Argan (AGX) 8-K Argan, Inc. Reports Third Quarter Results

Exhibit 99.1

Argan, Inc.  Reports Third Quarter Results

December 6, 2016 — ROCKVILLE, MD — Argan, Inc. (NYSE: AGX) (the “Company”) today announced financial results for its third quarter ended October 31, 2016. Please read the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which the Company intends to file today with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and which can be retrieved from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or from the Company’s website at www.arganinc.com.

Summary Information: (dollars in thousands, except per share data (unaudited)):

	October 31,
	2016			2015			Change			% Change
For the Quarter Ended:
Revenues	$	175,444		$	113,967		$	61,477		54	%
Gross profit	36,578			26,262			10,316			39
Gross margins	20.8		%	23.0		%	(2.2		)%	(10	)
Net income attributable to the stockholders of the Company	$	18,073		$	10,807		$	7,266		67
Diluted per share	1.16			0.72			0.44			61
EBITDA attributable to the stockholders of the Company	27,024			18,242			8,782			48
Diluted per share	1.73			1.21			0.52			43
For the Nine Months Ended:
Revenues	$	468,287		$	296,888		$	171,399		58	%
Gross profit	108,892			75,922			32,970			43
Gross margins	23.3		%	25.6		%	(2.3		)%	(9	)
Net income attributable to the stockholders of the Company	$	49,977		$	29,617		$	20,360		69
Diluted per share	3.23			1.97			1.26			64
EBITDA attributable to the stockholders of the Company	79,295			50,129			29,166			58
Diluted per share	5.12			3.34			1.78			53

	October 31, 2016		January 31, 2016		Change		% Change
As of:
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	$	446,320	$	275,007	$	171,313	62	%
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings	160,985		105,863		55,122		52
Backlog	1,179,000		1,148,000		31,000		3

Highlights for the Quarter:

·Revenues increased 54% to a record $175 million for the quarter ended October 31, 2016 as compared to $114 million in the prior year quarter.

·Net income attributable to the stockholders of Argan increased 67% from the prior year quarter to $18.1 million, or $1.16 per diluted share, for the quarter ended October 31, 2016.

·We declared and paid $1.00 per share in cash dividends during the quarter ended October 31, 2016.

·Our liquidity (current assets less current liabilities) as of October 31, 2016, increased 29% to $209.4 million from $162.9 million as of January 31, 2016, with no debt outstanding.

·Gemma Power Systems (GPS) ramped up work on four large, gas-fired power plants and celebrated the commissioning and final completion of the two Panda power plants.

Third Quarter Results:

Consolidated revenues increased 54% to a record $175 million over the prior year quarter primarily due to GPS ramping up work on four large, gas-fired power plants and with the final completion of the two Panda power plants.  Gross profit increased 39% to $36.6 million and gross margins decreased to 20.8% as compared to the prior quarter, primarily due to aforementioned increased revenues partially offset by lower margins at the non-Panda power plant projects and our two new subsidiaries, Atlantic Projects Company (APC) and The Roberts Company (TRC). The overall power industry services business continues to drive our financial results, reflecting 86% of consolidated revenues for the three months ended October 31, 2016.  EBITDA attributable to our stockholders for the third quarter increased 48% to $27.0 million, or $1.73 per diluted share, from $18.2 million, or $1.21 per diluted share, for the prior year quarter.  Our balance sheet continues to strengthen as of October 31, 2016, which has cash and short-term investments of $446.3 million, net liquidity of $209.4 million, and no debt.

Nine Months Ended Results:

For the nine months ended October 31, 2016, consolidated revenues increased 58% to a record $468 million over the prior year period primarily due to GPS ramping up work on four large, gas-fired power plants, the final completion of the two Panda power plants and the revenues from APC and TRC, which were acquired in May and December 2015, respectively.  Gross profit increased 43% to $108.9 million as compared to the prior year period, primarily due to increased revenues, the Panda power plants achieving final completion and reaching a settlement of potential scheduled liquidated damages in the current period. EBITDA attributable to our stockholders for the nine months ended October 31, 2016 increased 58% to $79.3 million, or $5.12 per diluted share, from $50.1 million, or $3.34 per diluted share, for the prior year period.

Commenting on Argan’s third quarter results, Rainer Bosselmann, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “We were pleased to follow up our record second quarter with our next best quarter in Company history.  These sustained results could not have been achieved without the operational excellence of our employees.  Their dedication to finish out projects while simultaneously ramping up on four large, gas-fired plants allowed us to post strong current quarter results and to pay our largest dividend to date - $1.00 per share.  Even though we did not add any major projects to our backlog over

the last several quarters, it remains over $1.1 billion and we expect continued growth in our revenues the rest of this year and into the next.”

About Argan, Inc.

Argan’s primary business is providing a full range of services to the power industry including the engineering, procurement and construction of gas-fired and biomass-fired power plants, along with related commissioning, operations management, maintenance, project development and consulting services, through its Gemma Power Systems and Atlantic Projects Company operations. Argan also owns Southern Maryland Cable, which provides telecommunications infrastructure services, and The Roberts Company, which is a fully integrated fabrication, construction and plant services company.

Certain matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws and are subject to risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to: (1) the continued strong performance of our power industry services business; (2) the Company’s ability to successfully and profitably integrate acquisitions; and (3) the Company’s ability to achieve its business strategy while effectively managing costs and expenses. Actual results and the timing of certain events could differ materially from those projected in or contemplated by the forward-looking statements due to a number of factors detailed from time to time in Argan’s filings with the SEC. In addition, reference is hereby made to cautionary statements with respect to risk factors set forth in the Company’s most recent reports on Form 10-K and 10-Q, and other SEC filings.

Company Contact:	Investor Relations Contact:
Rainer Bosselmann	David Watson
301.315.0027	301.315.0027

ARGAN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

(In thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended October 31,				Nine Months Ended October 31,
	2016		2015		2016		2015
REVENUES
Power industry services	$	151,094	$	111,592	$	402,615	$	287,947
Industrial fabrication and field services	21,550		—		59,287		—
Telecommunications infrastructure services	2,800		2,375		6,385		8,941
Revenues	175,444		113,967		468,287		296,888
COST OF REVENUES
Power industry services	118,407		86,103		302,140		214,618
Industrial fabrication and field services	18,386		—		52,491		—
Telecommunications infrastructure services	2,073		1,602		4,764		6,348
Cost of revenues	138,866		87,705		359,395		220,966
GROSS PROFIT	36,578		26,262		108,892		75,922
Impairment loss	—		—		1,979		—
Selling, general and administrative expenses	9,848		5,590		24,429		15,977
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS	26,730		20,672		82,484		59,945
Other income, net	690		732		1,283		944
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	27,420		21,404		83,767		60,889
Income tax expense	8,194		7,045		27,122		19,845
NET INCOME	19,226		14,359		56,645		41,044
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,153		3,552		6,668		11,427
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF ARGAN, INC.	18,073		10,807		49,977		29,617
EARNINGS PER SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF ARGAN, INC.
Basic	$	1.19	$	0.73	$	3.34	$	2.01
Diluted	$	1.16	$	0.72	$	3.23	$	1.97
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES OUTSTANDING
Basic	15,137		14,810		14,974		14,732
Diluted	15,601		15,066		15,490		15,004
CASH DIVIDENDS PER SHARE	$	1.00	$	0.70	$	1.00	$	0.70

ARGAN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Reconciliations to EBITDA

Consolidated Operations

(Unaudited)(In thousands)

	Three Months Ended October 31,
	2016			2015
Net income	$	19,226		$	14,359
Less EBITDA attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,153		)	(3,552		)
Interest expense	—			85
Income tax expense	8,194			7,045
Depreciation	525			186
Amortization of purchased intangible assets	232			119
EBITDA attributable to the stockholders of Argan, Inc.	$	27,024		$	18,242

	Nine Months Ended October 31,
	2016			2015
Net income	$	56,645		$	41,044
Less EBITDA attributable to noncontrolling interests	(6,668		)	(11,690		)
Interest expense	—			203
Income tax expense	27,122			19,845
Depreciation	1,444			444
Amortization of purchased intangible assets	752			283
EBITDA attributable to the stockholders of Argan, Inc.	$	79,295		$	50,129

Management uses EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, for planning purposes, including the preparation of operating budgets and the determination of appropriate levels of operating and capital investments. Management believes that EBITDA provides additional insight for analysts and investors in evaluating the Company’s financial and operational performance and in assisting investors in comparing the Company’s financial performance to those of other companies in the Company’s industry. However, EBITDA is not intended to be an alternative to financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered in isolation from the Company’s GAAP results of operations. Pursuant to the requirements of SEC Regulation G, reconciliations between the Company’s GAAP and non-GAAP financial results are included in the presentations above and investors are advised to carefully review and consider this information as well as the GAAP financial results that are presented in the Company’s SEC filings.

ARGAN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except per share data)

	October 31, 2016			January 31, 2016
	(Unaudited)
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$	170,775		$	160,909
Short-term investments	275,545			114,098
Accounts receivable, net	42,886			64,185
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings	4,642			4,078
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	6,122			7,342
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS	499,970			350,612
Property, plant and equipment, net	13,435			12,308
Goodwill	34,913			37,405
Intangible assets, net	8,506			9,344
Deferred income taxes	1,980			—
Other assets	39			122
TOTAL ASSETS	$	558,843		$	409,791
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable	$	91,487		$	46,395
Accrued expenses	38,061			35,454
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings	160,985			105,863
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES	290,533			187,712
Deferred income taxes	—			224
TOTAL LIABILITIES	290,533			187,936
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Preferred stock, par value $0.10 per share — 500 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding	—			—
Common stock, par value $0.15 per share — 30,000 shares authorized; 15,283 and 14,840 shares issued at October 31 and January 31, 2016, respectively; 15,280 and 14,836 shares outstanding at October 31 and January 31, 2016, respectively	2,292			2,226
Additional paid-in capital	129,970			117,274
Retained earnings	134,298			99,581
Accumulated other comprehensive losses	(757		)	(565		)
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY	265,803			218,516
Noncontrolling interests	2,507			3,339
TOTAL EQUITY	268,310			221,855
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	$	558,843		$	409,791