• Fourth Quarter Sales: $500 million, an increase of 1% reported and 2% organic over the prior year.
• Gross Profit Margin: 46.9%, down 120 basis points year-over-year.
• Adjusted Operating Margin: 24.0%, up 70 basis points over the prior year.
• GAAP Net Income: $88 million or $2.22 per diluted share.
• Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share: $2.25, up 9% over the prior year.
• Free Cash Flow (Q4): $93 million, with a conversion rate of 105%.
• Full Year Net Sales: $1.8 billion, up 1% reported and 2% organic compared to last year.
• Full Year Adjusted Operating Margin: 22.9%, up 70 basis points compared to the prior year.
• Full Year Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share: $7.70, up 10% over the prior year.
• Net Debt at Year-End: $343 million, with cash of $165 million.
• Adjusted EBITDA (Full Year): $469 million or 26% of sales.
• 2025 Outlook: Low single-digit organic sales growth expected.

• Warning! GuruFocus has detected 1 Warning Sign with MSA.

Release Date: February 13, 2025

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

Positive Points

• MSA Safety Inc (NYSE:MSA) achieved margin expansion through effective SG&A management and earnings growth despite lower-than-expected sales growth.
• The company secured a 10-year $33 million breathing apparatus contract with the US Coast Guard and delivered on the second tranche of the US Air Force order.
• MSA Safety Inc (NYSE:MSA) reported high single-digit growth in Fire Service sales, driven by strong performance in international markets and the completion of the US Air Force order.
• The company launched several innovative products, including the Cairns 1836 Fire Helmet and the FL5000 Multi-spectrum IR flame detector, reinforcing its leadership in safety solutions.
• MSA Safety Inc (NYSE:MSA) maintained a strong financial position with significant liquidity and a net leverage of 0.7 times, enabling effective capital allocation and shareholder returns.

Negative Points

• Sales growth was impacted by industrial market weakness, softer US fire service demand, and foreign exchange headwinds.
• Detection sales experienced a low single-digit contraction due to challenges in fixed gas and flame detection.
• Industrial PPE sales declined mid-single digits, with a double-digit contraction in other PPE sales.
• Gross margin contracted by 120 basis points due to inflation and large project mix, partially offset by price and productivity programs.
• The company anticipates a dynamic operating environment in 2025 with uncertain macroeconomic and geopolitical conditions, posing potential risks to growth.

Q & A Highlights

Q: Can you discuss the order pace as we move through the quarter and into January, and the growth expectations for 2025? A: Steven Blanco, President and CEO, explained that December was lighter than anticipated, particularly in the industrial sector. However, the start of the year has been solid, especially in the detection business and fire service. The order pace and pipeline align with strategic expectations, with a focus on detection and fall protection.

Q: With the upcoming NFPA standard change, is there any deferred ordering in anticipation of new product launches? A: Steven Blanco noted that while the Fire Service business remains resilient, the pace of ordering was slower than expected. Some customers may wait for the new standard, but MSA is well-positioned, and they have a good base of business that won't wait.

Q: How do the Americas margins exiting the year at almost 31% set you up for 2025? A: Lee McChesney, CFO, stated that the goal is to target 30 to 50 basis points of improvement each year. For 2025, the focus will be more on gross margin improvement rather than SG&A, despite potential FX headwinds.

Q: Can you discuss the variability in international margins as we head into 2025? A: Lee McChesney explained that there is a step down in Q1 due to volume leverage. International markets have different dynamics compared to North America, but MSA is working on productivity and cost base improvements globally.

Q: What are you doing in terms of product innovation in 2025 and 2026, and could these initiatives create demand for replacements and upgrades in the Detection segment? A: Steven Blanco highlighted that innovation is key for MSA, with a focus on customer insights. In 2025, they are enhancing the G1 platform and leaning into the connected platform in Detection. The fixed monitoring space is also expanding with new solutions.

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