RPM International (NYSE:RPM) reported Q3 EPS of $0.38, $0.08 better than the analyst estimate of $0.30. Revenue for the quarter came in at $1.43 billion versus the consensus estimate of $1.41 billion.
Business Outlook:
For the fiscal 2022 fourth quarter, RPM's operations and those of its suppliers are expected to be impacted by ongoing supply chain challenges and raw material shortages, which will exert pressure on revenues and productivity. The strengthening U.S. dollar will also unfavorably impact the translation of RPM's results in international markets. While RPM's sales to Ukraine and Russia are immaterial, the Russian sanctions are exacerbating inflation of energy and transportation costs. They are also creating supply challenges for plant-based raw materials, as well as those that are derivatives of oil. Although it is too soon to discern, rising interest rates may slow business and consumer spending in the coming months.
In spite of these challenges, RPM expects to generate fiscal 2022 fourth-quarter consolidated sales growth in the low teens versus a difficult comparison to last year's fourth-quarter sales, which grew 19.6%. The company also anticipates sales growth in the low teens in all four of its operating segments as a result of strategic investments it is making to capitalize on market opportunities and industry trends.
Consolidated adjusted EBIT for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022 is anticipated to increase in the low teens versus the same period last year, when adjusted EBIT was up 10.6%. The company expects that earnings will continue to be affected by raw material, freight and wage inflation, as well as by the impact on sales volumes from operational disruptions caused by raw material shortages. The Consumer Group will disproportionately be impacted by these issues. Its EBIT margins have eroded all three quarters of this fiscal year due to inflationary pressures, which are more impactful on the Consumer Group than RPM's other segments. The Consumer Group continues to work to neutralize these factors by improving operational efficiencies, implementing additional price increases to catch up with inflation and adding manufacturing capacity to improve resiliency.
RPM remains tightly focused on generating long-term, sustained value for its stakeholders by managing through macroeconomic challenges, accelerating top-line growth and continuously improving the efficiency of its operations.
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