Ampco-Pittsburgh Corporation (NYSE: AP) Announces First Quarter 2024 Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Ampco-Pittsburgh (NYSE: AP) reported net sales of $110.2 million for Q1 2024, up from $104.8 million in Q1 2023, driven by growth in the Air and Liquid Processing segment. Despite this, the company experienced a significant drop in income from operations to $0.1 million, down from $2.0 million the prior year, due to higher repair expenses and plant downtime from fire damage. Additional costs in the Air and Liquid Processing segment also negatively impacted results. The company reported a net loss of $2.7 million, or $(0.14) per share, compared to a net income of $0.7 million, or $0.03 per share, in Q1 2023. Interest expenses rose by $0.7 million due to increased borrowings and higher interest rates. Although challenges remain, CEO Brett McBrayer expressed optimism for improved performance in upcoming quarters.

Positive

• Net sales increased to $110.2 million in Q1 2024 from $104.8 million in Q1 2023.
• Growth in the Air and Liquid Processing segment contributed to higher net sales.
• The forged roll business showed strong performance.
• CEO Brett McBrayer indicated improved momentum heading into Q2 2024.
• No injuries resulted from the foundry fire, with affected equipment back in operation early in Q2.

Negative

• Income from operations dropped to $0.1 million in Q1 2024 from $2.0 million in Q1 2023.
• Net loss of $2.7 million, or $(0.14) per share, compared to net income of $0.7 million, or $0.03 per share, in Q1 2023.
• Higher repair expenses and plant downtime due to fire damage negatively impacted results.
• Unfavorable product mix and higher production costs in the Air and Liquid Processing segment.
• Interest expenses increased by $0.7 million due to higher borrowings and interest rates.
• Other income decreased by $0.5 million due to foreign exchange transaction losses.

Insights

Financial Analyst

Ampco-Pittsburgh Corporation reported a net sales increase to $110.2 million compared to $104.8 million in the prior year. This growth primarily stems from the Air and Liquid Processing segment. However, despite the revenue growth, the company's income from operations dropped sharply to $0.1 million from $2.0 million. This is largely due to higher repair expenses and plant downtime caused by a fire.

The net loss of $(2.7) million compared to a net income of $0.7 million in the same quarter last year raises concerns. Key factors include increased interest expenses and unfavorable foreign exchange transactions. These elements have negatively impacted the bottom line and present potential risks for short-term financial stability.

For retail investors, higher operating costs and increased interest expenses could signal future challenges, especially if similar events recur. However, the management's optimism regarding improved conditions in the second quarter may provide some relief. Investors should watch for the company's ability to manage its operational costs and leverage future growth opportunities.

Market Research Analyst

The report highlights a significant issue with the sales mix in the Air and Liquid Processing segment, which has led to higher production costs and administrative expenses. This segment's performance will be important to monitor, especially as the company expands its sales distribution network. The CEO's statement about improved order books and the end of the destocking cycle in Europe provides some positive outlook moving forward.

Moreover, the company's dependence on global markets and the impact of plant downtimes emphasize the importance of geopolitical stability and infrastructure robustness in their operational strategy. Investors should gauge the company's ability to manage these external risks effectively.

The decline in other income due to foreign exchange losses and increased tax provisions also merit attention as they hint at broader financial management challenges. Retail investors should stay vigilant about these operational nuances, which could impact the company’s earnings potential in subsequent quarters.

CARNEGIE, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Ampco-Pittsburgh Corporation (NYSE: AP) reported net sales of $110.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to $104.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023. The increase is attributable to sales growth in the Air and Liquid Processing segment.

The Corporation reported income from operations of $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, which declined compared to income from operations of $2.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023. A major driver of the change was higher repair expense and the impact of plant downtime caused by fire damage at a foreign cast roll facility. In addition, the Air and Liquid Processing segment was impacted by unfavorable product mix, higher production costs and higher selling and administrative costs associated with the expansion of the segment’s sales distribution network.

Commenting on the quarter, Ampco-Pittsburgh’s CEO, Brett McBrayer, said, “While there were no injuries from the foundry fire, safety remains our top priority and the affected equipment is back up and running in early second quarter. The sales mix issue that impacted Air and Liquid margins in the first quarter is also expected to be behind us as we move into the second quarter, and the expansionary costs in Air and Liquid will be better absorbed as more of the segment’s prior order book growth converts to sales. A low order book in Europe continues to impact our cast plant utilization negatively, but our customers indicate the destocking cycle appears complete and orders are improving. Our forged roll business performed well, and the Corporation has better overall momentum heading into the second quarter.”

Interest expense of $2.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, increased by $0.7 million from the three months ended March 31, 2023, primarily due to higher average revolving credit facility borrowings, higher equipment financing debt balance and higher interest rates. Other income – net of $0.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, declined $0.5 million from the three months ended March 31, 2023, principally due to foreign exchange transaction losses in the current year quarter versus gains in the prior year quarter. The income tax provision for the three months ended March 31, 2024, grew slightly compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023, given higher income of the Corporation’s profitable entities which have no valuation allowances recorded against their respective deferred tax assets.

Net loss of $(2.7) million, or $(0.14) per share, for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compares to net income of $0.7 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, for the three months ended March 31, 2023.

Teleconference Access

Ampco-Pittsburgh Corporation will hold a conference call on Tuesday May 14, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) to discuss its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024. The Corporation encourages participants to pre-register at any time, including up to and after the call start time via this link: https://dpregister.com/sreg/10188757/fc6d48eec8. Those without internet access or unable to pre-register should dial in at least five minutes before the start time using:

• Participant Dial-in (Toll Free): 1-844-308-3408
• Participant International Dial-in: 1-412-317-5408

For those unable to listen to the live broadcast, a replay will be available one hour after the event concludes on the Corporation’s website under the Investors menu at www.ampcopgh.com.

About Ampco-Pittsburgh Corporation

Ampco-Pittsburgh Corporation manufactures and sells highly engineered, high-performance specialty metal products and customized equipment utilized by industry throughout the world. Through its operating subsidiary, Union Electric Steel Corporation, it is a leading producer of forged and cast rolls for the global steel and aluminum industries. It also manufactures open-die forged products that are sold principally to customers in the steel distribution market, oil and gas industry, and the aluminum and plastic extrusion industries. The Corporation is also a producer of air and liquid processing equipment, primarily custom-engineered finned tube heat exchange coils, large custom air handling systems and centrifugal pumps. It operates manufacturing facilities in the United States, England, Sweden, and Slovenia and participates in three operating joint ventures located in China. It has sales offices in North America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Corporate headquarters is located in Carnegie, Pennsylvania.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Act”) provides a safe harbor for forward-looking statements made by us or on behalf of the Corporation. This press release may include, but is not limited to, statements about operating performance, trends and events that the Corporation may expect or anticipate will occur in the future, statements about sales and production levels, restructurings, the impact from pandemics and geopolitical conflicts, profitability and anticipated expenses, inflation, the global supply chain, future proceeds from the exercise of outstanding warrants, and cash outflows. All statements in this document other than statements of historical fact are statements that are, or could be, deemed “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Act and words such as “may,” “will,” “intend,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project,” “target,” “goal,” “forecast” and other terms of similar meaning that indicate future events and trends are also generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which such statements are made, are not guarantees of future performance or expectations, and involve risks and uncertainties. For the Corporation, these risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: economic downturns, cyclical demand for our products and insufficient demand for our products; excess global capacity in the steel industry; limitations in availability of capital to fund our strategic plan; inability to maintain adequate liquidity to meet our operating cash flow requirements, repay maturing debt and meet other financial obligations; fluctuations in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to other currencies; increases in commodity prices or insufficient hedging against increases in commodity prices, reductions in electricity and natural gas supply or shortages of key production materials for us or our customers; inability to obtain necessary capital or financing on satisfactory terms to acquire capital expenditures that may be necessary to support our growth strategy; inoperability of certain equipment on which we rely; inability to execute our capital expenditure plan; liability of our subsidiaries for claims alleging personal injury from exposure to asbestos-containing components historically used in certain products of our subsidiaries; changes in the existing regulatory environment; inability to successfully restructure our operations and/or invest in operations that will yield the best long-term value to our shareholders; consequences of pandemics and geopolitical conflicts; work stoppage or another industrial action on the part of any of our unions; inability to satisfy the continued listing requirements of the New York Stock Exchange or the NYSE American Exchange; potential attacks on information technology infrastructure and other cyber-based business disruptions; failure to maintain an effective system of internal control; and those discussed more fully elsewhere in Item 1A, Risk Factors, in Part I of the Corporation’s latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and Part II of the latest Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. The Corporation cannot guarantee any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. In addition, there may be events in the future that it is not able to predict accurately or control which may cause actual results to differ materially from expectations expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Except as required by applicable law, the Corporation assumes no obligation, and disclaims any obligation, to update forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise.

AMPCO-PITTSBURGH CORPORATION FINANCIAL SUMMARY (in thousands except per share amounts)
	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2024				2023
Total net sales	$	110,215			$	104,803
Costs of products sold (excl. depreciation and amortization)		92,490				86,372
Selling and administrative		12,973				12,187
Depreciation and amortization		4,670				4,374
Gain on disposal of assets		-				(123	)
Total operating costs and expenses		110,133				102,810
Income from operations		82				1,993
Other expense - net:
Investment-related income		19				9
Interest expense		(2,757	)			(2,071	)
Other income – net		904				1,367
Total other expense – net		(1,834	)			(695	)
(Loss) income before income taxes		(1,752	)			1,298
Income tax provision		(454	)			(313	)
Net (loss) income		(2,206	)			985
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest		511				309
Net (loss) income attributable to Ampco-Pittsburgh	$	(2,717	)		$	676
Net (loss) income per share attributable to Ampco-Pittsburgh common shareholders:
Basic	$	(0.14	)		$	0.03
Diluted	$	(0.14	)		$	0.03
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic		19,729				19,404
Diluted		19,729				19,404

AMPCO-PITTSBURGH CORPORATION SEGMENT INFORMATION (in thousands)
	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2024				2023
Net Sales:
Forged and Cast Engineered Products	$	77,189			$	76,798
Air and Liquid Processing		33,026				28,005
Consolidated	$	110,215			$	104,803
Income from Operations:
Forged and Cast Engineered Products	$	1,576			$	2,224
Air and Liquid Processing		1,982				2,953
Corporate costs		(3,476	)			(3,184	)
Consolidated	$	82			$	1,993

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240514578037/en/

Michael G. McAuley

Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

(412) 429-2472

mmcauley@ampcopgh.com

Source: Ampco-Pittsburgh Corporation

FAQ

What were Ampco-Pittsburgh's net sales for the first quarter of 2024?

Ampco-Pittsburgh's net sales for the first quarter of 2024 were $110.2 million.

What caused the drop in Ampco-Pittsburgh's income from operations in Q1 2024?

The drop in income from operations in Q1 2024 was due to higher repair expenses and plant downtime from fire damage.

How much was Ampco-Pittsburgh's net loss in Q1 2024?

Ampco-Pittsburgh reported a net loss of $2.7 million, or $(0.14) per share, in Q1 2024.

How much did Ampco-Pittsburgh's interest expenses increase in Q1 2024?

Ampco-Pittsburgh's interest expenses increased by $0.7 million in Q1 2024.

What challenges did the Air and Liquid Processing segment face in Q1 2024?

The Air and Liquid Processing segment faced unfavorable product mix, higher production costs, and increased selling and administrative expenses.