Eagle Materials Reports Record First Quarter Results With 24% EPS Growth

Eagle Materials Inc. (NYSE: EXP) today reported financial results for the first quarter of fiscal 2024 ended June 30, 2023. Notable items for the quarter are highlighted below. (Unless otherwise noted, all comparisons are with the prior year’s fiscal first quarter):

First Quarter Fiscal 2024 Highlights

• Record Revenue of $601.5 million, up 7%
• Record Net Earnings of $120.8 million, up 15%
• Record Net Earnings per diluted share of $3.40, up 24%
• Adjusted net earnings per share (Adjusted EPS) of $3.55, up 26%
  • Adjusted EPS is a non-GAAP financial measure calculated by excluding non-routine items (including certain non-cash expenses) in the manner described in Attachment 6
• Adjusted EBITDA of $214 million, up 16%
  • Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure calculated by excluding non-routine items (including certain non-cash expenses) in the manner described in Attachment 6
• Repurchased approximately 484,000 shares of Eagle common stock for $74 million

Commenting on the first quarter results, Michael Haack, President and CEO, said, “Fiscal 2024 is off to a solid start for Eagle, with record revenue of $602 million, adjusted EPS of $3.55, and gross margins of 29.3%, an increase of 240 bps. Our portfolio of businesses continued to perform well, and we made progress on our strategic priorities. During the quarter, we reached an important milestone in the production of Portland Limestone Cement, surpassing 50% across our system. We completed the acquisition of a cement import terminal in northern California that further strengthens our competitive position in that market. And we returned $83 million of cash to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends, all while maintaining our balance sheet strength: at June 30, 2023, Eagle’s net debt was $1.1 billion, and our net adjusted leverage ratio (net debt to Adjusted EBITDA) remained at 1.4x, giving us substantial financial flexibility for continued disciplined capital allocation.”

Mr. Haack continued, “Looking ahead to the balance of the year, we expect demand for cement to remain steady driven by infrastructure and heavy industrial projects. Residential construction activity remains resilient as the market balances interest rate-related affordability challenges with chronic supply shortages and strong demand. Given Eagle’s balance sheet strength, the favorable geographic positioning of our operations, and our consistent operational and strategic execution, we are poised for a strong fiscal 2024.”

Segment Financial Results

Heavy Materials: Cement, Concrete and Aggregates

Revenue in the Heavy Materials sector, which includes Cement, Concrete and Aggregates, Joint Venture and intersegment Cement revenue, was $396 million, a 15% improvement. Heavy Materials operating earnings increased 19% to $81 million primarily because of higher Cement sales prices and sales volume partially offset by increased maintenance costs and the effects of an extended maintenance outage at our Joint Venture.

Cement revenue, including Joint Venture and intersegment revenue, was up 16% to $329 million. Operating earnings increased 19% to $74 million reflecting higher Cement sales prices and sales volume partially offset by increased maintenance costs and the impact from the step-up in inventory values related to the Stockton Terminal Acquisition. Profitability at our Joint Venture was negatively affected by an extended outage during the quarter to address ongoing equipment issues at this facility over the past year. The extended outage resulted in increased maintenance costs and reduced production. Equipment reliability has improved in July, but additional work will need to be completed during our planned maintenance outage in fiscal 2025, which will again increase the outage timeline at the joint venture facility.

The average net Cement sales price for the quarter increased 15% to $147.27 per ton. Cement sales volume for the quarter increased 1% to 2.0 million tons. Sales volume in the quarter was affected by wet weather in the western part of the US.

Concrete and Aggregates revenue was up 9% to $67 million, reflecting increased Concrete and Aggregates prices and higher aggregates sales volume. First quarter operating earnings increased 23% to $7 million. The increase reflects higher Concrete and Aggregates net sales prices and approximately $1.2 million of additional costs incurred in the first quarter of fiscal 2023 from the step-up in inventory values related to the acquisition of an aggregates business in northern Colorado.

Light Materials: Gypsum Wallboard and Paperboard

Revenue in the Light Materials sector, which includes Gypsum Wallboard and Paperboard, decreased 2% to $242 million, primarily because of lower Gypsum Wallboard sales volume, partially offset by improved Gypsum Wallboard sales prices. Gypsum Wallboard sales volume declined 4% to 763 million square feet (MMSF), while the average Gypsum Wallboard net sales price increased 8% to $236.66 per MSF.

Paperboard sales volume was down 1% to 83,000 tons. The average Paperboard net sales price in the quarter was $536.56 per ton, down 12%, consistent with the pricing provisions in our long-term sales agreements that factor in lower input costs.

Operating earnings were $98 million in the Light Materials sector, an increase of 12%, reflecting higher Gypsum Wallboard sales prices and lower operating costs, most notably energy and recycled fiber.

Details of Financial Results

We conduct one of our cement plant operations through a 50/50 joint venture, Texas Lehigh Cement Company LP (the Joint Venture). We use the equity method of accounting for our 50% interest in the Joint Venture. For segment reporting purposes only, we proportionately consolidate our 50% share of the Joint Venture’s revenue and operating earnings, which is consistent with the way management organizes the segments within the Company for making operating decisions and assessing performance.

In addition, for segment reporting purposes, we report intersegment revenue as a part of a segment’s total revenue. Intersegment sales are eliminated on the income statement. Refer to Attachment 3 for a reconciliation of these amounts.

About Eagle Materials Inc.

Eagle Materials Inc. manufactures and distributes Portland Cement, Gypsum Wallboard, Recycled Gypsum Paperboard, and Concrete and Aggregates from more than 70 facilities across the US. Eagle’s corporate headquarters is in Dallas, Texas.

Eagle’s senior management will conduct a conference call to discuss the financial results, forward-looking information and other matters at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time (7:30 a.m. Central Time) on Thursday, July 27, 2023. The conference call will be webcast simultaneously on the Eagle website, eaglematerials.com. A replay of the webcast and the presentation will be archived on the site for one year.

Forward-Looking Statements. This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the context of the statements and generally arise when the Company is discussing its beliefs, estimates or expectations as to future events. These statements are not historical facts or guarantees of future performance but instead represent only the Company’s belief at the time the statements were made regarding future events which are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the Company’s control. Actual results and outcomes may differ materially from what is expressed or forecast in such forward-looking statements. The principal risks and uncertainties that may affect the Company’s actual performance include the following: the cyclical and seasonal nature of the Company’s businesses; fluctuations in public infrastructure expenditures; adverse weather conditions; the fact that our products are commodities and that prices for our products are subject to material fluctuation due to market conditions and other factors beyond our control; the availability and fluctuations in the cost of raw materials; changes in the costs of energy, including, without limitation, natural gas, coal and oil (including diesel), and the nature of our obligations to counterparties under energy supply contracts, such as those related to market conditions (for example, spot market prices), governmental orders and other matters; changes in the cost and availability of transportation; unexpected operational difficulties, including unexpected maintenance costs, equipment downtime and interruption of production; material nonpayment or non-performance by any of our key customers; inability to timely execute announced capacity expansions; difficulties and delays in the development of new business lines; governmental regulation and changes in governmental and public policy (including, without limitation, climate change and other environmental regulation); possible outcomes of pending or future litigation or arbitration proceedings; changes in economic conditions or the nature or level of activity in any one or more of the markets or industries in which the Company or its customers are engaged; severe weather conditions (such as winter storms, tornados and hurricanes) and their effects on our facilities, operations and contractual arrangements with third parties; competition; cyber-attacks or data security breaches; increases in capacity in the gypsum wallboard and cement industries; changes in the demand for residential housing construction or commercial construction or construction projects undertaken by state or local governments; the availability of acquisitions or other growth opportunities that meet our financial return standards and fit our strategic focus; risks related to pursuit of acquisitions, joint ventures and other transactions or the execution or implementation of such transactions, including the integration of operations acquired by the Company; general economic conditions, including inflation and recessionary conditions; and changes in interest rates and the resulting effects on the Company and demand for our products. For example, increases in interest rates, decreases in demand for construction materials or increases in the cost of energy (including, without limitation, natural gas, coal and oil) or the cost of our raw materials could affect the revenue and operating earnings of our operations. In addition, changes in national or regional economic conditions and levels of infrastructure and construction spending could also adversely affect the Company’s result of operations. Finally, any forward-looking statements made by the Company are subject to the risks and impacts associated with natural disasters, the outbreak, escalation or resurgence of health emergencies, pandemics or other unforeseen events, including, without limitation, the COVID-19 pandemic and responses thereto designed to contain its spread and mitigate its public health effects, as well as their impact on our operations and on economic conditions, capital and financial markets. These and other factors are described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023 and subsequent quarterly and annual reports upon filing. These reports are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements made herein are made as of the date hereof, and the risk that actual results will differ materially from expectations expressed herein will increase with the passage of time. The Company undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement to reflect future events or changes in the Company’s expectations.

Attachment 1 Consolidated Statement of Earnings

Attachment 2 Revenue and Earnings by Lines of Business

Attachment 3 Sales Volume, Net Sales Prices and Intersegment and Cement Revenue

Attachment 4 Consolidated Balance Sheets

Attachment 5 Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization by Lines of Business

Attachment 6 Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Attachment 7 Reconciliation of Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA

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