In This Article:
Release Date: May 15, 2025
For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.
Positive Points
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North American Construction Group Ltd (NYSE:NOA) achieved a record trailing 12-month combined revenue of $1.5 billion, indicating strong financial performance.
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The company expanded its heavy equipment fleet in Australia by over 10%, enhancing capacity to meet growing demand.
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In Canada's oil sands, NOA achieved a 60% equipment utilization rate, with February peaking at 70%, reflecting operational efficiency.
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The Fargo project surpassed 65% completion, with final construction underway, showcasing progress in key projects.
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NOA maintained administrative costs at 3.9%, meeting internal targets and demonstrating disciplined management.
Negative Points
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Weather conditions negatively impacted earnings, with a 5-7% reduction in gross margins due to rain in Australia and extreme cold in Canada.
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The Australian operations faced poor equipment utilization due to consistent rain, particularly affecting the Carmichael mine.
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High early component failures in Canada impacted gross profit margins, although measures are being taken to address this.
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The company experienced increased depreciation costs due to high idle hours in Canada, affecting earnings per share.
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NOA's net debt levels increased by $11 million in the quarter, partly due to free cash flow usage and growth spending.
Q & A Highlights
Q: Can you provide insights on how Q2 might trend compared to Q1 in terms of top line and EBITDA? A: (Unidentified_3) We expect the top line and EBITDA to remain consistent with Q1. Although the oil sands are seasonally slower, the impact is less significant due to our diversified business. We anticipate a slight increase in EPS for Q2 due to lower depreciation.
Q: Could you elaborate on the large infrastructure bidding opportunities in the US and Canada? A: (Unidentified_2) We are seeing a significant increase in P3 projects in the US, particularly around energy transition and climate resiliency. These include pumped hydro projects, dam constructions, and water retention projects. We have a strong leader for our infrastructure business starting in July, and we view these as lower-risk opportunities.
Q: What was the financial impact of the rainy weather in Australia during Q1? A: (Unidentified_3) The weather impacted our gross profit margin in Australia by about 5 to 7%. Normally, Australia operates at a 25% gross profit margin, but it came in at 16-17% due to the weather.