results could differ materially from those anticipated in any forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available.
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the unaudited financial statements and the accompanying notes included in Part 1, Item 1 of this Third Quarter 2024 Report and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Introduction
We are one of the leading providers of infrastructure services operating mainly in the United States and Canada. We provide a wide range of construction, maintenance, replacement, fabrication, and engineering services to a diversified base of customers through our two segments: Utilities and Energy. The structure of our reportable segments is generally focused on broad end-user markets for our services.
The Utilities segment operates throughout the United States and specializes in a range of services, including the installation and maintenance of new and existing natural gas and electric utility distribution and transmission systems, and communications systems.
The Energy segment operates throughout the United States and Canada and specializes in a range of services that include engineering, procurement, construction, refining, site development services for data centers, liquified natural gas plant construction, highway and bridge construction, demolition, site work, soil stabilization, mass excavation, flood control, upgrades, repairs, outages, pipeline construction and maintenance, pipeline integrity services, and maintenance services for entities in the renewable energy and energy storage, renewable fuels, and petroleum and petrochemical industries, as well as state departments of transportation.
We have completed major underground and industrial projects for a number of large natural gas transmission and petrochemical companies in the United States, major electrical and gas projects for a number of large utility companies in the United States, significant renewable energy projects for energy companies, as well as projects for our engineering customers. We enter into a large number of contracts each year, and the projects can vary in length from daily work orders to as long as 36 months, and occasionally longer, for completion on larger projects. Although we have not been dependent upon any one customer in any year, a small number of customers tend to constitute a substantial portion of our total revenue in any given year.
We generate revenue under a range of contracting types, including fixed-price, unit-price, time and material, and cost reimbursable plus fee contracts, each of which has a different risk profile. A portion of our revenue is derived from contracts where scope is adequately defined, and therefore we can reasonably estimate total contract value. For these contracts, revenue is recognized over time as work is completed because of the continuous transfer of control to the customer (typically using an input measure such as costs incurred to date relative to total estimated costs at completion to measure progress). For certain contracts, where scope is not adequately defined and we can’t reasonably estimate total contract value, revenue is recognized either on an input basis, based on contract costs incurred as defined within the respective contracts, or an output basis based on units completed. Costs to obtain contracts are generally not significant and are expensed in the period incurred.
The classification of revenue and gross profit for segment reporting purposes can at times require judgment on the part of management. Our segments may perform services across industries or perform joint services for customers in multiple industries. To determine reportable segment gross profit, certain allocations, including allocations of shared and indirect costs, such as facility costs, equipment costs and indirect operating expenses were made.
Material trends and uncertainties
We generate our revenue from construction and engineering projects, as well as from providing a variety of infrastructure services. We depend in part on spending by companies in the communications, gas and electric utilities, energy, chemical, and pipeline industries, as well as state departments of transportation. Over the past several years, each segment has benefited from demand for more efficient and more environmentally friendly energy and power facilities, more reliable gas and electric utility infrastructure, and upgraded and expanded local highway and bridge needs. However, periodically, each of these industries and government agencies is adversely affected by macroeconomic conditions and other challenging market conditions, such as those that have caused declines in the pipeline industry. Economic and other factors outside of our control may affect the amount and size of contracts we are awarded in any particular period.