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Watsco's (WSO) Q3 Earnings & Revenues Beat Estimates

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Watsco, Inc. (WSO - Free Report) reported impressive third-quarter 2020 results, wherein earnings and revenues beat the respective Zacks Consensus Estimate.

Albert H. Nahmad, the company’s chairman and CEO said, “Our core U.S. residential business has remained solid and continues to see above-average growth trends. We further strengthened our balance sheet, as evidenced by our record cash flow and debt reduction.”

Inside the Numbers

Watsco’s quarterly earnings of $2.76 per share topped the consensus estimate of $2.53 by 9.1%. The reported earnings also increased 25% year over year.

Total revenues of $1.54 billion surpassed the consensus mark of $1,515 billion by 1.4% and increased 10.2% from the year-ago period. Sales were also up 8% on a same-store basis. This includes 15% in U.S. markets.

Sales of HVAC equipment (heating, ventilating and air conditioning; comprising 70% of sales) were up 10% year over year, including 19% sales growth in U.S. residential markets. Sales of other HVAC products (27% of sales) also increased 2% from the prior-year quarter. Sales from commercial refrigeration products (3% of sales) were flat year over year.

Watsco, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Watsco, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Watsco, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Watsco, Inc. Quote

Operating Highlights

Gross margin expanded 30 basis points (bps) for the quarter. SG&A expenses increased 4% year over year. On a same-store basis, SG&A expenses — as a percentage of sales — remained flat year over year, given operating efficiencies achieved throughout its network. Operating margin expanded 120 bps year over year to 10.2%.

Financial Operations

As of Sep 30, 2020, cash and cash equivalents were $92.6 million compared with $74.5 million at 2019-end. Cash from operations came in at $373 million in the first nine months of 2020 compared with $198 million in the comparable year-ago period.

Watsco has paid cash dividends for 46 consecutive years. Dividends paid through Sep 30, 2020 increased 9% to $197 million.

Zacks Rank

Watsco — which shares space with AAON, Inc. (AAON - Free Report) , Comfort Systems USA, Inc. (FIX - Free Report) and Lennox International Inc. (LII - Free Report) in the same industry — currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

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