LRW Labor Ready

Labor Ready, Inc. (NYSE:LRW) reported revenue for the first quarter ended March 30, 2007 of $290 million, a decrease of 2.3 percent from $297 million for the first quarter of 2006. Net income for the first quarter was $10.3 million or $0.21 per diluted share, a decrease in net income of 9.8 percent, as compared to $11.5 million or $.21 per diluted share for the first quarter of 2006. �We delivered better than expected results this quarter, and I am proud of our hard-working employees and their efforts to drive demand given the headwinds we faced,� said Labor Ready CEO Steve Cooper. �We saw positive momentum in the demand for our services this quarter after experiencing a drop in demand during the second half of 2006.� Revenue for the quarter from branches open 12 months or longer declined 3.1 percent over the same quarter a year ago, while branches opened in the last 12 months contributed growth of 1.6 percent. Gross margin was 32.0 percent for the quarter compared to 31.3 percent the same quarter a year ago. Gross margin this quarter was positively impacted by 1.2 percent of revenue as a result of lower workers� compensation expense offset by increased wage and pricing pressure of .5 percent of revenue. �Our attention to safety and risk management continues to reduce workers� compensation expense,� said Cooper. �As expected, we experienced some price sensitivity this quarter due to overall market conditions and the large number of states with minimum wage increases.� Labor Ready opened a total of seven new branches and closed six branches during the quarter resulting in 913 branches in operation. Approximately 10-15 additional branch openings are planned for 2007. As of April 12, 2007, the company had repurchased a total of 4.7 million shares at a cost of $88 million in 2007, completing the share repurchase programs previously authorized by the Board of Directors. Labor Ready also provided guidance for the second quarter and updated its outlook for 2007. For the second quarter, the company estimates revenue in the range of $337 million to $340 million and net income per diluted share between $0.33 and $0.35. For the year, the company estimates revenue in the range of $1.35 to $1.37 billion and net income per diluted share between $1.40 to $1.45. Management will discuss the company's performance with analysts on a conference call at 5 p.m. (ET) today, April 18, 2007. The conference call will be broadcast 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 Labor Ready�s financial results and operations in the future. Labor Ready�s actual results are, however, subject to a number of risks, including without limitation the following: 1) national and global economic conditions; 2) Labor Ready�s 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 Labor Ready�s operations and financial results; 4) significant labor disturbances which could disrupt industries Labor Ready serves; 5) increased costs and collateral requirements in connection with Labor Ready�s insurance obligations, including workers� compensation insurance; 6) the adequacy of Labor Ready�s financial reserves; 7) Labor Ready�s continuing ability to comply with financial covenants in its lines of credit and other financing agreements; 8) Labor Ready�s ability to attract and retain competent employees in key positions or to find temporary employees or skilled trade workers to fulfill the needs of our customers; 9) Labor Ready�s ability to successfully complete and integrate acquisitions that it may make from time to time; 10) Labor Ready�s ability to timely execute strategies for acquired companies; and 11) other risks described in Labor Ready�s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filings. About Labor Ready Labor Ready is an international provider of temporary employees for manual labor, light industrial and skilled construction trades, operating under the brand names of Labor Ready, Labour 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 more than 300,000 customers and puts approximately 600,000 people to work through its more than 900 branch offices in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. For additional information, visit Labor Ready�s website at www.laborready.com. LABOR READY, INC. SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME In Thousands, except per share data (Unaudited) � Thirteen Weeks Ended March 30, March 31, 2007� 2006� � � Revenue from services $ 290,237� $ 297,067� Cost of services 197,446� 204,150� Gross profit 92,791� 92,917� Selling, general and administrative expenses 77,376� 74,224� Depreciation and amortization 2,401� 2,796� Income from operations 13,014� 15,897� Interest and other income, net 3,282� 2,746� Income before tax expense 16,296� 18,643� Income tax 5,948� 7,177� Net income $ 10,348� $ 11,466� � Net income per common share: Basic $ 0.21� $ 0.21� Diluted $ 0.21� $ 0.21� � Weighted average shares outstanding: Basic 49,076� 53,680� Diluted 49,342� 54,447� � � LABOR READY, INC. SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS In Thousands � March 30, December 29, 2007� 2006� (unaudited) Assets Current assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 59,796� $ 107,944� Marketable securities 83,822� 91,510� Accounts receivable, net 114,749� 120,173� Other current assets 17,712� 20,131� Total current assets 276,079� 339,758� Property and equipment, net 36,143� 31,949� Other assets 218,139� 220,599� Total assets $ 530,361� $ 592,306� � Liabilities and shareholders' equity Current liabilities $ 101,163� $ 101,385� Long-term liabilities 139,429� 138,403� Total liabilities 240,592� 239,788� Shareholders' equity 289,769� 352,518� Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 530,361� $ 592,306� � � LABOR READY, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS In Thousands (Unaudited) � Thirteen Weeks Ended March 30, March 31, 2007� 2006� � Cash Flows from Operating activities: Net income $ 10,348� $ 11,466� Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 2,401� 2,796� Provision for doubtful accounts 1,631� 1,598� Deferred income taxes 229� (7,763) Stock-based compensation 2,356� 2,497� Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation (418) (1,877) Other operating activities -� (194) Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable 3,793� 8,992� Income taxes 4,792� 15,160� Other assets 3,889� 506� Accounts payable 5,478� 6� Accrued wages and benefits (5,179) (4,410) Workers' compensation claims reserve (1,588) 5,473� Other current liabilities � -� � (38) Net cash provided by operating activities � 27,732� � 34,212� � Cash Flows from Investing activities: Capital expenditures (6,189) (3,859) Maturities of marketable securities 110,496� 12,002� Purchases of marketable securities (102,813) (11,243) Change in restricted cash and other assets � (1,891) � (7,431) Net cash used in investing activities � (397) � (10,531) � Cash Flows from Financing activities: Purchase and retirement of common stock (76,749) -� Net proceeds from sale of stock through options and employee benefit plans 837� 1,335� Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation 418� 1,877� Payments on debt � (188) � (193) Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities � (75,682) � 3,019� � Effect of exchange rates on cash � 199� � 202� � Net change in cash and cash equivalents (48,148) 26,902� � Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period � 107,944� � 82,155� Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 59,796� $ 109,057�