CBIZ Reports Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year 2020 Results

CLEVELAND, Feb. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --

FOURTH-QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS:

    --  TOTAL REVENUE +3.9%
    --  SAME-UNIT REVENUE +1.1%

FULL-YEAR HIGHLIGHTS:

    --  TOTAL REVENUE +1.6%
    --  SAME-UNIT REVENUE -0.4%
    --  EPS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS +11.8%
    --  ADJUSTED EBITDA +9.6%

2021 GUIDANCE:

    --  TOTAL REVENUE +5% TO 8%
    --  TAX RATE ~25%
    --  SHARE COUNT ~54.5 MILLION
    --  EPS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS +8% TO 12%

CBIZ, Inc. (NYSE: CBZ) (the "Company") today announced fourth- quarter and full-year results for the period ended December 31, 2020.

For the 2020 fourth quarter, CBIZ recorded revenue of $211.1 million, an increase of $8.0 million, or 3.9%, over the $203.1 million reported in 2019. Newly acquired operations, net of divestitures, contributed $5.8 million, or 2.8%, to fourth-quarter 2020 revenue growth. Same-unit revenue increased by $2.2 million, or 1.1%, for the quarter, compared with the same period a year ago. Loss from continuing operations was $0.1 million in the 2020 fourth quarter, compared with a loss of $1.1 million for the same period a year ago. Adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter was $5.2 million, compared with $2.7 million for the same period in 2019.

For the full year ended December 31, 2020, CBIZ recorded revenue of $963.9 million, an increase of $15.5 million, or 1.6%, over the $948.4 million recorded for the same period in 2019. Acquisitions, net of divested operations, contributed $18.9 million, or 2.0%, to revenue growth in the twelve months ended December 31, 2020. Same-unit revenue decreased by $3.4 million, or 0.4%, compared with the same period a year ago. Income from continuing operations was $78.3 million, or $1.42 per diluted share, in the twelve months ended December 31, 2020, compared with $71.0 million, or $1.27 per diluted share, for the same period a year ago. Adjusted EBITDA was $132.1 million in 2020, compared with $120.6 million in 2019.

In the twelve months ended December 31, 2020, the Company repurchased a total of approximately 2.3 million shares of its common stock. Additionally, between December 31, 2020, and February 16, 2021, the Company repurchased approximately 600,000 shares. The balance outstanding on the Company's unsecured credit facility at December 31, 2020 was $108.0 million with approximately $286 million of unused borrowing capacity.

Jerry Grisko, CBIZ President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "Both our fourth-quarter and full-year results provide further evidence of the resilience of our business model, dedication and resolve of our team, and the strength of our relationships with our clients. Likewise, our clients demonstrated similar resilience - as demand for our essential and recurring services remained strong throughout the past year, and demand for many of our project-based and advisory services improved in the latter part of the year. We are extremely proud to report quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year growth for a time period when the business environment was among the most challenging in our history."

Grisko continued, "Despite some delays earlier in the year, acquisitions continue to present an important opportunity for CBIZ. We added seven businesses in the last year totaling $45.2 million in annualized aggregate revenue, all bringing strategic value, talent and expertise to our business. Already in 2021, we closed one acquisition with $3.6 million in annualized revenue. While it is difficult to predict the number of acquisitions that will join us in a given year, we are encouraged by the pipeline of exceptional organizations that are at various stages of discussion."

2021 Outlook

Given our fourth-quarter and full-year 2020 results, the Company is restoring full-year guidance for 2021:

    --  The Company expects total growth in revenue within a range of 5% to 8%
        over the prior year.
    --  Although a number of factors may impact the tax rate, the Company
        expects an effective tax rate of approximately 25%.
    --  The Company expects a weighted average fully diluted share count of
        approximately 54.5 million shares.
    --  The Company expects to grow fully diluted earnings per share within a
        range of 8% to 12% over the prior year.

Conference Call

CBIZ will host a conference call at 11:00 a.m. (ET) today to discuss its results. The call will be webcast live for the media and the public, and can be accessed at www.cbiz.com. Shareholders and analysts who would like to participate in the call can register at https://dpregister.com/sreg/10151295/e0a1506cc0 to receive the dial-in number and unique personal identification number. Participants may register at any time, including up to and after the call start time.

A replay of the webcast will be made available approximately two hours following the call on the Company's website at www.cbiz.com. For those without internet access, a replay of the call will also be available starting at approximately 1:00 p.m. (ET), February 18, through 5:00 p.m. (ET), February 22, 2021. The toll- free dial-in number for the replay is 1-877-344-7529. If you are listening from outside the United States, dial 1-412-317-0088. The access code for the replay is 10151295.

About CBIZ

CBIZ, Inc. is a leading provider of financial, insurance and advisory services to businesses throughout the United States. Financial services include accounting, tax, government health care consulting, transaction advisory, risk advisory, and valuation services. Insurance services include employee benefits consulting, retirement plan consulting, property and casualty insurance, payroll, and human capital consulting. With more than 100 offices in 31 states, CBIZ is one of the largest accounting and insurance brokerage providers in the U.S. For more information, visit www.cbiz.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the impact of COVID-19 on the Company's business and operations and those of our clients; the Company's ability to adequately manage and sustain its growth; the Company's dependence on the current trend of outsourcing business services; the Company's dependence on the services of its CEO and other key employees; competitive pricing pressures; general business and economic conditions; and changes in governmental regulation and tax laws affecting the Company's insurance business or its business services operations. A more detailed description of such risks and uncertainties may be found in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov.


                                                                                     
            
              CBIZ, INC.
                                                                                    FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (UNAUDITED)

                                                                   
            
              THREE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020 AND 2019

                                                         
            
              
                (In thousands, except percentages and per share data)




                                                                                                                                                               Three Months Ended December 31,



                                                                                                                                                                    2020                                      2019
                                                                                                                                                                
          %                                 
          %

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        ---


     
              Revenue                                                                                                                                        $211,110                    100.0 %       $203,138                    100.0 %



     Operating expenses (1)                                                                                                                                     211,748                      100.3         200,706                       98.8

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        ---


     
              Gross (loss) margin                                                                                                                               (638)                     (0.3)          2,432                        1.2



     Corporate general and administrative expenses (1)                                                                                                           13,078                        6.2          10,490                        5.2

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        ---


     
              Operating loss                                                                                                                                 (13,716)                     (6.5)        (8,058)                     (4.0)



     Other income:



     Interest expense                                                                                                                                             (816)                     (0.4)        (1,256)                     (0.6)



     Loss on sale of operations, net                                                                                                                              (587)                     (0.3)             15



     Other income, net (1) (2)                                                                                                                                   13,050                        6.2           4,999                        2.5

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        ---


     Total other income, net                                                                                                                                     11,647                        5.5           3,758                        1.9



     
              Loss from continuing operations before income tax benefit                                                                                       (2,069)                     (1.0)        (4,300)                     (2.1)



     Income tax benefit                                                                                                                                         (1,979)                                  (3,164)




     
              Loss from continuing operations                                                                                                                    (90)                                  (1,136)                     (0.6)



     Loss from operations of discontinued businesses, net of tax                                                                                                    (4)                                     (16)




     
              Net loss                                                                                                                                          $(94)                       - %      $(1,152)                    (0.6)%






     
              Diluted loss per share:



     Continuing operations                                                                                                                         
            $         -                                  $(0.02)



     Discontinued operations                                                                                                                                          -




     
              Net loss                                                                                                                
            
              $         -                                  $(0.02)






     Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding                                                                                                          54,039                                    54,547



     
              Other data from continuing operations:



     Adjusted EBITDA (3)                                                                                                                                         $5,196                                    $2,676



     __________________________________________________


      (1) CBIZ sponsors a deferred compensation plan, under which a CBIZ employee's compensation deferral is held in a rabbi trust and invested accordingly as directed by the employee. Income and expenses related to the deferred
       compensation plan are included in "Operating expenses" ($11.0 million in 2020 and $5.5 million in 2019, or 5.2% and 2.7% of revenue, respectively) and "Corporate general and administrative expenses" ($1.2 million in 2020 and
       $0.7 million in 2019, or 0.6% and 0.3% of revenue, respectively) and are directly offset by deferred compensation gains in "Other income, net" ($12.2 million in 2020 and $6.2 million in 2019, or 5.8% and 3.0% of revenue,
       respectively). The deferred compensation plan has no impact on "Loss from continuing operations before income tax benefit".




      (2) Included in "Other income, net" for the three months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, is income of $0.5 million and expense of $1.3 million, respectively, related to net changes in the fair value of contingent consideration
       related to CBIZ's prior acquisitions.




      (3) Refer to the financial highlights tables for a reconciliation of Non-GAAP financial measures to the nearest generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") financial measure, and for additional information as to the
       usefulness of the Non-GAAP financial measures to shareholders and investors.


                                                                                   
              
                CBIZ, INC.
                                                                                    FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (UNAUDITED)

                                                                 
              
                TWELVE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020 AND 2019

                                                      
              
                
                  (In thousands, except percentages and per share data)




                                                                                                                                                                                  Twelve Months Ended December 31,



                                                                                                                                                                  2020                                      2019

                                                                                                                                                                     %                                        %

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      ---


     
                Revenue                                                                                                                                    $963,897                    100.0 %       $948,424                    100.0 %



     Operating expenses (1)                                                                                                                                   825,351                       85.6         823,496                       86.8




     
                Gross margin                                                                                                                                138,546                       14.4         124,928                       13.2



     Corporate general and administrative expenses (1)                                                                                                         46,066                        4.8          44,406                        4.7




     
                Operating income                                                                                                                             92,480                        9.6          80,522                        8.5



     Other income:



     Interest expense                                                                                                                                         (4,983)                     (0.5)        (5,765)                     (0.6)



     (Loss) gain on sale of operations, net                                                                                                                     (509)                     (0.1)            417



     Other income, net (1) (2)                                                                                                                                 16,500                        1.7          17,715                        1.9




     Total other income, net                                                                                                                                   11,008                        1.1          12,367                        1.3



     
                Income from continuing operations before income tax expense                                                                                 103,488                       10.7          92,889                        9.8



     Income tax expense                                                                                                                                        25,141                                    21,840




     
                Income from continuing operations                                                                                                            78,347                        8.1          71,049                        7.5



     Loss from operations of discontinued businesses, net of tax                                                                                                 (48)                                    (335)




     
                Net income                                                                                                                                  $78,299                      8.1 %        $70,714                      7.5 %






     
                Diluted earnings (loss) per share:



     Continuing operations                                                                                                                                      $1.42                                     $1.27



     Discontinued operations                                                                                                                                   (0.01)                                   (0.01)




     
                Net income                                                                                                                                    $1.41                                     $1.26






     Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding                                                                                                        55,359                                    55,895



     
                Other data from continuing operations:



     Adjusted EBITDA (3)                                                                                                                                     $132,119                                  $120,582



     __________________________________________________


      (1) CBIZ sponsors a deferred compensation plan, under which a CBIZ employee's compensation deferral is held in a rabbi trust and invested accordingly as directed by the employee. Income and expenses related to the deferred compensation plan are
       included in "Operating expenses" ($13.8 million in 2020 and $17.2 million in 2019, or 1.4% and 1.8% of revenue, respectively) and "Corporate general and administrative expenses" ($1.6 million in 2020 and $2.0 million in 2019, or 0.2% and 0.2% of
       revenue, respectively) and are directly offset by deferred compensation gains in "Other income, net" ($15.4 million in 2020 and $19.2 million in 2019, or 1.6% and 2.0% of revenue, respectively). The deferred compensation plan has no impact on
       "Income from continuing operations before income tax expense".




      (2) Included in "Other income, net" for the twelve months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, is income of $0.6 million and expense of $1.6 million, respectively, related to net changes in the fair value of contingent consideration related to CBIZ's
       prior acquisitions.




      (3) Refer to the financial highlights tables for a reconciliation of Non-GAAP financial measures to the nearest GAAP financial measure, and for additional information as to the usefulness of the Non-GAAP financial measures to shareholders and
       investors.


                           
              
                
                  CBIZ, INC.
                                   FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (UNAUDITED)
                                            (In thousands)




                              
              
                SELECT SEGMENT DATA




                                                                                                Three Months Ended                           Twelve Months Ended
                                                                            December 31,             December 31,

                                                                                                          ---

                                                                              2020          2019           2020           2019

                                                                                                                        ---


     
                Revenue



     Financial Services                                                  $131,419      $123,256       $629,778       $616,567



     Benefits and Insurance Services                                       70,325        70,886        297,758        296,228



     National Practices                                                     9,366         8,996         36,361         35,629

                                                                                                                        ---


     
                Total                                                  $211,110      $203,138       $963,897       $948,424

                                                                                                                        ===




     
                Gross (Loss) Margin



     Financial Services                                                    $2,147      $(1,137)      $104,569       $101,327



     Benefits and Insurance Services                                       10,487        10,477         49,401         49,983



     National Practices                                                     1,072           830          3,724          3,155



     Operating expenses - unallocated (1):



     Other expense                                                        (3,334)      (2,266)       (5,342)      (12,361)



     Deferred compensation                                               (11,010)      (5,472)      (13,806)      (17,176)

                                                                                                                        ---


     
                Total                                                    $(638)       $2,432       $138,546       $124,928




     ______________________________________________


      (1) Represents operating expenses not directly allocated to individual businesses, including stock-based compensation, consolidation and integration charges, and
       certain advertising expenses. "Operating expenses - unallocated" also include gains or losses attributable to the assets held in a rabbi trust associated with the
       Company's deferred compensation plan. These gains or losses do not impact "Income from continuing operations before income tax expense" as they are directly offset by
       the same adjustment to "Other income, net" in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. Net gains/losses recognized from adjustments to the fair value of
       the assets held in the rabbi trust are recorded as compensation expense in "Operating expenses" and "Corporate, general and administrative expense," and offset in
       "Other income, net".


                                                                                      
              
                CBIZ, INC.
                                                                                            SELECT CASH FLOW DATA

                                                                            
              
                
                  (In thousands)

                                                                                                     ---



                                                                                                                                                  Twelve Months Ended
                                                                                                                                    December 31,


                                                                                                                                      2020            2019

                                                                                                                                                      ---


              
                Net income                                                                                             $78,299         $70,714



              
                Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:



              Depreciation and amortization expense                                                                                23,139          22,345



              Bad debt expense, net of recoveries                                                                                   4,409           2,415



              Adjustments to contingent earnout liability, net                                                                      (629)          1,599



              Stock-based compensation expense                                                                                      8,869           7,254



              Other noncash adjustments                                                                                           (2,170)          5,582

                                                                                                                                                      ---


              
                Net income, after adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by                          111,917         109,909
    operating activities



              Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions and divestitures                                              34,999        (11,386)

                                                                                                                                                      ---


              Operating cash flows provided by continuing operations                                                              146,916          98,523



              Operating cash used in discontinued operations                                                                         (71)          (338)

                                                                                                                                                      ---


              
                Net cash provided by operating activities                                                              146,845          98,185



              
                Net cash used in investing activities                                                                 (46,406)       (27,685)



              
                Net cash used in financing activities                                                                 (76,609)       (54,549)

                                                                                                                                                      ---


              
                Net Increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash                                              23,830          15,951

                                                                                                                                                      ---


              Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year                                                    $146,505        $130,554

                                                                                                                                                      ---


              
                Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of year                                             $170,335        $146,505

                                                                                                                                                      ===




              
                Reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash to the



              
                consolidated balance sheet:



              Cash and cash equivalents                                                                                            $4,652            $567



              Restricted cash                                                                                                      23,951          29,595



              Cash equivalents included in funds held for clients                                                                 141,732         116,343

                                                                                                                                                      ---


              
                Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash                                                      $170,335        $146,505

                                                                                                                                                      ===


                                                                                             
              
                CBIZ, INC.
                                                                                              SELECT FINANCIAL DATA AND RATIOS

                                                                                    
              
                
                  (In thousands)

                                                                                                             ---



                                                                                                                            
              
                December 31, 2020               
              
                December 31, 2019

                                                                                                                                                                                                                               ---


     Cash and cash equivalents                                                                                                                                        4,652                                                    567



     Restricted cash                                                                                                                                                 23,951                                                 29,595



     Accounts receivable, net                                                                                                                                       216,175                                                222,031



     Current assets before funds held for clients                                                                                                                   268,991                                                276,518



     Funds held for clients                                                                                                                                         167,440                                                179,502



     Goodwill and other intangible assets, net                                                                                                                      756,750                                                654,671





     
                Total assets                                                                                                                                    1,513,754                                              1,400,774





     Current liabilities before client fund obligations                                                                                                             211,285                                                186,906



     Client fund obligations                                                                                                                                        166,989                                                179,020



     Total long-term debt                                                                                                                                           107,192                                                104,333





     
                Total liabilities                                                                                                                                 811,134                                                741,536





     Treasury stock                                                                                                                                               (595,297)                                             (535,693)





     
                Total stockholders' equity                                                                                                                        702,620                                                659,238





     Debt to equity                                                                                                                                                  15.3 %                                                15.8 %



     Days sales outstanding (DSO) - continuing operations (1)                                                                                                            72                                                     75





     Shares outstanding                                                                                                                                              54,099                                                 55,419



     Basic weighted average common shares outstanding                                                                                                                54,288                                                 54,299



     Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding                                                                                                              55,359                                                 55,895



     ____________________________________________


      (1) DSO is provided for continuing operations and represents accounts receivable, net, at the end of the period, divided by trailing twelve month daily revenue. The Company has included DSO data because such
       data is commonly used as a performance measure by analysts and investors and as a measure of the Company's ability to collect on receivables in a timely manner. DSO should not be regarded as an alternative or
       replacement to any measurement of performance under GAAP.


                                               
              
                CBIZ, INC.
                                                       GAAP RECONCILIATION


     
                
                  Income from Continuing Operations to Non-GAAP Financial Measures
                
                 
                
                  (1)

                                             
              
                (In thousands)

                                                               ---



                                                                                                                          Three Months Ended                           Twelve Months Ended
                                                                                                      December 31,             December 31,


                                                                                                        2020          2019           2020           2019

                                                                                                                                                  ---


     
                (Loss) income from continuing operations                                            $(90)     $(1,136)       $78,347        $71,049



     Interest expense                                                                                   816         1,256          4,983          5,765



     Income tax (benefit) expense                                                                   (1,979)      (3,164)        25,141         21,840



     Loss (gain) on sale of operations, net                                                             587          (15)           509          (417)



     Depreciation                                                                                     2,516         2,181          9,568          8,283



     Amortization                                                                                     3,346         3,554         13,571         14,062

                                                                                                                                                  ---


     
                Adjusted EBITDA                                                                    $5,196        $2,676       $132,119       $120,582




     _________________________________________


      (1) CBIZ reports its financial results in accordance with GAAP. This table reconciles Non-GAAP financial measures to the nearest GAAP financial measure, "Income from continuing operations".
       Adjusted EBITDA is not defined by GAAP and should not be regarded as an alternative or replacement to any measurement of performance or cash flow under GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA is commonly used by
       the Company, its shareholders and debt holders to evaluate, assess and benchmark the Company's operational results and to provide an additional measure with respect to the Company's ability to
       meet future debt obligations.

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SOURCE CBIZ, Inc.