North American Construction Group Ltd. Announces Record Results for the Second Quarter Ended June 30, 2023

Press Release

ACHESON, Alberta, July 26, 2023– North American Construction Group Ltd. (“NACG”) today announced results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2023. Unless otherwise indicated, financial figures are expressed in Canadian dollars, and comparisons are to the prior period ended June 30, 2022.

Second Quarter 2023 Highlights:

• Equipment utilization of 61% benefited from the strong momentum heading into the quarter, a quick spring break up in April, and continued steady demand for heavy equipment but was impacted in June by unusually wet weather as well as a required fleet remobilization in the oil sands region.
• Reported revenue of $193.6 million, compared to $168.0 million in the same period last year, was generated primarily by the equipment fleet in the oil sands region. When comparing to Q2 2022, the revenue increase included full quarter impacts of updated equipment rates and the acquisition of ML Northern Services Ltd.
• Combined revenue of $277.0 million, compared to $228.0 million in the same period last year, reflected both the demand for our heavy equipment fleet as well as another strong quarter from the increasing capacities of our Indigenous joint ventures.
• Our net share of revenue from equity consolidated joint ventures of $158.5 million compared favourably to $125.8 million in the same period last year. Quarterly revenue was primarily generated by our Indigenous joint ventures but activity, scope and run rates within the Fargo-Moorhead project continue to increase.
• Adjusted EBITDA of $51.8 million and margin of 18.7% compared favorably to the prior period metrics of $41.6 million and 18.3%, respectively, and set a new Q2 record for the Company as revenue increases drove higher gross EBITDA while margin improvements were mostly offset during the month of June from difficult working conditions and fleet remobilization.
• Cash flows generated from operating activities of $40.2 million, compared to $35.5 million in the same period last year, as the higher earnings generated were largely offset by the timing of lower cash dividends received from joint ventures and the settlement of deferred share units that occurred during the quarter.
• Free cash flow used in the quarter was $4.3 million as adjusted EBITDA was primarily used for sustaining capital maintenance and cash interest. Timing of cash distributions from our joint ventures impact quarterly free cash flow but are expected to be realized prior to year end.
• Net debt was $394.3 million at June 30, 2023, an increase of $10.2 million from March 31, 2023, as timing impacts of free cash flow, growth spending, and dividends required debt financing during the quarter.
• The equipment rebuilding program continued its momentum with the sale and commissioning of another ultra-class unit bringing the total Mikisew joint venture haul truck fleet to sixteen.

“The second quarter is always the most difficult to navigate from an operating perspective, but despite the rainy weather and fleet remobilization, the business posted historical high Q2 results in almost every fundamental metric we measure. These results further increase my confidence in the NACG team and our business continuing to meet or exceed expectations while advancing our overall corporate strategy. The Fargo-Moorhead project is hitting its stride and, as we surpass the 10% completion mark, this project will become a meaningful contributor for several years. The business remains focused on executing and I am excited about the second half of the year,” said Joseph Lambert, President and CEO.

Consolidated Financial Highlights

		Three months ended								Six months ended
		June 30,								June 30,
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)			2023				2022				2023				2022
Revenue		$	193,573			$	168,028			$	436,178			$	344,739
Total combined revenue(i)			276,953				227,954				597,570				464,540
Gross profit			21,531				12,440				62,450				34,391
Gross profit margin(i)			11.1	%			7.4	%			14.3	%			10.0	%
Combined gross profit(i)			36,194				21,839				91,932				54,347
Combined gross profit margin(i)(ii)			13.1	%			9.6	%			15.4	%			11.7	%
Operating income			10,270				6,301				35,797				21,943
Adjusted EBITDA(i)(iii)			51,833				41,649				136,456				99,389
Adjusted EBITDA margin(i)(iii)			18.7	%			18.3	%			22.8	%			21.4	%
Net income			12,262				7,514				34,108				21,071
Adjusted net earnings(i)			12,489				4,717				37,766				19,316
Cash provided by operating activities			40,185				35,485				72,009				59,670
Cash provided by operating activities prior to change in working capital(i)			27,145				33,373				92,980				78,227
Free cash flow(i)			(4,282	)			10,393				(30,395	)			(928	)
Purchase of PPE			38,419				27,121				74,915				52,386
Sustaining capital additions(i)			38,311				22,341				85,502				56,580
Growth capital additions(i)			2,748				—				2,748				—
Basic net income per share		$	0.46			$	0.27			$	1.29			$	0.75
Adjusted EPS(i)		$	0.47			$	0.17			$	1.43			$	0.69

⁽ⁱ⁾See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures”.
⁽ⁱⁱ⁾Combined gross profit margin is calculated using combined gross profit over total combined revenue.
⁽ⁱⁱⁱ⁾Adjusted EBITDA margin is calculated using adjusted EBITDA over total combined revenue.

		Three months ended								Six months ended
		June 30,								June 30,
(dollars in thousands)			2023				2022				2023				2022
Cash provided by operating activities		$	40,185			$	35,485			$	72,009			$	59,670
Cash used in investing activities			(39,236	)			(25,092	)			(80,153	)			(51,903	)
Capital additions financed by leases			(7,979	)			—				(24,999	)			(8,695	)
Add back:
Growth capital additions(i)			2,748				—				2,748				—
Free cash flow(i)		$	(4,282	)		$	10,393			$	(30,395	)		$	(928	)

⁽ⁱ⁾See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures”.

Declaration of Quarterly Dividend

On July 25, 2023, the NACG Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly dividend (the “Dividend”) of ten Canadian cents ($0.10) per common share, payable to common shareholders of record at the close of business on August 31, 2023. The Dividend will be paid on October 6, 2023, and is an eligible dividend for Canadian income tax purposes.

Financial Results for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2023

Revenue of $193.6 million represented a $25.5 million (or 15%) increase from Q2 2022. Revenue across all major sites in the oil sands region has continued to see year-over-year revenue growth with our heavy equipment fleet at Fort Hills driving the largest increase as the site continues to ramp up. Equipment utilization of 61% benefited from the strong momentum heading into the quarter, a quick spring break up in April, and continued steady demand for heavy equipment but was significantly impacted in June by unusually wet weather as well as a required fleet remobilization in the oil sands region. Maintenance headcount levels have remained consistent which continues to lower equipment repair backlog and increased mechanical availability. The purchase of ML Northern Services Ltd.’s (“ML Northern”) fuel and lube fleet, which occurred on October 1, 2022, and DGI Trading had modest impacts on revenue increases with services and sales provided to external customers. Lastly, another ultra-class haul truck was sold to and commissioned by the Mikisew North American Limited Partnership (“MNALP”), bringing its haul truck fleet to sixteen.

Combined revenue of $277.0 million represented a $49.0 million (or 21%) increase from Q2 2022. Our share of revenue generated in Q2 2023 by joint ventures and affiliates was $83.4 million, compared to $59.9 million in Q2 2022 (an increase of 39%). Consistent with the prior year, top-line performance was driven by the Nuna Group of Companies (“Nuna”), as they continued their project execution at the gold mine in Northern Ontario. The other drivers of the revenue increases were the joint ventures dedicated to the Fargo-Moorhead flood diversion project, which posted solid top-line revenue as the project ramps up, and the aforementioned expanding revenue capacity from rebuilt ultra-class and 240-ton haul trucks directly owned by MNALP.

Adjusted EBITDA of $51.8 million represented an increase of $10.2 million (or 24%) from the Q2 2022 result of $41.6 million, consistent with increases in combined revenue. The adjusted EBITDA margin of 18.7% reflected normal impacts typically incurred in the second quarter during the transition from winter to spring at the mine sites, particularly in Fort McMurray. In addition, the difficult wet conditions in June had a significant impact on margin as low equipment utilization of less than 50% in the month resulted in fixed costs both at the operational sites and corporate facilities becoming a factor in impacting the overall EBITDA margins.

Depreciation of our equipment fleet was 12.6% of revenue in the quarter, compared to 15.7% in Q2 2022, benefiting from efficient and productive use of the equipment fleet. Our internal maintenance programs continue to produce low-cost and longer life components which is impacting depreciation rates. In addition to these factors, our lower capital intensive services continue to have noticeable impacts on the depreciation percentage when comparing to previous benchmarks.

General and administrative expenses (excluding stock-based compensation) were $7.2 million, or 3.7% of revenue, compared to $6.9 million, or 4.1% of revenue in Q2 2022. Consistent costs were incurred as increases from ML Northern and cost items impacted by inflation were mostly offset by cost discipline in discretionary areas and incremental G&A recoveries from our joint ventures.

Cash related interest expense (See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures”.) for the quarter was $7.2 million at an average cost of debt of 6.9%, compared to 5.2% in Q2 2022, as rate increases posted by the Bank of Canada directly impact our Credit Facility and have a delayed impact on the rates for secured equipment-backed financing. Total interest expense was $7.5 million in the quarter, compared to $5.6 million in Q2 2022.

Adjusted EPS of $0.47 on adjusted net earnings of $12.5 million is up 176% from the prior year figure of $0.17 and is consistent with adjusted EBIT performance as tax and interest tracked fairly consistently with the prior year. Weighted-average common shares levels for the second quarters of 2023 and 2022 reflected a decrease at 26,409,357 and 27,968,510, respectively, net of shares classified as treasury shares, due to the share purchases and cancellations which occurred in the third quarter of 2022.

Free cash flow was a use of cash of $4.3 million and was primarily the result of adjusted EBITDA of $51.8 million, as detailed above, offset by sustaining capital additions ($38.3 million) and cash interest paid ($8.4 million). Free cash flow was also impacted by the cash settlement of certain deferred share units ($7.3 million). As stated in the previous disclosures regarding our annual capital spending, our program is front-loaded in the year and the first half spending is considered typical and consistent with the annual sustaining capital range provided.

BUSINESS UPDATES

2023 Strategic Focus Areas

• Safety – focus on people and relationships as we maintain an uncompromising commitment to health and safety while elevating the standard of excellence in the field.
• Sustainability – commitment to the continued development of sustainability targets and consistent measurement of progress to those targets.
• Execution – enhance our record of operational excellence with respect to fleet maintenance, availability and utilization through leverage of our reliability programs, technical improvements and management systems.
• Diversification – continue to pursue further diversification of customers, resources and geography through strategic partnerships, industry expertise and/or investment in Indigenous joint ventures.

Liquidity

Our current liquidity positions us well moving forward to fund organic growth and the required correlated working capital investments. Including equipment financing availability and factoring in the amended Credit Facility agreement, total available capital liquidity of $159.4 million includes total liquidity of $120.4 million and $27.3 million of unused finance lease borrowing availability as at June 30, 2023. Liquidity is primarily provided by the terms of our $300.0 million credit facility which allows for funds availability based on a trailing twelve-month EBITDA as defined in the agreement and is now scheduled to expire in October 2025.

Read More:

IBF4