MI
MASTEC INC (MTZ)·Q4 2024 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q4 revenue $3.40B, adjusted EBITDA $270.9M (8.0%), adjusted EPS $1.44; record 18‑month backlog $14.3B; results ran ahead of the company’s guidance and extended H2 momentum .
- FY 2025 initial guide: revenue $13.45B (+~9% y/y), adjusted EBITDA $1.10–$1.15B (8.2–8.5%), GAAP EPS $3.75–$4.24, adjusted EPS $5.35–$5.84; Q1 2025 guide: revenue ~$2.7B, adj. EBITDA $160M (5.9%), adj. EPS $0.34 .
- Balance sheet/cash: Q4 cash from operations ≈$470M; FY 2024 CFFO $1.12B; year-end net debt $1.82B (leverage 1.8x) after a Q4 net debt reduction of $318M, underpinning return-focused capital allocation in 2025 .
- 2025 setup/catalysts: secular grid investment (Greenlink ramp), strong telecom demand with new contracts, and improving pipeline outlook (management expects pipeline revenue in 2026 and beyond to exceed 2024) can drive estimate/guide revisions as awards convert to backlog and production ramps .
- Estimates context: S&P Global consensus was unavailable at query time; management stated Q4 revenue/EBITDA/EPS exceeded guidance. Where “vs. estimates” would appear below, data are not shown due to unavailability from S&P Global at the time of analysis .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
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What Went Well
- Execution-led margin gains: Q4 adjusted EBITDA margin expanded +110 bps y/y to 8.0% with adjusted EPS more than doubling y/y; Clean Energy margin outperformance was execution-driven and above internal conservatism .
- Broad-based backlog growth: 18‑month backlog reached a record $14.3B, up $440M q/q and ~$1.9B y/y; backlog grew sequentially in every segment in Q4, supporting 2025 visibility .
- Working capital discipline and balance sheet: Q4 CFFO ≈$470M; FY CFFO $1.12B; DSO improved to 60 days (vs. 68 in Q3); net leverage fell to 1.8x, positioning MTZ for balanced, returns-focused capital allocation .
- Communications and Clean Energy strength: Q4 Communications revenue +28% y/y with EBITDA +67% y/y; Clean Energy delivered record revenue and >100% y/y EBITDA growth in Q4 .
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What Went Wrong
- Pipeline deceleration as expected: Q4 pipeline revenue declined y/y and q/q; 2025 pipeline revenue guided down to ~$1.8B due to MVP completion and timing of new awards, with margin guide mid-teens (still solid) .
- Weather impacts: Q4 pipeline margins were lower than some expectations due to weather-related costs and revenue push-outs; management still confident in segment margin capabilities .
- Early 2025 production/seasonality: Power Delivery starts 2025 with slower production due to severe winter weather; Q1 expected to be the lowest-margin quarter of the year .
Financial Results
Overall metrics (all dollars USD):
Non-GAAP bridge (Q4 2024): GAAP EPS $0.95 to adjusted EPS $1.44 adds back, among others, amortization of intangibles $0.48, stock-based comp $0.11, fair value changes $0.09, with tax effects −$0.17 and other −$0.01 .
Segment revenue and profit:
KPIs and balance sheet:
Guidance Changes
- Initial 2025 guidance introduced; segment-level outlook also provided on the call.
2024 guidance vs actual (context):
- As of Oct 31, 2024, MTZ guided FY 2024 revenue ~$12.225B, adjusted EBITDA ~$990M, adjusted EPS ~$3.75; actuals came in at revenue $12.303B, adjusted EBITDA $1,005.6M, adjusted EPS $3.95 (beat) .
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- CEO framing momentum and demand: “Fourth quarter performance was strong… revenue, EBITDA and EPS were all above guidance and backlog grew sequentially in every segment… For 2025, we expect our nonpipeline revenues to increase 14% and nonpipeline EBITDA to grow over 25%” .
- Communications outlook: “We continue to enjoy strong demand in virtually every aspect of telecom infrastructure… broadband infrastructure is growing… hyperscalers are creating a new wave of long‑haul build‑out” .
- Grid opportunity: “Our transmission grid in this country is severely under‑invested in… one of the biggest opportunities for MasTec over the next decade… we’re capable of doing any project in America” .
- Pipeline trajectory: “There is more optimism today than there’s been in years… We expect 2026 revenues to exceed 2024 revenues in our pipeline segment” .
- CFO on financial discipline: “Q4 adjusted EBITDA was $271 million, exceeding guidance by ~$12 million… DSO ended at 60 days… Net debt at year‑end is $1.8 billion… net leverage now at 1.8x” .
Q&A Highlights
- Pipeline beyond 2025: Management confirmed expectation that 2026 pipeline revenues will exceed 2024, citing a significant shift in customer mindset and project pipeline; 2025 is a base‑business year post‑MVP .
- Clean Energy margins: Upside driven by execution; 2025 modeled conservatively with potential to exceed on both top and bottom line .
- Data center exposure: ~$200M revenue in 2024; aiming for ~$300M in 2025; not the main driver of Q4 backlog growth; AI/data center power/fiber needs a multi‑segment tailwind .
- Communications mix and BEAD: BEAD contribution negligible in 2025; multiple new wireline/wireless contracts ramping; wireless cycle expected to re‑accelerate post‑2025 (AT&T swap a multi‑year opportunity) .
- Greenlink sizing:
$()500M annual revenue contribution with ~1.5 years in 18‑month backlog; about half of the ~$900M y/y Power Delivery backlog increase tied to this project . - Cash flow mechanics: AR program had a negligible effect on cash generation; CFFO driven by WIP/DSO reduction and mobilization payments .
Estimates Context
- Wall Street consensus from S&P Global (revenue, EPS, EBITDA) was unavailable at the time of this analysis due to provider limits; therefore, “vs. estimates” comparisons are not shown. Management stated Q4 revenue, EBITDA, and EPS were above company guidance .
- Where relevant in tables, “N/A – consensus unavailable” indicates missing S&P Global values at query time.
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Setup into 2025 is constructive: Initial guide embeds robust non‑pipeline growth (+14% revenue, >25% EBITDA) with conservative assumptions, leaving room for upward revisions if execution and awards track .
- Multi‑year grid cycle is accelerating: Greenlink ramp, potential second mega‑project in 2025, and broad transmission opportunities position MTZ for sustained growth and margin scale in Power Delivery .
- Telecom tailwinds broaden: New wireline/wireless awards, minimal near‑term BEAD reliance, and a likely post‑2025 wireless cycle should support growth and mix shift to higher‑margin work .
- Pipeline is a 2026+ call option: 2025 is a digestion year post‑MVP; management expects 2026 revenues to surpass 2024 as larger gas projects move forward (potential upside if awards pull forward) .
- Cash generation and leverage provide flexibility: FY CFFO $1.1B and 1.8x net leverage allow MTZ to prioritize organic growth and selective tuck‑ins; rating outlook could improve with sustained performance .
- Margin trajectory still has room: H2 execution validates improvement; management sees “meaningful” further margin gains over time as scale and project selection improve, a key driver of earnings power toward double‑digit margins longer term .
- Trading implications: Near‑term catalysts include backlog conversion (Greenlink, telecom awards), Q1 seasonal trough followed by sequential improvement, and any pipeline award announcements; medium‑term re‑rating case rests on sustained non‑pipeline margin expansion and transmission mega‑project wins .
Appendix: Additional Tables
Backlog detail (for reference):
Sources: Q4 2024 8‑K and press release; Q4 2024 earnings call transcript; Q3 and Q2 2024 8‑Ks and press releases .