Atkore (ATKR) Q2 2025 Earnings Call May 06, 2025 08:00 AM ET Company Participants Matthew Kline - Vice President of Treasury & Investor RelationsWilliam Waltz - President and Chief Executive OfficerJohn Deitzer - VP, CFOJohn Pregenzer - COO & President, ElectricalDavid Tarantino - Assistant Vice PresidentDeane Dray - Managing DirectorChristopher Dankert - Senior VP - Equity ResearchAndrew Kaplowitz - Managing Director Conference Call Participants Chris Moore - Senior Analyst Operator Good morning. My name i ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company achieved net sales of $702 million, reflecting a 5% organic volume growth driven by construction services, steel conduit, metal framing, and cable management products [6][11] - Adjusted EBITDA was $116 million, with adjusted EBITDA margins expanding sequentially to 16.6% from 15% in the previous quarter [11] - Adjusted EPS was reported at $2.04, showing a positive trend compared to the previous year [11] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Organic volumes increased by 5% compared to a 1% decline in the same quarter of the previous fiscal year [11] - Average selling prices declined by 17% year-over-year, primarily due to decreases in PVC and steel conduit products, although there was sequential pricing improvement for steel conduit [12][16] - The Electrical Cable and Flexible Conduit category grew year-to-date by low single digits, while metal framing, cable management, and construction services saw high single-digit growth [13][16] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Dodge Momentum Index indicated a slowdown in planning activity across several non-residential categories [10] - Despite year-to-date increases in construction starts and planning activities, there are indications of potential slower activity moving forward [19][20] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company remains committed to a balanced capital deployment model, focusing on returning cash to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends while investing in growth initiatives [18][25] - The management highlighted the importance of domestic manufacturing and the ability to serve customers effectively in the evolving electrical industry [23][24] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about demand for U.S.-made steel conduit in 2025, despite uncertainties related to tariffs and macroeconomic conditions [9][20] - The company is maintaining its full-year fiscal 2025 adjusted EBITDA guidance in the range of $375 million to $425 million and adjusted EPS between $5.75 and $6.85 [21][10] Other Important Information - An impairment charge of $50 million was announced for certain long-lived assets related to HDP pipe and conduit products due to competition from emerging technologies [8][67] - A new five-year labor agreement was ratified with the United Steel Workers at the Harvey, Illinois facility, which is expected to enhance productivity [7] Q&A Session Summary Question: Expectations for PVC conduits for the remainder of the year - Management indicated that pricing has continued to decline, but they are still on track with previous guidance regarding PVC conduit pricing [30] Question: Market share for PVC conduit - Management believes they remain a leader in the PVC conduit market, although imports have been increasing [31][32] Question: Recent import levels and potential pricing upside - Management noted that PVC imports have increased significantly year-over-year, but the future trajectory is uncertain due to tariffs [40][41] Question: Net tariff benefit in updated fiscal guidance - Management suggested that a 2% to 3% reduction in volume could be offset by tariff increases, indicating a net positive for shareholders [61] Question: Update on steel conduit imports from Mexico - Management confirmed that while there has been a reduction in imports, they do not expect a complete halt due to the 25% tariff [64][65] Question: Impairment of HD PVC and competitive changes - The impairment was influenced by competition from fiber optic technologies and the administration's plans to increase funding for satellite internet [66][69] Question: Direction from the administration on tariffs - Management stated they have not received specific guidance from the administration regarding tariffs or the BEAD program [73] Question: Cadence of demand for products - Management reported that demand has improved month-over-month, with customers remaining cautiously optimistic [94] Question: Construction services opportunity - Management indicated that data centers are expected to be a significant portion of construction services moving forward [96][98] Question: Pricing assumptions for FY 2025 - Management has not changed pricing assumptions despite tariff impacts, indicating that overall price versus cost dynamics remain within expected ranges [99][102]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company achieved net sales of $702 million, reflecting a 5% organic volume growth driven by construction services, steel conduit, metal framing, and cable management products [6][11] - Adjusted EBITDA was $116 million, with adjusted EBITDA margins expanding sequentially to 16.6% from 15% in the previous quarter [11] - Adjusted EPS was reported at $2.04, down from $2.4 year-over-year [6][11] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Organic volumes increased by 5% compared to a 1% decline in the same quarter of the previous fiscal year [11] - Average selling prices declined by 17% year-over-year, primarily due to decreases in PVC and steel conduit products, although there was sequential pricing improvement for steel conduit [11][12] - The Electrical Cable and Flexible Conduit category grew year-to-date by low single digits, while metal framing, cable management, and construction services saw high single-digit growth [13][15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Dodge Momentum Index indicated a slowdown in planning activity across several non-residential categories [10] - Despite year-to-date increases in construction starts and planning activities, there are indications of potential slower activity moving forward [19] - The company remains optimistic about demand for U.S.-made steel conduit in 2025, despite uncertainties regarding tariffs and their economic impact [9][19] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on maximizing shareholder value through strategic asset management, including a recent divestiture of its Northwest Polymers recycling business [6][7] - A new five-year labor agreement was ratified with the United Steel Workers, enhancing productivity and customer service capabilities [7] - The company is committed to a balanced capital deployment model, emphasizing cash returns to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends [16][22] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed cautious optimism regarding future demand, noting that while the second quarter exceeded expectations, growth in the Construction Services business is expected to moderate in the second half of the year [18][20] - The company maintains its full-year fiscal 2025 adjusted EBITDA guidance in the range of $375 million to $425 million and adjusted EPS between $5.75 and $6.85 [20] - Management highlighted the challenges posed by tariffs and the unpredictability of the macroeconomic environment, which could impact volume expectations [19][20] Other Important Information - An impairment charge of $50 million was recorded for certain long-lived assets related to HDP pipe and conduit products due to competitive technologies and delays in government funding [8][66] - The company has repurchased approximately $50 million in shares during the second quarter and increased its dividend to $0.33 per share [7][8] Q&A Session Summary Question: Expectations for PVC conduits for the balance of the year - Management indicated that pricing has continued to decline but remains aligned with previous guidance, making it difficult to predict future pricing accurately [29] Question: Market share for PVC conduit - Management believes Atkore remains a leader in the PVC conduit market, despite increasing imports [30][31] Question: Import levels and potential pricing upside - Management noted that PVC imports are up solid double digits year-over-year, but future trends are uncertain due to tariffs and market dynamics [38][39] Question: Net tariff benefit in updated fiscal guidance - Management suggested that a 2% to 3% reduction in volume could be offset by tariff increases, indicating a net positive for shareholders [59] Question: Update on steel conduit imports from Mexico - Management confirmed that while there has been a reduction in imports, they have not completely stopped, and the 25% tariff will impact pricing strategies [61][63] Question: Impairment of HD PVC and competitive changes - The impairment was influenced by emerging technologies in fiber optics and the administration's plans to increase funding for satellite internet [66][67] Question: Direction from the administration on tariffs - Management stated there has been no concrete direction from the administration regarding tariffs, leading to a prudent decision to take the impairment charge [72][75] Question: Profitability of the torque tube business without IRA support - Management confirmed that the torque tube business remains profitable even without IRA support, although the IRA has driven additional demand [83][86] Question: Cadence of demand for products - Management reported that demand has improved month-over-month, with cautious optimism from customers regarding future volumes [93][94] Question: Construction services opportunity and data centers - Management indicated that data centers are expected to become the largest portion of construction services moving forward, alongside chip manufacturing [95][96]