BWX Technologies(BWXT) - 2025 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - First quarter revenue was $682 million, up 13% year over year, with growth in both segments [21] - Adjusted EBITDA was$ 130 million, also up 13% year over year, driven by robust growth in government operations [21] - Adjusted earnings per share increased to $0.91, a 20% rise compared to$ 0.76 last year [22] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Government operations saw a revenue increase of 14%, driven by naval propulsion and special materials [24] - Commercial operations revenue was $128 million, up 10% year over year, led by growth in medical and commercial power [25] - Adjusted EBITDA margin for government operations was 21.1%, while commercial operations saw a margin of 10.9%, down 100 basis points due to unfavorable mix and cost absorption [26] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The commercial operations backlog reached a record$ 1.3 billion, up 39% from the previous quarter and 78% year over year [15] - The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission authorized the construction of the first BWRX 300 unit, marking a significant milestone for North America's first SMR project [16] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on expanding its nuclear services portfolio and enhancing its manufacturing capacity in North America [7][17] - BWXT is positioned to benefit from long-term investments in nuclear technologies driven by decarbonization and increasing electricity demand [5][6] - The company is actively pursuing opportunities in government contracts, particularly in energy security and environmental restoration projects [11][12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to weather macroeconomic disruptions due to long-cycle contracts and a strong balance sheet [8] - The administration's focus on naval nuclear fleet and nuclear modernization is expected to support a revenue CAGR of 3% to 5% in the government operations segment [11] - The market for nuclear medicine is anticipated to grow significantly, driven by increasing volumes of SPECT and PET scanning procedures [20] Other Important Information - Free cash flow for the quarter was $17 million, with capital expenditures at$ 33 million, or 4.9% of sales [21][23] - The company expects full-year free cash flow to be between $265 million and$ 285 million [23] Q&A Session Summary Question: Were the negative EACs all at government operations? - The negative EACs were about half from commercial operations and half from government operations, with specific impacts noted in the fuel business [32][33] Question: Do you see BWXT as in line to get any of the funding from the recent appropriations? - There is optimism regarding potential funding from the reconciliation bill, particularly for domestic defense enrichment and DoD nuclear reactors [36][42] Question: Can you provide an update on the Actinium-225 effort? - The company remains the largest commercial producer of Actinium-225 and is exploring multiple production modalities [98] Question: What is the status of the enrichment contract and pilot program? - The pilot program is in the conceptual stage, focusing on designing a pilot plant for centrifuge-type enrichment technology [62][63] Question: How is the company managing the zirconium cost impact? - The company has strong relationships with customers that allow for a path through mechanism to mitigate unforeseen risks related to raw material costs [89]