Wabash National Corporation (NYSE:WNC) Q3 2023 Earnings Call Transcript

Page 3 of 3

But then we start running into this tractor buying requirement that a lot of customers are going to have. How do you think the shape of trailers works over the next couple of years? I know it’s anybody’s guess, but I’m just curious your point of view.

Brent Yeagy: Yes. I think it’s more complicated question than what is the one generic shape of how the market will play out based on the factors that you’ve thrown out there? There’s the potential for some level of pre-buy out there based on the facts on the ground. Marginally, yes. Does that affect every fleet in the same way? No, it does not. Those customers, we say differently. Those carriers and users of tractors and trailers who have to make discrete choices about how much capital they can deploy may very well have to fall into the category of what do I buy? Wabash, specifically doesn’t market or sell to those customers that are in a capital position that have to actually make that level of — will call specific choice.

We tend to sell to those customers that will have ample capital to be able to maintain a more balanced asset base. And reminding everyone that we never — the 300,000-plus trailers all said and done that were not bought from 2020 all the way through to 2023, and we call it into that somewhat, but that’s still going to be out there. Fleets are not going to be — those that are well capitalized, well managed with a keen eye on operational costs are not going to want to get further behind on their trailers even with a pre-buy hanging out there. So when – its indicated to those customers, we’re going to be, I think, somewhat buffered from any of that. And so when I think about the curve, I think that curve will be different based off of different segmented parts of the overall buying community.

Jeff Kauffman: Thank you for that. One last question, if I can, this one for Mike. You know Mike, you mentioned that capital spending this year is going to be about $70 million or $80 million higher than what would be maintenance CapEx because some of these growth opportunities, which I think is great. It’s great that you have that growth project out there. So given your current slate of growth projects, how should we be thinking about the right amount of CapEx as I look out to 2024 and 2025 and just some of the projects that you have that you’re spending on right now?

A – Mike Pettit: Yes. It’s difficult to say exactly what 2024 will be because as you know, we’re doing a lot right now and kind of depending on some of the year-end spend that can change the 2024 number somewhat. But I would expect to see 2024 to be down 10% to 20% from what we saw in 2023. 2023 will be the high point of CapEx for the foreseeable future. But we will have — we have growth projects, highly accretive growth projects that we will have 2024 and 2025, that will exceed what you may have seen historically from Wabash, but it won’t be to the 2023 level.

Jeff Kauffman: Yes. And growth is a good thing. I’m just curious how to think about the next two to three years of modeling since you do have these growth projects to spend on. That’s helpful. Thank you. Well, congratulations, guys. Thanks for your time

Brent Yeagy: Thanks Jeff. Appreciate it.

Mike Pettit: Thanks Jeff.

Operator: And there are no further questions at this time. I will now turn the call back over to Ryan Reed for some closing remarks.

Ryan Reed: Thanks Rob and thanks, everyone, for joining us today. We look forward to following up during the quarter. Have a great day.

Operator: This concludes today’s conference call. Thank you for your participation. You may now disconnect.

Follow Wabash National Corp (NYSE:WNC)

Page 3 of 3