Release Date: February 20, 2025
For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.
Positive Points
- Clean Earth segment delivered record revenue, EBITDA, and cash flow, contributing significantly to Enviri Corp's overall performance.
- Enviri Corp achieved the highest adjusted EBITDA in over 10 years, with a 10% organic increase and a 100 basis point lift in margins.
- Cash flow from Clean Earth and Harsco Environmental improved to nearly $200 million, marking a record for the company.
- Clean Earth's contribution to consolidated EBITDA has grown from 25% to over 50% since its integration in 2021.
- The company is making strategic investments in Clean Earth, expecting double-digit EBITDA growth in 2025, driven by improved pricing dynamics and productivity initiatives.
Negative Points
- Harsco Environmental faced challenges due to weaker global steel production and a strong U.S. dollar, impacting its performance.
- Harsco Rail continues to struggle with significant challenges, including supply chain disruptions and inflation, affecting cash flow and execution of portfolio strategy.
- Enviri Corp's free cash flow for the year was negative $34 million, primarily due to cash usage in the rail business and delayed collections.
- The company recorded special charges totaling $90 million in Q4, reflecting asset impairments and write-downs in Harsco Environmental and Rail.
- Rail's engineered-to-order projects continue to be a financial burden, consuming significant cash and impacting overall cash generation.
Q & A Highlights
Q: Can you provide context for why Clean Earth's volumes were sluggish in 2024 and why they should improve in 2025?
A: F. Nicholas Grasberger, Chairman and CEO, explained that there was a lot of churn among top retail accounts in 2024, which should be a tailwind in 2025. The industrial pipeline was weak in 2024 but has grown significantly, with an expected 4% to 5% volume lift in 2025. Overall, Clean Earth's top line is expected to grow around 5%, split between price and volume.
Q: How much more downside is there from a volume perspective in Harsco Environmental before reaching contract floors?
A: F. Nicholas Grasberger stated that they are likely at the bottom in terms of volume at most plants. The bigger impact has been site closures, but they do not see further risk for bankruptcies or sites being idled. Most sites are still a ways away from hitting the volume floor set in contracts.
Q: How far along is Clean Earth in its IT and facility improvement efforts?
A: F. Nicholas Grasberger noted that they are more than halfway through a two-and-a-half-year IT harmonization program, expecting to be 80%-90% complete by the end of the year. Facility improvements are focused on new capabilities and capacity, with high returns expected from the $20-$30 million extra CapEx in 2025.
Q: What is the visibility on incremental costs in the engineered-to-order rail contracts, and when will risks start to taper off?
A: Tom Vadaketh, CFO, mentioned that risks will dissipate dramatically once the first vehicle in a series is delivered and accepted. They are about 12 to 15 months away from this for two of the three large contracts. The largest remaining risk is in a UK contract, which is a focus for risk mitigation.
Q: What is assumed in the 2025 guidance for steel production in Harsco Environmental?
A: F. Nicholas Grasberger indicated that volume is expected to grow 3%-4% in India, the Middle East, and Africa, while remaining flat in other regions like North America and Europe. Overall, liquid steel tonnage is expected to increase by 1%-2%.
For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.
