Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net revenue grew to CAD 1.7 billion in Q3 2025, an increase of almost 12% compared to Q3 2024, driven by organic and acquisition growth, each over 5% [3][8] - Adjusted EBITDA increased by close to 18% year over year, achieving a record margin of 19% [3][8] - Adjusted EPS grew by 17.7% compared to Q3 2024, reaching CAD 1.53 [9] - Year-to-date operating cash flows increased by 86% compared to 2024, from CAD 296 million to CAD 551 million [9] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The water business delivered almost 13% organic growth, while energy and resources achieved nearly 10% organic growth [3] - In the U.S., net revenue increased over 14% in Q3, driven by 4.6% organic growth and almost 9% acquisition growth [4] - The buildings business saw net revenue increase by more than 40% in Q3, attributed to the acquisition of Page and continued organic growth [4] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Canada, net revenue grew 7.6% in Q3, driven entirely by organic growth, with double-digit growth in water and energy resources [5][6] - Global business delivered net revenue growth of almost 11% in Q3, achieving 5.5% organic and 2.8% acquisition growth [7] - The U.K. and Australia saw continued double-digit organic growth in the water business due to public sector investment [7] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company maintains its net revenue growth guidance for the full year while increasing adjusted EBITDA margin outlook to 17.2%-17.5% [13] - The company is optimistic about growth in Canada and globally, expecting mid to high single-digit organic net revenue growth [13] - The company is focused on diversifying its business and pursuing M&A opportunities to support growth [14] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in strong demand driven by ongoing needs and priorities of clients, despite some near-term challenges in the U.S. market [13][18] - The recent federal budget in Canada is expected to prioritize infrastructure investments, providing long-term support for the industry [13] - Management remains positive about the prospects for 2026, citing strong momentum in various sectors [19] Other Important Information - The contract backlog stood at CAD 8.4 billion at the end of Q3, an almost 15% increase year over year [11] - Significant project wins include a CAD 7 billion high-voltage project for Manitoba Hydro and a $745 million project in South Carolina [12] Q&A Session Summary Question: Thoughts on 2026 outlook - Management indicated strong momentum going into 2026, with continued support in the water business and infrastructure projects in Canada [17][18] Question: Canadian infrastructure opportunities - Management highlighted solid organic growth in Canada, particularly in land development and water projects, with no slowdown expected [22][23] Question: Concerns about U.S. market conditions - Management acknowledged some uncertainty in the U.S. but emphasized strong macro fundamentals and ongoing demand drivers [31][32] Question: Update on M&A pipeline - Management confirmed a robust M&A environment with ongoing discussions and a positive outlook for future acquisitions [35] Question: Margin sustainability into 2026 - Management expressed confidence in continued EBITDA margin expansion, driven by organic revenue activity [58][59] Question: Exposure to defense spending - Management noted limited exposure to defense but sees potential growth opportunities in related infrastructure projects [61][62] Question: Free cash flow performance - Management attributed strong free cash flow to effective working capital management and expects continued positive trends [64][65]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net revenue grew to CAD 1.7 billion in Q3 2025, an increase of almost 12% compared to Q3 2024, driven by organic and acquisition growth, each over 5% [3][8] - Adjusted EBITDA increased by close to 18% year over year, achieving a record margin of 19% [3][8] - Adjusted EPS grew by 17.7% to CAD 1.53 compared to Q3 2024 [9] - Year-to-date operating cash flows increased by 86% compared to 2024, from CAD 296 million to CAD 551 million [9] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The water business delivered almost 13% organic growth, while energy and resources achieved nearly 10% organic growth [3] - In the U.S., net revenue increased over 14% in Q3, driven by 4.6% organic growth and almost 9% acquisition growth [4] - The buildings business saw net revenue increase by more than 40% in Q3, attributed to the acquisition of Page and continued organic growth [4] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Canada, net revenue grew 7.6% in Q3, driven entirely by organic growth, with double-digit growth in water and energy resources [5][6] - Global business delivered net revenue growth of almost 11% in Q3, achieving 5.5% organic and 2.8% acquisition growth [7] - The U.K. and Australia saw continued double-digit organic growth in the water business due to public sector investment [7] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company maintains its net revenue growth guidance for the full year while increasing adjusted EBITDA margin outlook to 17.2%-17.5% [13] - The company is optimistic about growth in Canada and globally, supported by ongoing high levels of activity in water and infrastructure sectors [14] - The company aims to deliver net revenue of CAD 7.5 billion by the end of next year, reflecting its strategic plan for 2024 to 2026 [14] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed strong momentum going into 2026, with continued support in the water business and infrastructure investments in Canada [17][18] - There are concerns about slower procurement cycles in the U.S. but management remains optimistic about long-term demand drivers [29][32] - The company sees strong demand for defense-related infrastructure projects, although current exposure is limited [60][61] Other Important Information - The contract backlog stood at CAD 8.4 billion, an almost 15% increase year over year, representing approximately 13 months of work [11] - The integration of the Page acquisition is progressing well, with expected revenue synergies [51][52] Q&A Session Summary Question: Outlook for 2026 - Management indicated strong momentum going into 2026, with continued support in the water business and infrastructure investments in Canada [17][18] Question: Canadian Infrastructure Opportunities - Management highlighted solid organic growth in Canada, particularly in land development and water projects, with no slowdown expected [22][23] Question: Concerns about Economic Data - Management acknowledged some uncertainty in the U.S. market but emphasized strong long-term demand drivers [29][32] Question: M&A Pipeline Update - Management confirmed a robust M&A pipeline with ongoing discussions and a positive outlook for future acquisitions [35][36] Question: Margin Sustainability - Management expressed confidence in continued EBITDA margin expansion, driven by organic revenue activity [57][58] Question: Free Cash Flow Performance - Management noted strong free cash flow performance due to effective working capital management and collection efforts [63][64] Question: Data Center Activity - Management reported working on over 100 data centers, with expectations for growth in this area [82][83]

Core Insights - The overall fixed asset investment in China for the first ten months of 2025 reached 4,089.14 billion yuan, showing a year-on-year decline of 1.7%. However, project investment excluding real estate development increased by 1.7% [2] Group 1: Equipment Investment - Investment in equipment and tools saw a significant increase of 13.0% year-on-year, contributing 1.9 percentage points to the overall investment growth. This category accounted for 17.0% of total investment, up 2.2 percentage points from the previous year [3] Group 2: Industrial Investment - Industrial investment grew by 4.9% year-on-year, contributing 1.7 percentage points to overall investment growth. Within this sector, mining investment increased by 3.8%, while manufacturing investment rose by 2.7%. Notably, investment in railway, shipbuilding, aerospace, and other transportation equipment surged by 20.1%, and automotive manufacturing investment grew by 17.5% [4] Group 3: High-Tech Service Investment - Investment in high-tech services increased by 5.5% year-on-year, representing 5.3% of total service investment, an increase of 0.5 percentage points from the previous year. Information service investment alone grew by 32.7% [5] Group 4: Infrastructure Investment - Infrastructure investment in key areas saw rapid growth, with internet and related services investment rising by 20.0% and water transportation investment increasing by 9.4%. Private investment in infrastructure grew by 4.5%, making up 22.6% of total infrastructure investment, an increase of 1.0 percentage points from the previous year [6] Group 5: Livelihood Investment - In the primary industry, forestry investment surged by 35.6%, and fishery investment grew by 10.9%. In the secondary and tertiary industries, investment in electricity and heat production increased by 14.6%, while accommodation and catering investment rose by 10.5% [7]

Core Insights - The discussion emphasizes the importance of adding infrastructure companies to investment portfolios, highlighting the global perspective on infrastructure exposure as a beneficial addition [1][7]. Group 1: BKGI Fund Strategy - The BNY Mellon Global Infrastructure Income ETF (BKGI) aims to deliver a 6% gross dividend yield while also providing capital appreciation, reflecting a defensive investment strategy [3][11]. - BKGI distinguishes itself by including both traditional and non-traditional infrastructure companies, expanding its investment universe to over 500 securities [4][5]. - The fund employs an active management approach, contrasting with many passive infrastructure ETFs, allowing for flexibility and active stock selection [5][6]. Group 2: Global Exposure and Market Position - BKGI's global strategy offers a broader opportunity set compared to funds focused solely on U.S. infrastructure, capitalizing on the trend of investors seeking international exposure [6]. - The fund has a longer track record than many competitors, with a history dating back to 2011, despite its official launch in November 2022 [7]. Group 3: Economic Context and Investment Rationale - Current macroeconomic conditions and fiscal policy trends are prompting investors to reconsider their portfolio allocations, making infrastructure exposure appealing [8]. - The defensive nature of infrastructure investments can provide downside protection during economic volatility, making it attractive for income-seeking investors [8][9].

麦肯锡公司预测称，亚洲地区以预计70万亿美元的基建投资规模遥遥领先，主要得益于中国和印度等经 济体的持续增长。 【环球网财经综合报道】香港万得通讯社报道，麦肯锡公司近期的一份报告预计，从现在到2040年间， 全球基建投资将高达106万亿美元。这意味着随着快速城市化和数字化转型的推进，全球基础设施需求 正以前所未有的速度增长。 报告还提到，基础设施是每个国家经济的支柱，连接民众、为工业提供动力并支撑经济增长；从宏观层 面来看，人口增长、城市扩张以及全球向低碳和数字化系统的转型将推动基础设施支出增长。 此外，据麦肯锡公司预测，能源行业将需要巨额资本流入用于可再生能源项目、电网现代化改造以及满 足日益增长的能源需求，预计到2040年累计投资将达到23万亿美元。同时，社会基础设施（包括医疗、 教育和公共设施）将获得16万亿美元的投资，而废物与水务系统及农业合计再增加11万亿美元。 ...

Economic Growth - Five cities, Meizhou, Zhanjiang, Chaozhou, Shanwei, and Qingyuan, have economic growth rates exceeding the provincial average of 4.1%, with rates of 6.0%, 5.0%, 5.0%, 4.5%, and 4.4% respectively [2] - Meizhou's economic growth accelerated significantly from 3.6% last year to 6.0% this year, maintaining the highest growth rate in the province [2] - Zhanjiang's economic growth also improved from 1.2% last year to 5.0% this year, indicating a strong recovery [2] Industrial Performance - Meizhou's industrial added value increased by 9.0%, with significant contributions from the power, electronic information, and mechanical manufacturing sectors, which grew by 7.7%, 24.7%, and 9.6% respectively [3] - Zhanjiang led the province with a 10.4% increase in industrial added value, driven by the green steel, petrochemical, and energy industries [3] - Other cities like Yunfu, Heyuan, Qingyuan, and Shaoguan also reported industrial growth rates above the provincial average of 3.5% [3] Infrastructure and Investment - Infrastructure investment in cities such as Chaozhou, Jieyang, Zhanjiang, and Meizhou grew significantly, with rates of 28.4%, 17.3%, 14.8%, and 13.9% respectively [5] - Industrial investment in Maoming surged by 30.7%, attributed to the implementation of various industrial projects [5] - Industrial technological upgrades also saw substantial growth, with Maoming, Meizhou, and Yangjiang reporting increases of 67.1%, 48.5%, and 39.0% respectively [5] Agricultural and Consumer Market - Agricultural output in cities like Shaoguan, Chaozhou, and Shanwei grew above the provincial rate of 4.9%, with respective growth rates of 6.2%, 6.2%, and 5.8% [6] - The tourism and consumption sectors showed positive trends, with Shantou's tourist turnover increasing by 8.1% and accommodation facilities seeing a 20.3% rise in overnight visitors [7] - Real estate sales also experienced growth, with Yangjiang's sales area increasing by 15.9% and Chaozhou's real estate development investment rising by 46.6% in September [7]

Economic Overview - As of November 3, all economic data for 21 cities in Guangdong for the first three quarters of 2025 have been released, with Shenzhen leading the province with a GDP of 2.79 trillion yuan [2] - The overall GDP growth rate for the province is 4.1%, with Meizhou leading at 6.0%, followed by Shenzhen at 5.5%, and both Zhanjiang and Chaozhou at 5.0% [2] Industrial Growth - Zhanjiang has the highest industrial value-added growth rate at 10.4%, with 12 cities exceeding the provincial average of 3.5% [5] - Meizhou's industrial value-added growth is 9.0%, driven by advanced and high-tech manufacturing sectors growing by 17.1% and 22.5% respectively [7] - Huizhou's industrial value-added increased by 8.5%, with significant growth in the electronics sector at 12.9% and high-tech manufacturing at 12.5% [8] Investment Trends - Fixed asset investment in cities like Chaozhou, Jieyang, Zhanjiang, Meizhou, and Yangjiang has seen rapid growth, with rates of 28.4%, 17.3%, 14.8%, 13.9%, and 13.1% respectively [9] - Industrial technological transformation investments in cities such as Maoming, Meizhou, Shenzhen, Yangjiang, Chaozhou, and Zhanjiang have exceeded 30% [11] - Maoming's industrial investment grew by 30.7%, while Guangzhou's automotive parts manufacturing investment surged by 38.6% [13] Foreign Trade - Shenzhen continues to lead in foreign trade with an import-export total of 33,643.29 billion yuan, accounting for nearly half of the province's total [14] - Zhaoqing has the highest growth rate in foreign trade at 18.2%, with significant increases in both exports and imports [17] - Guangzhou's foreign trade exceeded 900 billion yuan, with high-tech product exports growing by 16% [17] Consumer Market - The retail sales growth in cities like Huizhou, Guangzhou, and Shanwei has outpaced the provincial average of 2.8% [18] - The "old-for-new" policy has significantly boosted sales in categories such as home appliances and communication devices, with Guangzhou seeing a 2.6-fold increase in furniture sales [20] - Agricultural production remains strong, with three cities—Maoming, Zhanjiang, and Zhaoqing—reporting agricultural output exceeding 500 billion yuan [20]

Core Viewpoint - The "14th Five-Year Plan" emphasizes achieving significant results in "high-quality development" as a primary goal for China's economic growth during this period [4][6]. Economic Growth and Investment - Economists suggest that China should maintain an average economic growth rate of around 5% during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, considering the growth rates of capital accumulation, human capital investment, and technological progress [1][10]. - The government aims to expand effective investment, particularly in major strategic projects and key areas, to ensure reasonable growth in investment and improve investment efficiency [10][11]. Fiscal Policy - The "14th Five-Year Plan" highlights the importance of sustainable fiscal policy, with total government debt projected at 92.6 trillion yuan, representing a debt-to-GDP ratio of 68.7%, which is significantly lower than that of the US and G7 countries [7][8]. - The sustainability of fiscal policy is crucial, with the need to maintain a balance between economic growth and interest rates to ensure the government can meet its debt obligations [8]. Consumption and Demand - The plan mentions consumption 23 times, indicating a strong focus on boosting consumer demand, with suggestions for measures such as subsidies, tax reductions, and social security reforms to stimulate consumption [15][16]. - However, it is noted that increasing consumption rates do not necessarily correlate with improved social welfare, and higher investment rates are linked to higher economic growth [15][17]. Infrastructure Investment - The plan emphasizes the role of infrastructure investment in stimulating economic growth and consumer demand, suggesting that increasing infrastructure investment is essential for achieving the 5% economic growth target [19][20]. - The government is encouraged to raise the deficit ratio to support infrastructure projects, which can create a positive cycle of income and consumption growth [9][19]. Income Distribution - The plan proposes improving the income distribution system to increase the share of residents' income in national income distribution, which is deemed necessary for addressing income inequality and enhancing consumption [20].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company achieved record revenue of $639 million, up 2% from the prior year, driven by higher cement sales volume and contributions from recently acquired aggregates businesses [10] - Earnings per share (EPS) was $4.23, down 1% from the second quarter of fiscal 2025, reflecting lower net earnings primarily due to reduced wallboard sales volume [10] - Operating cash flow decreased 12% to $205 million, primarily due to working capital changes [12] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - In the heavy materials sector, revenue increased by 11%, driven by increased cement sales volume and a 24% increase in concrete and aggregates revenue [10] - Record aggregates sales volume was up 103%, including contributions from recently acquired businesses, with organic aggregates sales volume up 35% [11] - The light materials sector saw a revenue decrease of 13% to $213 million, reflecting lower wallboard sales volume and a 2% decrease in wallboard sales prices [11] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Cement and aggregates volumes increased for the second consecutive quarter, with a favorable outlook for the remainder of the fiscal year due to unspent funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act [5] - Wallboard volumes were impacted by reduced demand due to high interest rates and affordability challenges, with a noted stability in wallboard pricing [6] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on long-term growth investments, including a $430 million modernization and expansion project at the Laramie, Wyoming cement plant, expected to be completed by the end of calendar 2026 [7][8] - The company is also modernizing the Duke, Oklahoma wallboard facility, which will lower production costs by about 20% [9] - The company continues to seek high growth, high return projects and is open to M&A opportunities that meet return criteria [9] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed cautious optimism regarding cement and aggregates volume recovery, supported by infrastructure spending and private non-residential construction [20] - The company remains focused on long-term growth despite short-term challenges in the residential construction market affecting wallboard demand [6][7] - Management highlighted the importance of maintaining a balance between price and volume, emphasizing a preference for price stability [18] Other Important Information - The company repurchased approximately 396,000 shares for $89 million during the quarter, returning a total of $97 million to shareholders [12] - The capital spending for fiscal 2026 is expected to be in the range of $475 million to $500 million, with a projected decrease in spending for fiscal 2027 [34] Q&A Session Summary Question: Wallboard volume performance and demand drivers - Management noted a significant pullback in production from builders during July and August, impacting wallboard demand, but emphasized a long-term positive outlook due to underconsumption of wallboard in the U.S. [15][16] Question: Cement volume drivers and future expectations - Management indicated that cement volume growth is driven by infrastructure spending and private non-residential construction, with cautious optimism for continued positive trends [19][20] Question: Organic aggregates volume growth - The 35% growth in organic aggregates volume was attributed to both acquisitions and capital improvements in existing operations, with a focus on growing this segment over time [22][23] Question: Cement pricing and competitive pressures - Management acknowledged some price degradation in Texas but noted overall pricing stability in the majority of their markets, with announced price increases effective January 1, 2026 [27][29] Question: Capital expenditures and tax implications - Capital spending for fiscal 2026 is expected to be $475 million to $500 million, with significant tax benefits from accelerated depreciation on new projects [33][36]

Core Viewpoint - Jiangsu Ninghu Expressway (00177) has signed a supplementary agreement to increase the registered capital of Xitai Company by RMB 5,599,095,550, raising the total to RMB 12,099,095,550, in line with the provincial government's policy to expand social infrastructure investment [1] Group 1 - The additional investment will involve new shareholders from Xitai project contractors contributing a total of RMB 650 million, while existing shareholders will contribute proportionally, with the company investing RMB 2,497,047,775 [1] - Following the capital increase, the company's equity stake in Xitai will decrease from 50% to approximately 47.5% [1] - The Xitai project is a key provincial transportation initiative proposed by the Jiangsu provincial government, aiming to commence construction in 2024 [1] Group 2 - The successful implementation of the Xitai project will enhance the company's leading position in the southern Jiangsu road network [1] - The introduction of social capital through this capital increase will provide necessary funding for the Xitai project while reducing the company's own capital investment requirements [1]