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Loma Negra Cia Industria Argentina SA (LOMA) Q4 2024 Earnings Call Highlights: Strong EBITDA ...

In This Article:

  • EBITDA Margin: Expanded by over 600 basis points to 29% in Q4 2024, up from 22.8% in Q4 2023.

  • Adjusted EBITDA: $50 million in Q4 2024, with a full-year 2024 EBITDA of $198 million.

  • Net Debt: Reduced by $20 million to $157 million, lowering the net debt ratio to below 1 times.

  • Revenue Decline: Consolidated revenues declined 23.9% to ARS699 billion for fiscal year 2024.

  • Gross Margin: Expanded by 640 basis points year over year to 32.6% in Q4 2024.

  • Net Income: ARS22.4 billion in Q4 2024, compared to a net loss of ARS43 billion in Q4 2023.

  • SG&A Expenses: Fell 3.9%, with SG&A as a percentage of sales at 12% in Q4 2024.

  • Cash Flow from Operating Activities: ARS57 billion in Q4 2024.

  • Capital Expenditure: ARS21.2 billion in Q4 2024, with 40% allocated to the 25-kilogram bags project.

Release Date: March 07, 2025

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

  • Loma Negra Cia Industria Argentina SA (NYSE:LOMA) achieved a significant expansion of its EBITDA margin by over 600 basis points in the fourth quarter of 2024.

  • The company reported an EBITDA of $50 million for the quarter, with a substantial improvement in the EBITDA margin to 29% from 22.8% in the same quarter of 2023.

  • Net debt declined by an additional $20 million during the quarter, reducing the net debt-to-EBITDA ratio to below 1 times.

  • Loma Negra Cia Industria Argentina SA (NYSE:LOMA) achieved a 3% year-over-year decrease in total greenhouse gas emission intensity, aligning with its 2030 sustainability commitments.

  • The company is poised for growth in 2025, with expectations of double-digit volume increases and a more favorable economic environment.

Negative Points

  • The construction industry downturn led to a 24% decline in cement volumes for the full year 2024.

  • The fourth quarter saw a 19.5% decline in top-line performance, primarily due to weaker performance in the cement segment.

  • Concrete and aggregates segments experienced margin contractions, with the Concrete segment's adjusted EBITDA margin turning negative.

  • The company faced a challenging year with volumes declining 24%, impacting overall financial performance.

  • Despite improvements, the Railroad segment's adjusted EBITDA margin remained in negative territory.

Q & A Highlights

Q: How is Loma Negra approaching pricing strategies for 2025 given the current demand and inflation trends? A: (Sergio Damian Faifman, CEO) In 2025, we expect pricing dynamics to be similar to recent years, with adjustments aligned with inflation. If inflation decelerates, there will be more space between price increments. We anticipate prices to move with inflation, assuming inflation remains above peso devaluation. In case of significant devaluation, price adjustments would exceed inflation.