Summit Materials Inc. announced results for the third quarter 2021. For the three months ended Oct. 2, the company reported net income attributable to Summit Inc. of $74.2 million, or $0.63 per basic share, compared to net income attributable to Summit Inc. of $90.7 million, or $0.79 per basic share in the comparable prior year period.
The 18.2% decrease in net income included the reversal of an unrecognized tax benefit in 2020. Summit reported adjusted diluted net income of $81.5 million, or $0.68 per adjusted diluted share as compared to adjusted diluted net income of $63.9 million, or $0.55 per adjusted diluted share in the prior year period.
Summit’s net revenue increased $17.0 million, or 2.6% in the third quarter of 2021 to $662.3 million, compared to $645.2 million in the third quarter of 2020, on higher aggregates, ready-mix concrete and cement revenue relative to a year ago on continued favorable market demand conditions and price growth in all lines of business.
The company reported operating income of $125.0 million in the third quarter 2021, an increase of 24.3%, compared to $100.6 million in the prior year period, primarily due to higher revenue. General and administrative expenses also decreased by $3.6 million in the current period relative to third quarter 2020, when the company incurred CEO transition costs. Summit’s operating margin percentage for the three months ended October 2, 2021 increased to 18.9% from 15.6% during the comparable period a year ago, due to the factors noted above.
Adjusted EBITDA increased in the third quarter 2021 to $190.3 million as compared to $177.3 million in the third quarter 2020.
For the three months ended Oct. 2, sales volumes increased 9.2% in aggregates and 2.0% in cement relative to the same period last year on strong demand in most of its markets. Average selling prices in the third quarter of 2021 increased 3.9% in aggregates, 4.4% in cement, 3.7% in ready-mix concrete and 1.7% in asphalt. Adjusted cash gross profit for aggregates expanded to $96.7 million in the third quarter 2021, an increase of 26.1% relative to $76.7 million in the year ago quarter.
Anne Noonan, CEO of Summit Materials, commented, “The Market Leadership theme in our Elevate Summit strategy is beginning to be reflected in our results. Today we are reporting third quarter Adjusted EBITDA growth of 7.3% versus Q3 2020. Organic volume and pricing growth was reflected in expanded adjusted cash gross profit margin in aggregates, cement and services. Our Q3 Adjusted EBITDA margin increased 120 basis points from the year ago quarter, contributing towards our Elevate Summit 30% Adjusted EBITDA margin goal, which is measured over the trailing 12 months.
“Summit is currently progressing several strategic divestitures in addition to the five divestitures that were already completed in the first half of 2021. We believe Summit’s organic growth profile and asset light conversion model position the company to absorb the impact of the foregone contribution from those divested businesses. When comparing 2020 to 2021, it’s also important to understand that 2020 included 53 reporting weeks, while 2021 is a standard 52-week reporting year. In consideration of factors such as those, we are leaving our full year 2021 Adjusted EBITDA guidance unchanged.”
As of Oct. 2, the company had $258.1 million in cash and $1.6 billion in debt outstanding. The company’s $345 million revolving credit facility has $329.1 million available after outstanding letters of credit. For the quarter ended Oct. 2, cash flow provided by operations was $207.4 million and cash paid for capital expenditures was $170.1 million.
Brian Harris, CFO of Summit Materials, added, “Just a few months after the announcement of our Elevate Strategy, we have achieved our Elevate Summit leverage reduction goal of less than 3.0x, and we believe further improvements are possible with steady execution of our strategy.”
For the full year 2021, Summit has not made any changes to its outlook for Adjusted EBITDA of approximately $490 million to $520 million, The company continues to expect 2021 capital expenditure guidance of approximately $200 million to $220 million including approximately $25 million to $35 million for greenfield projects.
Aggregates net revenues increased by $23.9 million to $160.3 million in the third quarter 2021 when compared to the prior year period. Aggregates adjusted cash gross profit margin increased to 60.3% in the third quarter 2021 as compared to 56.2% in the third quarter 2020.
Aggregates sales volumes increased 9.2% in the third quarter 2021 when compared to the prior year period on organic growth in both the West and East segments. Volume increased in the Intermountain West, North Kansas, Virginia and British Columbia markets. Average selling prices for aggregates increased 3.9% in the third quarter 2021.
Cement segment net revenues increased 9.0% to $92.5 million in the third quarter 2021, when compared to the prior year period, on higher sales volume of cement. Cement adjusted cash gross profit margin increased to 47.4% in the third quarter, compared to 45.1% in the prior year period. The Green America Recycling facility continues to ramp up production following an explosion that occurred in April 2020. Sales volume of cement increased 2.0% in the third quarter and average selling prices increased 4.4% when compared to the prior year period.
Products net revenues were $314.0 million in the third quarter 2021, compared to $321.8 million in the prior year period. Products adjusted cash gross profit margin decreased to 21.0% in the third quarter, versus 21.8% in the prior year period. Its organic average sales price for ready-mix concrete increased 3.7% and organic sales volumes of ready-mix concrete decreased 1.4%, due mostly to wet conditions in Texas in the third quarter of 2021 that resulted in operational inefficiencies. Organic average sales price for asphalt increased 1.7%, with pricing improvements in Kentucky and British Columbia, while volume decreased 11.2% due to a divestiture of a paving business.