Adf Group Inc

TSX:DRX

Earnings Call Transcript 2022-Q3

[Operator]

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the ADF Group Third Quarter 2022 Results Conference Call. [Operator Instructions] Also note that the call is being recorded on Wednesday, December 8, 2021.And I would like to turn the conference over to Jean-François Boursier, Chief Financial Officer. Please go ahead.

[Jean-François Boursier]

Thank you. Good morning. Welcome to ADF's conference call covering the third quarter and 9 months ended October 31, 2021. I will first update you on our year-to-date results, which were disclosed earlier this morning by press release, and then give you an update on our operations.First, a word of caution. Please note that some of the issues discussed today may include forward-looking statements. These are documented in ADF Group's management report for the third quarter and 9 months ended October 31, 2021, which were filed with SEDAR this morning.Please also consider that, although for the moment, the impact of COVID-19 on ADF's operation is limited to the extent to which the virus or its variants could have an impact on our results, will depend on future developments, including new information that may emerge regarding the COVID-19 and the measures taken to contain it or address its impact, among others.This said, revenues for the third quarter ended October 31, 2021, stood at $110.2 million compared with $47.2 million for the same period last year. Year-to-date revenues at $233.7 million were almost $100 million higher than the same period last year. The increase in revenues is in line with the growth of our backlog.Gross margin for the 3 months ended October 31, 2021, at 5.6% was lower than the 15.9% reported for the same period a year ago. Year-to-date gross margin went from 14.6% recorded last year to 8.4% for the 9-month period ended October 31, 2021.As mentioned in our January 31, 2021, MD&A report, a certain pressure on margin was expected at the beginning of the fiscal year due to the start-up of certain projects signed with lower prices. Although this pressure was less felt in the quarter ended April 30, 2021, because of timing, the product mix during the second and third quarters at the previously anticipated negative impact. As these lower-priced projects are winding down, we do expect margins to improve in the coming quarters.Lastly, and as a reminder, gross margin for the 9 months ended October 31, 2021, includes a $1.6 million subsidy from the Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy program recorded during the first quarter ended April 30, 2021.At the close of the 3 months ended October 31, 2021, EBITDA stood at $4.7 million, $0.3 million lower than for the same period a year ago. This unfavorable variance is coming from the lower gross margin, as just explained, which was all but offset by the lower SG&A expenses. Year-to-date EBITDA stood at $13.9 million, $1.3 million higher than the same period a year ago.Although as a percentage of revenue, gross margins are lower in dollars, they are similar to last year with lower selling and administrative expenses explaining this year-to-date favorable variance. Still year-to-date selling and administrative expenses benefited from a CAD 300,000 COVID subsidy, booked in the first quarter but also from lower travel expenses following COVID-related travel guidance. This said and in light of governmental recommendations, we have recently reinitiated business travels.For the quarter ended last October 31, net earnings stood at $2.8 million or $0.09 per share compared with net earnings of $2.6 million or $0.08 per share a year ago. Year-to-date net earnings for the 9 months ended October 31, 2021, stood at $8.7 million or $0.27 per share compared to net earnings of $4.8 million or $0.15 per share for the same period a year ago.Besides the elements mentioned before, the net earnings for the 9-month period ended October 31, 2021, was favorably impacted by lower financial expenses in line with our credit facility usage and lower effective tax rates. Considering that, in light of our unrecorded U.S. tax loss, U.S. affiliates' pretax income is not tax affected. Considering our remaining unrecorded U.S. tax losses, we do expect to have similar low tax rates in the coming quarters.Working capital as at October 31, 2021, at $33.3 million was somewhat lower than the levels we recorded as at January 31, 2021. Cash flow from operations for the quarter ended at the same date generated $5.7 million in cash, while year-to-date cash flow from operation generated in excess of $16 million.As previously mentioned, we are moving forward with a capital investment program to automate part of our Terrebonne fabrication activities. Year-to-date CapEx stood at $14.9 million, mostly for the before-mentioned investments. Including these investments, we are now expecting our full year CapEx to reach approximately $25 million.Additionally, and after the quarter end, we concluded a new financing package that, once all statutory requirements and documents are finalized, will provide us with the funds to finance this investment program, which has been financed so far through our working capital. We are also working on other financing packages that should be finalized before year-end.With this and as at October 31, 2021, we posted $14.7 million in cash and cash equivalents with no amount being drawn from our credit facilities and, thus, in excellent position to pursue our backlog growth and carry out our existing backlog, which stood at $310.3 million as of October 31, 2021.Our bidding activities remain high, and we are confident that we will be able to finalize new contracts in the coming months. The recently approved U.S. infrastructure program will obviously bring additional opportunities in our market and allow us to look at our upcoming quarters with renewed optimism.As stated before, the lower-priced projects that drove margins down in the fiscal year second and third quarters are winding down. Aside the lower margins, these projects provided high fabrication volume in a short period of time that enable ADF to post adequate gross margins in dollars, which translates into improved net results and operating inflows.With all of this, ADF is well positioned to strongly close its 2022 fiscal year and look favorably ahead to next year. With the new financing packages almost in place, we will have the financing means to not only support our investment program but also have the required working capital to pursue our backlog growth.Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your interest and confidence in ADF. I will now answer your questions.

[Operator]

[Operator Instructions] And at this time, Mr. Boursier, we have no questions registered. Sir, please proceed.

[Jean-François Boursier]

Again, I wish to thank you for your interest in ADF Group. Have a nice day, and be safe.

[Operator]

Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, this does conclude your conference call for today. Once again, thank you for attending. And at this time, we do ask that you please disconnect your lines.