L.B. Foster Company (Nasdaq: FSTR), a global technology solutions
provider of products and services for rail and infrastructure
markets (the "Company"), reported fourth quarter and 2024 results2.
CEO CommentsJohn Kasel,
President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We finished 2024
with strong cash generation and improving profitability in the
fourth quarter. Rail segment growth was robust, with sales up 14.2%
and gross margins of 22.2% up 300 basis points ("bps").
Infrastructure results were weaker versus last year, with sales
down 25.2% and gross margins of 22.6% down 90 bps driven primarily
by lower pipeline coating volumes within our Steel Products
division. As expected, lower employment costs, in part from our
2024 restructuring program, drove improved operating expenses and
profitability versus last year's quarter. Free cash flow was
stronger than we expected and the operating cash was used to
continue to reduce debt and improve leverage while also stepping up
the pace of our share repurchase program. Share repurchases during
2024 totaled 300,302 shares, or approximately 3% of outstanding
shares. The results achieved by our team in 2024 demonstrate that
the execution of our strategic playbook is translating into a
structural improvement in profitability, free cash flow and
economic profit generation."
Mr. Kasel concluded, "While near-term macro
conditions are expected to remain volatile, the benefits of our
strategy and disciplined execution over the last three years have
positioned us well. We remain optimistic about our prospects for
growth, as evidenced by our 2025 financial guidance. We're starting
2025 with backlog down 13% with the decline primarily in less
profitable product lines, and expect the beginning of 2025 to be
softer than last year's exceptionally strong start. However, our
guidance midpoints imply 34% growth in adjusted EBITDA on 5.5%
organic sales growth, highlighting improved portfolio profitability
driven by investments in our growth platforms of Rail Technologies
and Precast Concrete. The guidance assumes federal infrastructure
investment support remains largely intact, and we'll monitor
developments in these programs closely. Our balanced approach to
capital allocation is unchanged, and includes a new, 3-year $40
million share repurchase program which highlights the confidence we
have in our future. Our strategy is sound and delivering
shareholder value, and we look forward to continuing progress in
2025."
1 See "Non-GAAP Disclosures" at the end of this
press release for a description of and information regarding
adjusted EBITDA, gross leverage ratio per the Company's credit
agreement, new orders, backlog, book-to-bill ratio, organic results
adjusted for portfolio movement, net debt, free cash flow, and
related reconciliations to the comparable United States Generally
Accepted Accounting Principles financial measures. 2 As reported in
the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 8, 2024,
the Company corrected certain errors in previously reported 2024
quarterly financials, and certain immaterial errors in 2023
previously reported financials. All comparisons are based on the
corrected historical results.
Financial Guidance
2025 Full Year Financial Guidance |
Low |
|
High |
Net sales |
$ |
540,000 |
|
|
$ |
580,000 |
|
Adjusted EBITDA |
$ |
42,000 |
|
|
$ |
48,000 |
|
Capital spending as a percent of sales |
|
~2% |
|
|
|
~2% |
|
Free cash flow |
$ |
20,000 |
|
|
$ |
30,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share Repurchase Program
AuthorizationOn March 3, 2025, the Company’s Board of
Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $40.0 million of the
Company’s common stock in open market transactions and/or 10b5-1
trading plans through February 29, 2028. The new authorization
replaces the previous $15.0 million share repurchase authorization
which expired at the end of February 2025. Any repurchases will be
subject to the Company’s liquidity, including availability of
borrowings and covenant compliance under its revolving credit
facility, and other capital needs of the business.
Fourth Quarter Consolidated
HighlightsThe Company’s fourth quarter performance
highlights are reflected below:
|
Three Months EndedDecember 31, |
|
Change |
|
PercentChange |
|
|
2024 |
|
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2024 vs. 2023 |
|
2024 vs. 2023 |
|
(Unaudited) |
|
|
|
|
$ in thousands, unless otherwise noted: |
|
|
|
|
|
Net sales |
$ |
128,183 |
|
|
$ |
134,877 |
|
|
$ |
(6,694 |
) |
|
|
(5.0 |
)% |
Gross profit |
|
28,615 |
|
|
|
28,709 |
|
|
|
(94 |
) |
|
|
(0.3 |
) |
Gross profit margin |
|
22.3 |
% |
|
|
21.3 |
% |
|
100 bps |
|
|
4.7 |
|
Selling and administrative expenses |
$ |
24,421 |
|
|
$ |
27,263 |
|
|
$ |
(2,842 |
) |
|
|
(10.4 |
) |
Selling and administrative expenses as a percent of sales |
|
19.1 |
% |
|
|
20.2 |
% |
|
(110) bps |
|
|
(5.4 |
) |
Amortization expense |
|
1,142 |
|
|
|
1,195 |
|
|
|
(53 |
) |
|
|
(4.4 |
) |
Operating income |
$ |
3,052 |
|
|
$ |
251 |
|
|
$ |
2,801 |
|
|
|
** |
|
Net loss attributable to L.B. Foster Company |
|
(242 |
) |
|
|
(430 |
) |
|
|
188 |
|
|
|
43.7 |
|
Adjusted EBITDA1 |
|
7,238 |
|
|
|
6,099 |
|
|
|
1,139 |
|
|
|
18.7 |
|
New orders1 |
|
107,187 |
|
|
|
105,509 |
|
|
|
1,678 |
|
|
|
1.6 |
|
Backlog1 |
|
185,909 |
|
|
|
213,780 |
|
|
|
(27,871 |
) |
|
|
(13.0 |
) |
**Results of this calculation not considered
meaningful.
- Net sales for the 2024 fourth
quarter were $128.2 million, a $6.7 million decrease, or 5.0%, from
the prior year quarter. Net sales decreased due to lower volumes in
the Steel Products business unit, including a $1.6 million impact
from the discontinued bridge grid deck product line. The decline in
organic sales was entirely in the Infrastructure Solutions
segment.
- Gross profit for the 2024 fourth
quarter was $28.6 million, flat with the prior year quarter. Gross
profit margin for the 2024 fourth quarter was 22.3%, a 100 basis
point improvement over the prior year quarter. Margin improvement
was due to improved portfolio profitability in the Rail,
Technologies, and Services segment.
- Selling and administrative expenses
for the 2024 fourth quarter were $24.4 million, a
$2.8 million decrease, or 10.4%, from the prior year quarter.
The decrease was attributable to overall lower personnel expenses
as well as lower bad debt expenses, primarily related to a
$1.0 million charge incurred in 2023 related to a customer
filing for administrative protection in the United Kingdom. Selling
and administrative expenses as a percent of net sales decreased to
19.1% compared to 20.2% in the prior year quarter.
- Operating income for the 2024
fourth quarter was $3.1 million, favorable $2.8 million
over the prior year quarter, primarily due to the improvement in
selling and administrative expenses.
- Net loss attributable to the
Company for the 2024 fourth quarter was $0.2 million, or $0.02
per diluted share, favorable $0.2 million over the prior year
quarter.
- Adjusted EBITDA for the 2024 fourth
quarter was $7.2 million, a $1.1 million increase, or
18.7%, over the prior year quarter.
- Cash provided by operating
activities was $24.3 million for the fourth quarter, a $2.6 million
increase over the prior year quarter due to improved profitability
and working capital.
- Total debt as of December 31,
2024 was $46.9 million, a $21.6 million decline during the quarter
and an $8.3 million decrease from the prior year quarter. Net debt1
as of December 31, 2024 was $44.5 million, a $20.9 million
decline during the quarter and an $8.2 million decrease from the
prior year quarter. The Company's gross leverage ratio per its
credit agreement was 1.2x as of December 31, 2024, an
improvement from 1.7x versus December 31, 2023.
- New orders totaling
$107.2 million for the 2024 fourth quarter increased
$1.7 million, or 1.6%, over the prior year quarter. The
increase occurred within the Infrastructure Solutions segment, and
is primarily related to strong orders in the Protective Pipe
Coatings business within Steel Products. This increase was
partially offset by lower demand in the Rail, Technologies, and
Services segment's Rail Products business unit. The trailing twelve
month book-to-bill ratio1 was 0.95 : 1.00, up from 0.94 : 1.00 at
the end of the third quarter.
- Backlog was $185.9 million,
$27.9 million decrease, or 13.0%, from the prior year quarter.
The decline was due primarily to softer Rail Products demand
coupled with the impact of decreasing commercial activity in our UK
business as we continue to scale back initiatives in that market.
Also contributing to the lower backlog was a decline in Steel
Products, including $2.7 million due to the exit of the bridge grid
deck product line.
Fourth Quarter Business Results by
Segment
Rail, Technologies, and Services Segment
|
Three Months EndedDecember 31, |
|
Change |
|
PercentChange |
|
|
2024 |
|
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2024 vs. 2023 |
|
2024 vs. 2023 |
|
(Unaudited) |
|
|
|
|
$ in thousands, unless otherwise noted: |
|
|
|
|
|
Net sales |
$ |
79,154 |
|
|
$ |
69,294 |
|
|
$ |
9,860 |
|
|
|
14.2 |
% |
Gross profit |
$ |
17,552 |
|
|
$ |
13,329 |
|
|
$ |
4,223 |
|
|
|
31.7 |
|
Gross profit margin |
|
22.2 |
% |
|
|
19.2 |
% |
|
|
300 bps |
|
|
|
15.6 |
|
Segment operating income (loss) |
$ |
4,700 |
|
|
$ |
(925 |
) |
|
$ |
5,625 |
|
|
|
** |
|
Segment operating income (loss) margin |
|
5.9 |
% |
|
|
(1.3 |
)% |
|
|
720 bps |
|
|
|
** |
|
New orders1 |
$ |
54,982 |
|
|
$ |
60,058 |
|
|
$ |
(5,076 |
) |
|
|
(8.5 |
) |
Backlog1 |
$ |
62,449 |
|
|
$ |
84,418 |
|
|
$ |
(21,969 |
) |
|
|
(26.0 |
) |
**Results of this calculation not considered
meaningful.
- Net sales for the 2024 fourth
quarter were $79.2 million, a $9.9 million increase, or 14.2%, over
the prior year quarter, driven primarily by higher sales volumes in
the Rail Products business unit.
- Gross profit for the 2024 fourth
quarter was $17.6 million, a $4.2 million increase, and gross
profit margins increased 300 basis points to 22.2%. Gross profit
improvement was driven primarily by improved margins in Global
Friction Management and Technology Services and Solutions,
including recovery in our UK business. The Rail Products business
unit also realized improved margins driven by higher sales
volumes.
- Segment operating income for the
2024 fourth quarter was $4.7 million, favorable $5.6 million over
the prior year quarter, due to the increase in gross profit and a
$1.4 million decrease in segment selling and administrative
expenses. The decrease in selling and administrative expenses is
due in part to a $1.0 million decline in bad debt expense due to a
UK customer that filed for administrative protection in the prior
year.
- Orders decreased by $5.1 million,
driven primarily by Rail Products, partially offset by order growth
in the Global Friction Management and Technology Services and
Solutions business units. The trailing twelve month book-to-bill
ratio was 0.94 : 1.00. Backlog of $62.4 million decreased $22.0
million from the prior year quarter driven by declines in Rail
Products and Technology Services and Solutions, partially offset by
a 53.4% increase in Global Friction Management.
Infrastructure Solutions Segment
|
Three Months EndedDecember 31, |
|
Change |
|
PercentChange |
|
|
2024 |
|
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2024 vs. 2023 |
|
2024 vs. 2023 |
|
(Unaudited) |
|
|
|
|
$ in thousands, unless otherwise noted: |
|
|
|
|
|
Net sales |
$ |
49,029 |
|
|
$ |
65,583 |
|
|
$ |
(16,554 |
) |
|
|
(25.2 |
)% |
Gross profit |
$ |
11,063 |
|
|
$ |
15,380 |
|
|
$ |
(4,317 |
) |
|
|
(28.1 |
) |
Gross profit margin |
|
22.6 |
% |
|
|
23.5 |
% |
|
|
(90) bps |
|
|
|
(3.8 |
) |
Segment operating income |
$ |
2,030 |
|
|
$ |
5,390 |
|
|
$ |
(3,360 |
) |
|
|
(62.3 |
) |
Segment operating income margin |
|
4.1 |
% |
|
|
8.2 |
% |
|
|
(410) bps |
|
|
|
(49.9 |
) |
New orders1 |
$ |
52,205 |
|
|
$ |
45,451 |
|
|
$ |
6,754 |
|
|
|
14.9 |
|
Backlog1 |
$ |
123,460 |
|
|
$ |
129,362 |
|
|
$ |
(5,902 |
) |
|
|
(4.6 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Net sales for the 2024 fourth
quarter were $49.0 million, a $16.6 million decrease, or 25.2%,
from the prior year quarter. The decrease in sales is attributed
primarily to Steel Products which declined $15.2 million due to
soft market conditions in the end markets served, including a $1.6
million decrease from the exit of the bridge grid deck product
line.
- Gross profit for the 2024 fourth
quarter was $11.1 million, a $4.3 million decrease, or 28.1%, from
the prior year quarter, and gross profit margins decreased by 90
basis points to 22.6%. The decrease is due to lower overall sales
volumes and unfavorable mix primarily within Steel Products.
- Segment operating income for the
2024 fourth quarter was $2.0 million, unfavorable $3.4 million from
the prior year quarter, due to the decrease in gross profit,
partially offset by a $0.9 million improvement in selling and
administrative costs.
- New orders increased by $6.8
million, driven primarily by an increase in new orders in the
Protective Coatings business within Steel Products. The trailing
twelve month book-to-bill ratio was 0.97 : 1.00. Backlog of $123.5
million decreased $5.9 million from the prior year quarter, $2.7
million of which stems from the bridge grid deck product line exit.
The remaining decline in the backlog is attributed to the retained
bridge forms product line and the Protective Coatings business.
Precast Concrete backlog improved $3.6 million over the prior year
quarter due to strengthening in the business.
Full Year Consolidated
HighlightsThe Company’s full year 2024 performance
highlights are reflected below.
|
Year EndedDecember 31, |
|
Change |
|
PercentChange |
|
|
2024 |
|
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2024 vs. 2023 |
|
2024 vs. 2023 |
|
(Unaudited) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ in thousands, unless otherwise noted: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net sales |
$ |
530,765 |
|
|
$ |
543,744 |
|
|
$ |
(12,979 |
) |
|
|
(2.4 |
)% |
Gross profit |
|
118,062 |
|
|
|
112,044 |
|
|
|
6,018 |
|
|
|
5.4 |
|
Gross profit margin |
|
22.2 |
% |
|
|
20.6 |
% |
|
160 bps |
|
|
7.8 |
|
Selling and administrative expenses |
$ |
96,398 |
|
|
$ |
97,623 |
|
|
$ |
(1,225 |
) |
|
|
(1.3 |
) |
Selling and administrative expenses as a percent of sales |
|
18.2 |
% |
|
|
18.0 |
% |
|
20 bps |
|
|
1.1 |
|
(Gain) on sale of former joint venture facility |
|
(3,477 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(3,477 |
) |
|
|
** |
|
Amortization expense |
|
4,628 |
|
|
|
5,314 |
|
|
|
(686 |
) |
|
|
(12.9 |
) |
Operating income |
$ |
20,513 |
|
|
$ |
9,107 |
|
|
$ |
11,406 |
|
|
|
125.2 |
|
Net income attributable to L.B. Foster Company |
|
42,946 |
|
|
|
1,464 |
|
|
|
41,482 |
|
|
|
** |
|
Adjusted EBITDA1 |
|
33,576 |
|
|
|
31,775 |
|
|
|
1,801 |
|
|
|
5.7 |
|
New orders1 |
|
506,538 |
|
|
|
529,030 |
|
|
|
(22,492 |
) |
|
|
(4.3 |
) |
Backlog1 |
|
185,909 |
|
|
|
213,780 |
|
|
|
(27,871 |
) |
|
|
(13.0 |
) |
**Results of this calculation not considered
meaningful.
- Net sales for the year ended
December 31, 2024 were $530.8 million, a $13.0 million decrease, or
2.4%, from the prior year. Net sales declined $13.8 million
primarily due to divestitures and product line exits. Organic sales
increased by $0.8 million driven by the Rail, Technologies, and
Services segment, partially offset by organic sales declines in the
Infrastructure Solutions segment, primarily within the Steel
Products business.
- Gross profit for the year ended
December 31, 2024 was $118.1 million, an increase of $6.0 million,
or 5.4%, over the prior year and gross profit margins expanded by
160 basis points to 22.2%. The increase in gross profit in 2024 was
due to the absence of the adverse impact realized in the prior year
period of the bridge grid deck product line exit which reduced
prior year gross profit by $3.1 million, coupled with related exit
costs of $1.1 million. Additionally, the improvement in gross
profit was driven by the business portfolio changes in line with
the Company's strategic transformation along with favorable
business mix and the recovery in our UK Technology Services and
Solutions businesses.
- Selling and administrative expenses
for the year ended December 31, 2024 were $96.4 million, a
$1.2 million decrease, or 1.3%, from the prior year. The
decrease was primarily attributed to $2.9 million of lower
employments costs in 2024 and the absence of $1.9 million of
bad debt expense incurred in 2023 due to a customer filing for
administrative protection. Partially offsetting these decreases
were $1.2 million in legal costs associated with a resolved
legal matter, $0.8 million of professional services expenditures
associated with the announced enterprise restructuring, and
$1.2 million in employee-related restructuring expense
incurred in 2024.
- Operating income for the year ended
December 31, 2024 was $20.5 million, favorable
$11.4 million over the prior year, due to improved gross
profit, lower selling and administrative expenses, and a
$3.5 million gain on the sale of a former joint venture
facility in Magnolia, Texas.
- Net income attributable to the
Company for the year ended December 31, 2024 was
$42.9 million, or $3.89 per diluted share, favorable by
$41.5 million over the prior year period. The change in net
income attributable to the Company was due primarily to a
$31.9 million favorable tax valuation allowance adjustment in
2024, as well as improved operating income, including the bridge
exit impacts in 2023 and $3.5 million Magnolia facility sale
gain in 2024.
- Adjusted EBITDA for the year ended
December 31, 2024 was $33.6 million, a $1.8 million
increase, or 5.7%, over the prior year.
- Net cash flow from operations in
the year ended December 31, 2024 totaled $22.6 million.
- New orders totaling
$506.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 decreased
$22.5 million, or 4.3%, from the prior year, with
$10.6 million of the decrease due to divestitures and product
line exits. The remaining decline was realized across the Steel
Products business. Organic order rates1 in the Rail, Technologies,
and Services segment improved $14.9 million, with strong
growth realized in both Rail Products and Friction Management.
Precast Concrete order rates also improved $2.3 million as
compared to the prior year period.
Fourth Quarter Conference
CallL.B. Foster Company will conduct a conference call and
webcast to discuss its fourth quarter and full year 2024 operating
results on March 4, 2025 at 11:00 AM ET. The call will be
hosted by Mr. John Kasel, President and Chief Executive Officer.
Listen via audio and access the slide presentation on the L.B.
Foster website: www.lbfoster.com, under the Investor Relations
page. A conference call replay will be available through
March 11, 2025 via webcast through L.B. Foster’s Investor
Relations page of the company’s website.
Those interested in participating in the
question-and-answer session may register for the call at
https://register.vevent.com/register/BI7fa688d1459244e0bb31550782a2d32b to
receive the dial-in numbers and unique PIN to access the call. The
registration link will also be available on the Company’s Investor
Relations page of its website.
About L.B. Foster
CompanyFounded in 1902, L.B. Foster Company is a global
technology solutions provider of engineered, manufactured products
and services that builds and supports infrastructure. The Company’s
innovative engineering and product development solutions address
the safety, reliability, and performance needs of its customer's
most challenging requirements. The Company maintains locations in
North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. For more
information, please visit www.lbfoster.com.
Non-GAAP Financial MeasuresThis
press release contains financial measures that are not calculated
and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles in the United States ("GAAP"). These non-GAAP financial
measures are provided as additional information for investors. The
presentation of this additional information is not meant to be
considered in isolation or as a substitute for GAAP measures. For
definitions of the non-GAAP financial measures used in this press
release and reconciliations to the most directly comparable
respective GAAP measures, see the “Non-GAAP Disclosures” section
below.
The Company has not reconciled the
forward-looking adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow to the most
directly comparable GAAP measure because this cannot be done
without unreasonable effort due to the variability and low
visibility with respect to certain costs, the most significant of
which are acquisition and divestiture-related costs, impairment
expense, and changes in operating assets and liabilities. These
underlying expenses and others that may arise during the year are
potential adjustments to future earnings. The Company expects the
variability of these items to have a potentially unpredictable, and
a potentially significant, impact on our future GAAP financial
results.
The Company believes free cash flow is useful
information to investors as it provides insight on cash generated
by operations, less capital expenditures, which we believe to be
helpful in assessing the Company's long-term ability to pursue
growth and investment opportunities as well as service its
financing obligations and generate capital for shareholders.
Additionally, the Company's annual incentive plans for management
provide for the utilization of free cash flow as a metric for
measuring cash-generation performance in determining annual
variable incentive achievement.
The Company defines new orders as a contractual
agreement between the Company and a third-party in which the
Company will, or has the ability to, satisfy the performance
obligations of the promised products or services under the terms of
the agreement. The Company defines backlog as contractual
commitments to customers for which the Company’s performance
obligations have not been met, including with respect to new orders
and contracts for which the Company has not begun any performance.
Management utilizes new orders and backlog to evaluate the health
of the industries in which the Company operates, the Company’s
current and future results of operations and financial prospects,
and strategies for business development. The Company believes that
new orders and backlog are useful to investors as supplemental
metrics by which to measure the Company’s current performance and
prospective results of operations and financial performance. The
Company defines book-to-bill ratio as new orders divided by
revenue. The Company believes this is a useful metric to assess
supply and demand, including order strength versus order
fulfillment.
The Company views its Gross Leverage Ratio per
its credit agreement, as defined in the Second Amendment to its
Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated August 12, 2022,
as an important indication of the Company's financial health and
believes it is useful to investors as an indicator of the Company's
ability to service its existing indebtedness and borrow additional
funds for its investing and operational needs.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain forward-looking
statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended. Forward-looking statements include any
statement that does not directly relate to any historical or
current fact. Sentences containing words such as “believe,”
“intend,” “plan,” “may,” “expect,” “should,” “could,” “anticipate,”
“estimate,” “predict,” “project,” or their negatives, or other
similar expressions of a future or forward-looking nature generally
should be considered forward-looking statements. Forward-looking
statements in this release are based on management's current
expectations and assumptions about future events that involve
inherent risks and uncertainties and may concern, among other
things, L.B. Foster Company’s (the “Company’s”) expectations and
assumptions about future events that involve inherent risks and
uncertainties and may concern, among other things, the Company’s
expectations relating to our strategy, goals, projections, and
plans regarding our financial position, liquidity, capital
resources, and results of operations and decisions regarding our
strategic growth initiatives, market position, and product
development. While the Company considers these expectations and
assumptions to be reasonable, they are inherently subject to
significant business, economic, competitive, regulatory, and other
risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and
many of which are beyond the Company’s control. The Company
cautions readers that various factors could cause the actual
results of the Company to differ materially from those indicated by
forward-looking statements. Accordingly, investors should not place
undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of
actual results. Among the factors that could cause the actual
results to differ materially from those indicated in the
forward-looking statements are risks and uncertainties related to:
a continuation or worsening of the adverse economic conditions in
the markets we serve, including recession, the continued volatility
in the prices for oil and gas, tariffs or trade wars, inflation,
project delays, and budget shortfalls, or otherwise; volatility in
the global capital markets, including interest rate fluctuations,
which could adversely affect our ability to access the capital
markets on terms that are favorable to us; restrictions on our
ability to draw on our credit agreement, including as a result of
any future inability to comply with restrictive covenants contained
therein; a decrease in freight or transit rail traffic;
environmental matters and the impact of environmental regulations,
including any costs associated with any remediation and monitoring
of such matters; the risk of doing business in international
markets, including compliance with anti-corruption and bribery
laws, foreign currency fluctuations and inflation, global shipping
disruptions, the imposition of increased or new tariffs, and trade
restrictions or embargoes; our ability to effectuate our strategy,
including cost reduction initiatives, and our ability to
effectively integrate acquired businesses or to divest businesses,
such as the recent dispositions of the Chemtec and Ties businesses,
and acquisition of VanHooseCo Precast LLC and Cougar Mountain
Precast, LLC businesses and to realize anticipated benefits; costs
of and impacts associated with shareholder activism; the timeliness
and availability of materials from our major suppliers, as well as
the impact on our access to supplies of customer preferences as to
the origin of such supplies, such as customers’ concerns about
conflict minerals; labor disputes; cybersecurity risks such as data
security breaches, malware, ransomware, “hacking,” and identity
theft, which could disrupt our business and may result in misuse or
misappropriation of confidential or proprietary information, and
could result in the disruption or damage to our systems, increased
costs and losses, or an adverse effect to our reputation, business
or financial condition; the continuing effectiveness of our ongoing
implementation of an enterprise resource planning system; changes
in current accounting estimates and their ultimate outcomes; the
adequacy of internal and external sources of funds to meet
financing needs, including our ability to negotiate any additional
necessary amendments to our credit agreement or the terms of any
new credit agreement, the Company’s ability to manage its working
capital requirements and indebtedness; domestic and international
taxes, including estimates that may impact taxes; domestic and
foreign government regulations, including tariffs; our ability to
maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting
(“ICFR”) and disclosure controls and procedures, including our
ability to remediate any existing material weakness in our ICFR and
the timing of any such remediation, as well as our ability to
reestablish effective disclosure controls and procedures; any
change in policy or other change due to the results of the UK’s
2024 parliamentary election and the U.S. 2024 Presidential election
that could affect UK or U.S. business conditions; other
geopolitical conditions, including the ongoing conflicts between
Russia and Ukraine, conflicts in the Middle East, and increasing
tensions between China and Taiwan; a lack of state or federal
funding for new infrastructure projects; an increase in
manufacturing or material costs; the loss of future revenues from
current customers; any future global health crises, and the related
social, regulatory, and economic impacts and the response thereto
by the Company, our employees, our customers, and national, state,
or local governments, including any governmental travel
restrictions; and risks inherent in litigation and the outcome of
litigation and product warranty claims. Should one or more of these
risks or uncertainties materialize, or should the assumptions
underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual
outcomes could vary materially from those indicated. Significant
risks and uncertainties that may affect the operations,
performance, and results of the Company’s business and
forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those
set forth under Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” and elsewhere in our
Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2023,
as amended on November 1, 2024, or as updated and/or amended by our
other current or periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
The forward-looking statements in this release
are made as of the date of this release and we assume no obligation
to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a
result of new information, future developments, or otherwise,
except as required by the federal securities laws.
Investor Relations:Lisa
Durante(412) 928-3400investors@lbfoster.comL.B. Foster Company415
Holiday DriveSuite 100Pittsburgh, PA 15220
L.B. FOSTER COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIESCONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS(In thousands, except per share data) |
|
|
Three Months EndedDecember 31, |
|
Year EndedDecember 31, |
|
|
2024 |
|
|
|
2023 |
|
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023* |
|
(Unaudited) |
|
(Unaudited) |
|
|
Sales of goods |
$ |
116,457 |
|
|
$ |
113,580 |
|
|
$ |
462,659 |
|
|
$ |
475,350 |
|
Sales of services |
|
11,726 |
|
|
|
21,297 |
|
|
|
68,106 |
|
|
|
68,394 |
|
Total net sales |
|
128,183 |
|
|
|
134,877 |
|
|
|
530,765 |
|
|
|
543,744 |
|
Cost of goods sold |
|
86,722 |
|
|
|
85,570 |
|
|
|
351,265 |
|
|
|
368,197 |
|
Cost of services sold |
|
12,846 |
|
|
|
20,598 |
|
|
|
61,438 |
|
|
|
63,503 |
|
Total cost of sales |
|
99,568 |
|
|
|
106,168 |
|
|
|
412,703 |
|
|
|
431,700 |
|
Gross profit |
|
28,615 |
|
|
|
28,709 |
|
|
|
118,062 |
|
|
|
112,044 |
|
Selling and administrative expenses |
|
24,421 |
|
|
|
27,263 |
|
|
|
96,398 |
|
|
|
97,623 |
|
(Gain) on sale of former joint venture facility |
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(3,477 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
Amortization expense |
|
1,142 |
|
|
|
1,195 |
|
|
|
4,628 |
|
|
|
5,314 |
|
Operating income |
|
3,052 |
|
|
|
251 |
|
|
|
20,513 |
|
|
|
9,107 |
|
Interest expense - net |
|
1,016 |
|
|
|
1,124 |
|
|
|
4,992 |
|
|
|
5,528 |
|
Other expense (income) - net |
|
1,601 |
|
|
|
(147 |
) |
|
|
1,076 |
|
|
|
2,635 |
|
Income (loss) before income taxes |
|
435 |
|
|
|
(726 |
) |
|
|
14,445 |
|
|
|
944 |
|
Income tax expense (benefit) |
|
712 |
|
|
|
(256 |
) |
|
|
(28,398 |
) |
|
|
(355 |
) |
Net (loss) income |
|
(277 |
) |
|
|
(470 |
) |
|
|
42,843 |
|
|
|
1,299 |
|
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest |
|
(35 |
) |
|
|
(40 |
) |
|
|
(103 |
) |
|
|
(165 |
) |
Net (loss) income attributable to L.B. Foster Company |
$ |
(242 |
) |
|
$ |
(430 |
) |
|
$ |
42,946 |
|
|
$ |
1,464 |
|
Basic (loss) earnings per common share |
$ |
(0.02 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.04 |
) |
|
$ |
4.01 |
|
|
$ |
0.14 |
|
Diluted (loss) earnings per common share |
$ |
(0.02 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.04 |
) |
|
$ |
3.89 |
|
|
$ |
0.13 |
|
Average number of common shares outstanding - Basic |
|
10,613 |
|
|
|
10,784 |
|
|
|
10,721 |
|
|
|
10,799 |
|
Average number of common shares outstanding - Diluted |
|
10,613 |
|
|
|
10,784 |
|
|
|
11,048 |
|
|
|
10,995 |
|
*As reported in the Company's Current Report on
Form 8-K filed on October 8, 2024, the Company corrected certain
errors in previously reported 2024 quarterly financials, and
certain immaterial errors in 2023 previously reported financials.
All comparisons are based on the corrected historical results.
L.B. FOSTER COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIESCONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE
SHEETS(In thousands) |
|
|
December 31, 2024 |
|
December 31, 2023 |
|
(Unaudited) |
|
|
ASSETS |
|
|
|
Current assets: |
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ |
2,454 |
|
|
$ |
2,560 |
|
Accounts receivable - net |
|
64,978 |
|
|
|
53,484 |
|
Contract assets |
|
16,720 |
|
|
|
29,489 |
|
Inventories - net |
|
70,506 |
|
|
|
73,111 |
|
Other current assets |
|
6,947 |
|
|
|
8,711 |
|
Total current assets |
|
161,605 |
|
|
|
167,355 |
|
Property, plant, and equipment - net |
|
75,374 |
|
|
|
75,579 |
|
Operating lease right-of-use assets - net |
|
18,247 |
|
|
|
14,905 |
|
Other assets: |
|
|
|
Goodwill |
|
31,907 |
|
|
|
32,587 |
|
Other intangibles - net |
|
14,801 |
|
|
|
19,010 |
|
Deferred income taxes |
|
28,900 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Other assets |
|
3,483 |
|
|
|
2,965 |
|
TOTAL ASSETS |
$ |
334,317 |
|
|
$ |
312,401 |
|
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY |
|
|
|
Current liabilities: |
|
|
|
Accounts payable |
$ |
50,083 |
|
|
$ |
39,500 |
|
Deferred revenue |
|
10,205 |
|
|
|
12,479 |
|
Accrued payroll and employee benefits |
|
15,393 |
|
|
|
16,978 |
|
Current portion of accrued settlement |
|
— |
|
|
|
8,000 |
|
Current maturities of long-term debt |
|
167 |
|
|
|
102 |
|
Other accrued liabilities |
|
12,316 |
|
|
|
17,442 |
|
Total current liabilities |
|
88,164 |
|
|
|
94,501 |
|
Long-term debt |
|
46,773 |
|
|
|
55,171 |
|
Deferred income taxes |
|
1,150 |
|
|
|
1,232 |
|
Long-term operating lease liabilities |
|
14,608 |
|
|
|
11,865 |
|
Other long-term liabilities |
|
4,608 |
|
|
|
6,797 |
|
Stockholders' equity: |
|
|
|
Class A Common Stock |
|
111 |
|
|
|
111 |
|
Paid-in capital |
|
43,550 |
|
|
|
43,111 |
|
Retained earnings |
|
167,579 |
|
|
|
124,633 |
|
Treasury stock |
|
(11,208 |
) |
|
|
(6,494 |
) |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
|
(21,716 |
) |
|
|
(19,250 |
) |
Total L.B. Foster Company stockholders’
equity |
|
178,316 |
|
|
|
142,111 |
|
Noncontrolling interest |
|
698 |
|
|
|
724 |
|
Total stockholders’ equity |
|
179,014 |
|
|
|
142,835 |
|
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY |
$ |
334,317 |
|
|
$ |
312,401 |
|
|
Non-GAAP
Disclosures(unaudited)
This earnings release discloses earnings before
interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (“EBITDA”),
adjusted EBITDA, net debt, and organic results adjusted for the
impact of 2024 and 2023 divestiture and product line exit activity.
The Company believes that EBITDA is useful to investors as a
supplemental way to evaluate the ongoing operations of the
Company’s business since EBITDA may enhance investors’ ability to
compare historical periods as it adjusts for the impact of
financing methods, tax law and strategy changes, and depreciation
and amortization. In addition, EBITDA is a financial measure that
management and the Company’s Board of Directors use in their
financial and operational decision-making and in the determination
of certain compensation programs. Adjusted EBITDA adjusts for
certain charges to EBITDA from continuing operations that the
Company believes are unusual, non-recurring, unpredictable, or
non-cash.
In the three and twelve months ended
December 31, 2024, the Company made adjustments to exclude
gains on asset sales, pension termination costs, restructuring
costs, and a legal settlement. In the three and twelve months ended
December 31, 2023, the Company made adjustments to exclude the
loss on a divestiture, expenses from the exit of the bridge grid
deck product line, bad debt provision for customer bankruptcy,
restructuring costs, and contingent consideration adjustments
associated with the VanHooseCo acquisition. The Company believes
the results adjusted to exclude the items listed above are useful
to investors as these items are nonroutine in nature.
The Company views net debt, which is total debt
less cash and cash equivalents, as an important metric of the
operational and financial health of the organization and believes
it is useful to investors as an indicator of its ability to incur
additional debt and to service its existing debt.
Organic sales growth (decline) is a non-GAAP
financial measure of net sales growth (decline) (which is the most
directly comparable GAAP measure) excluding the effects of
divestitures and product line exit activities. Management believes
this measure provides investors with a supplemental understanding
of underlying trends by providing sales growth on a consistent
basis. Management provides organic sales growth (decline) at the
consolidated and segment levels. Portfolio changes are considered
based on their comparative impact over the last twelve months, to
determine the differences in 2023 versus 2024 results due to these
transactions.
Non-GAAP financial measures are not a
substitute for GAAP financial results and should only be considered
in conjunction with the Company’s financial information that is
presented in accordance with GAAP. Quantitative reconciliations of
EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, net debt, free cash flow, and organic
sales (in thousands, except percentages and ratios) are as
follows:
|
Three Months EndedDecember 31, |
|
Year EndedDecember 31, |
|
|
2024 |
|
|
|
2023 |
|
|
|
2024 |
|
|
|
2023 |
|
Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net (loss) income, as reported |
$ |
(277 |
) |
|
$ |
(470 |
) |
|
$ |
42,843 |
|
|
$ |
1,299 |
|
Interest expense - net |
|
1,016 |
|
|
|
1,124 |
|
|
|
4,992 |
|
|
|
5,528 |
|
Income tax expense (benefit) |
|
712 |
|
|
|
(256 |
) |
|
|
(28,398 |
) |
|
|
(355 |
) |
Depreciation expense |
|
2,376 |
|
|
|
2,500 |
|
|
|
9,452 |
|
|
|
9,949 |
|
Amortization expense |
|
1,142 |
|
|
|
1,195 |
|
|
|
4,628 |
|
|
|
5,314 |
|
Total EBITDA |
$ |
4,969 |
|
|
$ |
4,093 |
|
|
$ |
33,517 |
|
|
$ |
21,735 |
|
Gain on asset sale |
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(4,292 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
Restructuring costs |
|
547 |
|
|
|
676 |
|
|
|
1,456 |
|
|
|
676 |
|
Pension termination costs |
|
1,722 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
1,722 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Legal expense |
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
1,173 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Loss on divestiture |
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
3,074 |
|
VanHooseCo contingent consideration |
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(26 |
) |
Bridge grid deck exit impact |
|
— |
|
|
|
334 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
4,454 |
|
Bad debt provision |
|
— |
|
|
|
996 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
1,862 |
|
Adjusted EBITDA |
$ |
7,238 |
|
|
$ |
6,099 |
|
|
$ |
33,576 |
|
|
$ |
31,775 |
|
|
December 31,2024 |
|
September 30,2024 |
|
December 31,2023 |
Net Debt Reconciliation |
|
|
|
|
|
Total debt |
$ |
46,940 |
|
|
$ |
68,544 |
|
|
$ |
55,273 |
|
Less: cash and cash equivalents |
|
(2,454 |
) |
|
|
(3,135 |
) |
|
|
(2,560 |
) |
Net debt |
$ |
44,486 |
|
|
$ |
65,409 |
|
|
$ |
52,713 |
|
|
December 31,2024 |
Free Cash Flow Reconciliation |
|
Net cash provided by operating activities |
$ |
22,632 |
|
Less capital expenditures on property, plant, and equipment |
|
(9,791 |
) |
Free cash flow |
$ |
12,841 |
|
Change in Consolidated Sales |
Three Months EndedDecember 31, |
|
PercentChange |
|
Year EndedDecember 31, |
|
PercentChange |
2023 net sales, as reported |
$ |
134,877 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
543,744 |
|
|
|
Decrease from divestitures and exit |
|
(1,585 |
) |
|
|
(1.2 |
)% |
|
|
(13,819 |
) |
|
|
(2.5 |
)% |
Change due to organic sales (decline) growth |
|
(5,109 |
) |
|
|
(3.8 |
)% |
|
|
840 |
|
|
|
0.2 |
% |
2024 net sales, as reported |
$ |
128,183 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
530,765 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total sales change, 2023 vs 2024 |
$ |
(6,694 |
) |
|
|
(5.0 |
)% |
|
$ |
(12,979 |
) |
|
|
(2.4 |
)% |
Change in Infrastructure Solutions Sales |
Three Months EndedDecember 31, |
|
|
PercentChange |
2023 net sales, as reported |
$ |
65,583 |
|
|
|
|
|
Decrease due to product line exit |
|
(1,585 |
) |
|
|
(2.4 |
)% |
Change due to organic sales decline |
|
(14,969 |
) |
|
|
(22.8 |
)% |
2024 net sales, as reported |
$ |
49,029 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total sales change, 2023 vs 2024 |
$ |
(16,554 |
) |
|
|
(25.2 |
)% |
Change in Rail, Technologies, and Services New
Orders |
Year EndedDecember 31, |
|
PercentChange |
2023 new orders, as reported |
$ |
299,584 |
|
|
|
Decrease due to divestitures |
|
(6,105 |
) |
|
|
(2.0 |
)% |
Change due to organic new orders |
|
14,915 |
|
|
|
5.0 |
% |
2024 new orders, as reported |
$ |
308,394 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total new orders change, 2023 vs 2024 |
$ |
8,810 |
|
|
|
2.9 |
% |
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