Miller Industries Q1 2025 Earnings Report

Miller Industries EPS Results

• Actual EPS: $0.69
• Consensus EPS: $0.60
• Beat/Miss: Beat by +$0.09
• One Year Ago EPS: N/A

Miller Industries Revenue Results

• Actual Revenue: $225.65 million
• Expected Revenue: $224.35 million
• Beat/Miss: Beat by +$1.30 million
• YoY Revenue Growth: N/A

Miller Industries Announcement Details

• Quarter: Q1 2025
• Date: 5/7/2025
• Time: After Market Closes
• Conference Call Date: Thursday, May 8, 2025
• Conference Call Time: 10:00AM ET

Miller Industries (NYSE:MLR), together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells towing and recovery equipment. The company offers wreckers that are used to recover and tow disabled vehicles and other equipment; and car carriers, which are specialized flat-bed vehicles with hydraulic tilt mechanisms, which are used to transport new or disabled vehicles and other equipment. It also provides transport trailers for moving various vehicles for auto auctions, car dealerships, leasing companies, and other similar operations. The company markets its products under the Century, Vulcan, Challenger, Holmes, Champion, Chevron, Eagle, Titan, Jige, and Boniface brands. Miller Industries, Inc. sells its products through independent distributors in North America, and Canada, Mexico; and through prime contractors to governmental entities. Miller Industries, Inc. was incorporated in 1990 and is headquartered in Ooltewah, Tennessee.

Miller Industries Q1 2025 Earnings Call Transcript

Key Takeaways

• First quarter net sales fell 35.5% year-over-year to $225.7 million amid normalization of chassis shipments, while gross margin rose to 15% from 12.6% due to a favorable product mix.
• During the quarter, the company returned $4.4 million to shareholders via $2.1 million in share repurchases and dividends, and approved a quarterly dividend of $0.20 per share for the 58th consecutive quarter.
• As of March 31, cash increased to $27.4 million, accounts payable were reduced by $33 million, and inventories declined to $164.9 million, reflecting efforts to convert receivables to cash and improve working capital.
• Facing tariff uncertainty and evolving emissions rules, the company implemented a surcharge on new orders, raised parts and accessory prices, and is preparing for CARB‐compliant chassis deliveries in late 2025.
• The company reaffirmed full-year guidance of $950 million to $1 billion in revenue with EPS of $2.90 to $3.20, and expects annual gross margins of 13% to 13.5% and SG&A at approximately 9.5% of sales.

Presentation

[Operator]

Day, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the Miller Industries First Quarter twenty twenty five Results Conference Call. Please note this event is being recorded. And now at this time, I would now like to turn the call over to Mike Goudreaux at FTI Consulting. Please go ahead, sir.

[Mike Gaudreau, Senior Director - M&A, Activism Defense & Capital Markets at FTI Consulting]

Thank you, and good morning, everyone. I would like to welcome you to the Miller Industries conference call. We are here to discuss the company's twenty twenty five first quarter results, which were released after the close of the market yesterday. With us from the management team today are Bill Miller, Chairman of the Board Will Miller, President and CEO Debbie Whitmire, Executive Vice President and CFO and Frank Vedonia, Executive Vice President, Secretary, and General Counsel. Today's call will begin with formal remarks from management, followed by a question and answer session.

[Mike Gaudreau, Senior Director - M&A, Activism Defense & Capital Markets at FTI Consulting]

Please note in this morning's conference call, management may make forward looking statements in accordance with the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. I'd like to call your attention to the risks related to these statements, which are more fully described in the company's annual report filed on Form 10 ks and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. At this time, I'd like to turn the call over to Will. Please go ahead, Will.

[William Miller, Director, President & CEO at Miller Industries]

Good morning, everyone, and thank you for joining us today. Miller Industries is the world's largest manufacturer of towing and recovery equipment. Our product lines span light, medium, and heavy duty recovery vehicles, car carriers, military recovery solutions and more. With 10 manufacturing facilities across The United States, France and The UK, we are uniquely positioned to serve our global customer base. Our long standing leadership in the industry is built on a foundation of exceptional people, best in class products, and the strongest distribution network in the towing and recovery market.

[William Miller, Director, President & CEO at Miller Industries]

Moving to our first quarter performance. Despite macroeconomic uncertainty, we are pleased with the results that align with our expectations. We continue to execute on our strategy of returning to a normalized channel flow, which will position us for growth in the future. We have used this period as an opportunity to reduce field inventory and product lead times, streamline operations, evaluate our supply chain, and return capital to shareholders. Now I'll turn the call over to Debbie to walk through the quarter in more detail, and I'll return later to speak on our outlook, regulatory developments, and capital allocation.

[Deborah Whitmire, Executive VP, CFO & Treasurer at Miller Industries]

Thanks, Will, and good morning, everyone. For the first quarter of twenty twenty five, net sales were $225,700,000 compared to $349,900,000 in the same quarter last year, a decline of 35.5%. This was largely driven by chassis shipment patterns normalizing after prior irregular deliveries of OEMs as they emerged from supply chain disruptions. Gross profit for the first quarter was $33,900,000 or 15% of net sales compared to $44,200,000 or 12.6% of net sales for the same period in 2024. The margin improvement was due in part to product mix with a higher percentage of body deliveries relative to chassis shipments.

[Deborah Whitmire, Executive VP, CFO & Treasurer at Miller Industries]

As always, margins are sensitive to this mix, and this quarter, it plays our advantage. Net income for the first quarter of twenty twenty five was $8,100,000 or $0.69 per diluted share compared to net income of $17,000,000 or $1.47 per diluted share in the prior year period. As Will alluded to, during the quarter we returned $4,400,000 to our shareholders comprised of $2,100,000 of share repurchases and the remaining balance of our industry leading dividend. The Board also recently approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 per share payable 06/09/2025 to shareholders of record at the close of business on 06/02/2025, the fifty eighth consecutive quarter that the company has paid the dividend. Returning capital to our shareholders has always been a core part of our identity and will continue to be a key area of focus as we move forward.

[Deborah Whitmire, Executive VP, CFO & Treasurer at Miller Industries]

Shifting to the balance sheet, we have a cash balance of $27,400,000 as of 03/31/2025, compared to $24,300,000 as of 12/31/2024. During the quarter, we reduced accounts payable by nearly $33,000,000 We also improved collections on our accounts receivable, which declined by roughly $21,000,000 compared to year end. We expect our receivables to continue to convert into cash at a faster rate as inventory levels for both Miller Industries and our distributors normalize in the second half of twenty twenty five. Inventories were $164,900,000 as of 03/31/2025, compared to $186,200,000 as of 12/31/2024. We're seeing a gradual decline from inventory levels following the strategic investments we made in inventory throughout 2024 to meet the increased demand levels we witnessed.

[Deborah Whitmire, Executive VP, CFO & Treasurer at Miller Industries]

While inventories and working capital remained slightly elevated, the increased inventory levels have proved advantageous in the current environment, providing us with greater flexibility and reaction time as market conditions and tariff developments evolve. That said, we're proud of the progress we have made to reduce our working capital thus far and we'll continue these efforts to improve free cash flow generation through the remainder of 2025. Our debt balance was $75,000,000 as of the end of the first quarter, and while we feel comfortable about our current leverage position, we have historically been a debt averse company. Reducing our debt levels will continue to be a key focus as cash conversion improves. As I stated before, our blended margin comprised of chassis and unit margins is correlated directly to our product mix.

[Deborah Whitmire, Executive VP, CFO & Treasurer at Miller Industries]

On slide six, you'll see that we've illustrated this dynamic visually to provide a clear explanation. We explained last quarter how post COVID supply chain disruptions led to increased volatility in chassis deliveries and therefore increased fluctuations in our margins. As you can see, this quarter gross margins remained relatively stable even while chassis deliveries picked up slightly. Looking ahead, as chassis deliveries continue to increase, we would expect an inverse relationship with gross margins. I'd like to again reiterate that this is not a demand issue.

[Deborah Whitmire, Executive VP, CFO & Treasurer at Miller Industries]

Demand remains strong. The challenge has been inconsistent deliveries from our suppliers, which have resulted in a strain on our distribution channel's ability to deliver finished units. Now I'll turn the call back to Will to discuss some key considerations for 2025.

[William Miller, Director, President & CEO at Miller Industries]

Thank you, Debbie. I'd like to provide some insight into what we see moving forward. First, the chassis situation. Our decision last year to hold deliveries allowed our distribution partners to begin to work through elevated inventory. This was a deliberate move that may have had impact near term sales, but was critical to protecting the health of our channel.

[William Miller, Director, President & CEO at Miller Industries]

As a result, both body and chassis inventory levels are now approaching normal levels. I will get into more detail on this dynamic in the following slide. Second, global military demand remains robust. We are seeing continued RFQ activity for military vehicles, both domestically and internationally. This is a positive signal and one we are prepared to respond to.

[William Miller, Director, President & CEO at Miller Industries]

Third, while the tariff environment continues to evolve, we've taken proactive steps to ensure we remain well positioned regardless of the outcome. We recently implemented a tariff surcharge on all new orders of manufactured product, as well as an additional price increase on all accessories and part sales. We continue to diversify our supply chain where we can, including further reduction of our already minimal exposure in China. That said, many critical components used in our products are not available domestically, and full on shoring of our supply chain is not currently feasible for us or anyone else in our industry. However, we remain confident that the diversity and strength of our supply chain will allow us to navigate the uncertainties.

[William Miller, Director, President & CEO at Miller Industries]

We continue to actively monitor these developments and will adjust guidance accordingly as more clarity emerges. Fourth, what remains a point of uncertainty is the advanced clean truck regulation, which affects our ability to supply our existing products to customers in six large states. We are aware of the ongoing regulatory activity to revoke the ACT waiver that supports these regulations, but we're planning as if no material changes will occur as a result of this activity. As I mentioned last quarter, we expect one of our major suppliers to begin delivering CARB compliant chassis later this year, with broader availability in early twenty twenty six. This gives us confidence in our ability to meet customer needs over time, even with no change in the regulatory environment.

[William Miller, Director, President & CEO at Miller Industries]

Lastly, despite some uncertainty, we feel very comfortable in our ability to improve free cash flow generation, and we'll continue to prioritize returning capital to shareholders and paying down our debt balance with this cash flow. Slide eight gives an updated picture of the inventory activity in our distribution channel. We entered last year with constrained inventory, saw an influx of chassis in Q1, Q2 and Q3, and chose to slow down deliveries in Q4 to maintain a healthy distribution channel, which is critical to our success. Now we're seeing inventory continue to decline, particularly chassis inventory, with both bodies and chassis moving towards optimal levels. This gives us the confidence that we will not only be able to collect receivables and convert cash in a more timely manner, but also accelerate sales in the second half of the year.

[William Miller, Director, President & CEO at Miller Industries]

Moving on to the CARB and the Advanced Clean Truck initiative, the situation remains dynamic, making it difficult for us to forecast if and when we may be able to resume normal operations and satisfy the continued buildup of demand we have from customers in these states. However, there have been some notable updates. On April 14, the Massachusetts DEP announced a delay in its ZEV requirement for chassis OEMs. Additionally, the U. S.

[William Miller, Director, President & CEO at Miller Industries]

House of Representatives recently passed Joint Resolution 87, aiming to revoke the waiver that allows California and other states to enforce the ACT regulation. Additionally, the Senate has proposed Senate Bill nine ninety six to amend the Clean Air Act. Regardless of the outcome, we are positioning the company to adapt. Our investments in lobbying, compliance, and product alignment will serve us well in a dynamic regulatory landscape. Our suppliers are also making efforts to become CARB compliant as early as the end of twenty twenty five.

[William Miller, Director, President & CEO at Miller Industries]

We continue to believe these regulations unnecessarily impact our downstream customers, who face strong demand but lack access to compliant products. As car compliant vehicles begin to roll out, we expect this pent up demand to be normalized in 2026. Now shifting gears to capital allocation and our continued focus on our strategy and priorities. In line with our long standing business practices, we continue to prioritize returning capital to our shareholders. Our quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 per share increased by 5.3% compared to the prior year.

[William Miller, Director, President & CEO at Miller Industries]

Additionally, we repurchased $2,100,000 of stock in the first quarter and still have $20,000,000 remaining on our share repurchase program. Consistent with our company's long standing practices, we will prioritize reducing our debt balance to maintain flexibility and be in a position to take advantage of future opportunities. And lastly, we continue to evaluate capacity expansion, both domestically and in Europe. As mentioned earlier, there is a strong activity in the military sector, which we are monitoring closely. As always, we will prioritize innovation, automation, and investing in our people, as it is what has led Miller Industries to become the world's largest manufacturer of towing and recovery equipment.

[William Miller, Director, President & CEO at Miller Industries]

Looking ahead, we are reaffirming our full year revenue guidance of $950,000,000 to $1,000,000,000 which would be our third highest performance on record, and continue to expect an EPS range from $2.9 to $3.2 per diluted share. We anticipate our annual gross margin to be comparable to the prior year in the range of 13% to 13.5%, and SG and A as a percentage of sales for the full year to be approximately 9.5%. This guidance assumes no major changes in regulations, unforeseen supply chain issues or significant tariff impacts. We believe we are well positioned for ongoing improvement and strong free cash flow throughout the second half of the year, with significant growth potential in 2026 and beyond. To close, we are pleased with our current position.

[William Miller, Director, President & CEO at Miller Industries]

Underlying fundamentals in our end markets are strong, and we're executing on our strategy as planned, continuing to strengthen our business over time and returning capital to shareholders. Our leading position in this industry is the result of decades of focused investments in our people, our products and our partners. Our foundation remains strong and we look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead. In closing, the entire management team and I would like to thank all of our employees, suppliers, customers, and shareholders for their continued support. At this time, we'd like to open the line for any questions.

[Operator]

Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, we will now begin the question and answer session. Should you have any question, please press the star followed by the number one on your touch tone phone. Your Your first question comes from the line of Mike Slisky from D. A.

[Operator]

Davidson.

[Michael Shlisky, Managing Director & Senior Equity Research Analyst at D.A. Davidson]

I

[Michael Shlisky, Managing Director & Senior Equity Research Analyst at D.A. Davidson]

guess, first off I guess first off, can you talk about broad demand for tow trucks regardless of who's buying the chassis? I I'm kind of curious how were order trends during the first quarter in units? And has that continued with April and May?

[William Miller, Director, President & CEO at Miller Industries]

Retail activity that we can see through our distribution channel remains consistent with the last few quarters. We believe that similar to last year, there's still a lot of uncertainty in the marketplace. Customers waiting to see the total impact of the tariff situation, as well as waiting to see what potential tax incentives and what gets passed through the tax bill up and coming.

[Michael Shlisky, Managing Director & Senior Equity Research Analyst at D.A. Davidson]

Okay, great. Then on the tariff topic, could you maybe share a broad number as to how much of your COGS you think comes from China? And from what you know today, I mean, you you didn't change your guidance. We've had the tariffs passed. I'd be curious if can tell us whether what has as things stand away with tariffs, it really has not affected your guidance all that much, Or are you just waiting to see how things turn up, what's not changing anything?

[William Miller, Director, President & CEO at Miller Industries]

Well, I think the tariff situation's really pretty, don't know, say volatile, but pretty open ended at this moment in time. We did announce that we did price increase to try to get in front of it, a surcharge, tariff surcharge on all new orders. We've also implemented a price increase both on parts and accessory sales that took place last month to be a little bit proactive on what may occur in the future. From a China perspective, it's very minimal exposure from direct purchases from Miller Industries. I don't know that I can speak to the impact of the rest of our supply chain, what they may purchase from China, but directly it's minimal.

[William Miller, Director, President & CEO at Miller Industries]

From a broader perspective, we do source products from around the globe, from the EU, specifically Mexico, Canada. So waiting to see the final outcome of where all the tariff situation lands is certainly important for us, but difficult at this time with minimal information to really ascertain a total impact, although we are watching it closely, and we'll make adjustments as needed.

[Michael Shlisky, Managing Director & Senior Equity Research Analyst at D.A. Davidson]

Great, thank you. And then on the gross margin side, you just did 15% in the first quarter, yet you still maintain, if I heard you correctly, 13% to 15% to 25% for the full year. Even when you were shipping a really large number of the full package from Miller, it was still in the 13%. So I'd be curious, are there any weird headwinds you should be thinking about that half of the year that I'm not thinking about? Or are you just trying to keep things cautious until the tariff situation plays out?

[William Miller, Director, President & CEO at Miller Industries]

No, I think we're cautiously optimistic with regards to tariffs and everything else and how they may impact us. From a gross margin perspective, yes, you are correct that annualized last year we were in that thirteen, thirteen point five. We've had a good start. We do anticipate chassis shipments to increase throughout the remainder of the year, which will certainly have some effect downward effect on the margins, but then also just being somewhat cautious with the unknown landscape moving forwards.

[Michael Shlisky, Managing Director & Senior Equity Research Analyst at D.A. Davidson]

Great. Maybe one last one for me. Can you outline this little more comment on the chat the inventory situation that the dealers, which was very illuminating, but it's hard to really tell Can you just give us a sense as to how many months you think are left until the dealers are at the correct number? And how it's gone so far this year? Has it performed to what you expected?

[William Miller, Director, President & CEO at Miller Industries]

Yeah. So as you saw from the chart, chassis have now dropped below body inventory, which is a positive direction for us. They're still relatively close. It's a lot of small numbers, right? So the two graphs are still pretty in line with one another.

[William Miller, Director, President & CEO at Miller Industries]

We anticipate another thirty to ninety days of probably additional inventory and field inventory before we really start to

[William Miller, Director, President & CEO at Miller Industries]

see

[William Miller, Director, President & CEO at Miller Industries]

chassis orders start to pick up back to normalized levels, except those states that are CARB compliant like California. As soon as they can start to receive CARB compliant chassis that they've placed orders for this year, they certainly are looking to capitalize on that as quickly as possible.

[Michael Shlisky, Managing Director & Senior Equity Research Analyst at D.A. Davidson]

Great. Thank you so much, and I appreciate your indulgence in all those questions. I'll pass it along.

[William Miller, Director, President & CEO at Miller Industries]

All right. Absolutely. Absolutely. We appreciate it, Mike. Thank you so much.

[William Miller, Director, President & CEO at Miller Industries]

Have a great day.

[Operator]

Thank you. There are no further questions at this time. Turning over back to Will. Please go ahead.

[William Miller, Director, President & CEO at Miller Industries]

Thank you. I'd like to thank you all again for joining us on the call today, and we look forward to speaking with you on our second quarter conference call. If you would like information on how to participate and ask questions on the call, please visit our Investor Relations website, millerind.com/investors, or email investors. Relationsmillerind dot com. Thank you, and may God bless you all.

[Operator]

Ladies and gentlemen, this concludes your conference call for today. We thank you for participating and ask that you please disconnect your lines.

Participants

Executives

• William Miller, Director, President & CEO
• Deborah Whitmire, Executive VP, CFO & Treasurer

Analysts

• Mike Gaudreau, Senior Director - M&A, Activism Defense & Capital Markets at FTI Consulting
• Michael Shlisky, Managing Director & Senior Equity Research Analyst at D.A. Davidson