’s strategy to invest in growth opportunities and expand its industry-leading position. Since entering HVAC/R distribution in 1989, Watsco’s revenues have increased from $64 million to an annual, pro-forma run-rate approaching $6 billion following its unique “buy and build” philosophy.
Second Quarter Earnings Conference Call Information
Date: July 22, 2021
Time: 10:00 a.m. (EDT)
Webcast: http://investors.watsco.com
Dial-in number: United States (844) 883-3908 / International (412) 317-9254
A replay of the conference call will be available on the Company’s website.
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information
In this release, the Company discloses non-GAAP measures on a “same-store basis”, which exclude the effects of locations closed, acquired, or locations opened, in each case during the immediately preceding 12 months, unless such locations are within close geographical proximity to existing locations. The Company believes that this information provides greater comparability regarding its ongoing operating performance. These measures should not be considered an alternative to measurements required by U.S. GAAP.
About Watsco
Watsco is the largest distribution network for heating, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC/R) products with locations in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico, and on an export basis to Latin America and the Caribbean. Watsco estimates that over 350,000 contractors and technicians visit or call one of its 655 locations each year to get information, obtain technical support and buy products.
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