Powell Industries Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year Fiscal 2024 Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Powell Industries (NASDAQ: POWL) reported strong Q4 and full-year fiscal 2024 results. Q4 revenues increased 32% to $275 million, with net income up 74% to $46 million ($3.77 per share). Full-year revenues grew 45% to $1.0 billion, while net income surged 175% to $150 million ($12.29 per share). The company maintained a robust backlog of $1.3 billion and ended the period with $358 million in cash and short-term investments. Growth was primarily driven by the Petrochemical sector (+112%) and Oil & Gas sector (+23%). Gross profit margins improved significantly, reaching 29.2% in Q4 and 27.0% for the full year.

Positive

• Q4 revenue increased 32% to $275 million
• Q4 net income grew 74% to $46 million
• Full-year revenue up 45% to $1.0 billion
• Full-year net income increased 175% to $150 million
• Strong cash position of $358 million
• Gross margin improved 590 basis points year-over-year
• Maintained robust backlog of $1.3 billion

Negative

• Q4 revenue declined 5% sequentially from Q3
• New orders decreased from $1.4 billion in FY2023 to $1.1 billion in FY2024

Insights

Financial Analyst

Powell Industries delivered exceptional financial performance in Q4 and FY2024. $1.0 billion in annual revenue marks a 45% YoY growth, while net income surged 175% to $149.8 million. The robust $1.3 billion backlog and strong order intake of $1.1 billion demonstrate sustained business momentum.

Key strengths include improved gross margins at 27% (up 590 basis points), solid cash position of $358 million and successful market diversification into data centers and alternative energy. The company's operational efficiency and pricing strategy have significantly enhanced profitability, with EPS reaching $12.29 for the full year.

Industry Analyst

The company's strategic positioning in electrical energy management aligns perfectly with growing global demand for power infrastructure. Notable sector performance includes:

• Petrochemical sector: 112% growth to $50.4 million in Q4
• Oil & Gas sector: 23% increase to $115.4 million
• Commercial & Industrial: 66% jump to $48.3 million

The planned manufacturing capacity upgrades and diversification into emerging markets like hydrogen and carbon capture demonstrate forward-thinking adaptation to energy transition trends.

HOUSTON, Nov. 19, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Powell Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ: POWL), a leading supplier of custom-engineered solutions for the management, control and distribution of electrical energy, today announced results for the fourth quarter and full year fiscal 2024 ended September 30, 2024. All comparisons are to the comparable periods of fiscal 2023, unless otherwise noted.

Fourth Quarter Key Financial Highlights:

• Revenues totaled $275 million, an increase of 32%;
• Gross profit of $80 million, or 29.2% of revenue;
• Net income of $46 million, or $3.77 per diluted share, increased 74%;
• New orders⁽¹⁾ totaled $267 million;
• Backlog⁽²⁾ as of September 30, 2024 remained at $1.3 billion;
• Cash and short-term investments as of September 30, 2024 totaled $358 million.

Full Year Key Financial Highlights:

• Revenues totaled $1.0 billion, an increase of 45%;
• Gross profit of $273 million, or 27.0% of revenue;
• Net income of $150 million, or $12.29 per diluted share, increased 175%;
• Net new orders totaled $1.1 billion.

Brett A. Cope, Powell’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “Powell delivered a strong fourth quarter performance that closed out another incredible year for the Company. We experienced tremendous growth in our largest markets, with our top line growing by 45% in fiscal 2024. We continue to execute at a high standard for both our customers and our shareholders as reflected by our gross margin, which improved 590 basis points compared to the prior year. Having recorded our second consecutive year of more than $1.0 billion in new orders, we continue to grow in our traditional markets of oil & gas, petrochemical and electrical utilities, while further diversifying in markets such as data centers, hydrogen, carbon capture and other alternative fuels. I’m incredibly proud of the Powell team for their performance in fiscal 2024 and their unwavering commitment to our customers and mission.”

Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2024 Results

Revenues totaled $275.1 million, an increase of 32% compared to $208.6 million in the prior year, and a 5% decline compared to $288.2 million in the third quarter. The increase compared to the prior year was mainly driven by the Petrochemical sector, which increased 112% to $50.4 million, and the Oil & Gas sector, which grew 23% to $115.4 million. In addition, revenues within the Commercial & Other Industrial sector improved 66% to $48.3 million.

Gross profit of $80.4 million, or 29.2% of revenue, increased 55% compared to the prior year of $52.0 million, or 24.9% of revenue, and compares to $81.7 million, or 28.4% of revenue, in the third quarter. The increase in gross margin was predominantly driven by the higher volume levels across all of Powell’s manufacturing facilities generating favorable volume leverage, strong project execution, and continuing efforts to improve factory efficiencies while also managing product pricing that corresponds to current cost levels.

New orders totaled $267 million compared to $171 million in the prior year and $356 million in the third quarter. The growth compared to the prior year was driven by strong order activity across the Company’s Oil & Gas and Petrochemical sectors as well as the Electric Utility sector.

Backlog totaled $1.3 billion as of September 30, 2024, essentially remaining the same as the backlog at both June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023.
Net income of $46.1 million, or $3.77 per diluted share, increased 74% compared to $26.4 million, or $2.17 per diluted share, in the prior year and was essentially flat compared to $46.2 million, or $3.79 per diluted share, in the third quarter.

Full Year 2024 Financial Results

Revenues totaled $1.0 billion, an increase of 45% compared to $699.3 million in the prior year. The increase was primarily driven by growth within the Company’s Oil & Gas and Petrochemical sectors, which grew 53% and 97%, respectively, compared to fiscal 2023. Additionally, revenues within the Commercial & Other Industrial and Electric Utility sectors increased 44% and 18%, respectively, compared to fiscal 2023.

Gross profit of $273.1 million, or 27.0% of revenues, increased 85% compared to $147.6 million, or 21.1% of revenues, in fiscal 2023. The improvement in gross margin was driven by the same factors mentioned above.

Net new orders totaled $1.1 billion compared to $1.4 billion in fiscal 2023. The decline was mainly due to the inclusion of three large megaprojects in the Company’s Oil & Gas and Petrochemical sectors in fiscal 2023.

Net income of $149.8 million, or $12.29 per diluted share, increased 175% compared to $54.5 million, or $4.50 per diluted share, in fiscal 2023.

Cope added, “We are entering fiscal 2025 with strong backlog and remain focused on the continued execution of our strategic priorities. We expect modest manufacturing capacity upgrades to be completed during the middle of fiscal 2025, which will help to facilitate organic growth within our targeted markets. It is becoming increasingly clear that the supply of electrical energy will grow significantly over the next several years to meet rising global demand. As an industry leader in handling the supply, control, and distribution of electrical energy, we are well-positioned to leverage our more than 75 years of expertise to bring custom-engineered solutions to our key markets.”

OUTLOOK

Commenting on the Company's outlook, Michael Metcalf, Powell’s Chief Financial Officer, said, “As we look ahead to fiscal 2025, we expect continued strength across most of our end markets spanning across all of the geographies that we compete in. We are pleased with our fiscal 2024 results and remain focused on carrying forward the strong operational execution and commercial momentum that we have experienced this year, into fiscal 2025. Notwithstanding our seasonally slower fiscal first quarter, considering the healthy backdrop, robust backlog, strong liquidity, and a solid balance sheet, we anticipate that fiscal 2025 will be another successful year for Powell.”

CONFERENCE CALL

Powell Industries has scheduled a conference call for Wednesday, November 20, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time. To participate in the conference call, dial 1-833-953-2431 (domestic) or 1-412-317-5760 (international) at least 10 minutes before the call begins and ask for the Powell Industries conference call. A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available through November 27, 2024 and may be accessed by calling 1-877-344-7529 (domestic) or 1-412-317-0088 (international) and using passcode 3321661#.

Investors, analysts and the general public will also have the opportunity to listen to the conference call over the Internet by visiting powellind.com. To listen to the live call on the web, please visit the website at least 15 minutes before the call begins to register, download and install any necessary audio software. For those who cannot listen to the live webcast, an archive will be available shortly after the call and will remain available for approximately 90 days at powellind.com.

About Powell Industries

Powell Industries, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, develops, designs, manufactures and services custom-engineered equipment and systems that distribute, control and monitor the flow of electrical energy and provide protection to motors, transformers and other electrically powered equipment. Powell Industries, Inc. primarily serve the oil and gas and petrochemical markets, the electric utility market, and commercial and other industrial markets. Beyond these major markets, we also provide products and services to the light rail traction power market and other markets that include universities and government entities. We are continuously developing new channels to electrical markets through original equipment manufacturers and distribution market channels. For more information, please visit powellind.com.

Any forward-looking statements in the preceding paragraphs of this release, including those related to our outlook, are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties in that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. In the course of operations, we are subject to certain risk factors, competition and competitive pressures, sensitivity to general economic and industrial conditions, international political and economic risks, availability and price of raw materials and execution of business strategy. For further information, please refer to the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, copies of which are available from the Company without charge.

POWELL INDUSTRIES, INC. & SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
	Three Months Ended September 30,								Year Ended September 30,
	2024				2023				2024				2023
(In thousands, except per share data)
	(Unaudited)
Revenues	$	275,063			$	208,641			$	1,012,356			$	699,308
Cost of goods sold	194,629				156,659				739,268				551,755
Gross profit		80,434				51,982				273,088				147,553
Selling, general and administrative expenses	21,572				20,429				84,888				78,813
Research and development expenses	2,746				1,749				9,427				6,220
Operating income	56,116				29,804				178,773				62,520
Other expenses (income):
Interest income, net	(4,381		)		(2,915		)		(17,315		)		(6,430		)
Income before income taxes	60,497				32,719				196,088				68,950
Income tax provision	14,445				6,283				46,240				14,425
Net income	$	46,052			$	26,436			$	149,848			$	54,525
Earnings per share:
Basic	$	3.84			$	2.22			$	12.51			$	4.59
Diluted	$	3.77			$	2.17			$	12.29			$	4.50
Weighted average shares:
Basic	11,999				11,890				11,982				11,879
Diluted	12,211				12,158				12,188				12,120
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA:
Depreciation	$	1,797			$	2,106			$	6,871			$	8,606
Capital Expenditures	$	8,456			$	3,813			$	11,983			$	7,819
Dividends Paid	$	3,178			$	3,115			$	12,653			$	12,407

POWELL INDUSTRIES, INC. & SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
	September 30, 2024				September 30, 2023
(In thousands)
Assets:
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	$	358,392			$	279,009
Other current assets	418,089				342,976
Property, plant and equipment, net	103,421				97,625
Long-term assets	48,278				32,632
Total assets	$	928,180			$	752,242
Liabilities and equity:
Current liabilities	$	428,015			$	395,686
Deferred and other long-term liabilities		17,092				11,530
Stockholders’ equity	483,073				345,026
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	928,180			$	752,242
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA:
Working capital	$	348,466			$	226,299

(1)	New orders (bookings) represent the estimated value of contracts added to existing backlog (unsatisfied performance obligations).
(2)	The amounts recorded in backlog may not be a reliable indicator of our future operating results and may not be indicative of continuing revenue performance over future fiscal quarters or years primarily due to unexpected contract adjustments, cancellations or scope reductions.

Contacts:	Michael W. Metcalf, CFO Powell Industries, Inc. 713-947-4422
	Robert Winters or Ryan Coleman Alpha IR Group POWL@alpha-ir.com 312-445-2870

FAQ

What was Powell Industries (POWL) revenue for Q4 2024?

Powell Industries reported Q4 2024 revenue of $275.1 million, representing a 32% increase from the same period last year.

What was POWL's earnings per share for fiscal year 2024?

Powell Industries reported earnings of $12.29 per diluted share for fiscal year 2024, up 175% from $4.50 in fiscal 2023.

What is Powell Industries' (POWL) current backlog as of September 2024?

Powell Industries maintained a backlog of $1.3 billion as of September 30, 2024.

How much cash does Powell Industries (POWL) have as of Q4 2024?

Powell Industries reported cash and short-term investments of $358 million as of September 30, 2024.