Smart Sand, Inc. (NASDAQ: SND) demonstrated significant sales growth in the second quarter of 2025, reporting revenues of $85.8 million, an increase from $65.6 million in the previous quarter and $73.8 million during the same period last year. The company attributed this growth to an increase in sales volumes and a strategic focus on expanding operations, despite facing challenges related to higher logistics costs and negative cash flow.
Sales volumes surged to 1.42 million tons, marking a 33% increase from the first quarter and a 12% rise year over year. Net income for the quarter stood at $21.4 million, largely benefiting from a $21.7 million tax benefit.
Operational Expansion and Market Demand
Charles Young, Smart Sand’s chief executive officer, highlighted the positive impact of expanded operations at the company’s Blair and Ottawa facilities, as well as increased demand from Utica Shale terminals. “Our sales volumes rose 33% and our Adjusted EBITDA grew by $6.3 million compared to the first quarter,” Young said. He noted that strategic investments have enhanced frac sand sales into the Northeast United States and Canada, and emphasized the ongoing growth of their Industrial Production Solutions business.
Adjusted EBITDA reached $7.8 million, a notable improvement from $1.4 million in the previous quarter, although it remained lower than the $11.9 million reported in the same quarter last year. The contribution margin increased to $15.8 million, yet still fell short of the $19.8 million recorded in the second quarter of 2024.
Financial Challenges and Shareholder Returns
Despite the positive sales figures and profitability metrics, Smart Sand faced challenges with cash flow. The company reported negative operating cash flow of $5.1 million and free cash flow of negative $7.8 million, primarily resulting from delayed customer payments and rising logistics expenses. Capital expenditures for the quarter totaled $2.7 million, with total investments expected to range between $13 million and $17 million for the year.
The company reaffirmed its commitment to returning value to shareholders, announcing $1.8 million in share repurchases during the quarter and a dividend of $0.10 per share payable on August 14, 2025. By mid-August, Smart Sand will have returned a total of $6.4 million to shareholders in 2025, accumulating $19.6 million since January 2023.
Looking forward, Young expressed cautious optimism regarding market dynamics. He noted that while volatility continues to influence customer activity, Smart Sand anticipates that sales volumes in the second half of 2025 will remain consistent with the first half. The company expects to achieve positive free cash flow for the full year, driven by robust long-term fundamentals for Northern White sand. This includes demand growth linked to natural gas development, liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects, and the expansion of data centers that support artificial intelligence.
As of June 30, 2025, Smart Sand reported having $4.3 million in cash and $21 million in available credit, positioning the company for future opportunities amid ongoing market challenges.
