Tecnoglass Reports Record-Breaking 2022 Full Year, Q4 Results

Barranquilla based architectural glass and aluminum products manufacturer Tecnoglass (NYSE: TGLS) this morning reported another year of record-breaking revenues and profits. Total revenues for 2022 are up 44% to $716.6 million USD compared to $486.8 million for 2021. Gross margin is up 800 basis points to 484.8%, and net income reached $156.4 million, or $3.28 per diluted share. EBIDTA is up 76.8% to a record $265.7 million, a margin of 437.1%

Total revenues for the full year 2022 increased 44.2% to a record $716.6 million compared to $496.8 million in the prior year. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates had a negligible impact on total revenues in the year.

Gross profit increased 72.5% year-over-year to a full year record of $349.5 million, representing a 48.8% gross margin, compared to $202.6 million, representing a 40.8% gross margin, in the prior year. Operating income for the full year 2022 was $226.4 million compared to $117.0 million in the prior year. Net income for the full year 2022 was $156.4 million, or a $3.28 per diluted share, compared to net income of $68.4 million, or $1.44 per diluted share, in the prior year. Adjusted net income¹ for the full year 2022 was $158.5 million, or $3.32 per diluted share, compared to $82.7 million, or $1.74 per diluted share, in the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA¹ for the full year 2022 improved to a record $265.7 million, or 37.1% of sales, compared to $150.3 million, or 30.2% of sales, in the prior year.

To view the Tecnoglass Q4 investor presentation, click here.

Investing in technology

During 2022, the company initiated enhancements at its glass and aluminum facilities to increase production capacity and automate operations. The company was successful in increasing installed production capacity to an amount equivalent to over $800 million of annual sales at the end of 2022, which is expected to be followed by a further expansion of installed production capacity to an amount equivalent to approximately $950 million of annual sales by the end of the second quarter of 2023.

Optimism for 2023

Tecnoglass CFO Santiago Giraldo explained: “Based on our current invoicing schedule and strong demand for our architectural glass products, we are pleased to introduce our full year 2023 outlook for revenues to grow organically to a range of $790 million to $830 million (approximately 13% at the mid-point of guidance) and for adjusted EBITDA to increase to a range of $300 million to $320 million. This implies adjusted EBITDA growth of approximately 17% at the midpoint. We believe the investments we have made in our production capabilities and structural advantages stemming from our vertically integrated platform will continue to help us drive above market growth and exceptional profit performance, allowing for continued strong cash flow generation in the full year 2023. Based on the board’s confidence in our projected performance and expected cashflow, we will continue to actively pursue effective ways to generate value for shareholders through growth investments, return of capital to shareholders and other value-enhancing actions.”

Strong Fourth Quarter Finish

Total revenues for the fourth quarter of 2022 increased 60.2% to $211.1 million compared to $131.8 million in the prior year quarter, driven by an increase in the company’s commercial activity, strong growth in single-family residential activity and market share gains. Single-family residential revenues increased approximately 59% year-over-year, representing 40.3% of total revenues for the fourth quarter, helped by market share gains and the continued positive demographic dynamics in our main markets. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates had an adverse impact of $0.6 million on both Colombia revenues and total revenues in the quarter.

“Our record fourth quarter results reflect an exceptional finish to another year of above market performance led by the focused execution of our dedicated team members and the resiliency of our vertically integrated business model. We continue to benefit substantially from our previously implemented high return automation and capacity enhancements, which contributed to record gross profit and Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter and full year. Additionally, our prudent working capital management and market share gains in our shorter cash cycle single-family residential business helped generate our 12^th consecutive quarter of robust cash flow. Our strong capital position has given us the flexibility to invest in further structural enhancements, increase our cash dividend, and improve our leverage profile with net debt to Adjusted EBITDA now at a record low 0.2x for full year 2022. As we look to 2023 and beyond, we remain confident in our ability to strengthen our existing customer relationships and expand our market share through geographical diversification, innovation, quality and stable lead times to produce another year of strong financial performance and returns for our shareholders,” said CEO and co-founder José Manuel Daes.

Gross profit for the fourth quarter of 2022 nearly doubled to $110.2 million, representing a 52.2% gross margin, compared to gross profit of $56.6 million, representing a 42.9% gross margin in the prior year quarter. The 930 basis-point improvement in gross margin mainly reflected operating leverage on higher sales, favorable pricing dynamics, greater operating efficiencies related to automation and a favorable FX trend given the recent depreciation of the Colombian peso. Selling, general and administrative expense (“SG&A”) was $33.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2022 compared to $23.7 million in the prior year quarter, with the majority of the increase attributable to higher shipping expenses as a result of a higher sales volume, higher shipping rates and a higher mix of sales going into the more fragmented single-family residential market. As a percent of total revenues, SG&A was 15.8% for the fourth quarter of 2022 compared to 18.0% in the prior year quarter with operating leverage more than offsetting higher transportation costs.

COO Christian Daes added: “Building on our solid momentum throughout 2022, we were pleased to produce record results for the fourth quarter and full year. This was largely attributable to our multi-year efforts to deepen our presence in the highly profitable single-family residential end markets in combination with capitalizing on rebounding commercial activity. Overall quoting and bidding activity in our markets remains strong and our record backlog position of $725 million puts us on solid footing with visibility on projects in our multifamily and commercial project pipeline into 2024. As we look forward, we remain committed to gaining additional share and expanding our geographic presence in single-family residential by advancing our product innovation, opening additional show rooms and doing our part to keep our customers on schedule with their projects. We believe these factors, along with our strong industry relationships and structural competitive advantages through our vertically integrated platform, collectively position us well to create additional shareholder value in 2023 and years ahead.”

Net income was $55.1 million, or $1.16 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2022 compared to net income of $19.8 million, or $0.42 per diluted share, in the prior year quarter, including a non-cash foreign exchange transaction gain of $2.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2022 and a $4.6 million loss in the fourth quarter of 2021. As previously disclosed, these non-cash gains and losses are related to the accounting re-measurement of U.S. Dollar denominated assets and liabilities against the Colombian Peso as functional currency.

More cash, less debt

Tecnoglass ended 2022 with total liquidity of approximately $270 million, including cash and cash equivalents of $103.7 million and availability under its committed revolving credit facilities of $170 million. Given the company’s continued growth in Adjusted EBITDA and strong cash generation, debt leverage continues to trend lower and now stands at 0.2 times net debt to LTM Adjusted EBITDA, compared to 0.8 times in the prior year.

The company declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.075 per share for the fourth quarter of 2022, which was paid on January 31, 2023 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on December 31, 2022.

Investor Conference Call

This morning, March 2, 2023 at 10am (NY & Bogotá time), Tecnoglass will host a webinar and conference call to review the company’s results. The conference call will be broadcast live over the Internet. Additionally, a slide presentation will accompany the conference call. To listen to the call and view the slides, please visit the Investor Relations section of Tecnoglass’ website at www.tecnoglass.com. Please go to the website at least 15 minutes early to register, download and install any necessary audio software. For those unable to access the webcast, the conference call will be accessible by dialing 1-877-269-7751 (domestic) or 1-201-389-0908 (international). Upon dialing in, please request to join the Tecnoglass Fourth Quarter 2022 Earnings Conference Call.

If you are unable to listen live, a replay of the webcast will be archived on the website. You may also access the conference call playback by dialing 1-844-512-2921 (Domestic) or 1-412-317-6671 (International) and entering passcode: 13735775.