AZZ Inc. Reports Fiscal Year 2024 Second Quarter Results

Building on Profitability and Strong Cash Generation

Reaffirming Fiscal 2024 Full Year Guidance and Debt Reduction of $75-$100 million

FORT WORTH, Texas, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- AZZ Inc. (NYSE: AZZ), the leading independent provider of hot-dip galvanizing and coil coating solutions, today announced financial results for the second quarter ended August 31, 2023.

Second Quarter Overview (results from continuing operations as compared to prior year⁽¹⁾):

• Total Sales $398.5 million, down 2.0%
  • Metal Coatings record sales of $169.8 million up 2.4%
  • Precoat Metals sales of $228.7 million, down 5.0%
• Diluted EPS of $0.97, up 4.3% versus prior year, Adjusted EPS of $1.27, up 5.0%
• Net Income of $28.3 million, up 12.8%
• Adjusted net income of $37.2 million, up 5.5%
• Recognized a charge of $5.75 million for a litigation settlement related to the Infrastructure Solutions segment (reflected in Selling, General & Administrative Expenses)
• Adjusted EBITDA $88.0 million or 22.1% of sales, versus prior year of $88.7 million or 21.8% of sales
• EBITDA margin of 30.4% for Metal Coatings and 20.3% for Precoat Metals
• Reduced debt by $40.0 million in the quarter, resulting in net leverage of 3.4x

Tom Ferguson, President, and Chief Executive Officer of AZZ, commented, "I am pleased to report that our second quarter results were in line with our expectations and set us up well for the balance of the year. While Precoat Metals faced softer market conditions, particularly in certain construction and appliance markets, the team focused on driving profitability, and exceeded 20% EBITDA margin.  Metal Coatings continued to benefit from infrastructure spending, posted another record quarter for sales and operating income, and exceeded 30% EBITDA margin.  Through better earnings and continued good management of working capital, we reduced year-to-date debt by $60.0 million, which included $20.0 million of debt reduction from the first quarter.  We also repriced our term loan B, resulting in more favorable interest rates.

"Our new plant construction in Washington, Missouri continues to progress ahead of schedule and budget.  After careful consideration, we made the decision to internally fund the construction of the new plant in Washington, Missouri versus funding a portion of it through a sale/leaseback transaction.  As we have stated previously, the project will not have an impact on AZZ's debt leverage nor our previously stated goal of 3.0x debt leverage by the end of FY2024. Our business is structured for significant cash flow generation, giving us more optionality to fund capital expenditures this year totaling $125 million, which includes the new plant spend of $70 million. Additionally, we will continue to pay down debt in a range of $75 to $100 million this year and expect to continue to pay quarterly cash dividends.

"Notwithstanding our seasonally slower second half of the year, we expect a stronger second half this year as compared to last year.  Secular tailwinds exist for infrastructure and renewables spending, reshoring of manufacturing, and continued migration to more environmentally friendly pre-painted steel and aluminum.  I want to thank our entire AZZ team for their dedicated performance in the second quarter of fiscal year 2024," concluded Ferguson.

Fiscal Year 2024 Second Quarter Segment Performance

AZZ Metal Coatings
Sales increased year-over-year by 2.4% to a record $169.8 million, due to both higher volume and increased selling price.  EBITDA of $51.6 million or 30.4% of sales was slightly above our 25-30% targeted EBITDA range.  In the prior year quarter, EBITDA of $53.0 million included $5.1 million from non-recurring items, related to a gain on sale of property and insurance proceeds.

AZZ Precoat Metals
Sales of $228.7 million decreased year-over-year by 5.0% due to lower volume in HVAC, transportation, and certain construction end markets.  Average selling price increased 7% as compared to the same quarter last year, driven by value-pricing initiatives, and a shift in sales mix.  EBITDA of $46.4 million or 20.3% of sales was 30 basis points lower from the prior year same quarter, and within our targeted range of 17-22%. We are carefully monitoring customer volume as we progress through the third quarter.

Balance Sheet, Liquidity and Capital Allocation
The Company generated significant operating cash flow of $118.3 million in the first six months of the year through improved earnings and prudent working capital management.  At the end of the second quarter, net leverage was 3.4x TTM EBITDA.  During the second quarter, the Company paid down debt of $40.0 million and returned cash to shareholders through cash dividend payments totaling $7.9 million.  Capital expenditures were $25.7 million during the quarter, and fiscal year 2024 capital expenditures are expected to be approximately $125 million, which includes $70 million in cash outlays for AZZ's new coil coating plant in Washington, Missouri.

Financial Outlook - Fiscal Year 2024 Guidance
Management reaffirms fiscal year 2024 guidance:

• Sales of $1.40 billion to $1.55 billion
• Adjusted EBITDA of $300-$325 million
• Adjusted earnings per diluted share of $3.85-$4.35⁽¹⁾

Fiscal year 2024 guidance reflects higher interest expense, dividends on our Series A Preferred Stock, and the impact of an annualized effective tax rate of approximately 24%.  This reflects our best estimates given expected market conditions for the full year, excluding any federal regulatory changes that may emerge.

Conference Call Details
AZZ Inc. will conduct a live conference call with Tom Ferguson, Chief Executive Officer, and Philip Schlom, Chief Financial Officer to discuss financial results for the second quarter of fiscal year 2024, Wednesday, October 11, 2023, 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: 5906530, through October 18, 2023, 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 products and services, 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 products or services; 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 products we inventory or sell or the services 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 28, 2023, 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 Adjusted EBITDA

In addition to reporting financial results in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States ("GAAP"), we provided adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share, (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 and adjusted earnings per share, 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.

In calculating adjusted earnings and adjusted earnings per share, management excludes intangible asset amortization, acquisition expenses, transaction related expenses and certain legal settlements.  Management also provides EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, which are non-GAAP measures. Management defines EBITDA as earnings excluding depreciation, amortization, interest, and provision for income taxes.  Adjusted EBITDA is defined as earnings excluding depreciation, amortization, interest, provision for income taxes, acquisition expenses, transaction related expenses and certain legal settlements. Management believes EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are 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. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are also useful to investors to help assess the Company's estimated enterprise value. In addition, management believes that the adjustments shown below are useful to investors in order to allow them to compare the Company's financial results during the periods shown without the effect of each of these adjustments.

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. 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 and six months ended August 31, 2023 and 2022 between the various measures calculated in accordance with GAAP to the Adjusted Earnings Measures (in thousands, except per share data): 

SOURCE AZZ Inc.