Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for Q1 2026 increased by 4% year-over-year, reaching $251 million compared to $241 million in Q1 2025 [5][13] - Gross profit rose by 20% to $71 million, resulting in a gross margin of 28.4%, an improvement of 380 basis points year-over-year [5][18] - Net income for Q1 2026 was $41.4 million, or $3.40 per diluted share, a 19% increase from $34.8 million, or $2.86 per diluted share in Q1 2025 [20] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - New orders booked in Q1 2026 totaled $439 million, a 63% increase from the same period last year, including significant orders in LNG and data centers [5][13] - The commercial and other industrial market accounted for nearly half of the total orders, with a notable mega order for a data center valued at approximately $75 million [6][15] - The backlog at the end of Q1 2026 was $1.6 billion, a sequential growth of 14% and the highest in the company's history [9][16] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Domestic revenues decreased slightly by 1% to $195 million, while international revenues increased by 29% to $44 million, driven by projects in the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, and Europe [16][17] - Utility sector revenues increased by 35% year-over-year, while oil and gas sector revenues rose by 2%, contrasting with a 31% decline in the petrochemical sector [17] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on expanding productive capacity and optimizing manufacturing processes to meet growing demand, particularly in the LNG and data center markets [8][10] - Strategic investments are being made in facilities and equipment to support growth in medium voltage distribution products and to enhance overall capacity [11][21] - The company aims to maintain a robust backlog and capitalize on favorable market conditions across all major end markets [12][21] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in sustaining strong revenue and earnings growth throughout fiscal 2026, supported by a healthy backlog and positive market dynamics [21] - The company anticipates continued investment in electrical infrastructure to meet rising demand levels, particularly in the LNG and data center sectors [12][21] - Concerns regarding skilled labor shortages were acknowledged, with management actively working to address these challenges [100] Other Important Information - The company has no debt and reported cash and short-term investments of $501 million at the end of Q1 2026 [20] - The expansion of the Jacintoport facility is on schedule, expected to be completed in the second half of fiscal 2026, which will enhance capacity for LNG project support [10] Q&A Session Summary Question: Comments on gross margin sustainability - Management indicated that the gross margin improvement was driven by strong project execution and favorable closeouts, with expectations to maintain margins in the upper 20s [26][27] Question: Concerns about backlog firmness - Management expressed confidence in the durability of the $1.6 billion backlog, noting ongoing discussions with customers about capacity reservations [28][30] Question: Data center project cadence and follow-on orders - Management highlighted the potential for increased production flow and efficiency in data center projects, with ongoing evaluations for additional facilities to support demand [38][39] Question: Pricing environment and raw material costs - Management noted stable pricing across verticals, with strategies in place to manage raw material costs through hedging and locking in prices for engineered components [46][50] Question: Capacity ramp-up and future revenue growth - Management discussed potential capital expenditures for new facilities and indicated that double-digit revenue growth is possible with the new capacity [61][62] Question: Competitive environment in the LNG market - Management acknowledged an intense competitive landscape but emphasized their focus on core strategies and the importance of maintaining relationships with clients [63][64] Question: Cash on the balance sheet and working capital - Management indicated that a portion of the cash would be allocated to new facilities and that approximately 40%-50% of the cash balance would be deployed to support the backlog [82][84]