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Avery Dennison Corp.: Q3 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 22 October 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 4 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Adjusted EPS rose while reported EPS fell: Reported EPS was $2.13 against $2.25 a year earlier. Adjusted EPS was $2.37 against $2.33, up 1.7%. Reported net income was $166.3 million, down 8.5%. Source
  • Sales up 1.5% reported, flat organically: Net sales were $2,215.5 million, up 1.5%. Sales excluding currency were down 0.2%, with currency translation adding 1.7 points to reported growth. Source
  • Materials sales up 1.2%, organic down: Materials Group reported sales of $1,516.0 million, up 1.2%, with organic sales down 1.9%. Modest volume and mix growth was more than offset by deflation-related price reductions. Source
  • Solutions margins down on employee costs: Solutions Group adjusted operating margin was 10.0%, down 130 basis points. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 17.0%, down 90 basis points, as productivity and higher volume were offset by employee costs. Source
  • Leverage at 2.2 times adjusted EBITDA: Net debt to adjusted EBITDA was 2.2x at quarter end, against 2.3x at the end of the second quarter. Net debt was $3,244.8 million. Source
  • $670 million returned year to date: Through the first three quarters the company returned $670 million to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends. Source
  • Taylor Adhesives business profile: Taylor Adhesives develops, manufactures and commercializes specialty adhesives and coatings for the U.S. flooring industry. Source

“We delivered a solid third quarter, with earnings above expectations in a continued dynamic environment, reflecting the strength and durability of our overall portfolio”

Deon Stander, president and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Reported EPS Sourcefourth quarter 2025$2.15 to $2.25New
Adjusted EPS (non-GAAP) Sourcefourth quarter 2025$2.35 to $2.45New
Restructuring charges and other items impact on EPS Sourcefourth quarter 2025~$0.20 per shareNew
Taylor Adhesives revenue Source2025 annual$110 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: The prior release gave third quarter 2025 EPS guidance. This release gives fourth quarter 2025 reported and adjusted EPS guidance.
  • New: The company completed the acquisition of Meridian Adhesives Group's U.S. flooring adhesives business on October 20 for $390 million. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Adjusted EPS rose while reported EPS fell: Reported EPS was $2.13 against $2.25 a year earlier. Adjusted EPS was $2.37 against $2.33, up 1.7%. Reported net income was $166.3 million, down 8.5%. Source
  • Sales up 1.5% reported, flat organically: Net sales were $2,215.5 million, up 1.5%. Sales excluding currency were down 0.2%, with currency translation adding 1.7 points to reported growth. Source
  • Adjusted operating income nearly flat: Adjusted operating income was $281.1 million, up 0.5%, at a 12.7% margin against 12.8%. Adjusted EBITDA was $365.1 million, up 2.0%, at a 16.5% margin against 16.4%. Source

Segment sales

  • Materials sales up 1.2%, organic down: Materials Group reported sales of $1,516.0 million, up 1.2%, with organic sales down 1.9%. Modest volume and mix growth was more than offset by deflation-related price reductions. Source
  • Materials categories down low single digits: High-value categories and the base were both down low single digits. Graphics and Reflectives were down low single digits; Performance Tapes and Medical were down mid-single digits. Source
  • Solutions sales up 2.0%, organic up 3.6%: Solutions Group reported sales of $700 million, up 2.0%. Organic sales were up 3.6% for the segment. Source

“We made progress advancing these strategies in the third quarter, safeguarding earnings in the near term”

Deon Stander, president and CEO

Products and customers

  • High-value categories grew in Solutions: High-value categories, including Intelligent Labels, were up high single digits in the Solutions Group. Intelligent Labels was up mid-single digits. Source
  • Vestcom and Embelex more than 10% higher: Both Vestcom and Embelex were up more than 10% in the Solutions Group. Source
  • Apparel up low single digits, base down: Overall apparel categories were up low single digits in the Solutions Group, while base categories were down low single digits. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Materials margins up on productivity: Materials Group adjusted operating margin was 15.2%, up 40 basis points. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 17.5%, up 50 basis points, mainly from productivity benefits. Source
  • Solutions margins down on employee costs: Solutions Group adjusted operating margin was 10.0%, down 130 basis points. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 17.0%, down 90 basis points, as productivity and higher volume were offset by employee costs. Source
  • Restructuring savings and charges year to date: Through three quarters the company realized about $48 million of pre-tax savings from restructuring, net of transition costs, and incurred about $23 million of pre-tax restructuring charges. Source
  • Tax rate slightly above expectations: Reported effective tax rate was 29.2% for the quarter. The adjusted tax rate was 26.5%, which management described as slightly higher than its expectations. Source

Cash flow and balance sheet

  • Quarterly adjusted free cash flow higher: Adjusted free cash flow was $268.7 million in the quarter, against $219.4 million a year earlier. Year to date it was $404.5 million, against $420.0 million. Source
  • Leverage at 2.2 times adjusted EBITDA: Net debt to adjusted EBITDA was 2.2x at quarter end, against 2.3x at the end of the second quarter. Net debt was $3,244.8 million. Source
  • Cash and total debt both higher: Cash and cash equivalents were $536.3 million, against $212.7 million a year earlier. Total debt including finance leases was $3,781.1 million. Source

Shareholder returns

  • $670 million returned year to date: Through the first three quarters the company returned $670 million to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends. Source
  • 2.5 million shares repurchased for $454 million: Repurchases through the third quarter totaled 2.5 million shares at an aggregate cost of $454 million. Source
  • Share count down 3.1 million year over year: Net of dilution from long-term incentive awards, the share count was down 3.1 million compared with the same time last year. Source

Acquisition and debt financing

  • Taylor Adhesives business profile: Taylor Adhesives develops, manufactures and commercializes specialty adhesives and coatings for the U.S. flooring industry. Source
  • Senior notes issued in September: In September the company issued €500 million of 4.00% senior notes due 2035. Source
  • Note proceeds for acquisitions and debt repayment: The company intends to use net proceeds for general corporate purposes, including financing acquisitions and repaying indebtedness under its commercial paper program. Source

Coming up, as management said on 22 October 2025

  • Fiscal 2026 aligns with calendar year: Fiscal years 2026 and beyond will coincide with the calendar year, running from January 1 to December 31. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management describes the environment as dynamic and says it is prepared for various scenarios. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management refers to cost controls, productivity and disciplined capital allocation as core strategies it continues to execute. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.