Goldfield Reports Improved 2011 Earnings and Sharp Increase in Electrical Construction Backlog

MELBOURNE, Fla., March 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Goldfield Corporation (NYSE Amex: GV) today announced improved results for the year ended December 31, 2011, and sharp increase in its electrical construction backlog.  The Goldfield Corporation is a leading provider of electrical construction services in the Southeast with operations throughout much of the United States.  Goldfield is also engaged, to a much lesser extent, in real estate development activities.

Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2011 was $32.8 million, substantially unchanged from 2010 despite a significant decrease in the real estate segment.  Because of improved results in the electrical construction segment, the Company's operating income for 2011 increased to $1.1 million from an operating loss of $18,000 in 2010.  

For the year ended December 31, 2011, the electrical construction segment's operating results showed improvement, with revenue of $31.7 million and operating income of $3.4 million, compared to revenue of $31.4 million and operating income of $2.1 million in the prior year.  This increase in operating income was largely attributable to greater utilization of Company assets on higher margin transmission projects.

For the year ended December 31, 2011, the real estate development segment had revenue of $1.1 million and an operating loss of $95,000, compared to revenue of $2.0 million and an operating income of $186,000, respectively for 2010.  The decrease in 2011 was mainly due to an impairment write-down of real estate property totaling $112,000.  In both 2011 and 2010 the Company had no significant real estate projects under construction.  

Net income for the year ended December 31, 2011 was $874,000 or $0.03 per share, compared to a net loss of $253,000 or ($0.01) net loss per share, in the comparable prior year period.

Revenue and operating income for the three months ended December 31, 2011 improved to $11.4 million and $1.7 million, respectively, from $8.7 million and $0.3 million, respectively, in the same quarter last year.  This improvement resulted from higher demand for our electrical construction services.  

Due to the improved results in our electrical construction segment, the Company's net income for the three months ended December 31, 2011, was $1.6 million or $0.06 per share, compared to net income of $179,000 or $0.01 per share in the comparable prior year quarter.  

Electrical Construction Backlog Increase

Since December 31, 2011, the Company's electrical construction backlog sharply increased to approximately $77.8 million at February 27, 2012 from $12.2 million at year end.  Approximately $55 million of this backlog is expected to be completed during 2012.  This backlog increase was in large part attributable to the Company's expansion during 2011 of its geographical footprint into Texas and establishment of permanent facilities there, with a view to obtaining work associated with the Competitive Renewable Energy Zones ("CREZ") wind generation projects.  On February 27, 2012, the Company was selected as prime contractor to build a 110 mile long 345kV transmission line, as part of a CREZ project.  The Company estimates revenue of approximately $52.0 million from this project, which is scheduled to be completed by July 31, 2013. 

"The Company believes that work from other electric utilities and on other CREZ projects will provide a good opportunity for possible further growth in this region," commented John H. Sottile, president of Goldfield.  "The prospects for our electrical construction business are brighter today than at any time in recent history," Mr. Sottile added.

About Goldfield

Goldfield is a leading provider of electrical construction and maintenance services in the energy infrastructure industry throughout much of the United States.  The company specializes in installing and maintaining electrical transmission lines for a wide range of electric utilities.  Goldfield is also involved, to a much lesser extent, in the acquisition, development, management and disposition of land and improved properties on Florida's east coast.  For additional information, please visit http://www.goldfieldcorp.com.

This press release includes forward looking statements based on our current expectations.  Our actual results may differ materially from what we currently expect.  Factors that may affect the results of our electrical construction operations include, among others: the level of construction activities by public utilities; the timing and duration of construction projects for which we are engaged; our ability to estimate accurately with respect to fixed price construction contracts; and heightened competition in the electrical construction field, including intensification of price competition.  Factors that may affect the results of our real estate development operations include, among others: the continued weakness in the Florida real estate market; the level of consumer confidence; our ability to acquire land; increases in interest rates and availability of mortgage financing to our buyers; and increases in construction and homeowner insurance and the availability of insurance.  Factors that may affect the results of all of our operations include, among others: adverse weather; natural disasters; effects of climate changes; changes in generally accepted accounting principles; ability to obtain necessary permits from regulatory agencies;  our ability to maintain or increase historical revenue and profit margins; general economic conditions, both nationally and in our region; adverse legislation or regulations; availability of skilled construction labor and materials and material increases in labor and material costs; and our ability to obtain additional and/or renew financing.  Other important factors which could cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release are detailed in the Company's Risk Factors and Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation sections of our Annual Report on Form 10-K and Goldfield's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available on Goldfield's website: http://www.goldfieldcorp.com.

For further information, please contact:
The Goldfield Corporation
Phone: (321) 724-1700
Email:  [email protected]

SOURCE The Goldfield Corporation