Astec Industries Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2019 Results

Fourth Quarter 2019 Highlights (all comparisons are made to the prior year fourth quarter):

• Net Sales decreased 10.7% to $283.2M
• Gross profit of 12.2%; adjusted gross profit of 21.5% decreased 250bps
• EPS loss of $0.85; adjusted EPS of $0.40 decreased from $0.61 a year ago
• Adjusted EBITDA of $15.0M decreased 46.4%; adjusted EBITDA margin of 5.3% declined 350bps

2019 Highlights (all comparisons are made to the prior year):

• Net sales were relatively flat; adjusted net sales decreased 7.8% to $1.15B
• Gross profit of 21.1%; adjusted gross profit of 22.0% decreased 180bps
• EPS of $0.95; adjusted EPS of $1.59 decreased from $2.94 a year ago
• Adjusted EBITDA of $68.3M decreased 41.3%; adjusted EBITDA margin of 5.9% declined 340bps
• Began restructuring initiatives related to strategic pillars for profitable growth – Simplify, Focus and Grow

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., March 03, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Astec Industries, Inc. (Nasdaq: ASTE) announced today its financial results for fourth quarter and full-year ended December 31, 2019.

Fourth Quarter 2019 Results

Fourth quarter net sales of $283.2 million decreased 10.7% compared to $317.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2018. Domestic sales of $209.6 million decreased 15.5% from $248.2 million a year ago, while International sales of $73.6 million increased 7.0% from $68.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2018. Excluding the impact of foreign currency, net sales decreased 10.4%.

Backlog as of December 31, 2019 of $263.7 million decreased by $81.3 million, or 23.6% compared to the backlog of $344.9 million a year ago. Domestic backlog decreased by 25.4% to $194.5 million from $260.7 million in 2018. International backlog of $69.2 million decreased compared to $84.2 million last year. Although we experienced a decline in each segment, weakness was concentrated in the Aggregate and Mining Group as dealers had increased their inventory levels throughout 2018 to meet demand but then began to destock in 2019.

An operating loss of $28.1 million compared to a loss of $69.4 million in the fourth quarter 2018.  In relation to the company’s efforts to simplify the organization, the company incurred a $9.9 million pre-tax restructuring charge, or $0.34 per diluted share for the fourth quarter. The restructuring items are related to the expected sale of the GEFCO subsidiary, closure of our German operation and the transfer of the CEI products to Heatec and RexCon. In the fourth quarter of 2019, after considering new management’s revised inventory control and working capital control objectives and the Company’s assessment of the age, quantities on hand, market acceptance of the equipment, and other related factors, it was determined that various specific equipment models in each of the Company’s business units required additions to their net realizable value reserves. The fourth quarter results include a pre-tax inventory write-down of $26.5 million or $0.91 per diluted share. Fourth quarter adjusted operating income of $8.4 million decreased 60.5% compared to $21.2 million a year ago.  Adjusted operating margin of 3.0% declined 370 basis points from 6.7% in fourth quarter 2018.   Adjusted operating income declined primarily due to the lower volumes.  SGA&E expenses declined 4.0% on a dollar basis but increased as a percent of sales 130 basis points to 18.6% from 17.3% in the fourth quarter of 2018 due to the decline in sales.

Adjusted EBITDA of $15.0 million decreased 46.6% compared to $28.0 million a year ago.  Adjusted EBITDA margin of 5.3% declined 350 basis points from 8.8% in fourth quarter 2018.

Net loss of $19.2 million or $0.85 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $47.0 million or $2.08 per diluted share for the fourth quarter of 2018.  Excluding unusual items and restructuring charges mentioned above, adjusted net income of $9.0 million decreased 35.4% compared to the same period a year ago.  Adjusted EPS of $0.40 decreased 34.4% compared to $0.61 last year. 

“Fourth quarter results showed continued softness in North America that was partially offset by an increase in international sales. Despite the temporary headwinds, I am encouraged by the progress we are making towards our strategic initiatives to Simplify, Focus and Grow the organization,” stated Barry Ruffalo, CEO of Astec Industries, Inc. “As recently announced, we are in the process of marketing the GEFCO business for sale.  This will further simplify the organization, strengthen our financial position and release additional capital to deploy toward strategic growth opportunities. Additionally, we have taken important steps to restructure the company and streamline business units to increase internal transparency and improve the decision-making process. These collective actions are important in building the foundation for the future success of Astec Industries.”  

Full Year 2019 Results

Net sales for 2019 were $1,169.6 million, or relatively flat when compared to 2018.  Domestic sales decreased 0.8% to $908.5 million from $915.8 million a year ago, while International sales increased 2.1% to $261.1 million from $255.8 million in 2018.  Excluding the impact of foreign currency, net sales increased 0.6%.         

Operating income of $23.9 million compares to a loss of $86.4 million in 2018.  The company incurred a total of $37.9 million in pre-tax restructuring charges and inventory write-downs for 2019, or $1.36 per diluted share.  Adjusted operating income of $41.8 million decreased 52.4% compared to $87.8 million in 2018.  Adjusted operating margin of 3.6% declined 340 basis points from 7.0% in 2018.  Adjusted operating income declined primarily because of a reduction in gross margin of 180 basis points to 22.0% from 23.8% in 2018.

Adjusted EBITDA of $68.3 million decreased 41.3% compared to $116.3 million in 2018.  Adjusted EBITDA margin of 5.9% declined 340 basis points from 9.3% in 2018.

Net income of $21.5 million or $0.95 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $60.4 million or $2.64 per diluted share in 2018.  Adjusted net income of $36.0 million decreased 46.6% compared to 2018.  Adjusted EPS of $1.59 decreased 45.9% compared to $2.94 last year. 

The Company identified certain material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting.  As a result, the Company needs additional time to complete the compilation of information and finalization of its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting for its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures to be filed as part of the 2019 Form 10-K.  The Company has filed a Form 12b-25 with the Securities and Exchange Commission in order to extend the due date of its 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K for 15 days, as permitted by Rule 12b-25 under the Securities Exchange Act.

Investor Conference Call and Web Simulcast

Astec will conduct a conference call and live webcast today, March 4, 2020, at 10:00 A.M. Eastern Time, to review its fourth quarter and year end results as well as current business conditions. The number to call for this interactive teleconference is [phone] (at least 10 minutes prior to the scheduled time for the call). International callers should dial [phone].  You may also access a live webcast of the call by visiting https//www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/2146/33412.  You will need to give your name and company affiliation and reference Astec Industries.  An archived webcast will be available for ninety days at www.astecindustries.com.

A replay of the conference call will be available through March 17, 2020 by dialing [phone], or [phone] for international callers, Conference ID #33412. A transcript 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.

About Astec Industries, Inc.

Astec Industries, Inc., (www.astecindustries.com), is a manufacturer of specialized equipment for asphalt road building, aggregate processing and concrete production. Astec’s manufacturing operations are divided into three primary business segments: road building, (Infrastructure Group); aggregate processing and mining equipment (Aggregate and Mining Group); and a diversified portfolio of equipment used in various industries including energy-related markets (Energy Group).

Forward-Looking Statements
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 (i) restructuring initiatives, (ii) the potential sale of the GEFCO business, (iii) increases in international demand, and (iv) product demand in North America. 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, gas 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, 2018.

For Additional Information Contact:
Steve Anderson 
Senior Vice President Administration, Investor Relations & Corporate Secretary 
Phone: [phone] 
Fax: [phone] 
E-mail: [e-mail]

Astec Industries, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
	Dec			Dec
		2019			2018
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	48,857		$	25,821
Investments		1,547			1,946
Receivables and contract assets, net		124,103			133,978
Inventories		278,863			355,944
Prepaid expenses and other		59,603			43,302
Total current assets		512,973			560,991
Property and equipment, net		182,404			192,448
Other assets		104,387			102,018
Total assets	$	799,764		$	855,457
Liabilities and equity
Current liabilities
Accounts payable - trade	$	55,055		$	70,614
Other current liabilities		117,873			118,617
Total current liabilities		172,928			189,231
Long-term debt, less current maturities		690			59,709
Non-current liabilities		24,490			21,227
Total equity		601,656			585,290
Total liabilities and equity	$	799,764		$	855,457
Astec Industries, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)
	Three Months Ended						Twelve Months Ended
	Dec 31						Dec 31
		2019			2018			2019			2018
Net sales	$	283,224		$	317,005		$	1,169,613		$	1,171,599
Cost of sales		248,797			318,636			923,159			1,035,833
Gross profit (loss)		34,427			(1,631	)		246,454			135,766
Selling, general, administrative & engineering expenses		52,554			54,732			211,148			209,127
Restructuring and asset impairment charges		9,942			13,060			11,373			13,060
Income (loss) from operations		(28,069	)		(69,423	)		23,933			(86,421	)
Interest expense		(68	)		(557	)		(1,367	)		(1,045	)
Other		250			11			1,629			1,783
Income (loss) before income taxes		(27,887	)		(69,969	)		24,195			(85,683	)
Income taxes		(8,701	)		(22,932	)		2,720			(25,234	)
Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest	$	(19,186	)	$	(47,037	)	$	21,475		$	(60,449	)
Earnings (loss) per Common Share
Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest
Basic	$	(0.85	)	$	(2.08	)	$	0.95		$	(2.64	)
Diluted	$	(0.85	)	$	(2.08	)	$	0.95		$	(2.64	)
Weighted average common shares outstanding
Basic		22,531			22,582			22,515			22,902
Diluted		22,531			22,582			22,674			22,902

Astec Industries, Inc.
Segment Revenues and Profits (Losses)
For the three months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
	Infrastructure Group		Aggregate and Mining Group			Energy Group			Corporate			Total
2019 Revenues	115,671			91,981			75,170			402		283,224
2018 Revenues	124,930			116,064			76,011			-		317,005
Change $	(9,259	)		(24,083	)		(841	)		402		(33,781	)
Change %	(7.4	%)		(20.7	%)		(1.1	%)		-		(10.7	%)
2019 Gross Profit	11,220			13,041			8,511			1,655		34,427
2019 Gross Profit %	9.7	%		14.2	%		11.3	%		411.7	%	12.2	%
2018 Gross Profit (Loss)	(41,462	)		30,347			9,375			109		(1,631	)
2018 Gross Profit (Loss) %	(33.2	%)		26.1	%		12.3	%		-		(0.5	%)
Change	52,682			(17,306	)		(864	)		1,546		36,058
2019 Loss	(3,815	)		(179	)		(12,192	)		(3,070	)	(19,256	)
2018 Profit (Loss)	(69,833	)		10,796			(13,336	)		22,015		(50,358	)
Change $	66,018			(10,975	)		1,144			(25,085	)	31,102
Change %	94.5	%		(101.7	%)		8.6	%		(113.9	%)	61.8	%
Segment revenues are reported net of intersegment revenues. Segment gross profit (loss) is net of profit on intersegment revenues. A reconciliation of total segment profits (losses) to the Company's net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest is as follows (in thousands):
			Three months ended December 31
				2019			2018		Change $
Total loss for all segments			$	(19,256	)	$	(50,358	)	$	31,102
Recapture of intersegment profit				64			3,263			(3,199	)
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest				6			58			(52	)
Net loss attributable to controlling interest			$	(19,186	)	$	(47,037	)	$	27,851
Astec Industries, Inc.
Segment Revenues and Profits (Losses)
For the year ended December 31, 2019 and 2018
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
	Infrastructure Group		Aggregate and Mining Group			Energy Group			Corporate			Total
2019 Revenues	492,118			404,971			272,122			402		1,169,613
2018 Revenues	442,289			453,164			276,146			-		1,171,599
Change $	49,829			(48,193	)		(4,024	)		402		(1,986	)
Change %	11.3	%		(10.6	%)		(1.5	%)		-		(0.2	%)
2019 Gross Profit	105,012			84,917			54,719			1,806		246,454
2019 Gross Profit %	21.3	%		21.0	%		20.1	%		449.3	%	21.1	%
2018 Gross Profit (Loss)	(37,357	)		112,972			59,751			400		135,766
2018 Gross Profit (Loss) %	(8.4	%)		24.9	%		21.6	%		-		11.6	%
Change	142,369			(28,055	)		(5,032	)		1,406		110,688
2019 Profit (Loss)	35,449			22,790			(567	)		(37,491	)	20,181
2018 Profit (Loss)	(112,954	)		45,464			3,070			1,586		(62,834	)
Change $	148,403			(22,674	)		(3,637	)		(39,077	)	83,015
Change %	131.4	%		(49.9	%)		(118.5	%)		(2463.9	%)	132.1	%
Segment revenues are reported net of intersegment revenues. Segment gross profit (loss) is net of profit on intersegment revenues. A reconciliation of total segment profits (losses) to the Company's net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest is as follows (in thousands):
			Twelve months ended December 31
				2019			2018		Change $
Total profit (loss) for all segments			$	20,181		$	(62,834	)	$	83,015
Recapture of intersegment profit				1,162			2,090			(928	)
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest				132			295			(163	)
Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest			$	21,475		$	(60,449	)	$	81,924
Astec Industries, Inc.
Backlog by Segment
December 31, 2019 and 2018
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
	Infrastructure Group		Aggregate and Mining Group			Energy Group			Total
2019 Backlog	139,081			74,127			50,497			263,705
2018 Backlog	149,437			130,691			64,834			344,962
Change $	(10,356	)		(56,564	)		(14,337	)		(81,257	)
Change %	(6.9	%)		(43.3	%)		(22.1	%)		(23.6	%)

Glossary
In its earnings release, Astec refers to various GAAP (U.S. generally accepted accounting principles) and non-GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures being disclosed by other companies. Non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, and not in lieu of, GAAP financial measures. Nonetheless, this non-GAAP information can be useful in understanding the Company's operating results and the performance of its core businesses.
The amounts described below are unaudited, reported in thousands of U.S. Dollars (Except Share data), and as of or for the periods indicated.
Q4 2019 GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation Table
	As Reported			Restructuring and			As Adjusted
Consolidated	(GAAP)			Unusual Charges			(Non-GAAP)
Net Sales	$	283,224		$	-		$	283,224
GP		34,427			26,509			60,936
GP%		12.2	%					21.5	%
Op Income (Loss)		(28,069	)		36,453			8,384
Income Tax (Benefit) Expense		(8,701	)		8,245			(456	)
Net Income (Loss)		(19,186	)		28,208			9,022
EPS		(0.85	)		1.25			0.40
EBITDA		(21,495	)		36,452			14,957
Free Cash Flow		22,870			10,494			33,364
Infrastructure
Net Sales		115,671			-			115,671
GP		11,220			12,098			23,318
GP%		9.7	%					20.2	%
EBITDA		(2,656	)		12,479			9,823
Aggregate and Mining
Net Sales		91,981			-			91,981
GP		13,041			4,261			17,302
GP%		14.2	%					18.8	%
EBITDA		97			4,511			4,608
Energy
Net Sales		75,170			-			75,170
GP		8,511			10,150			18,661
GP%		11.3	%					24.8	%
EBITDA		(10,046	)		19,463			9,417
Q4 2018 GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation Table
	As Reported			Restructuring and			As Adjusted
Consolidated	(GAAP)			Unusual Charges			(Non-GAAP)
Net Sales	$	317,005		$	-		$	317,005
GP		(1,631	)		77,574			75,943
GP%		(0.5	%)					24.0	%
Op Income (Loss)		(69,423	)		90,634			21,211
Income Tax (Benefit) Expense		(22,932	)		29,628			6,696
Net Income (Loss)		(47,037	)		61,005			13,968
EPS		(2.08	)		2.69			0.61
EBITDA		(62,603	)		90,634			28,031
Infrastructure
Net Sales		124,930			-			124,930
GP		(41,462	)		69,792			28,330
GP%		(33.2	%)					22.7	%
EBITDA		(63,515	)		71,663			8,148
Aggregate and Mining
Net Sales		116,064			-			116,064
GP		30,347			294			30,641
GP%		26.1	%					26.4	%
EBITDA		13,224			294			13,518
Energy
Net Sales		76,011			-			76,011
GP		9,375			7,487			16,862
GP%		12.3	%					22.2	%
EBITDA		(11,708	)		18,677			6,969
FYE 2019 GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation Table
	As Reported			Restructuring and			As Adjusted
Consolidated	(GAAP)			Unusual Charges			(Non-GAAP)
Net Sales	$	1,169,613		$	(20,000	)	$	1,149,613
Domestic Sales		908,466			(20,000	)		888,466
International Sales		261,147			-			261,147
GP		246,454			6,533			252,987
GP%		21.1	%					22.0	%
Op Income		23,933			17,906			41,839
Income Tax (Benefit) Expense		2,720			3,420			6,140
Net Income		21,475			14,487			35,962
EPS		0.95			0.64			1.59
EBITDA		50,440			17,906			68,346
Free Cash Flow		90,287			(7,413	)		82,874
FYE 2018 GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation Table
	As Reported			Restructuring and			As Adjusted
Consolidated	(GAAP)			Unusual Charges			(Non-GAAP)
Net Sales	$	1,171,599		$	74,778		$	1,246,377
Domestic Sales		915,814			74,778			990,592
International Sales		255,785			-			255,785
GP		135,766			161,185			296,951
GP%		11.6	%					23.8	%
Op Income (Loss)		(86,421	)		174,245			87,824
Income Tax (Benefit) Expense		(25,234	)		46,502			21,268
Net Income (Loss)		(60,449	)		127,744			67,295
EPS		(2.64	)		5.58			2.94
EBITDA		(57,897	)		174,245			116,348

PDF with complete 4Q19 Earnings Presentation available:
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