Heritage-Crystal Clean Posts Strong 3Q

Date: October 20, 2010

Source: Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc.

Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc. Announces 2010 Third Quarter Financial Results

Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc. (Nasdaq: HCCI), a leading provider of parts cleaning and hazardous and non-hazardous waste services to small and mid-sized customers, today announced results for the third fiscal quarter of 2010, which ended September 11, 2010.

Third quarter highlights include:

  • Sales increased 20%, to $26.7 million, compared to $22.3 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2009. For the first three quarters of fiscal 2010, sales increased 11%, to $76.1 million, compared to $68.4 million in the first three quarters of fiscal 2009.

  • Average sales per working day was approximately $460,000, compared to $380,000 in the third quarter of fiscal 2009 and compared to $430,000 in the second quarter of fiscal 2010.

  • Same-branch sales increased 18%, measured for the 58 branches that were in operation throughout both the third fiscal quarters of 2010 and 2009. For the first three quarters of fiscal 2010, same-branch sales increased 9%, measured for the 58 branches that were in operation throughout both first three quarters of 2010 and 2009.

  • EPS (diluted) was $0.05 compared to $0.05 in the third quarter of fiscal 2009. The weighted average shares outstanding in the third quarter of fiscal 2010 was 14.2 million compared to 12.0 million in the third fiscal quarter of 2009. The increase in shares was due to our June 2010 offering.

Mr. Joseph Chalhoub, President and Chief Executive Officer of Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc. commented, "We are pleased with the sales growth we achieved in the latest quarter. We feel that many of our customers have resumed more normal levels of activity following the recession, and we hope that this will continue. As a cautionary note, we point out that this latest quarter is compared to the third quarter of 2009, when we were at a low point in the recessionary cycle. Our used oil re-refining project continues on plan with respect to schedule and budget."

Mr. Greg Ray, Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Business Management, stated, "During the third quarter of 2010, our sales increased by $4.4 million compared to the third quarter of 2009. Of this increase, $3.3 million came from our non-oil businesses (parts cleaning, containerized waste management, and vacuum services), an increase of 16% compared to the third quarter of 2009. The rest of the revenue increase, $1.1 million, came from our used oil business, which grew by 70%. The growth in our used oil business was partly due to our continuing focus and investment in the development of new collection routes that will ultimately provide feedstock for our re-refinery. Also contributing to the growth in used oil revenue, during the latest quarter we sold more product than we collected, reversing the inventory build up from the prior quarter. Our growing revenue in the used oil business is not expected to contribute to profits until we have the capacity to re-refine this material; consequently we have experienced erosion in our margin percentages that we expect to reverse when we begin to produce and sell base lubricating oil."

Safe Harbor Statement

All references to the "Company," "we," "our," and "us" refer to Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc., and its subsidiary. This release contains forward-looking statements that are based upon current management expectations. Generally, the words "aim," "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "project," "should," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," "would" and similar expressions identify forwardlooking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause our actual results, performance or achievements or industry results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forwardlooking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other important factors include, among others: our ability to complete our used oil re-refinery as anticipated; the used oil re-refinery does not perform as anticipated; we are unable to generate sufficient funds to build and support our used oil re-refinery; our ability to comply with the extensive environmental, health and safety and employment laws and regulations that our Company is subject to; changes in environmental laws that affect our business model; competition; claims relating to our handling of hazardous substances; the limited demand for our used solvent; our dependency on key employees; our ability to effectively manage our extended network of branch locations; warranty expense and liability claims; personal injury litigation; dependency of suppliers; economic conditions including the recent recession and financial crisis, and downturns in the business cycles of automotive repair shops, industrial manufacturing business and small businesses in general; increased solvent, fuel and energy costs and volatility in the price of crude oil; the control of The Heritage Group over our Company; and the risks identified in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 5, 2010. Given these uncertainties, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We assume no obligation to update or revise them or provide reasons why actual results may differ. The information in this release should be read in light of such risks and in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included elsewhere in this release.

About Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc.

Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc. provides parts cleaning and hazardous and non-hazardous waste services to small and mid-sized customers in both the manufacturing and automotive service sectors. Our service programs include parts cleaning, containerized waste management, used oil collection, and vacuum truck services. These services help our customers manage their used chemicals and liquid and solid wastes, while also helping to minimize their regulatory burdens. Our customers include businesses involved in vehicle maintenance operations, such as car dealerships, automotive repair shops, and trucking firms, as well as small manufacturers, such as metal product fabricators and printers. Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc. is headquartered in Elgin, Illinois, and operates through 62 branches serving over 41,000 customer locations.

Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call on October 21, 2010 at 9:30 AM Central Time, during which management will make a brief presentation focusing on the Company's operations and financial results. Interested parties can listen to the audio webcast available through our company website, http://www.crystalclean. com/investor/FinancialReleases.asp, and can participate in the call by dialing (720) 545-0014.

The Company uses its website to make available information to investors and the public at www.crystalclean. com.

For more information, contact:

Greg Ray, Chief Financial Officer and VP Business Management, (847) 836-5670.

Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In Thousands, Except Share and Par Value Amounts)
(Unaudited)

    September 11, 2010     January 2, 2010
ASSETS          
           
Current Assets:          
  Cash and cash equivalents   $ 26,230     $ 1,090
  Accounts receivable - net     13,342       11,941
  Income tax receivables     27       380
  Inventory - net     10,312       9,845
  Deferred income taxes     866       639
  Other current assets     2,115       1,970
Total Current Assets     52,892       25,865
  Property, plant and equipment - net     29,635       25,101
  Software and intangible assets - net     2,939       3,021
Total Assets   $ 85,466     $ 53,987
               
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY              
               
Current Liabilities:              
  Accounts payable   $ 6,922     $ 4,740
  Accrued salaries, wages, and benefits     2,281       1,922
  Taxes payable     1,094       911
  Other accrued expenses     1,414       1,474
Total Current Liabilities     11,711       9,047
   Deferred income taxes     1,413       1,015
Total Liabilities     13,124       10,062
               
Commitments and contingencies              
               
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:              
               
Common stock - 18,000,000 shares authorized at $0.01 par value,              
14,214,275 and 10,708,471 shares issued and outstanding at September 11, 2010 and     142       107
January 2, 2010, respectively              
Additional paid-in capital     69,279       43,219
Retained earnings     2,921       599
Total Stockholders' Equity     72,342       43,925
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity   $ 85,466     $ 53,987
 See accompanying notes to financial statements.    

Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In Thousands, Except per Share Amounts)
(Unaudited)

    Third Quarter Ended,     First Three Quarters Ended,
    September 11, 2010     September 12, 2009     September 11, 2010     September 12, 2009
                       
Sales   $ 26,736     $ 22,284     $ 76,079     $ 68,441
Cost of sales     8,139       5,553       20,552       18,290
      Gross profit     18,597       16,731       55,527       50,151
Operating costs     13,183       11,772       38,498       36,105
Selling, general, and administrative expenses     4,151       3,834       12,949       11,664
Loss on disposal of fixed assets – net           100       39       159
     Operating income     1,263       1,025       4,041       2,223
Interest expense – net           3             3
Income before income taxes     1,263       1,022       4,041       2,220
Provision for income taxes     536       453       1,719       949
Net income available to common stockholders   $ 727     $ 569     $ 2,322     $ 1,271
                               
Net income per share available to common stockholders: basic   $ 0.05     $ 0.05     $ 0.19     $ 0.12
Net income per share available to common stockholders: diluted   $ 0.05     $ 0.05     $ 0.19     $ 0.12
                               
Number of weighted average common shares outstanding: basic     14,197       10,704       11,945       10,696
Number of weighted average common shares outstanding: diluted     14,245       10,834       11,998       10,753

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