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DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. – The ServiceMaster Company has announced fourth-quarter 2003 revenues of $807 million, a 2-percent increase over the same period in 2002.
Fourth-quarter earnings per share from continuing operations were up 33 percent to $.08 compared with $.06 in 2002. Examining the full year, revenues of $3.6 billion were up 2 percent over 2002.
“Our improved performance and growth in the second half of 2003 were the result of hard-working service people staying focused on the customer, combined with strong cost reductions and controls across the enterprise,” noted Jonathan Ward, chairman and CE O. “Earnings moved up as we started to see improved revenue in the quarter, reflecting the business momentum that we all have been working hard to achieve.”
In the future, ServiceMaster will focus on repositioning its brands and improving its customer-oriented approach to business, Ward noted. “Throughout 2004 we will maintain a strong focus on top-line sales, increased retention, pricing discipline, and improving margins in TruGreen LandCare and the ARS/AMS segment,” he continued. “We believe we will build on the progress we made in 2003 and continue to grow new customers and retention rates through the year, demonstrating the fundamental strength of our strategies.”