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Loma Negra pania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima(LOMA) - 2025 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-05-07 15:02
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported an adjusted EBITDA of $40 million, reflecting a 3.2% decrease in pesos, translating to $36 per ton [9][20] - Net profit attributable to owners of the company totaled ARS 21.5 billion, down from ARS 79 billion in the first quarter of 2024, primarily due to lower financial results [23] - The net debt increased sequentially to ARS 187 million, with a debt to EBITDA ratio of 0.96x, slightly up from 0.89x at the end of 2024 [24][25] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Cement segment experienced a 10.9% revenue drop despite an 8.9% year-over-year increase in volumes, attributed to a softer pricing environment [14] - Concrete revenues declined by 1.4% despite a 22.8% increase in volumes, impacted by competitive pricing pressures [14] - The Aggregates segment saw a 14.2% revenue decline despite a 29% increase in sales volumes, affected by pricing dynamics and a lower average price due to the sales mix [15][22] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Cement consumption showed signs of improvement, with April figures indicating a 28% year-over-year increase and a 14% sequential increase [12][8] - The Argentine economy is projected to grow approximately 5% in 2025, following a 1.7% contraction in 2024, which is expected to benefit the construction sector [11][7] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company remains focused on driving efficiency and controlling costs to protect profitability while delivering quality products and services [29] - The management expressed optimism about the recovery of the industry, indicating that the stabilization plans and easing of capital controls could unlock investment projects [28] Management Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that the industry is in the early stages of recovery, with expectations for a more sustained recovery in the coming quarters [27][28] - The company is optimistic about the potential for increased cement demand driven by infrastructure projects and a recovering housing market [48] Other Important Information - The company invested ARS 11.1 billion in capital expenditures during the quarter, primarily for the final stage of the 25-kilogram bag projects [24] - SG&A expenses decreased by 7.8%, mainly due to lower marketing and IT expenditures [19] Q&A Session Summary Question: Competitive dynamics and market share - Management indicated that market share dynamics are consistent with their strategy, and climate issues impacted different regions [32] Question: Pricing power and cement volume expectations - Management expects pricing to remain around $115 per ton and maintains expectations for double-digit growth in cement volumes for 2025 [40][42] Question: Volume outlook and project demand - Management noted positive forecasts for cement demand, with many tenders moving forward for projects expected to start in the second semester [48]