Valmont Industries Inc. Reports Operating Results (10-Q)

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May 01, 2009
Valmont Industries Inc. (VMI, Financial) filed Quarterly Report for the period ended 2009-03-28.

VALMONT INDUSTRIES INC. is engaged in industrial products and irrigation products businesses. The Industrial Products segment involves the manufacture and distribution of engineered metal structures and other fabricated products for industrial and commercial applications. The Irrigation Products segment involves the manufacture and distribution of agricultural irrigation equipment and related products. Valmont Industries Inc. has a market cap of $1.67 billion; its shares were traded at around $63.78 with a P/E ratio of 12.2 and P/S ratio of 0.8. The dividend yield of Valmont Industries Inc. stocks is 0.9%. Valmont Industries Inc. had an annual average earning growth of 9.1% over the past 10 years. GuruFocus rated Valmont Industries Inc. the business predictability rank of 4-star.

Highlight of Business Operations:

Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) spending increased mainly due to increased salary and benefit costs (approximately $3.1 million), the effect of acquisitions completed after March 29, 2008 (approximately $2.3 million), higher group medical expenses in 2009, as compared with 2008 (approximately $1.1 million) and increased deferred compensation expense related to the improved investment performance in the marketable securities underlying the deferred compensation plan as compared with the first quarter of 2008 (approximately $0.9 million). We recorded the investment gains and losses in these securities as "Miscellaneous" in our condensed consolidated statements of operations for the thirteen weeks ended March 28, 2009 and March 29, 2008, respectively. These increases were somewhat offset by currency translation effects of approximately $1.5 million.

The decrease in the operating income of the ESS segment in the first quarter of 2009 as compared with the same period in 2008 was mainly due to the decrease in sales volumes in worldwide markets, offset to a degree by the impact of acquisitions (approximately $1.5 million). For the segment, SG&A expense in the first quarter of 2009 was comparable with the same period in 2008, as the impact from acquisitions (approximately $2.1 million) was offset by currency translation impacts (approximately $1.0 million) and lower management incentive expenses (approximately $1.1 million).

Working Capital and Operating Cash FlowsNet working capital was $499.6 million at March 28, 2009, as compared with $475.2 million at December 27, 2008. The ratio of current assets to current liabilities was 2.93:1 at March 28, 2009, as compared with 2.69:1 at December 27, 2008. Operating cash flow was $37.5 million for the thirteen week period ended March 28, 2009, as compared with $15.9 million for the same period in 2008. The improved operating cash flow in 2009 was the result of higher net earnings and a lower increase in working capital in 2009, as compared with 2008. Accounts receivable turnover in the first quarter of 2009 was slightly lower than the same period in 2008, due mainly to a shift in our sales mix from irrigation to other product lines. Inventory levels increased modestly in the first quarter of 2009, as compared to December 27, 2008, mainly due to higher inventories in the Utility segment to support the sales volume in that segment. Other reportable segments reported modestly lower inventory levels. We plan to continue to reduce inventories throughout the balance of 2009, depending on business conditions and provided that vendor delivery performance is at acceptable levels.

Investing Cash FlowsCapital spending during the thirteen weeks ended March 28, 2009 was $14.0 million, as compared with $10.9 million for the same period in 2008. We expect our capital spending for the 2009 fiscal year to be approximately $50 million. Investing cash flows in 2008 reflected the aggregate of $89.4 million of cash paid for the West Coast and Penn Summit acquisitions.

$150 million of senior subordinated notes that bear interest at 6.875% per annum and are due in May 2014. We are allowed to repurchase the notes starting in May 2009 at specified prepayment premiums. These notes are guaranteed by certain of our U.S. subsidiaries. $280 million revolving credit agreement with a group of banks. We may increase the credit facility by up to an additional $100 million at any time, subject to participating banks increasing the amount of their lending commitments. The interest rate on our borrowings will be, at our option, either: (a)LIBOR (based on a 1, 2, 3 or 6 month interest period, as selected by us) plus 125 to 200 basis points (inclusive of facility fees), depending on our ratio of debt to earnings before taxes, interest, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), or; (b)the higher of 27

The higher of (a) the prime lending rate and (b) the Federal Funds rate plus 50 basis points plus in each case, 25 to 100 basis points (inclusive of facility fees), depending on our ratio of debt to EBITDA, or LIBOR (based on a 1 week interest period) plus 125 to 200 basis points (inclusive of facility fees), depending on our ratio of debt to EBITDA At March 28, 2009, we had $163.0 in outstanding borrowings under the revolving credit agreement, at an interest rate of 1.74%. The revolving credit agreement has a termination date of October 16, 2013 and contains certain financial covenants that may limit our additional borrowing capability under the agreement. At March 28, 2009, we had the ability to borrow an additional $91 million under this facility.

Read the The complete ReportVMI is in the portfolios of John Keeley of Keeley Fund Management, Kenneth Fisher of Fisher Asset Management, LLC, Kenneth Fisher of Fisher Asset Management, LLC.