Astec Industries Reports Second Quarter Results

Astec Industries Reports Second Quarter Results

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., July 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Astec Industries, Inc. NASDAQ: ASTE today reported results for their second quarter ended June 30, 2008.

Net income for the second quarter of 2008 was $0.93 per diluted share compared to $0.83 per diluted share for the second quarter of 2007 for a 12.0% increase.

Revenues for the second quarter of 2008 were $277.7 million compared with $226.4 million for the second quarter of 2007 for a 22.7% increase. Excluding revenues attributable to Peterson Pacific Corp., which was acquired in July, 2007, revenues for the second quarter were $256.0 million for a 13.1% increase. Domestic sales accounted for $184.7 million during the second quarter of 2008 compared to $156.6 million during the second quarter of 2007. International sales accounted for $93.0 million of revenues during the second quarter of 2008 compared to $69.8 million during the second quarter of 2007. The Company reported net income of $21.1 million for the second quarter of 2008 compared to net income of $18.5 million for the second quarter of 2007 for an increase of 14.1%. The Company's backlog at June 30, 2008 was $264.6 million compared to $235.4 million at June 30, 2007 (including backlog attributable to Peterson) for a 12.4% increase.

Consolidated financial statements for the second quarter ended June 30, 2008 and additional information related to segment revenues and profits are attached as addenda to this press release.

Commenting on the announcement, Dr. J. Don Brock, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We are pleased with the Company's second quarter earnings. International sales continue to be strong, accounting for 33.5% of the second quarter volume. Gross margin for the quarter declined from 26.0% for the second quarter of 2007 to 23.9% for the second quarter of 2008. Rapid increases in the costs of steel and components were the primary reasons for the decline in gross margin. Year-to-date gross margin for 2008 has only declined 1.1% compared to the first half of 2007. We anticipate that inflation will continue to be a challenge during the second half of 2008. Some of our subsidiaries have implemented two price increases this year and are reviewing the need for additional increases to maintain or improve gross margins. We will continue our other initiatives to deal with inflation. We look forward to the second half of 2008 with a backlog at June 30, 2008 of $264.6 million compared to $263.0 million at March 31, 2008. Some of the deliveries in the backlog extend beyond the third quarter of 2008. The cost of oil and asphalt continues to cause states to increase the percentage of recycled materials used for highway paving. Asphalt equipment sales have improved and should continue to benefit from recycle related equipment sales."

Investor Conference Call and Web Simulcast

Astec will conduct a conference call on July 21, 2008 at 10:00 A.M. Eastern Time to review its second quarter results as well as current business conditions. The number to call for this interactive teleconference is (877) 407-9210. International callers should dial (201) 689-8049. Please reference Astec Industries.

The company will also provide an online Web simulcast and rebroadcast of the conference call. The live broadcast of Astec's conference call will be available online at the Company's website: www.astecindustries.com/www/docs/100, Conference Calls Section. An archived webcast will be available for 90 days at www.astecindustries.com.

A replay of the conference call will be available through midnight on Monday, July 28, 2008 by dialing (877) 660-6853, or (201) 612-7415 for international callers, Account #286, Conference ID# 291359. A transcription of the conference call will be made available under the Investor Relation section of the Astec Industries, Inc. website within 5 days after the call.

Astec Industries, Inc. is a manufacturer of specialized equipment for building and restoring the world's infrastructure. Astec's manufacturing operations are divided into four business segments: aggregate processing and mining equipment; asphalt production equipment; mobile asphalt paving equipment; and underground boring, directional drilling and trenching equipment. Astec also has a company engaged in the wood chipping and grinding industry.

The information contained in this press release contains "forward-looking statements" (within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) regarding the future performance of the Company, including statements about the Company's financial performance for the third and fourth quarters and future generally, the ability to maintain or improve margins, the economy, inflation and our initiatives regarding inflation, the increase in sales of recycling equipment and international sales. These forward-looking statements reflect management's expectations and are based upon currently available information, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise such statements. These statements are not guarantees of performance and are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which cannot be predicted or anticipated. Future events and actual results, financial or otherwise, could differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause future events or actual results to differ materially include: general uncertainty in the economy, downturns in the general economy or the commercial construction industry, the cyclical nature of the commercial, construction industry and the customization of the equipment the Company sells, increases in the price of oil or decreases in the availability of oil, increases in the price of raw materials, a failure to comply with covenants in the Company's credit agreement, contingent liability for certain customer debt, rising interest rates, rising steel and steel component pricing, delayed or decreased funding for highway construction and maintenance, increased government regulation, managing and expanding in international markets, the timing of large contracts, the costs of introducing new equipment systems, the Company's production capacity, demand for the Company's products, seasonality of sales volumes, competitive activity and those other factors listed from time to time in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.



                   Astec Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                         Consolidated Balance Sheets
                                (In thousands)
                                 (Unaudited)

                                                   Jun 30            Jun 30
                                                    2008              2007
                   Assets
    Current assets
    Cash and cash equivalents                      $39,491           $72,166
    Receivables, net                               107,853            81,984
    Inventories                                    234,175           166,663
    Prepaid expenses and other                      16,925            14,073
    Total current assets                           398,444           334,886
    Property and equipment, net                    147,039           121,426
    Other assets                                    51,916            31,527
    Total assets                                  $597,399          $487,839
           Liabilities and shareholders' equity
    Current liabilities
    Accounts payable - trade                       $63,470           $47,679
    Other accrued liabilities                       94,541            73,129
    Total current liabilities                      158,011           120,808
    Other non-current liabilities                   22,620            20,673
    Minority interest in consolidated
     subsidiary                                        825               778
    Total shareholders' equity                     415,943           345,580
    Total liabilities and shareholders'
     equity                                       $597,399          $487,839



                   Astec Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                    Consolidated Statements of Operations
                                (In thousands)
                                 (Unaudited)


                                   Three Months Ended       Six Months Ended
                                         Jun 30                  Jun 30
                                    2008        2007        2008        2007

    Net sales                    $277,703    $226,414    $540,775    $441,976
    Cost of sales                 211,414     167,471     408,266     328,660
    Gross profit                   66,289      58,943     132,509     113,316
    Selling, general,
     administrative &
     engineering expenses          33,589      30,318      72,369      60,848
    Income from operations         32,700      28,625      60,140      52,468
    Interest expense                  120         201         252         616
    Other income, net of
     expenses                         412         714         839       1,400
    Income before income taxes
     and minority interest         32,992      29,138      60,727      53,252
    Income taxes                   11,921      10,584      22,080      19,330
    Minority interest in
     earnings (loss)                   (1)         49          56          83
    Net income                    $21,072     $18,505     $38,591     $33,839


    Earnings per Common Share
    Net income
              Basic                 $0.95       $0.85       $1.73       $1.55
              Diluted               $0.93       $0.83       $1.71       $1.52


    Weighted average common
     shares outstanding
              Basic            22,283,071  21,879,134  22,260,085  21,762,265
              Diluted          22,633,760  22,400,284  22,592,148  22,298,140



                   Astec Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                         Segment Revenues and Profits
              For the three months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007
                                (in thousands)
                                 (Unaudited)


                                   Aggregate Mobile
                                      and    Asphalt Under-
                            Asphalt  Mining  Paving  ground    All
                             Group   Group   Group   Group    Others   Total

         2008 Revenues       72,329  92,395  55,055  36,211   21,713  277,703
         2007 Revenues       66,638  88,993  40,390  30,393      -    226,414
            Change $          5,691   3,402  14,665   5,818   21,713   51,289
            Change %           8.5%    3.8%   36.3%   19.1%     -       22.7%

       2008 Gross Profit     18,001  22,528  13,557   8,307    3,897   66,290
      2008 Gross Profit %     24.9%   24.4%   24.6%   22.9%    17.9%    23.9%
    2007 Gross Profit (Loss) 18,056  22,866  10,721   7,315      (15)  58,943
      2007 Gross Profit %     27.1%   25.7%   26.5%   24.1%     -       26.0%
             Change             (55)   (338)  2,836     992    3,912    7,347

       2008 Profit (Loss)    11,445  11,910   8,037   3,544  (14,051)  20,885
       2007 Profit (Loss)    11,718  12,330   5,748   2,279  (13,630)  18,445
            Change $           (273)   (420)  2,289   1,265     (421)   2,440
            Change %          (2.3%)  (3.4%)  39.8%   55.5%    (3.1%)   13.2%

Segment revenues are reported net of intersegment revenues. Segment gross profit is net of profit on intersegment revenues. A reconciliation of total segment profits to the Company's consolidated net income is as follows:

                                            For the three months ended June 30
                                                    2008             2007

    Total profit for all segments                 $20,885          $18,445
    Minority interest in loss (earnings)
     of subsidiary                                      1              (49)
    Recapture of intersegment profit                  186              109
    Consolidated net income                       $21,072          $18,505



                   Astec Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                         Segment Revenues and Profits
               For the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007
                                (in thousands)
                                 (Unaudited)

                                  Aggregate  Mobile
                                     and     Asphalt Under-
                          Asphalt  Mining    Paving  ground    All
                           Group    Group    Group   Group    Others   Total

        2008 Revenues     143,914  183,484  102,186  68,854   42,337  540,775
        2007 Revenues     131,647  171,337   84,339  54,653      -    441,976
          Change $         12,267   12,147   17,847  14,201   42,337   98,799
          Change %           9.3%     7.1%    21.2%   26.0%      -      22.4%

      2008 Gross Profit    37,607   45,685   26,149  15,409    7,658  132,508
     2008 Gross Profit %    26.1%    24.9%    25.6%   22.4%    18.1%    24.5%
      2007 Gross Profit
           (Loss)          35,983   43,745   20,902  12,711      (25) 113,316
     2007 Gross Profit %    27.3%    25.5%    24.8%   23.3%      -      25.6%
           Change           1,624    1,940    5,247   2,698    7,683   19,192

     2008 Profit (Loss)    23,289   22,169   14,565   5,389  (26,776)  38,636
     2007 Profit (Loss)    23,171   22,705   11,225   3,292  (26,740)  33,653
          Change $            118     (536)   3,340   2,097      (36)   4,983
          Change %           0.5%    (2.4%)   29.8%   63.7%    (0.1%)   14.8%

Segment revenues are reported net of intersegment revenues. Segment gross profit is net of profit on intersegment revenues. A reconciliation of total segment profits to the Company's consolidated net income is as follows:

                                              For the six months ended June 30
                                                     2008               2007

    Total profit for all segments                  $38,636            $33,653
    Minority interest in earnings of
     subsidiary                                        (56)               (83)
    Recapture of intersegment profit                    11                269
    Consolidated net income                        $38,591            $33,839



                   Astec Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                              Backlog by Segment
                            June 30, 2008 and 2007
                                (in thousands)
                                 (Unaudited)

                                    Aggregate Mobile
                                       and    Asphalt Under-
                            Asphalt  Mining   Paving  ground    All
                             Group    Group   Group   Group   Others   Total

         2008 Backlog       123,273  104,852   5,373  18,443  12,683  264,624
         2007 Backlog       101,373  100,892  11,856  14,730   6,530  235,381
           Change $          21,900    3,960  (6,483)  3,713   6,153   29,243
           Change %           21.6%     3.9%  (54.7%)  25.2%   94.2%    12.4%
Website: http://www.astecindustries.com//




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