Willdan Group (WLDN) Q1 2025 Earnings Call May 08, 2025 05:30 PM ET Company Participants Al Kaschalk - Vice PresidentMichael Bieber - CEO & DirectorCreighton Early - Executive VP & CFO Conference Call Participants Craig Irwin - Managing Director, Senior Research AnalystTim Moore - Managing Director, Senior Research Analyst Operator Greetings and welcome to the Welldan Group First Quarter Fiscal Year twenty twenty five Financial Results Conference Call. At this time, all participants are in a listen only mod ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported record first quarter results for revenue, adjusted EBITDA, and EPS, surpassing both analysts' expectations and internal forecasts [4] - Contract and net revenue each grew by 24% year over year, adjusted EBITDA rose by 31%, GAAP diluted EPS increased by 52%, and adjusted diluted EPS was up by 58% [4][22] - Net income for Q1 2025 was $4.7 million, up 59% from $2.9 million in Q1 2024, with a favorable effective income tax rate of 9.75% [22] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The energy segment accounted for over 80% of total revenue, with revenue in this segment rising by 25% [9][20] - The engineering and consulting segment revenues increased by 20%, reflecting strong client demand and continued geographic expansion [20] - The company completed two acquisitions that contributed $6 million to contract revenue in the quarter [19] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Commercial customers are forecasted to comprise 15% of revenue, double the percentage from the previous year, while state and local government customers are expected to be 44% and utilities around 41% [6] - Demand remains healthy across all customer groups, particularly in electricity usage at data centers driven by AI [6][7] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to pursue acquisitions that expand capabilities and relationships with commercial customers [6] - The focus is on energy efficiency and modernization projects, with significant contracts awarded for EV charging stations and solar arrays [11][12] - The company is positioned to benefit from structural shifts in the energy landscape, including electrification and increased electricity demand from data centers [14] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that recent federal spending cuts have had little impact on the company's backlog or near-term visibility [8] - The company is monitoring tariff risks and has implemented flexible contract terms to mitigate potential impacts [16][31] - Management raised the 2025 financial targets based on strong Q1 performance, expecting net revenue between $325 million and $335 million [25] Other Important Information - The company ended the quarter with $38 million in cash and access to an undrawn $50 million line of credit, resulting in total liquidity of $88 million [23] - The company has minimal exposure to direct federal contracts, which has insulated it from recent federal spending cuts [8] Q&A Session Summary Question: Impact of tariffs on the company - Management acknowledged the potential for price escalation and project delays due to tariffs but noted that they have not seen short-term impacts yet [31][32] Question: Conversations with customers regarding load growth - Management indicated that conversations with utilities and government customers have shifted towards updating forecasts and CapEx spending due to changes in electricity demand dynamics [35][36] Question: Confidence in raising guidance - Management raised guidance due to strong Q1 performance across all areas and customer interest in expanding contracts [39][40] Question: Any signs of slowdown in demand - Management reported no significant headwinds in operations, with the main concern being equipment risks related to tariffs [44][45] Question: Integration of recent acquisitions - Management confirmed that cross-selling between the acquired companies has already begun, with close communication established [55]