Summit Materials Inc. announced results for the fourth quarter and full year ended Dec. 30, 2023. Net revenue increased $220.7 million, or 9.9%, in 2023 to $2.4 billion, as strong pricing across all lines of business and contributions from acquisitions more than offset lower volumes and the impact of divestitures.
Operating income increased $41.6 million, or 15.5% in 2023 to $310.6 million, as higher revenue more than offset increases in cost of revenue, depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion, general and administrative expenses, and transaction costs. Summit’s operating margin percentage for 2023 increased to 12.7% from 12.1% in 2022, due to the factors noted above.
Net income attributable to Summit Inc. increased to $285.9 million, or $2.40 per basic share, compared to $272.1 million, or $2.27 per basic share, in the comparable prior year period. Summit reported adjusted diluted net income of $189.4 million, or $1.58 per adjusted diluted share, as compared to $153.9 million, or $1.27 per adjusted diluted share, in the prior year period.
Adjusted EBITDA increased $86.5 million, or 17.6%, to $578.0 million, due primarily to a strong pricing environment and, to a lesser extent, contributions from acquisitions.
Aggregates net revenues increased $79.6 million to $663.6 million in 2023. Aggregates adjusted cash gross profit margin increased to 49.9% in 2023 as compared to 48.5% in 2022. Aggregates sales volume decreased 1.9% in 2023.
Excluding acquisitions and divestitures, organic sales volume decreased 3.1% in 2023, primarily reflecting unfavorable weather conditions early in the year and soft residential demand. Average selling prices for aggregates increased 14.6%, fueled by 16.7% pricing growth in the West Segment and 12.0% pricing growth in the East Segment.
For the fourth quarter, Summit’s net revenue increased $101.5 million, or 19.8% in the fourth quarter to $613.1 million, as average sales prices across all lines of business increased.
Operating income increased $3.4 million, or 5.3% in the fourth quarter to $68.5 million, driven by increases in average sales price that more than offset a combination of inflationary increases in cost of revenue, higher general and administrative expenses, and increased transaction and integration costs versus the prior year period.
Summit’s operating margin percentage for the three months ended Dec. 30, 2023, decreased to 11.2% from 12.7%, from the comparable period a year ago primarily reflecting the aforementioned transaction and integration costs related to the Argos USA transaction.
Net income attributable to Summit Inc. increased to $3.0 million, or $0.02 per basic share, compared to $29.8 million, or $0.25 per basic share in the comparable prior year period. Summit reported adjusted diluted net income of $37.8 million, or $0.31 per adjusted diluted share, compared to $38.3 million, or $0.32 per adjusted diluted share, in the prior year period.
Adjusted EBITDA increased $17.3 million, or 14.5%, to $136.5 million primarily reflecting strong pricing across all lines of business.
In the fourth quarter, aggregates net revenues increased by $22.0 million to $157.6 million in the fourth quarter. Aggregates adjusted cash gross profit margin was 48.7% in the fourth quarter as compared to 47.8% in the prior year period. Aggregates sales volume increased 5.7% in the fourth quarter. Organic aggregates sales volumes increased 2.8% reflecting relatively accommodating weather conditions in many markets. Average selling prices for aggregates increased 9.2%, maintaining strong levels and reflecting the cumulative effects of multiple pricing actions implemented in 2023.
“Summit is at an exciting and pivotal point in our company’s history,” commented Anne Noonan, Summit Materials president and CEO. “Our team has effectively capitalized on dynamic, yet constructive market conditions to drive record revenue and profitability. And we’re building on our record setting performance by swiftly and safely advancing our Argos integration – a move that we expect will only strengthen our materials-led business. For 2024, with an improved footprint and increased scale we anticipate delivering another year of strong growth and returns. Our positive outlook is supported by robust commercial conditions, an improving demand backdrop, and a full set of growth opportunities that are unique to Summit Materials. Crucially, our high-quality execution, financial performance, and strategic focus has afforded us the balance sheet flexibility to continue our pursuit of value-accretive capital allocation priorities. Today and moving forward, we firmly believe Summit is very well-positioned to generate superior value creation for our shareholders.”
For the full year 2024, Summit is currently projecting Adjusted EBITDA of approximately $950 million to $1,010 million and expects 2024 capital expenditures of approximately $430 million to $470 million.