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CP

Concrete Pumping Holdings, Inc. (BBCP)·Q1 2025 Earnings Summary

Executive Summary

  • Q1 FY25 revenue declined 11.5% year over year to $86.4M, with diluted EPS at $(0.06) vs $(0.08) in Q1 FY24; gross margin improved 200 bps to 36.1%, and Adjusted EBITDA was $17.0M (19.7% margin) .
  • Results missed Wall Street consensus: revenue ~$90.3M*, EPS ~$0.01*, and EBITDA ~$21.0M*; management cited about $5M incremental weather impact and commercial softness as primary drivers of the miss .
  • Guidance lowered: FY25 revenue to $400–$420M, Adjusted EBITDA to $105–$115M, and FCF to ~$60M, down from prior $425–$445M, $115–$125M, and ≥$65M, respectively .
  • Balance sheet and capital allocation remain supportive: liquidity $409.6M, net debt $339.9M (3.1x leverage); notes refinanced at 7.5% due 2032; $1.00 special dividend paid (~$53M) and buyback extended through 2026 .
  • Near-term stock reaction catalysts: guidance cut, weather-related disruption commentary, equipment oversupply and pricing pressure in pumping, and capital returns (special dividend, buyback extension) .

What Went Well and What Went Wrong

What Went Well

  • Gross margin expanded to 36.1% (+200 bps YoY) on better fuel and insurance costs despite lower volumes .
  • Eco-Pan (U.S. Concrete Waste Management Services) grew revenue 7% YoY to $16.7M; Adjusted EBITDA rose to $5.0M; segment profitability improved .
  • Successfully refinanced senior notes ($425M, 7.5% due 2032) and returned capital via a $1.00 special dividend; management emphasized stronger liquidity enabling shareholder value initiatives .
  • Quote: “Our flexible cost structure and disciplined fleet management strategy allowed us to maintain strong Adjusted EBITDA margins despite the reduced volume” — CEO Bruce Young .
  • Quote: “We now expect…free cash flow…to be approximately $60 million…robust free cash flow on expected lower volume stems from our ability to optimize equipment utilization and flex CapEx investments” — CFO Iain Humphries .
  • Quote: “We are well-positioned for commercial market recovery…enhances our flexibility for future shareholder value initiatives” — CEO Bruce Young .

What Went Wrong

  • U.S. Concrete Pumping revenue fell 14.6% YoY (to $56.9M) on commercial softness and severe weather; segment Adjusted EBITDA declined to $9.2M .
  • Weather impact estimated $5M in Q1 and, versus last year’s tough comp ($7M), implied more severe conditions than expected; contributed meaningfully to volume shortfall .
  • U.K. Operations revenue fell 16.7% YoY to $12.8M (ex-FX down ~16%) with Adjusted EBITDA down to $2.8M on commercial delays .
  • Guidance reduced across revenue, EBITDA, and FCF, reflecting prolonged weak commercial demand and continued near-term weather effects .
  • Market oversupply of pumps driving pricing pressure and constrained utilization (~70% vs 80% target) — margin headwind until demand normalizes .
  • Q1 missed consensus on revenue, EBITDA, and EPS (see Estimates Context), underscoring near-term operational headwinds* .

Financial Results

Quarterly Comparison vs Prior Periods and vs Estimates

MetricQ3 2024Q4 2024Q1 2025Vs YoY (Q1 2024)Vs Estimates (Q1 2025)
Revenue ($USD Millions)$109.6 $111.5 $86.4 $86.4 vs $97.7 (-11.5%) $86.4 vs ~$90.3 (MISS)*
Diluted EPS ($USD)$0.13 $0.16 $(0.06) $(0.06) vs $(0.08) (improved) $(0.06) vs ~$0.01 (MISS)*
Adjusted EBITDA ($USD Millions)$31.6 $33.7 $17.0 $17.0 vs $19.3 (-11.8%) $17.0 vs ~$21.0 (MISS)*
Gross Margin (%)40.6% 41.5% 36.1% 36.1% vs 34.1% (+200 bps)
Adjusted EBITDA Margin (%)28.8% 30.2% 19.7% 19.7% vs 19.7% (flat)

Note: Estimates marked with * are from S&P Global; Values retrieved from S&P Global.

Segment Revenue and Profitability (Q1 2025 vs Q1 2024)

SegmentQ1 2024 Revenue ($USD ‘000)Q1 2025 Revenue ($USD ‘000)YoY ChangeQ1 2024 Adj. EBITDA ($USD ‘000)Q1 2025 Adj. EBITDA ($USD ‘000)YoY Change
U.S. Concrete Pumping$66,683 $56,914 (14.6%) $11,592 $9,159 (21.0%)
U.S. Concrete Waste Mgmt (Eco-Pan)$15,620 $16,693 +6.9% $4,487 $5,024 +12.0%
U.K. Operations$15,408 $12,840 (16.7%) $3,202 $2,828 (11.7%)
Total$97,711 $86,447 (11.5%) $19,281 $17,011 (11.8%)

KPIs and Balance Sheet

KPIQ1 2025Prior Quarter (Q4 2024)Prior Year (Q1 2024)
Liquidity ($USD Millions)$409.6 $378.0 $217.0
Net Debt ($USD Millions)$339.9 $332.0 $373.3
Leverage Ratio (Net Debt/TTM Adj. EBITDA)3.1x 3.0x ~3.4x (from net debt/TTM at Q1’24)
Cash ($USD Millions)$85.1 $43.0 $14.7
Total Debt ($USD Millions)$425.0 $375.0 $375.0
Net Cash from Operations ($USD Millions)$6.0 $86.9 (FY) $20.3
Net Maintenance Capex ($USD Millions)~$2 ~$1 (Q4) ~$12 (Q1’24)
Free Cash Flow ($USD Millions)~$4 ~$24 (Q4) ~$7 (Q1’24)
Share Repurchases296,267 shares; $1.9M; $6.53 avg 423,000 shares; $2.5M; $5.89 avg

Guidance Changes

MetricPeriodPrevious GuidanceCurrent GuidanceChange
Revenue ($USD Millions)FY 2025$425–$445 $400–$420 Lowered
Adjusted EBITDA ($USD Millions)FY 2025$115–$125 $105–$115 Lowered
Free Cash Flow ($USD Millions)FY 2025≥$65 ~$60 Lowered
Capex (replacement, % of revenue)FY 2025~6–7% target (call commentary) Unchanged strategy (flex to demand) Maintained
Share Repurchase ProgramProgramExp. Mar 31, 2025 Extended to Dec 31, 2026 Extended
DividendOne-timeAnnounced $1.00/share (Jan 14) Paid ~Feb 3, ~$53M total Executed

Earnings Call Themes & Trends

TopicPrevious Mentions (Q3 2024)Previous Mentions (Q4 2024)Current Period (Q1 2025)Trend
Interest rates/commercial softnessHigher-for-longer rates delaying rate-sensitive projects; oversupply of pumps; Q3 rain delays Lingering high rates and increased commercial vacancy delaying projects Persistent rate-driven commercial softness; Q2 expected slightly softer Deteriorated near-term
Weather impactsHistoric rainfall in TX/SE; ~$6M project delays Seasonal improvement hoped, but softness persisted Historic freezing/wet weather reduced revenue by ~$5M in Q1 Persistently negative
Infrastructure demandGrowing; early IIJA momentum; UK infra resilient Expect infra growth in FY25 (UK and US) Slight revenue share growth; expect acceleration as funding converts to starts Improving medium-term
Residential demandResilient at ~31% of mix Resilient at ~32% TTM Resilient at 33% TTM; regional strength (Mountain, TX) Stable/positive
Pricing pressure/oversupplyEquipment oversaturation causing pricing pressure Expect pressure in early FY25; easing with demand Surplus equipment persists; pressure mainly in residential/light commercial Easing later FY25
Utilization~70% vs 80% target ~70%; capacity to improve with demand Still ~70%; leverage fleet flexibility Stable, potential improvement
Capital allocationDebt reduction, buybacks, optional refinance Guided for opportunistic refinance; buybacks ongoing Refinanced notes; special dividend paid; buyback extended Executed/positive
M&A pipelineAccretive M&A optionality Considering opportunities “More focused on M&A now”; several opportunities under review Positive optionality

Management Commentary

  • “Despite the challenges…we remained resilient…maintain strong Adjusted EBITDA margins despite the reduced volume” — Bruce Young, CEO .
  • “We successfully closed…$425 million…senior secured second lien notes…used to pay…existing notes…[and] a special dividend of $1 per share” — Iain Humphries, CFO .
  • “We now expect fiscal year revenue…$400–$420 million…Adjusted EBITDA…$105–$115 million…and free cash flow…approximately $60 million” — Iain Humphries, CFO .
  • “Our residential end market remained resilient…33% of total revenue on a trailing 12-month basis” — Bruce Young, CEO .
  • “There is still a surplus of equipment in the market…affecting residential and light commercial” — Bruce Young, CEO .

Q&A Highlights

  • Guidance reduction: revenue guide midpoint lowered by ~$25M; cadence still ~45/55 first half/second half; Q2 expected slightly softer due to February weather .
  • Weather comp: With ~$7M prior-year weather headwind, FY25 Q1 disruptions effectively more severe than planned — incremental impact vs expectations .
  • Net debt pro forma: Clarified that ~$340M net debt excludes the special dividend; add $53M to reflect pro-forma net debt ($393M) .
  • Capex/FCF: Replacement capex targeted ~6–7% of revenue for FY25; flexibility from prior fleet investments supports ~$60M FCF guide .
  • Margin drivers: Variable cost structure (75–80% of COGS) with improved fuel, repair/maintenance, and labor efficiencies sustaining margins despite lower volume .
  • Pricing/utilization: Persistent equipment oversupply pressuring pricing; utilization ~70% with room to improve; pressure expected to ease as demand recovers .

Estimates Context

Metric (Q1 2025)ConsensusActual# of EstimatesOutcome
Revenue ($USD Millions)~$90.28*$86.45 4*MISS
Primary EPS ($USD)~$0.01*~$(0.035)* (Diluted $(0.06) )3*MISS
EBITDA ($USD Millions)~$21.03*$17.01 MISS

Note: Estimates marked with * are from S&P Global; Values retrieved from S&P Global. Primary EPS (SPGI) may differ from diluted EPS reported in filings.

Key Takeaways for Investors

  • Guidance cut and Q1 misses reflect prolonged rate-driven commercial softness and severe weather; expect continued near-term pressure into Q2 before back-half improvement .
  • Margin resilience amid revenue declines underscores variable cost control and disciplined fleet management; watch for utilization recovery from ~70% toward ~80% .
  • Eco-Pan’s secular growth and pricing momentum provide diversified earnings support; continued route density and share gains likely .
  • Capital allocation is shareholder-friendly (refinance, special dividend, extended buyback) while keeping leverage manageable at ~3.1x; pro-forma net debt rises with dividend but liquidity remains robust .
  • Equipment oversupply and pricing pressure should ease as demand normalizes; management expects residential resilience and infra tailwinds (IIJA, UK projects) to support FY25 H2 .
  • Near-term trading: cautious into Q2 on weather and commercial starts; potential positive inflection catalysts include infra awards conversion, utilization uptick, and M&A updates .
  • Estimate revisions: Street likely to lower FY25 revenue/EBITDA after guide reduction; monitor consensus drift and margin trajectory vs variable cost efficiencies .