RPM International Inc. reported record financial results for its fiscal 2024 third quarter ended February 29, 2024.

“Thanks to the hard work of RPM associates, our third-quarter results demonstrated our continued ability to grow sales, expand margins and improve cash flow in a mixed economic environment. This is due to our strategic balance, our focus on repair and maintenance and our MAP 2025 operating improvement initiatives, which are driving structural financial improvements, and increasing collaboration across our businesses. MAP 2025 was also a key reason we generated our fourth consecutive quarter of record cash flow from operating activities, which totaled $1.26 billion during the trailing 12-month period. We continue to reinvest a portion of these gains back into the business to leverage our entrepreneurial culture and accelerate organic growth,” stated Frank C. Sullivan, RPM Chairman and CEO.

“Volume growth in Performance Coatings Group and Construction Products Group, combined with MAP 2025 initiatives and favorable timing of project completions, helped drive a 31.3% increase in consolidated adjusted EBIT to a third-quarter record. Consumer Group also leveraged MAP 2025 initiatives to generate record adjusted EBIT, despite continued softness in DIY end markets. While sales and adjusted EBIT declined at Specialty Products Group, there were signs of stabilization in specialty OEM end markets,” Sullivan continued. “Additionally, our improved coordination in markets outside the U.S. is showing good progress with strong sales and profitability growth in emerging markets and significant margin expansion in Europe.”

Third-Quarter 2024 Consolidated Results

Fiscal 2024 sales were a third-quarter record with positive pricing in all segments to catch up with cost inflation. Volume growth was strongest in businesses that were positioned to serve demand for infrastructure, reshoring, and high-performance building projects with engineered solutions, and was aided by favorable timing of project completions. This growth was offset by lower DIY consumer takeaway at retail stores and challenging comparisons in the disaster restoration business.

Geographically, sales growth was strongest in emerging markets with Africa/Middle East increasing 22.9% and Latin America increasing 13.5%. Engineered solutions for infrastructure projects were a key driver of the growth in these markets.

Sales included a 0.9% organic increase, a 0.1% decline from divestitures net of acquisitions, and a 0.4% decline from foreign currency translation.

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased due to incentives to sell higher-margin products and services; investments to accelerate long-term growth; and inflation in compensation and benefits. These increases were partially offset by expense reduction actions taken in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023.

Fiscal 2024 third-quarter adjusted EBIT was a record. Adjusted EBIT margin expansion of 170 basis points was driven by MAP 2025 initiatives, including the commodity cycle recovery, a positive mix from shifting toward higher margin products and services, and improved fixed-cost leverage at businesses with volume growth. In Europe, sales declined slightly, driven by a previously announced divestiture, however, a focused strategy to improve profitability in the region resulted in strong adjusted EBIT margin expansion.

Third-Quarter 2024 Segment Sales and Earnings

CPG third-quarter sales were a record with strength in concrete admixtures and repair products as a result of increased demand for engineered solutions serving infrastructure and reshoring-related projects, as well as market share gains. Businesses serving high-performance building construction and renovation also performed well. Sales in Latin America were strong, driven by infrastructure-related demand.

Sales included 3.1% organic growth, 0.7% growth from acquisitions, and 0.5% growth from foreign currency translation.

Third-quarter adjusted EBIT was driven by MAP 2025 benefits, inclusive of the commodity cycle, favorable mix and improved fixed-cost leverage from volume growth. Variable compensation increased as a result of improved financial performance and was partially offset by expense reduction actions implemented at the end of fiscal 2023.

PCG generated record third-quarter sales, which were in addition to strong results in the prior-year period, driven by growth in engineered solutions serving reshoring capital projects, including the favorable timing of some project completions. Strong growth in Asia/Pacific and Africa/Middle East, which were all recently aligned under PCG, also contributed to the record sales, driven by demand for engineered solutions serving infrastructure projects.

Sales included 9.2% organic growth, a 0.7% decline from divestitures, and a currency translation headwind of 1.6%.

Record third-quarter adjusted EBIT was driven by sales growth, favorable mix, and MAP 2025 benefits, inclusive of the commodity cycle. Adjusted EBIT growth was achieved in addition to strong results in the prior-year period.

SPG’s third-quarter sales decline was driven by challenging comparisons in the prior-year period when the disaster restoration business had strong results in response to freeze-related flooding that did not reoccur to the same extent this year, and the impact of the divested non-core furniture warranty business. Specialty OEM end markets showed signs of stabilization during the quarter.

Sales included a 6.4% organic decline, a 1.4% reduction from divestitures, and 0.2% growth from foreign currency translation.

Adjusted EBIT was negatively impacted by the sales decline and under absorption from lower volumes. The divestiture of the non-core furniture warranty business also contributed to the adjusted EBIT decline. Investments in long-term growth initiatives weighed on adjusted EBIT margins and were partially offset by expense-reduction actions in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023.

Business Outlook

“Our strategic balance and consistent execution of MAP 2025 initiatives are expected to drive margin improvements in the fourth quarter, resulting in the 10^th consecutive quarter of record adjusted EBIT, as well as record sales and adjusted EBIT for the full fiscal year that is squarely in the guidance we previously provided. By segment, the secular tailwinds of infrastructure and reshoring spending benefitting CPG and PCG are expected to continue, although PCG will face some temporary headwinds in the fourth quarter from the timing of project completions, included those that were pulled forward into the third quarter. SPG business conditions have shown early signs of stabilization, however some end markets remain soft, and the Consumer Group continues to face DIY pressures,” Sullivan added. “While end markets remain mixed, the investments we are making now position us to accelerate volume growth when end markets recover and will allow us to fully realize the benefits of the margin achievement initiatives we have put in place through MAP 2025.”

The company expects the following in the fiscal 2024 fourth quarter:

• Consolidated sales to be approximately flat compared to prior-year record results.
• CPG sales to increase in the low- to mid-single-digit percentage range compared to prior-year record results.
• PCG sales to be approximately flat compared to prior-year record results.
• SPG sales to decrease in the mid-single-digit percentage range compared to prior-year results.
• Consumer Group sales to decrease in the mid-single-digit percentage range compared to prior-year record results.
• Consolidated adjusted EBIT to increase in the high-single-digit percentage range compared to prior-year record results.

The company expects the following in the full-year fiscal 2024:

• Consolidated sales to increase near the midpoint of the previous outlook, which was an increase in the low-single-digit percentage range compared to prior-year record results.
• Consolidated adjusted EBIT to increase near the midpoint of the previous outlook, which was an increase in the low-double-digit to mid-teen percentage range compared to prior-year record results.

Earnings Webcast and Conference Call Information

Management will host a conference call to discuss these results. The call also will be available for replay and as a written transcript via the RPM website at www.RPMinc.com.