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TEMPUR SEALY INTERNATIONAL, INC. (TPX)·Q2 2024 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q2 2024 delivered resilient profitability despite softer industry volumes: net sales $1.2336B (-2.8% YoY), gross margin expanded 220 bps to 44.9%, diluted EPS $0.60 (+15.4% YoY), and adjusted EPS $0.63 (+8.6% YoY) .
- North America outperformed the market with strong Tempur-Pedic momentum and OEM distribution wins; International posted growth with a 170 bps gross margin expansion to 56.6% .
- Management lowered FY24 adjusted EPS guidance to $2.45–$2.65 (midpoint +6% YoY), tightened cost assumptions (advertising ~$475M; CapEx ~$140M), and signaled sequential margin expansion in Q3 and Q4 albeit at a moderated pace .
- Key catalysts: durable gross margin gains from operational efficiencies and commodities tailwinds, targeted promotions to protect ASPs, continued share gains, and clarity around FTC litigation timeline and Mattress Firm post-closing supply agreements .
- Consensus estimates via S&P Global were not retrievable for TPX; estimate comparisons are unavailable this quarter due to a CIQ mapping issue (tool error).
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Margin expansion and earnings growth: “consolidated adjusted gross margin expansion of 200 bps and adjusted EBITDA margin expansion of 170 bps YoY,” driving adjusted EPS to $0.63 (+9% YoY) .
- Brand and innovation wins: Tempur-Pedic led performance; the new TEMPUR-Adapt line targeting aches and pains and ultra-premium ActiveBreeze system (with Sleeptracker-AI) elevated brand perception and ticket sizes .
- International execution: global rollout of new Tempur mattresses, bases and pillows supported growth and margin gains; U.K. Dreams performed well despite a challenging market .
What Went Wrong
- Top-line softness vs internal expectations amid a mid-single-digit industry decline; Q2 sales slightly below plan despite outperformance versus peers .
- Promotional environment elongated; company matched timing to remain EBITDA-neutral, but chose profit over deeper discounting, slightly tempering U.S. share gains vs Q1 .
- Floor model timing headwinds: ~3% consolidated revenue headwind YoY in Q2 (and a slight Q1 tailwind), obscuring sequential comparisons .
Financial Results
Segment breakdown (Q2 YoY and sequential context):
Channel mix (Q2 YoY):
KPIs and balance sheet:
Non-GAAP adjustments (Q2): $7.3M transaction costs (Mattress Firm), no gross margin adjustments in Q2 2024; Q2 2023 included $2.4M operational start-up costs .
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- “Our strong gross margin performance and solid cost controls resulted in healthy earnings growth in the second quarter.” — Scott Thompson, CEO .
- “We achieved consolidated adjusted gross margin expansion of 200 basis points and adjusted EBITDA margin expansion of 170 basis points year-over-year.” — Scott Thompson .
- “Adjusted EPS to be in the range of $2.45 to $2.65… this represents a 6% growth year-over-year… adjusted EBITDA of approximately $940 million at the midpoint.” — Bhaskar Rao, CFO .
- “ActiveBreeze… integrates Sleeptracker-AI and is driving premium tickets upward of $20,000… enhancing brand perception and signaling the future for bedding innovation.” — Scott Thompson .
- “We will not be taking any questions on the Mattress Firm acquisition this morning… we’ve executed several post-closing supply agreements… consistent with Mattress Firm as a multi-branded retailer.” — Scott Thompson .
Q&A Highlights
- Pricing and promotions: promotional periods are longer, not deeper; TPX matches timing while prioritizing profits; expect slight promotional environment if industry remains soft .
- Gross margin sustainability: operational efficiencies have “legs,” supporting sequential and YoY GM and EBITDA margin improvement into H2 and 2025 .
- Interest rate sensitivity: ~100 bps decline could add
$10M EBITDA ($5M variable debt + ~$5M retail financing costs), plus indirect traffic benefit . - International growth: back-half mid-to-high single digit growth expected, with floor model comps normalizing .
- Floor model phasing: slight tailwind in Q1 (~8%); ~3% consolidated headwind in Q2 (mostly NA), important for sequential modeling .
- Antidumping / low-end market: importer inventories declining; potential unit share tailwind at low-end but limited profit impact .
Estimates Context
- Wall Street consensus via S&P Global could not be retrieved for TPX this quarter due to a CIQ mapping issue in our estimates tool. As a result, “vs. estimates” comparisons are unavailable. If/when SPGI mapping is restored, we will include consensus metrics for revenue, EPS, and EBITDA and highlight beats/misses accordingly.
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Margin story intact: durable operational efficiencies and moderating commodity tailwinds drove 220 bps GM expansion to 44.9% and adjusted EPS growth to $0.63; management guides continued sequential margin gains in Q3/Q4, albeit at a slower pace as initiatives are lapped .
- Profits over promotion: TPX matched promotional timing to remain EBITDA-neutral while protecting ASPs and mix, sustaining premium brand health and profitability even as industry remains soft .
- North America resilience, International momentum: NA GM +200 bps with OEM growth and Tempur-Pedic strength; International GM +170 bps and expected back-half acceleration .
- Guidance reset lowers risk: FY24 adjusted EPS $2.45–$2.65, sales “approximately consistent” vs prior year, advertising trimmed to ~$475M, CapEx to ~$140M — yielding a credible plan in a depressed industry backdrop .
- Cash generation and leverage: robust Q2 free cash flow of $122M; leverage at 2.7x within target; debt less cash $2.41B, supporting flexibility ahead of Mattress Firm outcome .
- Strategic catalysts: continued innovation (TEMPUR-Adapt, ActiveBreeze with Sleeptracker-AI), OEM wins, and potential industry normalization on easier comps can drive share and margin expansion .
- Watch items: H2 logistics costs (ocean cargo), elongated promotions, and FTC litigation timeline; management executed multiple post-closing supply agreements, reiterating a multi-brand retail stance at Mattress Firm .