The Southeast's Top Contractors

Region's Top Contractors Report More Than $24.7 Billion in 2005 Revenue

By Scott Judy

Southeast Construction presents its sixth annual Top Contractors ranking. It's our biggest and deepest ranking to date, with 170 firms and more than $24.7 billion in collective revenue represented. That's a significant uptick from last year, when the 150 companies included in our ranking reported about $21.2 billion worth of business. And while most are surely benefiting from the Southeast's overall growth rate, the bump in revenue figures is as much a result of increased materials costs as it is a continuing stream of projects.

Still, though, the numbers indicate that the beat is continuing positive for many contractors working in the Southeastern United States.

For example, 67 firms - coincidentally, the same number as last year - reported double-digit revenue growth in 2005 compared to 2004, based on the figures they reported last year. Additionally, five firms - James B. Pirtle Construction Co., The Kearney Cos., Barton Malow Co., T.D. Farrell Construction and Cannon/Estapa General Contractors - reported revenue growth of more than 100 percent over their 2004 revenue totals.

Overall, 85 firms - or 50 percent of the 170 firms listed - reported increased revenues over the previous year, while a significant 45 - about 26.5 percent - indicated lower volumes. Additionally, four firms reported that '05 revenue was flat compared to 2004, while 36 of this year's ranked firms did not participate in last year's Top Contractors ranking.

To obtain the revenue information listed here, we sent our survey form to both last year's respondents as well as hundreds of other firms included in our database, the McGraw-Hill Construction Network and other sources.

The information provided here is based upon each firm's returned survey form.

This current list is 20 deeper than last year's, and ranks the top 170 general contracting and construction management firms in the Southeast. As in past years, the list includes building contractors, heavy/highway firms and all general contracting firms in between.

It should be noted that this list reflects only those companies that chose to participate by filling out the magazine's survey form and submitting their revenue information.

At the Top

Our main Top Contractors ranking is based upon each firm's 2005 revenue generated from projects within the four-state region only. Within the main ranking we also include more extensive information about each of the firms, including address and phone number, Web site address, year established, number of regional employees, the top officer for the area, a breakdown of the contractor's focus of work and their biggest project started during 2005.

Taking the top spot in this year's Top Contractors ranking was Brasfield & Gorrie, which reported nearly $1.1 billion in revenue from its Southeast operations for 2005 - the largest annual revenue total ever reported within the ranking. The company took the top spot as the result of an approximately $315.8 million (41 percent) jump in revenue over 2004. That dollar amount represented the largest aggregate volume gain of any of the firms listed in this year's ranking.

The company's regional total was spread out among the four states, and included the following: Florida - nearly $370.8 million; Georgia - $562.1 million (the largest amount reported by any contractor for a single state); North Carolina - $106.3 million; and South Carolina - $49.9 million

Also notable towards the top of this year's ranking was BE&K Building Group's placement in the 10th position. The company's revenue figures reported here are the result of company consolidation under the BE&K brand. In last year's ranking, for example, Suitt Construction Co. and F.N. Thompson Co., both formerly divisions of BE&K, reported their numbers separately. This year, the companies have taken the BE&K nameplate and are reported singly.

Of the top 10 contractors, eight reported revenue from all four states. The Yates Cos., in the sixth position, did not report any income from South Carolina, while Kraft Construction Co., ranked eighth, indicated all of its revenue came from its home state of Florida.

Survey Findings

Here are some other findings from this year's ranking:

• As was the case last year, Florida revenue makes up the biggest part of the cumulative revenue total. This year's list represents roughly $14.75 billion in Florida revenue, up from last year's $12.1 billion. Also, this year's ranking includes 134 firms reporting Florida revenue, up slightly from last year's 124.
  
• The cumulative total of revenue reported from Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina tallied roughly $10 billion, up from last year's approximately $9 billion. On a state-by-state basis, the amount of revenue reported included: Georgia - approximately $4.5 billion, up from last year's $4 billion; North Carolina - roughly $3.9 billion, up from last year's $3.3 billion total; and South Carolina - $1.6 billion, steady with the previous year.
  
• The average revenue number reported on the ranking equaled roughly $145.5 million, a slight increase from last year's $141 million average. The Auchter Co. of Jacksonville, ranked 54th, came closest to that amount with its $150 million in revenues for 2005.
  

Click here for this year's Top Contractor's Ranking