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INTERFACE INC (TILE)·Q1 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q1 2025 delivered modest top-line growth and stable adjusted profitability: revenue $297.4M (+2.6% YoY) and adjusted EPS $0.25 (+4.2% YoY) amid expected margin pressure from higher EAAA manufacturing and freight costs .
- Results modestly beat consensus: revenue $297.4M vs $297.1M consensus* and adjusted EPS $0.25 vs $0.21 consensus*; Americas strength offset softer EAAA; backlog up 12% YoY supporting Q2 trajectory .
- FY 2025 guidance raised at the low end for revenue ($1.340B–$1.365B from $1.315B–$1.365B) and tax rate cut to 27% from 28%; Q2 outlook calls for $355M–$365M revenue and ~37.2% adjusted gross margin .
- Narrative drivers: One Interface strategy continues to drive mix/pricing and sales execution (healthcare +16% billings; education +13% billings), with tariff impacts (<15% of product cost) planned to be offset by pricing and productivity — already reflected in guidance .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Americas momentum: net sales +6% YoY; currency-neutral orders +9.8% with combined selling teams; backlog up 12% YoY, positioning Q2 strongly .
- Diversification wins: global billings up double-digits in Healthcare (+16%) and Education (+13%), validating segment strategy and product fit .
- Strategic execution: “We delivered a solid start to 2025 with 4% year-over-year currency-neutral growth in net sales… strong momentum going into the second quarter,” and One Interface initiatives to accelerate growth and lead in design and sustainability .
What Went Wrong
- Margin compression: adjusted gross margin -82 bps YoY to 37.7% due to higher EAAA manufacturing and freight costs, partially offset by pricing .
- EAAA softness: net sales -2.0% YoY; operating income down 34.6%; currency-neutral orders -5.7% reflecting regional macro pressure .
- Sequential decline from seasonal Q4: revenue fell to $297.4M from $335.0M; adjusted EPS to $0.25 from $0.34, in line with typical seasonality highlighted on Q4 call .
Financial Results
Segment breakdown (Q1 YoY):
KPIs and Balance Sheet:
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- CEO: “Interface delivered a solid start to 2025 with 4% year-over-year currency-neutral growth in net sales, 4% growth in adjusted earnings per share and strong momentum going into the second quarter… Our One Interface strategy is working.”
- CEO: “Global billings in both Healthcare and Education grew double digits… diversifying and strengthening our business.”
- CFO: “First quarter results exceeded our expectations… strong balance sheet provides optionality and flexibility. We remain focused on delivering long-term value.”
- CFO: “We generated $11.7M of cash from operating activities… liquidity totaled $397.2M… Net leverage ratio was 1.1x.”
Q&A Highlights
- Guidance raised (low end) driven by Q1 outperformance and strong April orders; backlog strength underpinned confidence in Q2 .
- Tariffs exposure quantified (<15% product cost; ~$10–$15M annualized); mitigation via pricing/productivity with timing alignment; carpet local manufacturing reduces risk .
- Regional detail: APAC sales up double digits in local currency; Europe/Australia softer; Americas leading growth .
- Inventory increase primarily seasonal (education ramp), not tariff prebuy; supports Q2 demand .
- Capital allocation: prioritize investing in growth and plant productivity with high-return automation; maintain strong balance sheet .
Estimates Context
Values retrieved from S&P Global*.
Bold indicates significant beats/misses.
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Americas execution remains the core growth engine; EAAA softness is manageable given tariff mitigation plans and localized carpet manufacturing .
- Near-term setup: strong backlog (+12% YoY) and April double-digit orders support Q2 guide ($355M–$365M revenue; ~37.2% adj. GM) — a potential positive catalyst if delivered .
- Mix/pricing and One Interface productivity actions continue to offset cost headwinds, but EAAA manufacturing and freight costs are the swing factors for margins in 1H .
- FY guidance raised at the low end with lower tax rate (27%), signaling confidence while acknowledging macro uncertainty — watch for H2 margin recapture as automation benefits scale .
- Strategic sustainability/R&D investments (carbon storage materials; carbon-negative prototypes) deepen product differentiation in healthcare/education where billings are compounding .
- Balance sheet optionality (net leverage 1.1x) supports continued high-return capex and selective capital returns without sacrificing flexibility .
- Trading lens: stock should be sensitive to Q2 execution vs guide and tariff pass-through pacing; monitor segment/region mix (Americas vs EAAA) and office demand cadence (Class A refresh) .
Appendix: Additional Press Releases (Q1 2025)
- Regular quarterly dividend declared: $0.01 per share payable April 11, 2025 .
Appendix: Prior Trends
- Q3 2024: Revenue $344.3M (+10.7% YoY), adj. EPS $0.48; education billings +18%, Americas orders +17% .
- Q4 2024: Revenue $335.0M (+3.0% YoY), adj. EPS $0.34; FY adj. gross margin +173 bps; 2025 seasonality and FX headwinds outlined .