Matrix Service Company (NASDAQ:MTRX) Q4 2023 Earnings Call Transcript

Kevin Cavanah: Yes, so we do have a number of tax attributes out there that we’re able to utilize. So I think you’re going to see an extremely low effective tax rate in fiscal ‘24. Somewhere in the low single digits is our current estimate. That benefit will also continue into fiscal ‘25. I think the tax rate will probably be a little higher than, but it’ll still be low compared to historical rates. My guess is it’s probably going to be somewhere around 10% as an estimate right now.

Oliver Chornous: Oh, that’s great. Thanks so much. And then second, could we talk about the process and industrial facility segment in the context of 2024 versus 2023? Should we anticipate a lower work volume this year but improve profitability, especially as you get through that project that we just talked about?

Kevin Cavanah: That’s exactly right. We’ll have — we’ve got a little bit of a timing gap on when capital projects start. There was a project we got awarded in the third quarter in that segment, and that project will meaningfully benefit revenues until the very first of fiscal ‘25. And the projects that, this project has had some issues that’s completed now, so there will be a dip in revenue there. In addition, we also sold some non-core assets. So that segment will be down, but I think the profitability should be better. And when you think about, well, that’s decreasing the increases in the other segments, the backlog on those projects will be starting in fiscal ‘24 and benefiting this year. So from a consolidated basis, I want to be clear that we expect some good growth in revenue for the fiscal year.

Oliver Chornous: Awesome. That’s great. And then, I guess, last question, if I can sneak it in. Could you discuss your capital allocation priorities? Is M&A on the table as you’re starting to see the business stabilize?

Kevin Cavanah: Yes, so right now, our focus has been returning to profitability. Our — so our capital priority is going to be related to executing on these projects we’re putting in backlog and the ones that will be put in backlog. So that means there may be additional capital expenditures we need to make. We’ve definitely spent less on CapEx the past few years, so there could be some CapEx there. That’ll be a priority. And then we’ll continue to manage our working capital, that’ll be the second priority. But I would expect that you’re going to see positive cash flows as we move through the year. Once we return to profitability, yes, we’ll think about what’s the right next steps which could include M &A.

Operator: [Operator Instructions] Our next question comes from John Franzreb with Sidoti.

John Franzreb: Yes, I’m just curious about your expectations for the Inflation Reduction Act. And when we would expect to see jobs related to that hit your backlog profile, any kind of thoughts about that would be helpful?

John Hewitt: I think what our expectation is that those dollars weren’t necessarily running into shovel-ready projects when they became available. But what we think is they’ll start having a material impact on project opportunities for us in calendar ‘24.

John Franzreb: Got it. And how should we think about gross margin recovery across the segments, given the called slow but meaningful turnaround in the backlog profile, where are you going to see it first that had the most meaningful impact? And where is it going to lag maybe a little bit, looking at it on a segment basis?