Sterling Reports Record Third Quarter 2024 Results and Raises Full Year Profitability Guidance

Rhea-AI Summary

Sterling Infrastructure (NasdaqGS: STRL) reported record third quarter 2024 results with a 6% revenue increase to $593.7 million, a 56% rise in net income to $61.3 million, and EBITDA up 42% to $100.8 million. Gross margins improved to 21.9%, and operating cash flows reached $322.8 million for the first nine months of 2024. The company's cash and cash equivalents totaled $648.1 million, and the combined backlog was $2.37 billion as of September 30, 2024. CEO Joe Cutillo highlighted significant growth in the E-Infrastructure Solutions segment, with operating income up 89% and a 90% increase in data center-related revenue. The Transportation Solutions segment saw 18% revenue growth. However, the Building Solutions segment experienced a 10% revenue decline. Sterling raised its full-year 2024 guidance, expecting revenue between $2.150 billion and $2.175 billion, net income of $180 million to $185 million, and EBITDA of $310 million to $315 million.

Positive

• Revenue increased by 6% to $593.7 million.
• Net income rose by 56% to $61.3 million.
• EBITDA increased by 42% to $100.8 million.
• Gross margin improved to 21.9%.
• Operating cash flows totaled $322.8 million for the first nine months of 2024.
• Cash and cash equivalents were $648.1 million.
• Combined backlog was $2.37 billion.
• E-Infrastructure Solutions segment saw 89% operating income growth.
• Data center-related revenue increased by 90%.

Negative

• Building Solutions segment revenue declined by 10%.
• Operating profit in Building Solutions declined by 12%.

Insights

Financial Analyst

Sterling Infrastructure delivered an exceptional Q3 2024 with remarkable financial performance across key metrics. Revenue grew 6% to $593.7 million, while net income surged 56% to $61.3 million. The standout metric is gross margin expansion to 21.9% from 16.4%, demonstrating strong operational efficiency.

The company's cash position is particularly strong with $648.1 million in cash and equivalents, supported by robust operating cash flows of $322.8 million YTD. The $2.37 billion combined backlog, plus $500+ million in high-probability future phase work, provides excellent revenue visibility.

The raised guidance for 2024, projecting 32% net income growth and 21% EBITDA growth, reflects management's confidence in continued execution. E-Infrastructure's shift toward data centers and the strong transportation market under IIJA funding provide multiple growth catalysts.

Market Research Analyst

The strategic pivot toward data center projects is particularly noteworthy, with this segment showing 90% growth and now representing over 50% of E-Infrastructure backlog. This positions Sterling well in the high-growth data center market, driven by AI and cloud computing demand.

While the Building Solutions segment faces near-term headwinds from interest rate impacts in Dallas, the multi-year demographic trends in Sterling's key markets remain favorable. The Transportation segment's 18% revenue growth demonstrates the company's ability to capitalize on infrastructure spending, with significant runway remaining under IIJA funding through 2026.

THE WOODLANDS, Texas, Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. (NasdaqGS: STRL) ("Sterling" or the "Company") today announced financial results for the third quarter 2024.

The financial comparisons herein are to the prior year quarter, unless otherwise noted.

Third Quarter 2024 Results

• Revenues of $593.7 million, an increase of 6%
• Gross margin of 21.9%, up from 16.4%
• Net Income of $61.3 million, or $1.97 per diluted share, an increase of 56% for both metrics
• EBITDA⁽¹⁾ of $100.8 million, an increase of 42%
• Cash flows from operations totaled $322.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024
• Cash and Cash Equivalents totaled $648.1 million at September 30, 2024
• Backlog at September 30, 2024 was $2.06 billion
• Combined backlog⁽²⁾ at September 30, 2024 was $2.37 billion

CEO Remarks and Outlook

"In the third quarter we delivered 6% revenue growth and a remarkable 56% increase in diluted EPS. Our focus on margin expansion continues to drive profitability growth well in excess of revenue growth. Gross profit margins of 21.9% marked a new record, and we continue to look for opportunities to drive further expansion," stated Joe Cutillo, Sterling's Chief Executive Officer. "We closed the third quarter with combined backlog of $2.37 billion, which was in line with prior year levels. What the backlog metrics do not capture is that our business has moved toward large, multi-phase projects. As a result, we have built a pipeline of high probability future phase work that now totals over half a billion dollars. Our operating cash flow generation in the quarter was again excellent at $152 million, driving our net cash position to $326 million, and supporting share repurchases of $20 million in the quarter. Our business is performing very well and we feel great about the opportunities ahead."

Mr. Cutillo continued, "In E-Infrastructure Solutions, we achieved 89% operating income growth as operating margins expanded over 1,100 basis points to reach 25.8%. This excellent margin profile reflects our shift toward large mission-critical projects, including data centers and manufacturing. E-Infrastructure revenue increased 4% in the quarter, driven by strength in data center work, which more than offset a tough revenue comparison in the manufacturing market and some continued softness in the small project market. Notably, data center-related revenue increased approximately 90% in the quarter and now represents over 50% of segment backlog.

Transportation Solutions had another excellent quarter, delivering 18% revenue growth and 28% operating profit growth. The transportation markets are the strongest that they have been in our company's history, and we still have two and a half years remaining under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) authorization.

In Building Solutions, revenue declined 10% and operating profit declined 12%. Our residential concrete slab and plumbing businesses were impacted by a slowdown in the Dallas market in the quarter, as prospective homebuyers appear to be waiting on the sidelines in expectation of future interest rate reductions. We remain very bullish on the multi-year demand trends in our key geographies and anticipate a rebound in 2025."

"We believe 2024 will be another excellent year for Sterling. Given our strong results through the third quarter and backlog position, we are raising our full year profitability guidance. The midpoint of our 2024 guidance would represent 10% revenue growth, 32% net income growth and 21% EBITDA growth," Mr. Cutillo concluded.

(1) See the "Non-GAAP Measures" and "EBITDA Reconciliation" sections below for more information.

(2) Combined Backlog includes Unsigned Awards of $319.6 million at September 30, 2024.

Full Year 2024 Guidance

• Revenue of $2.150 billion to $2.175 billion
• Net Income of $180 million to $185 million
• Diluted EPS of $5.85 to $6.00
• EBITDA⁽¹⁾ of $310 million to $315 million

Conference Call

Sterling's management will hold a conference call to discuss these results and recent corporate developments on Thursday, November 7, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. ET/9:00 a.m. CT. Interested parties may participate in the call by dialing (800) 836-8184. Please call in 10 minutes before the conference call is scheduled to begin and ask for the Sterling Infrastructure call. To coincide with the conference call, Sterling will post a slide presentation at www.strlco.com on the Events & Presentations section of the Investor Relations tab. Following management's opening remarks, there will be a question and answer session.

To listen to a simultaneous webcast of the call, please go to the Company's website at www.strlco.com at least 15 minutes early to download and install any necessary audio software. If you are unable to listen live, the conference call webcast will be archived on the Company's website for 30 days.

About Sterling

Sterling operates through a variety of subsidiaries within three segments specializing in E-Infrastructure, Transportation and Building Solutions in the United States, primarily across the Southern, Northeastern, Mid-Atlantic and Rocky Mountain regions and the Pacific Islands. E-Infrastructure Solutions provides advanced, large-scale site development services for manufacturing, data centers, e-commerce distribution centers, warehousing, power generation and more. Transportation Solutions includes infrastructure and rehabilitation projects for highways, roads, bridges, airports, ports, rail and storm drainage systems. Building Solutions includes residential and commercial concrete foundations for single-family and multi-family homes, parking structures, elevated slabs, other concrete work and plumbing services for new single-family residential builds. From strategy to operations, we are committed to sustainability by operating responsibly to safeguard and improve society's quality of life. Caring for our people and our communities, our customers and our investors – that is The Sterling Way.

Joe Cutillo, CEO, "We build and service the infrastructure that enables our economy to run,
our people to move and our country to grow."

(1) See the "Non-GAAP Measures" and "EBITDA Guidance Reconciliation" sections below for more information.

Important Information for Investors and Stockholders

Non-GAAP Measures

This press release contains "Non-GAAP" financial measures as defined under Regulation G of the amended U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Company reports financial results in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), but the Company believes that certain Non-GAAP financial measures provide useful supplemental information to investors regarding the underlying business trends and performance of the Company's ongoing operations and are useful for period-over-period comparisons of those operations.

Non-GAAP measures may include adjusted net income, adjusted EPS, EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA, in each case excluding the impacts of certain identified items. The excluded items represent items that the Company does not consider to be representative of its normal operations. The Company believes that these measures are useful for investors to review, because they provide a consistent measure of the underlying financial results of the Company's ongoing business and, in the Company's view, allow for a supplemental comparison against historical results and expectations for future performance. Furthermore, the Company uses each of these to measure the performance of the Company's operations for budgeting and forecasting, as well as for determining employee incentive compensation. However, Non-GAAP measures should not be considered as substitutes for net income, EPS, or other data prepared and reported in accordance with GAAP and should be viewed in addition to the Company's reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Reconciliations of Non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable GAAP measures are provided in the tables included within this press release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements that are considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, which may include statements about: our business strategy; our financial strategy; our industry outlook; our guidance; our expected margin growth; and our plans, objectives, expectations, forecasts, outlook and intentions. All of these types of statements, other than statements of historical fact included in this press release, are forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "may," "will," "could," "would," "should," "expect," "plan," "project," "intend," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "pursue," "target," "guidance," "continue," the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are largely based on our expectations, which reflect estimates and assumptions made by our management. These estimates and assumptions reflect our best judgment based on currently known market conditions and other factors. Although we believe such estimates and assumptions to be reasonable, they are inherently uncertain and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that are beyond our control. In addition, management's assumptions about future events may prove to be inaccurate. Management cautions all readers that the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are not guarantees of future performance, and we cannot assure any reader that such statements will be realized or the forward-looking events and circumstances will occur. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements due to factors listed in the "Risk Factors" section in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and elsewhere in those filings. Additional factors or risks that we currently deem immaterial, that are not presently known to us or that arise in the future could also cause our actual results to differ materially from our expected results. Given these uncertainties, investors are cautioned that many of the assumptions upon which our forward-looking statements are based are likely to change after the date the forward-looking statements are made. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements for any reason, whether as a result of new information, future events or developments, changed circumstances, or otherwise, notwithstanding any changes in our assumptions, changes in business plans, actual experience or other changes. These cautionary statements qualify all forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf.

Company Contact:
Sterling Infrastructure, Inc.
Noelle Dilts, VP Investor Relations and Corporate Strategy
281-214-0795

 

STERLING INFRASTRUCTURE, INC. & SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (In thousands, except per share data) (Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2024		2023		2024		2023
Revenues	$    593,741		$    560,347		$ 1,616,923		$ 1,486,251
Cost of revenues	(463,942)		(468,480)		(1,297,477)		(1,240,368)
Gross profit	129,799		91,867		319,446		245,883
General and administrative expense	(30,672)		(25,237)		(85,826)		(72,592)
Intangible asset amortization	(4,280)		(3,736)		(12,857)		(11,209)
Acquisition related costs	(72)		(103)		(209)		(352)
Other operating expense, net	(7,283)		(5,654)		(18,203)		(11,703)
Operating income	87,492		57,137		202,351		150,027
Interest income	7,591		4,150		19,798		8,327
Interest expense	(6,286)		(7,257)		(19,463)		(22,516)
Income before income taxes	88,797		54,030		202,686		135,838
Income tax expense	(23,404)		(13,891)		(48,960)		(35,429)
Net income, including noncontrolling interests	65,393		40,139		153,726		100,409
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(4,072)		(786)		(9,478)		(1,927)
Net income attributable to Sterling common stockholders	$      61,321		$      39,353		$    144,248		$      98,482
Net income per share attributable to Sterling common stockholders:
Basic	$           2.00		$           1.28		$           4.67		$           3.20
Diluted	$           1.97		$           1.26		$           4.63		$           3.17
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic	30,735		30,800		30,875		30,733
Diluted	31,070		31,217		31,184		31,048

 

STERLING INFRASTRUCTURE, INC. & SUBSIDIARIES SEGMENT INFORMATION (In thousands) (Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended September 30,								Nine Months Ended September 30,
Revenues	2024		% of Revenue		2023		% of Revenue		2024		% of Revenue		2023		% of Revenue
E-Infrastructure Solutions	$  263,899		45 %		$  253,948		45 %		$  689,687		43 %		$  719,936		48 %
Transportation Solutions	227,251		38 %		192,996		35 %		608,995		37 %		455,223		31 %
Building Solutions	102,591		17 %		113,403		20 %		318,241		20 %		311,092		21 %
Total Revenues	$  593,741				$  560,347				$  1,616,923				$  1,486,251
Operating Income
E-Infrastructure Solutions	$    68,076		25.8 %		$    35,945		14.2 %		$  146,922		21.3 %		$  103,381		14.4 %
Transportation Solutions	18,573		8.2 %		14,487		7.5 %		42,154		6.9 %		29,649		6.5 %
Building Solutions	11,249		11.0 %		12,848		11.3 %		39,837		12.5 %		35,029		11.3 %
Segment Operating Income	97,898		16.5 %		63,280		11.3 %		228,913		14.2 %		168,059		11.3 %
Corporate G&A Expense	(10,334)				(6,040)				(26,353)				(17,680)
Acquisition Related Costs	(72)				(103)				(209)				(352)
Total Operating Income	$    87,492		14.7 %		$    57,137		10.2 %		$  202,351		12.5 %		$  150,027		10.1 %

 

STERLING INFRASTRUCTURE, INC. & SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands, except per share data) (Unaudited)
	September 30, 2024		December 31, 2023
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$                648,127		$                471,563
Accounts receivable	329,882		252,435
Contract assets	79,736		88,600
Receivables from and equity in construction joint ventures	7,814		17,506
Other current assets	18,086		17,875
Total current assets	1,083,645		847,979
Property and equipment, net	270,532		243,648
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net	54,748		57,235
Goodwill	281,363		281,117
Other intangibles, net	315,540		328,397
Other non-current assets, net	17,757		18,808
Total assets	$             2,023,585		$             1,777,184
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$                160,199		$                145,968
Contract liabilities	563,531		444,160
Current maturities of long-term debt	26,425		26,520
Current portion of long-term lease obligations	19,531		19,641
Accrued compensation	43,198		27,758
Other current liabilities	26,152		14,121
Total current liabilities	839,036		678,168
Long-term debt	296,185		314,996
Long-term lease obligations	35,445		37,722
Members' interest subject to mandatory redemption and undistributed earnings	23,417		29,108
Deferred tax liability, net	82,894		76,764
Other long-term liabilities	15,666		16,573
Total liabilities	1,292,643		1,153,331
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock	312		309
Additional paid in capital	295,831		293,570
Treasury stock, at cost	(48,901)		—
Retained earnings	469,282		325,034
Total Sterling stockholders' equity	716,524		618,913
Noncontrolling interests	14,418		4,940
Total stockholders' equity	730,942		623,853
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$             2,023,585		$             1,777,184

 

STERLING INFRASTRUCTURE, INC. & SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In thousands) (Unaudited)
	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2024		2023
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$               153,726		$               100,409
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	50,546		42,529
Amortization of debt issuance costs and non-cash interest	877		1,334
Gain on disposal of property and equipment	(3,280)		(4,102)
Deferred taxes	6,107		10,188
Stock-based compensation	13,753		10,975
Changes in operating assets and liabilities	101,106		169,882
Net cash provided by operating activities	322,835		331,215
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(4,827)		—
Disposition proceeds	—		14,000
Capital expenditures	(65,309)		(49,244)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	7,834		9,607
Net cash used in investing activities	(62,302)		(25,637)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of debt	(19,931)		(76,850)
Repurchase of common stock	(50,596)		—
Withholding taxes paid on net share settlement of equity awards	(13,408)		(4,579)
Other	(34)		(16)
Net cash used in financing activities	(83,969)		(81,445)
Net change in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash	176,564		224,133
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period	471,563		185,265
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	648,127		409,398
Less: restricted cash	—		—
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$               648,127		$               409,398

 

STERLING INFRASTRUCTURE, INC. & SUBSIDIARIES EBITDA RECONCILIATION (In thousands) (Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2024		2023		2024		2023
Net income attributable to Sterling common stockholders	$         61,321		$         39,353		$       144,248		$         98,482
Depreciation and amortization	17,363		14,857		50,546		42,529
Interest expense, net of interest income	(1,305)		3,107		(335)		14,189
Income tax expense	23,404		13,891		48,960		35,429
EBITDA(1)	100,783		71,208		243,419		190,629
Acquisition related costs	72		103		209		352
Adjusted EBITDA(2)	$       100,855		$         71,311		$       243,628		$       190,981

(1)	The Company defines EBITDA as GAAP net income attributable to Sterling common stockholders adjusted for depreciation and amortization, net interest expense and taxes.
(2)	The Company defines adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA excluding the impact of acquisition related costs.

 

STERLING INFRASTRUCTURE, INC. & SUBSIDIARIES EBITDA GUIDANCE RECONCILIATION (In millions) (Unaudited)
	Full Year 2024 Guidance
	Low		High
Net income attributable to Sterling common stockholders	$            180		$            185
Depreciation and amortization	67		67
Interest expense, net of interest income	—		—
Income tax expense	63		63
EBITDA (1)	$            310		$            315

(1)	The Company defines EBITDA as GAAP net income attributable to Sterling common stockholders, adjusted for depreciation and amortization, net interest expense, and taxes.

 

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SOURCE Sterling Infrastructure, Inc.

FAQ

What were Sterling's third quarter 2024 revenues?

Sterling reported third quarter 2024 revenues of $593.7 million, a 6% increase from the prior year.

How much did Sterling's net income increase in Q3 2024?

Sterling's net income increased by 56% to $61.3 million in Q3 2024.

What is Sterling's full-year 2024 revenue guidance?

Sterling's full-year 2024 revenue guidance is between $2.150 billion and $2.175 billion.

What was Sterling's EBITDA for the third quarter of 2024?

Sterling's EBITDA for the third quarter of 2024 was $100.8 million, a 42% increase.

What caused the decline in Sterling's Building Solutions segment revenue?

The decline in Sterling's Building Solutions segment revenue was due to a slowdown in the Dallas market.

How did the E-Infrastructure Solutions segment perform in Q3 2024?

The E-Infrastructure Solutions segment achieved 89% operating income growth and a 90% increase in data center-related revenue in Q3 2024.

What was Sterling's backlog as of September 30, 2024?

Sterling's combined backlog was $2.37 billion as of September 30, 2024.