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BROADWIND, INC. (BWEN)·Q1 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q1 2025 revenue was $36.8M and diluted EPS was ($0.02); adjusted EBITDA was $2.4M (6.4% margin), with total orders up 5% y/y to $30.5M; backlog was $117.0M, and FY2025 guidance was reiterated at $140–$160M revenue and $13–$15M adjusted EBITDA .
- Versus consensus, Q1 revenue beat ($36.8M vs $32.8M), EPS was better than expected (loss of $0.02 vs loss of $0.037), and adjusted EBITDA was roughly in line, framing a modest overall beat on the top line and EPS; Q4 2024 also beat revenue consensus [Values retrieved from S&P Global]*.
- Heavy Fabrications revenue rose 14.7% y/y on wind repowering adapters, while Gearing (-28.4% y/y) and Industrial Solutions (-29.3% y/y) were impacted by softer mining/oil & gas and timing/supply chain issues; gross margin was 11.7%, up 45 bps sequentially .
- Call commentary highlighted improving orders across non-wind markets (power generation, infrastructure), explicit 45x IRA recognition (~$2.5M in Q1), and stable outlook for onshore wind through 2026; management maintained FY guidance and emphasized operational discipline and diversification .
- Post-quarter, Broadwind agreed to sell its Manitowoc, WI industrial fabrication operations for ≥$13M, expected to close in Q3 2025; management expects ~$8M annualized operating cost reduction and improved utilization—an incremental catalyst for leverage and liquidity .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Heavy Fabrications strength: segment sales +14.7% y/y to $25.2M, operating income $2.2M, adjusted EBITDA $3.4M; driven by wind repowering adapters . “Customer activity continues to strengthen… demand for wind repowering adapters… drove the increase in total orders” — Eric Blashford .
- Non-wind momentum: Record orders/backlog in Industrial Solutions; segment orders $10.1M (+38% y/y), backlog ~$22.9M; book-to-bill 1.8x, supported by natural gas turbine demand tied to grid/data center loads .
- Liquidity and leverage: Cash and availability ~$22.6M; net leverage 1.4x, within target ≤2.0x; operational discipline held adjusted EBITDA margin flat sequentially despite mix/supply chain delays .
What Went Wrong
- Demand softness and mix: Revenue declined 2.1% y/y; Gearing (-28.4% y/y) and Industrial Solutions (-29.3% y/y) weighed by mining/oil & gas weakness and shipment timing; gross margin compressed to 11.7% y/y .
- Supply chain delays: Industrial Solutions shipments were delayed, temporarily depressing Q1 revenue and EBITDA; management expects improvement through 2025 .
- Sequential backlog decline: Consolidated backlog decreased sequentially to $117.0M, reflecting timing of bookings and deliveries .
Financial Results
Segment breakdown (Q1 2025 vs Q1 2024):
KPIs and operating metrics:
Guidance Changes
Additional context: Assumes ~50% utilization in Heavy Fabrications in 2025; consistent onshore wind demand through 2026 .
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- “Customer activity continues to strengthen with orders increasing 5% on year-over-year basis… our focus is to continue our diversification strategy… improving our operational efficiency, and increasing asset utilization” — Eric Blashford .
- “Within our Gearing segment we entered the power generation market having secured greater than $2 million of related orders from a leading OEM of natural gas turbines” .
- “Despite adverse product mix and supply chain delays… we delivered non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA margin of 6.4%… lean operations, cost management and customer focus position us to continue delivering profitable growth” .
- “We believe that domestic onshore wind tower activity will continue at its present rate through 2026… tariffs and antidumping measures… will continue to benefit domestic wind tower manufacturers” .
- Post-quarter strategic action: “By consolidating our operations, we expect to materially improve… utilization… while reducing annualized operating costs by approximately $8 million upon closing” .
Q&A Highlights
- Heavy Fabrications outlook: Strong Q1 revenue driven by repowering adapters; towers starting in Q2 at Manitowoc, supporting higher Q2/Q3 revenue .
- Tariffs: Minimal direct cost impact to BWEN (pass-through); seeing potential onshoring lift in oil & gas gearing; OEMs already diversifying internals sourcing .
- Industrial Solutions: Q1 weakness primarily due to supply chain delays; backlog hit record; issues largely resolved early Q2 .
- Inventory build: ~$9.6M inventory increase driven mainly by starting tower run in Manitowoc and larger tower designs in Abilene .
- 45x IRA credit and cost actions: ~+$2.5M 45x recognized in Q1; targeted cost reductions continuing in Gearing to align capacity with demand .
- PRS strategy: Target ~10% of revenue ($15–$20M) by 2026; rentals/service expected to carry higher margins .
Estimates Context
How results compared to Wall Street consensus (S&P Global):
- Q1 2025: Revenue beat; EPS loss narrower than expected; EBITDA near consensus. Q4 2024: Revenue beat; EPS close to consensus. Q3 2024: Slight revenue miss; EPS at break-even versus a loss expected [Values retrieved from S&P Global]*.
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Mix-driven quarter: Strength in Heavy Fabrications on repowering adapters offset softness in Gearing and Industrial Solutions shipments; sequential gross margin improvement suggests operating discipline despite headwinds .
- Non-wind growth drivers intact: Record bookings/backlog and book-to-bill in Industrial Solutions tied to gas turbine demand (data centers/grid) support the 2025/26 thesis .
- Policy tailwinds: Tariffs and antidumping measures support domestic towers; 45x IRA credit (~$2.5M in Q1) offers incremental margin support as volumes ramp .
- Liquidity and leverage manageable: ~$22.6M cash + availability; net leverage 1.4x; post-quarter divestiture expected to add liquidity and reduce costs, improving utilization and margin potential .
- Guidance credibility: FY2025 revenue $140–$160M and EBITDA $13–$15M maintained; order momentum and cost controls underpin operating leverage through the year .
- Near-term trading implications: Narrative skewed positive on top-line beats and IRA benefit; watch for Q2/Q3 sequential revenue lift as tower runs start and Industrial Solutions shipments normalize .
- Medium-term thesis: Diversification into power generation/infrastructure, quality certifications (AS9100, ITAR, CMMC), and PRS growth (including rentals) position BWEN for improved margin mix and reduced cyclicality .
Additional Press Releases Relevant to Q1 2025
- Largest precision machined gearing order to date in power generation, bookings >$2.0M with leading natural gas turbine OEM (April 2, 2025) .
- Agreement to sell Manitowoc industrial fabrication operations for ≥$13M; expected ~$8M annualized operating cost reduction, improved utilization; pro forma cash ~$9.4M and net debt ~$3.7M (announced June 4, 2025) .
S&P Global estimates disclaimer: All values marked with an asterisk (*) are retrieved from S&P Global.