AZZ Q3 Earnings In Line With Estimates, Revenues Surpass

AZZ Inc. (NYSE:AZZ) reported earnings per share of 84 cents in third-quarter fiscal 2020 (ended Nov 30, 2019), which is in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Moreover, the bottom line improved significantly from the year-ago quarter’s earnings of 59 cents by 42.4%.

Total Revenues

In the quarter under review, the company reported revenues of $291.1 million that surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $276 million by 5.5%.

Driven by strength in its reportable segments, the top line increased 21.6% from $239.5 million registered in the prior-year quarter. Revenues from the Energy and Metal Coatings segments increased 20.2% and 22.7% year over year, respectively.

Backlog & Bookings

Bookings in third-quarter fiscal 2020 were up 24.8% year over year to $263.7 million.

At the end of fiscal third quarter, the company’s total backlog was $274.5 million, down 10.8% from $307.8 million in the year-ago quarter. Of the existing backlog, 36% will be delivered outside the United States.

Quarterly Highlights

Total operating income in the quarter increased 47% to $33.4 million from the year-ago figure of $22.7 million.

Selling, general and administrative expenses came in at $34 million, up from $27 million in the prior-year quarter.

Interest expenses fell 10.8% to $3.3 million from $3.7 million in the prior-year quarter.

Financial Highlights

Cash and cash equivalents as of Nov 30, 2019 amounted to $14.3 million compared with $17.4 million in the year-ago period.

Long-term debt (net) was $254.8 million as of Nov 30, 2019 compared with $240.7 million on Feb 28, 2019.

Net cash used in operating activities at the end of first nine months of 2019 was $72 million compared with $58.1 million in the corresponding period of 2018.

Guidance

The company reaffirmed its fiscal 2020 earnings per share guidance in the range of $2.60-$2.90, whose midpoint of $2.75 is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.79 for fiscal 2020. It expects revenues guidance in the range of $1,020-$1,060 million.

Zacks Rank

AZZ currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Other Releases

Eaton Corporation (NYSE:ETN) reported third-quarter 2019 earnings of $1.52 per share, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a penny.

Regal Beloit Corporation (NYSE:RBC) delivered better-than-expected results for the third quarter of 2019, with earnings surpassing estimates by 1.5%.

Emerson Electric Co’s (NYSE:EMR) fourth-quarter fiscal 2019 (ended Sep 30, 2019) earnings of $1.07 per share were in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate.

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