Parsons Reports Strong Second Quarter 2023 Results

Q2 2023 Financial Highlights

• Record revenue of $1.4 billion increases 34% year-over-year
• Record organic revenue growth of 23% driven by record organic growth in both segments
• Significant second quarter net income of $43 million increases 136%
• Record adjusted EBITDA increases 53% to $118 million
• Strong book-to-bill ratio of 1.4x on contract awards growth of 95%
• Record total backlog increases 8% to $8.9 billion
• Increasing 2023 guidance ranges for revenue, adjusted EBITDA, and cash flow from operations

CENTREVILLE, Va., Aug. 02, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Parsons Corporation (NYSE: PSN) today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2023.

CEO Commentary

“Our momentum continues as we delivered another record quarter with all-time highs for total revenue, organic revenue growth, adjusted EBITDA, contract awards, and total backlog,” said Carey Smith, chair, president, and chief executive officer. “In the second quarter, we achieved organic revenue growth of over 20% in both business segments and won six contracts over $100 million, all company records. We are efficiently growing the business as profitability growth has outpaced our significant revenue growth for both the second quarter and for first half of the year. We have the right portfolio and the right team to continue to capitalize on unprecedented global infrastructure spending and the increasing demand for national security solutions. These positive factors provide us with the confidence and visibility to raise our full-year revenue, adjusted EBITDA, and cash flow guidance.”

Second Quarter 2023 Results

Year-over-Year Comparisons (Q2 2023 vs. Q2 2022)

Total revenue for the second quarter of 2023 increased by $348 million, or 34%, to $1.4 billion. This increase was primarily driven by organic growth of 23% due to the ramp-up of recent contract wins and growth on existing contracts. The company’s acquisitions contributed approximately $121 million of inorganic revenue in the second quarter of 2023. Operating income increased 134% to $76 million primarily due to the ramp-up of recent contract wins and contributions from the company's Xator acquisition. Net income increased 136% to $43 million. GAAP diluted earnings per share (EPS) attributable to Parsons was $0.38 in the second quarter of 2023, compared to $0.17 in the prior year period.

Adjusted EBITDA including noncontrolling interests for the second quarter of 2023 was $118 million, a 53% increase over the prior year period. The adjusted EBITDA increase was driven primarily by volume on new contract wins, $20 million of one-time incentive fees on two chemical weapons destruction programs, and contributions from the company's Xator acquisition. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 8.7% in the second quarter of 2023, compared to 7.7% in the second quarter of 2022. The year-over-year margin increase was primarily driven by recent contract awards, the company's Xator acquisition, and efficient growth across the portfolio. Adjusted EPS was $0.63 in the second quarter of 2023, compared to $0.41 in the second quarter of 2022. The year-over-year adjusted EPS increase was driven by the adjusted EBITDA increases noted above.

Segment Results

Federal Solutions Segment

Federal Solutions Year-over-Year Comparisons (Q2 2023 vs. Q2 2022)

Second quarter 2023 revenue increased $225 million, or 42%, compared to the prior year period due to organic growth of 20% and $118 million from the company's Xator acquisition. Organic revenue growth was primarily driven by expansion with the Department of State, growth on new and existing contracts, and the incentive fees from the two chemical weapons destruction programs.

Second quarter 2023 Federal Solutions adjusted EBITDA including noncontrolling interests increased by $38 million, or 80%. Adjusted EBITDA margin increased to 11.2% from 8.9% in the prior year period. These increases were driven primarily by $20 million in non-recurring incentive fees, and contributions from the company's Xator acquisition.

Critical Infrastructure Segment

Critical Infrastructure Year-over-Year Comparisons (Q2 2023 vs. Q2 2022)

Second quarter 2023 Critical Infrastructure revenue increased $123 million, or 26%, compared to the prior year period due to organic growth of 25%. Organic revenue growth was primarily driven by higher volume in both the Middle East and North America.

Second quarter 2023 adjusted EBITDA including noncontrolling interests increased by $3 million, or 10%, compared to the prior year period. Adjusted EBITDA margin decreased to 5.5% from 6.3% in the prior year period. The adjusted EBITDA increase was driven by higher volume on new and existing contracts. The stronger core margin was impacted by $28 million of write-downs related to two legacy programs.

Second Quarter 2023 Key Performance Indicators

• Book-to-bill ratio: 1.4x on net bookings of $1.9 billion.
• Book-to-bill ratio (trailing twelve-months): 1.2x on net bookings of $5.7 billion.
• Total backlog: $8.9 billion, up 8% from Q2 2022.
• Cash flow from operating activities: Second quarter 2023: $23 million compared to $51 million in second quarter of 2022. For the six months ended June 30, 2023, cash flow from operating activities was $14 million, compared to $25 million in the prior year period.

Significant Contract Wins

Parsons continues to win large strategic contracts in both the Federal Solutions and Critical Infrastructure segments. During the second quarter of 2023, the company won six single-award contracts worth more than $100 million each, a company record. In addition, the company won an additional $100 million contract after the 2023 second quarter ended.

• Awarded the Federal Aviation Administration’s $1.8 billion ceiling value recompete contract to support their Aviation System Capital Investment Plan, of which the company booked the 3-year base period for $641 million. Parsons has been the prime contractor on this work for more than two decades. With the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the FAA has $5 billion of additional funding for facilities-related work. 
• Awarded a new five-year single-award contract from the General Services Administration with a potential value of $1.2 billion, of which the company booked the one-year base period for $217 million. This contract supports the Department of Defense and its strategic partners in delivering global quick reaction capabilities leveraging advanced technology solutions across the all-domain battlespace. 
• Awarded a $170 million five-year ceiling value task order by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency under the Assessments, Exercises, Modeling, and Simulation Support multiple-award IDIQ contract. This contract contains new and existing work to provide vulnerability assessments, design reviews, and analysis that advances the DoD and DTRA’s missions to counter and mitigate a broad spectrum of existing and emerging vulnerabilities and threats. The company booked $34 million on this contract in the second quarter.
• Awarded a new $130 million single-award contract as lead designer for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to enhance infrastructure at the John F. Kennedy International Airport. The scope includes a new on-airport roadway transportation network, parking garage, pedestrian bridge, and utility upgrades. The company booked this entire contract value in the second quarter.
• Awarded a new $127 million contract as a subcontractor to a federal customer, of which the company booked $25 million, to deliver detection technology solutions.
• Awarded a $109 million recompete contract from the United States Cyber Command to provide cyber capability discovery, development, testing, and advanced analytics. The company booked $52 million on this contract in the second quarter. This is the company's second consecutive win with the Cyber Command this year.  
• Awarded a new $93 million five-year single-award contract to complete project and design management for a major development in Saudi Arabia. The company booked the entire value of this contract in the second quarter.
• After the second quarter ended, the company was awarded a five-year contract with an estimated value of $130 million on the Repairs, Operations, Maintenance, and Engineering contract by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). As a subcontractor to a small business, Parsons will provide facilities construction management and engineering and technical services.

Additional Corporate Highlights

Parsons continues to build on its long-standing commitment to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives, which is interwoven with the company’s core values and how it operates. During the quarter, the company won multiple awards for being a top employer for diversity and military veterans and continued its tradition of destroying U.S. chemical weapon stockpiles.

• Parsons was part of the team that helped the United States comply with the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention agreement by destroying the country’s last chemical weapon. The final sarin nerve agent filled M55 rocket was destroyed on July 7, 2023.
• Announced a commitment to set updated near and long-term targets for Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions aligned with 1.5°C and net-zero through the Business Ambition for 1.5°C campaign; a leading global coalition committed to taking urgent climate action.
• Published Parsons 2023 ESG disclosures, detailing how the company is accelerating its climate objectives while creating the future of global infrastructure and national security. The report highlights the company’s transparency and key milestones, defining how ESG underpins the company’s values and drives future growth.
• Recognized as one of the best employers for diversity by Forbes. This recognition demonstrates how the company has prioritized Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion by striving to create an inclusive workplace for all employees to be their most authentic selves. 
• Recognized as a VETS Indexes 4 Star Employer for its commitment to recruiting, hiring, retaining, developing, and supporting veterans and the military-connected community.
• Recognized as a top 50 employer by Women Engineer Magazine. This publication selects the top companies in the country for which they would most like to work for and/or whom they believe would provide a positive working environment for women engineers.
• Honored by the Washington Business Journal as one of the most diverse companies and employers in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

Fiscal Year 2023 Guidance

The company is increasing its fiscal year 2023 revenue, adjusted EBITDA, and cash flow from operations guidance ranges to reflect its strong second quarter operating performance and its outlook for the remainder of the year. The table below summarizes the company’s fiscal year 2023 guidance.

Net income guidance is not presented as the company believes volatility associated with interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and other matters affecting net income, including but not limited to one-time and nonrecurring events and the impact of M&A, will preclude the company from providing, with reasonable certainty, net income guidance for fiscal year 2023.

Conference Call Information

Parsons will host a conference call today, August 2, 2023, at 8:00 a.m. ET to discuss the financial results for its second quarter 2023.

Access to a webcast of the live conference call can be obtained through the Investor Relations section of the company's website (https://investors.parsons.com). Those parties interested in participating via telephone may register on the Investor Relations website or by clicking here.

A replay of the conference call will be available on the company's website approximately two hours after the call concludes and will remain on the website for approximately one year.

About Parsons Corporation

Parsons (NYSE: PSN) is a leading disruptive technology provider in the national security and global infrastructure markets, with capabilities across cyber and intelligence, space and missile defense, transportation, environmental remediation, urban development, and critical infrastructure protection. Please visit Parsons.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook to learn how we’re making an impact.

Forward-Looking Statements

This Earnings Release and materials included therewith contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations, beliefs, and assumptions, and are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to uncertainties, risks, changes in circumstances, trends and factors that are difficult to predict, many of which are outside of our control. Accordingly, actual performance, results and events may vary materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements, and you should not rely on the forward-looking statements as predictions of future performance, results or events. Numerous factors could cause actual future performance, results and events to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements, including, among others: the impact of COVID-19; any issue that compromises our relationships with the U.S. federal government or its agencies or other state, local or foreign governments or agencies; any issues that damage our professional reputation; changes in governmental priorities that shift expenditures away from agencies or programs that we support; our dependence on long-term government contracts, which are subject to the government’s budgetary approval process; the size of addressable markets and the amount of government spending on private contractors; failure by us or our employees to obtain and maintain necessary security clearances or certifications; failure to comply with numerous laws and regulations; changes in government procurement, contract or other practices or the adoption by governments of new laws, rules, regulations and programs in a manner adverse to us; the termination or nonrenewal of our government contracts, particularly our contracts with the U.S. government; our ability to compete effectively in the competitive bidding process and delays, contract terminations or cancellations caused by competitors’ protests of major contract awards received by us; our ability to generate revenue under certain of our contracts; any inability to attract, train or retain employees with the requisite skills, experience and security clearances; the loss of members of senior management or failure to develop new leaders; misconduct or other improper activities from our employees or subcontractors; our ability to realize the full value of our backlog and the timing of our receipt of revenue under contracts included in backlog; changes in the mix of our contracts and our ability to accurately estimate or otherwise recover expenses, time and resources for our contracts; changes in estimates used in recognizing revenue; internal system or service failures and security breaches; and inherent uncertainties and potential adverse developments in legal proceedings including litigation, audits, reviews and investigations, which may result in material adverse judgments, settlements or other unfavorable outcomes. These factors are not exhaustive and additional factors could adversely affect our business and financial performance. For a discussion of additional factors that could materially adversely affect our business and financial performance, see the factors including under the caption “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, on Form 10-K, filed on February 17, 2023, and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

All forward-looking statements are based on currently available information and speak only as of the date on which they are made. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made in this presentation that becomes untrue because of subsequent events, new information or otherwise, except to the extent we are required to do so in connection with our ongoing requirements under federal securities laws.

Non-GAAP Financial Information
The tables under "Parsons Corporation Inc. Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures" present Adjusted Net Income attributable to Parsons Corporation, Adjusted Earnings per Share, Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (“EBITDA”), Adjusted EBITDA, EBITDA Margin, and Adjusted EBITDA Margin, reconciled to their most directly comparable GAAP measure. These financial measures are calculated and presented on the basis of methodologies other than in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("Non-GAAP Measures"). Parsons has provided these Non-GAAP Measures to adjust for, among other things, the impact of amortization expenses related to our acquisitions, costs associated with a loss or gain on the disposal or sale of property, plant and equipment, restructuring and related expenses, costs associated with mergers and acquisitions, software implementation costs, legal and settlement costs, and other costs considered non-operational in nature. These items have been Adjusted because they are not considered core to the company’s business or otherwise not considered operational or because these charges are non-cash or non-recurring. The company presents these Non-GAAP Measures because management believes that they are meaningful to understanding Parsons’s performance during the periods presented and the company’s ongoing business. Non-GAAP Measures are not prepared in accordance with GAAP and therefore are not necessarily comparable to similarly titled metrics or the financial results of other companies. These Non-GAAP Measures should be considered a supplement to, not a substitute for, or superior to, the corresponding financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP.

^{_____________________________
1} Book-to-Bill ratio is calculated as total contract awards divided by total revenue for the period.