• Net Sales: $1.3 billion, flat compared to the same period a year ago.
• Organic Sales Decline: 6.7% for the quarter.
• Gross Margin: 31.2%, down from 33% a year ago.
• Net Loss: $21.4 million compared to net income of $51.9 million in the prior year period.
• Adjusted EBITDA: $93 million, a decrease of 27.3% year-over-year.
• Adjusted EBITDA Margin: Declined from 10.2% to 7.4% this quarter.
• Free Cash Flow: $83.1 million, 89% of adjusted EBITDA for the quarter.
• Wallboard Sales: $501.7 million, down 3.6% year-over-year.
• Ceilings Sales: Up 16% year-over-year.
• Steel Framing Sales: Down 11.6% for the quarter.
• Complementary Products Sales: $398.6 million, grew 5.3% year-over-year.
• SG&A Expense: $310.8 million, up from $295.7 million.
• Cash on Hand: $59 million.
• Available Liquidity: $469.7 million under revolving credit facilities.
• Net Debt Leverage: 2.4 times at the end of the quarter.
• Capital Expenditures: $11 million for the quarter.
• Share Repurchase: 445,000 shares for $39.3 million.

• Warning! GuruFocus has detected 2 Warning Sign with GMS.

Release Date: March 06, 2025

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

Positive Points

• GMS Inc (NYSE:GMS) reported net sales of $1.3 billion for the third quarter, which remained flat compared to the same period a year ago, despite challenging market conditions.
• The company successfully implemented $30 million in annualized cost reductions, with an additional $20 million expected to be realized by the first quarter of fiscal 2026.
• GMS Inc (NYSE:GMS) continues to generate significant cash flow, with free cash flow reaching 89% of adjusted EBITDA for the quarter, the highest third-quarter level since the start of COVID.
• The company is focused on expanding its Complementary Products category, which grew 5.3% year-over-year, marking its 19th consecutive quarter of growth.
• GMS Inc (NYSE:GMS) is well-positioned to capitalize on future growth opportunities, supported by a solid balance sheet and strategic investments in technology and efficiency optimization.

Negative Points

• The company's third-quarter performance came in below expectations due to a challenging macro environment, with organic sales declining 6.7% for the quarter.
• Gross margin decreased to 31.2% from 33% a year ago, impacted by vendor incentive headwinds and transactional price cost pressure.
• US commercial revenues were down 7.8% organically compared to last year, with activity levels expected to remain constrained due to tight lending conditions.
• The residential market faced headwinds, with single-family housing starts expected to remain muted for at least the current calendar year due to affordability challenges and economic uncertainty.
• GMS Inc (NYSE:GMS) recognized a $42.5 million noncash goodwill impairment charge during the quarter, contributing to a GAAP net loss of $21.4 million compared to net income of $51.9 million in the prior year period.

Q & A Highlights

Q: Given the recent announcements of price increases by MarinoWARE and ClarkDietrich, shouldn't the weakness in steel prices resolve soon? A: John Turner, CEO: We expect steel price inflation, but likely post this quarter. Current demand is down, and suppliers have inventory, so significant price changes may not occur immediately.

Q: Are you expecting the trends from the third quarter to continue into the fourth quarter? A: John Turner, CEO: Yes, we anticipate that the current quarter and possibly the next will represent the bottom of the cycle. We expect improvement on a year-over-year basis later in the year.

Q: What specific sectors are causing the decline in commercial expectations? A: John Turner, CEO: Retail, private financing projects, and office sectors are notably weak. High-rise mixed-use projects are also soft, while health care and data centers remain stable.

Q: Can you elaborate on the strong performance in ceiling pricing and mix? A: John Turner, CEO: We've focused on architectural specialties, which are in demand for projects like airports. This trend is both industry-wide and internal, and we expect it to continue.

Q: Regarding the $50 million cost savings, how much has been realized so far? A: John Turner, CEO: We've realized $30 million on an annualized basis, fully in place by this quarter. The additional $20 million will mature in the first quarter of fiscal 2026.

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