Valmont Announces Capital Allocation Priorities
February 18 2025 - 5:50AM
Business Wire
New $700 Million Authorization for Share
Repurchases
Increase of Quarterly Dividend to $0.68 per
Share
Valmont® Industries, Inc. (NYSE: VMI), a global leader that
provides products and solutions to support vital infrastructure and
advance agricultural productivity, today announced an update to its
capital allocation priorities aimed at accelerating growth and
increasing shareholder returns.
“Valmont anticipates generating significant cash flow in the
coming years as we execute our strategic growth and margin
expansion initiatives. We are pleased that our Board has approved a
$700 million share repurchase authorization and an increase in our
quarterly dividend,” said Thomas Liguori, Executive Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer. “These decisions underscore our
confidence in Valmont’s long-term strategy and commitment to
shareholder returns.”
The capital allocation priorities are intended to present a
balanced approach to maintaining disciplined investments in organic
and inorganic growth opportunities while delivering meaningful
capital returns to shareholders over the next three to five years.
These priorities are expected to be supported by the Company’s
projected cash flow generation.
Key features include the following:
- Approximately 50% of operating cash flow allocated to
high-return growth opportunities, focused on:
- Capital expenditures for strategic capacity expansion,
primarily in the Infrastructure segment, to maintain and increase
manufacturing output and efficiency while driving innovation to
better serve customers
- Acquisitions that strategically augment the Company’s
competitive position, with a focus on sustainable growth and
premium returns on invested capital (ROIC)
- Approximately 50% of operating cash flows will be allocated to
shareholder returns through the form of share repurchases and
dividends. The Board of Directors has approved the following steps
to enable this goal:
- A new $700 million share repurchase authorization, representing
approximately 10% of the Company’s current market
capitalization
- A 13% increase in the quarterly dividend to $0.68 per share
($2.72 annualized), payable on April 15, 2025, to shareholders of
record on March 28, 2025. The Company anticipates increasing its
dividend annually in the first quarter of each year, at a pace
aligned with expected longer-term earnings growth
- As part of its capital allocation framework, the Company
intends to maintain its Investment Grade credit rating, with a
long-term target for net leverage of 2.5X or less, while capable of
temporarily flexing leverage higher if the opportunity for
exceptionally impactful, larger transactions arises
The Company is authorized to repurchase up to $700 million of
its outstanding common stock from time to time, by means of
open-market purchases through any method or program, including
through Rule 10b5-1 trading plans, or through privately negotiated
transactions. The purchases will be funded from available cash
balances and ongoing cash flows and will be made subject to market
and economic conditions. The Company is not obligated to make any
repurchases and may discontinue the program at any time. The new
authorization, which has no stated expiration date, will be added
to the current authorization, of which approximately $66 million
remained as of December 28, 2024. Valmont currently has
approximately 20.2 million shares outstanding.
The Company’s goal of returning 50% of operating cash flow to
shareholders is subject to various factors, including industry and
market conditions, the price of the Company’s common stock, and
alternative uses of capital. Actual shareholder returns may vary
over time. There can be no guarantee as to the timing of the
declaration and payment of any dividends, or the amount thereof,
which is at the discretion of the Board.
About Valmont Industries, Inc. For nearly 80 years,
Valmont has been a global leader that provides products and
solutions to support vital infrastructure and advance agricultural
productivity. We are committed to customer-focused innovation that
delivers lasting value. Learn more about how we’re Conserving
Resources. Improving Life.® at valmont.com.
Concerning Forward-Looking Statements This release
contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements
are based on assumptions made by management, considering its
experience in the industries where Valmont operates, perceptions of
historical trends, current conditions, expected future
developments, and other relevant factors. It is important to note
that these statements are not guarantees of future performance or
results. They involve risks, uncertainties (some of which are
beyond Valmont’s control), and assumptions. While management
believes these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable
assumptions, numerous factors could cause actual results to differ
materially from those anticipated. These factors include, among
other things, risks described in Valmont’s reports to the
Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), the Company’s actual
cash flows and net income, future economic and market
circumstances, industry conditions, company performance and
financial results, operational efficiencies, availability and price
of raw materials, availability and market acceptance of new
products, product pricing, domestic and international competitive
environments, geopolitical risks, and actions and policy changes by
domestic and foreign governments. The Company cautions that any
forward-looking statements in this release are made as of its
publication date and does not undertake to update these statements,
except as required by law.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250218834640/en/
Renee Campbell renee.campbell@valmont.com February 18, 2025
Valmont Industries (NYSE:VMI)
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