RPM International, the Medina, Ohio-based building materials maker, reported a decline in profit as the company prioritized inventory normalization. In the quarter ended May 31, the company recorded a profit of $151 million, or $1.18 per share, compared to $199 million, or $1.54 per share, in the same period last year. This figure fell short of analysts’ expectations of $1.28 per share.
However, after adjusting for certain one-time expenses, earnings per share amounted to $1.36, surpassing the forecast of $1.29 predicted by analysts.
Despite the profit decline, sales saw a modest increase of 1.6%, reaching $2.016 billion, which exceeded analysts’ expectations of $1.975 billion. This growth was primarily driven by RPM’s performance coatings group and consumer group, where price increases managed to offset cost inflation. The coatings segment experienced a boost in sales volume due to higher demand from energy-related projects, while the construction products segment maintained sales at a relatively stable level compared to the previous year. However, the specialty products group witnessed a 14% decrease in sales stemming from lower demand from equipment manufacturers.
RPM’s inventory-normalizing initiatives effectively enhanced cash flow by $314 million, enabling the company to allocate funds towards debt repayment. Additionally, the company faced significant drops in sales volumes within certain commercial and residential construction sectors, as well as from inventory destocking.
Overall, while RPM International faced challenges with declining profit and sales volumes, their strategic focus on normalizing inventory and price adjustments contributed to a stronger financial position.
