Thomas Mahoney's questions to Masterbrand Inc (MBC) leadership • Q1 2025
Question
Thomas Mahoney asked about MasterBrand's comparative strategic position in a future with more tariffs and the potential long-term benefits. He also questioned the drivers of the positive Average Selling Price (ASP) trend in Q1, given negative ASP in late 2024, and asked for clarification on the reasons for the year-over-year inventory growth.
Answer
CEO R. Banyard stated that with 80% of production in the U.S., MasterBrand is better insulated from tariffs than many industries and has the domestic capacity to absorb volume if import models become less viable. He noted that the positive Q1 ASP was partly due to a favorable mix, with the higher end of the market remaining resilient, but also highlighted unexpected softness in lower-priced in-stock products. Regarding inventory, Banyard explained the increase was a combination of some strategic pre-buying and excess safety stock resulting from slower-than-anticipated demand, which he expects to normalize.