Iron Mountain Reports Mixed 4Q - Analyst Blog
February 23 2012 - 8:30AM
Zacks
Iron Mountain Inc.’s (IRM) fourth quarter
adjusted earnings per share of 33 cents surpassed the Zacks
Consensus Estimate of 30 cents. However, reported earnings remained
flat on a year-over-year basis.
Revenues
Revenues increased 1.8% year over year to $741.8 million, but
fell shy of the Zacks Consensus Estimates of $744.0 million.
Revenues were positively impacted by internal growth (1.0%) and
favorable foreign exchange rates and acquisitions (1.0%).
Segment wise, Storage revenue (56.7% of revenues) climbed 3.8%
year over year to $420.8 million. Storage revenue’s internal growth
was 3% in the quarter, driven by continued strong performance in
the International business segment and persistent growth in the
North America business. Global records management net volumes crept
up 2% year over year.
Service revenue (43.3% of revenues) dipped 0.8% year over year
to $321.0 million. Core service revenue’s internal growth was
negative 1.0% as strong hybrid service revenue growth and increased
fuel surcharges were more than offset by the softness in North
American core service activity levels.
Operating Performance
Gross profit (excluding depreciation and amortization) fell 2.0%
year over year to $427.0 million in the reported quarter. Gross
margin for the quarter stood at 57.5% versus 59.4% in the year-ago
quarter, due to higher incentive compensation expense and mix shift
toward hybrid service.
Adjusted operating income before depreciation and amortization
(OIBDA) for the quarter upped 2.0% year over year to $237.0
million. Adjusted OBIDA margin for the quarter remained flat on a
year-over-year basis at 32.0%.
Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses were
down 5.2% from the prior-year period to $189.4 million,
attributable to stringent overhead cost controls.
Operating income in the quarter increased 2.0% year over year to
$149.0 million. Operating margin was 20.1%, relatively flat on
year-over-year basis.
Balance Sheet
Iron Mountain exited the quarter with cash and cash equivalents
of $179.8 million compared with $480.9 million at the end of the
previous quarter. Long-term debt (including the current portion)
was $3.35 billion versus $3.32 billion in the prior quarter.
During the fourth quarter of 2011, the company repurchased 14.7
million shares for a total aggregate purchase price of $440.0
million under its existing share repurchase program. On January 13,
2012, the company paid a quarterly dividend of 25 cents per
share.
Guidance
For fiscal 2012, Iron Mountain expects revenues in the range of
$2.97 billion to $3.05 billion. The Zacks Consensus revenue
estimate for the fiscal 2012 is pegged at $3.07 billion.
The company forecasts adjusted OIBDA between $890.0 million and
$930.0 million. Iron Mountain expects earnings per share in the
range of $1.20 to $1.36. The Zacks Consensus Estimate projects
earnings of $1.33 per share for fiscal 2012.
The company expects to spend approximately $215.0 million on
capital assets. Free cash flow is expected in the range of
$320.0 million to $360.0 million for fiscal 2012.
Moreover, management expects a 32.0% year-over-year decline in
paper prices to affect the total revenue by $45 million.
Additionally, North American core service activities will likely
experience continued pressure while the decline in paper prices is
expected to be a headwind going forward.
Recommendation
Iron Mountain has more or less outperformed the Zacks Consensus
Estimates by a positive 2.86% over the last four quarters and the
phenomenon was repeated in the quarter when reported earnings beat
the Zacks Consensus by 10.0%.
We maintain our Neutral recommendation on a long-term basis
(6-12 months) due to weak internal growth coupled with volatile
foreign exchange rates and a decline in paper price that is set to
partially negate the company’s promising product portfolio, strong
market share and a promising International business segment.
Iron Mountain faces stiff competition from Anacomp Inc.,
Cintas Corporation (CTAS) and privately held
SOURCECORP, Inc.
Iron Mountain has a Zacks #3 Rank, which implies a short-term
'Hold' rating (for the next 1-3 months).
CINTAS CORP (CTAS): Free Stock Analysis Report
IRON MOUNTAIN (IRM): Free Stock Analysis Report
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