TrueBlue Reports Fourth Quarter Results

TACOMA, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- TrueBlue, Inc. (NYSE:TBI) today reported results for the 14-week fourth quarter and 53-week fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 2010. For the quarter, revenue was $312 million, an increase of 19 percent, from $262 million for the 13-week fourth quarter of 2009. Excluding the additional week in the fourth quarter of 2010, revenue growth would have been 14 percent but the impact to net income was immaterial due to the standard operating expenses of that week. Net income for the fourth quarter was $4.0 million or $0.09 per diluted share, an increase of about 85 percent compared to net income of $2.1 million or $.05 per diluted share for the fourth quarter of 2009.

"We generated strong revenue growth in the fourth quarter due to wide-spread demand across most industries and geographic areas," said TrueBlue CEO Steve Cooper. "We are encouraged with the opportunity to continue expanding our profit margins in 2011."

Cooper added, "I am extremely proud of our team for delivering outstanding results in 2010. We more than doubled our profits. I am constantly impressed with the caliber of our people at every level of our company and we are committed to investing in their continued development."

For the first quarter of 2011, TrueBlue estimates revenue in the range of $260 million to $270 million and net (loss)/ income per diluted share for the quarter of ($0.05) to $0.00.

About TrueBlue

TrueBlue, Inc. is a leading provider of blue-collar staffing. In 2010, TrueBlue connected approximately 300,000 people to work through the following brands: Labor Ready, Spartan Staffing, CLP Resources, PlaneTechs, and Centerline, and served approximately 175,000 businesses in the services, retail, wholesale, manufacturing, transportation, and construction industries. TrueBlue, Inc. is headquartered in Tacoma, Wash. For more information, visit TrueBlue's website at www.TrueBlueInc.com.

Forward-looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements that reflect management's current outlook for future periods, including statements regarding economic trends and future profitability. These forward-looking statements are based upon TrueBlue's current expectations, and TrueBlue's actual results may differ materially from those described or contemplated in the forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause TrueBlue's actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, include without limitation the following: 1) national and global economic conditions, including the impact of changes in national and global credit markets and other changes on TrueBlue customers; 2) TrueBlue's ability to continue to attract and retain customers and maintain profit margins in the face of new and existing competition; 3) new laws and regulations that could have a materially adverse effect on TrueBlue's operations and financial results; 4) significant labor disturbances which could disrupt industries TrueBlue serves; 5) increased costs and collateral requirements in connection with TrueBlue's insurance obligations, including workers' compensation insurance; 6) the adequacy of TrueBlue's financial reserves; 7) TrueBlue's continuing ability to comply with financial covenants in its lines of credit and other financing agreements; 8) TrueBlue's ability to attract and retain competent employees in key positions or to find temporary employees to fulfill the needs of its customers; 9) TrueBlue's ability to successfully complete and integrate acquisitions that it may make from time to time; and 10) other risks described in TrueBlue's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filings.


TRUEBLUE, INC.

SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited, in thousands, except per share data)

                  14 Weeks Ended  13 Weeks Ended  53 Weeks Ended  52 Weeks Ended

                  December 31,    December 25,    December 31,    December 25,

                  2010            2009            2010            2009

Revenue from      $ 311,943       $ 262,150       $ 1,149,367     $ 1,018,418
services

Cost of services    230,034         189,228         845,916         727,372

Gross profit        81,909          72,922          303,451         291,046

Selling, general
and                 71,797          65,538          258,722         262,182
administrative
expenses

Depreciation and    4,580           4,368           16,468          17,030
amortization

Income from         5,532           3,016           28,261          11,834
operations

Interest and        238             154             901             2,307
other income, net

Income before tax   5,770           3,170           29,162          14,141
expense

Income tax          1,812           1,039           9,323           5,344
expense

Net income        $ 3,958         $ 2,131         $ 19,839        $ 8,797

Net income per
common share:

Basic             $ 0.09          $ 0.05          $ 0.46          $ 0.21

Diluted           $ 0.09          $ 0.05          $ 0.46          $ 0.20

Weighted average
shares
outstanding:

Basic               43,308          42,946          43,224          42,842

Diluted             43,738          43,277          43,540          43,014




TRUEBLUE, INC.

SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited, in thousands)

                                               December 31,  December 25,

                                               2010          2009

Assets

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents                      $ 163,153     $ 124,377

Accounts receivable, net                         108,692       105,246

Other current assets                             21,655        18,440

Total current assets                             293,500       248,063

Property and equipment, net                      53,958        60,353

Restricted cash                                  120,067       124,012

Other assets, net                                78,941        85,701

Total assets                                   $ 546,466     $ 518,129

Liabilities and shareholders' equity

Current liabilities                            $ 85,923      $ 84,835

Long-term liabilities                            147,836       147,862

Total liabilities                                233,759       232,697

Shareholders' equity                             312,707       285,432

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity     $ 546,466     $ 518,129




TRUEBLUE, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited, in thousands)

                                                  53 Weeks Ended  52 Weeks Ended

                                                  December 31,    December 25,

                                                  2010            2009

Cash flows from operating activities:

Net income                                        $ 19,839        $ 8,797

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash:

Depreciation and amortization                       16,468          17,030

Provision for doubtful accounts                     8,158           14,545

Stock-based compensation                            7,159           7,066

Deferred income taxes                               5,322           2,772

Other operating activities                          (202    )       1,062

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

Accounts receivable                                 (11,604 )       (14,812 )

Income taxes                                        (3,338  )       13,397

Other assets                                        (727    )       919

Accounts payable and other accrued expenses         747             (4,573  )

Accrued wages and benefits                          2,752           2,015

Workers' compensation claims reserve                (2,195  )       (14,091 )

Other liabilities                                   (406    )       (522    )

Net cash provided by operating activities           41,973          33,605

Cash flows used in investing activities:

Capital expenditures                                (7,050  )       (13,153 )

Change in restricted cash                           3,945           (3,689  )

Other                                               (298    )       94

Net cash used in investing activities               (3,403  )       (16,748 )

Cash flows used in financing activities:

Net proceeds from sale of stock through options     1,054           1,062
and employee benefit plans

Shares withheld for taxes upon vesting of           (1,568  )       (880    )
restricted stock

Payments on debt                                    (382    )       (394    )

Other                                               129             (996    )

Net cash used in financing activities               (767    )       (1,208  )

Effect of exchange rates on cash                    973             626

Net change in cash and cash equivalents             38,776          16,275

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of year        124,377         108,102

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of year            $ 163,153       $ 124,377




TRUEBLUE, INC.

Analysis of Revenue Growth / (Decline)

(Unaudited)

                  14 Weeks Ended  13 Weeks Ended  53 Weeks Ended  52 Weeks Ended

                  December 31,    December 25,    December 31,    December 25,

                  2010            2009            2010            2009

Major Revenue
Trends

Organic revenue
growth /          19.0 %          (13.1 %)        12.9 %          (27.8 %)
(decline)

Acquisitions
within last 12    0.0  %          0.0   %         0.0  %          1.4   %
months

Total revenue
growth /          19.0 %          (13.1 %)        12.9 %          (26.4 %)
(decline)

Organic Revenue
Trends (1)

Same branch       15.9 %          (6.2  %)        13.9 %          (21.5 %)

Same branch
excluding largest 25.4 %          (17.0 %)        18.9 %          (28.3 %)
customer

New branches      0.5  %          0.5   %         0.9  %          0.2   %

Consolidated /
closed branches   (2.1 %)         (8.9  %)        (3.1 %)         (7.7  %)
(2)

53rd week (3)     5.5  %          0     %         1.4  %          0     %

(1) Percentages for organic revenue components do not sum to total organic
revenue growth / (decline) as same branch growth is determined off a revenue
base of branches open for 12 or more months, whereas other organic revenue
growth components are measured off a total revenue base.

(2) Represents the impact on revenue trends from closed branches assuming no
customer retention. The majority of our closed branches are consolidated with
another branch to retain customer relationships. The impact of retained
customers is captured in same branch revenue.

(3) Represents revenue growth as a result of an additional week in the quarter
and year ended December 31, 2010 in comparison with the same period in the prior
year.




TRUEBLUE, INC.

Schedule of Year-Over-Year Same Branch Revenue Growth

(Unaudited)

January 2010       5%

February 2010      13%

March 2010         15%

Q-1 2010           12%

April 2010         18%

May 2010           23%

June 2010          12%

Q-2 2010           17%

July 2010          9%

August 2010        10%

September 2010     13%

Q-3 2010           11%

October 2010       17%

November 2010      15%

December 2010      17%

Q-4 2010           16%

Fiscal Year 2010   14%




    Source: TrueBlue, Inc.