Astec Industries Reports Third Quarter 2017 Results


CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., Oct. 24, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Astec Industries, Inc. (Nasdaq:ASTE) today reported results for their third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2017. 

Net sales for the third quarter of 2017 were $252.1 million compared to $247.8 million for the third quarter of 2016, a 1.7% increase. Domestic sales decreased 1.7% to $196.5 million for the third quarter of 2017 from $199.9 million for the third quarter of 2016.  International sales were $55.6 million for the third quarter of 2017 compared to $47.9 million for the third quarter of 2016, an increase of 16.0%.     

The net loss for the third quarter of 2017 was $2.7 million, or $0.12 per share, compared to earnings of $6.8 million, or $0.30 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2016, a decrease of 140.0% per diluted share.  As previously announced, the company initiated significant design upgrades to its customers’ Georgia and Arkansas wood pellet plants to meet full production rates, which negatively impacted earnings per share by approximately $0.59 during the third quarter of 2017. 

Net sales for the first nine months of 2017 were $872.4 million compared to $820.9 million for the first nine months of 2016, a 6.3% increase.  Domestic sales increased 1.6% to $686.9 million for the first nine months of 2017 from $676.3 million for the first nine months of 2016.  International sales were $185.5 million for the first nine months of 2017 compared to $144.6 million for the first nine months of 2016, an increase of 28.3%.     

Earnings for the first nine months of 2017 were $26.9 million, or $1.16 per diluted share, compared to $42.8 million, or $1.85 per diluted share, for the first nine months of 2016, a decrease of 37.3% per diluted share. 

The Company’s backlog at September 30, 2017 was $385.5 million compared to $389.3 million at September 30, 2016, a decrease of $3.8 million or 1.0%.  Domestic backlog decreased 4.9% to $309.5 million at September 30, 2017 from $325.6 million at September 30, 2016.  The international backlog at September 30, 2017 was $76.0 million compared to $63.7 million at September 30, 2016, an increase of 19.3%.  Excluding pellet plant backlogs, the Company’s September 30, 2017 backlog increased $61.1 million, or 24.8%, compared to September 30, 2016. 

Consolidated financial information for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and additional information related to segment revenues and profits are attached as addenda to this press release.

Commenting on the announcement, Benjamin G. Brock, Chief Executive Officer, stated, “During the quarter, we executed well across the business driving earnings in line with our expectations, and adjusting for the previously announced pellet plant investment costs, improved gross margin performance year-over-year. Our backlog increased $61.1 million, again excluding the impact of the wood pellet plant investment, versus last year, which witnessed growth both domestically and internationally.  Domestically, we continue to experience a good market for our products primarily due to the federal highway bill and other state and local level funding mechanisms.  Internationally, our strategy of keeping our sales and service structure in place has allowed us to earn orders driven by pent up demand as global market conditions improve.”

Mr. Brock concluded, “While we exited the third quarter with a strong backlog, product mix and contracted delivery schedules have tempered our expectations for the fourth quarter.  We believe that we still have a good opportunity to drive slight year-over-year sales growth for 2017; however, our originally anticipated uptick in sales and earnings growth during the fourth quarter will be pushed into 2018.  Sequentially, we expect earnings in the fourth quarter of 2017 will be slightly below this quarter’s earnings, adjusting for the wood pellet investment.  As we look to 2018, we are very optimistic on our outlook given our backlog, quote activity and conversations with our customers.”

Investor Conference Call and Web Simulcast

Astec will conduct a conference call on Tuesday, October 24, 2017 at 10:00 A.M. Eastern Time to review its third quarter results as well as current business conditions.  The number to call for this interactive teleconference is (877) 407-9210.  International callers should dial (201) 689-8049.   Please reference Astec Industries.

The Company will also provide an online Web simulcast and rebroadcast of the conference call.  The live broadcast of Astec’s conference call will be available online at the Company’s website:  www.astecindustries.com/conferencecalls. An archived webcast will be available for 90 days at www.astecindustries.com.

A replay of the conference call will be available through midnight on Tuesday, November 7, 2017 by dialing (877) 481-4010, or (919) 882-2331 for international callers, Conference ID #21299.  A transcript of the conference call will be made available under the Investor Relations section of the Astec Industries, Inc. website within 5 business days after the call.

Astec Industries, Inc. is a manufacturer of specialized equipment for asphalt road building; aggregate processing; oil, gas and water well drilling; and wood processing.  Astec’s manufacturing operations are divided into three primary business segments:  road building, wood pellet production and related equipment (Infrastructure Group); aggregate processing and mining equipment (Aggregate and Mining Group); and equipment for the extraction and production of fuels, biomass production, and water drilling equipment (Energy Group). 

The information contained in this press release contains “forward-looking statements” (within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) regarding the future performance of the Company, including statements about the effects on the Company from the federal highway bill, its backlog, the strong U.S. Dollar and global market conditions.  These forward-looking statements reflect management’s expectations and are based upon currently available information, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise such statements.  These statements are not guarantees of performance and are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which cannot be predicted or anticipated.  Future events and actual results, financial or otherwise, could differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements.  Important factors that could cause future events or actual results to differ materially include:  general uncertainty in the economy, oil, gas and liquid asphalt prices, rising steel prices, decreased funding for highway projects, the relative strength/weakness of the dollar to foreign currencies, production capacity, general business conditions in the industry, demand for the Company’s products, seasonality and cyclicality in operating results, seasonality of sales volumes or lower than expected sales volumes, lower than expected margins on custom equipment orders, competitive activity, tax rates and the impact of future legislation thereon, and those other factors listed from time to time in the Company’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016. 

For Additional Information Contact:
Benjamin G. Brock
Chief Executive Officer
Phone: (423) 867-4210
Fax: (423) 867-4127
E-mail: bbrock@astecindustries.com 
or
David C. Silvious
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Phone: (423) 899-5898
Fax: (423) 899-4456
E-mail: dsilvious@astecindustries.com 
or
Stephen C. Anderson
Vice President, Director of Investor Relations & Corporate Secretary
Phone: (423) 899-5898
Fax: (423) 899-4456
E-mail: sanderson@astecindustries.com

     
Astec Industries, Inc.  
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets  
(in thousands)  
(unaudited)  
   
 Sept 30Sept 30  
  2017  2016  
Assets    
Current assets    
Cash and cash equivalents$  66,379 $  52,474  
Investments   1,655    713  
Receivables, net   109,693    111,753  
Inventories   399,346    399,718  
Prepaid expenses and other   32,825    25,909  
Total current assets   609,898    590,567  
Property and equipment, net   180,703    178,167  
Other assets   86,411    93,105  
Total assets$  877,012 $  861,839  
Liabilities and equity    
Current liabilities    
Accounts payable - trade$  60,107 $  53,496  
Other current liabilities   117,129    136,710  
Total current liabilities   177,236    190,206  
Non-current liabilities   24,574    26,702  
Total equity   675,202    644,931  
Total liabilities and equity$  877,012 $  861,839  
     
     
     
     
Astec Industries, Inc.  
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income  
(in thousands, except per share data)  
(unaudited)  
   
 Three Months EndedNine Months Ended
 Sept 30Sept 30
  2017  2016 2017 2016
Net sales$  252,054 $  247,752$  872,364$  820,868
Cost of sales   212,970    192,363   691,985   620,071
Gross profit   39,084    55,389   180,379   200,797
Selling, general, administrative & engineering expenses   45,494    43,950   142,836   132,716
Income (loss) from operations   (6,410)   11,439   37,543   68,081
Interest expense   188    264   638   1,057
Other   1,149    508   2,023   1,443
Income (loss) before income taxes   (5,449)   11,683   38,928   68,467
Income taxes   (2,782)   4,845   12,055   25,694
Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest $  (2,667)$  6,838$  26,873$  42,773
     
     
Earnings per Common Share    
Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest    
        Basic$  (0.12)$  0.30$  1.17$  1.86
        Diluted$  (0.12)$  0.30$  1.16$  1.85
     
     
Weighted average common shares outstanding    
        Basic   23,029    23,001   23,023   22,989
        Diluted   23,029    23,145   23,180   23,138
     

 

Astec Industries, Inc.  
Segment Revenues and Profits  
For the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016  
(in thousands)  
(unaudited)  
 Infrastructure
Group
Aggregate and
Mining Group
Energy
Group
CorporateTotal  
2017 Revenues  98,676    99,474    53,904    -       252,054   
2016 Revenues  109,227    85,819    52,706    -       247,752   
Change $  (10,551)   13,655    1,198    -       4,302   
Change %(9.7%) 15.9% 2.3%   -     1.7%  
        
2017 Gross Profit  1,773    23,838    13,422    51   39,084   
2017 Gross Profit %1.8% 24.0% 24.9%   -     15.5%  
2016 Gross Profit  24,929    20,935    9,473    52   55,389   
2016 Gross Profit %22.8% 24.4% 18.0%   -     22.4%  
Change  (23,156)   2,903    3,949    (1)  (16,305)  
        
2017 Profit (Loss)  (12,529)   9,565    4,460    (2,975)  (1,479)  
2016 Profit (Loss)  9,858    7,651    805    (11,610)  6,704   
Change $  (22,387)   1,914    3,655    8,635   (8,183)  
Change %(227.1%) 25.0% 454.0% 74.4%(122.1%)  
        
        
Segment revenues are reported net of intersegment revenues.  Segment gross profit is net of profit on intersegment   
revenues.  A reconciliation of total segment profits (losses) to the Company's net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest is as follows (in thousands): 
        
  Three months ended September 30   
   2017  2016 Change $   
Total profit (loss) for all segments$  (1,479)$  6,704 $  (8,183)   
Recapture (elimination) of intersegment profit   (1,224)   131    (1,355)   
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest   36    3    33    
Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest $  (2,667)$  6,838 $  (9,505)   
        
        
Astec Industries, Inc.  
Segment Revenues and Profits  
For the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016  
(in thousands)  
(unaudited)  
 Infrastructure
Group
Aggregate and
Mining Group
Energy
Group
CorporateTotal  
2017 Revenues  407,025    307,205    158,134    -       872,364   
2016 Revenues  414,817    277,393    128,658    -       820,868   
Change $  (7,792)   29,812    29,476    -       51,496   
Change %(1.9%) 10.7% 22.9%   -     6.3%  
        
2017 Gross Profit  66,394    74,652    39,173    160   180,379   
2017 Gross Profit %16.3% 24.3% 24.8%   -     20.7%  
2016 Gross Profit  101,349    72,224    27,069    155   200,797   
2016 Gross Profit %24.4% 26.0% 21.0%   -     24.5%  
Change  (34,955)   2,428    12,104    5   (20,418)  
        
2017 Profit (Loss)  15,545    29,360    10,355    (27,666)  27,594   
2016 Profit (Loss)  51,394    28,135    3,237    (40,745)  42,021   
Change $  (35,849)   1,225    7,118    13,079   (14,427)  
Change %(69.8%) 4.4% 219.9% 32.1%(34.3%)  
        
        
Segment revenues are reported net of intersegment revenues.  Segment gross profit is net of profit on intersegment   
revenues.  A reconciliation of total segment profits to the Company's net income attributable to controlling interest is as follows (in thousands):  
        
  Nine months ended September 30   
   2017  2016 Change $   
Total profit for all segments$  27,594 $  42,021 $  (14,427)   
Recapture (elimination) of intersegment profit   (858)   633    (1,491)   
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest   137    119    18    
Net income attributable to controlling interest $  26,873 $  42,773 $  (15,900)   
        
        
Astec Industries, Inc.   
Backlog by Segment   
September 30, 2017 and 2016   
(in thousands)   
(unaudited)   
 Infrastructure
Group
Aggregate and
Mining Group
Energy
Group
Total   
2017 Backlog  248,893    74,625    61,936    385,454    
2016 Backlog  286,895    61,409    40,956    389,260    
Change $  (38,002)   13,216    20,980    (3,806)   
Change %(13.2%) 21.5% 51.2% (1.0%)