Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenues for Q1 FY2026 were $155.8 million, a decrease of 6% from $166.3 million in the same quarter last year [8] - Operating income for the quarter was $19.6 million, down 6% from $20.9 million in the prior year, with an operating margin of 12.6%, consistent with the prior year [9] - Net earnings were $16.5 million, or $1.54 per diluted share, slightly down from $17.2 million, or $1.57 per diluted share in the first quarter of last year [9][10] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Irrigation segment revenue decreased by 9% to $133.4 million compared to $147.1 million in the prior year, with North America irrigation revenues down 4% to $74.3 million [10][11] - International irrigation revenues were $59.1 million, down from $69.4 million, primarily due to timing of project revenues and lower sales volumes in Brazil [11] - Infrastructure segment revenues increased by 17% to $22.4 million, driven by higher sales of road safety products, while operating income rose 9% to $4.5 million [12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - North American irrigation market conditions are expected to remain soft, with a forecast of flat to down performance for the full year [43] - International markets, particularly in Latin America, show potential for long-term growth despite current constraints due to elevated interest rates [5][6] - The U.S. administration's $12 billion Farmer Bridge assistance package is not expected to significantly drive demand in the short term [4] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company announced a supply agreement for Zimmatic irrigation systems in the MENA region, valued at approximately $80 million, reflecting its ability to compete in large-scale projects [3] - The infrastructure segment is expected to gain momentum as infrastructure funding and road project activity advance [4] - The company is focused on operational efficiencies and cost management to maintain profitability amid external headwinds [2] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledges ongoing trade uncertainty, low commodity prices, and high input costs affecting customer profitability and sentiment [2] - There is cautious optimism regarding the international project market, particularly in the MENA region, with a robust project funnel [20][21] - Management does not foresee significant improvements in the domestic irrigation market in the near term but believes it is at the trough [18] Other Important Information - Total available liquidity at the end of Q1 was $249.6 million, including $199.6 million in cash and cash equivalents [13] - The company repurchased $30.3 million in shares during the quarter and announced a new share repurchase program of up to $150 million [14] Q&A Session Summary Question: North America irrigation market outlook - Management agrees that the market is at a trough, with no significant upside expected until profitability improves [18] Question: Opportunities for international projects - Management sees a robust funnel of opportunities in the MENA region, with both repeat and new customers [20][21] Question: Impact of elevated CapEx on profitability - Management is investing in upgrades to improve efficiency and productivity, with expectations for improved margins once demand picks up [22][23] Question: Margin expectations for the new $80 million project - Project margins are expected to be slightly below segment averages, consistent with similar projects [31][32] Question: Demand related to accelerated depreciation - Management did not see significant demand impact from accelerated depreciation due to negative macro market drivers [33] Question: Insights on infrastructure segment and Road Zipper projects - Management indicates that the Road Zipper business is lumpy, with ongoing engagement in the sales funnel and long-term growth opportunities [48][50]

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry Core Insights - The value of a statistical life (VSL) is crucial for cost-benefit analysis (CBA) in road safety and socio-economic cost calculations of road crashes, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) where specific VSL estimates are often lacking [2][9] - A new value transfer approach is proposed to estimate VSL in countries without specific data, utilizing income elasticities to adapt VSL estimates from other countries [5][12] - The study emphasizes the need for more VSL research in LMICs, highlighting the limited number of existing studies [5][31] Summary by Sections Methodology - A unit value transfer approach is utilized, determining a base VSL from 32 countries to estimate VSL in other nations based on income per capita [3][4] - The resulting VSL transfer functions are defined for LMIC and high-income countries (HIC), with specific equations relating VSL to Gross National Income (GNI) per capita [4][31] Results - The VSL for LMIC ranges from approximately 22,000 USD to 1.1 million USD, while for HIC it ranges from 1.2 million USD to 4.8 million USD [4][25] - The mean VSL is reported as 2.6 million USD, with significant variation observed between LMIC and HIC [23][28] Recommendations - The report recommends applying the new VSL transfer approach for CBA in countries lacking appropriate country-specific VSL, and suggests developing transfer functions for non-fatal injuries [5][33] - Future research should focus on increasing the number of VSL studies in LMIC, particularly in low-income countries [31][35]