Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Q2 2023 Earnings Call Transcript

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August 1, 2023

There are 7 speakers on the call.

Operator

And thank you for standing by. Welcome to the Second Quarter 2023 Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Corporation Earnings Conference Call. At this time, all participants are in listen only mode. After the speakers' presentation, there will be the question and answer session. Please be advised that today's conference is being recorded.

Operator

I would now like to hand the conference over to our first speaker today, Tina Baginskis. Please go ahead.

Speaker 1

Good morning, and welcome to our Q2 2023 conference call. Joining me on this call This morning is President and Chief Executive Officer, Lasse Petterson and our Chief Financial Officer, Scott Kornblau. Lasse will provide an update on the events of the quarter, then Scott will continue with an update on our financial results for the quarter. Lasse will conclude with an update on the outlook for the business And the market. Following their comments, there will be an opportunity for questions.

Speaker 1

During this call, we will make certain forward looking statements to help you understand our business. These statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations. Certain risk factors inherent in our business are set forth in our earnings release and in filings with the SEC, including our 2022 Form 10 ks During this call, we also refer to certain non GAAP financial measures, including adjusted EBITDA, which are explained in the net income to adjusted EBITDA reconciliation attached to our earnings release and posted on our Investor Relations website along with certain other operating data. With that, I will turn the call over to Lasse.

Speaker 2

Thank you, Tina. As we indicated in our last earnings call, the difficulties we faced in 2022 as a result of the severely delayed bid The second quarter EBITDA It's a result of an improved bid market and our cost saving initiatives, which resulted in improved project margins. All combined, These resulted in an adjusted EBITDA of $16,600,000 our highest EBITDA since the Q1 of 2022. Although not all of the challenges from 2022 are behind us, we continue to see positive developments in both A large number and a better mix of projects coming to bid, which provides us with confidence that we are on our path to return to normal operations and results towards the latter part of 2023 and into 2024. The total bid market through June 30, 2023 was €930,000,000 of which we won $310,000,000 or 33 percent of the total market bid.

Speaker 2

This is nearly 3 times the amount won by the next closest peer. The first half year bid market saw several bids for port deepening and improvement projects totaling 350,000,000 of which we won 56%, including the $160,000,000 Pre Port Phase 2 project, on which we will utilize A varied suite of dredging equipment that only Great Lakes can provide. We ended the quarter with $434,000,000 of the dredging backlog, which does not include approximately $50,000,000 of performance obligations related to offshore wind contracts And $487,000,000 in low bids and options pending award. Included in the low bids pending award were 2 LNG projects There have been waiting notice to proceed from our clients. In July post quarter end, we received notice to proceed on the Rio Grande LNG project, which will be now the largest project undertaking in 133 year history.

Speaker 2

Work on establishing the dredge material containment areas is scheduled to start later this year with the major dredging networks bids coming to the market and post quarter end, we would owe bidder on an additional $137,000,000 of projects, which We'll likely be awarded an added to backlog during the Q3 together with the Rio Grande LNG project, resulting in a total backlog exceeding $900,000,000 today when all these projects have been included for and awarded. As we stated, the company took swift And proactive action on cost reductions and fleet utilization adjustments. Last year, we retired the 42 year old hopper dredge in Terrapin Island, And we currently have cold stacked dredges and various support equipment in anticipation of an improved dredging market In the latter part of 2023 and onwards, as we previously stated, cold stacked vessels can easily be reactivated as the market continues to improve. These initiatives have led to substantially reduced cost in 2023, which has allowed us to navigate the impact On the delayed 2022 bid market, correspondingly, we have reduced our G and A and overhead cost structures By more than 15%, adjusting to the current market conditions. On July 20, this year, We were honored to have President Biden attend the steel cutting ceremony for Great Lakes Offshore Wind Rock Installation Vessel, the Acadia.

Speaker 2

President Biden was joined by Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon, Marrow Administrator Rear Admiral Anne Phillips Metal Trades Department, AFL CIO, Jimmy Hart and President of SIU, Dave Heinden SIU crew are hopper dredges. Also present were senior executives from our current and potential clients. Post quarter end, we signed the 1st ever subcontractor procurement of U. S. Sourced rock with Carver Sand and Gravel LLC from a quarry in the state of New York.

Speaker 2

Both milestones solidify our entry into the offshore wind market and will support Great Lakes' Awarded rock installation contract with Equinor for the Empire Wind 1 and 2 projects with installation windows in 2025 and 2026. As we continue to adjust to the current market situation, we remain optimistic in the long term outlook for the dredging market And our ongoing fleet renewal program is fundamental in our strategy to continue to be the U. S. Dredging industry leader. After decommissioning several of our oldest dredges back in 2017, we have invested in productivity upgrades 2 of her best performing vessels and our new hopper dredge, the Gaveston Island is expected to be operational in the Q3 of 2023.

Speaker 2

And her sister ship, the Amelia Island is expected to be delivered in 2025. I'll now turn the call over to Scott to further discuss the results for the quarter, and then I'll provide a further commentary around the market and our business.

Speaker 3

Thank you, Lasse, and good morning, everyone. For the Q2 of 2023, revenues were $132,700,000 Net income was $1,700,000 and adjusted EBITDA was $16,600,000 Revenue of $132,700,000 in the Q2 of 2023 decreased $16,700,000 from the prior year 2nd quarter. The quarter over quarter decrease in revenue was primarily due to lower utilization as the recently retired Terrapin Island Worked most of the prior year Q2 and 2 currently cold stacked dredges that didn't work in the Q2 of 2023 We're operating in the same quarter last year. Partially offsetting the decrease in revenue and utilization were less dry docking days in the Q2 of 2023 compared to 2022. Despite the lower quarter over quarter revenue, current Quarter gross profit and gross profit margin increased to $17,900,000 13.5 percent respectively compared to $10,500,000 7% respectively in the Q2 of 2022.

Speaker 3

The increase in gross margin is primarily due to improved project performance, lower operating costs Due to our continued focus on cost reduction and fewer dry dockings in the current year quarter. In addition, during the quarter, We recorded a $2,400,000 benefit to cost related to a legal settlement on a previously completed enclosed project. 2nd quarter 2023 G and A of $14,500,000 is $3,700,000 higher than the same quarter last year. The increase in general and administrative expenses from the prior year was primarily due to a one time non recurring adjustment In the prior year quarter, higher office rent due to the expansion of our Houston headquarters and lower incentive pay in the prior year quarter offset partially by a decrease in headcount and lower legal and recruiting expense. Operating income for the current quarter of $3,700,000 increased $4,000,000 from the prior year quarter's net loss of $300,000 driven by the improved gross profit.

Speaker 3

Net interest expense of $3,200,000 primarily due to an increase in capitalized interest related to our newbuild program, partially offset by current quarter revolver interest expense. 2nd quarter 2023 net income tax provision of $800,000 compared The $900,000 of income tax benefit from the same quarter of 2022 and was driven by the higher current quarter income. Rounding out the P and L, net income for the Q2 2023 was $1,700,000 up from a $4,000,000 net loss in the prior year quarter. Turning to the balance sheet. We ended the Q2 of 2023 with $42,100,000 in cash $55,000,000 drawn On our $300,000,000 revolver, which doesn't mature until the Q3 of 2027.

Speaker 3

Total capital expenditures for the Q2 of 2020 3 were $19,400,000 consisting of $12,500,000 for the Amelia Island, dollars 2,900,000 for the Multi Cats, $2,000,000 for the Galveston Island, dollars 1,000,000 for the build of the Acadia and $1,000,000 for maintenance CapEx. Full year CapEx guidance of approximately $175,000,000 remains unchanged, but can increase or decrease depending on the Timing of newbuild milestone payments. As previously discussed, in January of this year, we applied with the Maritime Administration Or MARAD, which is a unit of the Department of Transportation for Title XI financing on our new wind vessel, which typically comes with very attractive terms. The review process is ongoing and progressing, but in parallel, we continue to explore other sources of capital. Though our backlog and more specifically our capital project backlog is drastically increasing, Most of the new work starts towards the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024, so we will not See a major impact from these projects in the Q3.

Speaker 3

Costs will likely increase during the Q3 As we have 2 dredges that will be in the shipyard undergoing their regulatory dry dockings, both dredges are expected to return to work in the 4th quarter. Also during the Q3, we will have a previously cold stacked dredge in the shipyard for reactivation As she is expected to commence work in the Q4 of 2023 on a recently won project. With no further regulatory dry dockings or shipyard stays planned for the remainder of the year, a better mix of capital projects in backlog And the Galveston Island coming online, the 4th quarter is shaping up nicely, which should provide strong momentum going into 2024. With that, I'll turn the call back over to Lasse for his remarks on the outlook moving forward.

Speaker 2

Thank you, Scott. We continue to see strong support from the Biden administration and Congress for the dredging industry. In December 2022, The Omnibus Appropriation Bill for fiscal year 2023 was signed into law, which included another record budget of $8,700,000,000 For the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works Program, of which $2,300,000,000 is provided for the Harbour Maintenance Trust Fund to maintain and modernize our nation's waterways.

Speaker 2

In addition, the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act Fiscal year 2020 3 was approved, which includes $1,400,000,000 for the Corps to take necessary repairs to infrastructure impacted by hurricanes and other natural disasters and to initiate beach renourishment projects that will increase coastal resiliency. This increased budget and additional funding has resulted in a strong bid market in the first half of twenty twenty three, which we expect will continue for the remainder of the year. Support for the dredging market. Supporting the dredging market is also the increase in major works for private clients. As stated previously, We have been awarded NextEca's dredging contract for their LNG project in Brownsville, Texas.

Speaker 2

And earlier in the Q2, Sempra made the FID decision To proceed with the Port Arthur LNG facility and the award for dredging services is expected to be issued in the next few months. In 2021, the Biden administration announced the ambitious goal of 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2,030 And provided $3,000,000,000 in federal loan guarantees for offshore wind projects. As stated previously, Great Lakes was awarded the rock installation contract for the Empire Wind 1 and 2 projects with installation windows in 2025 2020 6. In July of 'twenty three, the federal government further showed the support for offshore wind by providing approval for New Jersey's first Offshore wind farm to begin construction. And also in July 23, the Department of the Interior issued the final sales notice For the 1st ever offshore wind lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico, which will take place at the end of August.

Speaker 2

We have tendered bids for multiple offshore wind projects for rock placements in 2025 and beyond to support the work scheduled for the Arcadia SG starts operation. In conclusion, our main focus This year is to keep managing through the various challenges that the 2022 delayed bid market presented us. As expected, so far this year, we have seen a strong overall dredging market, including bids for a number of large capital projects. This, Combined with our fleet adjustments, cost reductions and productivity initiatives will ensure we continue to provide improved results for 2023 and onwards. And with that, I'll turn the call over for questions.

Operator

Thank you. Now we're going to take our first question. And the question comes from the line of Adam Thalhimer from Thompson Davis. Your line is open. Please ask your question.

Speaker 4

Hey, good morning guys. Congrats on the solid Q2. With the backlog kind of swinging from Lowest in a while in Q1 to probably record here in July. When do you think you're going to be fully utilized again?

Speaker 3

Yes. So good morning, Adam. Thanks for the question. So a number of our dredges now are Completely booked not only for this year, but well into next year. We have a couple of dredges that Still have some availability for this year, but that is very, very, very few.

Speaker 3

Q1 is also getting pretty booked already for next So when are we going to get full utilization? That, I can't say. I did mention, though, in my prepared remarks, we are In the midst of reactivating a previously cold stacked vessel that will work on one of these recent projects award that will start in the Q4. So it is a good problem to have where a year ago we were figuring out what we were going to do with dredges. Now we're trying to figure out with this A lot of work that's coming through, how we're going to get it all in.

Speaker 3

One of the things I will mention though, a number of these projects, the reason they're so attractive to us There's a lot of flexibility in the timing to get them done. So it does allow us to strategically move vessels around and move Certain scopes of work to the left and the right to try to fit all of this in.

Speaker 4

Okay. And then, There were 2 super jobs that you called out in the release. 1 was New York, New Jersey deepening and one was the $30,000,000,000 plus Texas job. What are your thoughts on timing of those jobs?

Speaker 2

Yes. The New York is was included in the WERDA. So the studies that the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers Our executing is ongoing, and we assume that it would take some 3 to 4 years before the actual dredgings to start.

Speaker 2

So that's kind of the time perspective. But it's important to also have a more longer term view when it comes to these capital projects so We see that there is a continuation of large projects as we go forward. Got it. Got it.

Speaker 4

And then lastly, the you had the legal gain in Q2, and then for the last year, we've been talking about, I think it was 3 jobs with differing site conditions. Are those two things related? And where do we stand on the differing site conditions?

Speaker 3

Yes. No, these are unrelated. This is a from a this one is very old. It's not a claim. It's just an old legal matter that had been Settled during the quarter, so just some balance sheet cleanup and pickup.

Speaker 3

The claims, they are progressing. The 2 larger ones that I've called out, I'm very comfortable that at least one of those gets closed out in the 3rd quarter. The second one, I'm confident if not Q3, it's Q4. We're making very good progress on both of those.

Speaker 4

Okay. I'll turn it over. Thank you. Thanks.

Operator

Thank Now we're going to take our next question. And the question comes from the line of Joe Gomez from Noble Capital. Your line is open. Please ask your question.

Speaker 5

Thanks and good morning for taking my questions.

Speaker 3

Good morning, Joe.

Speaker 5

So I wanted to start out on the core and kind of The sequencing here of the release is listening to one of your main competitors Last week, they continue to talk about a less than normal or less than historical level of award activity Out of the core, and you guys mentioned some of the capital projects that have been coming in, that were delayed in 2022, but Kind of get a better feel of what you guys are seeing or what your perception is on the Award level of the core, do you think it's kind of getting back to a more historical Level, do you still think there's more room for upside there?

Speaker 2

Yes. What we have seen is that the maintenance projects It's coming out as scheduled from the core. And in addition, we have seen an improvement in the capital projects that are coming out. We still see delays on some of the larger dredging projects, but combined now with the private Client market, the dredging market turns out to be good and the bid market is good here for 2023. So In short, maintenance projects are coming out as scheduled and some of the projects or the capital projects Has been bid, but there are still some delays.

Speaker 5

Okay. And on the NextDecade project, I was wondering if you might be able to talk a little bit more about that. You It's the largest and I think you did give us some sizing in terms of what your previous largest project was, but I don't know how much detail you can go into on that in terms of the stages and what kind of I know the revenue flow, I don't know if you can break it down into percentages. Have you seen that come in For that project and with a couple of these large other capital projects that you have, And if you were to win the other LNG, how will you stand capacity wise To be able to do all these at one time.

Speaker 2

Yes. The NextDecade has asked us not to Come out with the exact number for the project, so we are respecting that. The project is large. It's starting up now pretty soon with the other preparatory work that we need to do in order to build the containment areas And then as we get to the end of the year, beginning of next year, we will start with the main dredging that then goes on for Almost 2 years. It's a very good project.

Speaker 2

It utilizes our cutter dredges, Which the market has been very soft for over the last, let's say, 18 months. There are a couple of other capital projects out there, as I mentioned, that we are bidding and in position To execute, if we are successful, we have capacity to do those projects as well. So that's not a concern on that side.

Speaker 5

Okay. And then one more, if I may. Just Sky, if we could talk a little bit About the CapEx here, we've talked about the $175,000,000 guide for the year. In Q1, It was $28,700,000 even though the initial expectations were north of 70,000,000 In Q2, it was $19,400,000 even though expectations were $55,000,000 That leads a significant number, Roughly, let's call it $125,000,000 for the last two quarters here. And We talked last time we talked, you mentioned some stuff slipping to the right in the Q1 for a couple of weeks, but it seems like it's a lot more Then that the whole quarter at least, and maybe you can give us a little more insight as to what is going On the CapEx spend and how comfortable are you with the ability If you are to hit that $175,000,000 with financing it in the last kind of rush here in the last two quarters of the year.

Speaker 3

Yes. Thanks for the question, Joe. It is not unusual on these large Capital projects that have milestone payments for those various milestone payments to slip, that is what's happened here. Q3 will be a high CapEx number. We have already made some of those payments that were Expected end of June, they happened early July.

Speaker 3

So I do still stick by the $175,000,000 if 1 of the December payment slips and these are big payments that would lower that for this year but increase it for next year. The total amount We have left to spend on the newbuild program is still intact. And again, there's going to be these kind of ebbs and flows to the left and right. To answer your second question, the timing of this CapEx, whether it was more geared towards the first half of the year, second half year, It doesn't change the full year. It doesn't change the way that we were looking at it.

Speaker 3

Even though we are working not only on Title 11 but some other financing Alternative, nothing we need to do right now. Our $300,000,000 revolver had $55,000,000 drawn At the end of the first half, and we had cash on the balance sheet at the time. So we have plenty of liquidity To get us through end of the year into next year even with these large CapEx programs and As we mentioned, Q4 and into 2024 is looking to be much stronger years, which will help on the cash flow side of things.

Speaker 5

Okay, great. Thanks for that. Appreciate. I'll get back in the queue.

Operator

Thank you. And now we're going to take our next question. Just give us a moment. And the next question comes from the line of Jon Tanwanteng from CJS. Your line is open.

Operator

Please ask your question.

Speaker 6

Hi, good morning. It's Pete Lukas for John. You touched on in your prepared remarks in terms of cost reductions. Can you talk a little bit more about how much was permanent cost versus temporary? And what does this mean for your margin potential after Q3 when you return to better utilization And mix.

Speaker 3

Yes. So sorry, go ahead, Lasse. I'll jump in afterwards.

Speaker 2

Yes. It's what we have targeted was more than 15% reduction of SG and A and overhead cost, And that's on a permanent basis. So as activity is picking up, we will be careful not to add Any SG and A and there may be some overhead cost that needs to come, but I look upon this as a permanent saving on an annual Scott, do you want to have some details?

Speaker 3

Yes. And then specifically for this quarter, We did have a dry docking that should have started in Q2. It's going to start in Q3. So we will have some increased costs then. We just didn't have all the equipment.

Speaker 3

The dredge is working, so it just shifts. It doesn't really change anything for the year. It's just going to shift some Costs into Q3 instead of Q2 and also the margin that we earned on the vessel, which was fully utilized during the quarter, we'll have to Take her down. I'll also say, not only are we being very aggressive on a lot of our initiatives that we're doing to reduce cost, If you recall last year, because of the unusual bid market and we had a lot of dredges that were sitting at the dock, we did take advantage of that Time to be proactive and invest in the fleet then. So times like now that we're starting to see utilization pick up again, We didn't have to take vessels down, so that also is what's keeping the cost down.

Speaker 6

Very helpful. Thanks. And then, how much is left in potential change order settlements And what is the potential timing on those?

Speaker 3

Yes. So as I mentioned earlier, the ones that Called out last year because they were unusual by the size that we had. As I just mentioned, I do expect one of those We'll settle in the Q3 and the largest of them, if not in the Q3, we're having very advanced dialogues. That one gets done. That one, I'd be very surprised if it does not get done this year.

Speaker 3

As we had said last year, Between the 2 of them, we're in teens 1,000,000 of dollars. So these were Pretty large claims in the scope of thing. Fortunately, the reason we called them out last year is because they were large In nature and unfortunately hit at the same time, we thought it was an anomaly and that's holding out true. We have not seen Those sort of claims like we did see last year.

Speaker 6

Very helpful. Thanks. And last one for me. What can we expect in terms of what are you seeing in terms of wind signings? And are you expecting Acadia to be working at 100% capacity?

Speaker 2

Yes. Katie has scheduled to come out in 2025 and she goes to work on the Empire Wind project. And in addition to doing the rock installation that is supporting the monopile, We're also seeing a number of bids coming out for protection, so on clay cables, which will then Help with the utilization in addition to the main work, which is the foundation's support. So we are seeing good opportunities We're having her fully utilized in 2026 and onwards.

Speaker 6

Very helpful. Thanks. I'll jump back in the queue.

Operator

Thank you. There are no further questions at this time. I would now like to hand the conference over to Tina Baginskis for any closing remarks.

Speaker 1

Thank you. We appreciate the support of our shareholders, employees and business partners, and we thank you for joining us in this discussion about the important developments and initiatives in our business. We look forward to speaking with you during our next earnings discussion.

Operator

This concludes today's conference call. Thank you for your participation. You may now disconnect. Have a

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Key Takeaways

  • In Q2 2023 Great Lakes achieved its highest quarterly adjusted EBITDA since Q1 2022 at $16.6 million, turning a prior-year net loss into $1.7 million in net income on revenues of $132.7 million.
  • The company won 33% of the H1 2023 bid market—nearly three times its next peer—with total bids of $930 million and is on track to grow its dredging backlog to over $900 million following post-quarter awards including the record-sized Rio Grande LNG project.
  • Swift cost reduction and fleet optimization initiatives, including cold-stacking older dredges and retiring a 42-year-old vessel, have cut G&A and overhead by more than 15% and boosted project margins.
  • Great Lakes made its first foray into offshore wind with the steel-cutting of the Acadia rock installation vessel—attended by President Biden—and signed its first U.S.-sourced rock subcontract to support Equinor’s Empire Wind 1&2 in 2025–26.
  • The fleet renewal program remains on schedule with the new hopper dredge Galveston Island entering service in Q3 2023 and Amelia Island due in 2025, while CapEx guidance of ~$175 million stands unchanged as the company prepares for stronger utilization in Q4 2023 and into 2024.
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Earnings Conference Call
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Q2 2023
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