Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc. Announces Record 2022 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Financial Results

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc. (Nasdaq: HCCI), a leading provider of parts cleaning, hazardous and non-hazardous waste services, used oil re-refining, antifreeze recycling, industrial and field services, and emergency and spill response services today announced results for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022 and for the full fiscal year, which ended December 31, 2022.

Fourth Quarter Review

Total revenue for the fourth quarter of 2022 increased 42.2% to $241.1 million compared to $169.5 million for the same quarter of 2021. The Company's fourth quarter of fiscal 2022 was comprised of 77 working days compared to 76 working days in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2021. On a sales-per-working day basis, revenue increased approximately 40.4% compared to the prior year quarter. The increase in revenue was due to improvement in base oil pricing in our Oil Business segment along with increased demand and higher selling prices for our Environmental Services segment products and services as well as by revenue from an acquisition made during the third quarter of 2022.

Our operating margin percentage decreased to 22.8% in the fourth quarter of 2022 compared to 26.6% in the fourth quarter of 2021. The decrease was mainly due to increased costs for solvent, disposal costs, depreciation expense, fuel cost, and equipment rental, partially offset by an increase in the spread between the netback (sales price net of freight impact) on our base oil sales and the price paid/charged to our customers for the collection of their used oil. Our corporate SG&A expense as a percentage of revenue decreased slightly to 11.9% from 12.1% of revenue in the fourth quarter of 2021 mainly due to higher revenue and lower share-based compensation expense.

Net income was $27.6 million, or $1.16 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2022. This compares to net income of $18.1 million, or $0.77 per diluted share, in the year earlier quarter. Adjusted net income for the quarter was $18.8 million. The most significant adjustment to net earnings was subtracting a $12.2 million gain from the revaluation of one of our investments.

Fiscal 2022 Review

In 2022, we generated $709.3 million in revenue compared to prior year revenue of $515.3 million, an increase of $194.0 million, or 37.6%. The Company's 2022 fiscal year was comprised of 254 working days compared to 253 working days in fiscal 2021. On a sales-per-working day basis, revenue increased approximately 37.1% in fiscal 2022 compared to the prior year. This increase in revenue was due to the increase in base oil pricing in our Oil Business segment and the continued reopening of the U.S. economy from the COVID-19 pandemic as well as inorganic growth in the Environmental Services segment.

Our operating margin percentage for 2022 was 26.2% compared to 28.0% operating margin in fiscal 2021. The decrease was mainly due to increased costs for solvent, disposal costs, depreciation expense, fuel costs, equipment rental, and hydrogen expense, partially offset by an increase in the spread between the netback on our base oil sales and the price paid/charged to our customers for the removal of their used oil. Corporate SG&A expense for fiscal 2022 was 11.2% of revenue, compared to 12.1% of revenue in fiscal 2021.

Net income for fiscal 2022 was $84.8 million, or $3.58 per diluted share, compared to net income of $60.9 million, or $2.59 per diluted share, for fiscal 2021. Adjusted net income for the year was $78.8 million.

Segments

Our Environmental Services segment includes parts cleaning, hazardous and non-hazardous waste disposal, wastewater vacuum, antifreeze recycling, industrial and field services, and emergency and spill response. The Environmental Services segment reported revenue of $165.8 million, an increase of $62.2 million, or 60.0%, during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022 compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021. The increase in revenue was mainly due to the continued reopening of the U.S. economy post the COVID-19 pandemic as well as revenue from an acquisition made during the third quarter of fiscal 2022. We experienced revenue increases across a majority of our service lines in the segment during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022 when compared to the fourth quarter of 2021. On a sales-per-working day basis, Environmental Services segment revenue increased approximately 57.9% compared to the prior year quarter.

Profit before corporate SG&A expense in the Environmental Services segment during the fourth quarter was $35.1 million and as a percentage of revenue was 21.2% compared to 22.0% in the year ago quarter. The decline in margin on a percentage basis was mainly due to higher fuel costs, solvent expenses, and equipment rental expense.

During fiscal 2022, Environmental Services segment revenue increased $130.9 million, or 41.1%, compared to fiscal 2021, while our 2022 profit before corporate SG&A expense as a percentage of revenue was 20.9% compared to 23.6% in fiscal 2021.

President and CEO Brian Recatto commented, "Due to the inflationary pressure we continue to face in various parts of our Environmental Services segment, we implemented another price increase in December of 2022. Implementation of this increase should help improve our operating margin during 2023."

Our Oil Business segment includes used oil collection activities, sales of recycled fuel oil, and re-refining activities. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022, Oil Business revenues increased 14.3% to $75.3 million compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021. An increase in our base oil netback was the main driver of the increase in revenue. On a sales-per-working day basis, our Oil Business segment revenue increased approximately 12.9% compared to the prior year quarter.

Our Oil Business segment operating margin percentage decreased to 26.4% in the fourth quarter of 2022 compared to 33.7% during the same period of 2021. The decrease in operating margin was mainly due to increased costs related to transportation and hydrogen partially offset by an increase in the spread between the netback on our base oil sales and the price paid/charged to our customers for the removal of their used oil.

Full year 2022 Oil Business segment revenue increased by 32.0% compared to fiscal 2021, while operating margin also slightly increased to 35.3% compared to 35.2% in fiscal 2021.

Recatto commented, "Despite the significant decline in base oil netback compared to the third quarter, base oil netback during the fourth quarter remained above our netback for the fourth quarter of 2021. The higher netback allowed us to increase our spread on a year-over-year basis and generate better than expected operating margin during the quarter. For the year, we are very pleased with the record annual revenue and profitability in the Oil Business segment."

Safe Harbor Statement

All references to the "Company," "we," "our," and "us" refer to Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc., and its subsidiaries. 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 forward-looking 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 forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other important factors include, among others: our ability to successfully integrate our acquisition of Patriot Environmental Services, Inc. and achieve the benefits contemplated by the acquisition; developments in the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting impact on our business and operations, general economic conditions and downturns in the business cycles of automotive repair shops, industrial manufacturing businesses and small businesses in general; increased solvent, fuel and energy costs and volatility, including a drop in the price of crude oil, the selling price of lubricating base oil, solvent, fuel, energy, and commodity costs; the impact of inflationary pressures on our business; our ability to enforce our rights under the FCC Environmental purchase agreement; our ability to pay our debt when due and comply with our debt covenants; our ability to successfully operate our used oil re-refinery and to cost-effectively collect or purchase used oil or generate operating results; increased market supply or decreased demand for base oil; further consolidation and/or declines in the United States automotive repair and manufacturing industries; the impact of extensive environmental, health and safety and employment laws and regulations on our business; legislative or regulatory requirements or changes adversely affecting our business; competition in the industrial and hazardous waste services industries and from other used oil re-refineries; claims and involuntary shutdowns relating to our handling of hazardous substances; the value of our used solvents and oil inventory, which may fluctuate significantly; our dependency on key employees; our level of indebtedness, which could affect our ability to fulfill our obligations, impede the implementation of our strategy, and expose us to interest rate risk; the impact of legal proceedings and class action litigation on us and our ability to estimate the cash payments we will make under litigation settlements; our ability to effectively manage our network of branch locations; the control of The Heritage Group over the Company; and the risks identified in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 1, 2023. 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, used oil re-refining, hazardous and non-hazardous waste disposal, emergency and spill response, and industrial and field services to vehicle maintenance businesses, manufacturers and other industrial businesses, as well as utilities and governmental entities. Our service programs include parts cleaning, regulated containerized and bulk waste management, used oil collection and re-refining, wastewater vacuum, emergency and spill response, industrial and field services, waste antifreeze collection, recycling and product sales. These services help our customers manage their used chemicals and liquid and solid wastes, while also helping to minimize their regulatory burdens. Through our used oil re-refining program, during fiscal 2022, we recycled approximately 66 million gallons of used oil into high quality lubricating base oil, and we are a supplier to firms that produce and market finished lubricants. Through our antifreeze program during fiscal 2022 we recycled approximately 4.5 million gallons of spent antifreeze which was used to produce a full line of virgin-quality antifreeze products. Through our parts cleaning program during fiscal 2022 we recycled 2.3 million gallons of used solvent into virgin-quality solvent to be used again by our customers. In addition, we sold 0.6 million gallons of used solvent into the reuse market. Through our containerized waste program during fiscal 2022 we collected 22 thousand tons of regulated waste which was sent for energy recovery. Through our wastewater vacuum services program during fiscal 2022 we treated approximately 68 million gallons of wastewater. Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc. is headquartered in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, and operates through 105 branch and industrial services locations serving approximately 104,000 customer locations.

Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at 9:30 AM Central Time, during which management will give 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://crystal-clean.com/investor-relations/, and can participate on the call by dialing [phone]. After dialing the number, you will be required to provide the following passcode before being joined to the conference call: 8889427.

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

Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In Thousands) (Unaudited)
	December 31, 2022				January 1, 2022
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	22,053			$	56,269
Accounts receivable - net		114,408				62,513
Inventory - net		40,727				29,536
Assets held for sale		1,125				1,125
Other current assets		12,989				6,773
Total current assets		191,302				156,216
Property, plant and equipment - net		222,942				166,301
Right of use assets		123,742				83,865
Equipment at customers - net		26,465				24,146
Software and intangible assets - net		102,335				45,949
Goodwill		112,236				49,695
Investments at fair value		15,219				692
Other Assets		-				692
Total assets	$	794,241			$	526,864
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	55,087			$	36,179
Current portion of lease liabilities		27,277				20,146
Contract liabilities - net		2,525				2,094
Accrued salaries, wages, and benefits		12,443				8,980
Taxes payable		6,037				8,474
Other current liabilities		12,382				9,476
Total current liabilities		115,751				85,349
Lease liabilities, net of current portion		100,738				65,041
Other long-term liabilities		986				473
Long-term debt		89,383				-
Deferred income taxes		57,155				31,126
Contingent consideration		-				2,819
Total liabilities	$	364,013			$	184,808
Commitments and contingencies (Note 14)
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Common stock - 26,000,000 shares authorized at 0.01 par value, 23,593,163 and 23,473,931 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2022 and January 1, 2022, respectively		236				235
Additional paid-in capital		208,533				204,920
Retained earnings		221,826				137,067
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss)		(367	)			(166	)
Total stockholders' equity	$	430,228			$	342,056
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	794,241			$	526,864

Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In Thousands, Except per Share Amounts)
(Unaudited)
		For the Fourth Quarters Ended,								For the Fiscal Years Ended,
		December 31, 2022				January 1, 2022				December 31, 2022				January 1, 2022
		As Reported				As Reported				As Reported				As Reported
Revenues
Service		$	143,524			$	85,394			$	378,099			$	262,863
Product revenues			88,667				76,209				303,615				227,737
Rental income			8,906				7,899				27,617				24,734
Total revenues		$	241,097			$	169,502			$	709,331			$	515,334
Operating expenses
Operating costs		$	175,750			$	118,212			$	496,433			$	352,796
Selling, general, and administrative expenses			24,935				18,465				70,781				56,987
Depreciation and amortization			14,181				8,373				35,727				23,542
Other (income)- net			(12,473	)			(317	)			(12,011	)			(988	)
Operating income			38,704				24,769				118,401				82,997
Interest expense - net			1,874				226				3,232				933
Income before income taxes			36,830				24,543				115,169				82,064
Provision for income taxes			9,260				6,419				30,410				21,116
Net income		$	27,570			$	18,124			$	84,759			$	60,948
Net income per share: basic		$	1.17			$	0.77			$	3.60			$	2.60
Net income per share: diluted		$	1.16			$	0.77			$	3.58			$	2.59
Number of weighted average shares outstanding: basic			23,599				23,454				23,544				23,419
Number of weighted average shares outstanding: diluted			23,743				23,578				23,679				23,557

Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc.
Reconciliation of Operating Segment Information
(In Thousands) (Unaudited)
For the Fourth Quarters Ended,
December 31, 2022
(thousands)		Environmental Services			Oil Business			Corporate and Eliminations				Consolidated
Revenues
Service revenues		$	138,694		$	4,831		$	-			$	143,525
Product revenues			18,233			70,433			-				88,666
Rental Income			8,888			18			-				8,906
Total revenues		$	165,815		$	75,282		$	-			$	241,097
Operating expenses
Operating costs			123,239			52,511			-				175,750
Operating depreciation and amortization			7,490			2,876			-				10,366
Profit before corporate selling, general, and administrative expenses		$	35,086		$	19,895		$	-			$	54,981
Selling, general, and administrative expenses									24,935				24,935
Depreciation and amortization from SG&A									3,815				3,815
Total selling, general, and administrative expenses								$	28,750			$	28,750
Other income - net									(12,473	)			(12,473	)
Operating income													38,704
Interest expense - net									1,874				1,874
Income before income taxes												$	36,830

January 1, 2022
(thousands)		Environmental Services			Oil Business			Corporate and Eliminations				Consolidated
Revenues
Service revenues		$	81,528		$	3,866		$	-			$	85,394
Product revenues			14,268			61,941			-				76,209
Rental Income			7,862			37			-				7,899
Total revenues		$	103,658		$	65,844		$	-			$	169,502
Operating expenses
Operating costs			77,241			40,971			-				118,212
Operating depreciation and amortization			3,622			2,653			-				6,275
Profit before corporate selling, general, and administrative expenses		$	22,795		$	22,220		$	-			$	45,015
Selling, general, and administrative expenses									18,465				18,465
Depreciation and amortization from SG&A									2,098				2,098
Total selling, general, and administrative expenses								$	20,563			$	20,563
Other income - net									(317	)			(317	)
Operating income													24,769
Interest expense - net									226				226
Income before income taxes												$	24,543

For the Fiscal Years Ended,
December 31, 2022
(thousands)		Environmental Services			Oil Business			Corporate and Eliminations				Consolidated
Revenues
Service revenues		$	365,502		$	12,597		$	-			$	378,099
Product revenues			55,959			247,656			-				303,615
Rental Income			27,561		$	56			-				27,617
Total revenues		$	449,022		$	260,309		$	-			$	709,331
Operating expenses
Operating costs			337,329			159,104			-				496,433
Operating depreciation and amortization			17,938			9,423			-				27,361
Profit before corporate selling, general, and administrative expenses		$	93,755		$	91,782		$	-			$	185,537
Selling, general, and administrative expenses									70,781				70,781
Depreciation and amortization from SG&A									8,366				8,366
Total selling, general, and administrative expenses								$	79,147			$	79,147
Other expense - net									(12,011	)			(12,011	)
Operating income													118,401
Interest expense - net									3,232				3,232
Income before income taxes												$	115,169

January 1, 2022
(thousands)		Environmental Services			Oil Business			Corporate and Eliminations				Consolidated
Revenues
Service revenues		$	248,121		$	14,742		$	-			$	262,863
Product revenues			45,367			182,370			-				227,737
Rental income			24,679			55			-				24,734
Total revenues		$	318,167		$	197,167		$	-			$	515,334
Operating expenses
Operating costs			232,837			119,959			-				352,796
Operating depreciation and amortization			10,112			7,886			-				17,998
Profit before corporate selling, general, and administrative expenses		$	75,218		$	69,322		$	-			$	144,540
Selling, general, and administrative expenses									56,987				56,987
Depreciation and amortization from SG&A									5,544				5,544
Total selling, general, and administrative expenses								$	62,531			$	62,531
Other income - net									(988	)			(988	)
Operating income													82,997
Interest expense - net									933				933
Income before income taxes												$	82,064

Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc.
Reconciliation of our Net Income (loss) Determined in Accordance with U.S. GAAP to Earnings Before
Interest, Taxes, Depreciation & Amortization (EBITDA) and Adjusted EBITDA
(Unaudited)
		For the Fourth Quarters Ended,							For the Fiscal Years Ended,
(thousands)		December 31, 2022				January 1, 2022			December 31, 2022				January 1, 2022
Net income		$	27,570			$	18,124		$	84,759			$	60,948
Interest expense - net			1,874				226			3,232				933
Provision for income taxes			9,260				6,419			30,410				21,116
Depreciation and amortization			14,181				8,373			35,727				23,542
EBITDA(a)		$	52,885			$	33,142		$	154,128			$	106,539
Non-cash compensation (b)			848				1,780			5,015				5,701
Loss on disposal of re-refinery assets (c)			-				-			1,194				-
Costs associated with business acquisitions (d)			361				689			1,269				1,153
Provision for civil action settlement (e)			63				-			1,163				-
Retirement and severance costs (f)			147			$	82			582			$	183
Gain on fair value investments (g)			(12,219	)			-			(12,219	)			-
Adjusted EBITDA (h)		$	42,085			$	35,693		$	151,132			$	113,576

(a)		EBITDA represents net (loss) income before provision for income taxes, interest income, interest expense, depreciation and amortization. We have presented EBITDA because we consider it an important supplemental measure of our performance and believe it is frequently used by analysts, investors, our lenders and other interested parties in the evaluation of companies in our industry. Management uses EBITDA as a measurement tool for evaluating our actual operating performance compared to budget and prior periods. Other companies in our industry may calculate EBITDA differently than we do. EBITDA is not a measure of performance under U.S. GAAP and should not be considered as a substitute for net income (loss) prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider it in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under U.S. GAAP. Some of these limitations are:
		EBITDA does not reflect our cash expenditures, or future requirements, for capital expenditures or contractual commitments;
		EBITDA does not reflect interest expense or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments on our debt;
		EBITDA does not reflect tax expense or the cash requirements necessary to pay for tax obligations; and
		Although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future, and EBITDA does not reflect any cash requirements for such replacements.
		We compensate for these limitations by relying primarily on our U.S. GAAP results and using EBITDA only as a supplement.
(b)		Non-Cash compensation expenses which are recorded in SG&A.
(c)		Loss on disposal of assets related to our re-refinery operations.
(d)		Acquisition costs associated with business acquisitions which are recorded in SG&A.
(e)		Civil action settlement accrual recorded in SG&A.
(f)		Costs associated with severance and other employee separations.
(g)		Remeasurement gain related to fair value investments recorded in other income.
(h)		We have presented Adjusted EBITDA because we consider it an important supplemental measure of our performance and believe it may be used by analysts, investors, our lenders, and other interested parties in the evaluation of our performance. Other companies in our industry may calculate Adjusted EBITDA differently than we do. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of performance under U.S. GAAP and should not be considered as a substitute for net income (loss) prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider it in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under U.S. GAAP.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Adjusted net earnings (loss) and adjusted net earnings (loss) per share are non-GAAP financial measures. Non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, but not as substitute for, financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Management believes that adjusted net earnings (loss) and adjusted net earnings (loss) per share provide investors and management useful information about the earnings impact from certain non-routine items for the fourth quarter and full year of 2022 compared to the fourth quarter and full year of 2021.
Reconciliation of our Net Earnings (loss) and Net Earnings (loss) Per Share Determined in Accordance with U.S.
GAAP to our Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Earnings (Loss) and Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Earnings (loss) Per Share
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
		For the Fourth Quarters Ended,								For the Fiscal Years Ended,
		December 31, 2022				January 1, 2022				December 31, 2022				January 1, 2022
GAAP net earnings		$	27,570			$	18,124			$	84,759			$	60,948
Loss on disposal of re-refinery assets (a)			-				-				1,194				-
Tax effect on disposal loss			-				-				(310	)			-
Costs associated with business acquisitions (b)			361				689				1,269				1,153
Tax effect on business acquisitions costs			(88	)			(180	)			(330	)			(297	)
Provision for civil action settlement (c)			63				-				1,163				-
Tax effect on provision for settlement			(15	)			-				(302	)			-
Severance costs (d)			147				82				582				183
Tax effect on severance costs			(36	)			(21	)			(151	)			(47	)
Gain on fair value investments (e)			(12,219	)			-				(12,219	)			-
Tax effect on fair value investments			2,994				-				3,176				-
Adjusted net earnings		$	18,777			$	18,694			$	78,831			$	61,940
(a) Loss on disposal of assets related to our re-refinery operations.
(b) Acquisition costs associated with business acquisitions which are recorded in SG&A.
(c) Civil action settlement accrual recorded in SG&A.
(d) Costs associated with severance and other employee separations.
(e) Remeasurement gain related to fair value investments recorded in other income.

Contacts

Mark DeVita, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, at [phone]