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Ascent Industries Reports Second Quarter 2024 Results

 

Ascent Industries Co. (Nasdaq: ACNT) (“Ascent” or the “Company”), an industrials company focused on the production of specialty chemicals and industrial tubular products, is reporting its results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024.

Second Quarter 2024 Summary1

(in millions, except per share and margin)

Q2 2024

Q2 2023

Change

Net Sales

$50.2

$50.4

(0.3)%

Gross Profit

$5.9

$(0.8)

854.2%

Gross Profit Margin

11.7%

(1.5)%

1320bps

Net Loss

$(0.2)

$(6.1)

96.8%

Diluted Loss per Share

$(0.02)

$(0.60)

96.7%

Adjusted EBITDA

$2.1

$(4.8)

144.1%

Adjusted EBITDA Margin

4.2%

(9.4)%

1360bps

_________________________

1 On December 22, 2023, the Company closed on a transaction to sell substantially all of the assets of Specialty Pipe & Tube (“SPT”). As a result, financial results from SPT have been categorized into discontinued operations.

Management Commentary

“Our stabilization efforts and aggressive self-help have started to yield tangible results in Q2 2024, despite continued soft market conditions,” said Ascent CEO Bryan Kitchen. “Our relentless efforts to reduce costs, improve strategic sourcing and optimize our product mix have led to a significant year-over-year improvement in adjusted EBITDA and bottom-line results, while also right-sizing the organization for long-term growth.

“It has been our goal to create a more predictable, reliable, and profitable operating model, and I am proud that we are beginning to deliver on that goal. Momentum is building, and we are optimistic about our ability to achieve incremental financial improvements throughout the year while enhancing the quality of our business development pipeline. With a healthy balance sheet and no outstanding debt, we continue to build the foundation for long-term growth. Our actions are positioning Ascent to fully execute our growth strategy, delivering durable value for our shareholders.”

Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Net sales from continuing operations were $50.2 million compared to $50.4 million in the second quarter of 2023. The slight decline is primarily attributable to a decrease in pricing partially offset by an increase in volume across both segments.

Gross profit from continuing operations increased to $5.9 million, or 11.7% of net sales, compared to $(0.8) million, or (1.5)% of net sales, in the second quarter of 2023. The increase was primarily attributable to continued cost and product mix optimization initiatives leading to cost improvements across both segments.

Net loss from continuing operations improved to $(0.2) million, or $(0.02) diluted loss per share, compared to net loss from continuing operations of $(6.1) million, or $(0.60) diluted loss per share, in the second quarter of 2023. The improvement was primarily attributable to the aforementioned increase in gross profit and a year-over-year decrease in interest expense due to lower debt outstanding.

Adjusted EBITDA increased to $2.1 million compared to $(4.8) million in the second quarter of 2023, with adjusted EBITDA margin increasing significantly to 4.2% compared to (9.4)% in the prior year period. The improvement was primarily driven by the aforementioned cost and product mix optimization initiatives.

Segment Results

Ascent Chemicalsnet sales in the second quarter of 2024 increased slightly to $21.5 million compared to $21.4 million in the second quarter of 2023. Operating income in the second quarter improved to $0.4 million compared to operating loss of $0.8 million in the prior year period. Adjusted EBITDA in the second quarter increased significantly to $1.7 million compared to $0.3 million in the prior year period. As a percentage of segment net sales, adjusted EBITDA increased significantly to 7.9% compared to 1.5% in the second quarter of 2023.

Ascent Tubularnet sales from continuing operations in the second quarter of 2024 were $28.7 million compared to $29.0 million in the second quarter of 2023. Operating income from continuing operations in the second quarter increased to $0.9 million compared to operating loss from continuing operations of $3.3 million in the prior year period. Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations in the second quarter increased significantly to $1.7 million compared to $(2.5) million in the prior year period. As a percentage of segment net sales, adjusted EBITDA was 5.9% compared to (8.5)% in the second quarter of 2023.

Liquidity

As of June 30, 2024, the Company had no debt outstanding under its revolving credit facilities and had $62.7 million in availability under its revolving credit facility.

For the quarter ended June 30, 2024, the Company repurchased 15,233 shares at an average cost of $10.25 per share for approximately $0.2 million.

Conference Call

Ascent will conduct a conference call today at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time to discuss its results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024.

Ascent management will host the conference call, followed by a question-and-answer period.

Date: Tuesday, August 6, 2024

Time: 5:00 p.m. Eastern time

Live Call Registration Link: Here

Webcast Registration Link: Here

To access the call by phone, please register via the live call registration link above or here and you will be provided with dial-in instructions and details. If you have any difficulty connecting with the conference call, please contact Gateway Group at 1-949-574-3860.

The conference call will also be broadcast live and available for replay via the webcast registration link above or here. The webcast will be archived for one year in the investor relations section of the Company’s website at www.ascentco.com.

About Ascent Industries Co.

Ascent Industries Co. (Nasdaq: ACNT) is a company that engages in a number of diverse business activities including the production of specialty chemicals and industrial tubular products. For more information about Ascent, please visit its website at www.ascentco.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may include "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other applicable federal securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements can be identified through the use of words such as "estimate," "project," "intend," "expect," "believe," "should," "anticipate," "hope," "optimistic," "plan," "outlook," "should," "could," "may" and similar expressions. The forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and to review the risks as set forth in more detail in Ascent Industries Co.’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K, which filings are available from the SEC or on our website. Ascent Industries Co. assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information included in this release.

Non-GAAP Financial Information

Financial statement information included in this earnings release includes non-GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) measures and should be read along with the accompanying tables which provide a reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to GAAP measures.

Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure that the Company believes is useful to investors in evaluating its results to determine the value of a company. An item is excluded in the measure if its periodic value is inconsistent and sufficiently material that not identifying the item would render period comparability less meaningful to the reader or if including the item provides a clearer representation of normalized periodic earnings. The Company excludes in Adjusted EBITDA two categories of items: 1) Base EBITDA components, including: interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, and 2) Material transaction costs including: goodwill impairment, asset impairment, gain on lease modification, stock-based compensation, non-cash lease cost, acquisition costs and other fees, shelf registration costs, loss on extinguishment of debt, retention costs and restructuring & severance costs from net income.

Management believes that these non-GAAP measures are useful because they are key measures used by our management team to evaluate our operating performance, generate future operating plans and make strategic decisions as well as allow readers to compare the financial results between periods. Non-GAAP measures should not be considered as an alternative to any measure of performance or financial condition as promulgated under GAAP, and investors should consider the Company's performance and financial condition as reported under GAAP and all other relevant information when assessing the performance or financial condition of the Company. Non-GAAP measures have limitations as analytical tools, and investors should not consider them in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of the Company's results or financial condition as reported under GAAP.

Ascent Industries Co.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands, except par value and share data)

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

June 30, 2024

 

December 31, 2023

Assets

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

$

3,595

 

 

$

1,851

 

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for credit losses of $808 and $463, respectively

 

30,154

 

 

 

26,604

 

Inventories

 

45,917

 

 

 

52,306

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

3,988

 

 

 

4,879

 

Assets held for sale

 

1,259

 

 

 

2,912

 

Current assets of discontinued operations

 

65

 

 

 

861

 

Total current assets

 

84,978

 

 

 

89,413

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

27,643

 

 

 

29,755

 

Right-of-use assets, operating leases, net

 

27,073

 

 

 

27,784

 

Intangible assets, net

 

7,752

 

 

 

8,496

 

Deferred income taxes

 

7,663

 

 

 

5,808

 

Deferred charges, net

 

54

 

 

 

104

 

Other non-current assets, net

 

3,075

 

 

 

1,935

 

Total assets

$

158,238

 

 

$

163,295

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

Accounts payable

$

16,790

 

 

$

16,416

 

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

 

6,472

 

 

 

5,108

 

Current portion of note payable

 

914

 

 

 

360

 

Current portion of operating lease liabilities

 

1,194

 

 

 

1,140

 

Current portion of finance lease liabilities

 

286

 

 

 

292

 

Current liabilities of discontinued operations

 

1,213

 

 

 

1,473

 

Total current liabilities

 

26,869

 

 

 

24,789

 

Long-term portion of operating lease liabilities

 

29,110

 

 

 

29,729

 

Long-term portion of finance lease liabilities

 

1,163

 

 

 

1,307

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

54

 

 

 

60

 

Total non-current liabilities

 

30,327

 

 

 

31,096

 

Total liabilities

$

57,196

 

 

$

55,885

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders' equity:

 

 

 

Common stock, par value $1 per share; 24,000,000 shares authorized; 11,085,103 and 10,124,737 shares issued and outstanding, respectively

$

11,085

 

 

$

11,085

 

Capital in excess of par value

 

47,111

 

 

 

47,333

 

Retained earnings

 

52,098

 

 

 

58,517

 

 

 

110,294

 

 

 

116,935

 

Less: cost of common stock in treasury - 960,366 and 990,282 shares, respectively

 

(9,252

)

 

 

(9,525

)

Total shareholders' equity

 

101,042

 

 

 

107,410

 

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

$

158,238

 

 

$

163,295

 

Note: The condensed consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2023 have been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at that date.

Ascent Industries Co.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) - Comparative Analysis (Unaudited)

($ in thousands, except per share data)

 

Three Months Ended

June 30,

 

Six Months Ended

June 30,

 

 

2024

 

 

 

2023

 

 

 

2024

 

 

 

2023

 

Net sales

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tubular Products

$

28,721

 

 

$

28,992

 

 

$

52,536

 

 

$

60,053

 

Specialty Chemicals

 

21,468

 

 

 

21,363

 

 

 

41,764

 

 

 

45,112

 

All Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

50

 

 

 

50,189

 

 

 

50,355

 

 

 

94,300

 

 

 

105,215

 

Operating income (loss) from continuing operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tubular Products

 

889

 

 

 

(3,302

)

 

 

(613

)

 

 

(6,596

)

Specialty Chemicals

 

429

 

 

 

(806

)

 

 

(1,010

)

 

 

546

 

All Other

 

(100

)

 

 

(74

)

 

 

(261

)

 

 

(552

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unallocated corporate expenses

 

(1,429

)

 

 

(2,750

)

 

 

(3,579

)

 

 

(6,455

)

Acquisition costs and other

 

(52

)

 

 

(17

)

 

 

(52

)

 

 

(274

)

Total Corporate

 

(1,481

)

 

 

(2,767

)

 

 

(3,631

)

 

 

(6,729

)

Operating loss

 

(263

)

 

 

(6,949

)

 

 

(5,515

)

 

 

(13,331

)

Interest expense, net

 

72

 

 

 

1,047

 

 

 

199

 

 

 

2,154

 

Other, net

 

(93

)

 

 

(154

)

 

 

(212

)

 

 

(247

)

Loss from continuing operations before income taxes

 

(242

)

 

 

(7,842

)

 

 

(5,502

)

 

 

(15,238

)

Income tax benefit

 

(44

)

 

 

(1,693

)

 

 

(1,210

)

 

 

(3,301

)

Loss from continuing operations

 

(198

)

 

 

(6,149

)

 

 

(4,292

)

 

 

(11,937

)

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

 

(728

)

 

 

(8,487

)

 

 

(2,127

)

 

 

(7,898

)

Net loss

$

(926

)

 

$

(14,636

)

 

$

(6,419

)

 

$

(19,835

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss per common share from continuing operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

$

(0.02

)

 

$

(0.60

)

 

$

(0.42

)

 

$

(1.18

)

Diluted

$

(0.02

)

 

$

(0.60

)

 

$

(0.42

)

 

$

(1.18

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss per common share from discontinued operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

$

(0.07

)

 

$

(0.84

)

 

$

(0.21

)

 

$

(0.77

)

Diluted

$

(0.07

)

 

$

(0.84

)

 

$

(0.21

)

 

$

(0.77

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss per common share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

$

(0.09

)

 

$

(1.44

)

 

$

(0.63

)

 

$

(1.95

)

Diluted

$

(0.09

)

 

$

(1.44

)

 

$

(0.63

)

 

$

(1.95

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average shares outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

10,126

 

 

 

10,170

 

 

 

10,110

 

 

 

10,159

 

Diluted

 

10,126

 

 

 

10,170

 

 

 

10,110

 

 

 

10,159

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA1

$

2,112

 

 

$

(4,754

)

 

$

(1,003

)

 

$

(8,489

)

1 The term Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure that the Company believes is useful to investors in evaluating its results to determine the value of a company. An item is excluded in the measure if its periodic value is inconsistent and sufficiently material that not identifying the item would render period comparability less meaningful to the reader or if including the item provides a clearer representation of normalized periodic earnings. The Company excludes in Adjusted EBITDA two categories of items: 1) Base EBITDA components, including: interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, and 2) Material transaction costs including: goodwill impairment, asset impairment, gain on lease modification, stock-based compensation, non-cash lease cost, acquisition costs and other fees, retention costs and restructuring & severance costs from net income. For a reconciliation of this non-GAAP measure to the most comparable GAAP equivalent, refer to the Reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) to Adjusted EBITDA.

Ascent Industries Co.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

($ in thousands)

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

2024

 

 

 

2023

 

Operating activities

 

 

 

Net loss

$

(6,419

)

 

$

(19,835

)

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

 

(2,127

)

 

 

(7,898

)

Net loss from continuing operations

 

(4,292

)

 

 

(11,937

)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

Depreciation expense

 

3,051

 

 

 

3,112

 

Amortization expense

 

744

 

 

 

752

 

Amortization of debt issuance costs

 

50

 

 

 

50

 

Deferred income taxes

 

(1,210

)

 

 

(5,515

)

Provision for losses on accounts receivable

 

264

 

 

 

32

 

Provision for losses on inventories

 

906

 

 

 

1,194

 

Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment

 

 

 

 

182

 

Non-cash lease expense

 

111

 

 

 

126

 

Stock-based compensation expense

 

368

 

 

 

404

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

(3,813

)

 

 

2,286

 

Inventories

 

5,483

 

 

 

16,086

 

Other assets and liabilities

 

(907

)

 

 

(251

)

Accounts payable

 

202

 

 

 

4,780

 

Accrued expenses

 

1,364

 

 

 

(402

)

Accrued income taxes

 

630

 

 

 

(743

)

Net cash provided by operating activities - continuing operations

 

2,951

 

 

 

10,156

 

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities - discontinued operations

 

(521

)

 

 

7,916

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

2,430

 

 

 

18,072

 

Investing activities

 

 

 

Purchases of property, plant and equipment

 

(770

)

 

 

(1,235

)

Net cash used in investing activities - continuing operations

 

(770

)

 

 

(1,235

)

Net cash used in investing activities - discontinued operations

 

 

 

 

(390

)

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(770

)

 

 

(1,625

)

Financing activities

 

 

 

Borrowings from long-term debt

 

107,700

 

 

 

139,137

 

Proceeds from note payable

 

914

 

 

 

900

 

Payments on long-term debt

 

(107,700

)

 

 

(156,166

)

Payments on note payable

 

(359

)

 

 

(387

)

Principal payments on finance lease obligations

 

(151

)

 

 

(151

)

Repurchase of common stock

 

(320

)

 

 

(504

)

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

84

 

 

 

(17,171

)

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

1,744

 

 

 

(724

)

Less: Cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations

 

 

 

 

1

 

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

 

1,851

 

 

 

1,440

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

$

3,595

 

 

$

717

 

Ascent Industries Co.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciliation

Reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) to Adjusted EBITDA (Unaudited)

($ in thousands)

 

Three Months Ended

June 30,

 

Six Months Ended

June 30,

($ in thousands)

 

2024

 

 

 

2023

 

 

 

2024

 

 

 

2023

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss from continuing operations

$

(198

)

 

$

(6,149

)

 

$

(4,292

)

 

$

(11,937

)

Adjustments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

72

 

 

 

1,047

 

 

 

199

 

 

 

2,154

 

Income taxes

 

(44

)

 

 

(1,693

)

 

 

(1,210

)

 

 

(3,301

)

Depreciation

 

1,531

 

 

 

1,563

 

 

 

3,051

 

 

 

3,112

 

Amortization

 

377

 

 

 

376

 

 

 

744

 

 

 

752

 

EBITDA

 

1,738

 

 

 

(4,856

)

 

 

(1,508

)

 

 

(9,220

)

Acquisition costs and other

 

67

 

 

 

16

 

 

 

79

 

 

 

277

 

Stock-based compensation

 

44

 

 

 

16

 

 

 

104

 

 

 

237

 

Non-cash lease expense

 

55

 

 

 

63

 

 

 

111

 

 

 

126

 

Retention expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

 

Restructuring and severance costs

 

208

 

 

 

7

 

 

 

208

 

 

 

91

 

Adjusted EBITDA

$

2,112

 

 

$

(4,754

)

 

$

(1,003

)

 

$

(8,489

)

% sales

 

4.2

%

 

 

(9.4

)%

 

 

(1.1

)%

 

 

(8.1

)%

Specialty Chemicals

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

$

409

 

 

$

(818

)

 

$

(1,049

)

 

$

523

 

Adjustments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

20

 

 

 

18

 

 

 

39

 

 

 

31

 

Depreciation expense

 

964

 

 

 

956

 

 

 

1,918

 

 

 

1,908

 

Amortization expense

 

179

 

 

 

158

 

 

 

348

 

 

 

317

 

EBITDA

 

1,572

 

 

 

314

 

 

 

1,256

 

 

 

2,779

 

Acquisition costs and other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

 

 

(23

)

 

 

7

 

 

 

(16

)

Non-cash lease expense

 

19

 

 

 

22

 

 

 

38

 

 

 

46

 

Restructuring and severance costs

 

109

 

 

 

 

 

 

109

 

 

 

 

Specialty Chemicals Adjusted EBITDA

$

1,700

 

 

$

313

 

 

$

1,410

 

 

$

2,811

 

% segment sales

 

7.9

%

 

 

1.5

%

 

 

3.4

%

 

 

6.2

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tubular Products

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss) from continuing operations

$

889

 

 

$

(3,303

)

 

$

(613

)

 

$

(6,595

)

Adjustments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation expense

 

546

 

 

 

585

 

 

 

1,091

 

 

 

1,160

 

Amortization expense

 

198

 

 

 

218

 

 

 

396

 

 

 

436

 

EBITDA

 

1,633

 

 

 

(2,500

)

 

 

874

 

 

 

(4,999

)

Acquisition costs and other

 

15

 

 

 

 

 

 

26

 

 

 

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

11

 

 

 

(18

)

Non-cash lease expense

 

25

 

 

 

31

 

 

 

50

 

 

 

61

 

Restructuring and severance costs

 

31

 

 

 

 

 

 

31

 

 

 

84

 

Tubular Products Adjusted EBITDA

$

1,704

 

 

$

(2,467

)

 

$

992

 

 

$

(4,872

)

% segment sales

 

5.9

%

 

 

(8.5

)%

 

 

1.9

%

 

 

(8.1

)%

 

Contacts

Company Contact

Ryan Kavalauskas

Chief Financial Officer

1-630-884-9181



Investor Relations

Cody Slach and Cody Cree

Gateway Group, Inc.

1-949-574-3860

ACNT@gateway-grp.com

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