ASF Administaff, Inc.

Administaff, Inc. (NYSE: ASF), a leading provider of human resources services for small and medium-sized businesses, today reported results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2010. For the fourth quarter, the company reported net income of $7.8 million versus a net loss of $2.8 million in the 2009 period. Diluted earnings per share were $0.30 compared to a loss of $0.11 per share in the 2009 period.

“We are very pleased with our performance throughout the year and our strong finish to 2010, resulting in over 112,000 worksite employees paid in January,” said Paul J. Sarvadi, Administaff chairman and chief executive officer. “For 2011, we are well positioned to resume double-digit worksite employee growth in the PEO, continue our adjacent business development plan and launch our new corporate brand strategy.”

Fourth Quarter Results

Revenues for the fourth quarter of 2010 increased 10.0% over the 2009 period due to a 5.8% increase in revenues per worksite employee per month, and a 3.9% increase in the average number of worksite employees paid per month.

Gross profit increased 31.7% to $80.8 million compared to the fourth quarter of 2009. The average gross profit per worksite employee per month increased $51, or 26.7%, to $242 in the fourth quarter of 2010 from $191 in the 2009 period. This was primarily due to the improvement in our benefits cost center. This resulted from the effective implementation of a plan to recover from increased COBRA costs and elevated utilization levels experienced during the fourth quarter of 2009.

Operating expenses, which included approximately $2.3 million in incremental costs associated with two recent acquisitions, increased 4.3% to $68.2 million compared to $65.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2009. Operating expenses per worksite employee per month remained flat at $204.

Year End Results

For the year ended December 31, 2010, the company had net income of $22.4 million, or $0.86 per diluted share, compared to $16.6 million and $0.65 in 2009.

“We successfully executed our plan to recover from the effects of the recession in both growth and profitability during 2010, achieving 35% earnings growth,” said Douglas S. Sharp, senior vice-president of finance, chief financial officer and treasurer. “With $144 million in working capital, we are in a strong position to execute our plan to invest in growth opportunities and continue our dividend and share repurchase programs.”

Revenues in 2010 were $1.7 billion, a 4.0% increase over the 2009 period. Gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2010, increased 3.7% to $298.5 million. The average gross profit per worksite employee per month was $232 compared to $221 in the 2009 period.

Operating expenses, which included approximately $5.0 million in incremental costs associated with two recent acquisitions, remained relatively flat at $261.5 million. On a per worksite employee per month basis, operating expenses increased 2.0% over 2009. As a result, operating income for the year ended December 31, 2010, was $37.1 million compared to $27.0 million in 2009.

Working capital increased by $16.9 million during the year to $144.5 million at December 31, 2010. During 2010, EBITDA plus stock-based compensation totaled $61.1 million and the company returned $21.4 million to shareholders, including dividends of $13.5 million and share repurchases of $7.9 million.

Administaff will be hosting a conference call today at 10 a.m. ET to discuss these results, give guidance for the first quarter and full year 2011 and answer questions from investment analysts. To listen in, call 877-651-0053 and use conference i.d. number 37253750. The call will also be webcast at http://www.administaff.com. To access the webcast, click on the Investor Relations section of the website and select “Live Webcast.” The conference call script and company guidance will be available at the same website later today. A replay of the conference call will be available at 800-642-1687, conference i.d. 37253750, for one week. The webcast will be archived for one year.

Administaff is the nation’s leading professional employer organization (PEO), serving as a full-service human resources department that provides small and medium-sized businesses with administrative relief, big-company benefits, reduced liabilities and a systematic way to improve productivity. The company also provides an array of additional products and services designed to improve business performance, including software solutions for time and attendance, expense reimbursement and performance management, as well as recruiting, background screening and retirement services, among others. The company operates 51 sales offices in 24 major markets. For additional information, visit Administaff’s website at http://www.administaff.com.

The statements contained herein that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws (Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). You can identify such forward-looking statements by the words “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “believes,” “estimates,” “likely,” “possibly,” “probably,” “goal,” “objective,” “target,” “assume,” “outlook,” “guidance,” “predicts,” “appears,” “indicator” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. In the normal course of business, Administaff, Inc., in an effort to help keep our stockholders and the public informed about our operations, may from time to time issue such forward-looking statements, either orally or in writing. Generally, these statements relate to business plans or strategies, projected or anticipated benefits or other consequences of such plans or strategies, or projections involving anticipated revenues, earnings, unit growth, profit per worksite employee, pricing, operating expenses or other aspects of operating results. We base the forward-looking statements on our expectations, estimates and projections at the time such statements are made. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that we cannot predict. In addition, we have based many of these forward-looking statements on assumptions about future events that may prove to be inaccurate. Therefore, the actual results of the future events described in such forward-looking statements could differ materially from those stated in such forward-looking statements. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are: (i) changes in general economic conditions; (ii) regulatory and tax developments and possible adverse application of various federal, state and local regulations; (iii) the ability to secure competitive replacement contracts for health insurance and workers’ compensation contracts at expiration of current contracts; (iv) increases in health insurance costs and workers’ compensation rates and underlying claims trends, health care reform, financial solvency of workers’ compensation carriers and other insurers, state unemployment tax rates, liabilities for employee and client actions or payroll-related claims; (v) failure to manage growth of our operations and the effectiveness of our sales and marketing efforts; (vi) changes in the competitive environment in the PEO industry, including the entrance of new competitors and our ability to renew or replace client companies; (vii) our liability for worksite employee payroll and benefits costs; (viii) our liability for disclosure of sensitive or private information; (ix) our ability to integrate or realize expected returns on our Adjacent Business strategy, including acquisitions; and (x) an adverse final judgment or settlement of claims against Administaff. These factors are discussed in further detail in Administaff’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Any of these factors, or a combination of such factors, could materially affect the results of our operations and whether forward-looking statements we make ultimately prove to be accurate.

Except to the extent otherwise required by federal securities law, we do not undertake any obligation to update our forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

     

Administaff, Inc.

Summary Financial Information

(in thousands, except per share amounts and statistical data)

  December 31, December 31, 2010 2009   Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 234,829 $ 227,085 Restricted cash 41,204 36,436 Marketable securities 43,367 6,037 Accounts receivable 142,107 122,592 Prepaid insurance and other current assets 33,506 20,801 Income taxes receivable 1,808 2,692 Deferred income taxes   1,267     2,578   Total current assets 498,088 418,221   Property and equipment, net 76,027 81,174 Deposits 63,371 67,529 Other assets   22,359     9,546   Total assets $ 659,845   $ 576,470     Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity Accounts payable $ 3,309 $ 1,857 Payroll taxes and other payroll deductions payable 145,096 127,597 Accrued worksite employee payroll expense 109,697 93,138 Accrued health insurance costs 15,419 6,374 Accrued workers’ compensation costs 42,081 37,049 Other accrued liabilities   38,007     24,579   Total current liabilities 353,609 290,594   Accrued workers’ compensation costs 55,730 52,014 Other accrued liabilities 1,261

-

Deferred income taxes   8,850     10,702   Total noncurrent liabilities 65,841 62,716   Stockholders’ equity: Common stock 309 309 Additional paid-in capital 135,607 138,551 Treasury stock, cost (124,464 ) (135,712 ) Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax 21 3 Retained earnings   228,922     220,009   Total stockholders’ equity   240,395     223,160   Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 659,845   $ 576,470                          

Administaff, Inc.

Summary Financial Information (continued)

(in thousands, except per share amounts and statistical data)

(Unaudited)

 

Three months ended December 31,

Year ended

December 31,

2010

2009

Change

2010

2009

Change

  Operating results:

Revenues (gross billings of $2.896 billion, $2.633 billion, $10.169 billion and $9.856 billion, less worksite employee payroll cost of $2.460 billion, $2.237 billion, $8.449 billion and $8.203 billion, respectively)

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

435,526

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

395,897

 

 

 

10.0

 

 

 

%

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

1,719,752

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

1,653,096

 

 

 

4.0

 

 

 

%

Direct costs: Payroll taxes, benefits and workers’ compensation costs  

354,718

 

334,559

 

6.0

%

 

1,421,216

 

1,365,129

4.1

%

Gross profit 80,808 61,338 31.7 % 298,536 287,967 3.7 % Operating expenses: Salaries, wages and payroll taxes 38,343 35,146 9.1 % 146,901 144,086 2.0 % Stock-based compensation 1,978 2,183 (9.4 )% 8,126 10,064 (19.3 )% General and administrative expenses 15,540 15,270 1.8 % 63,214 62,381 1.3 % Commissions 3,387 2,824 19.9 % 11,881 11,800 0.7 % Advertising 5,267 5,954 (11.5 )% 16,447 16,011 2.7 % Depreciation and amortization   3,641   3,993   (8.8 )%   14,907   16,592 (10.2 )% Total operating expenses   68,156   65,370   4.3 %   261,476   260,934 0.2 % Operating income (loss) 12,652 (4,032 ) 413.8 % 37,060 27,033 37.1 % Other income (expense): Interest income, net   217   201   8.0 %   961   1,616 (40.5 )% Income (loss) before income tax expense 12,869 (3,831 ) 435.9 % 38,021 28,649 32.7 % Income tax (benefit) expense   5,080   (1,022 ) 597.1 %   15,581   12,075 29.0 % Net income (loss) $ 7,789 $ (2,809 ) 377.3 % $ 22,440 $ 16,574 35.4 % Diluted net income (loss) per share of common stock $ 0.30 $ (0.11 ) 372.7 % $ 0.86 $ 0.65 32.3 %                        

Administaff, Inc.

Summary Financial Information (continued)

(in thousands, except per share amounts and statistical data)

(Unaudited)

  Three months ended Year ended December 31, December 31,

2010

2009

Change

2010

2009

Change

  Statistical data:

 

Average number of worksite employees paid per month

111,249 107,025 3.9 % 107,014 108,736 (1.6 )%

Revenues per worksite employee per month (1)

$ 1,305 $ 1,233 5.8 % $ 1,339 $ 1,267 5.7 %

Gross profit per worksite employee per month

242 191 26.7 % 232 221 5.0 %

Operating expenses per worksite employee per month

204 204 - 204 200 2.0 %

Operating income (loss) per worksite employee per month

38 (13 ) 392.3 % 29 21 38.1 %

Net income (loss) per worksite employee per month

23 (9 ) 355.6 % 17 13 30.8 %  

(1) Gross billings of $8,675, $8,200, $7,919 and $7,553 per worksite employee per month, less payroll cost of $7,370, $6,967, $6,580 and $6,286 per worksite employee per month, respectively.

             

Administaff, Inc.

Summary Financial Information (continued)

(in thousands, except per share amounts and statistical data)

(Unaudited)

 

GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation Tables

  Three months ended Year ended December 31, December 31,

2010

2009

Change

2010

2009

Change

  Payroll cost (GAAP) $ 2,459,803 $ 2,236,888 10.0 % $ 8,449,484 $ 8,202,743 3.0 % Less: Bonus payroll cost   411,903   341,351 20.7 %   839,066   750,351 11.8 % Non-bonus payroll cost $ 2,047,900 $ 1,895,537 8.0 % $ 7,610,418 $ 7,452,392 2.1 %  

Payroll cost per worksite employee (GAAP)

$

7,370

$

6,967

5.8

%

$

6,580

$

6,286

4.7

%

Less: Bonus payroll cost per worksite employee

 

1,234

 

1,063

16.1

%

 

654

 

575

13.7

%

Non-bonus payroll cost per worksite employee

$

6,136

$

5,904

3.9

%

$

5,926

$

5,711

3.8

%

 

Non-bonus payroll cost represents payroll cost excluding the impact of bonus payrolls paid to the company’s worksite employees. Bonus payroll cost varies from period to period, but has no direct impact to the company’s ultimate workers’ compensation costs under the current program. As a result, Administaff management refers to non-bonus payroll cost in analyzing, reporting and forecasting the company’s workers’ compensation costs.

                      Three months ended Year ended December 31, December 31,

2010

   

2009

Change

2010

   

2009

Change

  Net income (loss) (GAAP) $ 7,789 $ (2,809 ) 377.3 % $ 22,440 $ 16,574 35.4 % Interest expense

-

-

-

-

18 (100.0 )% Income tax expense (benefit) 5,080 (1,022 ) 597.1 % 15,581 12,075 29.0 % Depreciation and amortization   3,641   3,993   (8.8 )%   14,907   16,592 (10.2 )% EBITDA $ 16,510 $ 162  

-

$ 52,928 $ 45,259 16.9 % Stock-based compensation $ 1,978 $ 2,183   (9.4 )% $ 8,126 $ 10,064 (19.3 )% $ 18,488 $ 2,345   688.4 % $ 61,054 $ 55,323 10.4 %  

EBITDA represents net income computed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), plus interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization expense. Administaff management believes EBITDA is often a useful measure of the company’s operating performance, as it allows for additional analysis of the company’s operating results separate from the impact of taxes and capital and financing transactions on earnings.

Non-bonus payroll and EBITDA are not financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP and may be different from similar measures used by other companies. Non-bonus payroll and EBITDA should not be considered as a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. Administaff includes non-bonus payroll and EBITDA in this press release because the company believes they are useful to investors in allowing for greater transparency related to the costs incurred under the company’s workers’ compensation program and the company’s operating performance during the periods presented. Investors are encouraged to review the reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures used in this press release to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures as provided in the tables above.