AGX - Argan Inc. Reports Year-End and Fourth Quarter Results and Announces Increase to Share Repurchase Program

Argan, Inc. (NYSE: AGX) (“Argan” or the “Company”) today announces financial results for its fiscal year and fourth quarter ended January 31, 2022. For additional information, please read the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, which the Company intends to file today with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The Annual Report can be retrieved from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or from the Company’s website at www.arganinc.com .

Summary Information (dollars in thousands, except per share data)

“For the year, we were pleased to see increases in our business at all of our subsidiaries, resulting in an increase of 30% in our consolidated revenues year over year,” Rainer Bosselmann, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Argan, said. “We are working hard to continue winning new projects to replace certain of our major projects expected to be completed this year. While it was difficult to see a few of our identified EPC project developments become unsuccessful, and for us to record certain impairments and writeoffs, we still believe there are a number of meaningful projects that will start this year for each of our subsidiaries. Since year end, our business in Ireland already has received two limited notices to proceed with early activities related to the construction of new gas-fired power plant facilities near Dublin. Also, we continue to be pleased with the current execution on all of our major projects despite the well-publicized global supply chain disruptions and current inflationary challenges.

Delivering value to our customers and stockholders is our top priority. We are committed to a disciplined capital allocation strategy that balances returning capital to our stockholders and investing in our business and people. With this in mind, our Board of Directors approved an increase in the Company's existing share repurchase program, from $50 million to $75 million. We look forward to building on our Fiscal 2022 successes with a strong Fiscal 2023.”

Fiscal Year 2022 Results

Consolidated revenues for the year ended January 31, 2022 (“Fiscal 2022”) were $509.4 million, which represented an increase of $117.2 million, or 29.9%, from consolidated revenues of $392.2 million reported for January 31, 2021 (“Fiscal 2021”). Revenues of the power industry services business increased by $78.7 million, or 24.7%, to $398.1 million for Fiscal 2022 compared to revenues of $319.4 million for Fiscal 2021. The revenues of this business represented 78.2% of consolidated revenues for Fiscal 2022 and 81.4% of consolidated revenues for the prior year. The primary drivers for the strong performance by the power industry services segment were increased revenues associated with the construction of the Guernsey Power Station and the Maple Hill Solar energy facility.

The revenues of industrial fabrication and field services increased by $32.6 million, or 50.0%, to $97.9 million for Fiscal 2022. Revenues for this segment for Fiscal 2022 and 2021 represented approximately 19.2% and 16.6% of corresponding consolidated revenues, respectively. The improvement in the current year business of this segment, which occurred primarily in field services, reflected increased project activity for several customers due to, in part, reduced COVID-19 challenges.

The amount of consolidated gross profit increased by 60.5% to $99.7 million for Fiscal 2022, or 19.6% of corresponding consolidated revenues, from the consolidated gross profit amount of $62.1 million reported for Fiscal 2021, which was 15.8% of corresponding consolidated revenues. The year-over-year improvement reflected the favorable impacts of the higher consolidated revenues and favorable gross profit contributions from all reportable business segments.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for Fiscal 2022 and Fiscal 2021 were $47.3 million, or 9.3% of corresponding consolidated revenues, and $39.0 million, or 10.0% of corresponding consolidated revenues, respectively. Additionally, as previously disclosed, due to the unsuccessful project development efforts by the Company’s consolidated VIE, we recorded an impairment loss related to capitalized project development costs in the amount of $7.9 million during the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2022, of which $2.5 million was attributed to the non-controlling interest.

Due primarily to the consolidated pre-tax book income reported for Fiscal 2022 in the amount of $47.1 million, we reported income tax expense in the amount of $11.4 million for the year. For Fiscal 2021, we reported consolidated pre-tax book income of $24.9 million and recorded income tax expense in the amount of $1.1 million, which amount is net of a $4.4 million net operating loss carryback benefit.

For Fiscal 2022, our improved overall operating performance resulted in net income attributable to our stockholders in the amount of $38.2 million, or $2.40 per diluted share. For Fiscal 2021, we reported net income attributable to our stockholders in the amount of $23.9 million, or $1.51 per diluted share.

As of January 31, 2022, cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled $440 million and net liquidity was $284 million; furthermore, the Company had no debt. The Company’s consolidated amount of RUPO was approximately $0.4 billion as of January 31, 2022.

Fourth Quarter Results

Consolidated revenues for the quarter ended January 31, 2022 were $125.6 million, which represented an increase of $8.4 million, or 7.2%, from consolidated revenues of $117.2 million reported for the three months ended January 31, 2021. The primary drivers of revenues for the three months ended January 31, 2022 related to the construction of the Guernsey Power Station, the Maple Hill Solar energy facility and new Atlantic Projects Company projects. Gross profits increased slightly by $0.1 million to $22.2 million during the three months ended January 31, 2022 from $22.1 million for last year’s fourth quarter. However, our gross profit percentage for the current quarter declined to 17.7% of corresponding consolidated revenues, from 18.8% of corresponding revenues for last year’s fourth quarter, primarily due to a decrease in gross profits in our industrial fabrication and field services business.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the three months ended January 31, 2022 and 2021 were $15.5 million and $10.2 million, respectively. The $5.3 million increase primarily reflected certain write offs and liability accruals associated with business development investments and other activities and with increased incentive compensation and other personnel costs. Additionally, we recorded the aforementioned impairment loss during the three months ended January 31, 2022.

As a result, our net income attributable to our stockholders for the three months ended January 31, 2022 declined to $2.2 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, compared to $9.6 million, or $0.60 per diluted share, for the prior year quarter.

Share Repurchase Program

Yesterday, the Company’s Board of Directors approved an increase in the existing program to repurchase shares of the Company's common stock from $50 million to $75 million. To date, the Company has repurchased 969,831 shares of common stock at a cost of approximately $37.5 million under the program.

The Board’s authorization permits the Company to make purchases of its common stock from time to time in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions, subject to market and other conditions, up to the aggregate authorized amount. The authorization of the Board of Directors allows the repurchase of shares through January 2024.

About Argan

Argan’s primary business is providing a full range of services to the power industry, including the renewable energy sector. Argan’s service offerings focus on the engineering, procurement and construction of natural gas-fired power plants and renewable energy facilities, along with related commissioning, operations management, maintenance, project development and consulting services, through its Gemma Power Systems and Atlantic Projects Company operations. Argan also owns The Roberts Company, which is a fully integrated fabrication, construction and industrial plant services company, and SMC Infrastructure Solutions, which provides telecommunications infrastructure services.

Certain matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Reference is hereby made to the cautionary statements made by the Company with respect to risk factors set forth in its most recent reports on Form 10-K, Forms 10-Q and other SEC filings. The Company’s future financial performance is subject to risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the successful addition of new contracts to project backlog, the receipt of corresponding notices to proceed with contract activities, the Company’s ability to successfully complete the projects that it obtains and the resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic due to the spread of various variants. The Company has several signed EPC contracts that have not started and may not start as forecasted due to market and other circumstances beyond its control. Actual results and the timing of certain events could differ materially from those projected in or contemplated by the forward-looking statements due to the risk factors highlighted above and described regularly in the Company’s SEC filings.

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Company Contact:
Rainer Bosselmann
301.315.0027

Investor Relations Contact:
David Watson
301.315.0027