Enpro Q1 2024 Earnings Call Transcript

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Provided by Quartr
May 7, 2024

There are 8 speakers on the call.

Operator

Hello, and welcome to the EnPro Q1 20 24 Earnings Conference Call. A question and answer session will follow the formal presentation. As a reminder, this conference is being recorded. It's now my pleasure to turn the call over to James Gentile, Vice President, Investor Relations. Please go ahead, sir.

Speaker 1

Thanks, Kevin, and good morning, everyone. Welcome to EnPro's Q1 2024 earnings conference call. I will remind you that call is being webcast at enpro.com, where you can find the presentation that accompanies this call. With me today is Eric Valancourt, our President and Chief Executive Officer Joe Bruderick, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and Mel Childress, Executive Vice President. During today's call, we will reference a number of non GAAP financial measures.

Speaker 1

Tables reconciling the historical non GAAP measures to the GAAP measures are included in the appendix to the presentation materials. Also a friendly reminder that we will be making statements on this call that are not historical facts that are considered forward looking in nature. These statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including those described in our filings with the SEC. Also note that during this call, we will be providing full year 2024 guidance, which excludes unforeseen impacts from these risks and uncertainties. We do not undertake any obligation to update these forward looking statements.

Speaker 1

It is now my pleasure to turn the call over to Eric Valancourt, our President and Chief Executive Officer. Eric?

Speaker 2

Thanks, James, and good morning, everyone. Thank you for joining us today as we review our results for the Q1 and provide an update that includes our current outlook for 2024. Before we begin, I would like to take a few moments to thank Milt Childress for his service to EnPro. During his tenure at EnPro, the company's value has increased 6 fold and its positive impacts on our business strategy, financial strength and culture have been remarkable. Today marks Milt's 74th and final earnings conference call.

Speaker 2

As he will be retiring at the end of this month. I know I speak for the entire EnPro team when I say that Milt will be greatly missed. His influence on our organization, the way all of us work together and most importantly, his incredible heart, wisdom and passion for our company will be alive throughout PenPro far into the future. Noel, would you like to say a few words?

Speaker 3

Yes. Thanks, Eric. A few words is a pretty tough ask after nearly 19 years. I'll sum it up this way. To paraphrase the philosopher and theologian, Elton Trueblood, and I'm doing this liberally, so give me a little bit of grace here as I state this.

Speaker 3

We have a start and I'm talking about us collectively, have a start at understanding the purpose of life when we plant trees under whose shade we will never fully sit. And that precisely describes how I feel about the work of our team, not only what I've done here, but the work of our team. I couldn't be prouder of the way we work, nor more excited about the future of EnPro watching this tree grow. Over time, our colleagues, investors and other stakeholders will enjoy more and more of the shade. The best is yet to come.

Speaker 3

Thank you.

Speaker 2

Thank you for everything, Milt. We wish you well in retirement and we will work hard every day to make you proud. Now on to our Q1 performance. After my review, I will turn the call over to Joe for a more detailed discussion of our results and our current outlook for 2024. Sealing Technology started the year with strong operating performance.

Speaker 2

As we expected, the softness in AST has persisted due to current conditions in the semiconductor market. And as previously noted, we expect that the Q1 will mark the low point for AST segment results. In Sealing Technologies, despite volume declines in certain markets, adjusted segment EBITDA margins exceeded 30%. Strength in Nuclear and Aerospace as well as strategic pricing actions and partial quarter contributions from AMI, which has performed very well since joining EnPro, offset weakness in commercial vehicle demand and continued softness in food and pharma. Strong cost controls and favorable mix were also contributing factors to the excellent results.

Speaker 2

Our continued positive momentum and profitability in Sealing Technologies reflect underlying strength of the segment. Our focus on applied engineered differentiation, compelling aftermarket characteristics, incremental investments in organic growth and continuous improvement opportunities have created a foundation for profitable growth. Additionally, we continue to pursue strategic opportunities in adjacent markets that build upon our core competencies in safeguarding critical environments as demonstrated with the recently closed AMI purchase. In the Advanced Surface Technologies segment, despite the revenue decline of 21%, we maintained a 20% adjusted segment EBITDA margin. We are continuing to make strategic growth investments and advanced operational improvement initiatives to position AST for long term growth.

Speaker 2

We are focused on executing our multiyear strategy to drive growth in AST's attract of markets. We are beginning to see signs of recovery in certain key product lines as the overall semiconductor market stabilizes and resumes its growth trajectory forward. AST is a key component of our vision for the future of EnPro and we are confident the segment is well positioned to drive growth and profitability as markets improve. Total adjusted EBITDA margins were 22.7% this quarter and our balance sheet remains in excellent shape. We continue to offer critical solutions for our customers and deliver them in world class fashion.

Speaker 2

I would like to thank our teams across DenPro for their continued focus on our core values of safety, excellence and respect. Every day our teams work hard, empower one another and find purpose in their work. The company is built upon a strong foundation and there is no better time to be powered of EnPro. Joe?

Speaker 4

Thank you, Eric, and good morning, everyone. I would like to thank Milt for his guidance and tremendous partnership in recent months and I'm honored to succeed him as CFO. It is clear that we have a great team in place at every level of the organization and I'm excited about the significant opportunities that lie ahead. Diving into the results in the Q1, sales of 257 $500,000 decreased almost 9% and organic sales declined 12%, driven primarily by lower results in the AST segment due to ongoing softness in semiconductor. 1st quarter adjusted EBITDA of $58,400,000 decreased roughly 15% compared to the prior year period.

Speaker 4

Adjusted EBITDA margin of 22.7 percent decreased 160 basis points year over year. These revenue declines were partially offset by strength in certain resilient markets, strategic pricing, cost mitigation and continuous improvement initiatives. Again, the company showed solid management of decremental margins in the face of softness in semiconductor and commercial vehicle markets, while continuing to prioritize ongoing investments to drive future growth. Corporate expenses of $12,200,000 in the Q1 of 24 were up from $11,000,000 a year ago. Last year, reductions in share price related incentive compensation accruals benefited corporate expense by $1,900,000 Adjusted diluted earnings per share of $1.57 decreased almost 20% from last year, largely driven by the factors impacting adjusted EBITDA.

Speaker 4

Moving to a discussion of segment performance, Sealing Technology sales of $171,000,000 decreased 1%. The partial quarter's contribution from AMI, strategic pricing actions and strength in Nuclear and Aerospace offset softness in commercial vehicle, food and pharma and general industrial demand in Asia. Our aftermarket positions in this segment offer enduring stability and our critical and innovative solutions for a number of leading edge applications clearly differentiate us. The segment is structurally strong with adjusted EBITDA margins exceeding 30% for the Q1 despite demand headwinds in some markets. For the Q1, adjusted segment EBITDA increased 6.6%.

Speaker 4

Strategic pricing and sourcing actions, the partial quarter contribution from AMI, improved mix, eightytwenty discipline and focus on aftermarket work and continuous improvement initiatives throughout the segment offset overall volume declines to drive the strong result. Zealand's ability to maintain robust margin performance through a sales decline reflects the strength of our market positioning and the criticality of our technology and essential applications. We are encouraged by positive order momentum in certain shorter cycle product lines that we expect to drive improved performance in sealing Technologies into the Q2. Demand in our longer cycle backlog driven solutions such as an aerospace, space exploration and sustainable power generation is growing nicely and gives us confidence for continued solid performance in the segment moving forward. We turn now to Advanced Service Technologies.

Speaker 4

As expected, we saw a sequential and year over year decline in financial performance. First quarter sales of $86,000,000 decreased 21.4%, driven primarily by continued weakness in semiconductor capital equipment spending. Portions of the segment are showing continued secular growth and recovery, while we are experiencing headwinds in certain product lines where inventory destocking could persist in coming months. Our positioning on advanced node platforms in the semi space and our ability to utilize our technological advantages and process know how for future platforms is encouraging. We continue to invest in AST and are pleased with our strategic positioning in these critically important markets.

Speaker 4

For the Q1, adjusted segment EBITDA decreased 41% versus the prior year period. Adjusted segment EBITDA margin remained above 20%. The volume decline was the primary driver for the year over year reduction in profitability. We have balanced the realities of short term volume levels with our goals of remaining well positioned for the market upturn and investing in future growth opportunities. Turning to the balance sheet and cash flow.

Speaker 4

We completed the AMI purchase on January 29, utilizing $210,000,000 in available cash. In addition, we acquired the remaining non controlling interest in Alexa in February for $17,900,000 Our net leverage ratio inclusive of these transactions stands at approximately 2.3 times trailing 12 month adjusted EBITDA. Free cash flow in the Q1 turned slightly negative compared to about $21,000,000 of positive free cash flow in the prior year quarter. Due to the year over year reduction in EBITDA, timing of working capital, dollars 5,000,000 of incremental long term incentive $5,000,000 of incremental long term incentive compensation payouts related to prior periods, dollars 3,300,000 of transaction fees associated with the AMI purchase and higher cash tax payments of $5,000,000 in the quarter. We received the tax refund in the year ago quarter.

Speaker 4

For the year, we continue to expect free cash flow to exceed $100,000,000 and capital expenditures in the $60,000,000 range, the majority of which will be focused on growth and efficiency projects. We have strong financial flexibility to execute our strategic initiatives, both organically and through acquisitions that broaden our capabilities. Our goal is to build upon our leading edge positions in markets with secular growth drivers that safeguard critical environments and application that touch our lives every day. Our strong balance sheet and cash flow generation provide us with ample liquidity to make these investments while continuing to return capital to shareholders. In the Q1, we paid a $0.30 per share quarterly dividend totaling $6,400,000 Moving now to our 2024 guidance.

Speaker 4

Taking into consideration all the factors that we know at this time, we maintain our total year 2024 guidance issued in February. We expect total EnPro sales growth to be in the low to mid single digit range, adjusted EBITDA between $260,000,000 $280,000,000 and adjusted diluted EPS to range from $7 to $7.80 The normalized tax rate used to calculate adjusted diluted earnings per share remains at 25 percent and fully diluted shares outstanding are approximately $21,000,000 In the Advanced Surface Technologies segment, we expect a slight sequential improvement in the Q2. We continue to see growth in our advanced node cleaning business and positive demand signals in our chamber tool performance coatings business. Overall, the semiconductor market appears to be stabilizing and we are seeing signs of recovery that should drive improved results in coming periods. In Sealing Technologies, we expect an improved order patterns in certain shorter cycle product lines, firm backlog and positive mix can offset weaker demand in commercial vehicle OEM.

Speaker 4

We expect Sealing to exhibit the typical seasonal patterns where the first half is slightly stronger than the second half. We continue to anticipate that where we land within our guidance range will primarily depend on the timing and magnitude of the recovery in semiconductor. Regardless of the precise timing, we are well positioned and are making appropriate investments to drive future growth and value. I will now turn the call back to Eric for closing comments.

Speaker 2

Thanks, Joe. Overall, the balance inherent in EnPro's portfolio was evident again in 2024. Our discipline and rigor enable us to perform well under diverse set of market conditions. Our best in class portfolio generates attractive margins and cash flow returns and our value creating strategy remains unchanged. Thank you again for joining us today.

Speaker 2

We appreciate your interest in EnPro. We'll now welcome your questions.

Operator

Thank you. We'll now be conducting a question and answer session. Our first question today is coming from Jeff Hammond from KeyBanc Capital Markets. Your line is now live.

Speaker 5

Hey, good morning guys.

Speaker 4

Hey, Jeff. Hey, Jeff.

Speaker 5

Yes. So a couple on Milt, thanks again for everything. We appreciate all your time that you've spent with us.

Speaker 3

Thank you, Jeff. Appreciate it.

Speaker 5

Really just want to dig in on semiconductor. I guess, it sounds like cleaning and leading edge nodes seems to be getting better. Maybe talk through the parts where you're still seeing destocking and still seeing weakness? And then just if we snap a line as of today, are we feeling kind of more or less confident around kind of second half ramp in AST? Thanks.

Speaker 2

I'll jump in and start, Jeff. It's Eric. So first off, in all segments, our backlogs grew. So we're feeling better about the second half as time goes on. Our cleaning and coating business certainly have some momentum, I would call it.

Speaker 2

In the rest of our business, I would say is kind of choppy. I wouldn't say destocking is still going on. We just haven't had momentum there. We're seeing green shoots where it's getting a little bit better here and there, but it just hasn't taken off and we're getting ready for that to happen sometime hopefully later this year.

Operator

Thank you. Next question today is coming from Steve Foresani from Sidoti and Company. Your line is now live.

Speaker 6

Good morning, everyone, and good luck, Milt, with everything. I want to follow-up that last question in terms of how the semiconductor recovery fits into your guidance. When the semi decline began, you guys lagged it by really even a couple of quarters. The concern would be that we start seeing that recovery, but you lag into 'twenty five. So I'm trying to figure out your confidence level that indeed even outside of cleaning and coating you get that recovery in the second half.

Speaker 6

And I guess that's specific to what you're hearing from your customers?

Speaker 1

Steve, first, I mean, as we definitely saw some strength in the first half 2023, given firm backlogs. Throughout this entire down period, the secular drivers around advanced node positioning in our advanced cleaning business and in certain other areas, actually were pretty steady if not growing with positive mix factors affecting the segment. If you kind of take a step back, there are period there's still a little slow order flow and we're seeing periods of kind of intermittent kind of inventory destocking on certain capital equipment platforms, but that should loosen up in coming periods. And the drivers of our positioning are giving us some confidence that the back half will show some significant improvement.

Speaker 6

Fair enough. So I can ask about eloxa. Can you explain that, was there a leadership change resulting in that non controlling interest purchase and can you give us a general update on what's going on with the eloxo?

Speaker 1

That was just a small kind of a put call arrangement that was initiated when we completed the acquisition in 2020. And they decided to exercise that per call provision and Alexa has now become a wholly owned subsidiary of VINpro.

Speaker 3

No surprise there. That was all expected according to plan.

Speaker 6

Okay. Okay, fair enough. Thanks for that. On the ceiling side, you had a little bit of a bump in the Q4. Obviously, the commercial vehicle market weakened.

Speaker 6

At that time, you talked about transitioning some of your sales more directly towards the aftermarket. Looking at the numbers, was there success in that? I would guess there was or was it just the other markets, aerospace and nuclear being very strong?

Speaker 4

Yes, Steve. As we talked about coming out of the Q4, right, the heavy duty trucking commercial OEM side of things was expected to be down about 25% in the market. And that's what we've seen so far. So because of that, we've really focused on positioning to the aftermarket. That's been successful and that's what's led to some of the favorable mix coming into the Q1.

Speaker 4

We've seen improved aftermarket business that's offsetting the OEM business being down and we're approaching aftermarket mix in the 70% range versus commercial OEM and had been quite successful there. So the STEMCO and overall ceiling team has done quite well and you've seen the results in the improved margins.

Speaker 6

Absolutely. If we get one more in integration of AMI, how that's going, how you felt about that business so far and what you think to look ahead for it and how it fits within sealing?

Speaker 2

AMI has been just a home run. We've been really excited about that business. They continue to operate very, very well. We're very, very proud to have them and the team is executing incredibly well. So we continue to be very excited about that business.

Speaker 6

Thanks everyone.

Speaker 3

Thanks Steve.

Operator

Thank you. Next question is coming from Ian Zaffino from Oppenheimer. Your line is now live. Hey, good morning.

Speaker 7

This is Isaac Salzin on for Ian. Thanks for taking the questions. I'll echo the previous sentiment. Milt, congrats on a great career at EnPro and then retirement. Certainly missed on these earnings calls and welcome Joe as well.

Speaker 7

The question is on ceilings. Could you speak a bit about the nuclear and aerospace businesses that were stronger this quarter? Maybe if you could remind us how big the nuclear end market is and some of the near to long term growth drivers there? Thanks.

Speaker 2

Sure. Are you familiar with the ITER project in France and nuclear fusion, iTER?

Operator

Yes.

Speaker 2

Okay. Well, certainly that project is driving some results for us. It's early, but we participate there as well as elsewhere. So just I would call it the renaissance, a resurgence in nuclear across especially across Europe and France. We are located there doing very, very well with those businesses and I continue to think those trends are going to continue.

Speaker 1

It's a small and meaningful but meaningful part of our sealing technologies. We've had very strong positioning in nuclear for many years. And as you kind of look forward, given basically the reduction in fossil fuels and needing to kind of build baseload power generation capacity, nuclear could be a very strong solution in the Western countries.

Speaker 2

In regards to space, we're on virtually every space launch there

Speaker 1

is in the U. S. So as you see more launches, of course, that drives our business as well. We're certainly delighted with our positioning in certain areas in space, aerospace and sustainable power generation.

Speaker 7

Okay, great. That's helpful. And then just higher level, I guess, on ceilings. I guess you've had some pricing that's helped the quarter a bit, but maybe if you could just speak to just volume versus price mix and sort of what's embedded in guidance here?

Speaker 4

Yes. So Isaac, we've seen surgical pricing that's been quite successful so far this year. The environment is not conducive to the broad rates pricing that we've seen in the post COVID market in the last few years, but the team continues to execute well in surgical pricing. So you're seeing low to mid single digit pricing execution, largely beginning of the year pricing activity and really value based pricing for some of our businesses that are positioned quite well and have a technological advantage position. Volume, we're definitely seeing headwinds in certain spaces, we called that out.

Speaker 4

When you look at general industrial and food and pharma and volumes down in the mid single digit range there. But on the margin side and favorable mix side being offset by largely being offset by those two impacts.

Speaker 2

Also, I want to point out another thing. We had a very successful launch of a product called the auto torque in our commercial vehicle market is doing extremely well and that will continue to grow over time. The other thing I want to point out is the trailer builds in this year are artificially low. What you're seeing is the CapEx spending being put towards truck to avoid expensive requirements coming in 2027 model year. So the trailer will rebound as well next year and continue to grow into 2026.

Speaker 2

So we're still excited about that business in the future.

Speaker 3

Okay, awesome. Thank you.

Operator

Thank you. Next question is a follow-up from Jeff Hammond from KeyBanc Capital Markets. Your line is now live.

Speaker 1

Jeff, we lost you.

Speaker 5

Hey, guys. Yes, I know. I don't know what happened there. Just on I guess, I'm just trying to get the shape of how maybe at the midpoint of the guidance or sort of baseline, it sounds like AST is up slightly sequentially, but just at the midpoint of the guidance, like how much of a step up do you need into the second half to kind of hit that midpoint?

Speaker 4

Yes. So Jeff, as we said, right, we're going to see a sequential improvement in the Q2 over the Q4. We talked last quarter and then reiterated again today that we believe the Q1 is the bottom in AST. And we should see sequential improvement into the 2nd quarter. The second half includes about a double digit, low double digit improvement in AST in the second half versus the first half.

Speaker 4

We're seeing signs of that so far, but the timing of which still up in the air. But that's sort of what we've included in the guide for the second half.

Speaker 5

Okay. And then that second half ramp, is that more market recovery? Or is that some of the investments you're making kicking in synergies from NxEdge and LeanTech kind of coming together?

Speaker 2

It's all of the above Jeff as you described.

Speaker 5

Okay. And then just on sealing, I guess, is kind of the best way to think about organic is kind of flat and the first half has got tough comps in negative and then the second half you get some growth?

Speaker 1

There is definitely a softer Q3, Q4 period of time. So we would probably include it in our guidance range is reflective of what you just said, correct. And then of course the addition of AMI.

Speaker 2

Okay. The good news is all the backlog in all three of those businesses grew as well in the Q1. So we are seeing some momentum there as well.

Speaker 5

Okay. Thanks so much guys.

Operator

Thank you. We've reached end of our question and answer session. I'd like to turn the floor back over to management for any further or closing comments.

Speaker 1

Thank you for the time today. It was a pleasure. We look forward to the conversations later. Bye.

Operator

Thank you. That does conclude today's teleconference and webcast. You may disconnect your line at this time and have a wonderful day. We thank you for your participation today.

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Enpro Q1 2024
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