CECO Q1 Earnings Call: Bookings Surge, Power Pipeline Grows Amid Tariff Uncertainty

Yahoo

13-05-2025

Environmental solutions provider CECO Environmental (NASDAQ:CECO) reported Q1 CY2025 results beating Wall Street's revenue expectations , with sales up 39.9% year on year to $176.7 million. The company's full-year revenue guidance of $725 million at the midpoint came in 3.5% above analysts' estimates. Its non-GAAP profit of $0.10 per share was 12.2% above analysts' consensus estimates.
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Revenue: $176.7 million vs analyst estimates of $151.1 million (39.9% year-on-year growth, 17% beat)
Adjusted EPS: $0.10 vs analyst estimates of $0.09 (12.2% beat)
Adjusted EBITDA: $14 million vs analyst estimates of $13.35 million (7.9% margin, 4.9% beat)
The company reconfirmed its revenue guidance for the full year of $725 million at the midpoint
EBITDA guidance for the full year is $95 million at the midpoint, above analyst estimates of $91.51 million
Operating Margin: 35%, up from 6.1% in the same quarter last year
Free Cash Flow was -$15.1 million compared to -$1.9 million in the same quarter last year
Market Capitalization: $905.3 million
CECO Environmental's first quarter performance was driven by record order bookings and continued expansion of its diversified sales pipeline. Management highlighted that bookings reached approximately $228 million, up 57% year over year, with the sales pipeline surpassing $5 billion for the first time. CEO Todd Gleason attributed these results to strong demand across industrial air, water, and energy transition markets, as well as the successful integration of recent acquisitions like Profire Energy. Gleason emphasized, 'The same themes that have been driving CECO's growth over the past year are only reinforced by the stated goals of the current administration.'
Looking ahead, management reconfirmed full-year guidance, pointing to resilient end-market demand and a robust backlog. The leadership team acknowledged external risks, particularly from evolving tariffs and potential inflationary pressures, but outlined measures to mitigate these impacts, such as localized supply chains and contractual pass-through clauses. CFO Peter Johansson noted, 'We have taken early action to address our preliminary assessment of tariff-related inflation and costs,' reinforcing management's focus on operational flexibility and cost containment.
CECO Environmental's management cited diversification, operational agility, and successful M&A as key themes influencing Q1 performance, while also addressing how the company is preparing for tariff-related challenges.
Record Bookings Momentum: The company achieved its highest-ever quarterly bookings, driven by balanced demand across industrial air, water, and energy transition sectors. Management reported no evidence of order pull-forward due to tariffs, with robust pipelines in both North America and international markets.
Acquisition Integration Progress: The Profire Energy acquisition contributed to first quarter growth and exceeded internal expectations for bookings and integration. Management noted that Profire achieved record bookings in Q1 and that cross-selling opportunities are emerging, especially in international oil and gas markets.
Expanding International Presence: CECO's non-U.S. business is approaching half of total operations, with high-growth regions like India, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East demonstrating strong demand. Management described India as having a multi-decade growth opportunity, comparing its current trajectory to China's rapid expansion in earlier decades.
Tariff Mitigation Strategies: Management detailed actions to offset tariff-related costs, including contract structures allowing for cost pass-through, localized supply chains, and targeted price increases. They estimate gross tariff exposure between $3 million and $10 million in 2025 but believe most impacts can be managed without significant margin erosion.
Operational Investment: Additional technical and commercial resources were added to support the enlarged backlog and accelerated sales pipeline. This investment in talent and systems, especially IT infrastructure, is expected to enable continued execution and margin expansion as the business scales.
Management remains focused on executing against a large, diversified backlog and navigating potential tariff and inflationary headwinds while maintaining operational efficiency and sales growth.
Backlog Conversion and Project Mix: The $602 million backlog is expected to convert to revenue over the next 18 months, with a shift toward shorter-cycle projects and a steady flow of long-term, highly engineered solutions. Management believes this mix provides revenue stability and margin visibility.
International Expansion: Growth in emerging markets, particularly India and the Middle East, is anticipated to become a larger revenue contributor. Management views international diversification as a buffer against localized economic uncertainty and policy shifts.
Tariff and Supply Chain Risk Management: Ongoing tariff changes and supply chain inflation are cited as key risks. Management's mitigation plan involves contractual protections, localized sourcing, and proactive pricing actions, but acknowledges that unexpected inflation could still impact profitability.
Rob Brown (Lake Street Capital): Asked about the power sector pipeline and timing of large project bookings. Management responded that over $1 billion in opportunities exist, with most revenue from these bookings expected in 2026 and 2027.
Bobby Brooks (Northland Capital): Inquired if order strength was influenced by customers rushing orders ahead of tariffs. CEO Todd Gleason stated there was no evidence of pull-forward, attributing steady demand to broad sectoral strength.
Aaron Spychalla (Craig-Hallum): Sought clarity on capital expenditure priorities. CFO Peter Johansson said IT infrastructure remains the largest investment, with limited need for new manufacturing assets after the recent divestiture.
Gerry Sweeney (Roth Capital): Asked about the risk of indirect tariff impacts on margins later in the year. Management responded that while direct impacts are manageable, broader inflation and supply chain pass-through costs remain a concern.
Sameer Joshi (H.C. Wainwright): Questioned the pace of future M&A activity. Management indicated a near-term focus on integrating recent acquisitions and reducing leverage, with new deals unlikely before the second half of the year.
Looking forward, the StockStory team will be monitoring (1) the timing and size of power sector contract awards, which could drive step-change revenue growth, (2) the pace of backlog conversion and potential for a quarter with sales above $200 million, and (3) progress on integrating recent acquisitions—especially Profire Energy—along with the effectiveness of tariff mitigation strategies. Shifts in international project mix and any material changes in supply chain costs will also be critical signposts.
CECO Environmental currently trades at a forward P/E ratio of 19.9×. At this valuation, is it a buy or sell post earnings? The answer lies in our free research report.
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