• Revenue: Increased 14% to $4 billion for the year.
• Gross Profit: Increased 44% to $573 million for the year.
• Adjusted Net Income: Increased 45% to $214 million for the year.
• Adjusted EBITDA: Increased 44% to $402 million for the year.
• Operating Cash Flow: Increased 148% to $456 million for the year.
• Construction Segment Revenue: Increased 3% year-over-year to $821 million for the quarter.
• Construction Segment Gross Profit Margin: 16% for the quarter.
• Materials Segment Revenue: Increased $16 million year-over-year to $156 million for the quarter.
• Cash Gross Profit Margin (Materials Segment): Improved by 240 basis points year-over-year to 21.4% for the full year.
• Cash and Marketable Securities: $586 million at year-end.
• 2025 Revenue Guidance: Expected to grow to a range of $4.2 billion to $4.4 billion.
• 2025 Adjusted EBITDA Margin Guidance: Expected to be 11% to 12% of revenue.
• 2025 CapEx Guidance: Expected to be in the range of $140 million to $160 million.

• Warning! GuruFocus has detected 3 Warning Sign with GVA.

Release Date: February 13, 2025

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

• Granite Construction Inc (NYSE:GVA) achieved a record year in 2024 with a 14% increase in revenue to $4 billion.
• The company reported a 44% increase in gross profit to $573 million and a 45% increase in adjusted net income to $214 million.
• Operating cash flow increased significantly by 148% to $456 million, demonstrating strong cash generation capabilities.
• The materials segment saw a pivotal year with price increases and efficiency improvements, leading to a year-over-year increase in cash gross profit margin.
• Granite Construction Inc (NYSE:GVA) is well-positioned for future growth with a strong CAP portfolio and robust bidding opportunities, supported by state transportation budgets and the Federal Infrastructure Bill.

Negative Points

• Despite strong performance, there were some project delays in the construction segment, which could impact future revenue.
• The company experienced a decrease in CAP since the third quarter, although it expects this to improve in 2025.
• Increased depreciation, depletion, and amortization in the materials segment due to investments may impact reported profits.
• The anticipated gain on sales of assets was not realized in the fourth quarter, potentially affecting financial results.
• Inflation is expected to rise slightly in 2025, which could impact costs and margins if not managed effectively.

Q & A Highlights

Q: What factors could lead to the low end of sales guidance and still result in meaningful EBITDA margin expansion? A: Kyle Larkin, President and CEO, explained that the midpoint of their guidance aligns with their long-term organic growth rate. The low end of sales guidance does not include any inorganic M&A acquisitions. The strong CAP and high-quality project portfolio are expected to drive margin expansion, supported by improvements in the materials business through pricing and operational efficiencies.

Q: If the company hits the high end of the EBITDA margin target, could this lead to raising the 2027 targets? A: Kyle Larkin noted that achieving the high end of the target would depend on making the right capital investments and leveraging strong operating cash flows. They are focused on strengthening home market positions and exploring M&A opportunities that could be EBITDA margin accretive, which could potentially push margins above 14%.

Q: How did vertically integrated revenue trend in 2024, and will it grow faster than total sales in 2025? A: Kyle Larkin stated that vertically integrated revenue is growing at a fast pace, consistent with the overall business. The strong market environment, particularly in California, supports continued growth in vertically integrated revenue.

Q: What are the regional expectations for 2025, and where might growth exceed expectations? A: Kyle Larkin highlighted strong markets across all geographies, driven by robust public and private markets. The company expects to build CAP significantly, with $450 million more in low bids compared to the previous year, indicating strong growth potential across regions.

Q: What are the expectations for free cash flow in 2025? A: Staci Woolsey, CFO, mentioned targeting operating cash flow at 9% of revenue and free cash flow at around 50% of EBITDA. The company had strong cash flow performance in 2024, and they expect to maintain this level in 2025.

Q: Was there any significant project closeout in Q4 that impacted cash flow? A: Staci Woolsey clarified that there were no significant project closeouts or unusual items in Q4. There was a large milestone payment collected, but no major claims or closeouts affected cash flow.

Q: What are the inflation expectations for 2025, and how is the company managing it? A: Kyle Larkin expects inflation to be around 3% and noted that it is already factored into pricing, especially for asphalt. The company has coverage on supplier and contractor sides to mitigate price fluctuations, ensuring protection against inflation impacts.

Q: What is the status of the expected gain on sales of assets that was not realized in Q4? A: Kyle Larkin confirmed that the expected gain on sale of an asset was pushed to 2025 and is not included in the current guidance. Completion of this sale in 2025 could positively impact guidance.

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.