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8-K - 8-K - ARGAN INCa18-41185_18k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

Argan, Inc.  Reports Third Quarter Results

 

December 6, 2018 — ROCKVILLE, MD — Argan, Inc. (NYSE: AGX) (“Argan” or the “Company”) today announced financial results for its third quarter ended October 31, 2018. For additional information, please read the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which the Company intends to file today with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The Quarterly Report can be retrieved from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or from the Company’s website at www.arganinc.com.

 

Summary Information: (dollars in thousands, except per share data (unaudited)):

 

 

 

October 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

Change

 

% Change

 

For the Quarter Ended:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

$

116,459

 

$

232,945

 

$

(116,486

)

(50

)%

Gross profit

 

29,532

 

37,718

 

(8,186

)

(22

)

Gross margins

 

25.4

%

16.2

%

9.2

%

57

 

Net income attributable to the stockholders of the Company

 

$

32,434

 

$

17,229

 

$

15,205

 

88

 

Diluted per share

 

2.07

 

1.09

 

0.98

 

90

 

EBITDA attributable to the stockholders of the Company

 

21,025

 

30,275

 

(9,250

)

(31

)

Diluted per share

 

1.34

 

1.92

 

(0.58

)

(30

)

 

 

 

October 31,
2018

 

January 31,
2018

 

Change

 

% Change

 

As of:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments

 

$

314,787

 

$

434,015

 

$

(119,228

)

(27

)%

Net liquidity (1)

 

339,616

 

301,817

 

37,799

 

13

 

Project backlog

 

365,000

 

379,000

 

(14,000

)

(4

)

 


(1)         We define net liquidity, or working capital, as our total current assets less our total current liabilities.

 

As successful execution by Gemma Power Systems (“GPS”) on four large gas-fired power plant projects has reached the final stages, revenues saw a decline during the current quarter to $116.5 million compared to $232.9 million in the prior year quarter. Construction activities for these projects have matured from peak levels which the Company experienced during the prior fiscal year, to the commissioning, start up and final activities. The decline in revenues at GPS was partially offset by increased revenues at Atlantic Projects Company, as it reached peak construction activities on two power plant projects, and The Roberts Company during the third quarter. Gross profits decreased by 22% to $29.5 million from $37.7 million for the prior year, reflecting primarily the reduction in consolidated revenues between periods. Our gross margin percentage increased to 25.4% from 16.2% for the prior year quarter, reflecting favorable project close-out adjustments to the gross profits of certain projects that have reached substantial completion.

 

The levels of selling, general and administrative expenses rose by $1.0 million, or 10%, as compared to the prior year period due primarily to increased non-chargeable staff costs.

 

During the current quarter, the Company completed a year-long detailed review of the work performed by its engineering staff on major EPC services projects in order to identify and quantify the amounts of

 


 

research and development (“R&D”) credits that may be available to reduce current and prior year income taxes. Based on this review, the resulting income tax benefits, associated with R&D activities conducted in prior years, in the total amount of $16.5 million, or $1.05 per diluted share, have been recognized in income taxes in the current quarter. Also, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act had a favorable impact on our tax rate, resulting in an estimated annual effective income tax rate of 28% (before the effects of R&D credits) for the current quarter, compared to an estimated effective income tax rate of 37% for the third quarter last year.

 

These factors resulted in net income attributable to our stockholders increasing 88% to $32.4 million for the current quarter, or $2.07 per diluted share, from $17.2 million, or $1.09 per diluted share, for the prior year quarter. EBITDA attributable to our stockholders for three months ended October 31, 2018 decreased 31% to $21.0 million, or $1.34 per diluted share, from $30.3 million, or $1.92 per diluted share, for the prior year quarter. We paid our third regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share in October.

 

As of October 31, 2018, our cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled $315 million and net liquidity was $340 million; plus, we had no bank debt. Our project backlog was $365 million as of October 31, 2018, slightly down from $379 million at the end of the prior year, mostly due to year-to-date work on existing backlog partially offset by the value of an EPC contract entered into by GPS during the first quarter. As previously reported, we remain encouraged about our project pipeline as GPS has been selected to perform the EPC work for several new power generation facilities with a collective potential project value over $1.5 billion with projected start dates extending through 2019.

 

About Argan, Inc.

 

Argan’s primary business is providing a full range of services to the power industry, including the engineering, procurement and construction of natural gas-fired power plants, along with related commissioning, operations management, maintenance, project development and consulting services, through its Gemma Power Systems and Atlantic Projects Company operations. Argan also owns SMC Infrastructure Solutions, which provides telecommunications infrastructure services, and The Roberts Company, which is a fully integrated fabrication, construction and industrial plant services company.

 

Certain matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws and are subject to risks and uncertainties including but not limited to: (1) the continued strong operational performance of our power industry services business; (2) the Company’s successful addition of new contracts to backlog and the Company’s receipt of notices to proceed with the corresponding contract activities; and (3) the Company’s ability to execute on its business strategy while effectively managing costs and expenses. Actual results and the timing of certain events could differ materially from those projected in or contemplated by the forward-looking statements due to a number of factors described from time to time in Argan’s filings with the SEC. In addition, reference is hereby made to the cautionary statements made by us with respect to risk factors set forth in the Company’s most recent reports on Form 10-Q and 10-K, and other SEC filings.

 

Company Contact:

 

Investor Relations Contact:

 

 

 

Rainer Bosselmann

 

David Watson

 

 

 

301.315.0027

 

301.315.0027

 


 

ARGAN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

(In thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
October 31,

 

Nine Months Ended
October 31,

 

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

2018

 

2017

 

REVENUES

 

$

116,459

 

$

232,945

 

$

394,495

 

$

723,237

 

Cost of revenues

 

86,927

 

195,227

 

318,803

 

594,016

 

GROSS PROFIT

 

29,532

 

37,718

 

75,692

 

129,221

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

11,147

 

10,119

 

31,162

 

30,408

 

INCOME FROM OPERATIONS

 

18,385

 

27,599

 

44,530

 

98,813

 

Other income, net

 

1,429

 

1,692

 

5,121

 

4,221

 

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES

 

19,814

 

29,291

 

49,651

 

103,034

 

Income tax benefit (expense)

 

12,560

 

(12,062

)

4,509

 

(37,738

)

NET INCOME

 

32,374

 

17,229

 

54,160

 

65,296

 

Net (loss) income attributable to non-controlling interests

 

(60

)

 

(83

)

303

 

NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF ARGAN, INC.

 

32,434

 

17,229

 

54,243

 

64,993

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustments

 

(1,092

)

(139

)

(2,364

)

754

 

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF ARGAN, INC.

 

$

31,342

 

$

17,090

 

$

51,879

 

$

65,747

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EARNINGS PER SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF ARGAN, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

2.08

 

$

1.11

 

$

3.48

 

$

4.19

 

Diluted

 

$

2.07

 

$

1.09

 

$

3.46

 

$

4.11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES OUTSTANDING

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

15,569

 

15,545

 

15,568

 

15,509

 

Diluted

 

15,702

 

15,793

 

15,685

 

15,796

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH DIVIDENDS PER SHARE

 

$

0.25

 

$

1.00

 

$

0.75

 

$

1.00

 

 


 

ARGAN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Reconciliations to EBITDA

(In thousands)(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended October 31,

 

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

Net income

 

$

32,374

 

$

17,229

 

Less EBITDA attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

60

 

 

Interest expense

 

 

 

Income tax (benefit) expense

 

(12,560

)

12,062

 

Depreciation

 

898

 

726

 

Amortization of purchased intangible assets

 

253

 

258

 

EBITDA attributable to the stockholders of the Company

 

$

21,025

 

$

30,275

 

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended October 31,

 

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

Net income

 

$

54,160

 

$

65,296

 

Less EBITDA attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

83

 

(303

)

Interest expense

 

659

 

 

Income tax (benefit) expense

 

(4,509

)

37,738

 

Depreciation

 

2,465

 

1,936

 

Amortization of purchased intangible assets

 

759

 

776

 

EBITDA attributable to the stockholders of the Company

 

$

53,617

 

$

105,443

 

 

Management uses EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, for planning purposes, including the preparation of operating budgets and the determination of appropriate levels of operating and capital investments. Management believes that EBITDA provides additional insight for analysts and investors in evaluating the Company’s financial and operational performance and in assisting investors in comparing the Company’s financial performance to those of other companies in the Company’s industry. However, EBITDA is not intended to be an alternative to financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered in isolation from the Company’s GAAP results of operations. Consistent with the requirements of SEC Regulation G, reconciliations of the Company’s non-GAAP financial results from net income are included in the presentations above and investors are advised to carefully review and consider this information as well as the GAAP financial results that are presented in the Company’s SEC filings.

 


 

ARGAN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

 

 

 

October 31, 2018

 

January 31, 2018

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

155,791

 

$

122,107

 

Short-term investments

 

158,996

 

311,908

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

43,612

 

24,756

 

Contract assets

 

55,628

 

13,847

 

Other current assets

 

25,465

 

12,410

 

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS

 

439,492

 

485,028

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

19,866

 

15,299

 

Goodwill

 

34,329

 

34,329

 

Other purchased intangible assets, net

 

6,390

 

7,149

 

Deferred taxes

 

315

 

439

 

Other assets

 

377

 

426

 

TOTAL ASSETS

 

$

500,769

 

$

542,670

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

64,987

 

$

100,238

 

Accrued expenses

 

25,111

 

35,360

 

Contract liabilities

 

9,778

 

47,613

 

TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES

 

99,876

 

183,211

 

Deferred taxes

 

1,388

 

1,293

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES

 

101,264

 

184,504

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock, par value $0.10 per share — 500,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding

 

 

 

Common stock, par value $0.15 per share — 30,000,000 shares authorized; 15,573,952 and 15,570,952 shares issued at October 31 and January 31, 2018, respectively; 15,570,719 and 15,567,719 shares outstanding at October 31 and January 31, 2018, respectively

 

2,336

 

2,336

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

144,507

 

143,215

 

Retained earnings

 

253,716

 

211,150

 

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income

 

(942

)

1,422

 

TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

399,617

 

358,123

 

Non-controlling interests

 

(112

)

43

 

TOTAL EQUITY

 

399,505

 

358,166

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

 

$

500,769

 

$

542,670