Limbach Holdings (LMB) FY Conference Summary Company Overview - Limbach Holdings is transitioning from a traditional E&C (Engineering and Construction) model to a building system solutions firm, focusing on existing building environments and mission-critical systems [2][4][3]. Key Market Focus - The company operates in six key vertical markets, including healthcare and industrial manufacturing, emphasizing durable demand where clients must spend on maintenance and capital projects [5][9]. - Limbach aims to establish long-term relationships with clients, focusing on those with multiple locations and significant operational expenditures [11][21]. Strategic Differentiation - Limbach differentiates itself through account-focused strategies, engineering expertise, and the ability to provide both engineered solutions and installation services [6][13]. - The company has shifted its business model from general contractor work to owner-direct services, increasing the proportion of owner-direct work from 10% five years ago to a projected 70-80% [15][32]. Financial Performance and Goals - The company aims for a gross margin of 35-40%, aligning with OEMs, and has seen improvements in adjusted gross margin and profit despite static revenue [17][18]. - Revenue growth is forecasted for the first time since 2019, attributed to the shift towards owner-direct services [31][32]. Acquisition Strategy - Limbach is focused on geographic expansion through acquisitions, targeting $8 million to $10 million in adjusted EBITDA per year [18][37]. - The company seeks acquisitions that fit culturally, have a niche for value addition, and offer overlapping customer bases [25][42]. Customer Relationships - Limbach prioritizes customers with scale and multiple locations, balancing recurring work with capital projects [21][22]. - The company has established relationships with national healthcare providers, indicating potential for growth in service offerings across multiple locations [23][24]. Operational Insights - The company emphasizes a disciplined approach to acquisitions, learning from past experiences to enhance margins and operational efficiency [27][43]. - Limbach's operational model focuses on embedding itself within client operations to become indispensable, ensuring long-term dependency [12][34]. Conclusion - Limbach Holdings is strategically positioning itself as a leader in building system solutions, focusing on durable demand markets, enhancing customer relationships, and pursuing growth through acquisitions while improving financial performance and operational efficiency [34][31].

Limbach (LMB) Q1 2025 Earnings Call May 06, 2025 09:00 AM ET Company Participants Julie Kegley - SVPMichael McCann - Director, President & CEOJayme Brooks - Executive VP & CFOBrian Brophy - Associate Vice President Conference Call Participants Rob Brown - Founding Partner & Senior Research AnalystChris Moore - Senior AnalystGerry Sweeney - Managing Director, Senior Research Analyst Operator Good morning, and welcome to the First Quarter '20 '20 '5 Limbach Holdings, Inc. Earnings Conference Call and Webcast. ...

Limbach (LMB) Q1 2025 Earnings Call May 06, 2025 09:00 AM ET Speaker0 Good morning, and welcome to the First Quarter '20 '20 '5 Limbach Holdings, Inc. Earnings Conference Call and Webcast. All participants will be in listen only mode. I will now turn the conference over to your host, Julie Kegley of Financial Profiles. You may begin. Speaker1 Good morning and thank you for joining us today to discuss Limbach Holdings financial results for the first quarter twenty twenty five. Yesterday, Limbach issued its e ...

Company Overview - Limbach specializes in revitalizing and maintaining mission-critical systems in existing facilities [5] - The company has approximately 1,400 team members and operates across 20 branch locations [11, 13] - Limbach focuses on six distinct vertical markets to diversify revenue streams [18] Financial Performance and Strategy - From FY 2019 to FY 2024, Limbach expanded its gross margin by nearly 1,480 bps to 27.8%, driving Adjusted EBITDA Margin more than 4x from 3.0% to 12.3% [33] - The company targets a shift in revenue mix to approximately 80% ODR (Owner Direct Relationships) and approximately 20% GCR (General Contractor Relationships) [32] - Limbach projects total revenue between $610 million and $630 million for 2025, with ODR revenue growth between 23% and 46% [62] - The company anticipates an Adjusted EBITDA between $78 million and $82 million in 2025, resulting in an Adjusted EBITDA Margin between 12.5% and 13.5% [62] Acquisitions and Expansion - Consolidated Mechanical is expected to contribute approximately $23 million in annualized revenue and $4 million in EBITDA beginning in 2025 [53] - Kent Island Mechanical is expected to contribute on average $30 million in revenue and $4 million in EBITDA on a full year basis [59] Q1 2025 Performance - Limbach reported revenue of $133.1 million in Q1 2025, an increase of 11.9% year-over-year [69] - Gross profit for Q1 2025 was $36.7 million, with a gross margin of 27.6% [69] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q1 2025 was $14.9 million, compared to $11.8 million in Q1 2024 [70]

Core Viewpoint - Limbach (LMB) reported quarterly earnings of $1.12 per share, significantly exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.30 per share, marking an earnings surprise of 273.33% [1][2] Financial Performance - The company achieved revenues of $133.11 million for the quarter ended March 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 10.45% and showing an increase from $118.98 million year-over-year [2] - Over the last four quarters, Limbach has consistently surpassed consensus EPS estimates, achieving this four times [2] Stock Performance - Limbach shares have increased approximately 20.7% since the beginning of the year, contrasting with the S&P 500's decline of -3.3% [3] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.75, with projected revenues of $144.46 million, and for the current fiscal year, the estimate is $3.45 on revenues of $609.16 million [7] Industry Outlook - The Building Products - Maintenance Service industry, to which Limbach belongs, is currently ranked in the top 2% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating a favorable outlook for the sector [8] - Empirical research suggests a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, which can impact Limbach's stock performance [5][6]

Revenue and Profitability - Total revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2025, was $133.1 million, an increase of $14.1 million or 11.9% compared to $119.0 million in the same period of 2024 [160]. - ODR revenue increased by $16.1 million, or 21.7%, reaching $90.4 million, while GCR revenue decreased by $2.0 million, or 4.5%, totaling $42.7 million [161]. - Gross profit for the total revenue was $36.7 million, representing a gross margin of 27.6%, compared to $31.1 million and 26.1% in the prior year [160]. - The Company reported a net income of $10.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to $7.6 million in the same period of 2024, reflecting a net margin of 7.7% [160]. - The Company's gross profit for the three months ended March 31, 2025 increased by $5.6 million, or 18.1%, compared to the same period in 2024, with ODR gross profit rising by $4.0 million (18.0%) and GCR gross profit increasing by $1.6 million (18.3%) [162]. Expenses and Costs - Selling, general and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2025, were $26.5 million, or 19.9% of total revenue, compared to $22.9 million, or 19.2% in the prior year [160]. - Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses increased by approximately $3.6 million, or 15.9%, for the three months ended March 31, 2025, primarily due to a $2.0 million increase in payroll-related expenses [164]. - Amortization of intangibles for the period was $1.9 million, up from $1.1 million in the prior year, reflecting the impact of recent acquisitions [160]. - Amortization of intangibles increased by $1.1 million, or 76.3%, for the three months ended March 31, 2025, primarily due to acquisitions [166]. - The Company continues to monitor the impact of inflation and tariffs on its cost structure, with higher costs of materials affecting specific projects in 2024 [183]. Acquisitions and Market Expansion - The Company acquired two companies in 2023 for a total cash consideration of $15.3 million, including ACME for $5.0 million and Industrial Air for $13.5 million [155]. - The acquisition of Kent Island Mechanical for $15.0 million and Consolidated Mechanical for $23.0 million further expanded the Company's market share and capabilities in the mechanical contracting sector [156][157]. - The Company is actively seeking strategic acquisitions to enhance its geographic footprint and service offerings [179]. Backlog and Future Revenue - The Company's ODR backlog as of March 31, 2025 was $249.0 million, up from $225.3 million as of December 31, 2024, with an estimated 87% expected to be recognized as revenue over the remainder of 2025 [170][171]. - The GCR backlog decreased to $120.2 million as of March 31, 2025, from $140.0 million at December 31, 2024, with an estimated 63% expected to be recognized as revenue over the remainder of 2025 [172]. - The Company’s existing current backlog is projected to provide considerable coverage of forecasted revenue for one year from the date of the financial statement issuance [187]. Cash Flow and Liquidity - The Company generated $2.2 million in cash from operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to a cash outflow of $3.9 million for the same period in 2024 [189]. - The Company has $38.1 million in cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2025, which, along with available borrowing capacity of $34.9 million, is expected to meet working capital and capital expenditure requirements for at least the next 12 months [197]. - The Company experienced a cash outflow of $1.9 million in investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2025, slightly down from $2.0 million in 2024 [192]. - Cash flows used in financing activities increased to $7.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to $5.7 million in the same period of 2024 [194]. - The Company’s cash flows are primarily impacted by fluctuations in working capital, influenced by contract mix and timing of cash payments [186]. Debt and Financial Position - As of March 31, 2025, the total long-term debt of the company is $23.692 million, an increase from $23.554 million as of December 31, 2024 [198]. - The company has approximately $113.0 million in surety bonds outstanding as of March 31, 2025, compared to $109.3 million as of December 31, 2024 [199]. - The company believes its $800.0 million bonding capacity provides a significant competitive advantage over competitors with limited bonding capacity [199]. - The Company’s current ratio improved to 1.55 as of March 31, 2025, up from 1.46 as of December 31, 2024, indicating better liquidity [188]. Tax and Other Income - The Company recorded an income tax benefit of $2.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to $0.3 million for the same period in 2024, with an effective tax rate of (27.8)% [168]. - Total other income decreased to $0.08 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, down from $0.7 million in 2024, driven by a loss associated with the interest rate swap arrangement [167]. - The change in fair value of contingent consideration related to acquisitions was $427,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2025 [160]. - The change in fair value of contingent consideration was an expense of $0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, down from $0.6 million in 2024 [165]. - The company recognized interest income of approximately $0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025 [211]. Pension and Insurance - The company participates in approximately 50 multiemployer pension plans (MEPPs) and is responsible for any plan underfunding [202]. - The company accrues for the unfunded portion of costs for both reported claims and claims incurred but not reported related to its self-insurance policies [201]. - The company has not experienced any losses in its cash and cash equivalents, maintaining a conservative investment policy [211].

Financial Performance - Total revenue for Q1 2025 was $133.1 million, an increase of 11.9% from $119.0 million in Q1 2024[5] - Record quarterly net income reached $10.2 million, or $0.85 per diluted share, compared to $7.6 million, or $0.64 per diluted share in the prior year, representing a 34.6% increase[11] - Adjusted EBITDA increased by 26.5% to $14.9 million from $11.8 million in Q1 2024[11] - Total gross profit was $36.7 million, an increase of 18.1% from $31.1 million, with a gross profit margin rising from 26.1% to 27.6%[7] - Operating income increased to $7,911,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2025, up 21.1% from $6,532,000 in the prior year[26] - Net income for the first quarter of 2025 was $10,214,000, compared to $7,586,000 in the first quarter of 2024, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 34.1%[22] - Adjusted net income for Q1 2025 was $13,512,000, a 39.0% increase from $9,725,000 in Q1 2024[32] - Adjusted diluted earnings per share for Q1 2025 was $1.12, up from $0.82 in Q1 2024[32] Revenue Segments - Owner Direct Relationships (ODR) revenue grew by 21.7%, or $16.1 million, to $90.4 million, accounting for 67.9% of total revenue[5] - The ODR segment's growth is expected to continue, supported by strong cash generation and a solid M&A pipeline[4] - The company is focused on expanding its ODR segment to enhance margins and drive more predictable, recurring revenue[3] Expenses and Liabilities - Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses increased by approximately $3.6 million to $26.5 million, representing 19.9% of revenue, up from 19.2%[11] - Selling, general and administrative expenses rose to $26,518,000 in Q1 2025, an increase of 15.9% from $22,876,000 in Q1 2024[26] - Total liabilities decreased to $175,240,000 as of March 31, 2025, compared to $198,638,000 at December 31, 2024, a reduction of 11.7%[20] Cash and Current Assets - Cash and cash equivalents stood at $38.1 million, with a current ratio of 1.55x as of March 31, 2025[8] - Cash and cash equivalents decreased to $38,155,000 at the end of the period from $48,304,000 at the end of the previous year, a decline of 21.0%[24] - Total current assets decreased to $204,500,000 as of March 31, 2025, down from $220,334,000 at December 31, 2024, a decrease of 7.2%[20] Guidance and Provisions - The company affirms its 2025 revenue guidance of $610 million to $630 million and Adjusted EBITDA guidance of $78 million to $82 million[9] - The company reported a provision for credit losses of $77,000 in Q1 2025, up from $39,000 in Q1 2024, reflecting increased caution in credit management[22] Other Financial Metrics - Adjusted EBITDA for Q1 2025 was $14,872,000, representing a 26.0% increase from $11,757,000 in Q1 2024[32] - Adjusted EBITDA margin improved to 11.2% in Q1 2025, compared to 9.9% in Q1 2024[32] - The company incurred restructuring costs of $67,000 in Q1 2025, down from $120,000 in Q1 2024[32] - Stock-based compensation expense rose to $2,012,000 in Q1 2025, compared to $1,249,000 in Q1 2024[32] - Diluted weighted average shares outstanding increased to 12,051,678 in Q1 2025 from 11,894,747 in Q1 2024[32]

Market Overview - The three major U.S. indexes (Nasdaq Composite, S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average) ended the past trading week positively, with gains of 3.52%, 2.86%, and 3.41% respectively [1] - Despite a gloomy economic outlook due to shifts in U.S. foreign tariff policy, weak economic data, and rising geopolitical tensions, investors are optimistic about strong earnings results and potential reductions in import duties by the Trump administration [1] Economic Indicators - The U.S. GDP contracted for the first time in three years, growing at an annualized rate of 0.3% in Q1 2025, down from 2.4% in the previous quarter [2] - Consumer sentiment index dropped to 52.2 in April from 57.0 in March, marking the lowest level since July 2022 [2] - The consumer confidence index fell to 86 in April from 92.9 in March [2] - The Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) index remained flat in March, while personal consumption and personal income grew by 0.7% and 0.5% respectively, exceeding expectations [2] Manufacturing and Labor Market - The manufacturing PMI for April contracted to 48.7% from 49% in March, indicating contraction in manufacturing activities [3] - Nonfarm payrolls increased by 177,000 in April, exceeding analyst expectations, while the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.2% [3] Stock Performance and Recommendations - ADMA Biologics, Inc. shares gained 48.6% since being upgraded to Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) on March 4, outperforming the S&P 500's 3% decrease [4] - Intrepid Potash, Inc. shares returned 28.9% since its upgrade to Zacks Rank 2 on March 6, also outperforming the S&P 500 [5] - The Zacks Model Portfolio of Rank 1 stocks has outperformed the S&P 500 index by almost 13 percentage points since 1988, with an annualized average return of +23.9% [7] Focus List and Portfolios - Constellation Brands, Inc. gained 8.2% over the past 12 weeks, while Cheniere Energy, Inc. returned 2.3% during the same period [11] - The Zacks Focus List portfolio returned -2.96% in Q1 2025, compared to -4.30% for the S&P 500 index [12] - The Zacks Earnings Certain Admiral Portfolio (ECAP) returned +3.20% in Q1 2025, outperforming the S&P 500 index's -4.30% decline [16] Dividend and Defensive Stocks - Coca-Cola Company returned 13.5% over the past 12 weeks, while Quest Diagnostics Incorporated increased by 7.9% [18] - The Zacks Earnings Certain Dividend Portfolio (ECDP) returned +5.74% in Q1 2025, outperforming the S&P 500 index's -2.41% pullback [19] Top 10 Stocks Performance - Primo Brands Corporation increased by 7.4% year-to-date, compared to the S&P 500 index's 3.3% decrease [22] - The Top 10 portfolio returned +62.98% in 2024, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 index's +25.04% return [22][23]

Core Insights - Consistent earnings growth is important for company profitability, but earnings acceleration is more effective in driving stock prices higher [1] - Companies like The Kroger Co. (KR), Lam Research Corporation (LRCX), and Limbach Holdings, Inc. (LMB) are currently showing strong earnings acceleration [1] Earnings Acceleration Definition - Earnings acceleration refers to the incremental growth in a company's earnings per share (EPS), specifically when quarter-over-quarter growth rates increase over time [2] Importance of Earnings Acceleration - Unlike earnings growth, which may already be priced into stocks, earnings acceleration can identify stocks that have not yet attracted investor attention, leading to potential price rallies [3] Earnings Growth Trends - An increasing percentage of earnings growth indicates a fundamentally sound company, while stagnant or decelerating growth can signal consolidation or potential price declines [4] Screening Parameters for Earnings Acceleration - The screening process involves identifying stocks where the last two quarter-over-quarter EPS growth rates exceed previous periods' growth rates, with projected growth rates for the upcoming quarter also expected to exceed prior periods [5][6][7] Top Stocks Identified - The screening narrowed down to five stocks, with the top three being: - **Kroger**: A food and drug retailer in the U.S. with an expected earnings growth rate of 6% for the current year [8] - **Lam Research**: A company that designs and manufactures semiconductor processing equipment, with an expected earnings growth rate of 32.8% for the current year [10] - **Limbach Holdings**: A building systems solution company with an expected earnings growth rate of 12% over the next five years [11]

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or ...