TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2024 / Today, Park Lawn Corporation (TSX:PLC)(TSX:PLC.U) (” Park Lawn ” or ” PLC “) announced its financial operating results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024 (” Q1 “).
Financial Results for the Three-Month Period Ended March 31, 2024:
| For the three-month period ended | ||||||||||||
| % Increase | ||||||||||||
|
(in thousands except per share figures) |
31-Mar-24 | 31-Mar-23 | (Decrease) | |||||||||
|
Revenue |
$ | 76,393 | $ | 86,736 | (11.9%) | |||||||
| Net Earnings | $ | 5,247 | $ | 4,576 | 14.7% | |||||||
| Adjusted Net Earnings 1 | $ | 7,565 | $ | 8,615 | (12.2%) | |||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA 1 | $ | 19,646 | $ | 20,541 | (4.4%) | |||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA Margin 1 | 25.7% | 23.7% | 200 bps | |||||||||
| Adjusted Field EBITDA Margin 1 | 35.4% | 32.2% | 320 bps | |||||||||
| Net Earnings per share-diluted | $ | 0.149 | $ | 0.132 | 13.1% | |||||||
| Adjusted Net Earnings per share-diluted 1 | $ | 0.215 | $ | 0.249 | (13.6%) |
“We are proud of our first quarter operating results and are excited to see the hard work and efforts of our team beginning to take shape,” said J. Bradley Green, Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Green further elaborated, “As you have heard in our commentary over the past few quarters, with the reshaping of our platform as a result of the disposition of certain legacy assets which was completed in December, the implementation of a refined operating model, a new and improved sales structure, the launch of a comprehensive educational platform and a stronger more robust internal backbone, Park Lawn is now poised to perform at a higher and more effective level than ever before.”
Key Results from the Three-Month Period Ended March 31, 2024
- For the three-month period ended March 31, 2024, revenue decreased by 11.9% to $76,393 over the comparable prior period, primarily as a result of the disposition of certain legacy assets completed in December offset by an increase in acquired operations. On a Comparable Operations basis, revenue decreased only 2.7% over the comparable prior period, principally as a result of the decrease in mortality and large group sales in our cemeteries.
- For the three-month period ended March 31, 2024, Net Earnings increased by 14.7% to $5,247 over the comparable prior period. However, Adjusted Net Earnings for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024, decreased by 12.2% to $7,565, over the comparable prior period, primarily as a result of the disposition of legacy assets completed in December and the increased cost of financing.
- For the three-month period ended March 31, 2024, Adjusted EBITDA decreased by 4.4 % to $19,646 over the comparable prior period, primarily as a result of the disposition of legacy assets completed in December offset by a marginal decrease in Comparable Operations primarily as a result of decreases in large group sales from the Company’s cemetery operations.
- For the three-month period ended March 31, 2024, Adjusted EBITDA margin increased by 200 basis points to 25.7% over the comparable prior period, primarily as a result of the disposition of lower margin businesses and operating efficiencies in the Company’s funeral operations.
- For the three-month period ended March 31, 2024, Adjusted Field EBITDA margin increased by 320 basis points, or 10%, to 35.4% over the comparable prior period.
- For the three-month period ended March 31, 2024, Fully Diluted Net Earnings per share increased by 13.1% to $0.149. However, Fully Diluted Adjusted Net Earnings per share for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024, decreased by 13.6% to $0.215 over the comparable prior period.
- On February 20, 2024, the Company continued to execute on its growth strategy through the completion of the acquisition of substantially all the assets of Crippin Funeral Home located in Montrose, Colorado; Gunnison Funeral Services located in Gunnison, Colorado; and Grand View Cemetery located in Montrose, Colorado (collectively “Crippin”). The Crippin business adds two stand-alone funeral homes and one stand-alone cemetery to Park Lawn’s portfolio and is expected to add approximately 576 calls, 85 placements and $703 in Adjusted EBITDA, annually.1
1 Adjusted Net Earnings, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Adjusted Field EBITDA Margin and Adjusted Net Earnings per share diluted are a non-IFRS measure. Refer to the Non-IFRS Measures section of this news release for more information on this non-IFRS measure.
Dividend Reinvestment Plan
On May 9, 2024, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the listing of an additional 500 thousand common shares issuable pursuant to the Company’s amended and restated dividend reinvestment plan. The increase is subject to approval from the TSX.
Important Reminder
The Company will host a conference call to discuss its Q1 financial results on Friday, May 10, 2024. Details are as follows:
Date: Friday, May 10, 2024
Time: 9:30 a.m. EST
Dial-in Number: Toll Free (888) 506-0062 | Conference ID: 637260
To ensure your participation, please join approximately five minutes prior to the scheduled start of the conference call. The Company’s complete financial results can be found at www.sedarplus.ca or on the Company’s website at www.parklawncorp.com.
A replay of the conference call will be available until Friday, May 24, 2024 and can be accessed as follows: Dial-in Number: Toll Free (877) 481-4010 | Conference ID: 50541. Alternatively, the conference will also be available on the Company’s website at www.parklawncorp.com.
About Park Lawn Corporation:
PLC is the largest publicly traded Canadian-owned funeral, cremation and cemetery provider. PLC and its subsidiaries own and operate businesses including cemeteries, crematoria, funeral homes, chapels and event centers throughout Canada and the United States which provide a full range of services and merchandise to fulfill the desires of individuals and families seeking to honor their loved ones. Products and services can be customized to meet the personal needs of the consumer and are sold on a pre-planned basis (pre-need) or at the time of a death (at-need). PLC operates in three Canadian provinces and seventeen U.S. states. For more information about Park Lawn Corporation, please visit our website at www.parklawncorp.com.
Non‐IFRS Measures
Adjusted Net Earnings, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and their related per share amounts, Adjusted EBITDA margin, Adjusted Field EBITDA, Adjusted Field EBITDA margin, Acquired Operations and Comparable Operations are not measures recognized under IFRS and do not have standardized meanings prescribed by IFRS. Such measures are presented in this news release because management of PLC believes that such measures are relevant in evaluating PLC’s operating performance. Such measures, as computed by PLC, may differ from similar computations as reported by other similar organizations and, accordingly, may not be comparable to similar measures reported by such other organizations.
The Company defines Acquired Operations as business units or operating locations acquired by the Company during the period from January 1, 2023 and ending March 31, 2024. The Company defines Comparable Operations as business units or operating locations owned by the Company for the entire period from January 1, 2023 and ending March 31, 2024.
The following tables indicate how the Company reconciles Adjusted Net Earnings, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Field EBITDA and their related per share amount, and Adjusted EBITDA margin and Adjusted Field EBITDA margin to the nearest IFRS measure.
Adjusted Net Earnings
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
|
(in thousands except per share figures) |
2024 | 2023 | ||||||
|
Net Earnings |
$ | 5,247 | $ | 4,576 | ||||
|
Adjusted for the impact of: |
||||||||
|
Amortization of intangible assets |
378 | 324 | ||||||
|
Fair value adjustment on interest rate swaps |
(919 | ) | 1,601 | |||||
|
Share based compensation |
2,227 | 1,101 | ||||||
|
Acquisition and integration costs |
1,246 | 1,793 | ||||||
|
Other (income) expenses |
(19 | ) | 19 | |||||
|
Tax effect on the above items |
(595 | ) | (799 | ) | ||||
|
Adjusted Net Earnings |
$ | 7,565 | $ | 8,615 | ||||
|
Adjusted Net Earnings – per share |
||||||||
|
Basic |
$ | 0.222 | $ | 0.251 | ||||
|
Diluted |
$ | 0.215 | $ | 0.249 | ||||
|
Weighted Average Shares |
||||||||
|
Basic |
34,020 | 34,258 | ||||||
|
Diluted |
35,147 | 34,600 | ||||||
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
|
(in thousands except per share figures) |
2024 | 2023 | ||||||
|
Earnings before income taxes |
$ | 7,270 | $ | 7,058 | ||||
|
Adjusted for the impact of: |
||||||||
|
Finance costs |
3,989 | 3,609 | ||||||
|
Depreciation and amortization |
4,156 | 3,774 | ||||||
|
Cost of cemetery property |
1,695 | 1,586 | ||||||
EBITDA |
17,110 | 16,027 | ||||||
|
Fair value adjustment on interest rate swaps |
(919 | ) | 1,601 | |||||
|
Share based compensation |
2,227 | 1,101 | ||||||
|
Acquisition and integration costs |
1,246 | 1,793 | ||||||
|
Other (income) expenses |
(19 | ) | 19 | |||||
|
Adjusted EBITDA |
$ | 19,646 | $ | 20,541 | ||||
|
EBITDA – per share |
||||||||
|
Basic |
$ | 0.503 | $ | 0.468 | ||||
|
Diluted |
$ | 0.487 | $ | 0.463 | ||||
|
Adjusted EBITDA – per share |
||||||||
|
Basic |
$ | 0.577 | $ | 0.600 | ||||
|
Diluted |
$ | 0.559 | $ | 0.594 | ||||
|
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding |
||||||||
|
Basic |
34,020 | 34,258 | ||||||
|
Diluted |
35,147 | 34,600 |
Adjusted Field EBITDA
| Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 | ||||||||||||||||
|
(in thousands) |
Cemetery | Funeral Home | Corporate | Total | ||||||||||||
|
Revenue |
||||||||||||||||
|
Sales |
$ | 20,190 | $ | 52,597 | $ | – | $ | 72,786 | ||||||||
|
Income from care and maintenance funds |
1,852 | 10 | – | 1,861 | ||||||||||||
|
Interest and other income |
721 | 380 | 644 | 1,746 | ||||||||||||
|
Total revenue |
22,763 | 52,987 | 644 | 76,393 | ||||||||||||
|
Operating expenses |
||||||||||||||||
|
Cost of sales |
5,027 | 7,028 | – | 12,055 | ||||||||||||
|
General and administrative |
5,233 | 27,936 | – | 33,169 | ||||||||||||
|
Maintenance |
2,652 | 1,405 | – | 4,057 | ||||||||||||
|
Advertising and selling |
2,663 | 2,307 | – | 4,970 | ||||||||||||
|
Total operating expenses |
15,576 | 38,676 | – | 54,252 | ||||||||||||
|
Revenue less operating expenses |
7,187 | 14,311 | 644 | 22,142 | ||||||||||||
|
Other expenses |
||||||||||||||||
|
Corporate general and administrative |
– | – | 7,969 | 7,969 | ||||||||||||
|
Amortization of intangibles |
16 | 318 | 45 | 378 | ||||||||||||
|
Finance costs |
(132 | ) | 412 | 3,709 | 3,989 | |||||||||||
|
Fair value adjustment on interest rate swaps |
– | – | (919 | ) | (919 | ) | ||||||||||
|
Share-based incentive compensation |
– | – | 2,227 | 2,227 | ||||||||||||
|
Acquisition and integration costs |
19 | 102 | 1,125 | 1,246 | ||||||||||||
|
Other (income) expenses |
– | (27 | ) | 9 | (19 | ) | ||||||||||
|
Total other expenses |
(98 | ) | 804 | 14,166 | 14,871 | |||||||||||
|
Earnings (loss) before income taxes |
7,285 | 13,507 | (13,521 | ) | 7,270 | |||||||||||
|
Income tax expense |
1,967 | 3,647 | (3,590 | ) | 2,023 | |||||||||||
|
Net earnings (loss) for the period |
$ | 5,318 | $ | 9,860 | $ | (9,931 | ) | $ | 5,247 |
The following table reconciles EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to Earnings (loss) before income taxes. Adjusted EBITDA is broken down into Adjusted Field EBITDA (Cemetery and Funeral Home) and Adjusted Corporate EBITDA:
| Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 | ||||||||||||||||
| Cemetery | Funeral Home | Corporate | Total | |||||||||||||
|
Earnings (loss) before income taxes |
$ | 7,285 | $ | 13,507 | $ | (13,521 | ) | $ | 7,270 | |||||||
|
Adjusted for the impact of: |
||||||||||||||||
|
Finance Costs |
(132 | ) | 412 | 3,709 | 3,989 | |||||||||||
|
Depreciation and amortization |
489 | 3,483 | 184 | 4,156 | ||||||||||||
|
Cost of cemetery property |
1,694 | 1 | – | 1,695 | ||||||||||||
EBITDA |
9,336 | 17,402 | (9,628 | ) | 17,110 | |||||||||||
|
Fair value adjustment on interest rate swaps |
– | – | (919 | ) | (919 | ) | ||||||||||
|
Share based compensation |
– | – | 2,227 | 2,227 | ||||||||||||
|
Acquisition and integration costs |
19 | 102 | 1,125 | 1,246 | ||||||||||||
|
Other (income) expenses |
– | (27 | ) | 9 | (19 | ) | ||||||||||
|
Adjusted EBITDA |
$ | 9,355 | $ | 17,477 | $ | (7,185 | ) | $ | 19,646 |
EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted Field EBITDA are non-IFRS measures. See “Description of non-IFRS measures”.
Adjusted Field EBITDA
| Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||
|
(in thousands) |
Cemetery | Funeral Home | Corporate | Total | ||||||||||||
|
Revenue |
||||||||||||||||
|
Sales |
$ | 32,719 | $ | 50,252 | $ | – | $ | 82,971 | ||||||||
|
Income from care and maintenance funds |
2,699 | – | – | 2,699 | ||||||||||||
|
Interest and other income |
855 | 140 | 71 | 1,065 | ||||||||||||
|
Total revenue |
36,273 | 50,392 | 71 | 86,736 | ||||||||||||
|
Operating expenses |
||||||||||||||||
|
Cost of sales |
7,912 | 7,159 | – | 15,071 | ||||||||||||
|
General and administrative |
9,575 | 26,219 | – | 35,794 | ||||||||||||
|
Maintenance |
4,324 | 1,373 | – | 5,697 | ||||||||||||
|
Advertising and selling |
4,493 | 2,576 | – | 7,069 | ||||||||||||
|
Total operating expenses |
26,305 | 37,327 | – | 63,631 | ||||||||||||
|
Revenue less operating expenses |
9,968 | 13,065 | 71 | 23,104 | ||||||||||||
|
Other expenses |
||||||||||||||||
|
Corporate general and administrative |
– | – | 7,599 | 7,599 | ||||||||||||
|
Amortization of intangibles |
19 | 272 | 33 | 324 | ||||||||||||
|
Finance costs |
12 | 201 | 3,396 | 3,609 | ||||||||||||
|
Fair value adjustment of interest rate swaps |
– | – | 1,601 | 1,601 | ||||||||||||
|
Share-based incentive compensation |
– | – | 1,101 | 1,101 | ||||||||||||
|
Acquisition and integration costs |
– | – | 1,793 | 1,793 | ||||||||||||
|
Other (income) expenses |
– | (37 | ) | 57 | 19 | |||||||||||
|
Total other expenses |
31 | 436 | 15,580 | 16,046 | ||||||||||||
|
Earnings (loss) before income taxes |
9,937 | 12,629 | (15,509 | ) | 7,058 | |||||||||||
|
Income tax expense |
2,683 | 3,410 | (3,611 | ) | 2,482 | |||||||||||
|
Net earnings (loss) for the period |
$ | 7,254 | $ | 9,219 | $ | (11,897 | ) | $ | 4,576 |
The following table reconciles EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to Earnings (loss) before income taxes. Adjusted EBITDA is broken down into Adjusted Field EBITDA (Cemetery and Funeral Home) and Adjusted Corporate EBITDA:
| Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||
| Cemetery | Funeral Home | Corporate | Total | |||||||||||||
|
Earnings (loss) before income taxes |
$ | 9,937 | $ | 12,629 | $ | (15,509 | ) | $ | 7,058 | |||||||
|
Adjusted for the impact of: |
||||||||||||||||
|
Finance Costs |
12 | 201 | 3,396 | 3,609 | ||||||||||||
|
Depreciation and amoritization |
858 | 2,740 | 177 | 3,774 | ||||||||||||
|
Cost of cemetery property |
1,580 | 6 | – | 1,586 | ||||||||||||
EBITDA |
12,387 | 15,576 | (11,936 | ) | 16,027 | |||||||||||
|
Fair value adjustment of interest rate swaps |
– | – | 1,601 | 1,601 | ||||||||||||
|
Share based compensation |
– | – | 1,101 | 1,101 | ||||||||||||
|
Acquisition and integration costs |
– | – | 1,793 | 1,793 | ||||||||||||
|
Other (income) expenses |
(41 | ) | 4 | 57 | 19 | |||||||||||
|
Adjusted EBITDA |
$ | 12,346 | $ | 15,580 | $ | (7,384 | ) | $ | 20,541 |
EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted Field EBITDA are non-IFRS measures. See “Description of non-IFRS measures”.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward‐Looking Information
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to the business of PLC and the environment in which it operates. Forward-looking statements are identified by words such as “believe”, “anticipate”, “expect”, “intend”, “plan”, “will”, “may”, “estimate”, “pro-forma” and other similar expressions. These statements are based on PLC’s expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections and include, without limitation, PLC’s statements regarding: the implementation of various operational and infrastructure initiatives leading to increased efficiency and performance and that the Crippin acquisition will add approximately $703 in Adjusted EBITDA annually. The forward-looking statements in this news release are based on certain assumptions, including the normalization of the death rate, that the CAD to USD exchange rate remains consistent, the Crippin acquisition will perform as expected, PLC will be able to implement business improvements and costs savings, PLC will be able to retain key personnel, there will be no unexpected expenses occurring as a result of contemplated acquisitions, multiples remain at or below levels paid by PLC for previously announced acquisitions, the acquisition and financing markets remain accessible, capital can be obtained at reasonable costs and PLC’s current business lines operate and obtain synergies as expected, as well as those regarding present and future business strategies, the environment in which PLC will operate in the future, expected revenues, expansion plans and PLC’s ability to achieve its goals and acquisitions targets.
Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to control or predict. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, risks associated with the impact of higher interest rates on PLC’s business, adverse economic and financial market conditions; a declining level of commercial activity and the resulting negative impact on the demand for, and prices of, PLC’s products and services, the impact of inflation on PLC’s business; political conflict, including from economic sanctions imposed or to be imposed as a result thereof, supply chain disruptions and product delivery delays and the other factors discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in PLC’s most recent Annual Information Form and most recent Management’s Discussion and Analysis available at www.sedarplus.com. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate as actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. Readers, therefore, should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Further, these forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and, except as expressly required by applicable law, PLC assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Unless otherwise stated, all U.S. dollars and share amounts in thousands.
Contact Information
Daniel Millett
Chief Financial Officer
(416) 231-1462, ext. 221
SOURCE: Park Lawn Corporation
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