Construction Partners, Inc. Announces Fiscal 2024 First Quarter Results

Q1 Revenue up 16% Compared to Q1 FY23

Q1 Net Income of $9.8M & EPS of $0.19 Compared to $1.9M & $0.04 in Q1 FY23

Q1 Adjusted EBITDA Up 50% Compared to Q1 FY23

Company Reports Record Backlog of $1.62 Billion

DOTHAN, Ala., Feb. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Construction Partners, Inc. (NASDAQ: ROAD) ("CPI" or the "Company"), a vertically integrated civil infrastructure company specializing in the construction and maintenance of roadways across six southeastern states, today reported financial and operating results for its fiscal first quarter ended December 31, 2023.

Fred J. (Jule) Smith, III, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "We had a strong start to our fiscal year with substantial first quarter top-line and bottom-line growth, sustained by the robust demand environment for our infrastructure services. We are pleased to report significant first quarter period-over-period revenue and profit growth, strong cash flow from operations, and a new record backlog of $1.62 billion. Throughout our geographic footprint in the Southeast, we continue to experience a steady bidding environment supported by strong state funding programs, activity funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), and a sustained commercial market. Our team's hard work, operational proficiency, dedication to detail and focus on safety continue to support CPI's strategic priorities outlined in our ROAD-Map 2027."

Revenues were $396.5 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2024, an increase of 16% compared to $341.8 million in the same quarter last year. The increase included $29.6 million of revenues attributable to acquisitions completed during or subsequent to the three months ended December 31, 2022 and an increase of approximately $25.1 million of revenues in the Company's existing markets from contract work and sales of HMA and aggregates to third parties. The mix of total revenue growth for the quarter was approximately 7.3% organic revenue and approximately 8.7% from these recent acquisitions.

Gross profit was $51.9 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2024, compared to $30.5 million in the same quarter last year.

General and administrative expenses were $36.0 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2024, compared to $29.7 million in the same quarter last year, and as a percentage of total revenue, were 9.1% and 8.7% respectively.

Net income was $9.8 million and diluted earnings per share were $0.19 in the first quarter of fiscal 2024, compared to net income of $1.9 million and diluted earnings per share of $0.04 in the same quarter last year.

Adjusted EBITDA(1) in the first quarter of fiscal 2024 was $40.9 million, an increase of 50% compared to $27.2 million in the same quarter last year.

Project backlog was a record $1.62 billion at December 31, 2023, compared to $1.47 billion at December 31, 2022 and $1.60 billion at September 30, 2023.

Fiscal Year 2024 Outlook

The Company is maintaining its outlook for fiscal year 2024 with regard to revenue, net income, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin, as follows:

  • Revenue in the range of $1.750 billion to $1.825 billion
  • Net income in the range of $63 million to $70 million
  • Adjusted EBITDA(1) in the range of $197 million to $219 million
  • Adjusted EBITDA Margin(1) in the range of 11.3% to 12.0%

Ned N. Fleming, III, the Company's Executive Chairman, stated, "Today's infrastructure demand for public projects to repair, maintain and expand roads, build new construction and expansion projects, and support commercial growth due to the significant U.S. migration to the Sunbelt is fueling top-line growth and margin expansion for CPI.  Our business model continues to demonstrate resilience and scalability as we expand our relative market share and capitalize on healthy funding programs at both the state and federal level, as well as a vibrant commercial market throughout the Southeast. The Board and I are pleased with the strength of the organization, its leadership and the commitment of our team to continue to grow the Company and enhance value for all of our stakeholders."

Conference Call

The Company will conduct a conference call today at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time (9:00 a.m. Central Time) to discuss financial and operating results for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2023. To access the call live by phone, dial (412) 902-0003 and ask for the Construction Partners call at least 10 minutes prior to the start time.  A telephonic replay will be available through February 16, 2024 by calling (201) 612-7415 and using passcode ID: 13743799#. A webcast of the call will also be available live and for later replay on the Company's Investor Relations website at www.constructionpartners.net.

About Construction Partners, Inc.

Construction Partners, Inc. is a vertically integrated civil infrastructure company operating across six southeastern states. Supported by its hot-mix asphalt plants, aggregate facilities and liquid asphalt terminals, the company focuses on the construction, repair and maintenance of surface infrastructure. Publicly funded projects make up the majority of its business and include local and state roadways, interstate highways, airport runways and bridges. The company also performs private sector projects that include paving and sitework for office and industrial parks, shopping centers, local businesses and residential developments. To learn more, visit www.constructionpartners.net.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained herein that are not statements of historical or current fact constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements may be identified by the use of words such as "may," "will," "expect," "should," "anticipate," "intend," "project," "outlook," "believe" and "plan." The forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, without limitation, statements related to financial projections, future events, business strategy, future performance, future operations, backlog, financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management. These and other forward-looking statements are based on management's current views and assumptions and involve risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect expected results. Important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements, including, among others: our ability to successfully manage and integrate acquisitions; failure to realize the expected economic benefits of acquisitions, including future levels of revenues being lower than expected and costs being higher than expected; failure or inability to implement growth strategies in a timely manner; declines in public infrastructure construction and reductions in government funding, including the funding by transportation authorities and other state and local agencies; risks related to our operating strategy; competition for projects in our local markets; risks associated with our capital-intensive business; government requirements and initiatives, including those related to funding for public or infrastructure construction, land usage and environmental, health and safety matters; unfavorable economic conditions and restrictive financing markets; our ability to obtain sufficient bonding capacity to undertake certain projects; our ability to accurately estimate the overall risks, requirements or costs when we bid on or negotiate contracts that are ultimately awarded to us; the cancellation of a significant number of contracts or our disqualification from bidding for new contracts; risks related to adverse weather conditions; our substantial indebtedness and the restrictions imposed on us by the terms thereof; our ability to maintain favorable relationships with third parties that supply us with equipment and essential supplies; our ability to retain key personnel and maintain satisfactory labor relations; property damage, results of litigation and other claims and insurance coverage issues; risks related to our information technology systems and infrastructure; our ability to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting; and the risks, uncertainties and factors set forth under "Risk Factors" in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and its subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.  Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made.  The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, subsequent events, or circumstances or other changes affecting such statements except to the extent required by applicable law.

Contacts:

Rick Black / Ken Dennard
Dennard Lascar Investor Relations
ROAD@DennardLascar.com
(713) 529-6600

 (1) Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin are financial measures not presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). Please see "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" at the end of this press release.

 

- Financial Statements Follow – 

 

Construction Partners, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

(unaudited, in thousands, except share and per share data)




For the Three Months
Ended December 31,



2023


2022

Revenues


$       396,505


$       341,779

Cost of revenues


344,625


311,283

Gross profit


51,880


30,496

General and administrative expenses


(35,981)


(29,725)

Gain on sale of property, plant and equipment, net


836


168

Gain on facility exchange



5,389

Operating income


16,735


6,328

Interest expense, net


(3,746)


(3,960)

Other (expense) income


(28)


34

Income before provision for income taxes


12,961


2,402

Provision for income taxes


3,118


510

Net income


9,843


1,892

Other comprehensive loss, net of tax





Unrealized loss on interest rate swap contract, net


(7,105)


(1,292)

Unrealized gain on restricted investments, net


400


36

Other comprehensive loss


(6,705)


(1,256)

Comprehensive income


$           3,138


$              636






Net income per share attributable to common stockholders:





  Basic


$              0.19


$             0.04

  Diluted


$              0.19


$             0.04






Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:





  Basic


51,892,426


51,824,948

  Diluted


52,430,864


52,120,584






 

Construction Partners, Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands, except share and per share data)



December 31,


September 30,


2023


2023


(unaudited)



ASSETS




Current assets:




Cash and cash equivalents

$            68,738


$            48,243

Restricted cash

973


837

Contracts receivable including retainage, net

255,529


303,704

Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts

30,439


27,296

Inventories

96,662


84,038

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

9,029


9,306

Total current assets

461,370


473,424

Property, plant and equipment, net

561,661


505,095

Operating lease right-of-use assets

18,415


14,485

Goodwill

176,530


159,270

Intangible assets, net

19,791


19,520

Investment in joint venture

87


87

Restricted investments

14,585


15,079

Other assets

23,711


32,705

Total assets

$       1,276,150


$       1,219,665

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY




Current liabilities:




Accounts payable

$          131,749


$          151,406

Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts

88,649


78,905

   Current portion of operating lease liabilities

3,479


2,338

Current maturities of long-term debt

15,000


15,000

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

24,055


31,534

Total current liabilities

262,932


279,183

Long-term liabilities:




Long-term debt, net of current maturities and deferred debt issuance costs

427,064


360,740

   Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion

15,493


12,649

Deferred income taxes, net

34,509


37,121

Other long-term liabilities

14,993


13,398

Total long-term liabilities

492,059


423,908

Total liabilities

754,991


703,091

Commitments and contingencies




Stockholders' equity:




Preferred stock, par value $0.001; 10,000,000 shares authorized and no shares issued and

outstanding at December 31, 2023 and September 30, 2023


Class A common stock, par value $0.001; 400,000,000 shares authorized, 43,896,017 shares issued

and 43,828,855 shares outstanding at December 31, 2023, and 43,760,546 shares issued and

43,727,680 shares outstanding at September 30, 2023

44


44

Class B common stock, par value $0.001; 100,000,000 shares authorized, 11,921,463 shares issued

and 8,998,511 shares outstanding at December 31, 2023 and September 30, 2023

12


12

Additional paid-in capital

270,113


267,330

Treasury stock, Class A common stock, par value $0.001, at cost, 67,162 shares of Class A common

stock at December 31, 2023 and 32,866 shares of Class A common stock at September 30, 2023

(1,514)


(178)

Treasury stock, Class B common stock, par value $0.001, at cost, 2,922,952 shares at December 31,

2023 and September 30, 2023

(15,603)


(15,603)

Accumulated other comprehensive income, net

11,989


18,694

Retained earnings

256,118


246,275

Total stockholders' equity

521,159


516,574

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

$       1,276,150


$       1,219,665





 

Construction Partners, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(unaudited, in thousands)



For the Three Months Ended
December 31,


2023


2022

Cash flows from operating activities:




Net income

$              9,843


$              1,892

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash provided by operating activities:




  Depreciation, depletion, accretion and amortization

21,121


18,375

  Amortization of deferred debt issuance costs

74


77

  Unrealized loss on derivative instruments

226


1,007

  Provision for bad debt

281


40

  Gain on sale of property, plant and equipment

(836)


(168)

  Gain on facility exchange


(5,389)

  Realized loss on sales, calls and maturities of restricted investments

23


1

  Share-based compensation expense

2,889


2,480

  Deferred income tax benefit

(404)


(302)

  Other non-cash adjustments

(86)


(55)

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of business acquisitions:




  Contracts receivable including retainage, net

63,507


47,072

  Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts

(2,203)


(2,498)

  Inventories

(9,880)


(3,467)

  Prepaid expenses and other current assets

1,079


(315)

  Other assets

(320)


(343)

  Accounts payable

(26,330)


(23,580)

  Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts

8,554


2,314

  Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

(8,322)


(9,661)

  Other long-term liabilities

1,162


1,404

Net cash provided by operating activities, net of business acquisitions

60,378


28,884

Cash flows from investing activities:




Purchases of property, plant and equipment

(26,783)


(31,663)

Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment

2,460


1,607

Proceeds from facility exchange


36,422

Proceeds from sales, calls and maturities of restricted investments

1,013


170

Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired

(81,351)


(77,206)

Net cash used in investing activities

(104,661)


(70,670)

Cash flows from financing activities:




Proceeds from revolving credit facility

90,000


53,000

Repayments of long-term debt

(23,750)


(3,125)

Purchase of treasury stock

(1,336)


(139)

Net cash provided by financing activities

64,914


49,736

Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

20,631


7,950

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash:




Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period

49,080


35,559

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period

$           69,711


$           43,509





Supplemental cash flow information:




Cash paid for interest

$              4,692


$              4,064

Cash paid for operating lease liabilities

$                 884


$                 734

Non-cash items:




  Operating lease right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities

$              4,698


$              4,361

  Property, plant and equipment financed with accounts payable

$              7,088


$              4,953





 

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Adjusted EBITDA represents net income before, as applicable from time to time, (i) interest expense, net, (ii) provision (benefit) for income taxes, (iii) depreciation, depletion, accretion and amortization, (iv) equity-based compensation expense, and (v) loss on the extinguishment of debt.  Adjusted EBITDA Margin represents Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenues for each period. These metrics are supplemental measures of the Company's operating performance that are neither required by, nor presented in accordance with, GAAP. These measures have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to net income or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP as an indicator of the Company's operating performance. The Company presents Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin because management uses these measures as key performance indicators, and the Company believes that securities analysts, investors and others use these measures to evaluate companies in the Company's industry. The Company's calculation of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin may not be comparable to similarly named measures reported by other companies. Potential differences may include differences in capital structures, tax positions and the age and book depreciation of intangible and tangible assets.

The following table presents a reconciliation of net income, the most directly comparable measure calculated in accordance with GAAP, to Adjusted EBITDA and the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA Margin for the periods presented:

Construction Partners, Inc.

Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation

Fiscal Quarters Ended December 31, 2023 and 2022

(unaudited, in thousands)



For the Three Months Ended
December 31,


2023


2022 (1)

Net income

$               9,843


$               1,892

Interest expense, net

3,746


3,960

Provision for income taxes

3,118


510

Depreciation, depletion, accretion and amortization

21,121


18,375

Share-based compensation expense

3,046


2,480

Adjusted EBITDA

$            40,874


$             27,217







(1)

The Company has historically included within the definition of Adjusted EBITDA an adjustment for management fees and expenses related to the Company's management services agreement with an affiliate of SunTx Capital Partners, a member of the Company's control group. Effective October 1, 2023, the term of the management services agreement was extended to October 1, 2028. As a result of the term extension, the Company no longer views the management fees and expenses paid under the management services agreement as a non-recurring expense. Accordingly, periods commencing subsequent to September 30, 2023 do not include an adjustment for management fees and expenses, and the Company has recast comparative Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin for the three months ended December 31, 2022 to conform to the current definition.

 

Construction Partners, Inc.

Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation

Fiscal Year 2024 Outlook

(unaudited, in thousands, except percentages)



For the Fiscal Year Ending
September 30, 2024


Low


High

Net income

$        63,000


$        70,000

Interest expense, net

18,000


20,500

Provision for income taxes

21,200


23,600

Depreciation, depletion, accretion and amortization

83,600


93,100

Share-based compensation expense

11,200


11,800

Adjusted EBITDA

$      197,000


$      219,000

Revenues

$  1,750,000


$  1,825,000

Adjusted EBITDA Margin

11.3 %


12.0 %





 

Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/construction-partners-inc-announces-fiscal-2024-first-quarter-results-302058169.html

SOURCE Construction Partners, Inc.