Release Date: April 30, 2025

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

• Federal Signal Corp (NYSE:FSS) reported a 9% year-over-year increase in net sales, reaching $464 million for the quarter.
• The company achieved a 21% increase in consolidated operating income, amounting to $65.7 million.
• Record order intake was set at $568 million, a 13% increase compared to the previous year.
• Backlog reached an all-time high of $1.1 billion, providing strong visibility for future sales.
• The Environmental Solutions Group (ESG) reported a 17% increase in adjusted EBITDA, with margins expanding by 120 basis points to 20%.

Negative Points

• GAAP diluted EPS decreased to $0.75 per share from $0.84 per share in the same quarter last year.
• Tax expense increased significantly to $15.7 million, compared to a benefit of $700,000 in the prior year.
• The company faces potential challenges from global tariffs, although it has strategies in place to mitigate impacts.
• Despite strong performance, the macroeconomic environment remains uncertain, which could affect future growth.
• There is a need for continued investment in capacity and strategic initiatives to maintain growth momentum.

Q & A Highlights

• Warning! GuruFocus has detected 6 Warning Signs with FFIC.

Q: Can you provide an update on lead times and capacity utilization? A: Jennifer Sherman, CEO: We are currently running at 70-72% capacity across our facilities, which provides ample room for increased production. Lead times for our three-wheel street sweeper have improved to about six months, aligning with our targets. We are also working on reducing lead times for our four-wheel line, with production up at our two largest ESG facilities in Q1.

Q: How are ESG orders trending, and is there any impact from tariffs? A: Jennifer Sherman, CEO: ESG orders remain strong, with no indication of demand being pulled forward due to tariffs. Our backlog for certain products extends into 2026, making it difficult to pull forward demand. We have the ability to surcharge backlogs if needed, and our order strength is broad-based across publicly funded and industrial orders.

Q: What factors contributed to the strong ESG margins in Q1? A: Ian Hudson, CFO: The margin improvement was driven by increased production at our facilities, which provided operating leverage, and the seasonality of Q1, which typically sees lower aftermarket business. We expect continued margin expansion through strategic initiatives and increased production.

Q: How is the integration of Hog Technologies progressing? A: Jennifer Sherman, CEO: The integration is progressing well, led by our COO, Mark Webber. We have a dedicated team working on the integration, and the initial reception from customers at the ASA show in Orlando was very positive.

Q: What is your outlook on the impact of the infrastructure bill on your business? A: Jennifer Sherman, CEO: Less than 20% of the funds have been spent, and we expect benefits for our vehicle businesses, including dump trucks and road marking, over a multi-year period. The current increase in orders is primarily due to market share expansion efforts rather than the infrastructure bill.

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.