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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC  20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 4, 2023

WILLDAN GROUP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

    

001-33076

    

14-1951112

(State of other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

(Commission File Number)

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

2401 East Katella Avenue, Suite 300, Anaheim, California 92806

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (800) 424-9144

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425).

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14A-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR.14d-2(b))

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class

Trading Symbol(s)

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

WLDN

The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

(Nasdaq Global Market)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).

Emerging growth company

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.

Item 2.02             Results of Operations and Financial Condition

 

Willdan Group, Inc. (“Willdan”) issued a press release on May 4, 2023.  The press release announced Willdan’s financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023.  A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.  The information in this Item 2.02 and the attached Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K is being furnished (not filed) pursuant to Item 2.02 of Form 8-K.

 

Item 9.01             Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

(d)          Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.

 

Document

 

 

 

 

99.1

 

 

Press Release of Willdan Group, Inc. dated May 4, 2023.

104

 

Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the inline XBRL document).

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

WILLDAN GROUP, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date: May 4, 2023

By:

/s/ Creighton K. Early

 

 

Creighton K. Early

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

3

Exhibit 99.1

Graphic

Willdan Group Reports

First Quarter Results

ANAHEIM, Calif. –May 4, 2023 – Willdan Group, Inc. (“Willdan”) (Nasdaq: WLDN) today reported financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2023.

“Last quarter was the strongest first quarter in the Company’s history” said Tom Brisbin, Willdan’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Consolidated contract revenue grew 11.7% and net revenue grew 23.0%. The growth in profit significantly exceeded the growth in revenue, generating robust cash flows from operations. This trend of strong growth started in the fourth quarter 2022. We continue to execute at a high level, we are winning new work, and our pipeline of opportunities is strong. We are confident in our 2023 outlook.”

First Quarter 2023 Highlights*

Consolidated contract revenue of $102.6 million, up 11.7%.
Net revenue** of $61.7 million, up 23.0%.
Net income of $0.9 million, a 124.7% improvement.
Adjusted EBITDA** of $9.9 million, up 320.8%.
GAAP EPS of $0.07, a 123.3% improvement.
Adjusted Diluted EPS** of $0.32, a 357.1% increase.

*As compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2022.

**See “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.

First Quarter 2023 Conference Call

Willdan will be hosting a conference call to discuss its first quarter financial results today, at 5:30 p.m. Eastern/2:30 p.m. Pacific. To access the call, listeners should dial 888-428-7458 (or 862-298-0702) approximately five minutes prior to the scheduled start time. The conference call will be webcast simultaneously on Willdan’s website at ir.willdangroup.com and selecting “Events & Presentations”.

A replay of the conference call will be available through Willdan’s website at ir.willdangroup.com and selecting “Events & Presentations”.

An Investor Report containing supplemental financial information can also be accessed through Willdan’s website at ir.willdangroup.com and selecting “Stock Information”.

About Willdan Group, Inc.

Willdan is a nationwide provider of professional, technical and consulting services to utilities, government agencies, and private industry. Willdan’s service offerings span a broad set of complementary disciplines that include electric grid solutions, energy efficiency and sustainability, engineering and planning, and municipal financial consulting. For additional information, visit Willdan's website at www.willdan.com.


Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

“Net Revenue,” defined as contract revenue as reported in accordance with GAAP minus subcontractor services and other direct costs, is a non-GAAP financial measure. Net Revenue is a supplemental measure that Willdan believes enhances investors’ ability to analyze Willdan’s business trends and performance because it substantially measures the work performed by Willdan’s employees. In the course of providing services, Willdan routinely subcontracts various services. Generally, these subcontractor services and other direct costs are passed through to Willdan’s clients and, in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and industry practice, are included in Willdan’s revenue when it is Willdan’s contractual responsibility to procure or manage such subcontracted activities. Because subcontractor services and other direct costs can vary significantly from project to project and period to period, changes in revenue may not necessarily be indicative of Willdan’s business trends. Accordingly, Willdan segregates subcontractor services and other direct costs from revenue to promote a better understanding of Willdan’s business by evaluating revenue exclusive of subcontract services and other direct costs associated with external service providers. A reconciliation of Willdan’s contract revenue as reported in accordance with GAAP to Net Revenue is provided at the end of this press release. A reconciliation of targeted contract revenue for fiscal year 2023 as reported in accordance with GAAP to targeted Net Revenues for fiscal year 2023, which is a forward-looking non-GAAP financial measure, is not provided because Willdan is unable to provide such reconciliation without unreasonable effort. The inability to provide a reconciliation is due to the uncertainty and inherent difficulty of predicting the subcontractor services and other director costs that are subtracted from contract revenues in order to derive Net Revenues. While subcontractor costs have increased recently, subcontractor costs can vary significantly from period to period. Subcontractor costs and other direct costs were 39.9% and 47.2% of contract revenue for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 and fiscal year 2022, respectively, and 45.4% and 43.0% for the quarter ended April 1, 2022 and fiscal year 2021, respectively.

“Adjusted EBITDA,” defined as net income plus interest expense, income tax expense, stock-based compensation, interest accretion, depreciation and amortization, and gain on sale of equipment, is a non-GAAP financial measure. Adjusted EBITDA is a supplemental measure used by Willdan’s management to measure Willdan’s operating performance. Willdan believes Adjusted EBITDA is useful because it allows Willdan’s management to evaluate its operating performance and compare the results of its operations from period to period and against its peers without regard to its financing methods, capital structure and non-operating expenses. Willdan uses Adjusted EBITDA to evaluate its performance for, among other things, budgeting, forecasting and incentive compensation purposes.

Certain items excluded from Adjusted EBITDA are significant components in understanding and assessing a company’s financial performance, such as a company’s costs of capital and stock-based compensation, as well as the historical costs of depreciable assets. A reconciliation of net income as reported in accordance with GAAP to Adjusted EBITDA is provided at the end of this press release.

“Adjusted Net Income,” defined as net income plus stock-based compensation, intangible amortization, and interest accretion, each net of tax, is a non-GAAP financial measure.

“Adjusted Diluted EPS,” defined as net income plus stock-based compensation, intangible amortization, and interest accretion, each net of tax, all divided by the diluted weighted-average shares outstanding, is a non-GAAP financial measure. Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted EPS are supplemental measures used by Willdan’s management to measure its operating performance. Willdan believes Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted EPS are useful because they allow Willdan’s management to more closely evaluate and explain the operating results of Willdan’s business by removing certain non-operating expenses. Reconciliations of net income as reported in accordance with GAAP to Adjusted Net Income and diluted EPS as reported in accordance with GAAP to Adjusted Diluted EPS are provided at the end of this press release.

Willdan’s definitions of Net Revenue, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted EPS have limitations as analytical tools and may differ from other companies reporting similarly named measures or from similarly named measures Willdan has reported in prior periods. These measures should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, other measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP, such as contract revenue, net income and diluted EPS.

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Forward Looking Statements

Statements in this press release that are not purely historical, including statements regarding Willdan’s intentions, hopes, beliefs, expectations, representations, projections, estimates, plans or predictions of the future are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including statements regarding Willdan’s ability to capitalize on increased energy efficiency spending in large markets and expected benefits from its acquisitions and the impact of Covid-19 on Willdan’s business. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release are forward-looking statements. It is important to note that Willdan’s actual results could differ materially from those in any such forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from its expectations include, but are not limited to, Willdan’s ability to adequately complete projects in a timely manner, Willdan’s ability to compete successfully in the highly competitive energy services market, Willdan’s reliance on work from its top ten clients; changes in state, local and regional economies and government budgets; Willdan’s ability to win new contracts, to renew existing contracts and to compete effectively for contracts awarded through bidding processes; Willdan’s ability to make principal and interest payments on its outstanding debt as they come due and to comply with financial covenants contained in its debt agreements; Willdan’s ability to manage supply chain constraints, labor shortages, rising interest rates, and rising inflation; Willdan’s ability to obtain financing and to refinance its outstanding debt as it matures; Willdan’s ability to successfully integrate its acquisitions and execute on its growth strategy; Willdan’s ability to attract and retain managerial, technical, and administrative talent and the extent to which the Covid-19 pandemic and measures taken to contain its spread ultimately impact Willdan’s business, results of operation and financial condition. 

All written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to Willdan, or persons acting on its behalf, are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements and risk factors disclosed from time to time in Willdan’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed for the year ended December 30, 2022, as such disclosures may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other reports Willdan files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including subsequent Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K. Willdan cautions investors not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Willdan disclaims any obligation to, and does not undertake to, update or revise any forward-looking statements in this press release unless required by law.

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WILLDAN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except par value)

    

March 31,

    

December 30,

2023

2022

Assets

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$

17,853

$

8,806

Restricted cash

10,679

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $336 and $640 at March 31, 2023 and December 30, 2022, respectively

 

51,917

 

60,202

Contract assets

 

75,241

 

83,060

Other receivables

 

4,782

 

4,773

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

5,431

 

6,454

Total current assets

 

155,224

 

173,974

Equipment and leasehold improvements, net

 

24,495

 

22,537

Goodwill

130,124

130,124

Right-of-use assets

12,750

12,390

Other intangible assets, net

38,861

41,486

Other assets

 

14,152

 

10,620

Deferred income taxes, net

17,761

18,543

Total assets

$

393,367

$

409,674

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

Current liabilities:

Accounts payable

$

29,312

$

28,833

Accrued liabilities

 

40,548

 

59,110

Contingent consideration payable

4,000

4,000

Contract liabilities

 

15,526

 

12,585

Notes payable

 

16,436

 

16,903

Finance lease obligations

1,105

1,113

Lease liability

4,435

4,625

Total current liabilities

 

111,362

 

127,169

Notes payable

85,361

90,544

Finance lease obligations, less current portion

 

1,354

 

1,601

Lease liability, less current portion

9,796

8,599

Other noncurrent liabilities

259

259

Total liabilities

 

208,132

 

228,172

Commitments and contingencies

Stockholders’ equity:

Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 10,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding

 

 

Common stock, $0.01 par value, 40,000 shares authorized; 13,489 and 13,296 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2023 and December 30, 2022, respectively

 

135

 

133

Additional paid-in capital

 

180,517

 

177,718

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

Retained earnings

 

4,583

 

3,651

Total stockholders’ equity

 

185,235

 

181,502

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$

393,367

$

409,674

4


WILLDAN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

Three Months Ended

March 31,

April 1,

    

2023

    

2022

Contract revenue

$

102,603

$

91,838

Direct costs of contract revenue (inclusive of directly related depreciation and amortization):

Salaries and wages

 

20,410

 

18,810

Subcontractor services and other direct costs

 

40,912

 

41,668

Total direct costs of contract revenue

 

61,322

 

60,478

General and administrative expenses:

Salaries and wages, payroll taxes and employee benefits

 

22,385

 

19,357

Facilities and facility related

 

2,278

 

2,398

Stock-based compensation

 

1,533

 

3,305

Depreciation and amortization

 

4,200

 

4,409

Other

 

6,871

 

7,499

Total general and administrative expenses

 

37,267

 

36,968

Income (Loss) from operations

 

4,014

 

(5,608)

Other income (expense):

Interest expense, net

 

(2,466)

 

(751)

Other, net

 

140

 

197

Total other expense, net

 

(2,326)

 

(554)

Income (Loss) before income taxes

 

1,688

 

(6,162)

Income tax (benefit) expense

 

756

 

(2,389)

Net income (loss)

932

(3,773)

Other comprehensive income (loss):

Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative contracts, net of tax

38

Comprehensive income (loss)

$

932

$

(3,735)

Earnings (Loss) per share:

Basic

$

0.07

$

(0.30)

Diluted

$

0.07

$

(0.30)

Weighted-average shares outstanding:

Basic

 

13,266

 

12,786

Diluted

 

13,470

 

12,786

5


WILLDAN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

Three Months Ended

March 31,

April 1,

    

2023

    

2022

Cash flows from operating activities:

Net income (loss)

$

932

$

(3,773)

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization

 

4,200

 

4,409

Deferred income taxes, net

 

782

 

(973)

(Gain) loss on sale/disposal of equipment

 

(10)

 

(36)

Provision for doubtful accounts

 

81

 

64

Stock-based compensation

 

1,533

 

3,305

Accretion and fair value adjustments of contingent consideration

80

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions:

Accounts receivable

 

8,204

 

17,670

Contract assets

 

7,819

 

104

Other receivables

 

(9)

 

(1,505)

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

1,108

 

253

Other assets

 

(3,532)

 

437

Accounts payable

 

479

 

(16,778)

Accrued liabilities

 

(7,883)

 

(8,488)

Contract liabilities

 

2,941

 

(2,431)

Right-of-use assets

 

647

 

(92)

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

 

17,292

 

(7,754)

Cash flows from investing activities:

Purchase of equipment, software, and leasehold improvements

 

(3,488)

 

(2,103)

Proceeds from sale of equipment

13

39

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

 

(3,475)

 

(2,064)

Cash flows from financing activities:

Payments on contingent consideration

 

 

(10,206)

Payment on restricted cash

(10,679)

Payments on notes payable

(485)

(701)

Borrowings under term loan facility and line of credit

20,000

Repayments under term loan facility and line of credit

(5,250)

(3,250)

Principal payments on finance leases

 

(303)

 

(342)

Proceeds from stock option exercise

 

 

23

Proceeds from sales of common stock under employee stock purchase plan

 

1,392

 

1,561

Cash used to pay taxes on stock grants

(124)

(837)

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

 

(15,449)

 

6,248

Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

 

(1,632)

 

(3,570)

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period

 

19,485

 

11,221

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period

$

17,853

$

7,651

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

Cash paid (received) during the period for:

Interest

$

2,424

$

699

Income taxes

 

(77)

 

446

Supplemental disclosures of noncash investing and financing activities:

Equipment acquired under finance leases

48

1,048

6


Willdan Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Reconciliation of GAAP Revenue to Net Revenue

(in thousands)

(Non-GAAP Measure)

Three Months Ended

March 31,

April 1,

    

2023

    

2022

Consolidated

    

Contract revenue

$

102,603

$

91,838

Subcontractor services and other direct costs

40,912

41,668

Net Revenue

$

61,691

$

50,170

Energy segment

    

Contract revenue

$

83,285

$

74,886

Subcontractor services and other direct costs

40,078

40,848

Net Revenue

$

43,207

$

34,038

Engineering and Consulting segment

    

Contract revenue

$

19,318

$

16,952

Subcontractor services and other direct costs

834

820

Net Revenue

$

18,484

$

16,132

7


Willdan Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA

(in thousands)

(Non-GAAP Measure)

Three Months Ended

March 31,

    

April 1,

    

2023

2022

Net income (loss)

    

$

932

$

(3,773)

Interest expense

2,466

751

Income tax expense (benefit)

756

(2,389)

Stock-based compensation

1,533

3,305

Interest accretion(1)

80

Depreciation and amortization

4,200

4,409

(Gain) Loss on sale of equipment

(10)

(36)

Adjusted EBITDA

$

9,877

$

2,347


(1)Interest accretion represents the imputed interest and fair value adjustments to estimated contingent consideration.

8


Willdan Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income to Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted EPS

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

(Non-GAAP Measure)

Three Months Ended

March 31,

    

April 1,

    

2023

2022

Net income (loss)

    

$

932

$

(3,773)

Adjustment for stock-based compensation

1,533

3,305

Tax effect of stock-based compensation

(310)

(806)

Adjustment for intangible amortization

2,624

2,847

Tax effect of intangible amortization

(531)

(695)

Adjustment for interest accretion

80

Tax effect of interest accretion

(20)

Adjusted Net Income (Loss)

$

4,248

$

938

Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding

13,470

12,786

Diluted earnings (loss) per share

$

0.07

$

(0.30)

Impact of adjustment:

Stock-based compensation per share

0.12

0.26

Tax effect of stock-based compensation per share

(0.02)

(0.06)

Intangible amortization per share

0.19

0.22

Tax effect of intangible amortization per share

(0.04)

(0.06)

Interest accretion per share

0.01

Tax effect of interest accretion per share

(0.00)

Adjusted Diluted EPS

$

0.32

$

0.07

9


Contact:

Willdan Group, Inc.

Al Kaschalk

VP Investor Relations

Tel: 310-922-5643

akaschalk@willdan.com

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