• Net Sales: $587.2 million, an increase from the prior year quarter.
• North America Net Sales: $461.4 million, up 1% year over year.
• Europe Net Sales: $121.2 million, up 1.8% year over year.
• Gross Margin: 46.8%, down from 48.8% in the prior year quarter.
• Operating Margin: 21.3%, a decline of approximately 290 basis points from last year.
• Adjusted EBITDA: $148.3 million, a decline of 6.6% year over year.
• Net Income: $94 million or $2.21 per fully diluted share, compared to $104 million or $2.43 per share last year.
• Cash and Cash Equivalents: $339.4 million as of September 30, 2024.
• Debt Balance: Approximately $465.4 million.
• Inventory: $583.4 million as of September 30, 2024, up $49.8 million from June 30, 2024.
• Cash Flow from Operations: $102.6 million for the third quarter.
• Capital Expenditures: $106.5 million during the quarter.
• Dividends Paid: $11.8 million to stockholders.
• 2024 Operating Margin Outlook: Expected to be in the range of 19% to 19.5%.

• Warning! GuruFocus has detected 3 Warning Sign with SSD.

Release Date: October 21, 2024

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

• Simpson Manufacturing Co Inc (NYSE:SSD) reported third-quarter net sales of $587.2 million, surpassing the prior year despite challenging housing markets in the US and Europe.
• The company outperformed the US housing market, with North American volume growth exceeding US housing starts by approximately 500 basis points.
• Simpson Manufacturing Co Inc (NYSE:SSD) achieved mid-teens volume growth year over year in the OEM market, indicating successful market share gains.
• The European segment saw a 1.8% increase in net sales, benefiting from new customer wins and product applications.
• The company continues to make strategic investments in people, engineering equipment, and software to support anticipated growth in housing starts.

Negative Points

• Consolidated gross margin declined to 46.8% from 48.8% in the previous year, primarily due to changes in product mix and higher factory overhead and labor costs.
• Operating margin decreased by approximately 290 basis points to 21.3%, reflecting increased personnel costs and higher professional fees.
• The company revised its 2024 operating margin guidance to 19% to 19.5%, below previous expectations due to slower market growth.
• Simpson Manufacturing Co Inc (NYSE:SSD) experienced a decline in consolidated adjusted EBITDA by 6.6% year over year.
• The European segment faced margin compression due to costs associated with optimizing its footprint and realizing synergies from acquisitions.

Q & A Highlights

Q: How much of an impact do you expect the hurricanes to have on your Q4 sales and income as it relates to the revised guidance? A: The hurricanes have caused slowdowns in the Southeast, affecting some customer facilities significantly. This has led to a lower forecast for Q4 in that area. We haven't dialed in specific guidance yet, but the impact is expected to be notable. (Michael Olosky, CEO)

Q: Can you discuss the outlook for US housing starts in 2025 and how Simpson plans to outperform the market? A: We expect US housing starts to grow by 3% to 4% next year, with Europe seeing 1% to 2% growth. Despite uncertainties, we aim to outperform the market by focusing on operational efficiency and maintaining a 20% operating income floor. (Michael Olosky, CEO)

Q: What are the expectations for European market growth and operating margins? A: European housing starts are expected to decline in the high single digits this year, with modest growth next year. We aim to achieve a 15% operating income margin in Europe by controlling costs and optimizing our footprint. (Michael Olosky, CEO)

Q: Can you provide details on the recent acquisitions, Monet DeSauw and Quick Frames, and their impact on revenue? A: Monet DeSauw enhances our offerings to component manufacturers, while Quick Frames adds tools for the commercial space. Combined, these acquisitions are expected to contribute less than $10 million in revenue for Q4. (Michael Olosky, CEO and Brian Magstadt, CFO)

Q: How is Simpson addressing the challenge of maintaining a 20% operating margin amid market conditions? A: We are being more selective with investments and focusing on cost control while ensuring customer support. Our goal is to maintain a 20% operating margin by aligning costs with market conditions and leveraging our strong business model. (Michael Olosky, CEO)

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.