McGrath RentCorp Announces Results for Third Quarter 2010

McGrath RentCorp (NASDAQ:MGRC), a diversified business to business rental company, today announced revenues for the quarter ended September 30, 2010, of $83.2 million, an increase of 10%, compared to $75.5 million in the third quarter of 2009. The Company reported net income of $9.7 million, or $0.40 per diluted share for the third quarter 2010, compared to net income of $9.5 million, or $0.40 per diluted share, in the third quarter 2009.

Dennis Kakures, President and CEO of McGrath RentCorp, made the following comments regarding these results and future expectations:

"Our Company-wide 15% increase in rental revenues from a year ago reflects very strong business activity and rental revenue increases in both our electronics and tank rental businesses. These very positive results were partly offset by our modular rental business rental revenues declining by 7% for the same comparative period; however, modular rental revenues were higher sequentially from the second quarter by 2%.

For our electronics division, rental revenues for the period increased by $3.3 million or 18% to $21.8 million from a year ago. However, income from operations nearly doubled to $6.5 million. In addition to the higher rental revenue levels, our electronics business also benefited from lower depreciation expense, and higher gross profit on equipment sales.

Our tank rental business more than doubled rental revenues to $10.0 million from a year ago. The strong increase in rental revenues was directly related to higher business activity levels, supported by new branch locations, a larger sales force and expanding Adler’s rental equipment inventory. Income from operations was up over three-fold from a year ago to $5.1 million as the business more fully leveraged prior quarter new employee and other infrastructure investments.

Our modular division rental revenues for the third quarter decreased by $1.6 million, or 7%, to $20.9 million from a year ago. Rental revenues rose by $0.5 million, or 2% sequentially from the second quarter of 2010. This was the first sequential quarterly increase in rental revenues since the third quarter of 2008. However, income from operations declined by 53% to $5.7 million from a year ago. The significant reduction in income from operations compared to the much smaller decrease in rental revenue was due primarily to substantially higher inventory center labor and material costs, and secondarily to lower rental related services and sales gross profit levels. The increased inventory center costs were associated with a number of larger, highly customized commercial building complexes, and the preparation of a higher volume of classroom buildings during the quarter. We anticipate that our modular inventory center costs will be markedly lower during the fourth quarter.

Modular utilization at the end of the third quarter was relatively flat at 67.4% compared to 67.9% at the end of the second quarter. Monthly utilization has stayed within a very narrow range of approximately one-half percentage point through the first nine months of 2010. We believe the flat utilization range year to date, coupled with the modest sequential quarterly increase in rental revenues during the third quarter reflects a more stable modular rental market.

Despite the lower income from operations from our modular rental business, the strong operating results of our electronics and tank rental divisions drove favorable overall rental revenue growth compared to a year ago and allowed for a small increase in Company-wide net income. Keep in mind that as our modular business begins to recover, it will require limited new capital investment to increase rental revenues and we would expect to see a disproportionate share of this revenue drop to the pre-tax line.”

All comparisons presented below are to the quarter ended September 30, 2009 unless otherwise indicated.

MOBILE MODULAR

For the third quarter of 2010, the Company’s Mobile Modular division reported a 53% decrease in income from operations to $5.7 million. Rental revenues decreased 7% to $20.9 million and other direct costs increased 51% to $7.7 million, which resulted in a decrease in gross profit on rental revenues of 30% to $9.8 million. Sales revenues decreased 12% to $9.2 million with gross profit on sales decreasing 28% to $1.8 million due to lower margins on sales of new and used equipment. Selling and administrative expenses increased 9% to $7.3 million as a result of increased investment in our Mid-Atlantic and Portable Storage growth initiatives.

TRS-RENTELCO

For the third quarter of 2010, the Company’s TRS-RenTelco division reported a 92% increase in income from operations to $6.5 million. Rental revenues increased 18% to $21.8 million. The increase in rental revenues together with 6% lower depreciation expense resulted in a 55% increase in gross profit on rental revenues to $9.2 million. Sales revenues increased 6% to $4.6 million with gross profit on sales increasing 38% to $2.2 million, primarily due to higher margins on sales of used equipment. Selling and administrative expenses increased 14% to $5.3 million primarily due to investment in our TRS-Environmental growth initiative, higher bad debt expense and increased advertising and marketing costs.

ADLER TANKS

For the third quarter of 2010, the Company’s Adler Tanks division reported a $3.6 million increase in income from operations to $5.1 million. Rental revenues increased 102% to $10.0 million, with gross profit on rental revenues increasing $4.1 million, or 122%. Rental related services revenues increased 69% to $2.9 million, with gross profit on rental related services increasing 63% to $0.7 million. Selling and administrative expenses increased 35% to $3.1 million primarily due to increased salaries and benefits for additional sales and operational employees and higher advertising and marketing costs.

OTHER THIRD QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS

• Debt increased $9.0 million during the quarter to $272.5 million, with the Company’s funded debt (notes payable) to equity ratio increasing from 0.96 to 1 at June 30, 2010 to 0.97 to 1 at September 30, 2010. As of September 30, 2010, the Company had capacity to borrow an additional $94.5 million under its lines of credit.
• Dividend rate increased 2% to $0.225 per share for the third quarter 2010. On an annualized basis, this dividend represents a 3.6% yield on the October 29, 2010 close price of $25.31.
• Adjusted EBITDA increased 2% to $34.2 million for the third quarter of 2010. At September 30, 2010, the Company’s ratio of funded debt to the last twelve months actual Adjusted EBITDA was 2.18 to 1 compared to 2.12 to 1 at June 30, 2010. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income before interest expense, provision for income taxes, depreciation, amortization and other non-cash stock-based compensation. A reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to net cash provided by operating activities can be found at the end of this release.

You should read this press release in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s latest Forms 10-K and 10-Q and other SEC filings. You can visit the Company’s web site at www.mgrc.com to access information on McGrath RentCorp, including the latest Forms 10-K and 10-Q and other SEC filings.

FINANCIAL GUIDANCE

The Company is narrowing its previous 2010 full-year earnings guidance of $1.30 to $1.45 per diluted share to an updated range of $1.35 to $1.40 per diluted share. Such a forward-looking statement reflects McGrath RentCorp’s expectations as of November 1, 2010. Actual 2010 full-year earnings per share results may be materially different since they are affected by many factors, including those factors outlined in the "forward-looking statements” paragraph at the end of this press release.

ABOUT MCGRATH RENTCORP

Founded in 1979, McGrath RentCorp is a diversified business-to-business rental company. Under the trade name Mobile Modular Management Corporation (Mobile Modular), it rents and sells modular buildings to fulfill customers’ temporary and permanent classroom and office space needs in California, Texas, Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. The Company’s TRS-RenTelco division rents and sells electronic test equipment and is one of the leading rental providers of general purpose and communications test equipment in the Americas. In 2008, the Company purchased the assets of Adler Tank Rentals, a New Jersey based supplier of rental containment solutions for hazardous and nonhazardous liquids and solids with operations today in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Southeast, Southwest and West. Also, in 2008, under the trade name TRS-Environmental, the Company entered the environmental test equipment rental business serving the Americas. In 2008, the Company also entered the portable storage container rental business in Northern California under the trade name Mobile Modular Portable Storage, and in 2009 expanded this business into Southern California, Texas and Florida. For more information on McGrath RentCorp and its operating units, please visit our websites:

Corporate – www.mgrc.com
Tanks and Boxes – www.AdlerTankRentals.com
Modular Buildings – www.MobileModularRents.com
Portable Storage – www.MobileModularRents-PortableStorage.com
Electronic Test Equipment – www.TRS-RenTelco.com
Environmental Test Equipment – www.TRS-Environmental.com
School Facilities Manufacturing – www.Enviroplex.com

CONFERENCE CALL NOTE

As previously announced in its press release of October 14, 2010, McGrath RentCorp will host a conference call at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (2:00 p.m. Pacific Time) on November 1, 2010 to discuss the third quarter 2010 results. To participate in the teleconference, dial 1-877-941-8418 (in the U.S.), or 1-480-629-9809 (outside the U.S.), or visit the investor relations section of the Company’s website at www.mgrc.com. Telephone replay of the call will be available for 7 days following the call by dialing 1-800-406-7325 (in the U.S.), or 1-303-590-3030 (outside the U.S.). The pass code for the call replay is 4375366.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements in this press release which are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, regarding McGrath RentCorp’s business strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues or losses, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives are forward looking statements. These forward-looking statements appear in a number of places and can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may,” "will,” "should,” "expect,” "plan,” "anticipate,” "believe,” "estimate,” "predict,” "future,” "intend,” "hopes,” "goals” or "certain” or the negative of these terms or other variations or comparable terminology. Our belief that as our modular business begins to recover, it will require limited new capital investment, which would improve our results, and our expectations regarding 2010 full-year earnings per share are all forward-looking statements.

Management cautions that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements including, without limitation, the following: the continuation of the current recession and financial, budget and credit crises, particularly in California, including the impact on funding for school facility projects and residential and commercial construction sectors, our customers need and ability to rent our products, and the Company’s ability to access additional capital in the current uncertain capital and credit market; changes in state funding for education and the timing and impact of federal stimulus monies; the effectiveness of management’s strategies and decisions, general economic, stock market and business conditions, including in the states and countries where we sell or rent our products; continuing demand for our products; hiring, retention and motivation of key personnel; failure by third parties to manufacture and deliver our products in a timely manner and to our specifications; the cost of and our ability to successfully implement information system upgrades; our ability to finance expansion and to locate and consummate acquisitions and to successfully integrate and operate Adler Tanks and other acquisitions; fluctuations in interest rates and the Company’s ability to manage credit risk; our ability to effectively manage our rental assets; the risk that we may be subject to litigation under environmental, health and safety and product liability laws and claims from employees, vendors and other third parties; fluctuations in the Company’s effective tax rate; changes in financial accounting standards; our failure to comply with internal control requirements; catastrophic loss to our facilities; effect on the Company’s Adler Tanks business from reductions to the price of oil; new or modified statutory or regulatory requirements; success of the Company’s strategic growth initiatives; risks associated with doing business with government entities; seasonality of our businesses; intense industry competition including increasing price pressure; our ability to timely deliver, install and redeploy our rental products; significant increases in raw materials, labor, and other costs; and risks associated with operating internationally, including unfavorable exchange rates for the U.S. dollar against our Canadian dollar denominated revenues.

Our future business, financial condition and results of operations could differ materially from those anticipated by such forward-looking statements and are subject to risks and uncertainties including the risks set forth above, those discussed in Part II—Item 1A "Risk Factors” and elsewhere in our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2010 filed with the SEC on November 1, 2010 and in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 filed with the SEC on February 26, 2010, and those that may be identified from time to time in our reports and registration statements filed with the SEC. Forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this press release and are based on management’s reasonable assumptions; however, these assumptions can be wrong or affected by known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Readers should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Except as otherwise required by law, we do not undertake any duty to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this press release to conform such statements to actual results or to changes in our expectations.

Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to the most directly comparable GAAP measures

To supplement the Company’s financial data presented on a basis consistent with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP”), the Company presents Adjusted EBITDA which is defined by the Company as net income before interest expense, provision for income taxes, depreciation, amortization, and non-cash stock-based compensation.

The Company presents Adjusted EBITDA as a financial measure as management believes it provides useful information to investors regarding the Company’s liquidity and financial condition and because management, as well as the Company’s lenders use this measure in evaluating the performance of the Company.

Management uses Adjusted EBITDA as a supplement to GAAP measures to further evaluate the Company’s period-to-period operating performance and evaluate the Company’s ability to meet future capital expenditure and working capital requirements. Management believes the exclusion of non-cash charges, including stock-based compensation, is useful in measuring the Company’s cash available to operations and the performance of the Company. Because management finds Adjusted EBITDA useful, the Company believes its investors will also find Adjusted EBITDA useful in evaluating the Company’s performance.

Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income, cash flows, or other consolidated income or cash flow data prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States or as a measure of the Company’s profitability or liquidity. Adjusted EBITDA is not in accordance with or an alternative for GAAP, and may be different from non-GAAP measures used by other companies. Unlike EBITDA which may be used by other companies or investors, Adjusted EBITDA does not include stock-based compensation charges. The Company believes that Adjusted EBITDA is of limited use in that it does not reflect all of the amounts associated with the Company’s results of operations as determined in accordance with GAAP and does not accurately reflect real cash flow. In addition, other companies may not use Adjusted EBITDA or may use other non-GAAP measures, limiting the usefulness of Adjusted EBITDA for purposes of comparison. The Company’s presentation of Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an inference that the Company will not incur expenses that are the same as or similar to the adjustments in this presentation. Therefore, Adjusted EBITDA should only be used to evaluate the Company’s results of operations in conjunction with the corresponding GAAP measures. The Company compensates for the limitations of Adjusted EBITDA by relying upon GAAP results to gain a complete picture of the Company’s performance. Because Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Company includes in the tables below reconciliations of Adjusted EBITDA to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.