ATS (ATS.TO, ATS) reported Thursday narrower net loss and improved adjusted earnings from operations for the fourth quarter, saying that improvement primarily reflected higher revenues, while the company added it had "closed out fiscal 2026 with leverage and working capital within target ranges, and a backlog that provides solid revenue visibility into fiscal 2027."
Fourth quarter net loss was C$16.2 million, or $0.16 per share, compared to net loss of $68.9 million, or $0.70 per share, in the corresponding year-ago quarter.
Adjusted earnings from operations was $76.8 million, up 3.4%. Adjusted basic earnings per share for the quarter was $0.36 per share, compared to $0.41 per share in the year-ago quarter.
Fourth quarter revenue was $747.1 million, compared to $574.2 million in the year-ago quarter, primarily reflecting a year-over-year increase in organic revenue of $10.8 million or 1.5%, in addition to the $146.9 million impact from the one-time settlement with an electric vehicle (EV) customer in the prior year, said the company. Adjusted revenues were $744.3 million versus $721.1 million.
Among other Q4 highlights, order bookings were $704 million, compared to $863 million a year ago.
Order Backlog was $1,958 million, compared to $2,139 million a year ago.
"Today ATS reported fourth quarter and full-year results for fiscal 2026, with full-year revenue and adjusted earnings from operations growth of approximately 11%, reflecting solid execution across the platform," said Doug Wright, Chief Executive Officer. "In the quarter, we took decisive steps to restructure and reposition our transportation-related businesses; we are consolidating certain operations and right-sizing our facility footprint, while repositioning our engineering and automation capabilities into applications where our differentiation creates greater value and the return profile is more attractive."
Wright added: "We closed out fiscal 2026 with leverage and working capital within target ranges, and a backlog that provides solid revenue visibility into fiscal 2027. These actions, including our reorganization initiatives, leave us better positioned as we enter the new fiscal year, with increased financial flexibility and a clear focus on margin expansion, free cash flow and disciplined capital deployment, alongside a more focused portfolio and improved cost structure."
In the first quarter of fiscal 2027, management expects to generate revenues in the range of $700 million to $740 million, said the company. For fiscal 2027, it expects "modest revenue growth, reflecting continued demand across its diversified global end markets," while the ongoing reorganization of its transportation-related operations is expected to remove dilutive revenues of approximately $50 million.
Adjusted earnings from operations margin is expected to improve by approximately 50 to 75 basis points in fiscal 2027, it added.
"This improvement is expected to be achieved through a combination of lower costs achieved from the transportation reorganization, disciplined execution of the ABM across the portfolio, targeted commercial practices, and an improved after-market mix supported by the integration of services directly into the company's operating units," said the company. "A portion of the savings from the reorganization will be reinvested in higher-growth areas, including the company's nuclear business, where management sees meaningful long-term opportunity. Margin improvement will not be linear across quarters and should be considered on a full-year basis. The company's long-term adjusted earnings from operations margin target of 15% remains unchanged. As progress is made toward this target, the company may update its long-term margin objectives."
ATS expects reoccurring revenues to be in the range of 25%-35% on a trailing twelve month basis.
The company's long-term goal is to maintain its investment in non-cash working capital as a percentage of annualized revenues below 15%, it added.
"The company previously disclosed expected restructuring costs of approximately $20 million in the third and fourth quarters of fiscal 2026," said the company. "In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, restructuring expenses of $15.2 million were recorded in relation to these activities, bringing the total cost for the year ended March 31, 2026, to $23.1 million."
This includes costs from the company's previously announced fiscal 2025 restructuring program, as well as the fiscal 2026 initiative, and combined, this is consistent with the company's previously disclosed expectations, it added.
In the first quarter of fiscal 2027, the company expects restructuring costs of approximately $5 million related to transportation-related divisions and approximately $5 million to $10 million related to other parts of the business, as warranted, it said.
"As part of transportation-related restructuring, three smaller facilities in the U.S. will be closed," it stated. "The company will continue to evaluate its cost structure throughout fiscal 2027 as event-driven opportunities are identified across the portfolio, with a specific focus on margin expansion."
During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, after a "thorough review", the company identified "additional opportunities to continue the realignment of the cost structure and capital needs of its transportation-related businesses, including consolidation of remaining transportation-focused standalone divisions, and addressing excess facility capacity."
Two facilities in the U.S. and one facility in Germany are being held for sale, with one of the facilities in the U.S. to be structured as a sale and leaseback transaction, said the company. The proceeds from the sale of these facilities, expected in fiscal 2027, are expected to fund the restructuring activities and other related costs associated with exiting these businesses and concluding the company's obligations with respect to legacy customer contracts, it added.
Shares in ATS were up 2.5% in Canada yesterday.