Wajax Corp (WJXFF) Q2 2024 Earnings Call Highlights: Navigating Revenue Decline with Strategic ...

In This Article:

  • Revenue: $568.3 million, a decrease of 3.1% from Q2 2023.

  • Gross Profit Margin: Increased to 20.9% from 19.9% in Q2 2023.

  • Selling and Administrative Expenses: Increased to 14.4% of revenue from 12.8% in Q2 2023.

  • Adjusted EBITDA: $54.7 million, a decrease of 4.3% from Q2 2023.

  • Adjusted Net Earnings per Share: $1.06, a decrease of 16.3% from Q2 2023.

  • Backlog: $544.9 million, a decrease of 7.2% from Q1 2024.

  • Cash Flow from Operating Activities: $35.8 million, compared to a use of $6 million in Q2 2023.

  • Leverage Ratio: Decreased to 2.17 times from 2.2 times in Q1 2024.

  • Dividend: $0.35 per share for Q3 2024.

Release Date: August 09, 2024

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

Positive Points

  • Wajax Corp (WJXFF) reported an increase in gross profit margin to 20.9% in Q2 2024, up from 19.9% in the same period of 2023.

  • The company successfully rolled out a new ERP system to 99 branch locations, representing approximately 90% of 2023 annual revenue.

  • Eastern Canada saw an 8.3% increase in sales, driven by higher equipment sales in construction and forestry and increased power systems sales.

  • Wajax Corp (WJXFF) has a strong M&A pipeline, indicating ongoing strategic growth opportunities.

  • The company has secured orders for eight large mining shovels, with deliveries scheduled through 2025, indicating a strong backlog in the mining sector.

Negative Points

  • Revenue decreased by 3.1% in Q2 2024 compared to the same quarter in 2023, primarily due to lower sales in Western and Central Canada.

  • Adjusted EBITDA decreased by 4.3% from the second quarter of 2023, impacted by lower sales volumes and higher personnel expenses.

  • Selling and administrative expenses increased to 14.4% of revenue in Q2 2024, up from 12.8% in Q2 2023, due to higher personnel costs.

  • The company's backlog decreased by 7.2% compared to Q1 2024, primarily due to lower orders in construction, forestry, and ERS.

  • Industrial parts and ERS sales were soft in Q2, with declines in Central and Eastern Canada, reflecting broader market challenges.

Q & A Highlights

Q: Industrial parts and ERS demand were soft in Q2. Are there specific regions or end markets driving this, or is it more broad-based? A: We are seeing softness in industrials and forestry, specifically pulp and paper. A small part of the decrease was due to the ERP rollout, which takes about a quarter to fully integrate.

Q: Has the demand trend continued into early Q3, and are there indicators suggesting a turning point? A: We are not expecting significant changes in demand trends moving into Q3.