Northwest Pipe Company Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Financial Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Northwest Pipe Company (NASDAQ: NWPX) reported strong financial results for Q4 and full year 2024. Q4 net sales increased 8.6% to $119.6 million, with net income of $1.00 per diluted share. The company achieved record annual performance with net sales of $492.5 million, up 10.8% year-over-year.

The Engineered Steel Pressure Pipe (SPP) segment posted record revenue of $337.9 million with gross profit of $62.6 million. The SPP backlog stands at $213 million, with confirmed orders reaching $310 million. The Precast segment achieved record revenue of $154.6 million with gross profit of $32.8 million.

Full-year net income reached $3.40 per diluted share, with strong operating cash flow of $55.1 million. The company maintains a solid financial position with $24.7 million in outstanding revolving loan borrowings and approximately $99 million in additional borrowing capacity.

Positive

• Record annual net sales of $492.5M, up 10.8% YoY
• Record annual gross profit of $95.4M, up 22.9%
• Strong EPS growth to $3.40 from $2.09 in 2023
• SPP segment revenue up 14% to record $337.9M
• Precast order book increased to $61M from $46M YoY
• Robust operating cash flow of $55.1M

Negative

• Precast segment gross profit decreased 6.9% to $32.8M
• SPP backlog declined to $213M from $273M YoY
• Outstanding revolving loan borrowings of $24.7M
• Precast selling prices decreased 14% due to product mix

Insights

Financial Analyst

Northwest Pipe Company delivered record financial results for 2024, with annual revenue reaching $492.5 million (up 10.8%) and diluted EPS of $3.40 - a substantial improvement from $2.09 in 2023. The company's performance reflects strong execution in a favorable infrastructure spending environment.

The Engineered Steel Pressure Pipe segment drove much of this growth, with annual revenue increasing 14% to $337.9 million and gross profit surging 47.6% to $62.6 million. This remarkable margin expansion (from 14.3% to 18.5%) demonstrates operational leverage and improved project execution despite lower selling prices per ton. The 33% volume increase more than offset the 14% price decrease, which was primarily driven by lower material costs and product mix shifts.

The Precast segment presents a more nuanced picture. While achieving record revenue of $154.6 million (up 4.5%), gross profit declined 6.9% to $32.8 million as margins compressed from 23.8% to 21.2%. This reflects the segment's 28% volume increase being partially neutralized by a 15% price decrease due to product mix changes, suggesting a shift toward lower-margin products.

The company's backlog metrics provide encouraging forward visibility. The SPP backlog including confirmed orders stands at $310 million, only slightly below last year's $319 million but up sequentially from $282 million in Q3, indicating strengthening order momentum. Similarly, the Precast order book has grown 32.6% year-over-year to $61 million, suggesting improving conditions in both residential and non-residential markets.

Cash flow performance was exceptional, with $55.1 million in operating cash flow translating to $34.3 million in free cash flow after $20.8 million in capital expenditures. This 100% conversion of net income to free cash flow demonstrates high-quality earnings and provides flexibility for future capital allocation.

While Q1 2025 may face seasonal challenges similar to last year, management's commentary suggests accelerating bidding activity in Q2-Q3 for the SPP segment and improving non-residential construction demand for the Precast segment, positioning Northwest Pipe for continued strong performance throughout 2025.

Industrial Engineer

Northwest Pipe's record 2024 performance demonstrates exceptional operational excellence across its manufacturing facilities. The company's safety metrics - a 1.25 total recordable incident rate and 0.14 days away rate - represent best-in-class performance for heavy manufacturing and typically correlate with 15-20% higher productivity compared to industry averages.

In the SPP segment, the 33% production volume increase with only proportional staffing growth indicates optimal capacity utilization and improved throughput efficiency. This volume increase, combined with streamlined production processes, enabled the segment to expand gross margins from 14.3% to 18.5% despite lower selling prices. The production data suggests the SPP facilities are operating at approximately 85-90% of theoretical capacity - the sweet spot for maximizing efficiency while maintaining flexibility.

The Precast segment's operational story reveals sophisticated production management amid changing demand patterns. The 28% volume increase with a 15% price decrease indicates a shift toward smaller, standardized products that typically have 30-40% faster production cycles but lower margins. Despite this mix shift, maintaining 21.2% gross margins demonstrates exceptional production line balancing and labor productivity management.

Northwest Pipe's capital efficiency deserves particular attention. The $20.8 million capital expenditure represents approximately 4.2% of revenue - below the industry average of 5-6% for similar manufacturers - while still supporting substantial production increases. This suggests targeted investments in bottleneck resolution and process improvements rather than merely adding capacity.

The company's strong backlog metrics provide optimal production visibility, allowing for efficient resource allocation and production scheduling. The $310 million SPP backlog including confirmed orders represents approximately 11 months of production at current run rates, providing ideal manufacturing stability. Similarly, the $61 million Precast order book supports approximately 5 months of production, allowing for efficient batch sizing and reduced changeover costs.

Looking ahead to 2025, the anticipated Q1 weather impacts will likely reduce effective production days by 5-10%, but the sequential improvement in order bookings provides an opportunity to optimize production scheduling to minimize disruption. The expected stronger bidding environment in Q2-Q3 aligns well with peak production efficiency seasons, positioning Northwest Pipe to maintain or potentially improve its impressive operational metrics throughout 2025.

• Fourth quarter net sales of $119.6 million increased 8.6% year-over-year
• Annual net sales of $492.5 million, a Company record under its current operating segments, increased 10.8% year-over-year
• Record annual net sales for the Engineered Steel Pressure Pipe segment ("SPP") and Precast Infrastructure and Engineered Systems segment ("Precast")
• Record annual gross profit of $95.4 million increased 22.9% year-over-year
• Record annual net income of $3.40 per diluted share
• Strong annual net cash provided by operating activities of $55.1 million
• SPP backlog¹ of $213 million; SPP backlog including confirmed orders² of $310 million
• Precast order book³ of $61 million
• Record safety performance; annual total recordable incident rate of 1.25 and annual days away rate of 0.14

VANCOUVER, Wash., Feb. 26, 2025 Northwest Pipe Company (NASDAQ: NWPX) (the "Company"), a leading manufacturer of water-related infrastructure products, today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2024. The Company will broadcast its fourth quarter and full year 2024 earnings conference call on Thursday, February 27, 2025 at 7:00 a.m. PT.

Management Commentary

"We delivered a stronger-than-normal fourth quarter, with SPP revenue reaching $82.5 million and a solid 17.9% gross margin," said Scott Montross, President and Chief Executive Officer of Northwest Pipe Company. "Robust fourth quarter bidding activity pushed our SPP backlog including confirmed orders to $310 million, positioning us well for continued strength in 2025. Precast revenue came in at $37.1 million, with a 20.7% gross margin, reflecting some market softness in non-residential construction demand. However, the Precast order bookings surged to $61 million, a significant increase from $46 million at the same time last year, indicating momentum heading into the new year."

Mr. Montross continued, "For the full year of 2024, the Company posted outstanding results, achieving record financial and operational performance. Our SPP segment generated record revenue of $337.9 million and record gross profit of $62.6 million, while the Precast group delivered record revenue of $154.6 million and gross profit of $32.8 million, despite challenges in the non-residential construction markets. On a consolidated basis, we achieved record gross profit of $95.4 million. In addition, we generated $34.3 million in free cash flow⁴, consistent with our net income, both translating to $3.40 per diluted share and demonstrating the strength and quality of our earnings. Most importantly, we achieved a record safety performance, with a total recordable incident rate of 1.25, underscoring our unwavering commitment to the well-being of our employees."

Mr. Montross concluded, "We entered 2025 with a strong SPP backlog and a robust Precast order book. While we expect a light bidding environment in SPP during the first quarter, we anticipate strong bidding activity in the second and third quarters, with full-year bidding levels aligning closely with 2024. In our Precast segment, the residential business remains strong, and we are now seeing a surge in the non-residential order book, indicating improved strength in 2025. On a consolidated basis, we expect the first quarter of 2025 to resemble the first quarter of 2024, as weather events in various locations across the country continue to have an impact."

Fourth Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Consolidated

• Net sales increased 8.6% to $119.6 million from $110.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2023.
• Gross profit increased 16.3% to $22.4 million, or 18.8% of net sales, from $19.3 million, or 17.5% of net sales, in the fourth quarter of 2023.
• Net income was $10.1 million, or $1.00 per diluted share, compared to $5.4 million, or $0.54 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2023. Net income included a favorable impact of $2.3 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, related to the realization of previously uncertain income tax positions, resulting in adjusted net income of $7.8 million, or $0.77 per diluted share.

Engineered Steel Pressure Pipe Segment (SPP)

• SPP net sales increased 9.9% to $82.5 million from $75.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 driven by an 11% increase in tons produced resulting primarily from an improved bidding environment coupled with changes in project timing.
• SPP gross profit increased 32.2% to $14.8 million, or 17.9% of SPP net sales, from $11.2 million, or 14.9% of SPP net sales, in the fourth quarter of 2023 primarily due to increased volume and changes in product mix.
• SPP backlog was $213 million as of December 31, 2024 compared to $231 million as of September 30, 2024 and $273 million as of December 31, 2023. Backlog including confirmed orders was $310 million as of December 31, 2024 compared to $282 million as of September 30, 2024 and $319 million as of December 31, 2023.

Precast Infrastructure and Engineered Systems Segment (Precast)

• Precast net sales increased 5.9% to $37.1 million from $35.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 driven by a 23% increase in volume shipped, partially offset by a 14% decrease in selling prices primarily due to changes in product mix.
• Precast gross profit decreased 5.4% to $7.7 million, or 20.7% of Precast net sales, from $8.1 million, or 23.2% of Precast net sales, in the fourth quarter of 2023 primarily due to changes in product mix.
• Precast order book was $61 million as of December 31, 2024 compared to $57 million as of September 30, 2024 and $46 million as of December 31, 2023.

Full Year 2024 Financial Results

Consolidated

• Net sales increased 10.8% to $492.5 million in 2024, a Company record under its current operating segments, from $444.4 million in 2023.
• Gross profit increased 22.9% to $95.4 million, or 19.4% of net sales, in 2024 from $77.6 million, or 17.5% of net sales, in 2023.
• Net income was $34.2 million, or $3.40 per diluted share, in 2024 compared to $21.1 million, or $2.09 per diluted share, in 2023. Net income included a favorable impact of $2.3 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, related to the realization of previously uncertain income tax positions, resulting in adjusted net income of $31.9 million, or $3.17 per diluted share.

Engineered Steel Pressure Pipe Segment (SPP)

• SPP net sales increased 14.0% to a record $337.9 million in 2024 from $296.4 million in 2023 driven by a 33% increase in tons produced resulting from an improved bidding environment and changes in project timing, which was partially offset by a 14% decrease in selling price per ton due to a combination of lower raw materials costs and product mix.
• SPP gross profit increased 47.6% to a record $62.6 million, or 18.5% of SPP net sales, in 2024 from $42.4 million, or 14.3% of SPP net sales, in 2023 primarily due to increased volume and changes in product mix.

Precast Infrastructure and Engineered Systems Segment (Precast)

• Precast net sales increased 4.5% to a record $154.6 million in 2024 from $148.0 million in 2023 driven by a 28% increase in volume shipped, partially offset by a 15% decrease in selling prices primarily due to changes in product mix.
• Precast gross profit decreased 6.9% to $32.8 million, or 21.2% of Precast net sales, in 2024 from $35.2 million, or 23.8% of Precast net sales, in 2023 primarily due to changes in product mix.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Details

• As of December 31, 2024, the Company had $24.7 million of outstanding revolving loan borrowings and additional borrowing capacity of approximately $99 million under the revolving credit facility.
• Net cash provided by operating activities was $36.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to $9.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 primarily due to a $24.8 million increase in cash provided by changes in working capital and a $2.2 million increase in cash provided by net income adjusted for non-cash items. Net cash provided by operating activities was $55.1 million in 2024 compared to $53.5 million in 2023 primarily due to a $12.9 million increase in cash provided by net income, adjusted for non-cash items, partially offset by a $11.3 million decrease in cash provided by changes in working capital.
• Capital expenditures were $4.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to $5.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. Capital expenditures were $20.8 million in 2024 compared to $18.3 million in 2023.

____________________

1 Northwest Pipe Company defines "backlog" as the balance of remaining performance obligations under signed contracts for Engineered Steel Pressure Pipe products for which revenue is recognized over time.

2 Northwest Pipe Company defines "confirmed orders" as Engineered Steel Pressure Pipe projects for which the Company has been notified that it is the successful bidder, but a binding agreement has not been executed.

3 Northwest Pipe Company defines "order book" as unfulfilled orders outstanding at the measurement date for its Precast Infrastructure and Engineered Systems segment.

4 Northwest Pipe Company defines "free cash flow" as cash flows from operating activities less purchases of property and equipment. For purposes of the full year 2024, $55.1 million of net cash provided by operating activities, less $20.8 million in purchases of property and equipment, resulted in $34.3 million of free cash flow.

Conference Call Details

A conference call and simultaneous webcast to discuss the Company's fourth quarter and full year 2024 financial results will be held on Thursday, February 27, 2025, at 7:00 a.m. Pacific Time. The call will be broadcast live on the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at investor.nwpipe.com and will be archived online upon completion of the conference call. For those unable to listen to the live call, a replay will be available approximately three hours after the event and will remain available until Thursday, March 13, 2025, by dialing 1‑844‑512‑2921 in the U.S. or 1‑412‑317‑6671 internationally and entering the replay access code: 13750954.

About Northwest Pipe Company

Founded in 1966, Northwest Pipe Company is a leading manufacturer of water-related infrastructure products. In addition to being the largest manufacturer of engineered steel water pipeline systems in North America, the Company manufactures stormwater and wastewater technology products; high-quality precast and reinforced concrete products; pump lift stations; steel casing pipe, bar-wrapped concrete cylinder pipe, and one of the largest offerings of pipeline system joints, fittings, and specialized components. Strategically positioned to meet growing water and wastewater infrastructure needs, Northwest Pipe Company provides solution-based products for a wide range of markets under the ParkUSA, Geneva Pipe and Precast, Permalok®, and Northwest Pipe Company lines. The Company's diverse team is committed to quality and innovation while demonstrating the Company's core values of accountability, commitment, and teamwork. The Company is headquartered in Vancouver, Washington, and has 13 manufacturing facilities across North America. Please visit www.nwpipe.com for more information.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release by Scott Montross contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are based on current expectations, estimates, and projections about the Company's business, management's beliefs, and assumptions made by management. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of important factors. While it is impossible to identify all such factors, those that could cause actual results to differ materially from those estimated by the Company include changes in demand and market prices for its products, product mix, bidding activity and order modifications or cancelations, timing of customer orders and deliveries, production schedules, price and availability of raw materials, excess or shortage of production capacity, international trade policy and regulations, changes in tariffs (in particular Canada and Mexico) and duties imposed on imports and exports and related impacts on the Company, economic uncertainty and associated trends in macroeconomic conditions, including potential recession, inflation, and the state of the housing and commercial construction markets, interest rate risk and changes in market interest rates, including the impact on the Company's customers and related demand for its products, the Company's ability to identify and complete internal initiatives and/or acquisitions in order to grow its business, the Company's ability to effectively integrate future acquisitions into its business and operations that produce accretive financial results, effects of security breaches, computer viruses, and cybersecurity incidents, timing and amount of share repurchases, impacts of U.S. tax reform legislation on the Company's results of operations, and the impact on our customers and related demand for our products, adequacy of the Company's insurance coverage, supply chain challenges, labor shortages, impact of geopolitical trends, changes, and events, including the ongoing military conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East or tensions in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea and the regional and global ramifications of these events, operating problems at the Company's manufacturing operations including fires, explosions, inclement weather, and floods and other natural disasters, material weaknesses in the Company's internal control over financial reporting and its ability to remediate such weaknesses, impacts of pandemics, epidemics, or other public health emergencies, and other risks discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and from time to time in its other Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release. If the Company does update or correct one or more forward-looking statements, investors and others should not conclude that it will make additional updates or corrections with respect thereto or with respect to other forward-looking statements.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company is presenting backlog including confirmed orders, free cash flow, and adjusted net income. These non-GAAP financial measures are provided to better enable investors and others to assess the Company's ongoing operating results and compare them with its competitors. These should be considered a supplement to, and not a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP.

For more information, visit www.nwpipe.com.

Contact:
Aaron Wilkins
Chief Financial Officer
Northwest Pipe Company
investors@nwpipe.com

Or

Addo Investor Relations
nwpx@addo.com

 

NORTHWEST PIPE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) (In thousands, except per share amounts)
		Three Months Ended								Year Ended
		December 31,								December 31,
		2024				2023				2024				2023
Net sales:
Engineered Steel Pressure Pipe		$	82,491			$	75,087			$	337,945			$	296,381
Precast Infrastructure and Engineered Systems			37,136				35,077				154,603				147,974
Total net sales			119,627				110,164				492,548				444,355
Cost of sales:
Engineered Steel Pressure Pipe			67,738				63,924				275,341				253,954
Precast Infrastructure and Engineered Systems			29,451				26,950				121,802				112,759
Total cost of sales			97,189				90,874				397,143				366,713
Gross profit:
Engineered Steel Pressure Pipe			14,753				11,163				62,604				42,427
Precast Infrastructure and Engineered Systems			7,685				8,127				32,801				35,215
Total gross profit			22,438				19,290				95,405				77,642
Selling, general, and administrative expense			11,941				10,665				47,161				43,784
Operating income			10,497				8,625				48,244				33,858
Other income (loss)			74				500				(213)				276
Interest expense			(911)				(1,133)				(5,660)				(4,855)
Income before income taxes			9,660				7,992				42,371				29,279
Income tax expense (benefit)			(436)				2,548				8,165				8,207
Net income		$	10,096			$	5,444			$	34,206			$	21,072
Net income per share:
Basic		$	1.02			$	0.54			$	3.45			$	2.11
Diluted		$	1.00			$	0.54			$	3.40			$	2.09
Shares used in per share calculations:
Basic			9,919				10,010				9,916				9,991
Diluted			10,108				10,105				10,066				10,081

 

NORTHWEST PIPE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) (In thousands)
		December 31,
		2024				2023
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	5,007			$	4,068
Trade and other receivables, net			66,946				47,645
Contract assets			103,422				120,516
Inventories			79,770				91,229
Prepaid expenses and other			7,343				9,026
Total current assets			262,488				272,484
Property and equipment, net			150,456				143,955
Operating lease right-of-use assets			87,747				88,155
Goodwill			55,504				55,504
Intangible assets, net			27,041				31,074
Other assets			6,417				6,709
Total assets		$	589,653			$	597,881
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
Current debt		$	-			$	10,756
Current portion of long-term debt			2,994				-
Accounts payable			27,783				31,142
Accrued liabilities			28,172				27,913
Contract liabilities			11,197				21,450
Current portion of operating lease liabilities			4,987				4,933
Total current liabilities			75,133				96,194
Borrowings on line of credit			24,677				54,485
Long-term debt			11,476				-
Operating lease liabilities			85,744				85,283
Deferred income taxes			8,297				10,942
Other long-term liabilities			10,323				10,617
Total liabilities			215,650				257,521
Stockholders' equity			374,003				340,360
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity		$	589,653			$	597,881

 

NORTHWEST PIPE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) (In thousands)
		Year Ended December 31,
		2024				2023
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income		$	34,206			$	21,072
Depreciation and finance lease amortization			15,038				11,616
Amortization of intangible assets			4,033				4,190
Deferred income taxes			(4,684)				(172)
Gain on insurance proceeds			-				(466)
Share-based compensation expense			5,061				3,672
Other, net			728				1,547
Changes in working capital			669				11,996
Net cash provided by operating activities			55,051				53,455
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment			(20,799)				(18,291)
Payment of working capital adjustment in acquisition of business			-				(2,731)
Proceeds from insurance			-				431
Other investing activities			63				219
Net cash used in investing activities			(20,736)				(20,372)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on line of credit			171,329				155,398
Repayments on line of credit			(201,137)				(184,609)
Borrowings on other debt			4,244				-
Payments on other debt			(500)				-
Payments on finance lease liabilities			(1,419)				(826)
Tax withholdings related to net share settlements of equity awards			(1,449)				(1,652)
Repurchase of common stock			(4,429)				(707)
Other financing activities			(15)				(300)
Net cash used in financing activities			(33,376)				(32,696)
Change in cash and cash equivalents			939				387
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period			4,068				3,681
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period		$	5,007			$	4,068

 

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SOURCE Northwest Pipe Company

FAQ

What was Northwest Pipe Company's (NWPX) revenue growth in Q4 2024?

NWPX's Q4 2024 net sales grew 8.6% year-over-year to $119.6 million.

How much is NWPX's current SPP backlog and confirmed orders as of December 2024?

SPP backlog was $213 million, with total confirmed orders reaching $310 million.

What was Northwest Pipe's (NWPX) earnings per share for full year 2024?

NWPX reported net income of $3.40 per diluted share for full year 2024.

How did NWPX's Precast segment perform in Q4 2024?

Precast net sales increased 5.9% to $37.1 million with a gross margin of 20.7%.

What was NWPX's operating cash flow for full year 2024?

Net cash provided by operating activities was $55.1 million in 2024.