CHICAGO, Sept. 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Environmental & Public Health International (EPHI) announced that its equity-focused water infrastructure tool, the Lead Service Line Replacement Cost Calculator (LSLRCC), has been featured in the American Water Works Association (AWWA) Opflow magazine. This prestigious recognition positions the LSLRCC as a leading solution for municipalities, public water systems, and planners proactively modeling lead service line replacement costs. The multilingual resource, av ...

Group 1 - U.S. added only 22,000 jobs in August, indicating a slowdown in job growth as the third quarter comes to a close [1] - Core & Main (CNM) is highlighted as a company to watch, distributing products for water, wastewater, storm drainage, and fire protection infrastructure [1] - The S&P 500 reached another high following Nvidia's earnings report, with stocks like Rubrik and Micron contributing to this bullish trend [2][4] Group 2 - Rubrik's stock surged by 198%, positioning it near a buy point as it develops a cloud data management platform [4] - Synopsys achieved a relative strength rating benchmark of over 80, attracting investor attention due to its positive performance [4] - Walmart and Elbit are noted as discount retail and defense leaders, respectively, that are in or near buy zones [4]

Core Viewpoint - Xylem is positioned to benefit from secular growth trends in water infrastructure and treatment, with a strong potential for margin improvement, making its current stock price justifiable for market-beating returns [1][9][38]. Industry Demand Growth - The demand for water infrastructure, treatment, and filtration is increasing due to factors such as drought conditions in the U.S. Southwest and globally, leading to a reliance on man-made water production and recycling [3][4]. - Overall demand for water infrastructure is projected to grow at an annual rate of 3%, while Xylem has historically achieved an average revenue growth of 6.2% [4]. - Key drivers of water demand include population growth, data centers, manufacturing, desalination, wastewater treatment, leak prevention, and long-distance water movement [6]. Company Growth and Acquisition - Xylem's acquisition of Evoqua for $7.65 billion in early 2023 is expected to create significant revenue synergies and enhance market reach [7][9]. - The company aims to maintain a revenue growth rate of approximately 6% annually, supported by synergies from the Evoqua acquisition, price increases, and market share gains [7][9]. Margin Expansion Opportunities - Xylem's goal is to increase margins by 100 basis points annually through 2027, with current EBITDA margins already reaching 20% [10][12]. - The company has identified low-hanging fruit within its operations, such as eliminating unprofitable products, which can lead to significant margin improvements [23][17]. - Price inelasticity among customers allows Xylem to raise prices with minimal impact on volume, further supporting margin growth [19][20]. Earnings Growth Projections - Consensus estimates indicate strong earnings growth, with normalized earnings expected to grow at a low double-digit rate, while GAAP earnings may grow by 84% by 2029 [22][34]. - Xylem's earnings growth is seen as consistent and enduring, unlike the cyclical nature of the broader S&P 500 market [31][34]. Conclusion - Water scarcity represents a long-term trend, and Xylem, as the market share leader, is well-positioned to capitalize on this trend, making it an attractive investment opportunity at its current stock price [38].

Core Insights - NWPX Infrastructure, Inc. reported record financial results for Q2 2025, with consolidated revenue reaching $133.2 million, a 2.8% increase year-over-year, driven by strong performance in both business segments [3][5][6] - The company achieved a gross margin of 19.0%, up 230 basis points from the previous quarter, reflecting improved production efficiency and market demand [3][5] - The Water Transmission Systems (WTS) segment generated $84.6 million in revenue, while the Precast segment achieved record revenue of $48.6 million, marking a 21.5% increase from the prior year [3][5][6] Company Name Change and Segment Renaming - Effective June 12, 2025, the company changed its name from Northwest Pipe Company to NWPX Infrastructure, Inc. [2] - The "Engineered Steel Pressure Pipe (SPP)" segment was renamed to "Water Transmission Systems (WTS)" to better reflect its capabilities [2] Financial Performance - Q2 2025 net income was $9.1 million, or $0.91 per diluted share, compared to $8.6 million, or $0.86 per diluted share in Q2 2024 [6] - The backlog for the WTS segment increased to $298 million, with total backlog including confirmed orders reaching $348 million, a 20% increase from the end of Q1 2025 [3][5][6] - The Precast segment's gross margin improved by 210 basis points sequentially, supported by higher shipping levels [3][5] Operational Highlights - The company repurchased $15.0 million of common stock from April to July 2025, representing 3.6% of its outstanding shares [5] - As of June 30, 2025, the company had $30.6 million in outstanding revolving loan borrowings and an additional borrowing capacity of approximately $93 million [6] Conference Call Information - A conference call to discuss the Q2 2025 financial results is scheduled for August 8, 2025, at 7:00 a.m. PT [12]

Core Insights - Environmental & Public Health International (EPHI) has launched an equity-focused water infrastructure tool, the Lead Service Line Replacement Cost Calculator (LSLRCC), which has been included in the Lead Innovation Hub, a platform aimed at enhancing lead service line replacement efforts across the U.S. [1][2] Group 1: Tool and Its Purpose - The LSLRCC is designed to provide transparent cost estimates and data-driven planning to support equitable and cost-effective lead service line replacements [3] - This tool aligns with the Environmental Protection Agency's Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) and facilitates access to funding through the State Revolving Fund (SRF) under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) [3][6] Group 2: Collaboration and Goals - The Lead Innovation Hub is a collaborative effort led by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and the Environmental Policy Innovation Center (EPIC) to promote safe and affordable drinking water infrastructure [2][4] - EPHI aims to empower communities, particularly underserved ones, by providing essential tools and knowledge to protect public health and prevent future drinking water contamination [5][6] Group 3: Broader Impact - The initiatives undertaken by EPHI and its partners align with global efforts to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focusing on equitable access to clean drinking water [6]

Core Insights - The company has rebranded from Northwest Pipe Company to NWPX Infrastructure, Inc., reflecting its growth and innovation in the water infrastructure sector [1][2] - The rebranding signifies a transformation into a modern, solutions-driven infrastructure provider with a national presence, while maintaining its legacy of quality and integrity [1][2] - NWPX Infrastructure will continue to operate its engineered steel pressure pipe plants under the Northwest Pipe Company brand, while transitioning its precast business lines to NWPX Geneva and NWPX ParkUSA [2] Company Overview - Founded in 1966, NWPX Infrastructure is a leading manufacturer of water-related infrastructure products and the largest manufacturer of engineered water transmission systems in North America [5] - The company produces a variety of products including steel casing pipe, bar-wrapped concrete cylinder pipe, and pipeline system joints and fittings, as well as high-quality reinforced precast concrete products [5] - NWPX Infrastructure operates 13 manufacturing facilities across North America and is strategically positioned to meet the growing needs of water and wastewater infrastructure [5]

Summary of Select Water Solutions (WTTR) FY Conference Call Company Overview - **Company Name**: Select Water Solutions - **Ticker Symbol**: WTTR - **Industry**: Water Infrastructure, Oil and Gas - **Founded**: July 2017, went public in 2017 [1][2] Core Business and Market Position - **Business Model**: Primarily a water infrastructure company focused on the oil and gas sector, with expansion into municipal water services [2][6] - **Market Leadership**: Leader in water recycling applications, particularly in the Permian Basin, with a significant market share [3][8] - **Revenue Growth**: Transitioned from an oil field service business to a water infrastructure business, with a focus on high free cash flow conversion and low capital expenditures (CapEx) [4][16] Financial Performance - **Cash Flow Conversion**: Capable of converting 70% to 80% of earnings to cash, indicating strong financial health [4][17] - **Debt Management**: Maintains a conservative debt level, with debt less than one year of EBITDA [5][34] - **Stock Buybacks**: Approximately $200 million worth of stock repurchased during the growth phase [6][37] - **Dividend Policy**: Increased dividend by 17% last year, indicating commitment to returning value to shareholders [35][36] Infrastructure and Services - **Water Recycling**: Focus on recycling produced water for fracking, reducing the need for fresh water [7][23] - **Municipal Expansion**: Recently entered the municipal water space with a significant investment in Colorado, acquiring 16,600 acre-feet of water rights [30][31] - **Long-term Contracts**: Contracts with municipalities can last 30 to 50 years, providing stable revenue streams [32][33] Strategic Initiatives - **Mergers and Acquisitions**: Actively pursuing M&A to build out water management networks, enhancing service offerings [5][28] - **Chemical Technologies**: In-house chemical manufacturing to treat water for fracking, differentiating the company from competitors [11][48] - **Environmental Focus**: Initiatives to reclaim waste water for agricultural use, promoting sustainability [7][30] Market Dynamics and Challenges - **Cyclical Nature**: Business is cyclical, heavily influenced by oil and gas completion activities [17][19] - **Regulatory Environment**: Facing increasing regulations regarding water use in oil and gas, particularly in regions with limited water resources [49][52] - **Competitive Landscape**: Limited competition in fixed recycling facilities, positioning Select Water Solutions uniquely in the market [47] Future Outlook - **Growth Opportunities**: Anticipates significant growth in the municipal and industrial water sectors, with plans to secure long-term contracts [36][45] - **Investment in Infrastructure**: Committed to building out infrastructure to support water management needs across various basins in the U.S. [13][19] - **Focus on Recycling**: Emphasizes recycling as the most economically viable solution for water management in the oil and gas industry [55] This summary encapsulates the key points discussed during the Select Water Solutions FY Conference Call, highlighting the company's strategic direction, financial health, and market positioning within the water infrastructure and oil and gas sectors.

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Consolidated net sales increased by 3.1% to $364.3 million, surpassing the previous year's strong results [21][7] - Gross profit decreased by 1.8% to $128 million, with a gross margin of 35.1%, down 180 basis points year over year [21][22] - Adjusted operating income increased by 9.6% to $73.1 million, with an adjusted operating margin improving by 120 basis points to 20.1% [23][24] - Adjusted EBITDA reached a record $84.5 million, up 2.8% year over year, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 23.2% [24] - Adjusted net income per diluted share increased by 13.3% to $0.34, setting a new second quarter record [25] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Water Flow Solutions (WFS) net sales increased by 5.1% to $216.2 million, driven by higher volumes of iron gate and specialty valves [25] - Water Management Solutions (WMS) net sales increased by 0.3% to $148.1 million, primarily due to increased volumes of repair products [27] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Approximately 92% of net sales are in the U.S., with 60% to 65% of net sales used for the repair and replacement of municipal water infrastructure [11][21] - The company is experiencing resilient end market demand, particularly in the municipal market, while facing uncertainty in the residential construction market [52][33] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on enhancing operational excellence, increasing supply chain efficiencies, and developing advanced manufacturing capabilities [14][10] - There is a strong emphasis on adapting to external challenges, including recently enacted tariffs, through pricing actions and supply chain mitigation plans [10][17] - The company aims to capture benefits from investments needed to address aging North American water infrastructure [32][34] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to adapt to external challenges and maintain focus on delivering critical products [10][34] - The company updated its fiscal 2025 outlook, increasing guidance for consolidated net sales while maintaining adjusted EBITDA guidance [30][31] - Management highlighted the importance of monitoring customer order patterns closely due to uncertainties in the market [19][52] Other Important Information - The company has a strong balance sheet with a net debt leverage ratio below one and no debt maturities until June 2029 [29] - Free cash flow expectations are maintained at over 80% of adjusted net income for 2025 [31] Q&A Session Summary Question: Was there any pre-buy observed due to tariffs? - Management indicated that there were no significant signs of pre-buying, but they are closely analyzing order patterns [40][41] Question: Is the new foundry fully operational? - The new foundry is fully operational, and the old foundry is no longer producing products [42] Question: What is the expected gross margin for the next quarter? - Management expects improvements in gross margin throughout the back half of the year, with an implied range of about 37% [74][75] Question: How much of the business is tied to new lot development versus repair and replacement? - Approximately 60% to 65% of revenue is associated with repair and replacement, while residential construction accounts for about 20% to 25% [86]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Consolidated net sales increased by 3.1% to $364.3 million, surpassing the previous year's strong results [20] - Gross profit decreased by 1.8% to $128 million, with a gross margin of 35.1%, down 180 basis points year over year [20] - Adjusted EBITDA reached a record $84.5 million, an increase of 2.8% compared to the prior year, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 23.2% [23] - Adjusted net income per diluted share increased by 13.3% to $0.34, setting a new second quarter record [24] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Water Flow Solutions (WFS) net sales increased by 5.1% to $216.2 million, driven by higher volumes of iron gate and specialty valves [24] - Water Management Solutions (WMS) net sales increased by 0.3% to $148.1 million, primarily due to increased volumes of repair products [26] - Adjusted operating income for WFS increased by 6.3% to $55.9 million, while adjusted EBITDA decreased by 0.3% to $62.2 million [25] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Approximately 92% of net sales are in the U.S., with 60% to 65% of net sales used for the repair and replacement of municipal water infrastructure [11] - The company is experiencing resilient end market demand, particularly in the municipal market, while facing challenges in the residential construction market [52] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on enhancing operational excellence, improving supply chain efficiencies, and developing advanced manufacturing capabilities [14] - Recent investments and experience with inflationary cycles position the company to strengthen its market presence [18] - The company aims to capture benefits from investments needed to address aging North American water infrastructure [31] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the ability to adapt to external challenges, including recently enacted tariffs [9] - The company is increasing its annual guidance for 2025 net sales while maintaining adjusted EBITDA guidance due to higher costs from tariffs [29] - Management anticipates continued resilience in the municipal market, with some uncertainty in the residential construction market [52] Other Important Information - The company has a strong balance sheet with a net debt leverage ratio below one and no debt maturities until June 2029 [28] - Free cash flow for the first half of the year was $47.3 million, representing 51% of adjusted net income [28] Q&A Session Summary Question: Was there any pre-buy observed due to tariffs? - Management indicated that there was no significant pre-buy observed, but it is being analyzed closely [39][40] Question: Is the new foundry fully operational? - The new foundry is fully operational, and the impairment charge of $800,000 was related to the legacy foundry [42][43] Question: What is the outlook for capital expenditures now that the new foundry is operational? - Most capital for the new foundry has already been spent, and anticipated CapEx will remain at 3% to 4% of sales [48][49] Question: How is end market demand being affected by tariffs? - Management expects continued resiliency in the municipal market, but some uncertainty in the residential construction market [52] Question: How are pricing strategies being adjusted in light of tariffs? - Targeted price increases have been implemented for specialty valve and repair products, but they may not fully cover the expected tariff impacts [60][62] Question: What is the expected gross margin for the next quarter? - Management anticipates improvements in gross margin, expecting an implied range of about 37% for the back half of the year [74]

Q2 Fiscal Year 2025 Performance - Net sales reached $364.3 million, a 3.1% increase year-over-year[12] - Adjusted EBITDA was $84.5 million, up 2.8% compared to the previous year[12] - Adjusted net income per diluted share increased by 13.3% to $0.34[12] - Free cash flow was $5.1 million, an increase of $20.9 million year-over-year[12] - Gross margin was 35.1%, a decrease of 180 bps[12] Fiscal Year 2025 Outlook - The company expects net sales between $1.39 billion and $1.40 billion, representing a 5.7% to 6.5% increase year-over-year[42] - Adjusted EBITDA is projected to be between $310 million and $315 million, an 8.9% to 10.6% increase year-over-year[42] - Capital expenditures are estimated to be between $45 million and $50 million[42] - The company anticipates free cash flow to be greater than 80% of adjusted net income[42] Tariff Impact and Mitigation - The company is implementing targeted price actions and supply chain initiatives to mitigate the impact of newly enacted tariffs[14, 15]