EX-99.1 2 c70406exv99w1.htm EXHIBIT 99.1 Filed by Bowne Pure Compliance
 

Exhibit 99.1

(AMERICAN ECOLOGY LOGO)
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Contact: Alison Ziegler, Cameron Associates (212) 554-5469
alison@cameronassoc.com   www.americanecology.com


AMERICAN ECOLOGY ANNOUNCES FIRST QUARTER 2007
FINANCIAL RESULTS
Company Posts Record Revenue, Operating Income and Disposal Volumes
Boise, Idaho — April 24, 2007 — American Ecology Corporation (NASDAQ: ECOL) today reported net income of $4.9 million, or $0.27 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2007, an 18% increase over net income of $4.2 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2006. Operating income for the first quarter of 2007 rose to a record $7.9 million, a 27% increase over operating income of $6.2 million for the first quarter of 2006. All four operating facilities were profitable for the quarter with our Beatty, Nevada disposal facility delivering the largest year-over-year operating income growth on the strength of new clean-up projects performed during the quarter.
Revenue for the first quarter of 2007 increased 81% to $39.0 million, up from $21.5 million in the same quarter last year. This growth reflects increased transportation-related revenue for rail shipments from the Honeywell International Jersey City project and other bundled transportation and disposal projects, as well as higher non-transportation related revenue at our Nevada, Idaho and Texas operations. Waste volumes at these three facilities increased 47% in the first quarter of 2007 over the first quarter last year. Waste shipments from our previously announced transportation and disposal contract with Molycorp, Inc. began arriving at our Idaho site from Pennsylvania in April and did not contribute to first quarter results.
Gross profit grew to $11.5 million in the first quarter of 2007, a 19% increase over gross profit of $9.7 million in the first quarter of 2006. This was due primarily to record disposal volumes. Direct operating costs for the quarter increased to $27.5 million, up from $11.8 million in the first quarter of 2006, reflecting increased rail transportation expenses and higher variable costs for waste treatment additives.
Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses for the first quarter of 2007 was $3.6 million, or 9% of revenue, as compared to $3.5 million, or 16% of revenue, for the same quarter last year. The $116,000 increase in SG&A was due primarily to increased business activity and higher stock-based compensation expense, partially offset by lower bonus incentive compensation expense.
At March 31, 2007, we had $11.5 million of cash and short-term investments and $11 million available on our $15 million line of credit.
2007 Earnings Guidance Affirmed
“Waste shipments from multiple ongoing clean-up projects, combined with increased base business allowed by our recent capital investments, positioned us to set a quarterly record for waste volume throughput,” President and Chief Executive Officer Stephen Romano stated. “While it is still early in the year, American Ecology’s record first quarter operating income performance puts us on pace to hit the upper end of our earnings guidance for 2007,” Romano concluded. Management initially provided guidance in December 2007, of $0.92 to $1.02 per diluted share for 2007 and today affirmed that guidance.

 

 


 

Dividend
On April 2, 2007, the Company declared a $0.15 per common share quarterly dividend for stockholders of record on April 13, 2007. This $2.7 million dividend was paid on April 20, 2007 using cash on hand.
Conference Call
American Ecology will hold an investor conference call on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (9:00 a.m. Mountain Daylight Time) to discuss these results, its current financial position and its business outlook for 2007. Questions will be invited after management’s presentation. Interested parties can join the conference call by dialing (866) 814-1914. The conference call will also be broadcast live on the Company’s website at www.americanecology.com.
An audio replay of the teleconference will be made available through May 2, 2007 by calling
(800) 675-9924 and using the passcode 42507. The replay will also be accessible on the Company’s website at www.americanecology.com.
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About American Ecology Corporation
American Ecology Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides radioactive, PCB, hazardous, and non-hazardous waste services to commercial and government customers throughout the United States, such as steel mills, medical and academic institutions, refineries, chemical manufacturing facilities and the nuclear power industry. Headquartered in Boise, Idaho, the Company is the oldest radioactive and hazardous waste services company in the United States.
This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are based on our current expectations, beliefs and assumptions about the industry and markets in which American Ecology Corporation and its subsidiaries operate. Because such statements include risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from what is expressed herein and no assurance can be given that the Company will meet its 2007 earnings estimates, successfully execute its growth strategy, or declare or pay future dividends. For information on other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations, please refer to American Ecology Corporation’s December 31, 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Many of the factors that will determine the Company’s future results are beyond the ability of management to control or predict. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s views only as of the date such statements are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Important assumptions and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking information include loss of key personnel, compliance and changes to applicable laws and regulations, lawsuits, access to insurance and other financial assurances, implementation of new technologies, a loss of a major customer, operational incidents that could limit our operations, access to cost effective transportation services, utilization of net operating loss carryforwards, our ability to perform under required contracts, significant stock sales and the effect on the price of our common stock and our willingness or ability to pay dividends.
Investors should also be aware that while we do, from time to time, communicate with securities analysts, it is against our policy to disclose any material non-public information or other confidential commercial information. Accordingly, stockholders should not assume that we agree with any statement or report issued by any analyst irrespective of the content of the statement or report. Furthermore, we have a policy against issuing or confirming financial forecasts or projections issued by others. Thus, to the extent that reports issued by securities analysts contain any projections, forecasts or opinions, such reports are not the responsibility of American Ecology Corporation.

 

 


 

AMERICAN ECOLOGY CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)
                 
    Three Months Ended March 31,  
    2007     2006  
Revenues
  $ 38,964     $ 21,522  
Transportation costs
    17,171       5,057  
Other direct operating costs
    10,279       6,755  
 
           
Gross profit
    11,514       9,710  
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    3,599       3,483  
 
           
Operating income
    7,915       6,227  
Other income (expense)
               
Interest income
    211       188  
Interest expense
    (1 )     (1 )
Other
    4       284  
 
           
Total other income
    214       471  
Income before tax
    8,129       6,698  
Income tax expense
    3,194       2,519  
 
           
Net income
  $ 4,935     $ 4,179  
 
           
Earnings per share:
               
Basic
  $ 0.27     $ 0.23  
Dilutive
  $ 0.27     $ 0.23  
Shares used in earnings per share calculation:
               
Basic
    18,209       17,877  
Dilutive
    18,253       18,051  
Dividends paid per share
  $ 0.15     $ 0.15  
 
           

 

 


 

AMERICAN ECOLOGY CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
                 
    March 31,     December 31,  
    2007     2006  
Assets
               
Current Assets:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 3,736     $ 3,775  
Short-term investments
    7,759       6,120  
Receivables, net
    29,124       27,692  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    2,877       2,639  
Income tax receivable
          650  
Deferred income taxes
    513       2,166  
 
           
Total current assets
    44,009       43,042  
Property and equipment, net
    57,192       55,460  
Restricted cash
    4,752       4,691  
Deferred income taxes
    851       848  
 
           
Total assets
  $ 106,804     $ 104,041  
 
           
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
               
Current Liabilities:
               
Accounts payable
  $ 4,782     $ 6,866  
Deferred revenue
    3,669       3,612  
Accrued liabilities
    5,492       3,544  
Accrued salaries and benefits
    1,490       1,943  
Customer advances
    1,464       1,866  
Income tax payable
    673        
Current portion of closure and post closure obligations
    1,425       656  
Current portion of long-term debt
    6       6  
 
           
Total current liabilities
    19,001       18,493  
Long-term closure and post closure obligations
    11,536       12,160  
Long-term debt
    22       24  
Other long-term liabilities
    4       9  
 
           
Total liabilities
    30,563       30,686  
Contingencies and commitments
               
Stockholders’ Equity
               
Common stock
    182       182  
Additional paid-in capital
    58,217       57,532  
Retained earnings
    17,842       15,641  
 
           
Total stockholders’ equity
    76,241       73,355  
 
           
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 106,804     $ 104,041  
 
           

 

 


 

AMERICAN ECOLOGY CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
                 
    For the Three Months Ended March 31,  
    2007     2006  
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
               
Net income
  $ 4,935     $ 4,179  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Depreciation, amortization and accretion
    2,351       1,854  
Deferred income taxes
    1,650       2,304  
Stock-based compensation expense
    143       91  
Accretion of interest income
    (60 )     (127 )
Changes in assets and liabilities:
               
Receivables
    (1,432 )     (561 )
Income tax receivable
    650        
Other assets
    (238 )     676  
Deferred revenue
    57       280  
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
    (587 )     (1,438 )
Accrued salaries and benefits
    (453 )     (794 )
Income tax payable
    673        
Closure and post closure obligations
    (119 )     (380 )
 
           
Net cash provided by operating activities
    7,570       6,084  
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
               
Purchases of short-term investments
    (11,943 )     (12,204 )
Purchases of property and equipment
    (3,775 )     (7,801 )
Restricted cash
    (61 )     (1 )
Maturities of short-term investments
    10,364       16,282  
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment
          9  
 
           
Net cash used in investing activities
    (5,415 )     (3,715 )
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
               
Dividends paid
    (2,734 )     (2,661 )
Proceeds from stock option exercises
    326       1,479  
Tax benefit of common stock options
    216       199  
Other
    (2 )      
 
           
Net cash used in financing activities
    (2,194 )     (983 )
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents
    (39 )     1,386  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    3,775       3,641  
 
           
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 3,736     $ 5,027