Hudson Technologies Reports Fourth Quarter and Year End 2023 Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Hudson Technologies, Inc. reported a decrease in revenues for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2023, attributed to lower selling prices for certain refrigerants. Despite the decline, the company remains optimistic about future growth opportunities in the refrigerant industry.

Insights

Financial Analyst

The reported decrease in revenues and gross margin for Hudson Technologies indicates a pressured fiscal environment, likely due to competitive pricing dynamics within the refrigerant industry. The 11% year-over-year decline in revenue and the reduction in gross margin from 50% to 39% suggest a significant impact on profitability. The drop in operating income from $131.5 million to $78.2 million underscores challenges in maintaining operational efficiency amid fluctuating market conditions.

However, the company's ability to fully pay off its term loan debt and improve stockholders’ equity from $174.9 million to $228.8 million demonstrates a robust balance sheet and financial prudence. The cash flow from operations of $58.5 million is a positive sign of liquidity, which is critical for sustaining operations and investing in strategic initiatives.

Investors should note the one-time increase in revenue from the DLA contract, which may not recur in 2024, potentially affecting future earnings. The company's optimism regarding the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act and potential reclamation mandates could signal a strategic advantage for Hudson Technologies if regulatory changes increase demand for reclaimed refrigerants.

Market Research Analyst

The refrigerant industry is undergoing a transformation driven by environmental regulations and the shift towards greener refrigerants. Hudson Technologies' long-standing position and commitment to sustainable solutions position it well to capitalize on these trends. The AIM Act and proposed Refrigerant Management rule could stimulate the market for reclaimed refrigerants, offering growth opportunities for companies like Hudson that have established reclamation technologies.

The company's anticipation of higher demand due to these regulations could be a key driver for future growth. However, investors should consider the potential for market saturation and competitive pressures as other players in the industry may also ramp up their reclamation capabilities in response to the legislative environment.

Environmental Policy Expert

The regulatory landscape for refrigerants is becoming increasingly stringent due to the global push to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The AIM Act's stepdown in HFC production and consumption aligns with international efforts under the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. Hudson's focus on reclaimed refrigerants is not only environmentally responsible but also strategically aligned with these regulatory changes.

Understanding the nuances of the AIM Act and state-level legislation is crucial for stakeholders to assess Hudson's potential to benefit from increased demand for reclaimed refrigerants. The company's proactive approach to these regulations, through both technology and advocacy, could enhance its market position and create a competitive moat.

While the environmental benefits of such legislation are clear, the economic implications for the refrigerant industry and for companies like Hudson Technologies will depend on the finalization and enforcement of the proposed rules. The speed at which the industry can adapt to these changes will also play a significant role in determining the long-term success of Hudson's business strategy.

WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J., March 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hudson Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: HDSN) announced results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2023.

For the quarter ended December 31, 2023, Hudson reported revenues of $44.9 million, a decrease of 5% compared to revenues of $47.4 million in the comparable 2022 period. The decrease is primarily related to decreased selling prices for certain refrigerants, offset by slightly higher volume. Gross margin in the fourth quarter of 2023 was 31%, compared to 32% in the fourth quarter of 2022. Hudson reported operating income of $4.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to operating income of $7.1 million in the prior year period. The Company recorded net income of $3.9 million or $0.09 per basic and $0.08 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to net income of $5.1 million or $0.11 per basic and diluted share in the same period of 2022.

For the year ended December 31, 2023, Hudson reported revenues of $289.0 million, a decrease of 11% compared to revenues of $325.2 million for full year 2022. Revenue for the full year 2023 declined primarily related to decreased selling prices for certain refrigerants. Included in the full year 2023 revenues was approximately $53 million from the Company’s Defense Logistics Agency (“DLA”) contract, which represented a record annual revenue from the contract. The Company estimates that approximately $20 million of 2023 DLA revenue is related to increased DLA-specific program activities that may not be repeated in 2024. Gross margin for full year 2023 was 39%, compared to gross margin of 50% in the prior year period. Hudson reported operating income of $78.2 million for full year 2023 compared to operating income of $131.5 million in the prior year. The Company recorded net income of $52.2 million or $1.15 per basic and $1.10 per diluted share in 2023, compared to a net income of $103.8 million or $2.31 per basic and $2.20 per diluted share in 2022.

As previously announced, Hudson fully paid off its remaining $32.5 million of term loan debt during the third quarter of 2023. Stockholders’ equity improved to $228.8 million at December 31, 2023 compared to $174.9 million at December 31, 2022.      

Brian F. Coleman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hudson Technologies commented, “We delivered a solid fourth quarter consistent with historical fourth quarter performance, which is typically our lowest revenue quarter because it falls outside of our nine-month selling season. Despite a 24% decline in pricing during Q4 2023 when compared to Q4 2022, revenues were only down 5%, stemming from higher volume and increased revenues from our DLA contract. Furthermore, for the full year 2023 the business generated cash flow from operations of $58.5 million.”

“We remain optimistic that the ongoing stepdown in HFC production and consumption allowances and the proposed reclamation mandates as a result of the AIM Act will benefit our business. The stepdown in virgin production and consumption now represents 40% of the baseline for 2024 through 2028. As we’ve previously mentioned, we believe that the proposed Refrigerant Management rule will drive higher demand for our reclaimed refrigerants due to the mandates for the use of reclaimed refrigerants in certain sectors. We believe a final rule will be issued this summer. Likewise, we are encouraged by existing and proposed legislation at both the federal and various state levels that promotes the use of reclaimed refrigerant.  

“Hudson has held a leadership role in the refrigerant industry for more than thirty years, and we have long been committed to developing sustainable solutions around responsible refrigerant management and the adoption of reclamation. We are uniquely positioned to leverage our expertise and industry-leading reclamation technology to help drive the transition to more efficient cooling equipment and greener refrigerants, while also servicing the existing installed base with reclaimed refrigerants as the industry continues to evolve,” Mr. Coleman concluded.

Conference Call Information

The Company will host a conference call and webcast to discuss the fourth quarter and year end results today, March 6, 2024 at 5:00 P.M. Eastern Time.

To access the live webcast, please use this link;

https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/2161/49792

To participate in the call by phone, dial (877) 545-0523 approximately five minutes prior to the scheduled start time. International callers please dial (973) 528-0016. Callers should use entry code: 432603.

A replay of the teleconference will be available until April 5, 2024 and may be accessed by dialing (877) 481-4010. International callers may dial (919) 882-2331. Callers should use conference ID: 49792.  

About Hudson Technologies         

Hudson Technologies, Inc. is a leading provider of innovative and sustainable refrigerant products and services to the Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning and Refrigeration industry. For nearly three decades, we have demonstrated our commitment to our customers and the environment by becoming one of the first in the United States and largest refrigerant reclaimers through multimillion dollar investments in the plants and advanced separation technology required to recover a wide variety of refrigerants and restoring them to Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute standard for reuse as certified EMERALD Refrigerants™.   The Company's products and services are primarily used in commercial air conditioning, industrial processing and refrigeration systems, and include refrigerant and industrial gas sales, refrigerant management services consisting primarily of reclamation of refrigerants and RefrigerantSide® Services performed at a customer's site, consisting of system decontamination to remove moisture, oils and other contaminants. The Company’s SmartEnergy OPS® service is a web-based real time continuous monitoring service applicable to a facility’s refrigeration systems and other energy systems. The Company’s Chiller Chemistry® and Chill Smart® services are also predictive and diagnostic service offerings. As a component of the Company’s products and services, the Company also generates carbon offset projects.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

Statements contained herein which are not historical facts constitute forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  Such factors include, but are not limited to, changes in the laws and regulations affecting the industry, changes in the demand and price for refrigerants (including unfavorable market conditions adversely affecting the demand for, and the price of, refrigerants), the Company's ability to source refrigerants, regulatory and economic factors, seasonality, competition, litigation, the nature of supplier or customer arrangements that become available to the Company in the future, adverse weather conditions, possible technological obsolescence of existing products and services, possible reduction in the carrying value of long-lived assets, estimates of the useful life of its assets, potential environmental liability, customer concentration, the ability to obtain financing, the ability to meet financial covenants under existing credit facilities, any delays or interruptions in bringing products and services to market, the timely availability of any requisite permits and authorizations from governmental entities and third parties as well as factors relating to doing business outside the United States, including changes in the laws, regulations, policies, and political, financial and economic conditions, including inflation, interest and currency exchange rates, of countries in which the Company may seek to conduct business, the Company’s ability to successfully integrate any assets it acquires from third parties into its operations, and other risks detailed in the Company's 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and other subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The words "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "may", "plan", "should" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.  Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statement was made.

Investor Relations Contact: John Nesbett/Jennifer Belodeau IMS Investor Relations (203) 972-9200 jnesbett@institutionalms.com

Company Contact: Brian F. Coleman, President & CEO Hudson Technologies, Inc. (845) 735-6000 bcoleman@hudsontech.com

Hudson Technologies, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and par value amounts)

		December 31,
		2023			2022
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	12,446		$	5,295
Trade accounts receivable – net			25,169			20,872
Inventories			154,450			145,377
Income tax receivable			5,438			—
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			7,492			5,289
Total current assets			204,995			176,833
Property, plant and equipment, less accumulated depreciation			19,375			20,568
Goodwill			47,803			47,803
Intangible assets, less accumulated amortization			14,771			17,564
Right of use asset			6,591			7,339
Other assets			3,137			2,386
Total Assets		$	296,672		$	272,493
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable		$	23,399		$	14,165
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities			31,537			27,908
Accrued payroll			3,615			6,303
Current maturities of long-term debt			—			4,250
Total current liabilities			58,551			52,626
Deferred tax liability			4,558			244
Long-term lease liabilities			4,790			5,763
Long-term debt, less current maturities, net of deferred financing costs			—			38,985
Total Liabilities			67,899			97,618
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, shares authorized 5,000,000: Series A Convertible preferred stock, $0.01 par value ($100 liquidation preference value); shares authorized 150,000; none issued or outstanding			—			—
Common stock, $0.01 par value; shares authorized 100,000,000; issued and outstanding: 45,502,380 and 45,287,619 respectively			455			453
Additional paid-in capital			118,091			116,442
Retained earnings			110,227			57,980
Total Stockholders’ Equity			228,773			174,875
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity		$	296,672		$	272,493

Hudson Technologies, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Income Statements
(unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share amounts)

			Three months ended December 31,												Twelve months ended December 31,
			2023						2022						2023						2022
Revenues			$	44,856					$	47,444					$	289,025					$	325,225
Cost of sales				30,886						32,107						177,518						162,332
Gross profit				13,970						15,337						111,507						162,893
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative				8,532						7,534						30,542						28,591
Amortization				698						698						2,793						2,793
Total operating expenses				9,230						8,232						33,335						31,384
Operating income				4,740						7,105						78,172						131,509
Other (expense):
Net interest expense				(246			)			(2,034		)				(8,352			)			(14,327			)
Income before income taxes				4,494						5,071						69,820						117,182
Income tax expense (benefit)				549						(9		)				17,573						13,381
Net income			$	3,945					$	5,080					$	52,247					$	103,801
Net income per common share – Basic			$	0.09					$	0.11					$	1.15					$	2.31
Net income per common share – Diluted			$	0.08					$	0.11					$	1.10					$	2.20
Weighted average number of shares outstanding – Basic				45,496,296						45,151,426						45,385,433						44,990,104
Weighted average number of shares outstanding – Diluted				47,446,365						47,238,439						47,338,231						47,109,018

FAQ

What were Hudson Technologies, Inc.'s revenues for the fourth quarter of 2023?

Hudson Technologies, Inc. reported revenues of $44.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2023.

What was the operating income for Hudson Technologies, Inc. in the fourth quarter of 2023?

Hudson Technologies, Inc. reported operating income of $4.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2023.

How did Hudson Technologies, Inc.'s net income in the fourth quarter of 2023 compare to the same period in 2022?

Hudson Technologies, Inc. recorded a net income of $3.9 million or $0.09 per basic and $0.08 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to net income of $5.1 million or $0.11 per basic and diluted share in the same period of 2022.

What were Hudson Technologies, Inc.'s revenues for the full year 2023?

Hudson Technologies, Inc. reported revenues of $289.0 million for the full year 2023.

What was the gross margin for Hudson Technologies, Inc. in the full year 2023?

Hudson Technologies, Inc. reported a gross margin of 39% for the full year 2023.

What was the net income for Hudson Technologies, Inc. in 2023 compared to 2022?

Hudson Technologies, Inc. recorded a net income of $52.2 million or $1.15 per basic and $1.10 per diluted share in 2023, compared to a net income of $103.8 million or $2.31 per basic and $2.20 per diluted share in 2022.

What was the change in operating income for Hudson Technologies, Inc. between 2022 and 2023?

Hudson Technologies, Inc. reported an operating income of $78.2 million for full year 2023 compared to operating income of $131.5 million in the prior year.

What did Hudson Technologies, Inc. do in the third quarter of 2023?

Hudson Technologies, Inc. fully paid off its remaining $32.5 million of term loan debt during the third quarter of 2023.