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Argan, Inc. Reports Second Quarter Results

Business Wire - Thu Sep 8, 2022

Argan, Inc. (NYSE: AGX) (“Argan” or the “Company”) today announces financial results for its second quarter ended July 31, 2022. The Company also announces that its Board of Directors approved an increase to the Company’s existing share repurchase program from $75 million to $100 million and declared a regular quarterly cash dividend in the amount of $0.25 per share of common stock, payable October 31, 2022 to stockholders of record at the close of business on October 21, 2022. For additional information, please read the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which the Company intends to file today with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The Quarterly Report can be retrieved from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or from the Company’s website at www.arganinc.com.

Summary Information (dollars in thousands, except per share data)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

2022

 

2021

 

Change

 

For the Quarter Ended:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

$

118,110

 

$

133,008

 

$

(14,898)

 

Gross profit

 

 

24,387

 

 

27,652

 

 

(3,265)

 

Gross margin %

 

 

20.6

%

 

20.8

%

 

(0.2)

%

Net income

 

$

4,222

 

$

12,870

 

$

(8,648)

 

Diluted per share

 

 

0.30

 

 

0.81

 

 

(0.51)

 

EBITDA

 

 

14,888

 

 

18,145

 

 

(3,257)

 

Cash dividends per share

 

 

0.25

 

 

0.25

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 31,

 

January 31,

 

 

 

 

As of:

 

2022

 

2022

 

Change

 

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments

 

$

318,987

 

$

440,498

 

$

(121,511)

 

Net liquidity (1)

 

 

236,181

 

 

284,257

 

 

(48,076)

 

Share repurchase treasury stock, at cost

 

 

73,573

 

 

20,405

 

 

53,168

 

RUPO (2)

 

 

371,827

 

 

397,023

 

 

(25,196)

 

(1)

 

Net liquidity, or working capital, is defined as total current assets less total current liabilities.

(2)

 

The amount of remaining unsatisfied performance obligations (“RUPO”) represents the project backlog related to active contracts with customers, as determined under revenue recognition rules.

“We were pleased to announce during the quarter that our Atlantic Projects Company (“APC”) subsidiary entered into engineering and construction services contracts with Ireland’s Electricity Supply Board (“ESB”) for 195 MW power projects in the Dublin area and construction has already commenced,” David Watson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Argan, said. “All of our companies continue to execute well on their projects and our gross profit margins reflect those successful efforts by our teams. The Company’s Board recognizes our ability to execute now and into the future and has authorized an increase in the existing share repurchase program to $100 million to support this belief. All of our teams are working hard to convert business development efforts into active jobs. The timing of our future revenues is largely driven by major new power projects and we currently expect to announce the commencement of one in our third quarter, however, it is important to note that the start of new projects is primarily controlled by project owners. It is worth pointing out the significant fundamentals that remain in our core market of building gas-fired power plants. Plentiful supplies of relatively clean-burning, natural gas are available in the United States. Coal and nuclear plants generally are old and uneconomical, renewables are intermittent and power storage generally remains expensive. Gas-fired power is the primary source of power generation in our country and it provides 24/7 power.”

Consolidated revenues for the quarter ended July 31, 2022 were $118.1 million, which represented a decrease of $14.9 million, or 11.2%, from consolidated revenues of $133.0 million reported for the three months ended July 31, 2021. Consolidated revenues of our power industry services segment decreased by $7.7 million as construction activities associated with the Guernsey Power Station project have passed post-peak levels. The decline in revenues were partially offset by increasing revenues at several APC projects including the Kilroot Power Station and ESB’s FlexGen peaker plants. Even though revenues of our industrial fabrication and field services have increased two quarters in a row, they decreased by $7.1 million between periods as the amounts of field services and pipe and vessel fabrication in the prior year quarter were significant.

For the quarter ended July 31, 2022, we reported a consolidated gross profit of approximately $24.4 million which represented a gross profit percentage of approximately 20.6% of corresponding consolidated revenues. The gross profit percentages of corresponding revenues for the power industry services, industrial services and the telecommunications infrastructure segments were 22.0%, 15.1% and 21.6%, respectively, for the current quarter.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the three months ended July 31, 2022 and 2021, were $11.0 million and $10.3 million, respectively, representing an increase of $0.7 million between the quarters, or 6.3%.

Due primarily to the unfavorable adjustment in the approximate amount of $6.2 million that was related to the settlement of the research and development credit claims with the Internal Revenue Service, we reported income tax expense in the amount of $9.7 million for the three months ended July 31, 2022. Excluding the effect of this adjustment, our effective tax rate for the three months ended July 31, 2022 was 25.2%.

For three months ended July 31, 2022, net income was $4.2 million, or $0.30 per diluted share. The unfavorable effect of the one-time tax adjustment on diluted net income per share was $0.43. For the three months ended July 31, 2021, we reported net income in the amount of $12.9 million, or $0.81 per diluted share. EBITDA for the quarter ended July 31, 2022 decreased to $14.9 million from $18.1 million for the prior year quarter. The Company paid its regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share in July.

For the six months ended July 31, 2022, we reported net income in the amount of $11.7 million, or $0.80 per diluted share, compared to $23.6 million of net income, or $1.48 per diluted share, in the prior year period. EBITDA for the six months ended July 31, 2022 decreased to $25.6 million from $33.8 million for the prior year period.

As of July 31, 2022, cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled $319 million and net liquidity was $236 million; furthermore, the Company had no debt. The $122 million reduction in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments from January 31, 2022 reflected the expected cash flow cycle of two significant projects, the payment of dividends and the repurchase of shares. During the three months ended July 31, 2022, the Company repurchased 701,713 shares of common stock at a cost of $26 million. Since last November, the Company has repurchased 1,940,344 shares of common stock, or approximately 12% of its outstanding shares, at a cost of approximately $74 million under the now $100 million share repurchase program authorization. The Company’s consolidated amount of RUPO was approximately $372 million as of July 31, 2022.

About Argan

Argan’s primary business is providing a full range of services to the power industry, including the renewable energy sector. Argan’s service offerings focus on the engineering, procurement and construction of natural gas-fired power plants and renewable energy facilities, along with related commissioning, operations management, maintenance, project development and consulting services, through its Gemma Power Systems and Atlantic Projects Company operations. Argan also owns The Roberts Company, which is a fully integrated fabrication, construction and industrial plant services company, and SMC Infrastructure Solutions, which provides telecommunications infrastructure services.

Certain matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Reference is hereby made to the cautionary statements made by the Company with respect to risk factors set forth in its most recent reports on Form 10-K, Forms 10-Q and other SEC filings. The Company’s future financial performance is subject to risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the successful addition of new contracts to project backlog, the receipt of corresponding notices to proceed with contract activities, and the Company’s ability to successfully complete the projects that it obtains. The Company has several signed EPC contracts that have not started and may not start as forecasted due to market and other circumstances beyond its control. Actual results and the timing of certain events could differ materially from those projected in or contemplated by the forward-looking statements due to the risk factors highlighted above and described regularly in the Company’s SEC filings.

ARGAN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

(In thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

July 31,

 

July 31,

 

 

2022

 

2021

 

2022

 

2021

REVENUES

 

$

118,110

 

$

133,008

 

$

218,387

 

$

259,349

Cost of revenues

 

 

93,723

 

 

105,356

 

 

174,262

 

 

207,983

GROSS PROFIT

 

 

24,387

 

 

27,652

 

 

44,125

 

 

51,366

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

 

10,984

 

 

10,331

 

 

21,559

 

 

20,223

INCOME FROM OPERATIONS

 

 

13,403

 

 

17,321

 

 

22,566

 

 

31,143

Other income (expense), net

 

 

505

 

 

(260)

 

 

1,100

 

 

452

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES

 

 

13,908

 

 

17,061

 

 

23,666

 

 

31,595

Income tax expense

 

 

(9,686)

 

 

(4,191)

 

 

(11,959)

 

 

(7,959)

NET INCOME

 

 

4,222

 

 

12,870

 

 

11,707

 

 

23,636

Foreign currency translation adjustments

 

 

(687)

 

 

(139)

 

 

(1,951)

 

 

(257)

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

 

$

3,535

 

$

12,731

 

$

9,756

 

$

23,379

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCOME PER SHARE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.30

 

$

0.82

 

$

0.81

 

$

1.50

Diluted

 

$

0.30

 

$

0.81

 

$

0.80

 

$

1.48

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES OUTSTANDING

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

 

14,134

 

 

15,769

 

 

14,516

 

 

15,748

Diluted

 

 

14,247

 

 

15,982

 

 

14,616

 

 

15,978

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH DIVIDENDS PER SHARE

 

$

0.25

 

$

0.25

 

$

0.50

 

$

0.50

ARGAN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 31,

 

January 31,

 

 

2022

 

2022

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

143,344

 

$

350,472

Short-term investments

 

 

175,643

 

 

90,026

Accounts receivable, net

 

 

24,888

 

 

26,978

Contract assets

 

 

8,678

 

 

4,904

Other current assets

 

 

25,640

 

 

34,904

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS

 

 

378,193

 

 

507,284

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

 

9,507

 

 

10,460

Goodwill

 

 

28,033

 

 

28,033

Other purchased intangible assets, net

 

 

2,941

 

 

3,322

Right-of-use, deferred tax and other assets

 

 

4,396

 

 

4,486

TOTAL ASSETS

 

$

423,070

 

$

553,585

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

38,180

 

$

41,822

Accrued expenses

 

 

39,816

 

 

53,315

Contract liabilities

 

 

64,016

 

 

127,890

TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES

 

 

142,012

 

 

223,027

Noncurrent liabilities

 

 

4,022

 

 

4,963

TOTAL LIABILITIES

 

 

146,034

 

 

227,990

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock, par value $0.10 per share – 500,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding

 

 

 

 

Common stock, par value $0.15 per share – 30,000,000 shares authorized; 15,827,772 and 15,788,673 shares issued at July 31, 2022 and January 31, 2022, respectively; 13,884,195 and 15,257,688 shares outstanding at July 31, 2022 and January 31, 2022, respectively

 

 

2,374

 

 

2,368

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

160,229

 

 

158,190

Retained earnings

 

 

193,205

 

 

188,690

Less treasury stock, at cost – 1,943,577 and 530,985 shares at July 31, 2022 and January 31, 2022, respectively

 

 

(73,573)

 

 

(20,405)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

 

(4,402)

 

 

(2,451)

TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

277,833

 

 

326,392

Non-controlling interest

 

 

(797)

 

 

(797)

TOTAL EQUITY

 

 

277,036

 

 

325,595

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

 

$

423,070

 

$

553,585

ARGAN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Reconciliation to EBITDA

(In thousands)(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

July 31,

 

 

2022

 

2021

Net income, as reported

 

$

4,222

 

$

12,870

Income tax expense

 

 

9,686

 

 

4,191

Depreciation

 

 

747

 

 

859

Amortization of purchased intangible assets

 

 

233

 

 

225

EBITDA

 

 

14,888

 

 

18,145

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

July 31,

 

 

2022

 

2021

Net income, as reported

 

$

11,707

 

$

23,636

Income tax expense

 

 

11,959

 

 

7,959

Depreciation

 

 

1,556

 

 

1,741

Amortization of purchased intangible assets

 

 

399

 

 

453

EBITDA

 

 

25,621

 

 

33,789