AZZ AZZ Inc

Record Quarterly Sales and Margin Expansion on Organic Growth Generated Significant Cash Flow

FORT WORTH, Texas, July 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- AZZ Inc. (NYSE: AZZ), the leading independent provider of hot-dip galvanizing and coil coating solutions, today announced financial results for the first quarter ended May 31, 2024. 

Fiscal Year 2025 First Quarter Overview (as compared to prior year⁽¹⁾):

• Total Sales $413.2 million, up 5.7%
  • Metal Coatings sales of $176.7 million, up 4.7%
  • Precoat Metals sales of $236.5 million, up 6.5%
• Net Income of $39.6 million, up 38.8%; Net loss to common shareholders of $36.8 million reflects the redemption premium payment on the Series A Preferred Stock of $75.2 million
• Adjusted net income of $44.0 million, up 31.9%; Adjusted net income for common shareholders of $42.8 million
• GAAP loss of $1.38 per diluted share reflects the redemption premium payment, Adjusted diluted EPS of $1.46, up 28.1%
• EBITDA of $94.1 million or 22.8% of sales, versus prior year of $85.4 million or 21.8% of sales
• Segment EBITDA margin of 30.9% for Metal Coatings and 20.2% for Precoat Metals
• Cash flow from operations of $71.9 million supported debt reduction of $25.0 million, resulting in net leverage ratio of 2.8x
• Strengthened balance sheet with secondary public offering of common stock to fully redeem the Series A Preferred Stock

Tom Ferguson, President, and Chief Executive Officer of AZZ, commented, "We are very pleased with our first quarter sales of $413 million and adjusted EPS of $1.46, fueled by strong topline growth of 5.7% over the prior year.  Both segments performed well, delivering organic sales expansion of 4.7% for Metal Coatings and 6.5% for Precoat Metals.  Consolidated EBITDA margin grew to 22.8%, driven by increased volume and zinc productivity over the prior year.  Metal Coatings benefited from continued strength in many end markets, including construction, bridge and highway, transmission and distribution, and renewables, and delivered an EBITDA margin of 30.9%.  Precoat Metals' EBITDA margin improved to 20.2%, primarily due to stronger end markets, including construction, HVAC, and recreational transportation.

This quarter, we continued to generate strong operating cash flows that permitted us to further strengthen our balance sheet.  We completed a secondary public offering of common stock, and fully redeemed the Company's Series A Preferred Stock.  Additionally, we repriced our Term Loan B, resulting in a 50-basis point reduction in our borrowing rate with no other changes to our terms, covenants, or maturity date.  We further reduced debt by $25 million in the quarter, on pace to reach our stated target of $60 - $90 million for the fiscal year.  Capital expenditures for the first quarter of approximately $27.4 million included $16.2 million of spending related to our new greenfield plant in Washington, Missouri, which continues to track to the previously disclosed construction timeline and budget.

As we communicated last quarter, we are well positioned to take advantage of an increase in infrastructure projects and are pleased to see the rebound in many end markets.  We remain encouraged about our sales prospects driven by the secular tailwinds that exist for non-building construction relating to infrastructure and renewables projects, reshoring of manufacturing, and continued migration to more environmentally friendly pre-painted steel and aluminum.  I want to thank our AZZ team for their dedicated performance and focus on executing well in the first quarter of fiscal year 2025," Ferguson concluded.

Fiscal Year 2025 First Quarter Segment Performance

AZZ Metal Coatings
Sales of $176.7 million increased by 4.7% over the first quarter of last year, primarily due to increased volume supported by the continued ramp up in infrastructure spending, including construction, bridge and highway, transmission and distribution and renewables.  Segment EBITDA of $54.6 million resulted in EBITDA margin of 30.9%, on increased volume and zinc productivity improvement, an increase of 20 basis points from the prior year first quarter.

AZZ Precoat Metals
Sales of $236.6 million increased by 6.5% over the first quarter of last year on increased volume driven by growth in end markets including construction, HVAC, and recreational transportation.  Segment EBITDA of $47.7 million resulted in EBITDA margin of 20.2%, an increase of 80 basis points from the prior year first quarter.

Balance Sheet, Liquidity and Capital Allocation
The Company generated significant operating cash of $71.9 million for the first three months of fiscal year 2025 through improved earnings and disciplined working capital management.  At the end of the first quarter, the Company's net leverage was 2.8x trailing twelve months EBITDA.  During the first quarter of fiscal year 2025, the Company paid down debt of $25 million and returned cash to common shareholders through cash dividend payments totaling $4.3 million.  Capital expenditures for the first quarter were $27.4 million, and full fiscal year capital expenditures are expected to be approximately $100 - $120 million.

The Company also completed a secondary public offering of common stock for net proceeds of $308.7 million and used the proceeds to redeem the Series A Preferred Stock for $308.9 million. The redemption resulted in a one-time redemption premium payment of $75.2 million in the first quarter. The decision to redeem the Series A Preferred Stock during the first quarter allowed the Company to avoid $14.4 million in future annual preferred stock dividends and future escalations in the redemption premium by a minimum of $36 million per year.

Financial Outlook - Fiscal Year 2025 Guidance
Reiterating previously communicated guidance issued April 8, 2024.

Conference Call Details
AZZ Inc. will conduct a live conference call with Tom Ferguson, Chief Executive Officer, Jason Crawford, Chief Financial Officer, and David Nark, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Communications, and Investor Relations to discuss financial results for the first quarter of the fiscal year 2025, Thursday, July 11, 2024, at 11:00 A.M. ET. Interested parties can access the conference call by dialing (844) 855-9499 or (412) 317-5497 (international). A webcast of the call will be available on the Company's Investor Relations page at http://www.azz.com/investor-relations.   

A replay of the call will be available at (877) 344-7529 or (412) 317-0088 (international), replay access code: 6878580, through July 18, 2024, or by visiting http://www.azz.com/investor-relations for the next 12 months.

About AZZ Inc.
AZZ Inc. is the leading independent provider of hot-dip galvanizing and coil coating solutions to a broad range of end-markets. Collectively, our business segments provide sustainable, unmatched metal coating solutions that enhance the longevity and appearance of buildings, products and infrastructure that are essential to everyday life. 

Safe Harbor Statement

Certain statements herein about our expectations of future events or results constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may," "could," "should," "expects," "plans," "will," "might," "would," "projects," "currently," "intends," "outlook," "forecasts," "targets," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential," "continue," or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Such forward-looking statements are based on currently available competitive, financial, and economic data and management's views and assumptions regarding future events. Such forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and investors must recognize that actual results may differ from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and are subject to risks that could cause them to differ materially from actual results. Certain factors could affect the outcome of the matters described herein. This press release may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, changes in customer demand for our manufactured solutions, including demand by the construction markets, the industrial markets, and the metal coatings markets. We could also experience additional increases in labor costs, components and raw materials including zinc and natural gas, which are used in our hot-dip galvanizing process; supply-chain vendor delays; customer requested delays of our manufactured solutions; delays in additional acquisition opportunities; an increase in our debt leverage and/or interest rates on our debt, of which a significant portion is tied to variable interest rates; availability of experienced management and employees to implement AZZ's growth strategy; a downturn in market conditions in any industry relating to the manufactured solutions that we provide; economic volatility, including a prolonged economic downturn or macroeconomic conditions such as inflation or changes in the political stability in the United States and other foreign markets in which we operate; acts of war or terrorism inside the United States or abroad; and other changes in economic and financial conditions. AZZ has provided additional information regarding risks associated with the business, including in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors, in AZZ's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 29, 2024, and other filings with the SEC, available for viewing on AZZ's website at www.azz.com and on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.  You are urged to consider these factors carefully when evaluating the forward-looking statements herein and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. These statements are based on information as of the date hereof and AZZ assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Company Contact:       
David Nark, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Communications, and Investor Relations
AZZ Inc.
(817) 810-0095
www.azz.com 

Investor Contact:
Sandy Martin / Phillip Kupper
Three Part Advisors
(214) 616-2207
www.threepa.com

---Financial tables on the following page---

AZZ Inc.
Non-GAAP Disclosure
Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Earnings Per Share and EBITDA

In addition to reporting financial results in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States ("GAAP"), we provide adjusted net income, adjusted earnings per share and EBITDA (collectively, the "Adjusted Earnings Measures"), which are non-GAAP measures.  Management believes that the presentation of these measures provides investors with greater transparency when comparing operating results across a broad spectrum of companies, which provides a more complete understanding of our financial performance, competitive position and prospects for future capital investment and debt reduction.  Management also believes that investors regularly rely on non-GAAP financial measures, such as adjusted net income, adjusted earnings per share and EBITDA to assess operating performance and that such measures may highlight trends in our business that may not otherwise be apparent when relying on financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP.

Management defines adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share to exclude intangible asset amortization, acquisition expenses, transaction related expenses and certain legal settlements and accruals, from the reported GAAP measure.  Management defines EBITDA as earnings excluding depreciation, amortization, interest and provision for income taxes.  Management believes EBITDA is used by investors to analyze operating performance and evaluate the Company's ability to incur and service debt and its capacity for making capital expenditures in the future.

Management provides non-GAAP financial measures for informational purposes and to enhance understanding of the Company's GAAP consolidated financial statements.  Readers should consider these measures in addition to, but not instead of or superior to, the Company's financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP, and undue reliance should not be placed on these non-GAAP financial measures.  Additionally, these non-GAAP financial measures may be determined or calculated differently by other companies, limiting the usefulness of those measures for comparative purposes.

The following tables provides a reconciliation for the three months ended May 31, 2024 and May 31, 2023  between the non-GAAP Adjusted Earnings Measures to the most comparable measures, calculated in accordance with GAAP (dollars in thousands, except per share data):

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SOURCE AZZ, Inc.