Gross Margin Outlook
Q: What's the expectation for gross margins this year?
A: Management expects gross margins to improve during the selling season, with second-quarter margins closer to flat year-over-year rather than the 100 basis point decline seen in Q1. For the full year, they anticipate overall gross margins to be similar to 2023, despite continued deflation in commodities like PVC pipe.

SG&A Expenses and Leverage
Q: When will SG&A leverage be achieved this year?
A: SG&A leverage is expected to be realized, primarily in the second half of the year. The base business should see significant leverage, offsetting higher expenses from acquisitions like Pioneer and Devil Mountain, which are more seasonal and have higher SG&A but also higher gross margins.

April Trends and Volume Outlook
Q: How are April sales trends and volume outlook?
A: April started weaker but improved throughout the month. Management is confident about achieving the necessary volume growth for the full year to offset deflation, expecting low single-digit organic growth despite forecasting 2% price deflation.

Impact of Acquisitions
Q: How will recent acquisitions affect the business?
A: Acquisitions like Pioneer and Devil Mountain add more seasonality to the business, with higher SG&A and gross margins. Devil Mountain, a high-performing nursery business, expands coverage in California and provides a platform for growth in the Mountain states and Pacific Northwest. Integration of these acquisitions is manageable, and they are expected to contribute positively to profits.

Price Deflation and Pricing Trends
Q: What's the outlook on pricing and deflation?
A: Management forecasts 2% deflation for the year, primarily in commodities such as PVC pipe and fertilizer. In the second quarter, price deflation is expected to be around 3% year-over-year, with sequential pricing remaining flattish. Prices are stabilizing, and no significant further declines are anticipated.

Competition from Home Depot Acquisition
Q: How will Home Depot's acquisition of a competitor impact business?
A: The competitive dynamics are expected to remain unchanged. The acquired competitor, Heritage, has been aggressive, and SiteOne has been effectively competing against them. On the M&A front, SiteOne feels confident in its ability to continue acquisitions, as most deals are negotiated and based on relationships.

SG&A Increase in Q1
Q: What drove SG&A increases in Q1?
A: The SG&A increase was due to acquisitions adding more seasonality, particularly Pioneer, and higher health insurance claims amounting to several million dollars. These factors had a larger impact in the shoulder quarter but are expected to normalize as the year progresses.

Repair and Upgrade Market
Q: What's the status of the repair and upgrade market?
A: The repair and upgrade market is described as "sluggish but stable", remaining at lower levels seen last year. Management expects this trend to continue, resulting in slightly down performance but no further declines are anticipated.

Weather Impact
Q: How did weather affect the quarter's results?
A: Weather had mixed effects, with negative impacts in the Southeast due to precipitation and positive effects on maintenance products. However, management did not quantify the overall impact, stating it's difficult to bifurcate the effects in a shoulder quarter.

Capacity for Further Acquisitions
Q: Can the company handle more large acquisitions?
A: Yes, integration is manageable even with larger deals like Devil Mountain and Pioneer. These acquisitions are in different geographies and lines of business, which helps ease integration. The company feels capable of continuing its acquisition strategy effectively.