Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported earnings per share (EPS) of $1.49 on sales of $1.5 billion, with an operating margin of 11% [5][20] - Free cash flow reached $78 million, a significant increase from the previous year, representing a cash conversion of 108% [6][23] - The effective tax rate for the quarter was 18.3%, about 170 basis points better than planned due to favorable discrete items [21][22] - EBITDA was $182 million, up 12.2% of sales [22] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Aerials segment sales were $607 million, with an operating margin improvement of 500 basis points sequentially, but about 200 basis points lower than expected due to customer mix [23][24] - Materials Processing (MP) sales were $434 million, down 9% year-over-year, with an operating margin of 12.7%, showing a sequential improvement from 10% in Q1 [24][25] - Environmental Solutions (ES) generated $430 million in sales, with a 12.9% year-over-year growth and a 19.1% operating margin, reflecting strong performance [26] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Waste and recycling now represents approximately 30% of global revenue, characterized by low cyclicality and steady growth [14] - Utilities account for about 10% of revenue, with growth driven by the need to expand the power grid [14] - General construction has decreased to less than one-third of total markets, with strength in large projects and infrastructure, while local private projects remain soft [15] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on leveraging synergies across its portfolio, particularly following the ESG acquisition, and is ahead of initial synergy targets [16][19] - The company plans to maintain its full-year EPS outlook of $4.7 to $5.1, expecting stronger performance in Environmental Solutions in the second half [6][30] - The company is exploring digital revenue streams, particularly through the Third Eye platform, which enhances operational efficiency and safety [17][120] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that macroeconomic factors, including high interest rates and tariff-related uncertainties, continue to impact capital decisions [13][15] - The company expects a significant increase in free cash flow compared to 2024, anticipating between $300 million and $350 million in 2025 [31] - Management expressed confidence in the resilience of its diversified end markets, particularly in waste and recycling, utilities, and infrastructure [14][15] Other Important Information - The company ended the second quarter with $1.2 billion in liquidity and plans to deleverage in the second half of the year [27] - A new $150 million share buyback program was authorized, with $33 million remaining from the previous authorization [28] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is driving the strong ES margins? - Management attributed the strong ES margins to operational efficiencies, better execution in utilities, and favorable customer and product mix, although the favorable mix is not expected to recur in the second half [39][40][42] Question: What drove the $20 million adjustment in EBITDA guidance? - The adjustment was driven by stronger performance in ES, offset by unfavorable mix in Aerials and higher tariffs [47][49] Question: How do you view the margin outlook for Aerials? - Management expects Aerials' operating margin to be mid-single digits in Q3, driven by tariffs and unfavorable customer mix [55][56] Question: What is the impact of tariffs on the cost profile? - The company does not expect material impact from steel inflation due to hedging and local sourcing, but tariffs are included in the $0.50 guidance for the year [106][108] Question: How is the company addressing customer caution in the market? - Management noted that larger customers are maintaining their cadence for negotiations, while smaller customers remain cautious due to economic uncertainty [64][94]

Financial Performance - The company reported Q1 earnings per share of $0.83 on sales of $1.2 billion, with a return on invested capital of 15% [7][24] - Total net sales decreased by 4.9% year-over-year, or 3.6% at constant exchange rates, with organic sales excluding ESG declining by 25% [24][26] - The operating margin for the Environmental Solutions segment was 19.4%, showing strong execution and a significant improvement from previous periods [31][32] Business Line Performance - Aerials segment sales were $450 million, with operating margins expected to return to double digits in Q2 as production ramps up [27][28] - Materials Processing (MP) sales were $382 million, maintaining double-digit margins due to cost reduction actions despite lower volume [30][31] - Environmental Solutions generated approximately $400 million in sales, representing one-third of total sales, with record throughput contributing to strong margins [31][32] Market Dynamics - Approximately 75% of the company's 2025 U.S. machine sales are expected to come from products manufactured in the U.S., benefiting from the USMCA trade agreement [10][11] - The company sees a generally weak economic environment in Europe but is optimistic about infrastructure spending growth in the medium to long term [18][19] - The waste and recycling market, which represents about 25% of global revenue, is characterized by low cyclicality and steady growth [16] Strategic Direction - The company is focused on integrating ESG into its operations, expecting to deliver over $25 million in operational run rate synergies by the end of 2026 [19][90] - The strategy includes leveraging digital solutions and investing in robotics and automation to enhance operational efficiency [20][21] - The company maintains a strong financial position, planning to deleverage in the second half of the year while continuing to invest in growth [33][34] Management Commentary - Management expressed confidence in navigating the current dynamic environment and emphasized the importance of maintaining price-cost neutrality amid tariff challenges [9][52] - The company anticipates a gradual recovery in the MP segment driven by replacement demand in North America [124][125] - Management highlighted the need for ongoing investments to support demand and improve throughput in the Environmental Solutions segment [90] Other Important Information - The company ended Q1 with $1.1 billion in liquidity and plans to return capital to shareholders through stock repurchases and dividends [33][34] - The current backlog stands at $2.6 billion, up 13% sequentially, indicating strong demand across segments [35][36] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you expand on the margin outlook for Environmental Solutions? - Management noted that strong Q1 performance was driven by increased sales and record throughput, but expects moderation in margins due to one-off factors and increased expenses in the coming quarters [46][47][118] Question: How are you handling orders in the current tariff environment? - The company is in full mitigation mode, having pulled forward inventory and implemented surcharges where necessary, while maintaining a focus on price-cost neutrality [52][54] Question: What is the impact of tariffs on your manufacturing footprint? - Management indicated that a significant portion of products is manufactured in the U.S., providing a competitive advantage, particularly in the Environmental Solutions and Aerials segments [64][65] Question: What are the expectations for the Materials Processing segment? - The company expects a gradual recovery in MP, driven by healthy fleet utilization and replacement demand, with a cautious outlook on macroeconomic factors [122][124]