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Southland (SLND) - 2025 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript
Southland Southland (US:SLND)2025-05-14 15:00

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for the first quarter was $239 million, down $49 million from the same period in 2024 [15] - Gross profit was $21.5 million, an increase of $1.1 million from the same period in 2024, with a gross profit margin of 9%, up from 7.1% [16] - The company reported a net loss of $4.5 million or a loss of $0.08 per share, compared to a net loss of $400,000 or a loss of $0.01 per share in the same period last year [18] - EBITDA for the quarter was $10.1 million, compared to $10.9 million for the same period in 2024 [19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Civil segment had revenues of $103 million, up from $84 million in the same period in 2024, with a gross profit of $23 million [19] - The Transportation segment had revenues of $137 million, down $67 million from the same period in 2024, with a gross loss of $1 million [20] - The materials and paving business line contributed $18 million to revenue but had a negative gross profit of $9 million [20] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company added approximately $137 million in new awards during the quarter, bringing the total backlog to approximately $2.5 billion [12] - Approximately 80% of the company's historical client mix consists of government agencies, providing insulation from broader economic uncertainty [12] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on strengthening its leadership team and enhancing performance for long-term growth [6] - Upcoming opportunities include significant projects in the Civil segment, such as the $450 million Black Creek Tunnel and the $600 million Jordan Lake water supply program [13] - The company aims to maintain a disciplined bidding approach and improve execution to drive strong margins [14] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management does not expect current tariffs to materially affect the business, citing minimal direct exposure to cross-border material procurement [10] - Demand for infrastructure projects remains strong, particularly from federal and state clients, with no backlog projects affected by government spending cuts [11] - The company anticipates substantial completion of legacy projects by the end of 2025, with a focus on generating positive operating cash flow [48] Other Important Information - The company has made significant progress in improving its balance sheet, with unrestricted cash position more than double compared to the end of Q1 last year [51] - The leadership team has been strengthened with the appointment of a new Chief Financial Officer and Chief Strategy Officer [5] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on Civil segment revenue trends - Management is optimistic about the Civil business, expecting strong double-digit margins and a potential shift towards civil projects as the paving business winds down [28][29] Question: Impact of materials and paving on profits - The gross profit impact from materials and paving was $9 million, with a non-cash charge of $3.5 million related to a contract closeout [30] Question: Outlook on transportation bookings - Management is excited about the transportation market, with numerous projects in the pipeline and an expected uptick in bidding in the second half of the year [34] Question: Updates on alternative delivery projects - Progress is being made on the Winnipeg and Burnside Bridge projects, with expectations to develop them into construction contracts [41] Question: Bonding capacity status - The company maintains a strong relationship with surety partners and is targeting strategic projects in civil and transportation segments [43] Question: Margin expectations for the summer work - Management anticipates all legacy work to be substantially complete by the end of 2025, with improved margins from new core backlog projects [48][50] Question: Free cash flow expectations - Positive operating cash flow was generated in Q1, with expectations for cash flow to be more heavily weighted towards the back half of the year [66]