Irrigation segment operating margin was 5.0 percent of sales (9.0 percent adjusted)1 in the fourth quarter, compared to 10.8 percent of sales (8.8 percent adjusted)1 in the prior year. Gross margin improvements resulting from improved cost and pricing performance offset the negative impact of lower sales volume.
Infrastructure segment revenues for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019 were $32.4 million, an increase of $5.3 million, or 20 percent, compared to $27.1 million in the prior year fourth quarter. The increase resulted primarily from higher Road Zipper System® sales and lease revenue compared to the prior year.
Infrastructure segment operating margin was 28.8 percent of sales in the fourth quarter, compared to 14.0 percent of sales (16.6 percent adjusted)1 in the prior year fourth quarter. Operating margin improvement resulted from a more favorable revenue mix and lower operating expenses compared to the prior year.
The backlog of unfilled orders at August 31, 2019 was $55.4 million compared with $53.3 million at August 31, 2018. Included in these backlogs are amounts of $10.0 million and $3.3 million, respectively, that are not expected to be fulfilled within the subsequent fiscal year.
Outlook
“Following a brief commodity price rally in the spring, speculation surrounding production from the U.S. fall harvest has led to fluctuating but generally lower prices. Coupled with uncertainty regarding the outcome of trade negotiations, the near-term outlook for irrigation equipment demand in North America continues to be constrained,” said Mr. Hassinger. “We expect to see growth in international irrigation overall, led by improvement in Brazil and developing markets.”
Mr. Hassinger added, “Based on early successes we are seeing from our Road Zipper® growth strategy, we expect growth and performance improvement from our infrastructure business in fiscal 2020. In addition, we expect to achieve meaningful operating margin improvement through the execution of projects identified as part of ourFoundation for Growth initiative.”
Fourth Quarter Conference Call
Lindsay’s fiscal 2019 fourth quarter investor conference call is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time today. Interested investors may participate in the call by dialing (833)535-2202 in the U.S., or (412)902-6745 internationally, and requesting the Lindsay Corporation call. Additionally, the conference call will be simulcast live on the Internet and can be accessed via the investor relations section of the Company’s Web site,www.lindsay.com. Replays of the conference call will remain on our Web site through the next quarterly earnings release. The Company will have a slide presentation available to augment management’s formal presentation, which will also be accessible via the Company’s Web site.
About the Company
Lindsay Corporation (NYSE: LNN) is a leading global manufacturer and distributor of irrigation and infrastructure equipment and technology. Established in 1955, the company has been at the forefront of research and development of innovative solutions to meet the food, fuel, fiber and transportation needs of the world’s rapidly growing population. The Lindsay family of irrigation brands includes Zimmatic® center pivot and lateral move agricultural irrigation systems and FieldNET® remote irrigation management and scheduling technology, as well as irrigation consulting and design and industrial IoT solutions. Also a global leader in the transportation industry, Lindsay Transportation Solutions manufactures equipment to improve road safety and keep traffic moving on the world’s roads, bridges and tunnels, through the Barrier Systems®, Road Zipper® and Snoline™ brands. For more information about Lindsay Corporation, visitwww.lindsay.com.
Concerning Forward-looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties and which reflect management’s current beliefs and estimates of future economic circumstances, industry conditions, Company performance and financial results. You can find a discussion of many of these risks and uncertainties in the annual, quarterly and current reports that the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements include information concerning possible or assumed future results of operations and planned financing of the Company and those statements preceded by, followed by or including the words “anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” “intend,” “expect,” “outlook,” “could,” “may,” “should,” “will,” or similar expressions. For these statements, the Company claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking information contained in this press release.
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