URS names former US Senator William Frist to board

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- URS Corp., an engineering and construction company, said Monday that former U.S. Senator William H. Frist has joined its board, effective immediately.

Frist is a partner at Cressey & Company LP, a private investment firm, and serves as a professor of business and medicine at Vanderbilt University.

He served as U.S. senator for Tennessee from 1995 until 2007 and was majority leader of the U.S. Senate from 2002 until 2007.

URS shares declined 4 cents to $44.78 in morning trading.

Star Analysts
http://finance.yahoo.com/q/sa?s=urs

UPDATE 1-URS eyes high-speed rail, water projects for 2010
Friday 13, 2009

* High-speed rail offers plenty of bidding opportunities

* Low debt means ample room for acquisitions, growth -CFO

* Shares up nearly 11 pct after results, positive outlook

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Engineering company URS Corp (URS.N) sees plenty of opportunities for work next year as U.S. states seek to build high-speed rail lines with help from federal funds, and with a few big water projects on the way.

More broadly, $10 billion in federal stimulus money will be flowing to major infrastructure projects that URS could manage, compared with just $2 billion this year, the company said.

Last month 24 states applied for stimulus money earmarked for high-speed rail, and URS is already under contract for related work in California and Connecticut, the company said.

"We currently are hiring additional engineers to meet increased demand in this area," Chief Executive Martin Koffel told analysts on a conference call on Friday to discuss the company's better-than-expected third quarter earnings [ID:N12414393]

Shares of the San Francisco-based company closed up $4.36, or 10.8 percent, to $44.85.

URS also has won a stimulus-related contract from U.S. rail company Amtrak to improve its Northeast corridor, and a joint venture it leads won a potential $280 million deal for the St. Bernard levee near New Orleans. Koffel was encouraged by recent California legislation to improve its water delivery system.

Last month, URS bought oil and gas project specialist ForeRunner, anticipating a flurry of pipeline building in years ahead as natural gas becomes a bigger part of the U.S. energy mix. Rival Quanta Services Inc (PWR.N) gave similar reasons for its recent purchase of pipeline firm Price Gregory.

URS executives signaled more acquisitions could be on the way. Chief Financial Officer Tom Hicks said URS would bring in plenty of cash next year, lowering its leverage well below what he deems an optimal debt-to-capitalization ratio of 20 percent to 30 percent. So money would likely be redeployed for acquisitions or to grow the company internally, he added.

URS, with total capitalization on its balance sheet of more than $5 billion, now has long-term debt of just over $780 million, down from nearly $1.1 billion at the start of 2009.

"I have no career experience in managing an unleveraged company," Koffel said, recalling a brief exception to that two years ago when he was at a New York hotel to meet bankers to finance its Washington Group takeover.

"For about 10 days we were technically out of debt," he added. "And I said to the group 'I feel like I've lost an old friend'." (Reporting by Braden Reddall; editing by Carol Bishopric)

URS stock would climb up if it get some more news.
Will see what happen!

The Q2 low was $39.75. I follow J a n u s and in Q2-2009 they added 142%, +$12.4M to their holding of URS and hold 445K shares valued at about $21.1M, go to nasdaq. com to find institutional holders.

I have no position in URS. This is relatively high beta stock and we could have a correction in the all over markets after the best six months (up to August) since 1938.

URS Corp. (URS)
announced that a joint venture between URS and Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. has been awarded an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract to provide general design support and construction management services to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers(USACE), New Orleans Hurricane Protection Office.

Sound good news!

It is biggest jump this month of April 2009.

Buy low price of URS stock right now because the banks are trouble in USA and Europe. Maybe Asia!

URS buys Alaska’s Tryck Nyman HayesSan Francisco Business Times - by Eric Young

URS Corp. acquired an Alaska-based engineering firm in a bid to boost work it derives from the U.S. Dept. of Defense and Alaska pipeline projects.

URS bought Tryck Nyman Hayes Inc. based in Anchorage. The company’s 60 engineers, landscape architects and surveyors serve federal, state and local government agencies as well as private sector clients.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

The deal positions URS (NYSE: URS) to pursue larger and more complex infrastructure programs as well as contracts for the Department of Defense and Alaska pipeline projects.

San Francisco-based URS has bought several businesses to become one of the largest engineering design companies in the United States. One year ago it completed its acquisition of Boise-based rival Washington Group International Inc. for $3.2 billion.

Monday, August 18, 2008 - 12:44 PM CDT
URS buys Texas' LopezGarcia Group

Austin Business Journal

Two engineering firms that operate in Austin have merged.

San Francisco-based URS Corp. (NYSE:URS) has acquired LopezGarcia Group Inc., a Dallas-based engineering design and environmental planning firm. LopezGarcia employs 200 people in five Texas offices, including Austin. URS is the third-largest engineering firm in the area with more than 50 engineers in Austin.

The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

LopezGarcia works with many state and local governments, which made it an attractive target in a state that spends billions on infrastructure, says Gary Jandegian, president of URS.

"This acquisition furthers our strategic goal of increasing our presence in the Texas infrastructure market which, due to strong population growth and stable funding, is one of the largest and most attractive infrastructure markets in the country," he says.

www.urscorp.com

Closing Glance: Construction, engineering rise
Monday June 16, 4:18 pm ET
Construction and engineering shares end mostly higher as oil reverses course to end lower


NEW YORK (AP) -- Shares of construction and engineering companies ended mostly higher on Monday as the broader market wobbled on volatile oil prices.
Light, sweet crude rose to a record of $139.89 a barrel, then reversed course to decline 88 cents to $133.98 as Saudi Arabia said it would increase oil production.

Here's how some construction and engineering companies fared:

McDermott International Inc., up 64 cents to $63.24.

Shaw Group Inc., up $1.40, or 2.2 percent, to $64.27.

URS Corp., up 15 cents to $46.45.

Fluor Corp., up $1.99 to $188.17.

URS Stock
It is ready to build up high as Rocket to Pluto!
WR

URS Corp. and Washington Group, Inc. had merged completely. It's so big company right now. Stock URS will be very strong to climb up.
Keep eye on it!

WR

CORRECTION - S&P REITERATES BUY OPINION ON SHARES OF URS CORP.
S&P Marketscope -

Symbol Last Chg
URS Trade 50.79 +2.25
Quotes delayed at least 15 minutes

SNPMarketScopeResearchNotes2007-08-09 09:43:54.000URSURS CORPS. ScharfCORRECTION - S&P REITERATES BUY OPINION ON SHARES OF URS CORP.URS posts Q2 EPS of $0.70 vs. $0.63, $0.07 above our estimate. Revenues rose 17% (prior story said 13%), driven by growth in private sector spending on emissions controls work for utilities, and state and local government infrastructure projects. Backlog is up 24% year to date. We see further demand for private as well as federal projects. EBIT margins should improve into '08 on pricing initiatives and cost controls. Blending our relative and DCF-based metrics, we base our 12-month targe price of $57 on a below-peer-average P/E of 23X our '07 EPS estimate of $2.50.|US;URS|35512|277817

Aug 17, 2007 16:27:20 (ET)
DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

The Panama Canal Authority said Friday it has picked engineering and construction firm CH2M Hill to manage the contracts related to the expansion of the waterway, which is estimated to cost around $5.25 billion.

Denver-based CH2M Hill was picked ahead of two other bidders, Parsons Brinckerhoff and URS Corporation (URS), based on "best value and not the lowest price," the PCA said in a statement.

The PCA, which is a financially autonomous government agency, aims to raise between $1.5 billion and $2.3 billion for the historic expansion project from capital markets, while the rest will be financed from tolls.

The PCA has already hired Mizuho Corporate Bank, a unit of Japan's Mizuho Financial Group (MFG), as its financial advisor, and law firm Shearman & Sterling LLP as its international legal advisor for its financing needs.

The first construction contract was awarded in July. Constructora Urbana SA, a Panamanian company, won a $41.1 million contract for the first of five dry excavation projects to create an access channel to a third set of locks, which are the centerpiece of the Canal expansion.

Work on the excavation is to begin in early September, the same month when the PCA will start the bidding process for the second excavation contract.

-By Matthew Cowley, Dow Jones Newswires; 201 938 5692; matthew.cowley@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

August 17, 2007 16:27 ET (20:27 GMT)

URS Corp. wins San Jose airport contract
Thursday July 12, 2:44 pm ET

URS Corp. will work for four years on capital improvement projects at Mineta San Jose International Airport.
The San Francisco engineering giant (NYSE: URS - News), which has some 29,500 workers, could earn as much as $15 million from the contract, which involves management of improvements to the airport's terminals.

URS will manage work on remodeling and expanding terminal A, on building a new terminal B, as well as construction of a rental car facility and a public parking garage. URS has worked with the airport for nearly 40 years.

URS is buying Boise, Idaho-based Washington Group International Inc. (NYSE: WNG - News) for $2.6 billion.

Published July 12, 2007 by San Francisco Business Times

Zacks.com
Remaining Positive on URS Corp.
Thursday June 28, 9:17 am ET
By Zacks Equity Research


Zacks senior analyst Mario Ricchio is taking the opportunity to reiterate his Buy recommendation on engineering firm URS Corporation (NYSE: URS - News). The following is from the report recently published:
ADVERTISEMENT


quot;As a result of better-than-expected first quarter earnings, we are raising our

FY07 EPS [earnings per share] estimate to $2.47 from $2.44. The positive fundamentals trends remain intact, such as the rise in state and local budgets driving sorely needed infrastructure spending, as well as the rise in addition oil company profits leading to reinvestment back into refinery upgrades and pipeline projects.

quot;Investors should add shares of URS to their portfolio at the current price. We believe URS discount gap to its peers will narrow over time. From 2007, earnings growth will be comparable to that of its peers, backed by strong federal government demand, a continued rebound in state and local budgets, and strong growth in the private sector. Moreover, the company has one of the best balance sheets in the industry, marked by a low debt-to-capitalization ratio of 10%.

quot;We have valued URS based on P/E [price-to-earnings] valuation metrics and forward earnings. Historically, URS has traded between 5x and 17x P/E. At the current valuation, URS shares trade at a P/E of 19.2x our upwardly revised 2007 earnings estimate of $2.47 per share.quot;

Read the analyst report on URS

Washington Group International Awarded Major Clean-Air Project for Constellation Energy
Tuesday June 19, 9:00 am ET


BOISE, Idaho, and BALTIMORE, June 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Washington Group International (NYSE: WNG - News) announced today that it has been selected to provide engineering, procurement, and construction services for a major clean-air project at Constellation Energy's Brandon Shores Power Plant in Baltimore, Md. The three-year project will substantially reduce plant emissions -- including sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, and mercury -- allowing Constellation Energy to meet new Maryland clean-air requirements that take effect in 2010.


Under a limited notice to proceed, Washington Group will perform preliminary engineering while awaiting final regulatory approvals to begin construction later this year. Washington Group's full scope will be to provide engineering, procurement, and construction services for the installation of several air-quality-control systems -- including flue gas desulfurization systems (scrubbers), baghouses to trap particulates and activated carbon injection for mercury control -- at the coal-fired, two-unit, 1300-megawatt plant. The scrubbers will be designed to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions by nearly 98 percent. As part of the project, a mile-long conveyor system will be built to transport limestone needed in the desulfurization process from a barge terminal on the Patapsco River to the power plant. Also, the project will employ an innovative design for reusing grey water from the adjacent Cox Creek wastewater treatment facility.

"Washington Group is happy to build on our successful working relationship with Constellation Energy by providing the clean-air resources and expertise required to execute this project," said Lou Pardi, president of Washington Group's Power Business Unit, based in Princeton, N.J. "This clean-air initiative is important to the client and the community. When the project is complete, the Brandon Shores plant will meet some of the strictest emission reduction limits in the country."

Constellation Energy (http://www.constellation.com), a FORTUNE 200 company with 2006 revenues of $19.3 billion, is the nation's largest competitive supplier of electricity to large commercial and industrial customers and the nation's largest wholesale power seller. Constellation Energy also manages fuels and energy services on behalf of energy intensive industries and utilities. It owns a diversified fleet of more than 78 generating units located throughout the United States, totaling approximately 8,700 megawatts of generating capacity. The company delivers electricity and natural gas through the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE), its regulated utility in Central Maryland.

Washington Group International (NYSE: WNG - News) provides the talent, innovation, and proven performance to deliver integrated engineering, construction and management solutions for businesses and governments worldwide. Headquartered in Boise, Idaho, with more than $3 billion in annual revenue, the company has approximately 25,000 people at work around the world providing solutions in power, environmental management, defense, oil and gas processing, mining, industrial facilities, transportation and water resources. For more information, visit http://www.wgint.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as may, will, could, should, expect, anticipate, intend, plan, estimate, or continue or the negative thereof or other variations thereof. Each forward-looking statement, including, without limitation, any financial guidance, speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and Washington Group undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which it is made or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances. The forward-looking statements are necessarily based on assumptions and estimates of management and are inherently subject to various risks and uncertainties. Actual results may vary materially as a result of changes or developments in social, economic, business, market, legal, and regulatory circumstances or conditions, both domestically and globally, as well as due to actions by customers, clients, suppliers, business partners, or government bodies. Performance is subject to numerous factors, including demand for new power generation and for modification of existing power facilities, public sector funding, demand for extractive resources, capital spending plans of customers, and spending levels and priorities of the U.S., state and other governments. Results may also vary as a result of difficulties or delays experienced in the execution of contracts or implementation of strategic initiatives. For additional risks and uncertainties impacting the forward-looking statements contained in this news release, please see "Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information" and "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in Washington Group's annual report on Form 10-K for fiscal year 2006.




----------------------------------------------------------------Source: Washington Group International

Washington Group International to Provide Design, Engineering Services for First Near-Zero Emissions, Coal-Fueled Power Plant
Tuesday June 12, 9:00 am ET
Prototype is part of FutureGen initiative to demonstrate capture and storage of greenhouse gases


BOISE, Idaho, June 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Washington Group International (NYSE: WNG - News) announced today that it has been selected by the FutureGen Industrial Alliance to provide architectural, design, and engineering support services for the FutureGen initiative, a public-private partnership to develop and build a first-of-its-kind, coal-fueled, near-zero emissions electric power plant.
ADVERTISEMENT


The prototype project, estimated in excess of $1 billion, will also be the world's first integrated carbon sequestration and hydrogen gas production research power plant. The approximate 275-megawatt Integrated (coal) Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) power plant will use cutting-edge technologies to generate electricity while capturing and permanently storing carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, deep underground. The project will convert a variety of coal types to hydrogen gas for power generation and other potential industrial uses.

The project includes development of a large-scale engineering laboratory and research platform for evaluating and testing new technologies for the conversion of coal to fuel gases, for the capture of carbon dioxide, and for the clean production of power.

As the engineering and construction management provider, Washington Group International will assist the Alliance in the evaluation and selection of technologies for coal gasification and for gas and power generation, as well as integrate the selected technologies and packages for the processes across the facility.

"The FutureGen initiative tackles some of the most pressing issues in the energy industry today -- the use of our abundant coal resources, the control of greenhouse gases, and the development of new, clean, and reliable energy sources," said Stephen M. Johnson, Washington Group International's senior executive vice president and executive sponsor for this project. "Washington Group International's expertise in energy and industrial processes spans the needs of this showcase program, and we have committed some of our best talent to help develop a project that is extremely important to the United States and to the industrialized world."

"The FutureGen project is complex, incorporates a significant amount of first-of-a-kind technology, and is both cost- and schedule-sensitive," said Jerry J. Oliver, the FutureGen Industrial Alliance's senior vice president for project development. "To be successful, we needed a strong team with a broad level of capability. I am very pleased with both the outstanding team provided and with the willingness of Washington Group International to work closely with the Alliance as we move quickly forward."

The initial technology selection, design, and engineering work is scheduled for completion in March 2008.

The FutureGen Industrial Alliance is a non-profit industrial consortium representing the coal and power industries that is partnering with the U.S. Department of Energy to design and build the prototype facility.

Washington Group International (NYSE: WNG - News) provides the talent, innovation, and proven performance to deliver integrated engineering, construction, and management solutions for businesses and governments worldwide. Headquartered in Boise, Idaho, with more than $3 billion in annual revenue, the company has approximately 25,000 people at work around the world providing solutions in power, environmental management, defense, oil and gas processing, mining, industrial facilities, transportation, and water resources. For more information, visit http://www.wgint.com.

----------------------------------------------------------------Source: Washington Group International

Washington Group Wins Construction Deal
Friday June 1, 12:45 pm ET
Washington Group Wins Construction Deal for Oil Sands Facility in Canada


BOISE, Idaho (AP) -- Washington Group International said Friday it received a contract from Fort Hills Energy LP to provide front-end engineering and design services for an oil sands facility in Canada.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Washington Group will be responsible for preparing the site for construction and working on the heating, cooling, piping and underground systems. Work will begin immediately, the company said.

The oil sands facility is being built in Sturgeon County near Edmonton, Alberta.

Fort Hills Energy LP, consists of Petro-Canada, UTS Energy Corp., Teck Cominco Ltd. and Petro-Canada Oil Sands Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Petro-Canada.

Shares of Washington Group rose 73 cents to $84.73 in afternoon trading.

URS Acquisition Banks on Energy Demands
Tuesday May 29, 5:07 pm ET
By Michael Liedtke, AP Business Writer

URS Banking on More Energy Contracts With $2.6B Washington Group Purchase


SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- URS Corp.'s $2.6 billion acquisition of engineering and construction rival Washington Group Inc. represents the latest power play on the world's need for more energy.
With the cash-and-stock deal announced Monday, URS hopes to be in a better position to capitalize on renewed interest in nuclear power as an alternative energy source -- and to win lucrative oil and gas contracts to help meet the ongoing demand for fossil fuels.

ADVERTISEMENT



The combination also figures to make URS an even more formidable bidder for government contracts from the U.S. Departments of Defense and Energy and state agencies that rely on the San Francisco-based company to help build and maintain roads and bridges.

In a Tuesday conference call, URS and Washington Group executives made clear that the lucrative opportunities in the energy market are the main reason the two sides decided to team up.

With Washington Group's team of scientists, URS believes it will add valuable expertise as concerns about global warming and the high cost of fossil fuels pave the way for more nuclear power plants, particularly in the booming economies of India and China.

URS pegs the market for new nuclear power at $100 billion during the next decade. Cleaning up the nuclear power equipment at existing plants is expected to bring in billions of dollars more.

Meanwhile, the search for more oil and gas sources is expected to become more complicated and expensive, contributing to a $2 trillion market over the next decade. Bolstered by the Washington Group acquisition, URS hopes to get a sliver of that revenue by contracting with major oil companies.

"The combination with Washington Group is the next logical step for URS," Chairman Martin Koffel said during Tuesday's conference call.

Investors seemed to agree as URS shares gained $2.38, or 5.1 percent, to $49.27 in trading Tuesday, while Washington Group shares surged $15.07, or 21.5 percent, to $85.04.

The sharp rise in Washington Group's stock price indicated Wall Street is expecting URS shares to climb even higher.

Through Tuesday, the deal's value stood at $81.84 per Washington Group share, up from $80 per share when the transaction was first announced, and will increase if URS's market value continues to rise. The acquisition price consists of $1.4 billion, or $43.80 per share, in cash and 0.772 URS shares for each of Washington Group's 32 million shares.

The marriage would create a company with 54,500 employees in more than 50 countries and $8.6 billion in annual revenue, based on analysts' 2007 projections for URS and Washington Group.

After the deal is completed, URS would rank as the fourth-largest publicly traded engineering and construction company in the United States, trailing Irving, Texas-based Fluor Corp., Houston-based KBR Inc. and Pasadena-based Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.

URS has muscled into the top tier with a series of deals that increased its revenue from just $300 million in 1996 to $4.2 billion last year. Since 1996, the company spent a combined $1.1 billion on four key acquisitions: Greiner Engineering Inc., Woodward-Clyde Group Inc., Dames and Moore Group and EG&G Holding Corp.

Washington Group traveled a rockier road as it wrestled with serious financial problems. In 2001, the Boise, Idaho-based company -- once known as Morrison Knudsen Corp. -- emerged from its second bankruptcy reorganization in six years. But Washington Group has since bounced back and posted an $81 million profit on $3.4 billion in revenue last year.

URS hopes to boost the profits of the combined company by trimming $50 million to $55 million in annual expenses. Relatively few layoffs are envisioned, with URS committed to keeping Washington Group in Idaho as a separate division. Most of the savings will achieved by eliminating overlapping administrative and technology operations and combining offices located within near proximity of each other.

28,001 employees now...thank for your reply i just needed to know the actcual letters URS(United Research Services)so i would be prepeared for me interview......however tyour reply was very accutate

URS is standing for below...

URS is the largest global engineering design firm and a leading U.S. federal government contractor providing a comprehensive range of professional planning, design, systems engineering and technical assistance, program and construction management, and operations and maintenance services. We have 28,000 employees in two divisions: the URS Division and the EG&G Division, which includes the operations of Lear Siegler Services. Together, we serve the U.S. federal government, state and local government agencies and private-industry clients, including Fortune 500 companies worldwide.

http://www.urscorp.com

WR

what is URS stands for?

Look at these numbers:

Period Ending: Oct 31, 2002 Jul 31, 2002 Apr 30, 2002 Jan 31, 2002
Total Revenue $736,482,000 $583,937,000 $564,410,000 $542,998,000
Cost Of Revenue $472,341,000 $353,537,000 $332,692,000 $330,816,000
Gross Profit $264,141,000 $230,400,000 $231,718,000 $212,182,000

Operating Expenses
Research And Development N/A N/A N/A N/A
Selling General And Administrative Expenses $235,267,000 $187,738,000 $191,774,000 $176,846,000
Non Recurring N/A N/A N/A N/A
Other Operating Expenses N/A N/A N/A N/A

Operating Income $28,874,000 $42,662,000 $39,944,000 $35,336,000
Total Other Income And Expenses Net N/A N/A N/A N/A
Earnings Before Interest And Taxes $28,874,000 $42,662,000 $39,944,000 $35,336,000
Interest Expense $18,697,000 $12,070,000 $12,322,000 $12,616,000
Income Before Tax $10,177,000 $30,592,000 $27,622,000 $22,720,000
Income Tax Expense $3,570,000 $12,230,000 $10,710,000 $9,430,000
Equity Earnings Or Loss Unconsolidated Subsidiary N/A N/A N/A N/A
Minority Interest N/A N/A N/A N/A
Net Income From Continuing Operations $6,607,000 $18,362,000 $16,912,000 $13,290,000

Nonrecurring Events
Discontinued Operations N/A N/A N/A N/A
Extraordinary Items N/A N/A N/A N/A
Effect Of Accounting Changes N/A N/A N/A N/A
Other Items N/A N/A N/A N/A
Net Income $6,607,000 $18,362,000 $16,912,000 $13,290,000
Preferred Stock And Other Adjustments N/A ($1,055,000) ($2,466,000) ($2,418,000)

Net Income Applicable To Common Shares $6,607,000 $17,307,000 $14,446,000 $10,872,000

San Francisco-based civil engineering and design firm URS (nyse: URS - news - people ) resurfaced on the top buy list. The stock, which had been a top buy for much of January at prices as high as $14, slid to a 52-week low of $8.50 Feb. 21. This was despite URS' winning new contracts, including one with the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command unit worth a potential $3.1 billion over the next eight years. The stock's price-to-earnings ratio is a low 4.36 compared with those of fellow engineering companies Fluor (nyse: FLR - news - people ), which trades at a P/E multiple of 13.39, and Jacobs Engineering (nyse: JEC - news - people ), which trades at a P/E of 18.21.