The Keith Companies Reports Record Results for Fiscal Year 2004

The Keith Companies Reports Record Results for Fiscal Year 2004
* Net Revenue Increased 6.6% in 2004 to $96.8 Million







IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 10  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Keith Companies, Inc.
(NASDAQ:TKCI), an engineering and consulting services firm, today announced
financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2004,
which included record annual net revenue and income from continuing operations.

Fourth Quarter and Year End 2004 Results

Net revenue for the three months ended December 31, 2004 increased 6.6% to
$24.3 million, while income from continuing operations for the same period
increased 20.7% to $2.3 million and resulted in diluted earnings per share from
continuing operations of $0.28.  This compares to net revenue for the fourth
quarter of 2003 of $22.8 million, with income from continuing operations of
$1.9 million and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations of
$0.24.  Our strong fourth quarter results were positively impacted by $210,000,
net of income taxes, related to a business development agreement in our
energy/industrial segment entered into in early 2004 and terminated at year
end.

Net revenue for the twelve months ended December 31, 2004 increased 6.6% to a
record $96.8 million, while income from continuing operations for the same
period increased 16.8% to a record $8.4 million and resulted in diluted
earnings per share from continuing operations of $1.05.  This compares to net
revenue for the twelve months of 2003 of $90.7 million, with income from
continuing operations of $7.2 million and diluted earnings per share from
continuing operations of $0.91.

Mainly due to stronger collections of accounts receivables, net cash from
operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2004 increased 113% to
$15.6 million, compared to $7.4 million during 2003.

"Our real estate development segment continued to drive strong net revenue
gains in the fourth quarter," said Aram Keith, Chairman and CEO of The Keith
Companies.  "This segment achieved 8.9% year-over-year net revenue growth for
the fourth quarter of 2004, and 14.9% net revenue growth for the year.  We
exited the year with a strong pipeline of projects in our real estate
development segment.  We believe that the real estate market will continue to
grow in 2005.  In addition, we are encouraged by the continued improvement in
the operating income of our public works/infrastructure segment, and continue
to pursue a variety of opportunities in this area.  Infrastructure concerns are
one of the biggest issues facing state, county and local governments and we
believe that we are well positioned to capitalize on infrastructure improvement
projects that receive funding.  Year-over-year, our energy/industrial segment
showed an improvement in income from operations in the fourth quarter, and as
we stated previously, we expect this segment to continue to improve partially
due to legislation extending production tax credits for power generating
projects that use renewable energy sources.  We continue to see improved
proposal activity in this segment."

"Gross margins increased in all three of our business segments in 2004,
primarily as a result of improved employee utilization rate and higher fees.
This represents our second consecutive year of improved Company wide gross
margins, with this latest year improving by 190 basis points to 37.6%,"
continued Keith.

Financial Position

The Company's balance sheet at December 31, 2004 remained strong with cash and
securities of $42.1 million, no debt, a current ratio of 4.8:1, and
shareholders' equity of $81.9 million, or $10.34 per common share outstanding
at December 31, 2004.

Discontinued Operations

During 2004, the Company made an investment in a private entity in the energy
sector and, in return, received a controlling interest in that entity. As a
result of the Company's controlling interest, the Company had consolidated the
entity's operating results with that of the Company.  In December 2004, the
Company made a decision to shut down the operations of this entity primarily
due to lower than expected operating performance.  In accordance with Generally
Accepted Accounting Principles, the Company has changed the presentation of its
"Consolidated Statements of Income" to reflect as discontinued operations the
results of this entity for 2004.  The total loss, including the impairment
charge associated with this entity, net of income taxes, totaled $273,000 and
$430,000 for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2004, respectively.

Financial Guidance

In adherence with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC)
Regulation Fair Disclosure, The Keith Companies provides the following guidance
for all investors and encourages all current and potential investors to review
the disclosure regarding forward-looking statements in this press release as
well as all financial documents filed with the SEC.  All guidance amounts are
before special items, if any, and exclude the impact of any potential future
acquisitions.

The Company is increasing its financial guidance for diluted earnings per share
for 2005.  The Company estimates its full year 2005 net revenue may range from
$106.5 million to $111.5 million with estimated diluted earnings per share from
continuing operations ranging from $1.09 to $1.25 ($0.21 to $0.24 for the first
quarter; $0.28 to $0.32 for the second quarter; $0.33 to $0.38 for the third
quarter; and $0.27 to $0.31 for the fourth quarter) based upon an estimated 8.1
million weighted average number of diluted shares outstanding for the year. 
The previous annual 2005 guidance for diluted earnings per share from
continuing operations ranged from $1.04 to $1.22. Consistent with the Company's
past accounting treatment of stock options, the 2005 diluted earnings per share
amounts exclude the effect of expensing stock options.  New accounting
pronouncements, however, will require the expensing of stock options effective
for the first interim period beginning after June 15, 2005.  The Company has
not completed its analysis as to the effect the new pronouncement may have on
its overall 2005 financial results.

Commenting on the Company's financial guidance, Keith said, "Our revised upward
guidance for 2005 primarily reflects the on-going strength of our real estate
development segment, as well as expected improvement of our energy/industrial
segment and a lower estimated effective corporate income tax rate of 38%.  The
recently opened San Diego and Bakersfield offices are fully operational and we
expect them to be contributors to the Company's performance over the course of
this year.  Our robust financial position enables us to explore various
acquisition opportunities, in addition to new office openings, that will
deliver strong operational performance, as well as solid returns for our
shareholders."

Conference Call Webcast

The Company will be hosting an earnings conference call, which will be
broadcast live over the Internet at 8:30 a.m. Pacific Time on February 10, 2005
and can be accessed by all interested parties at http://www.keithco.com/ or
http://www.viavid.net/.  To listen to the live call, please go to the Web site
at least fifteen minutes prior to the start of the call to register, download,
and install any necessary audio software.  For those unable to participate
during the live broadcast, an online archive will be available shortly after
the call.  A telephone replay will be available through February 17, 2005 by
dialing [phone] and entering passcode 11022515.  A copy of this press
release and a link to the Company's quarterly conference call will be available
at the Company's website under the headings "TKC News" and "Investor
Relations," respectively, at http://www.keithco.com/.

About The Keith Companies

The Keith Companies, Inc. is a fully integrated, multi-disciplined engineering
and consulting services company, with offices located throughout the Western
and Midwestern United States.  The Keith Companies' professionals provide a
wide spectrum of skilled resources including land planning, engineering,
surveying, mapping, environmental studies, and water and cultural resources
that are needed to effectively plan, engineer, and design state-of-the-art
private and public facilities.  Additionally, the Company provides mechanical,
electrical, chemical, power/energy engineering, and other industrial
engineering services to design and improve the efficiency and reliability of
automated and manufacturing processes, production lines, and fire protection
systems.  The Keith Companies benefits from a diverse public and private client
base varying from residential and commercial real estate projects to
institutional, manufacturing, and processing facilities.  For more information
visit the Company's website at http://www.keithco.com/.

Certain statements in this news release may include forward-looking statements
that express our expectation, prediction, belief, or projection. These
statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors
that may cause the actual results, performance, and achievement of The Keith
Companies to be materially and adversely different from any future results,
performance, or achievement expressed or implied by these forward-looking
statements.  Factors that may cause actual results to differ from the
forward-looking statements contained in this release and that may affect the
Company's prospects in general include, but are not limited to: changes in the
economic growth in the United States (especially in California) and other major
international economies (especially Brazil), our ability to sustain our growth
and profitability, a downturn in the real estate market, the ongoing financing
of public works and infrastructure enhancements and refurbishments, the demand
for electricity and the impact on power providers' plans for expanding
generation facilities, our failure to accurately estimate costs on fixed-price
contracts or contracts with not-to-exceed provisions, changes in the carrying
value of our goodwill and other long-term assets, our ability to implement our
acquisition strategy and to successfully close and integrate acquired companies
on a timely and cost-effective basis while maintaining their profit margins
and/or client base, our ability to attract and retain employees, the uncertain
timing of awards and contracts, outcomes of pending and future litigation,
increasing competition by domestic and foreign companies, risks inherent in
doing business outside the United States, including the difficulty of enforcing
contracts, political instability and foreign currency fluctuations and
potential exchange restrictions, the short and long-term impact of terrorist
activities and resulting political and military policies, and other factors as
are described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.  The forward-looking information set forth in this press release is
as of the date indicated above and we undertake no duty to update this
information.

   Contact information:
   The Keith Companies, Inc.           FINANCIAL RELATIONS BOARD
   19 Technology Drive                 Tricia Ross
   Irvine, CA 92618                    Investor Relations
   [phone]                      [phone]
   [phone] Fax
   http://www.keithco.com/
   Contact: Aram Keith,
   Chairman of the Board & CEO



                The Keith Companies, Inc. and Subsidiaries
               Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income


                        Three Months Ended        Twelve Months Ended
                           December 31,               December 31,
                        2004          2003         2004         2003

  Gross revenue     $26,471,000   $25,031,000  $105,346,000  $99,950,000
  Subcontractor
   costs              2,209,000     2,264,000     8,592,000    9,206,000
    Net revenue      24,262,000    22,767,000    96,754,000   90,744,000
  Costs of revenue   15,162,000    14,410,000    60,363,000   58,359,000
    Gross profit      9,100,000     8,357,000    36,391,000   32,385,000
  Selling, general
   and administrative
   expenses           5,516,000     5,398,000    23,013,000   21,070,000
    Income from
     operations       3,584,000     2,959,000    13,378,000   11,315,000
  Interest income,
   net                  208,000        69,000       481,000      264,000
  Other income, net      23,000        71,000        46,000      259,000
    Income before
     provision for
     income taxes and
     discontinued
     operations       3,815,000     3,099,000    13,905,000   11,838,000
  Provision for
   income taxes       1,532,000     1,208,000     5,468,000    4,617,000
    Income from
     continuing
     operations       2,283,000     1,891,000     8,437,000    7,221,000
  Loss from
   discontinued
   operations,
   net of income
   taxes                273,000            --       430,000           --
      Net income     $2,010,000    $1,891,000    $8,007,000   $7,221,000

  Earnings per share
   from continuing
   operations:
    Basic                 $0.29         $0.25         $1.08        $0.95
    Diluted               $0.28         $0.24         $1.05        $0.91

  Earnings (loss)
   per share from
   discontinued
   operations, net
   of income taxes:
    Basic                $(0.03)        $0.00        $(0.05)       $0.00
    Diluted              $(0.03)        $0.00        $(0.05)       $0.00
  Earnings per share:
    Basic                 $0.26         $0.25         $1.03        $0.95
    Diluted               $0.25         $0.24         $1.00        $0.91
  Weighted average
   number of shares
   outstanding:
    Basic             7,823,874     7,637,880     7,778,661    7,615,264
    Diluted           8,093,006     7,963,622     8,039,457    7,957,344



                The Keith Companies, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                  Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets


                                                  December 31,  December 31,
                                                     2004          2003

                       Assets
   Current assets:
     Cash and cash equivalents                    $38,844,000   $24,277,000
     Securities held-to-maturity                    3,300,000     4,600,000
     Contracts and trade receivables, net          16,452,000    19,844,000
     Costs and estimated earnings in excess
      of billings                                  10,470,000     9,997,000
     Prepaid expenses and other current assets        928,000     1,468,000
       Total current assets                        69,994,000    60,186,000
   Equipment and leasehold improvements, net        4,643,000     4,067,000
   Goodwill, net                                   23,059,000    23,059,000
   Other assets                                       273,000       224,000
       Total assets                               $97,969,000   $87,536,000

          Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
   Current liabilities:
     Trade accounts payable                        $1,685,000    $1,640,000
     Accrued employee compensation                  5,445,000     4,037,000
     Current portion of deferred tax liabilities    1,661,000     2,444,000
     Other accrued liabilities                      3,809,000     3,078,000
     Billings in excess of costs and
      estimated earnings                            1,922,000     1,571,000
       Total current liabilities                   14,522,000    12,770,000
   Issuable common stock                                   --       792,000
   Deferred tax liabilities                         1,125,000     1,560,000
   Accrued rent                                       401,000       452,000
       Total liabilities                           16,048,000    15,574,000
   Shareholders' equity:
     Preferred stock                                       --            --
     Common stock                                       8,000         8,000
     Additional paid-in-capital                    48,114,000    45,464,000
     Deferred stock compensation                     (867,000)     (169,000)
     Retained earnings                             34,666,000    26,659,000
       Total shareholders' equity                  81,921,000    71,962,000
       Total liabilities and
        shareholders' equity                      $97,969,000   $87,536,000



                The Keith Companies, Inc. and Subsidiaries
             Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows


                                                 For the Twelve Months Ended
                                                          December 31,
                                                      2004          2003
   Cash flows from operating activities:
     Net income                                    $8,007,000    $7,221,000
     Adjustments to reconcile net income to
      net cash provided by operating activities:
       Depreciation and amortization                1,978,000     2,231,000
       Loss on impairment/sale of equipment           413,000        29,000
       Reduction in purchase price of
        acquired companies                                 --      (137,000)
       Tax benefit from stock options                 299,000        69,000
       Deferred stock compensation expense            292,000        37,000
       Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
         Contracts and trade receivables,
          net                                       3,441,000    (1,269,000)
         Costs and estimated earnings
          in excess of billings                      (473,000)      304,000
         Prepaid expenses and other assets            475,000       (53,000)
         Trade accounts payable and
          accrued liabilities                       2,074,000      (652,000)
         Billings in excess of costs and
          estimated earnings                          351,000       298,000
         Deferred tax liabilities                  (1,218,000)     (728,000)
           Net cash provided by
            operating activities                   15,639,000     7,350,000

   Cash flows from investing activities:
       Net cash expended for acquisitions                  --      (722,000)
       Additions to equipment and leasehold
        improvements                               (3,017,000)   (1,548,000)
       Proceeds from (purchases of)
         securities held-to-maturity                1,300,000    (1,436,000)
       Proceeds from sales of equipment                50,000        57,000
           Net cash used in investing activities   (1,667,000)   (3,649,000)

   Cash flow from financing activities:
       Principal payments on capital lease obligations     --       (52,000)
       Net proceeds from stock options and
        restricted shares                             595,000       295,000
           Net cash provided by
            financing activities                      595,000       243,000
   Net increase in cash and cash equivalents       14,567,000     3,944,000
   Cash and cash equivalents,
    beginning of period                            24,277,000    20,333,000
   Cash and cash equivalents, end of period       $38,844,000   $24,277,000


DATASOURCE: The Keith Companies, Inc.



CONTACT:  Aram Keith, Chairman of the Board & CEO of The Keith Companies,

Inc., [phone], or fax, [phone]; or Tricia Ross, Investor

Relations, Financial Relations Board, [phone], for The Keith

Companies, Inc.



Web site:  http://www.viavid.net/ 

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

Copyright