Second Quarter 2023 Segment Review
Infrastructure (73.4% of Net Sales)
Products and solutions to serve the infrastructure markets of utility, solar, lighting, transportation, and telecommunications, along with coatings services to preserve metal products
Sales of $770.6 million grew 4.2% year-over-year. Sales growth was driven by favorable pricing globally, higher volumes, notably in the Solar and Transmission, Distribution, and Substation (“TD&S”) product lines, and sales from the ConcealFab acquisition, partially offset by lower Telecommunications volumes.
Operating Income improved to $116.0 million or 15.1% of net sales compared to $84.1 million or 11.4% of net sales in the second quarter of 2022, driven by favorable pricing with improved overall cost of goods sold.
Agriculture (26.6% of Net Sales)
Center pivot components and linear irrigation equipment for agricultural markets, including parts and tubular products; advanced technology solutions for precision agriculture
Sales of $279.9 million decreased 25.9% year-over-year. The benefit of higher average selling prices of irrigation equipment globally was more than offset by lower volumes. In North America, sales were lower as the second quarter of 2022 benefited from the ongoing delivery of record year-end backlog and growers delaying capital investment decisions in the quarter. International sales were lower as strong sales in Brazil were more than offset by lower sales in the EMEA region, partially due to timing of project sales. Sales of agriculture technology products and services globally were lower due to lower irrigation equipment volumes.
Operating Income decreased to $49.3 million or 17.7% of net sales ($53.2 million or 19.1% adjusted1) compared to $58.0 million or 15.5% of net sales ($62.2 million or 16.6% adjusted1) in the second quarter of 2022. Operating margin improvement was driven by favorable pricing and improved overall cost of goods sold, partially offset by higher SG&A, including incremental R&D expense for technology investments.
Other
Offshore wind energy structures business
As previously announced, the divestiture of the offshore wind energy structures business was completed in December 2022. In the second quarter of 2022, the subsequently-divested business generated sales of $25.4 million and operating income of $0.5 million.
Balance Sheet, Liquidity, and Capital Allocation
The Company generated solid second quarter 2023 operating cash flows of $88.3 million through strong earnings and effectively managing working capital. At the end of the second quarter, cash and cash equivalents were $166.9 million. During the quarter, Valmont repurchased $24.0 million of Company stock, with $346.3 million remaining on the share repurchase program.