enviri(NVRI) - 2025 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Full-year revenues for 2025 were $2.2 billion, with adjusted EBITDA totaling $275 million, reflecting a mix of growth and challenges across business segments [9][10] - Adjusted diluted loss per share for Q4 was $0.17, excluding unusual items totaling $57 million [12] - Adjusted free cash flow for Q4 was $6 million, while the full year ended at -$15 million, better than guidance due to improved collections [13] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Harsco Environmental segment revenues totaled $257 million, a 7% increase year-over-year, with adjusted EBITDA of $48 million and a margin of nearly 19% [14] - Clean Earth revenues for the quarter were $244 million, with adjusted EBITDA reaching $38 million, reflecting a 3% growth in hazardous waste revenues [16] - Rail revenues totaled $56 million, with an adjusted EBITDA loss of $4 million, primarily due to lower volumes across all business lines [17] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Steel production in Europe remained weak, impacting Harsco Environmental, while improvements were noted in North America, India, and the Middle East [15][33] - The outlook for steel demand in Europe is cautiously optimistic, with potential benefits from trade protections expected in the latter half of 2026 [10][15] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on completing the sale of Clean Earth and the spin-off of New Enviri, targeting a midyear closing [4][20] - New Enviri aims to have a prudent capital structure and is committed to improving operational efficiency and reducing complexity in both Harsco Environmental and Rail [25][26] - The company is taking aggressive actions to manage ETO risks and improve cost performance, particularly in the Rail segment [26][28] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about underlying demand improving, particularly in the steel industry, but noted that current guidance does not incorporate potential benefits from trade actions [10][20] - The outlook for 2026 anticipates adjusted EBITDA for Harsco Environmental in the range of $170 million-$180 million, while Rail is expected to incur an EBITDA loss between $26 million and $19 million [21][22] Other Important Information - The company is undergoing restructuring efforts to rightsize operations and improve efficiency, particularly in the Rail segment [26][28] - Corporate costs are expected to be streamlined following the sale of Clean Earth, with a focus on optimizing SG&A and support functions [27] Q&A Session Summary Question: Clarification on Clean Earth cash usage and payout range - Management indicated that cash usage for New Enviri may trend towards the higher end of the range, but did not confirm that the payout would be lower [31] Question: Expectations for steel production - Management noted that steel production is expected to be stable, with potential improvements in the latter part of the year, particularly in North America and other regions [33] Question: Contract churn and margin expectations - Management stated that the contract churn is expected to be positive for EBITDA and margin, as they are exiting lower-margin contracts [37] Question: Rail ETO contracts and cash flow expectations - Management acknowledged that ETOs will still be a significant cash use in 2026, but improvements are anticipated as smaller projects are completed [40] Question: Guidance on pro forma free cash flow - Management expects modest free cash flow for New Enviri in 2026, with better cash flow anticipated in Harsco Environmental and less negative cash flow in Rail [46][48] Question: Update on ETO contracts with Network Rail - Management confirmed progress on the Network Rail contract, with ongoing discussions to improve financial terms [58]