United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE: URI) today announced record earnings
per share from continuing operations for both the fourth quarter
and full year 2007. For the fourth quarter, earnings per share of
$0.84 increased 18.3% compared with $0.71 for the fourth quarter
2006. For the full year, earnings per share of $2.76 increased
21.1% compared with $2.28 for the full year 2006. 2007 fourth
quarter and full year earnings per share are before the benefit the
company realized from its receipt of $100 million following the
recent termination of its merger agreement with affiliates of
Cerberus, net of related costs and expenses. Including this
one-time benefit, the company reported 2007 fourth quarter and full
year GAAP earnings per share of $1.36 and $3.26, respectively, also
a record. Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2007 Financial Highlights
Compared with 2006 (excluding merger termination benefit) EBITDA
increased 9.3% to a record $318 million for the fourth quarter and
increased 8.0% to a record $1.17 billion for the full year. EBITDA
margin improved 3.2 percentage points to 34.2% for the fourth
quarter, and 1.6 percentage points to 31.4% for the full year. As
discussed further below, the fourth quarter and full year EBITDA
include a currency benefit of $17 million ($11 million after-tax).
EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure. Rental revenue increased 4.1% for the
fourth quarter and 4.0% for the full year. Same-store rental
revenue increased 3.7% for the fourth quarter and 3.1% for the full
year. Time utilization, on a larger fleet, increased 2.3 percentage
points for the fourth quarter and 2.5 percentage points for the
full year, more than offsetting rental rate declines of 2.1% and
1.1% for the fourth quarter and full year, respectively. SG&A
expense as a percent of revenue improved 0.8 percentage points to
16.2% for the fourth quarter and 0.9 percentage points to 15.9% for
the full year. Fourth quarter 2007 income from continuing
operations of $94 million, excluding a $59 million after-tax impact
of the merger termination benefit, increased 22.1% from $77 million
for the fourth quarter 2006. Full year 2007 income from continuing
operations of $306 million, excluding a $57 million after-tax
impact of the merger termination benefit, increased 22.9% from $249
million for the full year 2006. Fourth quarter and full year 2007
income from continuing operations includes net foreign currency
transaction gains of $11 million, or $0.10 per diluted share,
primarily related to the company�s Canadian operations.
Additionally, full year 2007 income from continuing operations
includes non-cash reductions in interest expense of $6 million, or
$0.05 per diluted share, related to the mark-to-market impact of
certain interest rate swaps. Of this benefit, $4 million, or $0.04
per diluted share, was recognized in the fourth quarter. Total
revenue from continuing operations was $930 million for the fourth
quarter 2007, a decrease of 1.0% from the fourth quarter 2006, and
$3.73 billion for the full year 2007, an increase of 2.5% from the
full year 2006. The slight decline in fourth quarter total revenue
reflects planned decreases in contractor supplies and used
equipment sales of 20.6% and 12.6%, respectively, partially offset
by a 4.1% increase in equipment rental revenue. Excluding the
merger termination benefit, free cash flow for the full year 2007
was $151 million after total rental and non-rental capital
expenditures of $990 million, compared with free cash flow of $235
million for the full year 2006 after total rental and non-rental
capital expenditures of $951 million. The year-over-year reduction
in free cash flow reflects an increase in cash taxes paid and
working capital usage in 2007 as compared to working capital
generation in the prior year. Free cash flow is a non-GAAP measure.
The size of the rental fleet, measured by the original equipment
cost, was $4.2 billion, and the average age of the fleet was 38
months at December 31, 2007, compared with $3.9 billion and 39
months at year-end 2006. Full Year 2008 Outlook The company
reaffirmed its full year 2008 outlook for earnings per share of
$2.80 to $3.00 based on anticipated rental revenue growth of 3.0%
to $2.71 billion and total revenue of $3.53 billion. Rental revenue
expectations reflect the following assumptions: an improvement in
time utilization, virtually no growth capital and modest growth in
non-residential construction activity. The company also expects to
generate $1.17 to $1.21 billion of EBITDA, representing an expected
full year EBITDA margin improvement to approximately 33.7% of
revenues. Additionally, the company expects to generate $325
million to $375 million of free cash flow after planned total
capital expenditures of approximately $715 million. CEO Comments
Michael Kneeland, chief executive officer for United Rentals, said,
"The record EPS and EBITDA we generated in 2007 were the direct
result of a new strategic plan that is intensely focused on
profitable growth. In mid-year, we put our operations under a
microscope and returned our sales and service focus to our core
equipment rental business, where we have numerous competitive
advantages. This helped drive significant increases in time
utilization and organic rental revenue growth. Additionally, we
took action to improve our cost structure with a 9% headcount
reduction, branch network optimization, and approximately $22
million in cumulative savings through better sourcing.� Mr.
Kneeland continued, "In 2008, we expect to continue to improve our
performance as we move forward with the disciplined execution of
our plan. In the first quarter, we're on pace to double our
equipment transfers compared with 2007. Our agility with fleet
management and our ongoing cost containment initiatives should help
drive a 33.7% EBITDA margin and strong free cash flow in 2008,
given the current construction outlook. Our guidance is consistent
with our goal of realizing $500 million in incremental annual
EBITDA within five years." Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) Return
on invested capital was 14.5% for the twelve months ended December
31, 2007, an improvement of 0.6 percentage points from September
30, 2007, and a decline of 0.2 percentage points from December 31,
2006. The company�s ROIC metric uses operating income for the
trailing twelve months divided by the averages of stockholders�
equity, debt and deferred taxes, net of average cash. The company
reports ROIC to provide information on the company�s efficiency and
effectiveness in deploying its capital and improving stockholder
value. Additional Information on 2007 Results and Status of SEC
Inquiry For additional information concerning the company�s 2007
fourth quarter and full year results, including segment performance
for its general rentals and trench safety, pump and power
businesses, as well as the status of the previously announced SEC
inquiry of the company and related matters, please see the
company�s 2007 Form 10-K filed today with the SEC. CEO Search The
company also reported that its board of directors has retained the
executive recruitment firm of Heidrick & Struggles to conduct a
search for a permanent chief executive officer. In doing so, the
board confirmed that Michael Kneeland, who currently serves as CEO
on an interim basis, is a candidate for the position. The board
also commended Mr. Kneeland on his leadership of the company since
June 2007. Conference Call United Rentals will hold a conference
call tomorrow, Friday, February 29th, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
The conference will be available live by audio webcast at
www.unitedrentals.com, where it will be archived until the
company�s next call. About United Rentals United Rentals, Inc. is
the largest equipment rental company in the world, with an
integrated network of over 690 rental locations in 48 states, 10
Canadian provinces and Mexico. The company�s approximately 10,900
employees serve construction and industrial customers, utilities,
municipalities, homeowners and others. The company offers for rent
over 2,900 classes of rental equipment with a total original cost
of $4.2 billion. United Rentals is a member of the Standard &
Poor�s MidCap 400 Index and the Russell 2000 Index� and is
headquartered in Greenwich, Conn. Additional information about
United Rentals is available at www.unitedrentals.com. Forward
Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release are
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor"
provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
These statements can generally be identified by words such as
"believes," "expects," "plans," "intends," "projects," "forecasts,"
"may," "will," "should," "on track" or "anticipates," or the
negative thereof or comparable terminology, or by discussions of
vision, strategy or outlook. Our businesses and operations are
subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are
beyond our control, and, consequently, actual results may differ
materially from those projected by any forward-looking statements.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those
projected include, but are not limited to, the following: (1)
weaker or unfavorable economic or industry conditions can reduce
demand and prices for our products and services, (2)
non-residential construction spending, or governmental funding for
infrastructure and other construction projects, may not reach
expected levels, (3) we may not always have access to capital that
our businesses or growth plans may require, (4) any companies we
acquire could have undiscovered liabilities, may strain our
management capabilities or may be difficult to integrate, (5) rates
we can charge and time utilization we can achieve may be less than
anticipated, (6) costs we incur may be more than anticipated,
including by having expected savings not be realized in the amounts
or time frames we have planned, (7) competition in our industry for
talented employees is intense, which can affect our employee costs
and retention rates, (8) we have (and the ability to incur
additional) significant leverage, which requires us to use a
substantial portion of our cash flow for debt service and can
constrain our flexibility in responding to unanticipated or adverse
business conditions, (9) we are subject to an ongoing inquiry by
the SEC, and there can be no assurance as to its outcome, or any
other potential consequences thereof for us, (10) we are subject to
purported class action lawsuits and derivative actions filed in
light of the SEC inquiry and additional purported class action
lawsuits relating to the terminated merger transaction with
Cerberus affiliates, and there can be no assurance as to their
outcome or any other potential consequences thereof for us, and
(11) we may incur additional significant costs and expenses
(including indemnification obligations) in connection with the SEC
inquiry, the purported class action lawsuits and derivative actions
referenced above, the U.S. Attorney�s office inquiry, or other
litigation, regulatory or investigatory matters, related to the
foregoing or otherwise. For a fuller description of these and other
possible uncertainties, please refer to our Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, as well as to our
subsequent filings with the SEC. Our forward-looking statements
contained herein speak only as of the date hereof, and we make no
commitment to update or publicly release any revisions to
forward-looking statements in order to reflect new information or
subsequent events, circumstances or changes in expectations. UNITED
RENTALS, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (In millions,
except per share data) � � � � � � Three Months Ended Twelve Months
Ended December 31, December 31, 2007 2006 % Change 2007 2006 %
Change � Revenues: Equipment rentals $ 683 $ 656 4.1 % $ 2,630 $
2,530 4.0 % Sales of rental equipment 76 87 (12.6 %) 319 335 (4.8
%) New equipment sales 53 60 (11.7 %) 230 232 (0.9 %) Contractor
supplies sales 77 97 (20.6 %) 378 385 (1.8 %) Service and other
revenues � 41 � � 39 � 5.1 % � 174 � � 158 � 10.1 % Total revenues
� 930 � � 939 � (1.0 %) � 3,731 � � 3,640 � 2.5 % � Cost of
revenues: Cost of equipment rentals, excluding depreciation 294 287
2.4 % 1,179 1,137 3.7 % Depreciation of rental equipment 113 104
8.7 % 434 408 6.4 % Cost of rental equipment sales 61 65 (6.2 %)
235 237 (0.8 %) Cost of new equipment sales 43 50 (14.0 %) 190 191
(0.5 %) Cost of contractor supplies sales 61 68 (10.3 %) 306 302
1.3 % Cost of service and other revenue � 19 � � 18 � 5.6 % � 79 �
� � 76 � 3.9 % Total cost of revenues � 591 � � 592 � (0.2 %) �
2,423 � � 2,351 � 3.1 % Gross profit 339 347 (2.3 %) 1,308 1,289
1.5 % � Selling, general and administrative expenses 151 160 (5.6
%) 595 613 (2.9 %) Non-rental depreciation and amortization � 16 �
� 13 � 23.1 % � 54 � � 50 � 8.0 % Operating income 172 174 (1.1 %)
659 626 5.3 % Interest expense, net 41 51 187 208 Interest expense
- subordinated convertible debentures 2 2 9 13 Other income � (111
) � - � � (115 ) � - � � Income from continuing operations before
provision for income taxes 240 121 98.3 % 578 405 42.7 % �
Provision for income taxes � 87 � � 44 � � 215 � � 156 � Income
from continuing operations 153 77 98.7 % 363 249 45.8 % � Loss from
discontinued operation, net of taxes � - � � (24 ) � (1 ) � (25 ) �
Net income $ 153 � $ 53 � 188.7 % $ 362 � $ 224 � 61.6 % Diluted
earnings per share: Income from continuing operations $ 1.36 $ 0.71
91.5 % $ 3.26 $ 2.28 43.0 % Loss from discontinued operation �
(0.01 ) � (0.22 ) � (0.01 ) � (0.22 ) Net income $ 1.35 � $ 0.49 �
175.5 % $ 3.25 � $ 2.06 � 57.8 % UNITED RENTALS, INC. CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEETS (In millions) � � December 31, 2007 2006 ASSETS Cash
and cash equivalents $ 381 $ 119 Accounts receivable, net 519 502
Inventory 91 139 Assets of discontinued operation - 107 Prepaid
expenses and other assets 57 56 Deferred taxes � 72 � 82 Total
current assets 1,120 1,005 � Rental equipment, net 2,826 2,561
Property and equipment, net 440 359 Goodwill and other intangible
assets, net 1,404 1,376 Other long-term assets � 52 � 65 Total
assets $ 5,842 $ 5,366 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current
maturities of long-term debt $ 15 $ 37 Accounts payable 195 218
Accrued expenses and other liabilities 310 322 Liabilities related
to discontinued operation � - � 22 Total current liabilities 520
599 � Long-term debt 2,555 2,519 Subordinated convertible
debentures 146 146 Deferred taxes 539 463 Other long-term
liabilities � 64 � � 101 � Total liabilities � 3,824 � 3,828 Common
stock 1 1 Additional paid-in capital 1,494 1,421 Retained earnings
431 69 Accumulated other comprehensive income � 92 � 47 Total
stockholders' equity � 2,018 � 1,538 � Total liabilities and
stockholders' equity $ 5,842 $ 5,366 UNITED RENTALS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In millions) � � � � Three
Months Ended Twelve Months Ended December 31, December 31, 2007
2006 2007 2006 Cash Flows From Operating Activities: Income from
continuing operations $ 153 $ 77 $ 363 $ 249 Adjustments to
reconcile income from continuing operations to net cash provided by
operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 129 117 488 458
Amortization of deferred financing costs 2 2 9 10 Gain on sales of
rental equipment (15 ) (22 ) (84 ) (98 ) Gain on sales of
non-rental equipment - (2 ) (5 ) (4 ) Foreign currency transaction
gain (17 ) - (17 ) - Non-cash adjustments to equipment 10 (1 ) 9 7
Stock compensation expense 3 5 15 16 Write-off deferred financing
fees and unamortized premiums on interest rate caps - 1 - 9
Increase in deferred taxes 20 38 61 130 Changes in operating assets
and liabilities: Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable 74 39
(5 ) 10 Decrease in inventory 35 12 51 16 (Increase) decrease in
prepaid expenses and other assets (1 ) (1 ) - 5 (Decrease) increase
in accounts payable (60 ) (31 ) (30 ) 9 Increase in accrued
expenses and other liabilities � 42 � � 11 � � 4 � � 17 � Net cash
provided by operating activities - continuing operations 375 245
859 834 Net cash provided by operating activities - discontinued
operation � - � � 7 � � 9 � � 24 � Net cash provided by operating
activities � 375 � � 252 � � 868 � � 858 � � Cash Flows From
Investing Activities: Purchases of rental equipment (85 ) (86 )
(870 ) (873 ) Purchases of non-rental equipment (39 ) (28 ) (120 )
(78 ) Proceeds from sales of rental equipment 76 87 319 335
Proceeds from sales of non-rental equipment 3 4 23 17 Purchases of
other companies � - � � - � � (23 ) � (39 ) Net cash used in
investing activities - continuing operations (45 ) (23 ) (671 )
(638 ) Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities -
discontinued operation � - � � 1 � � 67 � � (10 ) Net cash used in
investing activities � (45 ) � (22 ) � (604 ) � (648 ) � Cash Flows
From Financing Activities: Proceeds from debt 39 - 460 265 Payments
on debt (111 ) (246 ) (531 ) (669 ) Proceeds from the exercise of
common stock options 10 14 32 78 Shares repurchased and retired (1
) (3 ) (5 ) (4 ) Excess tax benefits from share-based payment
arrangements 3 - 31 - Proceeds received in conjunction with partial
termination of interest rate caps - - - 3 Subordinated convertible
debentures repurchased and retired � - � � (13 ) � - � � (77 ) �
Net cash used in financing activities (60 ) (248 ) (13 ) (404 ) �
Effect of foreign exchange rates � (1 ) � (3 ) � 11 � � (3 ) � Net
increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 269 (21 ) 262 (197
) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period � 112 � � 140 �
� 119 � � 316 � � Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 381
� $ 119 � $ 381 � $ 119 � UNITED RENTALS, INC. SEGMENT PERFORMANCE
($ in millions) � � � � � Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended
December 31, December 31, 2007 2006 % Change 2007 2006 % Change �
General Rentals Total revenues $ 876 $ 888 (1.4 %) $ 3,508 $ 3,423
2.5 % Operating income 159 159 - 602 568 6.0 % Operating margin
18.2 % 17.9 % 0.3 pts 17.2 % 16.6 % 0.6 pts � Trench Safety, Pump
and Power Total revenues 54 51 5.9 % 223 217 2.8 % Operating income
13 15 (13.3 %) 57 58 (1.7 %) Operating margin 24.1 % 29.4 % (5.3
pts) 25.6 % 26.7 % (1.1 pts) � Total United Rentals Total revenues
$ 930 $ 939 (1.0 %) $ 3,731 $ 3,640 2.5 % Operating income 172 174
(1.1 %) 659 626 5.3 % Operating margin 18.5 % 18.5 % - 17.7 % 17.2
% 0.5 pts � � � DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE CALCULATION (In
millions, except per share data) � � � Three Months Ended Twelve
Months Ended December 31, December 31, 2007 2006 % Change 2007 2006
% Change � Income from continuing operations $ 153 $ 77 98.7 % $
363 $ 249 45.8 % Loss from discontinued operation, net of taxes � -
� � (24 ) � (1 ) � (25 ) Net income 153 53 188.7 % 362 224 61.6 %
Convertible subordinated note interest - - 2 2 Subordinated
convertible debentures interest � 2 � � 2 � � 5 � � 8 � Net income
available to common stockholders $ 155 $ 55 181.8 % $ 369 $ 234
57.7 % � � Weighted average common shares 86.1 81.1 6.2 % 83.4 79.6
4.8 % Series C and D preferred shares 17.0 17.0 - 17.0 17.0 -
Convertible subordinated notes 6.5 6.5 - 6.5 6.5 - Stock options,
warrants, restricted stock units and phantom shares 1.8 4.7 (61.7
%) 3.5 6.0 (41.7 %) Subordinated convertible debentures � 3.3 � �
3.5 � (5.7 %) � 3.3 � � 4.7 � (29.8 %) Total weighted average
diluted shares 114.7 112.8 1.7 % 113.7 113.8 (0.1 %) � Diluted
earnings available to common stockholders: Income from continuing
operations $ 1.36 $ 0.71 91.5 % $ 3.26 $ 2.28 43.0 % Loss from
discontinued operation � (0.01 ) � (0.22 ) � (0.01 ) � (0.22 ) Net
income $ 1.35 � $ 0.49 � 175.5 % $ 3.25 � $ 2.06 � 57.8 % UNITED
RENTALS, INC. FREE CASH FLOW GAAP RECONCILIATION (In millions) We
define �free cash flow� as (i) net cash provided by operating
activities � continuing operations less (ii) purchases of rental
and non-rental equipment plus (iii) proceeds from sales of rental
and non-rental equipment and excess tax benefits from share-based
payment arrangements. Management believes free cash flow provides
useful additional information concerning cash flow available to
meet future debt service obligations and working capital
requirements. However, free cash flow is not a measure of financial
performance or liquidity under Generally Accepted Accounting
Principles (�GAAP�). Accordingly, free cash flow should not be
considered an alternative to net income or cash flow from operating
activities as indicators of operating performance or liquidity.
Information reconciling forward-looking free cash flow expectations
to a GAAP financial measure is unavailable to the company without
unreasonable effort. The table below provides a reconciliation
between net cash provided by operating activities � continuing
operations and free cash flow. � Three Months Ended � Twelve Months
Ended December 31, December 31, 2007 � 2006 2007 � 2006 � Net cash
provided by operating activities - continuing operations $ 375 $
245 $ 859 $ 834 Purchases of rental equipment (85 ) (86 ) (870 )
(873 ) Purchases of non-rental equipment (39 ) (28 ) (120 ) (78 )
Proceeds from sales of rental equipment 76 87 319 335 Proceeds from
sales of non-rental equipment 3 4 23 17 Excess tax benefits from
share-based payment arrangements � 3 � � - � � 31 � � - � Free Cash
Flow (1) $ 333 � $ 222 � $ 242 � $ 235 � � � (1) Fourth quarter and
full year 2007 free cash flow includes $94 and $91, respectively,
related to the merger termination benefit. UNITED RENTALS, INC.
EBITDA GAAP RECONCILIATION (In millions) "EBITDA" represents the
sum of income from continuing operations before provision for
income taxes, interest expense, net, interest expense-subordinated
convertible debentures, depreciation-rental equipment and
non-rental depreciation and amortization. Management believes
EBITDA provides useful information about operating performance and
period-over-period growth. However, EBITDA is not a measure of
financial performance or liquidity under GAAP and accordingly
should not be considered an alternative to net income or cash flow
from operating activities as an indicator of operating performance
or liquidity. The table below provides a reconciliation between
income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes
and EBITDA. � Three Months Ended � Twelve Months Ended December 31,
December 31, 2007 � 2006 2007 � 2006 � Income from continuing
operations before provision for income taxes $ 240 $ 121 $ 578 $
405 Interest expense, net 41 51 187 208 Interest expense -
subordinated convertible debentures 2 2 9 13 Depreciation - rental
equipment 113 104 434 408 Non-rental depreciation and amortization
� 16 � 13 � 54 � 50 EBITDA (1) $ 412 $ 291 $ 1,262 $ 1,084 � � (1)
Fourth quarter and full year 2007 EBITDA includes a merger
termination benefit of $94 and $91, respectively.
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