Rob Brown

Rob Brown inquired about the expected cadence of new project awards and pipeline activity for Argan in the next six to twelve months, following recent large project additions. He also asked about changes in the competitive environment for large construction jobs given the high demand.

Answer

President and CEO David Watson explained that Argan has historically been conservative with backlog predictions, having successfully added 4.6 GWs or six major power jobs in the past 12 months. He anticipates adding a handful of jobs over the next 12 to 24 months but noted that timing is difficult to predict as project start dates are not controlled by Argan. Regarding competition, Mr. Watson stated that after the 'dash for gas' period (2015-2018), many competitors left the field, leaving only a handful capable of competing for large, complex combined cycle projects today. He added that there is enough work for everyone, and Argan focuses on securing the right jobs with the right contracts and customers.

Rob Brown asked about the expected cadence of Argan's project pipeline for 2026, following recent large project awards, and whether a similar rate of awards or a pause is anticipated. He also questioned how the competitive environment for large construction jobs has changed given the high demand.

Answer

David Watson, President and CEO of Argan, Inc., indicated that the company is 'catching its breath' after adding 4.6 gigawatts or six major power jobs to its backlog in the past 12 months. He expects Argan to add a 'handful of jobs' over the next 12 to 24 months, but emphasized the difficulty in predicting precise timing due to external factors. Mr. Watson noted that after the 'dash for gas' period (2015-2018), many competitors strategically exited the market for large, complex combined cycle projects, leaving only a few key players. While more competition exists for simple cycle projects, he believes there is currently enough work for all, and Argan focuses on securing the right projects with suitable contracts and customers.

Rob Brown inquired about any acceleration or changes in the project pipeline dynamics over the last few months, and the pipeline, opportunity, and expected backlog growth for the industrial business segment.

Answer

CEO David Watson stated that the factors driving pipeline acceleration over the last six months remain consistent, citing sold-out OEMs, IEA's 4% annual electricity consumption increase forecast, and record PJM capacity auction results as evidence of elevated opportunities. For the industrial business, Watson noted its recovery to a record $189 million backlog, expecting improved performance in the second half, driven by expanding markets like water treatment and data centers.

Rob Brown of Lake Street Capital Markets, LLC inquired about Argan's project pipeline visibility following the Sandoz Lakes award, the potential peak backlog level, and the revenue outlook for the Industrial Construction Services segment.

Answer

CEO David Watson stated the project pipeline remains robust, projecting the backlog will grow 'significantly over $2,000,000,000' this year, supported by long-term demand extending to 2030. For the Industrial segment, Watson acknowledged a recent contraction but highlighted a $91 million backlog and expects 'meaningfully' increased revenues in the next several quarters.

Inquired about the project pipeline's composition and regional focus, changes in the customer base, and the outlook for the industrial construction business.

Answer

The project pipeline is largely U.S.-based, with Texas being a key area, and backlog is expected to grow over the next six months. The customer base is still primarily independent power producers (IPPs), but they are open to all potential customers. The industrial business (TRC) is seeing strong demand and has added over $40 million in new contracts post-year-end, with revenue expected to grow mid-to-late in the year. Overall company revenue may dip slightly in the next quarter before increasing as new projects ramp up.

Inquired about changes in the project pipeline activity, the specific timing of the Texas gas plant under LOI, the comparative backlog burn rate for solar versus gas projects, and the outlook for the industrial business.

Answer

Pipeline activity remains extremely elevated with new opportunities and existing projects progressing. The Texas LOI project is expected to start work in the next couple of months. Solar projects have a more consistent revenue burn rate compared to the bell-curve of gas projects. The industrial segment's revenue and backlog are expected to dip in the near term before rebounding in early fiscal 2026, based on a strong pipeline of opportunities.

Inquired about the business environment and pipeline for the TRC segment, the completion timeline for current solar and battery projects, and whether the anticipated new gas projects are facing development delays.

Answer

The executive highlighted TRC's record quarterly performance and strong long-term outlook, though a short-term backlog dip is possible due to high revenue conversion. The solar projects are on a quick timeline, with most expected to be complete by the fiscal year-end. The prospective gas projects are progressing through their development milestones, supporting the company's optimistic timeline for securing them.

Rob Brown inquired about the capital contributions to the Sospira joint venture, specifically asking if the recent contribution would suffice for a period or if further capital would be needed over the next 12 months. He also questioned the timeline for the complete relocation of high-pressure controls manufacturing from Italy and the expected operational status of the new facilities. Additionally, he asked about the potential impact on revenue run rate during this transition period.

Answer

CEO Dan Sceli confirmed that additional capital contributions would be required next year for Sospira, aligning with the planned three-year build-out to achieve standalone operations. Regarding high-pressure controls, Sceli stated that manufacturing is entirely out of Italy, with equipment installation underway at the Cambridge (Canada) and Zhengzhou (China) sites, both expected to be operational by year-end. He acknowledged a slightly lower revenue run rate during the transition but emphasized the strategic benefits of local manufacturing in China for competitiveness and in North America to capitalize on the growing natural gas market.

Rob Brown asked about the capital needs for the Sospira joint venture following the recent contribution, specifically for the next 12 months. He also inquired about the timeline for the complete relocation of high-pressure controls manufacturing from Italy and whether there would be a lower revenue run rate during this transition.

Answer

CEO Dan Sceli clarified that the Sospira joint venture was structured with a three-year capital build-out to become standalone, and as they are in year two, additional capital will be needed next year. Regarding high-pressure controls, Sceli stated that manufacturing is now completely out of Italy, with equipment installation ongoing in Canada and China, expected to be operational by year-end. He confirmed a slightly lower revenue run rate during this period, noting the strategic importance of local manufacturing in China for cost and geopolitical reasons, and in North America for market opportunity.

Rob Brown from Lake Street Capital Markets asked about the current revenue run rate for the high-pressure controls business and the expected operating expense level after the divestiture of the light-duty segment is fully settled.

Answer

President & CEO Daniel Sceli described the high-pressure controls market as a 'bumpy road' due to a pause in hydrogen projects outside of China. Regarding OpEx, Sceli noted the divestiture allows for rightsizing, while CFO Bill Larkin added that a normalized run rate will likely not be fully realized until 2026 due to residual costs from the previously consolidated business, such as audit and tax fees.

Asked for an outlook on the High-Pressure Controls business for the year, its growth opportunities, and the source of the recent growth in the Cespira business.

Answer

The High-Pressure Controls business has a backlog of hydrogen contracts that are delayed but still active, and the company is pivoting to adapt these components for the growing CNG market. The new plant in China is being finalized to meet local demand. The 25% growth in Cespira is primarily from Europe, driven by increased marketing from Volvo and expansion into new markets like India, which was part of the original business plan.

Rob Brown questioned the outlook and growth drivers for the High-Pressure Controls business and sought details on the source of the recent growth in the Cespira JV.

Answer

CEO Daniel Sceli explained that the High-Pressure Controls business is supported by a backlog of hydrogen contracts and is now pivoting to capture the accelerating CNG market, with a new plant in China to meet local demand. Executive Bill Larkin attributed Cespira's 25%+ growth to increased activity from Volvo in key European markets and expansion into India, noting this growth was part of the original business plan.

Asked for clarification on the enterprise value of the divested business and inquired about the go-forward strategy, including the revenue rate of the retained business and the timeline for expanding into the natural gas market.

Answer

Executives clarified the sale price calculation relative to cash. Strategically, the company will focus on two areas: the HPDI business, which is on a planned growth path, and the High-Pressure Controls business, which is pivoting from a hydrogen focus to aggressively pursue the North American CNG market, though a specific timeline for revenue is not yet available.

Rob Brown from Lake Street Capital Markets, LLC sought clarification on the net value of the light-duty business sale after accounting for debt. He also asked about the go-forward revenue rate and growth strategy for the remaining business, particularly the pivot towards natural gas applications.

Answer

CFO Bill Larkin indicated the sale price would be offset against cash in a net calculation. CEO Dan Sceli outlined a two-part strategy for the remaining business: the Cespira (HPDI) segment is on a planned growth trajectory, while the High-Pressure Controls and Systems segment is pivoting to leverage its hydrogen technology for the growing CNG market in North America. He noted this pivot is a key initiative to capture immediate opportunities.

Rob Brown questioned the factors influencing the 2026 CapEx outlook, particularly what could move the number higher, and the sustainability of NGS's market share gains among existing and new customers.

Answer

Justin Jacobs, CEO, explained that the 2026 CapEx range is still early, with potential for upside driven by the timing of new contract wins, especially in the second half of the year. He attributed market share gains to a mix of expanding relationships with existing customers, like Devon Energy, and securing new customer opportunities.

Rob Brown asked for more details on the factors influencing the 2026 CapEx outlook, particularly what could move the number higher beyond the low end of the range. He also questioned the sustainability of NGS's market share gains, asking if it requires penetrating new customers or primarily growing with existing ones.

Answer

CEO Justin Jacobs explained that the upper end of the 2026 CapEx range depends on the timing of new contract wins, especially for the second half of the year, and that they aim to push the number up as they finalize customer engagements. Regarding market share, he stated it's a mix of both, highlighting the significant expansion with existing customer Devon Energy and expressing optimism about growing with current customers while also pursuing opportunities with potentially large new customers.

Rob Brown of Lake Street Capital Markets inquired about the opportunity pipeline for new growth contracts, specifically asking for color on the active areas and timing, and also questioned the sustainability of the company's strong rental gross margins.

Answer

CEO Justin Jacobs responded that new unit opportunities are primarily for 2026, as 2025 is largely locked in. He noted that while opportunities are broad-based, the majority are in the Permian Basin, consistent with the company's current business mix. Regarding margins, Jacobs stated that the low 60s percentage range seen over the last year is believed to be sustainable.

Rob Brown of Lake Street Capital Markets asked whether the strong demand outlook was a true reflection of market improvement or simply a function of long lead times pushing orders into 2026. He also requested more detail on the market dynamics driving demand for electric drive units.

Answer

CEO Justin Jacobs clarified that strong demand is ongoing and the 2026 focus is driven by long lead times, not a change in underlying demand. He explained that the primary driver for electric drive unit adoption is the customer's access to reliable and sufficient power, which remains a significant uncertainty in the market.

Rob Brown inquired about the status and nature of large projects in the industrial water and power generation pipeline, and the potential for the 2026 outlook to be raised based on project activity.

Answer

CEO Todd Gleason and CFO Peter Johansson explained that large industrial water projects are primarily in the Middle East and Asia, focusing on produced water and reuse applications, with timing being the key factor. For power generation, they noted a robust, sustainable pace with a multi-year cycle, where CECO's solutions are later in the build process. Regarding the 2026 outlook, Todd Gleason highlighted a $5.8 billion sales pipeline and the possibility of exceeding guidance if multiple large industrial water or power jobs are secured in Q4 2025 or Q1 2026, emphasizing that current guidance is balanced.

Rob Brown inquired about the status and nature of large industrial water and power generation projects in CECO Environmental's pipeline, and the potential for the 2026 outlook to increase based on project activity.

Answer

Todd Gleason (CEO) and Peter Johansson (CFO) explained that larger industrial water projects are primarily in the Middle East and Asia, focusing on produced water and reuse applications, with timing being the key factor. For the 2026 outlook, they noted a $5.8 billion sales pipeline and potential for upside if multiple large industrial water or power jobs are secured in Q4 2025 or Q1 2026, emphasizing the multi-year nature of the power cycle.

Rob Brown from Lake Street Capital Markets inquired about the strength and depth of the sales pipeline for the power generation market, CECO's capacity to handle new work, and the demand drivers in other key industrial verticals.

Answer

CEO Todd Gleason and CFO Peter Johansson characterized the power generation market as being in its "earlier innings," with an active pipeline exceeding $1 billion. They assured that capacity is not a concern due to strategic planning with major partners. Gleason also highlighted robust demand drivers in semiconductors, natural gas infrastructure, and industrial water, supported by the ongoing industrial reshoring trend in North America.

Rob Brown asked about the timeline and potential for action regarding negotiations with new hyperscalers at new locations. He also questioned the limiting factors for expanding Polaris Forge 1 and 2 to up to one gigawatt of power.

Answer

Wes Cummins, Chairman and CEO, explained that negotiations with new customers are an ongoing process, with some potentially concluding within 90-120 days. He noted that scaling to 1 gigawatt at these campuses depends on additional transmission infrastructure and generation capacity being added to the grid, with the company aiming to match power ramp with building capabilities.

Rob Brown inquired about the timeline and potential for action regarding new hyperscaler negotiations at new locations, and also asked about the limiting factors and requirements for expanding Polaris Forge 1 and 2 to 1 GW.

Answer

CEO Wes Cummins indicated that new hyperscaler negotiations are ongoing and expected to be a constant activity, with some potentially closing within 90-120 days. He explained that expanding Polaris Forge 1 and 2 to 1 GW involves adding additional utility power and generation capacity, with the goal of matching power ramp with building capabilities.

Rob Brown asked for an update on the status of the previously mentioned 'advanced negotiations' with a hyperscaler customer and inquired about the remaining work needed to complete the first Ellendale facility.

Answer

CEO Wes Cummins confirmed they are in advanced negotiations with an investment-grade North American hyperscaler but did not provide further identifying details. He noted that the remaining work on the first Ellendale building is primarily the technical fit-out, which is already underway, with the customer expected to begin ramping up in calendar Q4 of the current year.

Rob Brown inquired about the primary drivers behind the two significant airline orders, specifically whether they represented fleet expansion or adoption of new product offerings. He also asked about the dynamics of the improving quoting activity, distinguishing between material handling and ground support equipment markets.

Answer

Krishna Vanka, CEO, President & Director, clarified that the $2 million order for the G80 420 was for a redesigned, more efficient battery sold to an existing airline, while the $1.2 million order was for an existing G lithium-ion product bundled with SkyEMS software. Kelly Frey, Chief Revenue Officer, added that lithium adoption in ground support equipment (GSE) is still early, indicating significant migration potential from lead-acid/internal combustion for existing customers and new airline acquisitions. Regarding quoting activity, Kelly Frey explained that GSE experienced less capital expenditure pullback, while material handling saw a significant slowdown in Q1 calendar year due to tariff uncertainty and capital caution. The recent uptick in quoting is primarily driven by material handling customers releasing capital as tariff clarity emerges.

Rob Brown inquired about the key drivers behind the recent sizable airline orders, specifically whether they represent fleet expansion or adoption of new product offerings. He also asked about the dynamics of the improving quoting activity, distinguishing between the material handling and ground support equipment markets.

Answer

CEO Krishna Vanka clarified that the $2 million order was for a redesigned, more efficient G80 420 battery sold to an existing airline, while the $1.2 million order involved an existing G lithium-ion solution packaged with the SkyEMS software. CRO Kelly Frey added that the ground support equipment (GSE) market is still in early lithium adoption, with significant migration potential from lead-acid and internal combustion engines within existing customer fleets, alongside new airline acquisitions. Regarding quoting activity, Kelly Frey noted that the GSE market experienced less capital expenditure pullback compared to material handling. The material handling market saw a significant capital expenditure slowdown in calendar Q1/Q2 2025 due to tariff and economic uncertainty, but the recent uptick in quoting indicates customers are now releasing capital as market clarity improves.

Rob Brown asked about the primary drivers behind the two recent sizable airline orders, specifically whether they represented fleet expansion or adoption of new product offerings, and inquired about the dynamics of the reported uptick in quoting activity across market segments.

Answer

CEO Krishna Vanka clarified that the $2 million order for the G80-420 was for a redesigned, more efficient battery sold to an existing airline, while the $1.2 million order for a G80 lithium-ion solution with SkyEMS software was an existing product bundled with software. CRO Kelly Frey added that the ground support equipment market is still in early lithium adoption, representing both increased adoption within existing fleets and new airline acquisitions. Kelly Frey also explained that the ground support equipment market saw less capital expenditure pullback, while the material handling market experienced a significant pullback in Q1 calendar year due to tariff concerns, with the current increase in quoting activity driven by material handling customers releasing capital.

Inquired about the visibility of order activity and market demand for the second half of the year, and asked for an update on the status of new product launches and model refreshes.

Answer

The current slowdown is attributed to interest rate impacts, with customer orders being delayed rather than canceled. There are indications of a pickup in the second half of calendar 2024. The company is rolling out new heavy-duty models across its product lines and developing higher-voltage (80-volt) applications for larger forklifts to meet emerging demand.

Rob Brown of Lake Street Capital Markets asked about the rollout and variables of the up to $10 million eBoost order with a charging services company, the maturation timeline of the sales pipeline across markets like municipalities and robotaxis, and the expected milestones for the HomeBoost product launch.

Answer

President, CEO & Chairman Nathan Mazurek explained that the deal with the charging services company (SparkCharge) involves fixed pricing over a 24-month window with held inventory. He noted that while government agencies are slow, the private sector, particularly the robotaxi market, is moving much faster. Regarding HomeBoost, Mazurek stated its launch was slightly delayed for design optimization, with no revenue expected in 2025 but orders anticipated to build for a meaningful contribution in 2026.

Rob Brown of Lake Street Capital Markets inquired about the North Carolina AFFF destruction contract, the timeline for establishing a national network of waste destruction facilities, and the next steps following the DoD project with the Colorado School of Mines.

Answer

CEO Chris Gannon detailed that the initial North Carolina contract is the first phase of a potentially larger, multi-million dollar opportunity to destroy the state's AFFF stockpiles. He explained the strategy to build a network of 8-10 TSDF partner facilities across North America, starting with partners like Crystal Clean. Regarding the DoD, Gannon noted that successful projects at Peterson Space Force Base and the ongoing DIU project in Detroit are positioning the company to bid on major federal contracts, emphasizing the importance of their RCRA TSDF partnerships to meet government requirements.

Inquired about the North Carolina AFFF destruction contract, the timeline for establishing a national network of waste destruction facilities, and the next steps following the DoD project at the Colorado School of Mines.

Answer

The company responded that the initial North Carolina contract is for about $1 million with significant expansion potential. They aim to establish 8-10 TSDF sites across North America in partnership with major players. Successful DoD projects, like the one at Peterson Space Force Base and the ongoing one in Detroit, are positioning them to bid on larger federal contracts, especially through partnerships with RCRA-certified facilities.

Rob Brown of Lake Street Capital Markets asked for details on how extending the life of power plants benefits the parts and service business, and requested an update on the BrightLoop technology pipeline, including the number of projects and potential applications like steam generation.

Answer

Kenneth Young, Chair & CEO, explained that as plants extend their lifespans, they require significant investment in major components, efficiency upgrades, and environmental systems, which drives demand for B&W's parts and services. Regarding BrightLoop, Young stated there are 'well over 10' projects in the pipeline. He highlighted its versatility to produce steam or hydrogen from various fuels, and its key advantage of offering an economical option to capture CO2 in the future without major capital expenditure or impacting plant efficiency. He confirmed active discussions for steam generation projects with utilities using coal or natural gas, as well as biomass-to-steam opportunities.

The analyst asked about the dynamics of the parts and service business as plant lifespans are extended and inquired about the BrightLoop technology pipeline, specifically regarding the number of projects and the potential for steam generation applications.

Answer

The company explained that extending plant lives drives immediate demand for deferred maintenance and major component upgrades, boosting the parts and service business. For BrightLoop, there are well over 10 projects in the pipeline. There is significant interest in its ability to produce steam from various fuels (coal, natural gas, biomass) while offering an economical, built-in option for CO2 capture, which is attracting attention from utilities for new baseload generation without the need for expensive post-combustion technology.

Asked about the key drivers for the strong demand and record bookings in the quarter, and whether to expect normal seasonality in demand for the rest of the year.

Answer

The strong demand is driven by increased global baseload power generation, leading to higher utilization of coal plants and a greater need for parts and services. Some of this is catch-up from delayed maintenance. The company expects normal seasonality to continue, with Q3 and Q4 typically being stronger than Q1 and Q2.

Asked for details on the project timeline for the Massillon BrightLoop facility and for more information on the newly announced West Virginia project and its associated forgivable loan.

Answer

For the Massillon project, long-lead items are ordered, with a major construction ramp-up beginning in Q2 of next year. The goal is to produce hydrogen by early 2026 and reach full commercial operation in Q2 2026. The West Virginia agreement is for a $10 million forgivable loan to build a small-to-midsize BrightLoop plant using biomass and coal, which must be operational by 2030. The loan's forgiveness is tied to local job creation.

Rob Brown of Lake Street Capital Markets inquired about Ballard's near-term market focus under its new cost structure and sought details on the recent large marine order.

Answer

President and CEO Marty Neese identified bus, rail, and marine as key near-term markets, highlighting the total cost of ownership (TCO) advantage for hydrogen in larger fleets. He described the marine order as a 6.3 MW deal for the FCWave product, which took two years to secure, underscoring the vertical's long-term potential due to favorable range and fueling infrastructure characteristics.

Rob Brown of Lake Street Capital Markets asked about the near-term markets Ballard is pursuing, such as rail and marine, and how the company's new cost structure will influence its market approach. He also requested more details on the significant marine order announced after the quarter.

Answer

President and CEO Marty Neese identified bus, rail, and marine as key near-term markets. He highlighted the strong total cost of ownership (TCO) proposition for hydrogen buses in North America and Europe, especially for larger fleets. Regarding the marine order, Neese explained it was a multi-year sales cycle for a 6.3 MW system, underscoring the long-term potential of the marine vertical due to its favorable range, route, and fueling infrastructure characteristics.

Rob Brown asked for more details on the operational ramp-up of the new dairy projects and sought an update on the regulatory clarity affecting customer purchasing decisions in the trucking market.

Answer

CFO Robert Vreeland described the dairy project ramp-up as addressing normal, post-commissioning 'punch list' items with no major showstoppers. President & CEO Andrew Littlefair added that this commissioning phase is a longer, six-month process to debug and enhance the facilities. On regulatory matters, Littlefair noted that while macro issues and California rules have slowed truck sales, clarity is emerging, and RNG's economic advantage remains a strong selling point for fleets.

Rob Brown of Lake Street Capital Markets inquired about the incremental margins on NN Inc.'s new business wins, the key verticals driving this new activity, and the demand outlook for the electrical, grid, and data center markets.

Answer

CEO Harold Bevis explained that new business is priced to achieve at least a 15% margin for open capacity or a 25% ROI for new investments, making the overall win basket 3-4 EBITDA points accretive. He noted that while the residential electrical distribution market is flat, the power generation segment is growing, driven by their partnership with Cummins for data center applications.

Rob Brown from Lake Street Capital Markets asked for an update on the demand environment and inquired about the future trajectory of the GCR business, specifically whether it will continue to decline or level off.

Answer

President and CEO Michael McCann stated that the demand environment is strong, driven by a proactive sales model targeting customers who must spend on repairs. He highlighted the strategy of converting reactive work into proactive, long-term capital programs, citing a national healthcare client with 20 locations as an example. Regarding GCR, McCann reiterated the full-year guidance of 70-80% ODR revenue, implying a 20-30% GCR mix. He affirmed the strategic push towards owner-direct work will not change, though the mix could fluctuate with future acquisitions.

Rob Brown from Lake Street Capital Markets inquired about the specific factors driving the expected performance improvement in the Harsco Environmental segment in the second half of the year. He also asked about the typical duration of down cycles in the Rail business.

Answer

Chairman & CEO F. Nicholas Grasberger explained that the anticipated second-half improvement in Harsco Environmental is due to three key factors: the ramp-up of new sites, the full six-month impact of cost reduction initiatives, and performance enhancements at several underperforming locations. Regarding the Rail segment, he stated that the current downturn is expected to be shorter-lived than historical cycles because it's driven by customer uncertainty rather than a broad recession, and he does not foresee the weakness persisting into 2026.

Robert Brown asked for an update on the Department of Energy's (DOE) activities and the expected next steps, as well as the current status of shipments from Russia.

Answer

President and CEO Amir Vexler stated that the DOE is moving quickly to award the $2.7 billion in funding for U.S. nuclear fuel production, which aligns with the administration's agenda. Regarding Russian shipments, he confirmed that while specific authorizations are still required on an order-by-order basis, the process has not impeded any of Centrus's scheduled deliveries.

Robert Brown asked for an update on the Department of Energy's activity regarding the allocated funds for U.S. nuclear fuel production and inquired about the status of Russian shipment authorizations.

Answer

President and CEO Amir Vexler stated that the Energy Secretary confirmed plans to award the $2.7 billion in funds, indicating momentum is moving forward. Regarding Russian shipments, Vexler noted that while specific authorizations are still required, the process has not impeded any commitments to Centrus, and business has continued as normal.

Rob Brown asked about the gross margin improvement in the Specialty Products segment and its future potential.

Answer

CEO Jillian Evanko expressed satisfaction with the segment achieving over 30% gross margin, a key focus for the company. While she would be pleased if it remained in the low 30s for 2025, she believes the segment's potential is closer to 33-34% in the medium term as further operational efficiencies are realized.

Rob Brown from Lake Street Capital Markets asked for clarification on Q1 gross margins, questioning if they were impacted by one-time items or solely by low volume. He also asked about the margin trajectory for the year and the company's visibility into the on-road segment ramp.

Answer

CFO Michael Lewis confirmed that the Q1 gross margin decline was primarily due to under-absorption from staffing up for the second half and unfavorable volume/mix, not one-time charges. He reiterated the goal of returning to historical 20%+ margins to meet annual targets. Chairman and CEO Gary Winemaster added that visibility into the on-road segment comes from a combination of ongoing order boards, production orders, and strong market indicators, such as the successful launch with Navistar and the engine's acknowledged performance advantages.

Rob Brown from Lake Street Capital Markets asked about the feasibility of achieving high-teens gross margins given the 2016 business mix outlook and questioned the expected cadence of the on-road business ramp-up throughout the year.

Answer

CFO Michael Lewis stated that a high-teens gross margin is still achievable through operational efficiencies and a favorable mix shift to higher-margin on-road products. CEO Gary Winemaster added that the on-road ramp would be driven by the school bus market and Chinese OEM programs moving into production in the third quarter, with on-highway growth expected to offset declines in oil and gas revenue.

Rob Brown of Lake Street Capital Markets inquired about the expected timeline for gross margin improvement and the alignment of the company's cost structure.

Answer

Chairman and CEO Gary Winemaster responded that the issues impacting margins have largely been resolved, and he anticipates seeing improvements within the next one to two quarters.

Rob Brown from Lake Street Capital Markets asked for clarification on how the $500 million on-road market opportunity might be split between the U.S. and China, and how the gross margin structure is expected to trend under the new guidance.

Answer

COO Eric Cohen explained that while the $500 million on-road market is achievable in the U.S. alone, the accelerating opportunities in China could help them reach that target faster. CFO Dan Gorey projected Q3 gross margins to be in the low to mid-17% range, impacted by the decline in oil and gas sales and temporary purchase accounting effects from the Powertrain Integration acquisition, which should normalize by Q4.