NV5 Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Results; Issues Full Year 2025 Guidance

Rhea-AI Summary

NV5 Global (NVEE) reported strong Q4 and full-year 2024 results, with a 10% increase in gross revenues to $941.3 million and a 13% rise in gross profit to $483.2 million for FY2024. Q4 2024 gross revenues grew 15% to $246.5 million, while gross profit increased 13% to $122.2 million.

Net income for FY2024 was $28.0 million ($0.44 per share), down from $43.7 million ($0.71 per share) in 2023, impacted by increased amortization, interest, and acquisition-related costs. The company completed strategic acquisitions in data center commissioning, fire protection consulting, building digitization, and water resources.

For FY2025 guidance, NV5 expects gross revenues between $1.026-1.045 billion, GAAP EPS of $0.52-0.62, and Adjusted EPS of $1.27-1.37. The company implemented a 4-for-1 stock split effective October 11, 2024.

Positive

• 10% growth in gross revenues to $941.3M in FY2024
• 13% increase in gross profit with 160bps margin expansion to 51.3%
• 15% Q4 revenue growth to $246.5M
• Low net leverage at 1.4x
• Strategic acquisitions strengthening recurring TIC service areas
• Projected revenue growth to $1.026-1.045B in FY2025

Negative

• Net income declined to $28.0M from $43.7M in FY2023
• GAAP EPS decreased to $0.44 from $0.71 in FY2023
• Q4 net income dropped to $5.4M from $10.1M YoY
• $9.6M increase in amortization expense
• $4.2M increase in interest expense

Insights

Financial Analyst

NV5's financial results reveal a company executing a calculated growth strategy while navigating temporary margin pressures. The 160 basis point expansion in gross margins to 51.3% demonstrates improving operational efficiency and pricing power, particularly notable in the current economic environment.

The company's strategic positioning in mandated, non-discretionary testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) services provides a defensive moat, reducing exposure to economic cycles. This focus on regulatory-driven services, combined with a low net leverage ratio of 1.4x, positions NV5 well for continued strategic acquisitions without overleveraging the balance sheet.

The decline in net income, while appearing concerning at first glance, primarily reflects increased investment in growth rather than operational weakness. The $9.6 million increase in amortization expense and $11.2 million in acquisition-related costs represent strategic investments that should generate future returns. The robust backlog and projected 9-11% revenue growth for 2025 suggest these investments are already bearing fruit.

The company's expansion into key recurring TIC service areas - including data center commissioning, fire protection consulting, and water resources - aligns with secular growth trends in infrastructure modernization and environmental compliance. This strategic focus on high-demand, specialized services should support sustainable organic growth alongside the acquisition strategy.

HOLLYWOOD, Fla., Feb. 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NV5 Global, Inc. (Nasdaq: NVEE) ("NV5" or the "Company"), a provider of technology, conformity assessment, consulting solutions, and software applications, today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 28, 2024.

"NV5 delivered a strong performance in 2024, with 10% growth in gross revenues and a 13% increase in gross profit over 2023, and strong organic growth and increased profitability in all three segments of NV5’s business. We enter 2025 with a robust backlog and tailwinds in our target sectors. NV5’s focus on mandated, non-discretionary testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) and engineering services mitigates impacts from economic cycles, and the results of our strategic organic growth initiatives in 2024 continue to drive our growth as we enter 2025. We completed acquisitions in 2024 to strengthen key recurring TIC service areas, including data center commissioning, fire protection consulting, building digitization, and water resources. Our pipeline of acquisition targets remains strong in 2025, and we anticipate further acquisitions to strengthen our platform," said Ben Heraud, CEO of NV5.

Fourth Quarter 2024 Financial Highlights¹

Gross revenues in the fourth quarter of 2024 were $246.5 million compared to $214.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2023, a 15% increase, and our gross profit increased 13% to $122.2 million.

Net income in the fourth quarter of 2024 was $5.4 million compared to $10.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. Net income includes increases of $3.9 million in acquisition-related costs, of which $2.4 million related to earn-out fair value adjustments, and increases of $2.3 million in intangible amortization expense as a result of recent acquisitions. Additionally, the fourth quarter of the previous year included a $5.2 million expense reduction associated with a flexible time off policy initiative. Our GAAP EPS in the fourth quarter of 2024 was $0.09 per share compared to $0.16 per share in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Our Adjusted EBITDA in the fourth quarter of 2024 was $36.3 million compared to $36.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. Adjusted EBITDA Margin on gross revenues were consistent at 14.7% when further adjusted for the one-time benefit of changes to our flexible time off initiative in 2023. Our Adjusted EPS was $0.28 per share in both periods.

Full Year 2024 Financial Highlights¹

Gross revenues in 2024 were $941.3 million compared to $857.2 million in 2023, a 10% increase, and our gross profit increased 13% to $483.2 million. This represents a gross margin expansion of 160 basis points to 51.3%.

Net income in 2024 was $28.0 million compared to $43.7 million in 2023. Net income reflects an increase of $9.6 million in amortization expense as a result of recent acquisitions, an increase of $4.2 million in interest expense this year as a result of higher debt balances, and an increase of $11.2 million in acquisition-related costs primarily driven by $9.9 million in earn-out fair value adjustments. The previous year included a $5.2 million reduction in expense associated with a flexible time off policy initiative. Our GAAP EPS in 2024 was $0.44 per share compared to $0.71 per share in 2023. Our net leverage remains low at 1.4x.

Our Adjusted EBITDA increased 7% to $143.5 million from $133.8 million. The previous year included the flexible time-off initiative expense reversal. Our Adjusted EPS in 2024 was $1.14 per share compared to $1.15 per share in 2023.

Fiscal Year 2025 Guidance

• Gross revenues between $1.026 billion and $1.045 billion.
• GAAP EPS between $0.52 per share and $0.62 per share.
• Adjusted EPS between $1.27 per share and $1.37 per share.
  
  

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¹ Prior periods presented in this press release have been adjusted as described in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 28, 2024.

Stock Split

On September 25, 2024, we announced a 4-for-1 forward split (the "Stock Split") of our common stock. Trading in the Common Stock commenced on a split-adjusted basis on October 11, 2024. All current and prior year data impacted by the Stock Split, including, but not limited to, number of shares and per share amounts, have been revised to reflect the effect of the Stock Split.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures; Comparability of Certain Measures

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (“EBITDA”) is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA reflects adjustments to EBITDA to eliminate stock-based compensation expense and acquisition-related costs. Management believes adjusted EBITDA, in addition to operating profit, Net Income, and other GAAP measures, is a useful indicator of our financial and operating performance and our ability to generate cash flows from operations that are available for taxes, capital expenditures, and debt service. A reconciliation of Net Income, as reported in accordance with GAAP, to adjusted EBITDA is provided at the end of this news release.

Adjusted earnings per diluted share (“Adjusted EPS”) is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP. Adjusted EPS reflects adjustments to reported diluted earnings per share (“GAAP EPS”) to eliminate amortization expense of intangible assets from acquisitions and acquisition-related costs, net of tax benefits. As we continue our acquisition strategy, the growth in Adjusted EPS may increase at a greater rate than GAAP EPS. A reconciliation of GAAP EPS to Adjusted EPS is provided at the end of this news release.

Our definition of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EPS may differ from other companies reporting similarly named measures. These measures should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, other measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP, such as Net Income, and Diluted Earnings per Share. In addition, when presenting forward-looking non-GAAP metrics, we are unable to provide quantitative reconciliations to the most closely correlated GAAP measure due to the uncertainty in the timing, amount or nature of any adjustments, which could be material in any period.

Conference Call 

NV5 will host a conference call to discuss its full year 2024 financial results at 4:30 p.m. (Eastern Time) on February 20, 2025. The accompanying presentation for the call is available by visiting http://ir.nv5.com.

Date:	Thursday, February 20, 2025
Time:	4:30 p.m. Eastern
Toll-free dial-in number:	+1 800-715-9871
International dial-in number:	+1 646-307-1963
Conference ID:	2719957
Webcast:	http://ir.nv5.com

Please dial-in at least 5-10 minutes prior to the start time to allow the operator to log your name and connect you to the conference.

The conference call will be webcast live and available for replay via the “Investors” section of the NV5 website.

About NV5

NV5 Global, Inc. (NASDAQ GS: NVEE) is a provider of technology, conformity assessment, consulting solutions, and software applications for public and private sector clients supporting sustainable infrastructure, utility, and building assets and systems. The Company focuses on multiple verticals: construction quality assurance, infrastructure engineering, utility services, buildings & technology, environmental health sciences, and geospatial technology services to deliver innovative, sustainable solutions to complex issues and improve lives in our communities. NV5 operates out of more than 100 offices nationwide and internationally. For additional information, please visit the Company’s website at www.NV5.com. Also, visit the Company on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company cautions that these statements are qualified by important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release and on the conference call. Such factors include: (a) changes in demand from the local and state government and private clients that we serve; (b) general economic conditions, nationally and globally, and their effect on the market for our services; (c) competitive pressures and trends in our industry and our ability to successfully compete with our competitors; (d) changes in laws, regulations, or policies; and (e) the “Risk Factors” set forth in the Company’s most recent SEC filings. All forward-looking statements are based on information available to the Company on the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to update such statements, except as required by law.

Investor Relations Contact

NV5 Global, Inc.
Jack Cochran
Vice President, Marketing & Investor Relations
Tel: +1-954-637-8048
Email: ir@nv5.com 

Source: NV5 Global, Inc.

NV5 GLOBAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED) (in thousands, except share data)
	December 28, 2024				December 30, 2023
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	50,361			$	44,824
Billed receivables, net		198,569				152,593
Unbilled receivables, net		141,926				111,304
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		20,155				18,376
Total current assets		411,011				327,097
Property and equipment, net		56,722				50,268
Right-of-use lease assets, net		32,099				36,836
Intangible assets, net		206,592				210,659
Goodwill		579,337				549,798
Deferred income tax assets, net		27,277				6,388
Other assets		2,318				3,149
Total Assets	$	1,315,356			$	1,184,195
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	81,937			$	54,397
Accrued liabilities		52,208				47,526
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts		56,867				59,373
Other current liabilities		2,493				2,263
Current portion of contingent consideration		5,554				3,922
Current portion of notes payable and other obligations		11,195				9,267
Total current liabilities		210,254				176,748
Contingent consideration, less current portion		7,196				143
Other long-term liabilities		23,284				26,930
Notes payable and other obligations, less current portion		241,608				205,468
Total liabilities		482,342				409,289
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding		—				—
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 180,000,000 shares authorized, 65,115,824 and 63,581,020 shares issued and outstanding as of December 28, 2024 and December 30, 2023, respectively		651				636
Additional paid-in capital		538,568				507,779
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(693	)			(18	)
Retained earnings		294,488				266,509
Total stockholders’ equity		833,014				774,906
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	1,315,356			$	1,184,195

NV5 GLOBAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF NET INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED) (in thousands, except share data)
	Three Months Ended								Twelve Months Ended
	December 28, 2024				December 30, 2023				December 28, 2024				December 30, 2023
Gross revenues	$	246,515			$	214,855			$	941,265			$	857,155
Direct costs:
Salaries and wages		58,336				53,291				236,756				215,608
Sub-consultant services		47,240				37,846				161,564				150,213
Other direct costs		18,748				15,732				59,712				65,088
Total direct costs		124,324				106,869				458,032				430,909
Gross profit		122,191				107,986				483,233				426,246
Operating expenses:
Salaries and wages, payroll taxes, and benefits		67,904				54,254				268,370				226,137
General and administrative		22,654				17,941				86,972				67,668
Facilities and facilities related		5,995				5,683				23,864				22,891
Depreciation and amortization		15,848				13,207				60,593				49,577
Total operating expenses		112,401				91,085				439,799				366,273
Income from operations		9,790				16,901				43,434				59,973
Interest expense		(3,837	)			(3,859	)			(17,181	)			(12,970	)
Income before income tax (expense) benefit		5,953				13,042				26,253				47,003
Income tax (expense) benefit		(524	)			(2,897	)			1,726				(3,279	)
Net income	$	5,429			$	10,145			$	27,979			$	43,724
Earnings per share:
Basic	$	0.09			$	0.17			$	0.45			$	0.72
Diluted	$	0.09			$	0.16			$	0.44			$	0.71
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic		62,043,752				60,945,860				61,636,636				60,344,158
Diluted		63,195,665				62,198,616				62,879,073				61,897,301
Comprehensive income:
Net income	$	5,429			$	10,145			$	27,979			$	43,724
Foreign currency translation (loss) gain, net of tax		(1,346	)			593				(675	)			(18	)
Comprehensive income	$	4,083			$	10,738			$	27,304			$	43,706

NV5 GLOBAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED) (in thousands)
	Twelve Months Ended
	December 28, 2024				December 30, 2023
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	27,979			$	43,724
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		66,611				55,111
Non-cash lease expense		12,611				13,562
Provision for doubtful accounts		1,746				1,261
Stock-based compensation		25,981				22,379
Change in fair value of contingent consideration		594				(9,280	)
Gain on disposals of property and equipment		(940	)			(694	)
Other		137				(125	)
Deferred income taxes		(21,264	)			(26,130	)
Amortization of debt issuance costs		741				758
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of impact of acquisitions:
Billed receivables		(41,317	)			7,584
Unbilled receivables		(26,911	)			(15,556	)
Prepaid expenses and other assets		1,812				(2,292	)
Accounts payable		23,599				(8,938	)
Accrued liabilities and other long-term liabilities		(9,140	)			(19,745	)
Contingent consideration		(1,466	)			(1,307	)
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts		(3,684	)			1,231
Other current liabilities		231				664
Net cash provided by operating activities		57,320				62,207
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash paid for acquisitions (net of cash received from acquisitions)		(63,919	)			(189,345	)
Proceeds from sale of assets		684				720
Purchase of property and equipment		(16,921	)			(17,166	)
Net cash used in investing activities		(80,156	)			(205,791	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings from Senior Credit Facility		69,000				188,000
Payments of borrowings from Senior Credit Facility		(32,000	)			(26,000	)
Payments on notes payable		(6,708	)			(11,071	)
Payments of contingent consideration		(1,724	)			(993	)
Purchases of common stock tendered by employees to satisfy the required withholding taxes related to stock-based compensation		—				(81	)
Net cash provided by financing activities		28,568				149,855
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		(195	)			12
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents		5,537				6,283
Cash and cash equivalents – beginning of period		44,824				38,541
Cash and cash equivalents – end of period	$	50,361			$	44,824
NV5 GLOBAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES RECONCILIATION OF GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES TO COMPARABLE NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (UNAUDITED) (in thousands, except share data)

RECONCILIATION OF GAAP NET INCOME TO ADJUSTED EBITDA

		Three Months Ended								Twelve Months Ended
		December 28, 2024				December 30, 2023				December 28, 2024				December 30, 2023
Net Income		$	5,429			$	10,145			$	27,979			$	43,724
Add:	Interest expense		3,837				3,859				17,181				12,970
	Income tax expense (benefit)		524				2,897				(1,726	)			3,279
	Depreciation and amortization		17,322				14,669				66,611				55,111
	Stock-based compensation		6,039				5,875				25,981				22,379
	Acquisition-related costs*		3,143				(731	)			7,458				(3,706	)
Adjusted EBITDA		$	36,294			$	36,714			$	143,484			$	133,757
* Acquisition-related costs include contingent consideration fair value adjustments.

RECONCILIATION OF GAAP EPS TO ADJUSTED EPS

		Three Months Ended								Twelve Months Ended
		December 28, 2024				December 30, 2023				December 28, 2024				December 30, 2023
Net Income - per diluted share		$	0.09			$	0.16			$	0.44			$	0.71
Per diluted share adjustments:
Add:	Amortization expense of intangible assets and acquisition-related costs*		0.25				0.17				0.91				0.61
	Income tax expense		(0.06	)			(0.05	)			(0.21	)			(0.17	)
Adjusted EPS		$	0.28			$	0.28			$	1.14			$	1.15
* Acquisition-related costs include contingent consideration fair value adjustments.

FAQ

What were NV5's (NVEE) full-year 2024 revenue and profit figures?

NV5 reported gross revenues of $941.3 million and gross profit of $483.2 million for full-year 2024, representing increases of 10% and 13% respectively compared to 2023.

How did NVEE's Q4 2024 performance compare to Q4 2023?

In Q4 2024, NV5's gross revenues increased 15% to $246.5 million from $214.9 million, while net income decreased to $5.4 million from $10.1 million in Q4 2023.

What is NV5's revenue guidance for fiscal year 2025?

NV5 provided FY2025 guidance with gross revenues expected between $1.026 billion and $1.045 billion.

When did NVEE implement its 4-for-1 stock split?

NV5 implemented a 4-for-1 forward stock split with trading on a split-adjusted basis beginning October 11, 2024.

What acquisitions did NV5 complete in 2024?

NV5 completed acquisitions in data center commissioning, fire protection consulting, building digitization, and water resources during 2024.