ATS(ATS) - 2026 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Q1 revenues were $737 million, up 6% from Q1 last year [6] - Order bookings were $693 million, down 15% compared to Q1 last year [16] - Adjusted earnings from operations in Q1 were CAD 78.6 million, representing 10.7% of revenues [18] - Gross margin for Q1 was 29.8%, consistent with Q1 last year [18] - Cash flows from operating activities were CAD 156 million [22] - Net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio was 3.6 times on a pro forma basis at Q1 [22] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Life Sciences order backlog at quarter end was $1.2 billion, with strong contributions from auto injectors and radiopharma [7][8] - Food and Beverage backlog was $229 million, an increase of 6% compared to Q1 last year [10] - Energy business saw growth primarily in nuclear refurbishment activities, particularly around CANDU reactors [39] - Consumer Products and Transportation segments remained stable, with transportation experiencing lower EV end market demand [11][33] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The order backlog ended the quarter at approximately $2.1 billion, reflecting a healthy funnel across diversified offerings [6][19] - Orders in the energy sector, particularly nuclear, showed strong demand despite project delays reported by other companies [39] - Orders excluding transportation were up over 10% year-over-year in the first half of the calendar year [36] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on driving growth through repeatable revenue from services, consumables, and digital offerings [7] - M&A activities are ongoing, with a focus on strategic opportunities that align with long-term growth ambitions [12][60] - The company aims to return leverage to its target range of 2 to 3 times while realizing synergies from recent acquisitions [23][60] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the growth outlook for the year, supported by a strong backlog and healthy order intake [35] - The company is closely monitoring the business environment, particularly regarding cross-border tariffs, but has not seen a material impact to date [20] - Management highlighted ongoing efficiency improvements and a commitment to creating long-term value for shareholders [25][60] Other Important Information - ATS was included in Time Magazine's inaugural list of Canada's Best Companies 2025, ranking number one in the engineering, manufacturing, and medical technology category [15] - The company continues to invest in innovation and capability development, including the launch of a new virtual reality training platform [13] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you discuss the demand environment further? - Management noted that the trailing twelve-month book-to-bill ratio is 1.17, indicating alignment with growth targets and a healthy funnel across key markets [32] Question: What is driving the uptick in the energy business? - The growth in the energy sector is primarily driven by nuclear refurbishment activities, particularly around CANDU reactors [39] Question: Can you provide an update on the integration process and cross-selling opportunities? - Integration across recent acquisitions is progressing well, with strong uptake of ABM deployments and cost synergies being realized [52] Question: How is the company addressing the impact of U.S. government funding changes on lab research? - The impact is minimal, representing a low single-digit percentage of the overall business, and does not materially affect the life sciences segment [53] Question: What is the outlook for margin progression? - Management expects margin expansion throughout the year, although variability is anticipated due to project portfolio dynamics [85] Question: Can you elaborate on the Multiflex system? - The Multiflex system is designed for decommissioning nuclear reactors, enhancing efficiency and space management in the process [97]