...has a tremendous contracting capacity for low-tech projects, but needs international construction expertise to help with some more technical projects. This helps shift the country's regulatory focus.

Overall, the sluggish markets in 2003 and the beginning of 2004 have come as no surprise to construction contractors. Most firms continue to get by. "No matter how tough things are, you can find work," says Fish of Suffolk Construction. "And, if you're smart, you can make a profit."

THE 2004 TOP 400 AT A GLANCE
VOLUME      
 
DOMESTIC 
INTERNATIONAL 
TOTAL 
 
$ BIL.
% CHG.
$ BIL.
% CHG.
$ BIL.
% CHG.
REVENUE
166.5
-4.7
26.8
+36.7
193.4
-0.5
NEW CONTRACTS
173.0
+0.1
25.7
+5.3
198.7
+0.7
PROFITABILITY      
 
NUMBER OF FIRMS REPORTING 
AVERAGE % OF 
 
PROFIT
LOSS
PROFIT
LOSS
DOMESTIC
325
32
2.3
NA
INTERNATIONAL
50
17
2.7
NA
PROFESSIONAL STAFF      
 
NUMBER OF FIRMS REPORTING 
AVERAGE % OF 
 
DOMESTIC
INTL.
DOMESTIC
INTL.
INCREASE
147
13
9.2
NA
DECREASE
60
10
9.0
NA
SAME
159
66
NA
NA
BACKLOG      
 
NUMBER OF FIRMS REPORTING
AVERAGE %
HIGHER
203
23.1
LOWER
93
38.0
SAME
69
NA
NA = Not Available
MARKET ANALYSIS  
TYPE OF WORK
REVENUE
$ MIL.
PERCENT
OF TOTAL
BUILDING
98,672.6
51.0
MANUFACTURING
4,955.8
2.6
INDUSTRIAL
11,226.7
5.8
PETROLEUM
14,524.0
7.5
WATER
2,926.5
1.5
SEWER/WASTE
3,555.6
1.8
TRANSPORTATION
29,374.7
15.2
HAZARDOUS WASTE
6,100.6
3.2
POWER
12,345.1
6.4
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
2,352.9
1.2
OTHER
7,316.9
3.8
INTERNATIONAL REGIONS   
 
NUMBER
OF FIRMS
REVENUE
$MIL.
PERCENT
OF TOTAL
CANADA
29
3,328.2
12.4
LATIN AMERICA
33
1,759.1
6.6
CARIBBEAN ISLANDS
27
1,732.2
6.5
EUROPE
25
9,098.0
33.9
MIDDLE EAST
19
5,750.2
21.4
ASIA/AUSTRALIA
26
3,090.9
11.
AFRICA
18
2,055.4
7.7
ANTARCTIC/ARCTIC
1
2.3
0.0
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