LRW Labor Ready

Labor Ready, Inc. (NYSE:LRW) reported revenue for the first quarter ended March 31, 2006 increased 22.1 percent to $297.1 million compared to revenue of $243.2 million for the first quarter of 2005. Net income for the quarter was $11.5 million or $0.21 per diluted share, as compared to $9.4 million or $0.19 per diluted share for the first quarter of 2005. Included in net income for the quarter is incremental stock-based compensation expense of $0.03 per diluted share in comparison with the same quarter a year ago. "We are pleased with the continued leverage in our operating model which resulted in net income growth of more than 37 percent excluding incremental stock-based compensation," said Labor Ready President Steve Cooper. "During the quarter we achieved same branch revenue growth of 11 percent, sustained gross profit of 31.3 percent, and continued our disciplined control of operating expenses." CLP Resources, a leading skilled construction trades staffing firm acquired by Labor Ready in May 2005, provided 11.7 percentage points of Labor Ready's total revenue growth for the quarter. "We are confident we will continue to benefit from our commitment to growing revenue of existing branches, opening new branches, and maximizing the potential of our recent acquisitions," said Labor Ready CEO Joe Sambataro. "These strategies and our ability to serve the staffing needs of our customers through our family of brands provide a strong foundation for sustained future growth." Labor Ready opened a total of 23 new branches and closed two branches during the quarter and plans to open approximately 20 additional branches in 2006. The company currently operates 908 branches. Labor Ready also announced the company plans to repurchase up to 1.2 million shares of its common stock during the second quarter of 2006 under a program previously approved by its Board of Directors. Labor Ready also provided guidance for the second quarter and updated its outlook for 2006. The company estimates revenue in the range of $338 million to $343 million and net income per share between $0.32 and $0.34 for the second quarter of 2006. For the year, the company currently estimates revenue in the range of $1.38 billion to $1.40 billion. Net income per share for the year is expected to be between $1.33 and $1.38. These estimates include incremental stock-based compensation expense of $0.07 per diluted share for the year 2006. Management will discuss the company's performance with analysts on a conference call at 8:00 a.m. (PT) Thursday, April 20, 2006. The conference call will be broadcast live on the Internet at www.laborready.com and archived later in the day for replay. This news release contains forward-looking statements, such as statements about the ranges of revenues, gross margins and net income anticipated for future periods, improvements in safety and workers' compensation claims and costs, strategies for increasing revenue and net income, and other factors that may affect our financial results and operations in the future. Our actual results are, however, subject to a number of risks, including without limitation the following: 1) national and global economic conditions; 2) our ability to continue to attract and retain customers and maintain profit margins in the face of new and existing competition; 3) potential new laws and regulations that could have a materially adverse effect on our operations and financial results; 4) significant labor disturbances which could disrupt industries we serve; 5) increased costs and collateral requirements in connection with our insurance obligations, including workers' compensation insurance; 6) the adequacy of our financial reserves; 7) our continuing ability to comply with financial covenants in our lines of credit and other financing agreements; 8) our ability to attract and retain competent employees in key positions; 9) our ability to successfully complete and integrate acquisitions that we have made and may make from time to time; and 10) other risks described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Report on Form 10-K filed during 2006. About Labor Ready Labor Ready is an international provider of temporary employees for manual labor, light industrial and skilled trades, operating under the brand names of Labor Ready, Workforce, Spartan Staffing, and CLP Resources. Labor Ready's customers are primarily small- to mid-sized businesses in the construction, warehousing, hospitality, landscaping, transportation, light manufacturing, retail, wholesale, facilities and sanitation industries. Annually, Labor Ready serves approximately 300,000 customers and puts more than 600,000 people to work through its more than 900 branch locations in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. For additional information, visit Labor Ready's website at www.laborready.com. -0- *T LABOR READY, INC. SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (in thousands, except per share amounts) (Unaudited) Thirteen Weeks Ended March 31, April 1, 2006 2005 Revenue from services $297,067 $243,216 Cost of services 204,150 167,078 Gross profit 92,917 76,138 Selling, general and administrative expenses 74,224 59,414 Depreciation and amortization 2,796 2,206 Income from operations 15,897 14,518 Interest and other income, net 2,746 475 Income before tax expense 18,643 14,993 Income tax 7,177 5,637 Net income $11,466 $9,356 Net income per common share: Basic $0.21 $0.22 Diluted $0.21 $0.19 Weighted average shares outstanding: Basic 53,680 42,502 Diluted 54,447 53,256 LABOR READY, INC. SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS As of March 31, Dec. 30, 2006 2005 (Unaudited) Assets Current assets Cash and cash equivalents $109,057 $82,155 Marketable securities 92,760 93,510 Accounts receivable, net 111,369 121,959 Other current assets 20,472 21,039 Total current assets 333,658 318,663 Property and equipment, net 28,577 26,615 Other assets 237,699 226,798 Total assets $599,934 $572,076 Liabilities and shareholders' equity Current liabilities $103,984 $100,014 Long-term liabilities 129,501 123,464 Total liabilities 233,485 223,478 Shareholders' equity 366,449 348,598 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $599,934 $572,076 LABOR READY, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS In Thousands (Unaudited) Thirteen Weeks Ended March 31, April 1, 2006 2005 Cash Flows from Operating activities: Net income $11,466 $9,356 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 2,611 2,400 Provision for doubtful accounts 1,598 1,557 Deferred income taxes (7,763) (4,385) Tax benefit on stock options - 1,419 Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation (1,877) - Other operating activities 2,488 31 Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable 8,992 1,125 Income tax 15,160 8,577 Other assets 506 (514) Accounts payable 6 3,215 Accrued wages and benefits (4,410) (3,265) Workers' compensation claims reserve 5,473 4,189 Other current liabilities (38) (75) ----------- --------- Net cash provided by operating activities 34,212 23,630 ----------- --------- Cash Flows from Investing activities: Capital expenditures (3,859) (1,152) Purchases of marketable securities (11,243) (35,535) Maturities of marketable securities 12,002 34,305 Increase in restricted cash and other assets (7,431) (17,805) Other - 36 ----------- --------- Net cash used in investing activities (10,531) (20,151) ----------- --------- Cash Flows from Financing activities: Proceeds from sale of stock through options and employee benefit plans 1,335 2,684 Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation 1,877 - Payments on debt (193) (578) Checks issued against future deposits - 1,143 ----------- --------- Net cash provided by financing activities 3,019 3,249 ----------- --------- Effect of exchange rates on cash 202 (258) ----------- --------- Net change in cash and cash equivalents 26,902 6,470 Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 82,155 87,555 ----------- --------- Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $109,057 $94,025 =========== ========= *T