William George
Analyst · BB&T Capital Markets
Thank you, Brian. I'll start with the quarter, and if you have the slide show, you can turn to Slide 1. We were profitable during the fourth quarter. As expected, however, we continue to be broadly impacted by the ongoing weakness in the nonresidential construction markets as gross profit and operating income margins were lower due to continued challenging market conditions. Total revenue increased $3.1 million to $317.7 million compared to the fourth quarter of 2010. This was a result of the EAS acquisition in November. Without that acquisition, same-store revenue decreased 4.8% compared to the fourth quarter of 2010.
Similar to trends from earlier quarters this year, gross profit margins were lower compared to 2010. Gross profit was 15.9% for the fourth quarter of 2011, compared to 18.1% in the fourth quarter of 2010. The decrease in gross margins was generally broad-based, and results from weak pricing.
Total SG&A expense decreased $2.4 million for the fourth quarter compared to the same period in 2010. As a percentage of revenues, SG&A dropped from 15.4% in 2010 to 14.5% in 2011. If we look at same-store SG&A, we were helped even more by lower overhead costs. Excluding amortization expense, same-store SG&A decreased by $3.3 million, a 7% decrease. Including our incremental goodwill adjustment, operating income was 0.3% for the fourth quarter of 2011, compared to 2.3% for the fourth quarter of 2010. Excluding goodwill and other intangible impairment charges recorded in both periods, operating income was 1.5% for the fourth quarter of 2011, and that compares to 2.7% in 2010.
Now I'm going to take a few minutes to describe some individual items during the reported periods. During the third quarter of 2011, we concluded that impairment indicators existed within 4 reporting units, based upon year-to-date results and recent forecasts. We did an impairment analysis and recognized an estimated $55 million pretax noncash goodwill impairment charge during the third quarter. We finalized that assessment of this goodwill impairment charge during the fourth quarter, and as a result, recorded an additional -- a goodwill impairment charge of $2.2 million. We also recorded a $1.6 million impairment charge related to Delcard's intangible assets. This impairment charge was triggered by our decision to curtail future operations at Delcard. We expect that Delcard will be reported as a discontinued operation in a future reporting period.
As we announced a few months ago, during the fourth quarter, we made a substantial investment in North Carolina as we commenced a new partnership with Environmental Air Systems, EAS. Because we own a partial interest in EAS, I want to review how they end up being reflected in our financial statements. We have a 60% interest in EAS, and thus, we consolidate their results. We include the assets, liabilities and results of EAS throughout our financial statements from the top line of the income statement down to net earnings, and in our balance sheet accounts. We then subtract net income attributable to the 40% interest still held by the sellers in order to calculate the bottom line for our shareholders. For the fourth quarter, even after amortization, we had a net positive contribution from EAS for the 2 months they were a part of Comfort Systems, and we're still very excited about this new partnership.
Please turn to Slide 3 and we can look at full year results. As you can see, total revenue increased $131.7 million, or 11.9% to $1.2 billion, primarily due to acquisitions. Without acquisitions, same-store revenue increased 1.6% for the full year. In addition to the EAS acquisition for 2 months during the fourth quarter, the ColonialWebb acquisition was included in our results for the full year in 2011, and that compares to 5 months in 2010. Full year gross profit margins were 14.6% in 2011, compared to 17.0% in 2010. Continuing trends from earlier in the year, the gross profit decrease was broad-based, and results from the weak pricing environment.
Full year total SG&A expense increased $8.7 million, or 5.3% to $172.1 million, but all of that increase is due to acquisitions. As a percent of revenue, SG&A dropped from 14.7% in 2010 to 13.9% for 2011. Excluding acquisitions and amortization expense, same-store SG&A actually decreased $9.3 million or 5.9%.
After the third quarter goodwill write-off, operating income was negative 4% in 2011, compared to 1.8% in 2010. Excluding goodwill and other intangible impairment charges recorded in both periods, operating income was 0.8% in 2011, compared to 2.3% in 2010.
Now let me quantify our goodwill impairment and other charges in a little greater detail. As I mentioned earlier, we recorded goodwill and other intangible impairment charges during the third and fourth quarter. The total goodwill and other intangible impairment charge for 2011 was $58.9 million pretax or $1.22 per share after tax. The other items relate to noncash charges that we recorded and discussed last quarter. We revalued the earn-out liability related to the ColonialWebb acquisition, and an increase in valuation allowances was recorded against certain deferred tax assets. During the third quarter, we reassessed the value of the earn-out obligation. And as a result, we reduced the liability resulting in a full year gain of $5.5 million, which was a pickup of $0.14 per share after tax. The same economic and outlook factors that led us to conclude goodwill impairment was necessary during the third quarter also lead to examining future tax benefits we had booked relating to historical losses in certain locations. The net impact of the increase in valuation allowances that we concluded were appropriate was a loss of 0.06 or $0.06 per share. The net effect of these 3 items, all 3 items, goodwill, earn-out and tax adjustments, was $1.14 loss per share. So without these items, the EPS for the year was $0.15 per share.
I want to end by running through a few more items that are more routine in nature. Our tax rate for 2011 was 18.3%, coming in at that level as a result of the developments described above. Keep in mind that given the goodwill-related loss, income tax is a benefit, so in this case, a lower tax rate actually means lower reported earnings. Going forward, we expect our tax rate to be in the 35% to 45% range. It's a broad range because it's difficult to project the tax rate in light of the potential impact of future fair value adjustments, not goodwill, the other types of fair value adjustments that we now do under the new accounting rules.
During 2011, we also purchased 739 shares of our stock through the share repurchase program. Since we began buying shares in 2007, we have repurchased 5.6 million shares and returned $61.5 million to our shareholders. We plan to be very price-sensitive and opportunistic in share repurchases in 2012.
The best news this quarter, and the statistic that I want to end my comments on, is cash flow. Free cash flow was exceptionally strong, coming in at $49.5 million for the quarter, compared to $43.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2010. Free cash flow for the year was a positive $21.7 million, compared to $33.5 million in 2010. We've generated positive free cash flow for the past 13 calendar years. We feel good about the cash flow prospects in 2012, although I want to note that if activity levels were to begin to increase significantly, that would result in a significant net incremental investment in working capital, and that would most likely result in lower cash flow. That would be a good problem to have.
Overall, we remained financially and operationally sound. We have good cash balances and reasonable debt. Our unused credit lines don't expire until 2016, and we meet our covenants by wide margins. During 2011, we invested in a significant acquisition, paid a dividend and continued to retire shares. Despite tough market conditions and the results that go with them, we continue to search for and implement strategies to prudently use our strength to compete and prove and grow. Before I end, I also want to add my thanks to Bill Murdy for 11 amazing years. And with that, I'll turn it back to Brian.