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RPM INTERNATIONAL INC/DE/ (RPM)·Q3 2025 Earnings Summary

Executive Summary

  • Q3 FY2025 was pressured by severe weather, FX headwinds, and transitional plant consolidation costs: revenue $1.48B (-3.0% YoY), GAAP diluted EPS $0.40, adjusted EPS $0.35, EBIT $62.7M, adjusted EBIT $78.2M .
  • Versus S&P Global consensus, RPM missed: revenue $1.48B vs $1.51B*, adjusted EPS $0.35 vs $0.50*; 13 EPS and 12 revenue estimates were outstanding*, driven by under-absorption from lower volumes and FX .
  • Cash flow execution remained a bright spot (Q3 operating cash flow $91.5M; second-highest third quarter historically), with operating working capital/sales improving 70 bps to 20.7% and total debt reduced to $2.10B .
  • Q4 FY2025 guidance: consolidated sales flat YoY; adjusted EBIT up low-single digits; PCG mid-single-digit growth; CPG flat; SPG and Consumer low-single-digit declines; tariffs expected to lift raw material inflation from low- to mid-single digits .

What Went Well and What Went Wrong

  • What Went Well

    • “By prioritizing cash flow over profitability, we generated another quarter of strong cash flow… inventories declined $36 million versus last year” .
    • Fiberglass reinforced plastic structures (PCG) grew double digits, supported by data center demand .
    • Announced definitive agreement to acquire The Pink Stuff (~£150M CY2024 sales), expanding Consumer cleaners globally and across e-commerce/grocery/drug channels .
  • What Went Wrong

    • Unseasonably cold weather (southern U.S.) and wildfires (west) reduced construction and outdoor project activity; foreign currency and eight plant consolidation transitions pressured margins .
    • Seasonally low quarter magnified under-absorption from disciplined inventory draw-down; corporate/other expenses rose on higher M&A and compensation .
    • SPG faced lower specialty OEM and disaster restoration demand; Consumer experienced raw material inflation (packaging/solvents) and under-absorption from lower production .

Financial Results

MetricQ1 FY2025 (Aug 31, 2024)Q2 FY2025 (Nov 30, 2024)Q3 FY2025 (Feb 28, 2025)
Net Sales ($USD)$1,968,789,000 $1,845,318,000 $1,476,562,000
EBIT ($USD)$303,859,000 $227,633,000 $62,678,000
Adjusted EBIT ($USD)$328,342,000 $255,076,000 $78,236,000
Diluted EPS (GAAP)$1.77 $1.42 $0.40
Adjusted Diluted EPS$1.84 $1.39 $0.35
Operating Cash Flow (Quarter)$248,059,000 $279,400,000 $91,500,000

Segment sales and earnings (Q3 YoY):

SegmentNet Sales Q3 FY2024Net Sales Q3 FY2025Adjusted EBIT Q3 FY2024Adjusted EBIT Q3 FY2025
CPG$495,753,000 $473,408,000 $20,487,000 $12,730,000
PCG$343,536,000 $340,625,000 $47,092,000 $43,789,000
SPG$176,494,000 $158,737,000 $12,101,000 $6,716,000
Consumer$507,199,000 $503,792,000 $64,994,000 $54,184,000

KPIs and balance sheet:

KPICurrentPrior
Operating Working Capital / Sales (%)20.7% (9M FY2025) 21.4% (9M FY2024)
Total Debt ($USD)$2.10B (Feb 28, 2025) $2.19B (Feb 29, 2024)
Total Liquidity ($USD)$1.21B (Feb 28, 2025) $1.29B (Feb 29, 2024)
DividendDeclared $0.51 per share payable Apr 30, 2025 Prior increase of 11% in Oct 2024

Guidance Changes

MetricPeriodPrevious GuidanceCurrent GuidanceChange
Consolidated SalesQ3 FY2025Flat YoY Actual: -3.0% YoY Miss vs guide
Consolidated Adjusted EBITQ3 FY2025Up or down low-single digits YoY Actual: down 29.0% YoY Miss vs guide
Consolidated SalesQ4 FY2025Flat YoY New quarterly outlook
Adjusted EBITQ4 FY2025Up low-single digits YoY New quarterly outlook
CPG SalesQ4 FY2025Flat YoY New
PCG SalesQ4 FY2025Mid-single-digit increase YoY New
SPG SalesQ4 FY2025Low-single-digit decline YoY New
Consumer SalesQ4 FY2025Low-single-digit decline YoY New
FY2025 SalesFull YearLow-single-digit growth Unchanged (not reiterated in Q3 release) Maintained prior
FY2025 Adjusted EBITFull Year+6% to +10% Unchanged (not reiterated in Q3 release) Narrowed in Q2, maintained

Earnings Call Themes & Trends

TopicQ1 FY2025Q2 FY2025Q3 FY2025Trend
Weather impactNo-growth macro; Q2/Q3 seasonality commentary “Real winter” expected to pressure Q3 Severe cold/wildfires cut activity; March only marginal improvement Deteriorated in Q3, improving into Q4
MAP 2025 executionRecord adjusted EBIT; SG&A streamlining; manufacturing efficiency Record adjusted EBIT; continuous cash cycle gains Benefits masked by under-absorption; $28M MAP savings noted Structural progress; leverage returns with volume
Tariffs/raw material inflationNeutral commodity cycle; modest H2 raw inflation expected Inflation to ~1.5–2%; preparedness for tariffs/port strike Tariff impact ~3.2% global, ~4.3% U.S.; mitigation plans; mid-single-digit raw inflation expected Inflation risk rising; mitigations active
High-performance buildings/data centersPivot to high-performance, strong backlog PCG benefiting; easier comps in Q4 Double-digit FRP demand; backlog strong Structural demand intact
Consumer demand/new productsDIY weak; margin expansion via mix Stabilization; targeted campaigns; bad debt hit New launches (Mean Green), low odor aerosol; cautious consumer Stabilizing; innovation-led
Plant consolidations/under-absorptionStartups/COE investments impacting P&L Consolidations progressing Transitional costs continue; temporary redundancies to maintain service Near-term headwind; long-term efficiency
Europe progressProfitability despite lower sales; MAP rollout Strong PCG Europe growth via collaboration COE opened; consolidations; centralized distribution (Belgium) Improving profitability

Management Commentary

  • “The unfavorable weather conditions we discussed in early January continued and became more widespread… Unseasonably cold weather in the southern U.S. and wildfires in the west reduced demand…” .
  • “By prioritizing cash flow over profitability, we generated another quarter of strong cash flow… inventories declined $36 million versus last year.” .
  • “We anticipate… modest earnings growth in the fourth quarter… with the financial benefits of MAP 2025 becoming even more evident when sustained volume growth returns.” .
  • On tariffs: “Unmitigated impact… about 3.2%, larger in the U.S. about 4.3%… ~$74–$75M on a $2.5B spend. Mitigations include Annex 2 exemptions, alternative sourcing, vendor partnerships, product substitutions, and price increases.” .

Q&A Highlights

  • Macro and guidance: management sees a “low growth, no growth” environment continuing; a return to profitable growth in Q4 driven by self-help, share gains, and new products .
  • Operating rates: organic growth down 1.8%; lower production to reduce inventories drove under-absorption of fixed costs (DIO down ~8 days YTD) .
  • Tariffs detail: quantified impact and mitigation; highlighted predatory domestic metal pricing behavior; expect to offset most inflation via sourcing and pricing .
  • Backlog: roofing/WTI backlog remains strong; projects largely pushed from Q3 to Q4; PCG backlog solid near-term .
  • Corporate expense: non-op running ~$35M/quarter; elevated in Q3 due to M&A costs; likely above $35M in Q4 .
  • M&A appetite: pipeline improving; multiples down; Pink Stuff structured with ~20% earnout to sales/profit targets .

Estimates Context

MetricS&P Global ConsensusActualBeat/Miss
Revenue ($USD)$1,507,226,390*$1,476,562,000 Miss
Adjusted/Primary EPS ($USD)$0.49547*$0.35 Miss
EPS – # of estimates13*
Revenue – # of estimates12*

Values retrieved from S&P Global.*

Implications: Results likely prompt near-term estimate revisions lower given Q3 shortfall and Q4 guide to low-single-digit adjusted EBIT growth; management highlighted tariff-driven mid-single-digit raw inflation and ongoing plant consolidation transitions, which may temper near-term margin expectations while structural MAP benefits re-accelerate with volume .

Key Takeaways for Investors

  • Expect modest Q4 earnings growth with a flat sales backdrop; PCG strength and backlog should lead, while Consumer and SPG remain soft near-term .
  • Structural MAP 2025 gains are intact; leverage will improve as volumes normalize (watch weather normalization and seasonality) .
  • Raw material inflation risks rising to mid-single digits from tariffs; RPM’s mitigation playbook (sourcing shifts, pricing) should limit P&L impact .
  • Cash discipline is a differentiator (Q3 CFO $91.5M; OWC down 70 bps); debt down to $2.10B supports M&A and dividend continuity .
  • Pink Stuff acquisition is strategically accretive to Consumer cleaners, expanding channels (e-commerce/grocery/drug) with above-average margin profile; closing expected late Q4 or early Q1 FY2026 .
  • Watch PCG’s data center/building envelope exposure (double-digit FRP) for growth resilience; CPG system-selling supports repair/maintenance thesis in tight budgets .
  • Near-term trading: Q3 miss vs consensus and cautious Q4 guide may cap upside until visibility improves; catalysts include normalization of activity, tariff mitigation execution, and M&A additions .