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8-K - 8-K - FOSTER L B COd764728d8k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO   News Release

L.B. FOSTER REPORTS SECOND QUARTER OPERATING RESULTS

PITTSBURGH, PA, August 4, 2014 – L.B. Foster Company (NASDAQ: FSTR), a leading manufacturer, fabricator, and distributor of products and services for rail, construction, energy and utility markets, today reported its second quarter 2014 operating results, which included income from continuing operations of $0.66 per diluted share, a 7.0% decrease from the second quarter of 2013. Included in these results is a $4.6 million pretax warranty charge ($0.27 per diluted share) related to concrete railroad ties. Sales were $166.8 million, 11.3% higher than the second quarter of 2013.

Second Quarter Results

 

    Second quarter net sales of $166.8 million increased by $16.9 million, or 11.3%, compared to the prior year quarter due to an 18.3% increase in Rail segment sales and a 14.3% increase in Tubular segment sales.

 

    Gross profit margin was 18.4%, 110 basis points lower than the prior year quarter. The decline was due to reduced Tubular and Rail segment margins, partially offset by improved Construction segment margins. Included in the second quarter results is a $4.6 million warranty charge related to concrete railroad ties manufactured in our Grand Island, NE facility which was shut down in February 2011. This charge was a result of the Company’s continuous review of its warranty obligations. 1Excluding this charge, gross profit would have been a robust 21.2% for the second quarter.

 

    Second quarter income from continuing operations was $6.8 million, or $0.66 per diluted share, compared to $7.3 million, or $0.71 per diluted share, last year. Excluding the previously mentioned $4.6 million warranty charge, income from continuing operations would have increased 32.8% over prior year to $9.6 million, or $0.93 per diluted share. This adjusted increase over the prior year second quarter is due to improved profitability in our Rail and Construction segments.

 

    Second quarter bookings were $161.6 million, a 34.9% increase over the prior year second quarter, due to 64.0% and 56.1% improvements in Rail and Tubular segment orders, respectively, driven by strong activity in the Rail Distribution and Coated Products divisions. June 2014 backlog was $247.8 million, 12.5% higher than June 2013.

 

    Selling and administrative expense increased by $1.6 million, or 9.2%, due principally to personnel related costs as well as consulting fees related to the preparation for, and identification of a new enterprise resource planning system.

 

    The Company’s income tax rate from continuing operations was 32.9% compared to 34.6% in the prior year quarter. The income tax rate from continuing operations compares favorably to the prior year quarter as the current year quarter was positively impacted by certain state income tax matters.

 

    Cash flow from continuing operating activities for the second quarter of 2014 used $0.5 million compared to $16.7 million of cash provided in the second quarter of 2013. The current year quarter was unfavorably impacted by a significant increase in accounts receivable, due to significantly stronger sales in May and June 2014 as compared to 2013. DSO improved in the second quarter to 45 days from 55 days at the end of the first quarter of 2014.

 

1  Reconciliations of non-GAAP amounts are set forth on the attached financial tables.


CEO Comments

Robert P. Bauer, L.B. Foster Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “I was very pleased with the underlying performance of our business in the second quarter. Bookings in the quarter were very strong at $161.6 million, up 34.9% over prior year, and our backlog stands at $247.8 million going into the second half of the year. This was the rebound we were looking for following the slow start in the first quarter. Our operating performance was equally encouraging with gross margins excluding the warranty charge of 21.2% on sales that were up 11.3% over the prior year quarter driving a 31.0% increase in EPS. As previously forecasted, we are seeing continued spending in the rail industry driven by strong end user demand, our Tubular Products business is maintaining a solid backlog, and the Construction business is clearly seeing better market activity than at this time last year. The positive economic climate is allowing us to continue executing on the growth initiatives and I expect acquisition activity to increase in the near term.” Mr. Bauer concluded by saying, “In July, we completed the acquisition of a diversified concrete products company that will expand our served market and particularly improve our competitive position in the northeastern United States.”

Q2 Business Segment Highlights

($000’s)

Rail Segment

Rail sales increased 18.3% due to stronger performances in our Allegheny Rail Products, CXT Concrete ties and Rail Technologies businesses. The 2014 gross profit margin is unfavorably impacted by a $4.6 million warranty charge. Excluding the warranty charge, second quarter gross profit margins improved due to volume related leverage and improved execution in several of our Rail businesses.

 

     2014     2013     Variance  

Sales

   $ 107,484      $ 90,892        18.3

Gross Profit

   $ 18,527      $ 17,466     

Excluding charge

   $ 23,135      $ 17,466     

Gross Profit %

     17.2     19.2  

Excluding charge

     21.5     19.2  

Construction Segment

Construction sales declined by 4.3% in the quarter due principally to a reduction in Piling Products sales, partially offset by increased sales in Fabricated Bridge Products. Gross profit margins improved due to margin improvement in all businesses in this segment as well as a favorable product mix.

 

     2014     2013     Variance  

Sales

   $ 41,810      $ 43,697        (4.3 %) 

Gross Profit

   $ 7,693      $ 6,665     

Gross Profit %

     18.4     15.3  

Tubular Segment

Tubular sales improved by 14.3% in the quarter due to sales of our fourth quarter 2013 acquisition within the Coated Products division, partially offset by softer Coated Products sales excluding the acquisition. Tubular gross profit margins declined due principally to lower Coated Products margins, which is reflective of cost overruns incurred during a complex project in the current quarter.

 

     2014     2013     Variance  

Sales

   $ 17,538      $ 15,347        14.3

Gross Profit

   $ 4,391      $ 5,237     

Gross Profit %

     25.0     34.1  


First Half 2014 Results

 

    Net sales for the first six months of 2014 decreased by $1.0 million, or 0.4%, due to a 14.1% decline in Construction segment sales, partially offset by a 5.0% increase in Rail segment sales and a 6.1% improvement in Tubular segment sales.

 

    Gross profit margin was 19.7%, 40 basis points higher than the prior year period. Excluding the previously mentioned warranty charge, gross profit would have been 21.4% for the first six months of 2014, or 200 basis points higher than 2013. This improvement was driven by profitability improvements in the Rail and Construction segments, partially offset by lower Tubular segment profitability.

 

    Selling and administrative expense increased by $2.5 million, or 7.2%, due principally to personnel related costs as well as consulting fees related to the preparation for, and the identification of a new enterprise resource planning system. Incentive compensation expense was approximately $0.3 million ($0.02 per diluted share) lower for the first half 2014 as a result of the warranty adjustment.

 

    Income from continuing operations was $10.5 million, or $1.02 per diluted share, compared to $12.2 million, or $1.19 per diluted share, last year. The decline was due to the $4.6 million warranty charge taken in the second quarter. Excluding the charge, income from continuing operations would have been $13.3 million, or $1.29 per diluted share.

 

    The Company’s income tax rate from continuing operations was 32.4%, compared to 34.1% in the prior year six month period. The income tax rate from continuing operations compares favorably to the prior year period as the current year was positively impacted by certain state income tax matters.

 

    Cash flow provided from continuing operating activities was $31.6 million for the first half of 2014, compared to a use of cash of $0.5 million in the prior year period. The current year period was favorably impacted by an improvement in working capital. Capital expenditures were $7.7 million compared to $3.1 million in the comparable 2013 period.

Concrete Tie Warranty Update

The Company recorded a $4.6 million pre-tax warranty charge in the quarter related to concrete railroad ties manufactured at the Company’s Grand Island, NE facility which was closed in February 2011. This charge was necessary as the company periodically reviews the status of the field replacements and the model being used to anticipate future replacements. The majority of the charge will support the warranty exposure for ties that were sold to the Union Pacific Railroad.

Through the first half of the year the Company has been working with UPRR on sections of track where replacements are taking place. A dedicated team of knowledgeable and experienced L.B. Foster associates are in the field participating in the evaluation of ties that require replacement. As we continue to make progress on addressing the defective ties in track, we are continually evaluating the status of the warranty reserve that will support the anticipated cost of replacements for the entire warranty period.

L.B. Foster Company will conduct a conference call and webcast to discuss its second quarter 2014 operating results on Monday, August 4, 2014 at 11:00 am ET. The call will be hosted by Mr. Robert Bauer, President and Chief Executive Officer. Listen via audio on the L.B. Foster web site: www.lbfoster.com, by accessing the Investor Relations page. The conference call can be accessed by dialing 866-713-8563 and providing access code 78267559.


This release may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Statements that do not relate strictly to historical or current facts are forward-looking. When we use the words “believe,” “intend,” “expect,” “may,” “should,” “anticipate,” “could,” “estimate,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” or their negatives, or other similar expressions, the statements which include those words are usually forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from the results anticipated in any forward-looking statement. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. The Company has based these forward-looking statements on current expectations and assumptions about future events. While the Company considers these expectations and assumptions to be reasonable, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, regulatory and other risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company’s control. The risks and uncertainties that may affect the operations, performance and results of the Company’s business and forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, an economic slowdown in the markets we serve; the risk of doing business in international markets; our ability to effectuate our strategy including evaluating of potential opportunities such as strategic acquisitions, joint ventures, and other initiatives, and our ability to effectively integrate new businesses and realize anticipated benefits; a decrease in freight or passenger rail traffic; a lack of state or federal funding for new infrastructure projects; increased regulation including conflict minerals; an increase in manufacturing or material costs; the ultimate number of concrete ties that will have to be replaced pursuant to the previously disclosed product warranty claim of the Union Pacific Railroad and an overall resolution of the related contract claims; risks inherent in litigation and those matters set forth in Item 8, Footnote 20, “Commitments and Contingent Liabilities” and in Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 and reports on Form 10-Q thereafter. The Company urges all interested parties to read these reports to gain a better understanding of the many business and other risks that the Company faces. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made only as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by securities laws.

Contact:

 

 

David Russo

   Phone:   

412.928.3417

  

L.B. Foster Company

   Email:   

Investors@Lbfoster.com

  

415 Holiday Drive

   Website:   

www.lbfoster.com

  

Pittsburgh, PA 15220


L.B. FOSTER COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
    Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2014     2013     2014     2013  
     (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)  

Net sales

   $ 166,832      $ 149,936      $ 278,246      $ 279,257   

Cost of goods sold

     136,132        120,761        223,419        225,234   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     30,700        29,175        54,827        54,023   

Selling and administrative expenses

     19,599        17,951        37,624        35,081   

Amortization expense

     1,172        700        2,313        1,401   

Interest expense

     126        125        249        258   

Interest income

     (147     (139     (291     (345

Equity in income of nonconsolidated investment

     (142     (420     (346     (596

Other income

     (115     (137     (250     (315
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     20,493        18,080        39,299        35,484   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

     10,207        11,095        15,528        18,539   

Income tax expense

     3,359        3,838        5,031        6,331   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

     6,848        7,257        10,497        12,208   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Discontinued operations:

        

Income from discontinued operations before income taxes

     23        62        23        23   

Income tax expense

     9        24        9        9   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from discontinued operations

     14        38        14        14   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 6,862      $ 7,295      $ 10,511      $ 12,222   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic earnings per common share:

        

From continuing operations

   $ 0.67      $ 0.71      $ 1.03      $ 1.20   

From discontinued operations

     0.00        0.00        0.00        0.00   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic earnings per common share

   $ 0.67      $ 0.72      $ 1.03      $ 1.20   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per common share:

        

From continuing operations

   $ 0.66      $ 0.71      $ 1.02      $ 1.19   

From discontinued operations

     0.00        0.00        0.00        0.00   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per common share

   $ 0.67      $ 0.71      $ 1.02      $ 1.19   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Dividends paid per common share

   $ 0.03      $ 0.03      $ 0.06      $ 0.06   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Average number of common shares outstanding - Basic

     10,223        10,173        10,210        10,165   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Average number of common shares outstanding - Diluted

     10,309        10,253        10,309        10,238   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 


L.B. FOSTER COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands)

 

     June 30,
2014
    December 31,
2013
 
     (Unaudited)        

ASSETS

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 87,555      $ 64,623   

Accounts receivable - net

     94,496        98,437   

Inventories - net

     84,617        76,956   

Current deferred tax assets

     461        461   

Prepaid income tax

     674        4,741   

Other current assets

     4,486        2,000   

Current assets of discontinued operations

     19        149   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     272,308        247,367   

Property, plant and equipment - net

     53,979        50,109   

Other assets:

    

Goodwill

     57,781        57,781   

Other intangibles - net

     49,556        51,846   

Investments

     4,896        5,090   

Other assets

     1,432        1,461   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Assets

   $ 439,952      $ 413,654   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

    

Current liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 59,413      $ 46,620   

Deferred revenue

     8,345        5,715   

Accrued payroll and employee benefits

     7,081        8,927   

Accrued warranty

     9,594        7,483   

Current maturities of long-term debt

     109        31   

Current deferred tax liabilities

     179        179   

Other accrued liabilities

     6,005        6,501   

Liabilities of discontinued operations

     —          26   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     90,726        75,482   

Long-term debt

     289        25   

Deferred tax liabilities

     11,404        11,798   

Other long-term liabilities

     9,815        9,952   

Stockholders’ equity:

    

Class A Common Stock

     111        111   

Paid-in capital

     47,045        47,239   

Retained earnings

     308,252        298,361   

Treasury stock

     (23,242     (24,731

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (4,448     (4,583
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

     327,718        316,397   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

   $ 439,952      $ 413,654   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 


This earnings release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures. These financial measures include gross profit margins excluding concrete tie costs and earnings per share from continuing operations excluding concrete tie costs. The Company believes that these non-GAAP measures are useful to investors in order to provide a better understanding of these measures excluding certain costs incurred in 2014. The costs incurred were associated to concrete ties manufactured at its Grand Island facility which was closed in 2011.

These non-GAAP financial measures are not a substitute for GAAP financial results and should only be considered in conjunction with the Company’s financial information that is presented in accordance with GAAP. Quantitative reconciliations of the GAAP measures are presented below:

L.B. FOSTER COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

(In Thousands, except per share data)

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
    Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
Gross profit margins excluding concrete tie charges    2014     2013     2014     2013  
     (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)  

Net sales, as reported

   $ 166,832      $ 149,936      $ 278,246      $ 279,257   

Cost of goods sold, as reported

     136,132        120,761        223,419        225,234   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     30,700        29,175        54,827        54,023   

Product warranty charges, before income tax

     4,608        —          4,608        —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit, excluding certain charges

   $ 35,308      $ 29,175      $ 59,435      $ 54,023   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit percentage, as reported

     18.40     19.46     19.70     19.35

Gross profit percentage, excluding certain charges

     21.16     19.46     21.36     19.35
Income from continuing operations before income taxes excluding concrete tie charges    Three Months Ended
June 30,
    Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
   2014     2013     2014     2013  
     (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)  

Income from continuing operations, as reported

   $ 10,207      $ 11,095      $ 15,528      $ 18,539   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Product warranty charges, before income tax

     4,608        —          4,608        —     

Incentive compensation, before income tax

     (344     —          (344     —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations, before income taxes, excluding certain charges

   $ 14,471      $ 11,095      $ 19,792      $ 18,539   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations (including diluted earnings per share)
excluding concrete tie charges

   Three Months Ended
June 30,
    Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
   2014     2013     2014     2013  
     (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)  

Income from continuing operations, as reported

   $ 6,848      $ 7,257      $ 10,497      $ 12,208   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Product warranty charges, net of income tax

     3,015        —          3,015        —     

Incentive compensation, net of income tax

     (225     —          (225     —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations, excluding certain charges

   $ 9,638      $ 7,257      $ 13,287      $ 12,208   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE:

        

FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS, as reported

   $ 0.66      $ 0.71      $ 1.02      $ 1.19   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE:

        

FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS, excluding certain charges

   $ 0.93      $ 0.71      $ 1.29      $ 1.19   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

AVERAGE NUMBER OF COMMON SHARES

        

OUTSTANDING - DILUTED, as reported

     10,309        10,253        10,309        10,238   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

AVERAGE NUMBER OF COMMON SHARES

        

OUTSTANDING - DILUTED, excluding certain charges

     10,310        10,253        10,310        10,238