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Miller Industries(MLR) - 2024 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-03-06 19:10
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For the full year 2024, net sales were $1.26 billion, an increase of 9% from $1.15 billion in 2023, driven by strong demand for products [11] - Gross profit for 2024 was $170.8 million, or 13.6% of sales, compared to $151.9 million, or 13.2% of sales in 2023, indicating an improvement in gross margin [11] - Net income for 2024 was $63.5 million, or $5.47 per diluted share, up from $58.3 million, or $5.07 per diluted share in 2023, reflecting increases of 8.9% and 7.9% respectively [12] - For Q4 2024, sales were $221.9 million, a decrease of 25.1% from $296.2 million in Q4 2023, primarily due to a decline in chassis shipments [13] - Q4 gross profit was $33.5 million, or 15.1% of sales, compared to $38.6 million, or 13% of sales in Q4 2023, with margin improvement driven by product mix [14] - Q4 net income was $10.5 million, or $0.91 per diluted share, down from $16.7 million, or $1.45 per diluted share in Q4 2023 [15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company experienced a year-over-year improvement in gross margin due to an enhanced product mix and supply chain improvements [12] - The decline in chassis shipments in Q4 2024 was attributed to previously elevated shipments in Q4 2023 due to supply chain disruptions [13] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company anticipates a return to normalized chassis deliveries in the second half of 2025, which should stabilize revenues and margins [22] - The rising costs of equipment ownership, including increased insurance premiums and interest rates, are pressuring end-market towers [25] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on returning capital to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases, with a recent quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 per share approved [19] - An expansion of €8 million at a facility in France has been authorized to meet future demand [44] - The company plans to launch multiple new products across all categories to enhance offerings and support innovation [38] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the business outlook for 2026 and beyond, citing strong demand for products and growth opportunities in military recovery vehicles [47] - The company is preparing for the impacts of advanced clean truck regulations, which limit diesel-powered vehicle registrations in certain states [34] - Management expects to see a significant pickup in requests for quotes for military products globally, indicating potential future revenue growth [41] Other Important Information - The company had a cash balance of $24.3 million as of December 31, 2024, down from $40.6 million as of September 30, 2024, primarily due to a reduction in accounts payable [16] - The debt balance was $65 million at year-end, with a focus on reducing debt levels as cash conversion improves in 2025 [19] Q&A Session Summary Question: Does the 2025 outlook include financial effects of military developments? - Management indicated that the current military contract production dates begin in late 2026, with most production in 2027 and 2028 [51] Question: How do the first half and second half of 2025 compare? - Management expects Q1 and Q2 to be similar to Q4 2024, with chassis shipments lower than normal, followed by upward momentum in the second half of the year [53] Question: Can margin levels be expected to remain the same? - Management anticipates margins to be relatively equal to the previous year [55] Question: How is the company managing working capital? - The company plans to reduce inventories to historical levels, which were about 20% of revenue pre-COVID [57] Question: Are there any measures to help dealers navigate the next few quarters? - Management stated that dealers are currently healthy and working through their chassis inventory buildup, with expectations of returning to optimal levels in the next two to four months [61]