MasTec's Net Income Up 366% on 8.7% Increase in Revenue

CORAL GABLES, Fla., April 29  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MasTec, Inc. (NYSE: MTZ) today announced that for the quarter ended March 31, 2008, net income was up 366% to $7.8 million, or $0.12 earnings per diluted share, on revenue of $262 million.  This compares with net income of $1.7 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, on revenue of $241 million in the prior year quarter.  Income from continuing operations was $7.9 million, or $0.12 earnings per diluted share compared with $7.0 million, or $0.11 per diluted share in the prior year quarter.

Financial results in the first quarter of 2007 included a $0.04 per diluted share, non-recurring gain on the sale of property and the first quarter of 2008 included an additional legacy legal issue accrual of $0.02 per diluted share.

Jose R. Mas, MasTec's President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are very pleased with the operational and financial progress in the first quarter of 2008.  Our net income excluding legacy legal issues, which were also excluded from our guidance, was $0.14 per diluted share compared with our previous guidance of $0.11 to $0.12."

Mr. Mas continued, "This quarter marked the best first quarter financial performance in several years, and we believe that we are at a turning point for the Company and its investors.  Despite a weaker economy, we showed improved performance and expect additional improvement throughout the year as we implement our diversification and customer expansion initiatives."

In addition to the operational results, MasTec's financial condition and liquidity also remain strong.  At the end of the first quarter, the Company had $123 million in cash, cash equivalents, securities available for sale and availability on our bank revolving line of credit.  This is roughly the same level as in the first quarter of 2007, despite the fact that the Company used cash to make four acquisitions during the last year.

MasTec's 2008 guidance forecast remains unchanged.  The Company expects revenue to be in the range of $1.125 to $1.160 billion, with earnings per share from continuing operations expected to be between $0.85 and $0.90 per share.  The Company's full year guidance assumes continuation of today's soft economy and is not dependent on a second half recovery. Our guidance does not include the impact of our legacy litigation, either positive or negative.

Management will hold a conference call to discuss results of operations for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 on Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time.  The call-in number for the conference call is [phone] and the replay number is [phone], with a pass code of 8982409.  The replay will run for 30 days.  Additionally, the call will be broadcast live over the Internet and can be accessed and replayed through the investor relations section of the Company's website at http://www.mastec.com/.

  Summary financials for the quarters are as follows:



         Condensed Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Operations
                 (In thousands, except per share amounts)

                                                  For the Three Months Ended
                                                           March 31,
                                                       2008           2007

   Revenue                                         $261,992       $240,996

   Costs of revenue, excluding depreciation         226,844        210,591
   Depreciation                                       4,788          3,780
   General and administrative expenses, including
    non-cash stock compensation expense of $844 in
    2008 and $1,967 in 2007                          20,046         19,679

   Interest expense, net of interest income           2,496          2,795

   Other income, net                                    151          3,485

     Income from continuing operations before
      minority interest                               7,969          7,636
   Provisions for income taxes                          (33)             -
   Minority interest                                      -           (617)

     Income from continuing operations                7,936          7,019

   Loss from discontinued operations                   (155)        (5,349)
     Net income (loss)                               $7,781         $1,670

   Basic net income (loss) per share:
     Continuing operations                            $0.12          $0.11
     Discontinued operations                          (0.00)         (0.08)
     Total basic net income per share                 $0.12          $0.03
   Basic weighted average common shares outstanding  67,187         65,414

   Diluted net income (loss) per share:
     Continuing operations                            $0.12          $0.11
     Discontinued operations                          (0.00)         (0.08)
     Total diluted net income per share               $0.12          $0.03

   Diluted weighted average common shares
    outstanding                                      67,585         66,586




                    Condensed Unaudited Balance Sheets
                              (In thousands)

                                                 March 31,      December 31,
                                                   2008             2007
                                                (Unaudited)      (Audited)

      Assets
  Total current assets                            $335,376       $367,407
  Property and equipment, net                       84,379         81,939
  Goodwill                                         206,043        202,829
  Deferred taxes, net                               36,187         30,386
  Other assets                                      27,070         28,188
    Total assets                                  $689,055       $710,749

      Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
  Current liabilities                             $176,141       $203,595
  Other liabilities                                 31,832         32,310
  Long-term debt                                   160,636        160,279
  Total shareholders' equity                       320,446        314,565
    Total liabilities and shareholders' equity    $689,055       $710,749



               Condensed Unaudited Statements of Cash Flows
                              (In thousands)

                                                       For the Three Months
                                                          Ended March 31,
                                                        2008          2007
  Cash flows from operating activities:
    Net cash provided by operating activities          $7,334       $16,076
    Net cash provided by (used in) investing
     activities                                           835       (43,731)
    Net cash provided by ( used in) financing
      activities                                         (934)       25,830
    Net increase in cash and cash equivalents           7,235        (1,825)
    Net effect of currency translation on cash              -             9
    Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period    74,288        35,282
  Cash and cash equivalents - end of period           $81,523       $33,466





MasTec is a leading specialty contractor operating mainly throughout the United States across a range of industries.  The Company's core activities are the building, installation, maintenance and upgrade of communication and utility infrastructure systems.  The Company's corporate website is located at http://www.mastec.com/ .

                               MasTec, Inc.
            Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Disclosures- Unaudited

                               For the 3 Months Ended
                                   March 31, 2008
  Reconciliation of
  Earnings per Share,
  excluding charges
  for legacy litigation,
  claims and other disputes:      Per Share     Net Income    Income from
                                                Total (000s)   Continuing
                                                              Operations
                                                              Total (000s)
  GAAP - diluted                   $ 0.12          $7,781       $ 7,936
  Charge for settlement of
   litigation, claims and
   other disputes                    0.02           1,588         1,588
  GAAP - diluted, excluding
   charge for settlement of
   litigation, claims and other
   disputes                        $ 0.14          $9,369       $ 9,524





This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. These statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, including that our revenues, margins and earnings per share may differ from that projected; that we may be impacted by business and economic conditions affecting us or our customers, including economic downturns, reduced capital expenditures, consolidation and technological and regulatory changes in the industries we serve and any liquidity issues related to our securities held for sale; material changes in estimates for legal costs or case settlements; adverse determinations on any claim, lawsuit or proceeding; the highly competitive nature of our industry; our dependence on a limited number of customers; the ability of our customers to terminate or reduce the amount of work, or in some cases prices paid for services under many of our contracts; the adequacy of our insurance, legal and other reserves and allowances for doubtful accounts; any exposure related to our recently sold DOT projects and assets; restrictions imposed by our credit facility and senior notes; the outcome of our plans for future operations, growth, and services, including backlog and acquisitions; as well as other risks detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ significantly from results expressed or implied in these statements.  We do not undertake any obligation to update forward- looking statements. 

DATASOURCE: MasTec, Inc.



CONTACT:  J. Marc Lewis, Vice President-Investor Relations of MasTec,

Inc., [phone], [phone] fax, 



Web site:  http://www.mastec.com/ 

Copyright