Financial Results: Advanced Drainage Systems and First Advantage Corporation Report Quarterly Earnings

Advanced Drainage Systems Announces First Quarter Fiscal 2025 Results

Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (NYSE: WMS) ("ADS" or the "Company"), a leading provider of innovative water management solutions in the stormwater and onsite septic wastewater industries today announced financial results for the fiscal first quarter ended June 30, 2024. First Quarter Fiscal 2025 Results Scott Barbour, President and Chief Executive Officer of ADS commented, "We are pleased with the fiscal first quarter results, which were right in line with the plan. Revenue growth was led by an 8% increase in Allied product sales and a 6% increase in sales from the Infiltrator business. Revenue in the domestic construction markets increased 6% overall, driven by volume growth in the non-residential, residential and infrastructure end markets at both ADS and Infiltrator. Infrastructure revenue remains a bright spot for the Company as we see the tailwind from the IIJA and ADS' products gain market share in the segment." "This volume growth and increased sales mix from Infiltrator and Allied products helped drive an Adjusted EBITDA margin of 33.8%, one of the highest quarterly margins in Company history. Our strong profitability this quarter is a testament to the resiliency of our business model, in part due to better fixed cost absorption, but also supported by the investments we have made across the Company to increase safety, capacity, productivity and efficiency. We will continue to invest in these strategic priorities, as well as customer service initiatives and strategic inventory, to further strengthen ADS' competitive advantages." Barbour concluded, "Success will continue to be driven by the secular growth trends underpinning ADS' position as a pure-play water company. In July, we reaffirmed our commitment to providing sustainable water management solutions that safeguard the environment and build resiliency in communities with the release of our Fiscal 2024 Sustainability Report. In addition, we recently started to move into the world-class Engineering and Technology Center near ADS' corporate headquarters in Hilliard, OH. ADS' leadership position and scale support the advancement of the industry through highly engineered solutions that will help protect the world's most precious resource, water, for generations to come." First Quarter Fiscal 2025 Results Net sales increased $37.3 million, or 4.8%, to $815.3 million, as compared to $778.0 million in the prior year quarter. Domestic pipe sales increased $10.6 million, or 2.5%, to $431.4 million. Domestic allied products & other sales increased $13.9 million, or 7.6%, to $196.0 million. Infiltrator sales increased $7.3 million, or 5.9%, to $130.2 million. The overall increase in domestic net sales was primarily driven by demand in the U.S. construction end markets. International sales increased $5.5 million, or 10.4%, to $57.7 million. Gross profit increased $1.0 million, or 0.3%, to $332.5 million as compared to $331.5 million in the prior year. The increase in gross profit is primarily due to favorable demand as well as stronger sales mix, as Infiltrator and Allied product sales increased more than Pipe sales. This favorability was partially offset by unfavorable pricing, material cost and transportation costs. Selling, general and administrative expense increased $7.5 million, or 8.7% to $94.1, as compared to $86.5 million. This increase is primarily due to higher commissions from the increase in volume, as well as continued investments in talent to support strategic areas such as engineering and product development. As a percentage of sales, selling, general and administrative expense was largely flat at 11.5% as compared to 11.1% in the prior year. Net income per diluted share decreased $0.12, or 5.5%, to $2.06, as compared to $2.18 per share in the prior year quarter, primarily due to the factors mentioned above and partially offset by an $0.14 gain from the sale of a non-core asset last year. Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP) decreased $5.8 million, or 2.1%, to $275.5 million, as compared to $281.3 million in the prior year, primarily due to the factors mentioned above. As a percentage of net sales, Adjusted EBITDA was 33.8% as compared to 36.2% in the prior year. Segment sales results are based on Net sales to external customers. Reconciliations of GAAP to Non-GAAP financial measures for Adjusted EBITDA, Free Cash Flow and Adjusted Earnings per Share have been provided in the financial statement tables included in this press release. An explanation of these measures is also included below under the heading "Non-GAAP Financial Measures." Balance Sheet and Liquidity Net cash provided by operating activities was $183.4 million, as compared to $244.0 million in the prior year. Free cash flow (Non-GAAP) was $125.7 million, as compared to $201.9 million in the prior year. Net debt (total debt and finance lease obligations net of cash) was $829.3 million as of June 30, 2024, a decrease of $31.6 million from March 31, 2024. ADS had total liquidity of $1,131.2 million, comprised of cash of $541.6 million as of June 30, 2024 and $589.6 million of availability under committed credit facilities. As of June 30, 2024, the Company's trailing-twelve-month leverage ratio was 0.9 times Adjusted EBITDA. In the three months ended June 30, 2024, the Company repurchased 0.3 million shares of its common stock for a total cost of $49.2 million. As of June 30, 2024, approximately $167.6 million of common stock may be repurchased under the Company's existing share repurchase authorization. Fiscal 2025 Outlook Based on current visibility, backlog of existing orders and business trends, the Company confirmed its financial targets for fiscal 2025. Net sales are now expected to be in the range of $2.925 billion to $3.025 billion. Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be in the range of $940 million to $980 million. Capital expenditures are expected to be in the range of $250 million to $300 million. Conference Call Information Webcast: Interested investors and other parties can listen to a webcast of the live conference call by logging in through the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at https://investors.ads-pipe.com/events-and-presentations. An online replay will be available on the same website following the call. Teleconference: To participate in the live teleconference, participants may register at https://registrations.events/direct/Q4I4578635 using Conference ID: 45786. After registering, participants will receive a confirmation through email, including dial in details and unique conference call codes for entry. Registration is open through the live call. To ensure participants are connected for the full call, please register at least 10 minutes before the start of the call. About the Company Advanced Drainage Systems is a leading manufacturer of innovative stormwater and onsite septic wastewater solutions that manages the world's most precious resource: water. ADS and its subsidiary, Infiltrator Water Technologies, provide superior stormwater drainage and onsite septic wastewater products used in a wide variety of markets and applications including commercial, residential, infrastructure and agriculture, while delivering unparalleled customer service. ADS manages the industry's largest company-owned fleet, an expansive sales team, and a vast manufacturing network of approximately 70 manufacturing plants and 40 distribution centers. The company is one of the largest plastic recycling companies in North America, ensuring over half a billion pounds of plastic is kept out of landfills every year. Founded in 1966, ADS' water management solutions are designed to last for decades. To learn more, visit the Company's website at www.adspipe.com. Forward Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. These statements are not historical facts but rather are based on the Company's current expectations, estimates and projections regarding the Company's business, operations and other factors relating thereto. Words such as "may," "will," "could," "would," "should," "anticipate," "predict," "potential," "continue," "expects," "intends," "plans," "projects," "believes," "estimates," "confident" and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those reflected in forward-looking statements relating to our operations and business include: fluctuations in the price and availability of resins and other raw materials and our ability to pass any increased costs of raw materials on to our customers in a timely manner; disruption or volatility in general business and economic conditions in the markets in which we operate; cyclicality and seasonality of the non-residential and residential construction markets and infrastructure spending; the risks of increasing competition in our existing and future markets; uncertainties surrounding the integration and realization of anticipated benefits of acquisitions; the effect of weather or seasonality; the loss of any of our significant customers; the risks of doing business internationally; the risks of conducting a portion of our operations through joint ventures; our ability to expand into new geographic or product markets; the risk associated with manufacturing processes; the effect of global climate change; our ability to protect against cybersecurity incidents and disruptions or failures of our IT systems; our ability to assess and monitor the effects of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and robotics on our business and operations; our ability to manage our supply purchasing and customer credit policies; our ability to control labor costs and to attract, train and retain highly qualified employees and key personnel; our ability to protect our intellectual property rights; changes in laws and regulations, including environmental laws and regulations; our ability to appropriately address any environmental, social or governance concerns that may arise from our activities; the risks associated with our current levels of indebtedness, including borrowings under our existing credit agreement and outstanding indebtedness under our existing senior notes; and other risks and uncertainties described in the Company's filings with the SEC. New risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time and it is not possible for the Company to predict all risks and uncertainties that could have an impact on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking information included herein, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation by the Company or any other person that the Company's expectations, objectives or plans will be achieved in the timeframe anticipated or at all. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. The following tables set forth net sales by reportable segment for each of the periods indicated. Non-GAAP Financial Measures This press release contains financial information determined by methods other than in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). ADS management uses non-GAAP measures in its analysis of the Company's performance. Investors are encouraged to review the reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP results available in the accompanying tables. Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures This press release includes references to Adjusted EBITDA, Free Cash Flow and Adjusted Earnings per Share, non-GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP financial measures are used in addition to and in conjunction with results presented in accordance with GAAP. These measures are not intended to be substitutes for those reported in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies, even when similar terms are used to identify such measures. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures that comprise net income before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, non-cash charges and certain other expenses. The Company's definition of Adjusted EBITDA may differ from similar measures used by other companies, even when similar terms are used to identify such measures. Adjusted EBITDA is a key metric used by management and the Company's board of directors to assess financial performance and evaluate the effectiveness of the Company's business strategies. Accordingly, management believes that Adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our operating results in the same manner as the Company's management and board of directors. In order to provide investors with a meaningful reconciliation, the Company has provided a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income. Free Cash Flow is a non-GAAP financial measure that comprises cash flow from operating activities less capital expenditures. Free Cash Flow is a measure used by management and the Company's board of directors to assess the Company's ability to generate cash. Accordingly, management believes that Free Cash Flow provides useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our ability to generate cash flow from operations after capital expenditures. In order to provide investors with a meaningful reconciliation, the Company has provided a reconciliation of cash flow from operating activities to Free Cash Flow. Adjusted Earnings per Share excludes (gains) losses on disposals of assets or business, restructuring expenses, impairment charges and transaction costs. Adjusted Earnings per Share is a measure used by management and may be useful for investors to evaluate the Company's operational performance. The following tables present a reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income, Free Cash Flow to Cash Flow from Operating Activities, and Adjusted Earnings per Share to Diluted Earnings per Share, the most comparable GAAP measures, for each of the periods indicated. Reconciliation of Diluted Earnings per Share to Adjusted Earnings per Share The following table diluted presents earnings per share on an adjusted basis to supplement the Company's discussion of its results of operations herein. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240808040960/en/

First Advantage Reports Second Quarter 2024 Results

Reaffirms Full-Year 2024 Guidance; Sterling Acquisition Expected to Close in Q4 Second Quarter 2024 Highlights Reaffirming Standalone First Advantage Full-Year 2024 Guidance ATLANTA, Aug. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Advantage Corporation (NASDAQ: FA), a leading provider of employment background screening, identity, and verification solutions, today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024. Key Financials (Amounts in millions, except per share data and percentages) "In the second quarter, we delivered solid financial results in line with our communicated expectations, even considering the normalization that is occurring within the labor market. Our team demonstrated outstanding execution with important upsell and new logo bookings. Additionally, we have been early adopters of integrating responsible Generative AI into our business and we are continuing to expand our use of AI to both enhance our customer value proposition with solutions like our SmartHub™ verifications router and to optimize our operations with initiatives like our Click. Chat. Call. program for customer and applicant support," said Scott Staples, Chief Executive Officer. "Our acquisition of Sterling continues to progress, and we are working to advance our integration planning initiatives for this exciting combination. We are committed to facilitating a seamless integration of our corporate cultures, minimizing disruptions to customers, and quickly and effectively executing our synergy plans. This acquisition will extend our high-quality and cost-effective background screening, identity, and verification technology solutions for the benefit of both companies' customers. The Sterling acquisition represents a significant advancement in our value creation framework, and we expect it will support and accelerate our strategic priorities. As we announced at the end of May, we now expect our acquisition of Sterling to close in the fourth quarter of 2024 based on our latest view of the regulatory review process," Staples concluded. Liquidity, Cash Flow, and Capital Allocation As of June 30, 2024, First Advantage had cash and cash equivalents of $269.6 million and total debt of $564.7 million. During the second quarter of 2024, the Company generated $40.7 million of cash flow from operations after adjusting for $8.7 million of cash costs paid directly related to the Sterling acquisition. "We are reaffirming our full-year 2024 guidance given our performance in the first half of the year and our outlook for the second half of the year," commented David Gamsey, EVP and Chief Financial Officer. "We are pleased to have delivered results in line with our communicated expectations, including sequential quarter-over-quarter growth for revenues, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted EBITDA Margin, with margins returning to over 30%, and we expect this trend to continue through the second half of the year. Looking forward, we will continue to execute on our operational strategies to control what we can control and deliver value for our customers while preparing to close on the Sterling acquisition. Post-closing, we will maintain our product and customer focus while endeavoring to conduct a smooth integration, achieve synergies, and reduce leverage." Chief Financial Officer Transition The Company announced today that David Gamsey, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, has decided to retire after a long and distinguished career spanning 45 years. As part of its formal succession plan, the Board of Directors has selected Steven Marks, the Company's Chief Accounting Officer, to succeed Mr. Gamsey. Mr. Gamsey will remain in his current role until November 8, 2024, and then transition to an advisory role through December 1, 2024. "I want to thank David for his tremendous contributions to First Advantage over the past eight plus years, as well as for being a great partner to me, the rest of the leadership team, and our Board," said Scott Staples, Chief Executive Officer. "David has been instrumental in building this company into the industry leader we are today. He has been a critical member of our team as we have substantially grown the business, executed our IPO and M&A strategies, and most recently, announced our acquisition of Sterling. I congratulate David and wish him well in his upcoming retirement." "I look forward to working with Steven as our next CFO and I join the Board in expressing our confidence in his appointment," Staples continued. "Steven is an accomplished finance professional and respected leader, bringing over 15 years of financial leadership experience to the role, including the last eight years with First Advantage. He knows this company very well and we expect him to continue to advance our history of creating value for our shareholders. Steven has been intimately involved with, and has helped spearhead, our acquisition of Sterling, including leading the finance workstream for our post-close integration planning, and we believe that he will be an excellent CFO of the combined companies." Steven Marks has served as Chief Accounting Officer since February 2022. He joined the company in 2016 and previously served as Senior Vice President, Accounting and Controller. Before joining the Company, Mr. Marks held roles in accounting and financial reporting at Serta Simmons Bedding, LLC. Mr. Marks began his career in public accounting at PricewaterhouseCoopers. Standalone First Advantage Full-Year 2024 Guidance The following table summarizes our full-year 2024 guidance, which excludes contributions from the pending Sterling acquisition and will be adjusted accordingly upon closing: The Company's full-year 2024 guidance ranges reflect the current hiring environment and expectations that existing macroeconomic conditions and similar labor market trends will continue throughout 2024, with the high-end of the guidance ranges reflecting some macroeconomic recovery towards year end. Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share guidance ranges include the impacts from the 2023 one-time special dividend, expired interest rate swaps, and share buybacks. Actual results may differ materially from First Advantage's full-year 2024 guidance as a result of, among other things, the factors described under "Forward-Looking Statements" below. Conference Call and Webcast Information First Advantage will host a conference call to review its second quarter 2024 results today, August 8, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. ET. To participate in the conference call, please dial 800-343-4136 (domestic) or 203-518-9843 (international) approximately ten minutes before the 8:30 a.m. ET start. Please mention to the operator that you are dialing in for the First Advantage second quarter 2024 earnings call or provide the conference code FA2Q24. The call will also be webcast live on the Company's investor relations website at https://investors.fadv.com under the "News & Events" and then "Events & Presentations" section, where related presentation materials will be posted prior to the conference call. Following the conference call, a replay of the webcast will be available on the Company's investor relations website, https://investors.fadv.com. Alternatively, the live webcast and subsequent replay will be available at https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/4615983/29A49BF68C43A0526A4F5D06705D5F4E. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to, among other things, our operations and financial performance. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements relate to matters such as our industry, business strategy, goals, and expectations concerning our market position, future operations, margins, profitability, capital expenditures, liquidity and capital resources, and other financial and operating information. In some cases, you can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "anticipate," "assume," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "future," "will," "seek," "foreseeable," "target," "guidance," the negative version of these words, or similar terms and phrases. These forward-looking statements are subject to various risks, uncertainties, assumptions, or changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict or quantify. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: For additional information on these and other factors that could cause First Advantage's actual results to differ materially from expected results, please see our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), as such factors may be updated from time to time in our filings with the SEC, which are or will be accessible on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date of this press release, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise, except as required by law. Non-GAAP Financial Information This press release contains "non-GAAP financial measures" that are financial measures that either exclude or include amounts that are not excluded or included in the most directly comparable measures calculated and presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"). Specifically, we make use of the non-GAAP financial measures "Adjusted EBITDA," "Adjusted EBITDA Margin," "Adjusted Net Income," "Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share," "Constant Currency Revenues," and "Constant Currency Adjusted EBITDA." Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share, Constant Currency Revenues, and Constant Currency Adjusted EBITDA have been presented in this press release as supplemental measures of financial performance that are not required by or presented in accordance with GAAP because we believe they assist investors and analysts in comparing our operating performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis by excluding items that we do not believe are indicative of our core operating performance. Management believes these non-GAAP measures are useful to investors in highlighting trends in our operating performance, while other measures can differ significantly depending on long-term strategic decisions regarding capital structure, the tax jurisdictions in which we operate, and capital investments. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share, Constant Currency Revenues, and Constant Currency Adjusted EBITDA to supplement GAAP measures of performance in the evaluation of the effectiveness of our business strategies, to make budgeting decisions, to establish discretionary annual incentive compensation, and to compare our performance against that of peer companies using similar measures. Management supplements GAAP results with non-GAAP financial measures to provide a more complete understanding of the factors and trends affecting the business than GAAP results alone. Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share, Constant Currency Revenues, and Constant Currency Adjusted EBITDA are not recognized terms under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net (loss) income as a measure of financial performance or cash provided by operating activities as a measure of liquidity, or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP. The presentations of these measures have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Because not all companies use identical calculations, the presentations of these measures may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies and can differ significantly from company to company. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net (loss) income before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, and as further adjusted for loss on extinguishment of debt, share-based compensation, transaction and acquisition-related charges, integration and restructuring charges, and other non-cash charges. We define Adjusted EBITDA Margin as Adjusted EBITDA divided by total revenues. We define Adjusted Net Income for a particular period as net (loss) income before taxes adjusted for debt-related costs, acquisition-related depreciation and amortization, share-based compensation, transaction and acquisition-related charges, integration and restructuring charges, and other non-cash charges, to which we then apply the related effective tax rate. We define Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share as Adjusted Net Income divided by adjusted weighted average number of shares outstanding -- diluted. We define Constant Currency Revenues as current period revenues translated using prior-year period exchange rates. We define Constant Currency Adjusted EBITDA as current period Adjusted EBITDA translated using prior-year period exchange rates. For reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures, see the reconciliations included at the end of this press release. Numerical figures included in the reconciliations have been subject to rounding adjustments. Accordingly, numerical figures shown as totals in various tables may not be arithmetic aggregations of the figures that precede them. About First Advantage First Advantage (NASDAQ: FA) is a leading provider of employment background screening, identity, and verification solutions. The Company delivers innovative services and insights that help customers manage risk and hire the best talent. Enabled by its proprietary technology, First Advantage helps companies protect their brands and provide safer environments for their customers and their most important resources: employees, contractors, contingent workers, tenants, and drivers. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, First Advantage performs screens in over 200 countries and territories on behalf of its more than 30,000 customers. For more information about First Advantage, visit the Company's website at https://fadv.com/. First Advantage Corporation Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) First Advantage Corporation Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) Reconciliation of Consolidated Non-GAAP Financial Measures