Astec Industries Reports Fourth Quarter and 2015 Results


CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., Feb. 23, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Astec Industries, Inc. (Nasdaq:ASTE) today reported results for their fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2015. 

Net sales for the fourth quarter of 2015 were $215.0 million compared to $239.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2014, a 10.2% decrease.  Net income attributable to controlling interest for the fourth quarter of 2015 was $3.6 million or $0.16 per diluted share compared to $8.5 million or $0.37 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2014, a decrease of 57.6%.

Domestic sales increased 5.7% to $160.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2015 from $151.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2014.  International sales decreased 37.8% to $54.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2015 from $87.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2014.

Net sales for 2015 were $983.2 million compared to $975.6 million for 2014, an increase of $7.6 million.  Net income attributable to controlling interest for 2015 was $32.8 million or $1.42 per diluted share compared to $34.5 million or $1.49 per diluted share for 2014, a 4.9% decrease. 

Domestic sales increased 10.4% to $722.3 million for 2015 from $654.2 million for 2014.  International sales were $260.9 million for 2015 compared to $321.4 million for 2014, an 18.8% decrease.

The Company’s domestic backlog increased 16.5%, from $222.4 million at December 31, 2014 to $259.2 million at December 31, 2015.  The international backlog at December 31, 2015 was $54.1 million compared to $109.7 million at December 31, 2014, a decrease of 50.7%.  Total backlog decreased 5.6% to $313.3 million at December 31, 2015 from $332.1 million at December 31, 2014.  

Consolidated financial information for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2015 and additional information related to segment revenues and profits are attached as addenda to this press release.

Commenting on the announcement of quarterly and annual results, Benjamin G. Brock, Chief Executive Officer, stated, “The fourth quarter proved to be a challenge.  As you will see in the segment financial reports, the primary cause of our disappointing performance was weak sales in the Aggregate and Mining Group and the Energy Group.  These weak sales were caused by a slow-down in international mining operations due to a world-wide surplus of raw materials and a severe reduction in oil production and exploration brought on by the collapse of the price of oil. Also, both of these segments depend on international markets that have been depressed by the strength of the U.S. dollar.   In addition, although we were able to ship a $30 Million pellet plant during the quarter, we had to defer the revenue for accounting purposes.”

Mr. Brock continued, “In spite of a challenging fourth quarter, our future is bright.  The United States passed a long-term highway bill in December and we have seen strong orders in our Infrastructure Group.  As a result, our January 31, 2016 backlog was a record $348 Million. We have also been very active on pellet plant inquiries and we’re confident that some of these inquires will turn into orders in the coming year.  Despite the significant external challenges we faced, we were able to end the year up $7.6 Million on total sales and up $600 Thousand on EBITDA versus last year.  Our balance sheet remains strong with a positive $25 Million net cash position.  As a result, we are poised to take advantage of strong domestic demand and we’ll be able to be opportunistic when we find the right acquisition target.”

Investor Conference Call and Web Simulcast

Astec will conduct a conference call on February 23, 2016, at 10:00 A.M. Eastern Time to review its December 31, 2015 results as well as current business conditions.  The number to call for this interactive teleconference is (877) 407-9210.  International callers should dial (201) 689-8049.   Please reference Astec Industries.

The company will also provide an online Web simulcast and rebroadcast of the conference call.  The live broadcast of Astec’s conference call will be available online at the Company’s website:  www.astecindustries.com/conferencecalls. An archived webcast will be available for 90 days at www.astecindustries.com.

A replay of the conference call will be available through midnight on Tuesday, March 8, 2016 by dialing (877) 660-6853, or (201) 612-7415 for international callers, Conference ID# 13630398.  A transcription of the conference call will be made available under the Investor Relations section of the Astec Industries, Inc. website within 5 business days after the call.

Astec Industries, Inc. is a manufacturer of specialized equipment for asphalt road building; aggregate processing; oil, gas and water well drilling; and wood processing.  Astec’s manufacturing operations are divided into three primary business segments:  road building and related equipment (Infrastructure Group); aggregate processing and mining equipment (Aggregate and Mining Group); and equipment for the extraction and production of fuels, biomass production, and water drilling equipment (Energy Group). 

The information contained in this press release contains “forward-looking statements” (within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) regarding the future performance of the Company, including statements about the effects on the Company from low oil prices, the global mining slow down, the strong U.S. Dollar, and the impact of a long-term highway bill in the United States.  These forward-looking statements reflect management’s expectations and are based upon currently available information, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise such statements.  These statements are not guarantees of performance and are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which cannot be predicted or anticipated.  Future events and actual results, financial or otherwise, could differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements.  Important factors that could cause future events or actual results to differ materially include:  general uncertainty in the economy, oil and liquid asphalt prices, rising steel prices, decreased funding for highway projects, the relative strength/weakness of the dollar to foreign currencies, production capacity, general business conditions in the industry, demand for the Company’s products, seasonality and cyclicality in operating results, seasonality of sales volumes or lower than expected sales volumes, lower than expected margins on custom equipment orders, competitive activity, tax rates and the impact of future legislation thereon, and those other factors listed from time to time in the Company’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. 

     
Astec Industries, Inc.  
Consolidated Balance Sheets  
(in thousands)  
(unaudited)  
   
 Dec 31Dec 31  
  2015  2014   
Assets    
Current assets    
Cash and cash equivalents$  25,062 $  13,023   
Investments   1,539    1,916   
Receivables, net   101,997    107,301   
Inventories   384,776    387,835   
Prepaid expenses and other   31,623    43,116   
Total current assets   544,997    553,191   
Property and equipment, net   170,206    187,610   
Other assets   65,350    64,664   
Total assets$  780,553 $  805,465   
Liabilities and equity    
Current liabilities    
Accounts payable - trade$  48,385 $  60,987   
Other current liabilities   93,627    100,142   
Total current liabilities   142,012    161,129   
Non-current liabilities   25,483    44,984   
Total equity   613,058    599,352   
Total liabilities and equity$  780,553 $  805,465   
     
     
Astec Industries, Inc.  
Consolidated Statements of Income  
(in thousands, except per share data)  
(unaudited)  
   
 Three Months EndedTwelve Months Ended
 Dec 31Dec 31
  2015  2014  2015  2014 
Net sales$  215,017 $  239,509 $  983,157 $  975,595 
Cost of sales   169,590    186,389    764,314    760,279 
Gross profit   45,427    53,120    218,843    215,316 
Selling, general, administrative & engineering expenses   40,722    41,081    168,856    163,619 
Income from operations   4,705    12,039    49,987    51,697 
Interest expense   389    345    1,611    720 
Other   1,216    472    4,428    2,881 
Income before income taxes   5,532    12,166    52,804    53,858 
Income taxes   1,937    3,666    20,007    19,400 
Net income attributable to controlling interest $  3,595 $  8,500 $  32,797 $  34,458 
     
     
Earnings per Common Share    
Net income attributable to controlling interest    
Basic$  0.16 $  0.37 $  1.43 $  1.51 
Diluted$  0.16 $  0.37 $  1.42 $  1.49 
     
     
Weighted average common shares outstanding    
Basic   22,947    22,838    22,934    22,819 
Diluted   23,124    23,112    23,120    23,105 
     

 

Astec Industries, Inc. 
Segment Revenues and Profits 
For the three months ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 
(in thousands) 
(unaudited) 
 Infrastructure
Group
Aggregate and Mining
Group
Energy
Group
CorporateTotal 
2015 Revenues   91,969    85,023    38,025    -     215,017  
2014 Revenues   90,283    96,907    52,319    -     239,509  
Change $   1,686    (11,884)   (14,294)   -     (24,492) 
Change % 1.9% (12.3%) (27.3%)   -   (10.2%) 
       
2015 Gross Profit   18,672    19,319    6,831    605    45,427  
2015 Gross Profit % 20.3% 22.7% 18.0%   -   21.1% 
2014 Gross Profit   21,298    21,256    10,661    (95)   53,120  
2014 Gross Profit % 23.6% 21.9% 20.4%   -   22.2% 
Change   (2,626)   (1,937)   (3,830)   700    (7,693) 
       
2015 Profit (Loss)   4,418    5,249    804    (7,470)   3,001  
2014 Profit (Loss)   8,353    5,835    2,658    (7,692)   9,154  
Change $   (3,935)   (586)   (1,854)   222    (6,153) 
Change % (47.1%) (10.0%) (69.8%) 2.9% (67.2%) 
       
       
Segment revenues are reported net of intersegment revenues.  Segment gross profit is net of profit on intersegment revenues.  A reconciliation of total segment profits to the Company's net income attributable to controlling interest is as follows (in thousands): 
  
       
  Three months ended December 31  
   2015  2014 Change $  
Total profit for all segments$  3,001 $  9,154 $  (6,153)  
Recapture (elimination) of intersegment profit   432    (749)   1,181   
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest   162    95    67   
Net income attributable to controlling interest $  3,595 $  8,500 $  (4,905)  
       
       
Astec Industries, Inc. 
Segment Revenues and Profits 
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 
(in thousands) 
(unaudited) 
 Infrastructure
Group
Aggregate and Mining
Group
Energy
Group
CorporateTotal 
2015 Revenues   428,737    370,813    183,607    -     983,157  
2014 Revenues   386,356    384,883    204,356    -     975,595  
Change $   42,381    (14,070)   (20,749)   -     7,562  
Change % 11.0% (3.7%) (10.2%)   -   0.8% 
       
2015 Gross Profit   92,964    89,501    35,743    635    218,843  
2015 Gross Profit % 21.7% 24.1% 19.5%   -   22.3% 
2014 Gross Profit   80,432    91,978    42,969    (63)   215,316  
2014 Gross Profit % 20.8% 23.9% 21.0%   -   22.1% 
Change   12,532    (2,477)   (7,226)   698    3,527  
       
2015 Profit (Loss)   33,890    30,690    3,609    (36,623)   31,566  
2014 Profit (Loss)   29,477    32,900    10,316    (35,270)   37,423  
Change $   4,413    (2,210)   (6,707)   (1,353)   (5,857) 
Change % 15.0% (6.7%) (65.0%) (3.8%) (15.7%) 
       
       
Segment revenues are reported net of intersegment revenues.  Segment gross profit is net of profit on intersegment revenues.  A reconciliation of total segment profits to the Company's net income attributable to controlling interest is as follows (in thousands): 
       
  Twelve months ended December 31  
   2015  2014 Change $  
Total profit for all segments$  31,566 $  37,423 $  (5,857)  
Recapture (elimination) of intersegment profit   400    (3,217)   3,617   
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest   831    252    579   
Net income attributable to controlling interest $  32,797 $  34,458 $  (1,661)  
       
       
Astec Industries, Inc.  
Backlog by Segment  
December 31, 2015 and 2014  
(in thousands)  
(Unaudited)  
 Infrastructure
Group
Aggregate and Mining
Group
Energy
Group
Total  
2015 Backlog   203,830    74,484    34,977    313,291   
2014 Backlog   147,190    89,789    95,072    332,051   
Change $   56,640    (15,305)   (60,095)   (18,760)  
Change % 38.5% (17.0%) (63.2%) (5.6%)  
       



            

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