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SILGAN HOLDINGS INC (SLGN)·Q1 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Record Q1 2025 net sales of $1.47B and adjusted EPS of $0.82, with organic volume growth across all segments; adjusted EPS rose 19% YoY near the high end of expectations .
- Versus estimates: adjusted EPS beat consensus ($0.82 vs $0.788*), while revenue was a slight miss ($1.467B vs $1.474B*); management confirmed FY 2025 adjusted EPS $4.00–$4.20 and FCF ~$450M, interest ~$185M, and tax ~24% .
- Segment momentum: Dispensing & Specialty Closures delivered fourth consecutive quarter of double-digit dispensing volume growth; Metal Containers grew mid-single digits in pet food and soup; Custom Containers delivered record Q1 adjusted EBIT .
- Stock reaction catalyst: Durable organic growth and positive Q2 guide ($0.98–$1.08 adj. EPS) counterbalanced by modest top-line miss and higher interest expense; narrative supported by Weener integration outperformance and confirmed FY guide .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- “Our team delivered another quarter of record results… volume growth and outstanding operating performance across all segments… strong results from the Weener acquisition and continued execution of our cost reduction program” – CEO Adam Greenlee .
- Dispensing & Specialty Closures: fourth consecutive quarter of double-digit organic growth in dispensing, record Q1 adjusted EBIT, with Weener contributing ~$16.8M adjusted EBIT and ~$126.1M sales .
- Metal Containers: mid-single digit volume growth driven by pet food and soup; favorable price/cost and higher volumes lifted adjusted EBIT YoY .
What Went Wrong
- Revenue was a slight miss vs consensus (actual $1.467B vs $1.475B*), despite strong volume; FX headwinds in Dispensing & Specialty Closures partially offset benefits [*].
- Interest & other debt expense increased to $42.9M (+$4.3M YoY) from acquisition-related borrowings, pressuring GAAP EPS despite adjusted outperformance .
- Mix headwinds in Metal (growth in smaller pet food cans) tempered price/mix, with Q2 volumes expected flat before fruit/veg pack recovery in Q3 .
Financial Results
Note: Asterisk values retrieved from S&P Global.
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- CEO: “Our Dispensing and Specialty Closures business delivered another quarter of double digit organic volume growth in dispensing products… generated record first quarter adjusted EBIT in the segment.” .
- CEO: “We remain confident in our ability to deliver results that outpace our end market growth in 2025 and beyond… disciplined capital deployment strategy.” .
- CFO: “Record total adjusted EBIT… $158.3M increased by 17% YoY… record adjusted EPS of $0.82 increased $0.13 or 19%.” .
- CEO on pet food & soup: “Consumer demand… continues to grow… we have commercialized several new customer product launches in the category to drive growth.” .
- CEO on tariffs: “There just isn’t that much cross-border activity… we like to buy raw materials, make it and sell it in the same geography.” .
Q&A Highlights
- Volume outlook: Management reiterated mid-single-digit volume growth in each segment for 2025; noted slight Q1 pull-forward in pet aluminum cans due to a customer labor issue, with Q2 Metal volumes flat before Q3 pack recovery .
- Weener integration: Performing slightly ahead of expectations; capital investments at end of 2024 are driving incremental volume and bottom-line growth .
- Tariffs & FX: Limited tariff exposure due to local manufacturing and pass-through mechanisms; FX held at Q1 spot rates with natural hedges (local currency debt) .
- Pet category promotions: Targeted promotions in wet pet and retail driving volume; mixed outcomes in isotonic beverages depending on customer promotional intensity .
- Leverage/M&A: Expect net debt/EBITDA toward low end of 2.5–3.5x by year-end; disciplined M&A pipeline, ready to deploy capital when targets come to market .
Estimates Context
- Q1 2025: Adjusted EPS beat ($0.82 vs $0.788*), revenue slight miss ($1,466.7MM vs $1,474.7MM*). Strength in Dispensing and pet food volumes, cost reduction and Weener synergies drove EPS above consensus despite higher interest expense .
- Prior quarter Q4 2024: Adjusted EPS beat ($0.85 vs $0.822*), revenue beat ($1,411.2MM vs $1,398.7MM*), aided by inventory actions in DSC and price/cost .
- Implications: Q2 guide ($0.98–$1.08) suggests continued EPS momentum; consensus may need to raise FY EPS if Q2 delivery tracks the midpoint and Weener outperformance persists .
Note: Asterisk values retrieved from S&P Global.
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Organic growth is durable across segments, with Dispensing delivering multi-quarter double-digit volume growth; integration of Weener is ahead of plan, reinforcing EPS trajectory .
- Despite a modest revenue miss vs consensus, margin profile improved (gross margin 18.4%, EBIT margin 8.9%), supporting the adjusted EPS beat .
- FY guide reaffirmed (adj. EPS $4.00–$4.20; FCF ~$450M; interest ~$185M; tax ~24%), and Q2 guide (adj. EPS $0.98–$1.08) indicates near-term momentum; positive estimate revisions are plausible if execution continues .
- Metal Containers mix headwinds (smaller pet cans) are manageable; Q3 fruit/veg pack recovery is a catalyst; pet food promotions and new soup launches support volumes .
- Leverage trending lower; capital allocation remains M&A-first but disciplined, with capacity to pivot to buybacks/debt paydown if targets stall .
- Dividend raised to $0.20 (paid Jun 16), marking 85 consecutive quarterly payments since 2004—income support alongside growth .
- Risk watch: interest expense elevated from acquisition financing; FX and tariffs limited by local manufacturing but monitored; isotonic beverage volumes tied to promotional intensity .