RPM International (RPM) Misses Q4 EPS by 13c

RPM International (NYSE: RPM) reported Q4 EPS of $1.05, $0.13 worse than the analyst estimate of $1.18. Revenue for the quarter came in at $1.56 billion versus the consensus estimate of $1.58 billion.

Business Outlook

“During fiscal 2019, we expect the challenging raw material environment to continue, perpetuating the stress on gross profit margins. All of our businesses are aggressively pursuing price increases and we expect to see some of that benefit in our consumer segment this fiscal year.

“The industrial segment should benefit from steady construction activity and a mostly stable international backdrop outside of Brazil. Additionally, our industrial coatings business should benefit from the ongoing oil and gas market recovery. We expect industrial segment sales in fiscal 2019 to grow in the mid-single-digit range.

“In our consumer segment, we enter fiscal 2019 with a leaner and more simplified organization structure, along with improved product line focus. With recent market share gains, a stepped-up advertising campaign to support new product placements and the recent purchase of Miracle Sealants, consumer is poised for growth. We expect consumer segment sales in fiscal 2019 to grow in the mid- to upper- single-digit range.

“In our specialty segment, we will annualize last year’s patent expiration at the end of our fiscal 2019 first quarter. We also see extremely difficult year-over-year comparisons for our Legend Brands restoration business, which experienced a sales boost due to three hurricanes last fall. Therefore, we expect sales growth in the specialty segment in fiscal 2019 to be in the low-single-digit range.

“Although, top-line sales will continue to be solid, the first quarter is expected to be the most difficult in terms of bottom-line leverage for several reasons. In consumer, there will be a higher first quarter promotional advertising and load-in spend to support recent market share gains. Furthermore, the gap between current price increases and raw material inflation is at its peak, with our consumer businesses finally realizing some of their price increases now. In our specialty segment, the first quarter of fiscal 2019 is the last quarter of negative comparisons relating to the NatureSeal patent expiration last August.

“During fiscal 2019, we intend to adjust out charges relating to our operational improvement initiative to provide better clarity on the performance of our core businesses. We have committed to announcing a comprehensive update to our operating improvement initiative, which we call our 2020 MAP to Growth, prior to the end of November and have elected not to provide EPS guidance as we navigate through this transitional period,” stated Sullivan

For earnings history and earnings-related data on RPM International (RPM) click here.

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