Jason Bonfigt
Analyst · Craig-Hallum
Thank you, Eric. Turning to Slide 6 and 7 for a high-level overview of our first quarter performance. First quarter consolidated sales were $32.7 million compared to $48.6 million in the prior year quarter. In Q1, we worked through a number of challenges, primarily in our Heavy Fabrication segment, which ultimately led to a 33% year-over-year reduction in revenue. The largest impact to the decline in revenue was related to demand for our towers, combined with the wind repowering project in the prior year period. Additionally, one of our customers delayed a project resulting in a $4.7 million revenue deferral to Q2. We continue to experience supply chain disruptions during the first quarter. Tower internal packages, which are required for the final step in production for delayed, resulting in ability to recognize $2.8 million of revenue at quarter end. We lost more than 1 meg of production out of our Abilene tower plant in February due to the impacts of winter Storm URI. Severe weather conditions also drove approximately $200,000 of additional natural gas expense at one of our other facilities as increased usage during the storm exceeded fixed contract levels, forcing spot market purchases during peak pricing. We subsequently reopened the facility without significant delays or damaged. However, we lost valuable production slots as a result. These reductions were offset by the mix of tower designs produced and related steel content, which varies by customer design and application. Q1 adjusted EBITDA was $1.2 million, a decline on a year-over-year basis, driven by the volume impact described earlier. Despite the operational challenges in our towers product line, we are encouraged by improving branch performance in our encouraged by improving branch performance in our other product lines, which are generally tied to an economic recovery. During the first quarter, the company was eligible for the Employee Retention Tax Credit, or ERC, as outlined in the provisions of the CARES Act and other subsequent revisions. In Q1, we earned $3.4 million in refundable tax credit which are a component of EBITDA in the segment financials as the credit will be utilized to offset increased payroll costs resulting from pandemic-related disruptions described earlier. We expect to be eligible for the ERC again in Q2, given our interpretation of current guidance. First quarter operating expense was essentially flat year-over-year. Interest expense declined to $200,000 from $700,000 in the prior year quarter due to lower debt levels and a reduction in our borrowing rate. Turning to Slide 7 and 8 for a discussion of our Heavy Fabrication segment. First quarter sales were $22.8 million compared to $38.4 million in the prior year quarter, driven by our previously mentioned comments on lower wind tower demand and continued supply chain disruption as well as other nonrecurring events. First quarter orders were up 34% year-over-year to $20.8 million. And as of this call, we have approximately 60% of our 2021 optimal tower production capacity sold as we continue to market to multiple turbine OEMs. We are also encouraged that our Industrial Fabrication orders rebounded sequentially in Q1 to approximately $7 million as mining and industrial customer demand recovers following the challenging 2020. Notwithstanding the Q1 operational challenges, which delayed delivery and revenue recognition on approximately 75 sections to Q2, segment adjusted EBITDA was $1.8 million. As we discussed earlier, we continue to sell towers to multiple turbine OEMs, which has been a key strategic objective over the past several years. This customer diversification as well as expansion of our industrial fabrication product line and success in several trade cases has allowed us to improve our plant utilization over time. And as a result, EBITDA margins have expanded. Turning to Slide 9, I will cover our Gearing segment. We are encouraged by the economic recovery and our position within energy and industrial market. We began to see our pipeline of opportunities improved in the second half of last year. And in Q1, customers began to place orders to restock inventory levels and resume capital spending as the economy recovers. Q1 orders approached $10 million, the highest level we have seen since the pandemic started and up approximately 75% sequentially. Book-to-bill was approximately two times, resulting in a recovery of our backlog over $19 million. First quarter segment sales declined to $5.3 million versus $6.2 million in the prior year, a result of lower commercial activity last year. We generated $300,000 of segment EBITDA in Q1, and we expect a gradual recovery in top and bottom line performance throughout 2021 as we begin to execute against our elevated backlog. Turning to Slide 10 for a discussion of our Industrial Solutions segment. Industrial Solutions recorded $3.5 million of new orders in Q1, down from $5.9 million compared to the prior year period, primarily a result of the timing of orders from its primary customer. Our pipeline of opportunities remains healthy, including quoting activities of new customers and end markets. And as a result, we expect the order book to build throughout the year. First quarter segment sales increased to $4.6 million from $4 million in the prior year, given the strength in the gas-driven component demand and by the timing of customer projects. Segment adjusted EBITDA was $500,000 due to the volume impacts and strong execution. The operating leverage associated with increased volume and effective cost management has resulted in TTM EBITDA of $1.5 million, a significant increase over the comparable period. Turning to Slide 11. Operating working capital increased $6.6 million sequentially to $11.7 million or 9% of sales due to increased inventory levels associated with the previously discussed volume impacts in Q1. We view these inventory levels to be driven by extraordinary events and anticipate inventory levels to gradually decline over the next several quarters. Full cash and availability under our credit facility remains healthy and above historical levels, with nearly $22 million of liquidity at quarter end, which includes approximately $3 million of cash on our balance sheet. As mentioned earlier, we will likely qualify for additional ERC benefits in Q2, which are likely to net the company over $6.5 million of cash in the first half of 2021. In Q1, under our previously announced ATM equity offering program, we issued 1.1 million shares of our common stock netting approximately $6.4 million after deducting commissions. As highlighted on previous calls, we received approximately $9 million of proceeds under the Paycheck Protection Program. We submitted our forgiveness applications to our lender and the SBA in Q1 and has subsequently received forgiveness on one loan valued at approximately $300,000. And at this time, we have not received a determination on the balance of the loans. As noted in our press release issued this morning, we expect Q2 revenue to be in the $45 million to $50 million range, with EBITDA between $4.5 million to $5 million after including approximately $3 million of additional ERC benefits. That concludes my remarks. I will turn the call back over to Eric for an overview of end markets, in addition to some concluding remarks.