Perma-Fix Reports Financial Results and Provides Business Update for the Second Quarter of 2024

Rhea-AI Summary

Perma-Fix Environmental Services (NASDAQ: PESI) reported weak Q2 2024 financial results due to government delays and equipment failure. Revenue decreased to $14.0 million from $25.0 million in Q2 2023. The company experienced a gross loss of $1.3 million and an operating loss of $5.0 million. Net loss was $4.0 million or ($0.27) per basic share.

Despite challenges, Perma-Fix is optimistic about future prospects, citing increasing backlog, bidding activities, and progress on long-term initiatives. The company completed critical DOE audits, secured new contracts in Canada and Mexico, and is advancing PFAS treatment technology. Management anticipates potential transformative opportunities beginning in 2025, including DOE projects at Hanford and Oak Ridge Reservation.

Positive

• Completed critical Department of Energy audits at PFNW and DSSI facilities
• Secured new waste treatment contracts in Canada and Mexico worth approximately $5 million
• Advancing PFAS treatment technology with first commercial unit expected to commence operations in Q4 2024
• Increasing backlog and bidding activities
• Potential transformative opportunities with DOE projects starting in 2025

Negative

• Revenue decreased to $14.0 million in Q2 2024 from $25.0 million in Q2 2023
• Gross loss of $1.3 million in Q2 2024 compared to gross profit of $4.5 million in Q2 2023
• Operating loss of $5.0 million in Q2 2024 versus operating income of $844,000 in Q2 2023
• Net loss of $4.0 million or ($0.27) per basic share in Q2 2024
• Negative EBITDA of ($4.6) million in Q2 2024 compared to positive EBITDA of $1.5 million in Q2 2023
• Extended equipment failure at one facility impacting revenue and performance

Insights

Financial Analyst

Perma-Fix's Q2 2024 results paint a concerning picture. Revenue dropped significantly to $14.0 million from $25.0 million in Q2 2023, resulting in a gross loss of $1.3 million and an operating loss of $5.0 million. The negative EBITDA of $4.6 million is particularly alarming, indicating severe operational challenges.

However, management attributes these issues to temporary factors such as government delays and equipment failure. The company's focus on long-term growth initiatives, including PFAS treatment technology and international contracts, could provide future upside. The anticipated DFLAW facility commissioning in 2025 might be a game-changer, but investors should remain cautious given the current financial strain.

Environmental Services Expert

The completion of critical DOE audits at PFNW and DSSI facilities is a significant positive, potentially opening doors for lucrative contracts in Hanford and Oak Ridge Reservation cleanup programs. The company's positioning for the DFLAW facility commissioning and Hanford tank waste grouting projects could indeed be transformative, potentially saving billions in taxpayer money.

The progress in PFAS contamination treatment technology is noteworthy, with the first commercial unit expected to commence operations in Q4. This timing aligns well with increasing regulatory focus on PFAS, potentially creating a substantial market opportunity. However, the company needs to navigate its current financial challenges to fully capitalize on these promising developments.

Market Research Analyst

Perma-Fix's diversification efforts, including new $5 million contracts in Canada and Mexico, are steps in the right direction. The company's focus on international expansion, particularly the JRC project in Italy, could help mitigate dependence on U.S. government contracts, which have proven volatile.

However, the sharp revenue decline across both Treatment and Services segments is concerning. The Treatment Segment's revenue drop from $12.8 million to $8.4 million and Services Segment's fall from $12.2 million to $5.6 million indicate systemic challenges. While management cites temporary factors, the company's ability to quickly recover and execute on its growth initiatives will be important for investor confidence in the near term.

ATLANTA, Aug. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: PESI) (the “Company”) today announced financial results and provided a business update for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024.

Mark Duff, President and CEO of the Company, commented, “Our second quarter performance remained weak due to ongoing government delays in waste shipments, awarding new task orders and procuring other projects. We also experienced an extended equipment failure at one of our facilities that adversely impacted our revenue and overall performance. Nevertheless, we believe that these are temporary issues. We are encouraged by the trends heading into Q3, driven by our increasing backlog and bidding activities along with progress we believe is being made on our long-term growth initiatives.”

“In the past few months we successfully completed two critical Department of Energy (DOE) audits at our PFNW and DSSI facilities. These audits are vital to our participation in key missions at the Hanford and Oak Ridge Reservation cleanup programs. We remain committed to supporting the DOE's priorities at Hanford, including the treatment of effluent following the commissioning of the Direct Feed Low-Activity Waste (DFLAW) facility, currently anticipated in mid-2025, as well as grouting Hanford tank waste, which could potentially save taxpayers billions of dollars. We believe these programs may be transformative for the Company beginning in 2025.”

“Perma-Fix also continues to pursue several large procurements within the U.S. government, while advancing our international waste programs, particularly with the Joint Research Center (JRC) in Italy, where the first shipment is anticipated in late 2025. Additionally, we have secured new waste treatment contracts in Canada and Mexico of approximately $5 million, helping further diversify our revenue streams.”

“Lastly, we have made significant progress advancing our technology to treat Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS) contamination, including engineering and fabrication of our first commercial unit, which is expected to commence operations in Q4. In anticipation of this milestone, we have already received PFAS liquid samples from over a dozen clients and the Federal Government. We look forward to beginning treatment of this waste later this year.”

Financial Results

Revenue for the second quarter of 2024 was approximately $14.0 million versus approximately $25.0 million for the same period last year. Our overall revenue for the second quarter of 2024 continued to be impacted in part by the unexpected residual effects of the Continuing Resolution (“CR”) which resulted in continued delays in procurements, waste shipments and slower project mobilizations and delays in certain projects. Revenue for the Treatment Segment was approximately $8.4 million for the second quarter of 2024 as compared to $12.8 million for the second quarter of 2023. The decrease in revenue in the Treatment Segment was primarily due to overall lower waste volume and lower averaged price from waste mix. Additionally, the equipment failure and extended repair time at one of the Treatment Segment facilities negatively impacted revenue production. We expect this equipment to be back in service by the first half of August and once back in service, we intend to accelerate waste processing to address the backlog accumulated due to the equipment failure. Services Segment revenue decreased to approximately $5.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024, from $12.2 million for the corresponding period of 2023 due to continued residual impact of the CR as discussed above. Additionally, the decrease in revenue in the Services Segment was due, in part to the completion of two large projects in late 2023 which were not replaced by new projects with similar value. These two completed projects together generated significant amount of revenue in the second quarter of 2023 as they were in full operational status.

Gross profit for the second quarter of 2024 was a loss $1.3 million versus gross profit of $4.5 million for the second quarter of 2023. The decrease in gross profit was primarily attributed to lower revenue generated in both segments as discussed above. Overall gross margin for the second quarter of 2024 was approximately (9.3%) versus 18.0% for the second quarter of 2023 primarily due to a decrease in revenue in both segments and the impact of our fixed costs structure.

Operating loss for the second quarter of 2024 was approximately $5.0 million versus operating income of $844,000 for the second quarter of 2023. Net loss for the second quarter of 2024 was approximately $4.0 million or ($.27) per basic share as compared to net income of approximately $474,000 for the second quarter of 2023 or $0.04 per basic share.

The Company reported EBITDA of ($4.6) million from continuing operations for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, as compared to EBITDA of $1.5 million from continuing operations for the same period of 2023. The Company defines EBITDA as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is not a measure of performance calculated in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”), and should not be considered in isolation of, or as a substitute for, earnings as an indicator of operating performance or cash flows from operating activities as a measure of liquidity. The Company believes the presentation of EBITDA is relevant and useful by enhancing the readers’ ability to understand the Company’s operating performance. The Company’s management utilizes EBITDA as a mean to measure performance. The Company’s measurement of EBITDA may not be comparable to similar titled measures reported by other companies. The table below reconciles EBITDA, a non-GAAP measures, to GAAP numbers for (loss) income from continuing operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, and 2023.

		(Unaudited)									(Unaudited)
		Three Months Ended									Six Months Ended
		June 30,									June 30,
(In thousands)			2024					2023				2024				2023
(Loss) income from continuing operations		$	(3,785			)	$	519			$	(7,243	)		$	202
Adjustments:
Depreciation & amortization			430					692				862				1,439
Interest income			(213	)				(172	)			(387	)			(298	)
Interest expense			109					47				225				100
Interest expense - financing fees			16					24				29				44
Income tax (benefit) expense			(1,161	)				432				(2,117	)			228
EBITDA		$	(4,604	)			$	1,542			$	(8,631	)		$	1,715

The tables below present certain unaudited financial information for the business segments, which excludes allocation of corporate expenses.

		Three Months Ended									Six Months Ended
		June 30, 2024									June 30, 2024
		(Unaudited)									(Unaudited)
(In thousands)		Treatment				Services					Treatment				Services
Net revenues		$	8,343			$	5,643				$	17,052			$	10,551
Gross loss			(1,197	)			(109	)				(1,249	)			(677	)
Segment (loss) profit			(1,668	)			(462	)				(2,514	)			(1,419	)

		Three Months Ended							Six Months Ended
		June 30, 2023							June 30, 2023
		(Unaudited)							(Unaudited)
(In thousands)		Treatment			Services				Treatment			Services
Net revenues		$	12,834		$	12,198			$	22,428		$	22,711
Gross profit			2,491			2,025				3,743			3,782
Segment profit			1,273			840				1,605			1,813

Conference Call

Perma-Fix will host a conference call at 11:00 a.m. ET on Thursday, August 8, 2024. The call will be available on the Company’s website at https://ir.perma-fix.com/conference-calls, or by calling toll-free: 888-506-0062 for U.S. callers, or +1 973-528-0011 for international callers, and by entering access code: 108386. The conference call will be led by Mark J. Duff, Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Louis F. Centofanti, Executive Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, and Ben Naccarato, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc.

A webcast will also be archived on the Company’s website and a telephone replay of the call will be available approximately one hour following the call, Thursday, August 15, 2024, and can be accessed by dialing 877-481-4010 for U.S. callers or +1 919-882-2331 for international callers and entering access code: 51027.

About Perma-Fix Environmental Services

Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. is a nuclear services company and leading provider of nuclear and mixed waste management services. The Company's nuclear waste services include management and treatment of radioactive and mixed waste for hospitals, research labs and institutions, federal agencies, including the DOE, the Department of Defense (DOD), and the commercial nuclear industry. The Company’s nuclear services group provides project management, waste management, environmental restoration, decontamination and decommissioning, new build construction, and radiological protection, safety and industrial hygiene capability to our clients. The Company operates four nuclear waste treatment facilities and provides nuclear services at DOE, DOD, and commercial facilities, nationwide.

Please visit us at http://www.perma-fix.com.

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” which are based largely on the Company's expectations and are subject to various business risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the Company's control. Forward-looking statements generally are identifiable by use of the words such as “believe”, “expects”, “intends”, “anticipate”, “plans to”, “estimates”, “projects”, and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: backlog and bidding activities; long-term growth initiatives; commissioning of the DFLAW facility in mid-2025; programs could be transformative for the Company beginning in 2025; receipt of JRC shipment in late 2025; operation of first commercial unit in Q4 for PFAS; treatment of PFAS waste later this year; and accelerate waste processing to address backlog accumulated due to equipment failure. These forward-looking statements are intended to qualify for the safe harbors from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. While the Company believes the expectations reflected in this news release are reasonable, it can give no assurance such expectations will prove to be correct. There are a variety of factors which could cause future outcomes to differ materially from those described in this release, including, without limitation, future economic conditions; industry conditions; competitive pressures; our ability to apply and market our new technologies; acceptance of our PFAS technology by the public; the government or such other party to a contract granted to us fails to abide by or comply with the contract or to deliver waste as anticipated under the contract or terminates existing contracts; Congress fails to provides funding for the DOD’s and DOE’s remediation projects; inability to obtain new foreign and domestic remediation contracts; and the additional factors referred to under “Risk Factors” and "Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" of our 2023 Form 10-K and Form 10-Qs for quarters ended March 31, 2024 and June 30, 2024. The Company makes no commitment to disclose any revisions to forward-looking statements, or any facts, events or circumstances after the date hereof that bear upon forward-looking statements.

FINANCIAL TABLES FOLLOW

Contacts:
David K. Waldman-US Investor Relations
Crescendo Communications, LLC
(212) 671-1021

Herbert Strauss-European Investor Relations
herbert@eu-ir.com
+43 316 296 316

PERMA-FIX ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
		Three Months Ended						Six Months Ended
		June 30,						June 30,
(Amounts in Thousands, Except for Per Share Amounts)		2024			2023			2024			2023
Net revenues	$	13,986		$	25,032		$	27,603		$	45,139
Cost of goods sold		15,292			20,516			29,529			37,614
Gross (loss) profit		(1,306	)		4,516			(1,926	)		7,525
Selling, general and administrative expenses		3,455			3,551			6,999			7,036
Research and development		273			121			569			220
Loss on disposal of property and equipment		1			—			1			—
(Loss) income from operations		(5,035	)		844			(9,495	)		269
Other income (expense):
Interest income		213			172			387			298
Interest expense		(109	)		(47	)		(225	)		(100	)
Interest expense-financing fees		(16	)		(24	)		(29	)		(44	)
Other		1			6			2			7
(Loss) income from continuing operations before taxes		(4,946	)		951			(9,360	)		430
Income tax (benefit) expense		(1,161	)		432			(2,117	)		228
(Loss) income from continuing operations, net of taxes		(3,785	)		519			(7,243	)		202
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes		(166	)		(45	)		(268	)		(139	)
Net (loss) income	$	(3,951	)	$	474		$	(7,511	)	$	63
Net (loss) income per common share - basic:
Continuing operations	$	(.26	)	$	.04		$	(.51	)	$	.01
Discontinued operations		(.01	)		—			(.02	)		(.01	)
Net (loss) income per common share	$	(.27	)	$	.04		$	(.53	)	$	—
Net (loss) income per common share - diluted:
Continuing operations	$	(.26	)	$	.03		$	(.51	)	$	.01
Discontinued operations		(.01	)		—			(.02	)		(.01	)
Net (loss) income per common share	$	(.27	)	$	.03		$	(.53	)	$	—
Number of common shares used in computing
net (loss) income per share:
Basic		14,593			13,474			14,134			13,417
Diluted		14,593			13,848			14,134			13,657

PERMA-FIX ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
		June 30,				December 31,
			2024				2023
(Amounts in Thousands, Except for Share and Per Share Amounts)		(Unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash		$	18,122			$	7,500
Account receivable, net of allowance for credit losses of $19 and
$30, respectively			6,423				9,722
Unbilled receivables			7,076				8,432
Other current assets			3,825				4,893
Assets of discontinued operations included in current assets			5				13
Total current assets			35,451				30,560
Net property and equipment			19,079				19,009
Property and equipment of discontinued operations			130				81
Operating lease right-of-use assets			2,278				1,990
Intangibles and other assets			30,033				27,109
Total assets		$	86,971			$	78,749
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities		$	22,292			$	25,678
Current liabilities related to discontinued operations			376				269
Total current liabilities			22,668				25,947
Long-term liabilities			12,398				12,472
Long-term liabilities related to discontinued operations			940				953
Total liabilities			36,006				39,372
Commitments and Contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred Stock, $.001 par value; 2,000,000 shares authorized,
no shares issued and outstanding			—				—
Common Stock, $.001 par value; 30,000,000 shares authorized,
15,796,028 and 13,654,201 shares issued, respectively;
15,788,386 and 13,646,559 shares outstanding, respectively			16				14
Additional paid-in capital			135,686				116,502
Accumulated deficit			(84,462	)			(76,951	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(187	)			(100	)
Less Common Stock held in treasury, at cost: 7,642 shares			(88	)			(88	)
Total stockholders' equity			50,965				39,377
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity		$	86,971			$	78,749

FAQ

What were Perma-Fix's (PESI) Q2 2024 financial results?

Perma-Fix reported revenue of $14.0 million, a gross loss of $1.3 million, an operating loss of $5.0 million, and a net loss of $4.0 million or ($0.27) per basic share for Q2 2024.

How did Perma-Fix's (PESI) Q2 2024 performance compare to Q2 2023?

Perma-Fix's Q2 2024 performance declined compared to Q2 2023. Revenue decreased from $25.0 million to $14.0 million, and the company reported a net loss of $4.0 million versus a net income of $474,000 in Q2 2023.

What factors affected Perma-Fix's (PESI) Q2 2024 performance?

Perma-Fix's Q2 2024 performance was affected by government delays in waste shipments and project awards, an extended equipment failure at one facility, and the residual effects of the Continuing Resolution impacting procurements and project mobilizations.

What positive developments did Perma-Fix (PESI) report for Q2 2024?

Perma-Fix completed critical DOE audits, secured new contracts worth $5 million in Canada and Mexico, advanced PFAS treatment technology, and reported increasing backlog and bidding activities. The company also anticipates transformative opportunities beginning in 2025.