Argan, Inc. Reports Second Quarter Fiscal 2025 Results

September 6, 2024

ROCKVILLE, Md.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Argan, Inc. (NYSE: AGX) (“Argan” or the “Company”) today announces financial results for its second quarter of fiscal year 2025 ended July 31, 2024. The Company will host an investor conference call today, September 5, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. ET.

Consolidated Financial Highlights

($ in thousands, except per share data)


	July 31,
For the Quarter Ended:		2024			2023		Change
Revenues	$	227,015		$	141,349		$	85,666
Gross profit		31,105			23,742			7,363
Gross margin %		13.7	%		16.8	%		(3.1	)%
Net income	$	18,198		$	12,767		$	5,431
Diluted income per share		1.31			0.94			0.37
EBITDA		24,842			17,945			6,897
Cash dividends per share		0.30			0.25			0.05

	July 31,
For the Six Months Ended:		2024			2023		Change
Revenues	$	384,697		$	245,024		$	139,673
Gross profit		49,049			37,966			11,083
Gross margin %		12.8	%		15.5	%		(2.7	)%
Net income	$	26,080		$	14,876		$	11,204
Diluted per share		1.90			1.10			0.80
EBITDA		36,732			21,594			15,138
Cash dividends per share		0.60			0.50			0.10

	July 31,			January 31,
As of:		2024			2024		Change
Cash, cash equivalents and investments	$	484,682		$	412,405		$	72,277
Net liquidity ⁽¹⁾		259,827			244,919			14,908
Share repurchase treasury stock, at cost		99,644			97,528			2,116
Project backlog		1,035,000			757,000			278,000

⁽¹⁾

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

David Watson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Argan, commented, “We are seeing continued momentum across our business as we move through fiscal 2025, as demonstrated by a 61% increase in consolidated revenues to $227 million during the second quarter, significantly enhanced profitability of $18.2 million, or $1.31 per diluted share, and EBITDA of approximately $25 million – our highest quarterly EBITDA level since 2017. These consolidated results reflect the strong performance of Gemma Power Systems and its sustained growth in the renewable market. The Roberts Company also generated record quarterly revenues of almost $50 million as it continues the delivery of successful projects to its customers.

“The Company closed the second quarter with backlog of $1.0 billion, which reflects an increase from last quarter of approximately $210 million, and includes $570 million of renewable projects. We believe that the addition of high energy demand data centers, the onshoring of manufacturing operations and the expansion of electric vehicle use are primary drivers of the increasing forecasts of future electrical power demands and the robust pipeline of new business opportunities. Our pipeline remains strong and we are confident that our energy-agnostic capabilities and proven success leave us well positioned to compete effectively for the growing number of projects coming to market. There is a critical need to establish consistent, high quality energy resources to ensure grid reliability, and we’re excited about the opportunities we are seeing to grow Argan’s role as a partner of choice for the construction of all types of energy facilities.”

Second Quarter Results

Consolidated revenues for the quarter ended July 31, 2024 were $227.0 million, an increase of $85.7 million, or 60.6%, from consolidated revenues of $141.3 million reported for the comparable prior year quarter. The Company experienced increased revenues at several projects, including the Trumbull Energy Center, a large combined cycle, gas-fired power plant under construction near Lordstown, Ohio; the Midwest Solar and Battery Projects; the 405 MW Midwest Solar Project; and the Louisiana LNG Facility. The overall increase in consolidated revenues between quarters was partially offset by decreased construction revenues associated with the Guernsey Power Station project, the Shannonbridge Power Project, the ESB FlexGen Peaker Plants and the Kilroot power facility, as those projects have concluded or are nearly complete.

For the quarter ended July 31, 2024, Argan’s consolidated gross profit was approximately $31.1 million, or 13.7% of consolidated revenues, reflecting positive profit contributions from all three reportable business segments. The consolidated gross profit percentage for the quarter reflects the changing mix of projects and contract types. Consolidated gross profit for the quarter ended July 31, 2023 was $23.7 million, or 16.8% of consolidated revenues.

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased by $1.9 million, to $12.4 million for the quarter ended July 31, 2024, from $10.5 million in the comparable prior year quarter. However, as a percentage of revenues, these expenses declined to 5.5% in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 as compared to 7.4% in the second quarter of fiscal 2024.

Other income, net, for the three months ended July 31, 2024 was $5.6 million, which reflected income earned during the period on invested funds in the total amount of approximately $4.8 million. During the quarter ended July 31, 2024, the Company recorded income tax expense of $6.1 million, primarily due to consolidated pre-tax book income of $24.3 million. For the comparable quarter last year, Argan recorded income tax expense of $4.6 million on consolidated pre-tax book income of $17.4 million.

For the quarter ended July 31, 2024, Argan achieved net income of $18.2 million, or $1.31 per diluted share, compared to $12.8 million, or $0.94 per diluted share, for last year’s second quarter. EBITDA for the quarter ended July 31, 2024 increased to $24.8 million compared to $17.9 million in the same quarter of last year.

Argan maintained a substantial total balance of cash, cash equivalents and investments during the quarter. The total balances were $484.7 million and $412.4 million as of July 31 and January 31, 2024, respectively. Balance sheet net liquidity was $259.8 million at July 31, 2024 and $244.9 million at January 31, 2024; furthermore, the Company had no debt.

First Six Months Results

Consolidated revenues for the six months ended July 31, 2024 were $384.7 million, an increase of $139.7 million, or 57.0%, from consolidated revenues of $245.0 million reported for the comparable prior year period.

For the six months ended July 31, 2024, consolidated gross profit increased to approximately $49.0 million, or consolidated gross margin of 12.8%, compared to consolidated gross profit of $38.0 million, or consolidated gross margin of 15.5%, reported for the six months ended July 31, 2023. The consolidated gross profit for the six months ended July 31, 2024 reflects the changing mix of projects and contract types and was adversely impacted by losses related to the Kilroot project.

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased by $2.8 million to $23.9 million for the six months ended July 31, 2024, from $21.1 million in the comparable prior year period. However, as a percentage of revenues, these expenses declined to 6.2% from 8.6% between the periods.

Other income, net, for the six months ended July 31, 2024 was $10.4 million, which reflects primarily income earned during the period on invested funds. During the six months ended July 31, 2024, the Company recorded income tax expense of $9.5 million primarily due to consolidated pre-tax book income of $35.6 million. For the comparable quarter last year, Argan recorded income tax expense of $5.5 million on consolidated pre-tax book income of $20.4 million.

For the six months ended July 31, 2024, Argan achieved net income of $26.1 million, or $1.90 per diluted share, versus net income of $14.9 million, or $1.10 per diluted share, for last year’s comparable period. EBITDA for the six months ended July 31, 2024 was $36.7 million compared to $21.6 million in the same period of last year.

Conference Call and Webcast

Argan will host a conference call and webcast for investors today, September 5, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. ET.

Domestic stockholders and interested parties may participate in the conference call by dialing (888) 506-0062 and international participants should dial (973) 528-0011; all callers shall use access code: 246016.

The call and the accompanying slide deck will also be webcast at: https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/2961/50947

The conference call and slide deck may also be accessed via the Investor Center section of the Company’s website at https://arganinc.com/investor-center. Please allow extra time prior to the call to visit the site.

A replay of the teleconference will be available until September 19, 2024, and can be accessed by dialing 877-481-4010 (domestic) or 919-882-2331 (international). The replay access code is 50947. A replay of the webcast can be accessed until September 5, 2025.

About Argan

Argan’s primary business is providing a full range of construction and related services to the power industry. 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, maintenance, project development and technical consulting services, through its Gemma Power Systems and Atlantic Projects Company operations. Argan also owns The Roberts Company, which is a fully integrated industrial construction, fabrication and plant services company, and SMC Infrastructure Solutions, which provides telecommunications infrastructure services.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company prepares its financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). Within this press release, the Company makes reference to EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure. The Company believes that the non-GAAP financial measure described in this press release is important to management and investors because the measure supplements the understanding of Argan’s ongoing operating results, excluding the effects of capital structure, depreciation, amortization, and tax rates. The non-GAAP financial measure referred to above should be considered in conjunction with, and not as a substitute for, the GAAP financial information presented in this press release. Financial tables at the end of this press release provide a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP measures.

Safe Harbor Statement

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, the Company’s ability to successfully complete the projects that it obtains, and the Company’s effectiveness in mitigating future losses related to the Kilroot loss contract. 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,
		2024			2023			2024			2023
REVENUES	$	227,015		$	141,349		$	384,697		$	245,024
Cost of revenues		195,910			117,607			335,648			207,058
GROSS PROFIT		31,105			23,742			49,049			37,966
Selling, general and administrative expenses		12,428			10,501			23,853			21,092
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS		18,677			13,241			25,196			16,874
Other income, net		5,604			4,118			10,398			3,489
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES		24,281			17,359			35,594			20,363
Income tax expense		6,083			4,592			9,514			5,487
NET INCOME		18,198			12,767			26,080			14,876

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME, NET OF TAXES
Foreign currency translation adjustments		(186	)		(185	)		(976	)		255
Net unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities		1,459			(683	)		490			(720	)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	$	19,471		$	11,899		$	25,594		$	14,411

NET INCOME PER SHARE
Basic	$	1.36		$	0.95		$	1.96		$	1.11
Diluted	$	1.31		$	0.94		$	1.90		$	1.10

WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES OUTSTANDING
Basic		13,403			13,403			13,331			13,408
Diluted		13,880			13,542			13,727			13,544

CASH DIVIDENDS PER SHARE	$	0.30		$	0.25		$	0.60		$	0.50

ARGAN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

	July 31,			January 31,
		2024			2024
	(Unaudited)
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$	232,685		$	197,032
Investments		251,997			215,373
Accounts receivable, net		95,315			47,326
Contract assets		46,086			48,189
Other current assets		48,871			39,259
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS		674,954			547,179
Property, plant and equipment, net		12,098			11,021
Goodwill		28,033			28,033
Intangible assets, net		2,022			2,217
Deferred taxes, net		1,637			2,259
Right-of-use and other assets		7,830			7,520
TOTAL ASSETS	$	726,574		$	598,229

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable	$	99,693		$	39,485
Accrued expenses		61,698			81,721
Contract liabilities		253,736			181,054
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES		415,127			302,260
Noncurrent liabilities		3,379			5,030
TOTAL LIABILITIES		418,506			307,290

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; 15,828,289 shares issued; 13,497,550 and 13,242,520 shares outstanding at July 31, 2024 and January 31, 2024, respectively		2,374			2,374
Additional paid-in capital		165,902			164,183
Retained earnings		243,519			225,507
Less treasury stock, at cost – 2,330,739 and 2,585,769 shares at July 31, 2024 and January 31, 2024, respectively		(99,644	)		(97,528	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(4,083	)		(3,597	)
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY		308,068			290,939
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY	$	726,574		$	598,229

ARGAN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES RECONCILIATION TO EBITDA (In thousands) (Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended
	July 31,
		2024		2023
Net income, as reported	$	18,198	$	12,767
Income tax expense		6,083		4,592
Depreciation		463		488
Amortization of intangible assets		98		98
EBITDA	$	24,842	$	17,945


	Six Months Ended
	July 31,
		2024		2023
Net income, as reported	$	26,080	$	14,876
Income tax expense		9,514		5,487
Depreciation		943		1,035
Amortization of intangible assets		195		196
EBITDA	$	36,732	$	21,594