Group 1 - Avient Corporation has appointed Dr. Ashish K. Khandpur as Chairman of the Board, in addition to his roles as President and CEO, effective May 14, 2025 [1] - Dr. Khandpur's leadership is expected to drive long-term value creation and organic growth for Avient, as noted by the outgoing Chairman Richard H. Fearon [2] - The company aims to amplify innovation and achieve margin expansion under Dr. Khandpur's new strategy [2] Group 2 - Dr. Khandpur has a robust background, having started his career at 3M in 1995 and holding various leadership roles, including Chief Technology Officer and Group President of significant business units [3] - He has overseen substantial R&D investments, with nearly $1.9 billion annually during his tenure at 3M [3] - Avient Corporation focuses on being an innovator of materials solutions, with a diverse portfolio that includes colorants, advanced composites, and engineered materials [4]

Financial Performance - Sales decreased by $2.4 million, or 0.3%, to $826.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, with unfavorable foreign currency impacts of 2.1%[65] - Gross margin as a percentage of sales was 31.8% for the three months ended March 31, 2025, down from 33.6% in the same period of 2024, primarily due to higher restructuring charges of $7.7 million[66] - Selling and administrative expenses increased by $78.3 million, driven by a $71.6 million impairment charge related to the cloud-based ERP system[67] - Operating income plummeted to $0.7 million, a decrease of $93.3 million or 99.3%, compared to $94.0 million in the prior year[64] - Net loss attributable to Avient common shareholders was $20.2 million, compared to net income of $49.4 million in the prior year, marking a decrease of $69.6 million or 140.9%[64] Cash and Debt Management - As of March 31, 2025, cash and cash equivalents totaled $456.0 million, down from $544.5 million at the end of 2024[81] - The company expects to meet cash requirements for 2025 through cash on hand, cash from operations, and available liquidity under its revolving credit facility[82] - Total debt maturities amount to $2,099.2 million, with a significant portion due in 2029[87] - The company was in compliance with all financial and restrictive covenants related to its debt as of March 31, 2025[88] Risks and Uncertainties - The company emphasizes that forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from projections[92] - There are no material changes to exposures to market risk as reported in the Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2024[95] - The company highlights potential disruptions in credit markets that could impact the availability and cost of credit in the future[94] - Currency fluctuations and political risks may affect foreign operations, impacting overall performance[94] - The company faces risks related to supply chain disruptions and inefficiencies that could affect operations[94] - Changes in laws and regulations, particularly regarding plastics and climate change, could impact business operations[94] - The company is monitoring fluctuations in raw material prices and energy supply, which could affect production costs[94] - There are concerns regarding the ability to pay regular quarterly cash dividends and the timing of future dividends[94] - Cybersecurity threats and information systems failures pose risks to operational integrity[94] - The company acknowledges that external factors, such as geopolitical conflicts and economic conditions, could impact business performance[94] Segment Performance - The Color, Additives and Inks segment saw a sales increase of $4.4 million, or 0.9%, while the Specialty Engineered Materials segment experienced a sales decline of $6.0 million, or 1.9%[73][77]

Core Insights - Avient reported revenue of $826.6 million for the quarter ended March 2025, a decrease of 0.3% year-over-year, with EPS remaining unchanged at $0.76 [1] - The revenue fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $833.46 million, resulting in a surprise of -0.82%, while the EPS exceeded the consensus estimate of $0.75 by 1.33% [1] Financial Performance Metrics - Specialty Engineered Materials sales were $308.40 million, below the average estimate of $312.56 million, reflecting a year-over-year decline of 1.9% [4] - Color, Additives and Inks sales reached $519.70 million, slightly below the average estimate of $521.10 million, with a year-over-year increase of 0.9% [4] - Corporate sales reported a loss of -$1.50 million, worse than the average estimate of -$0.80 million, marking a significant year-over-year change of +114.3% [4] Operating Income Analysis - Operating income for Color, Additives and Inks was $78.60 million, slightly above the average estimate of $78.01 million [4] - Operating income for Specialty Engineered Materials was $47.10 million, below the average estimate of $49.71 million [4] - Corporate operating loss was -$125 million, significantly worse than the average estimate of -$32.27 million [4] Stock Performance - Avient's shares have returned +13.9% over the past month, outperforming the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +11.5% change [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating potential performance in line with the broader market in the near term [3]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported organic sales growth of 2% in Q1 2025, with adjusted EBITDA increasing by 4% excluding foreign exchange impacts [7][8] - Adjusted EBITDA margins expanded by 20 basis points to 17.5%, despite strong comparisons from the previous year [8] - Adjusted EPS was $0.76, representing a 4% growth when excluding unfavorable foreign exchange impacts [8][15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Color, Additives, and Ink segment saw organic sales growth of 3% and adjusted EBITDA growth of 7%, driven by resilient demand in personal care and food and beverage applications [15][16] - The Specialty Engineered Materials segment's organic sales were flat year-over-year, with adjusted EBITDA declining by 4% due to lower sales in transportation and defense markets [16][17] - The healthcare segment experienced double-digit growth, particularly in medical devices and medical supplies [16] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Organic sales in the U.S. and Canada declined by 3%, primarily due to weak demand in consumer and transportation end markets [9] - EMEA region grew by 2%, marking the fourth consecutive quarter of organic growth [9] - Asia reported a 9% increase in organic sales, with growth across most end markets, including transportation [10] - Latin America outpaced market growth with a 17% increase in organic sales, continuing a trend of double-digit growth [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on cost control and productivity, expecting approximately $30 million in savings from initiatives in 2025 [12] - There is a strategic emphasis on maximizing cash flow and reducing debt, with plans to pay down $100 million to $200 million in debt this year [13][23] - The company aims to prioritize investments in growth vectors, particularly in healthcare and defense, which are expected to outperform the broader market [14][20] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that evolving trade policies have led to uncertainty impacting demand in select markets, particularly in the U.S. [8][20] - The company expects second quarter adjusted EPS of $0.79, representing a 4% growth over the prior year quarter [20] - For the full year, the company models different scenarios, with the low end reflecting flat demand and the high end assuming mid-single-digit growth [22] Other Important Information - The company expects minimal direct impact from tariffs, as most raw materials are sourced and products manufactured locally [19] - The company anticipates 1% to 2% inflation in raw material costs for the full year, with specific trends noted in various materials [84] Q&A Session Summary Question: Defense business outlook after a 5% decline in Q1 - Management expects double-digit growth in the defense business for the first half of the year and high single-digit growth for the full year [27] Question: Transportation market outlook and order books - Transportation is expected to see low negative mid-single-digit growth in the first half, aligning with build rate drops in Europe and the U.S. [28][30] Question: Consumer market weakness in Q1 - The consumer market showed double-digit declines in the U.S. and Canada, with expectations for continued weakness in Q2 [33][34] Question: Share gains in EMEA - Strong performance in healthcare, consumer, and defense markets contributed to share gains in EMEA [35] Question: Packaging segment performance - The packaging segment is driven by strong demand in personal care and beverages, with double-digit growth in personal care applications [39][40] Question: Raw material trends and inflation - The company expects 1% to 2% inflation in raw material costs for the full year, with specific materials trending up or down [84][85]

Company Performance - Avient reported quarterly earnings of $0.76 per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.75 per share, and matching the earnings from a year ago [1] - The company posted revenues of $826.6 million for the quarter ended March 2025, which was 0.82% below the Zacks Consensus Estimate and a slight decrease from $829 million year-over-year [2] - Over the last four quarters, Avient has exceeded consensus EPS estimates four times and topped revenue estimates twice [2] Stock Outlook - Avient shares have declined approximately 16.8% since the beginning of the year, compared to a 3.9% decline in the S&P 500 [3] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.79, with expected revenues of $856.72 million, and for the current fiscal year, the estimate is $2.77 on $3.27 billion in revenues [7] Industry Context - The Chemical - Diversified industry, to which Avient belongs, is currently ranked in the bottom 18% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating potential challenges ahead [8] - The performance of Avient's stock may be influenced by the overall outlook for the industry, as historical data shows that the top 50% of Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by more than 2 to 1 [8]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported organic sales growth of 2% in the quarter, with adjusted EBITDA growing by 4% excluding foreign exchange impacts [6][14] - Adjusted EBITDA margins expanded by 20 basis points to 17.5%, despite strong comparisons from the previous year [7] - Adjusted EPS was $0.76, representing a 4% growth when excluding unfavorable foreign exchange impacts [7][14] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Color, Additives, and Ink segment saw organic sales growth of 3% and adjusted EBITDA growth of 7% [14] - The Specialty Engineered Materials segment's organic sales were flat year-over-year, with adjusted EBITDA declining by 4% [15] - The healthcare segment experienced double-digit growth, driven by demand in medical devices and supplies [15][16] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Organic sales in the U.S. and Canada declined by 3%, primarily due to weak demand in consumer and transportation markets [8] - EMEA region grew by 2%, marking the fourth consecutive quarter of organic growth [8] - Asia's organic sales increased by 9%, with growth across most end markets, particularly transportation [9] - Latin America outpaced market growth with a 17% increase in organic sales, marking the fourth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth [9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on cost control and productivity, expecting approximately $30 million in savings from initiatives in 2025 [11] - There is a strategic emphasis on maximizing cash flow and reducing debt by $100 million to $200 million this year [12][22] - The company aims to prioritize investments in growth vectors, particularly in healthcare and defense, which are expected to outperform the broader market [13][20] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that evolving trade policies have led to uncertainty impacting demand in select markets, particularly in the U.S. [7][19] - For Q2, the company expects adjusted EPS of $0.79, representing a 4% growth over the prior year [20] - The full-year guidance for adjusted EBITDA remains unchanged at $540 million to $570 million, with adjusted EPS guidance of $2.70 to $2.94 [22] Other Important Information - The company expects minimal direct impact from tariffs, as most raw materials are sourced and manufactured locally [12][18] - There is a focus on innovation and reformulation to mitigate tariff impacts and enhance customer offerings [53][54] Q&A Session Summary Question: Defense business expectations for the rest of the year - Management expects double-digit growth in the first half and high single-digit growth for the full year in the defense sector, despite a 5% decline in Q1 [26][27] Question: Transportation market outlook - Transportation is expected to see low negative mid-single-digit growth in the first half, aligning with build rate drops, but a potential recovery in the second half is anticipated [28][29] Question: Consumer market weakness - The consumer market showed double-digit declines in the U.S. and Canada, with expectations for continued weakness in Q2 [32][34] Question: Share gains in EMEA - Strong performance in healthcare, consumer, and defense markets contributed to share gains in EMEA, with notable wins in energy infrastructure [35] Question: Packaging segment performance - The packaging segment is driven by strong demand in personal care and beverages, with double-digit growth in personal care applications [39][40] Question: Raw material trends and inflation - The company expects 1% to 2% inflation for the full year, with specific raw materials showing varied trends [84][85] Question: Cash flow and incentive payouts - The cash flow statement reflects a $53 million use of cash related to incentive accruals, primarily from Q1 payouts [80][81]

Avient Corporation AVNT Q1 2025 results 2025 full-year financial guidance MAY 6, 2025 A reconciliation of each historical non-GAAP financial measure with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is attached to this presentation which is posted on our website at www.avient.com. Avient does not provide reconciliations of forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures, such as outlook for Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Earnings Per Share, to the most comparable GAAP financial measures on a forward- looki ...

Core Insights - Avient Corporation reported first quarter sales of $826.6 million, a slight decrease from $829.0 million in the same quarter last year [1][8] - The company experienced a GAAP loss per share of $0.22 compared to earnings of $0.54 in the prior year quarter, primarily due to special items related to an impairment from ceasing the development of a cloud-based ERP system [2][8] - Adjusted EPS remained stable at $0.76, reflecting a 4% growth when excluding the unfavorable impact of foreign exchange [3][8] Financial Performance - First quarter adjusted EBITDA margins expanded by 20 basis points to 17.5%, despite a challenging macroeconomic environment [4] - Organic sales growth was achieved for the fourth consecutive quarter, with notable increases in Asia (9%) and Latin America (17%), while the U.S. and Canada saw a decline of 3% [5][8] - The company maintained its full-year adjusted EBITDA guidance range of $540 to $570 million and adjusted EPS guidance of $2.70 to $2.94 [5][8] Strategic Outlook - The company anticipates continued volatility in demand, particularly in consumer and transportation markets, but sees growth opportunities in packaging and high-profit sectors like defense and healthcare [5][6] - Avient's operational performance aligns with expectations, and the company plans to reduce debt by $100 to $200 million by year-end, supported by a strong cash position [5][6] Special Items and Adjustments - The first quarter results included special items totaling $75.7 million after tax, significantly impacting net income [22][23] - The impairment related to the cloud-based ERP system accounted for a substantial portion of the special items, amounting to $86.3 million [22][23] Segment Performance - Sales from the Color, Additives and Inks segment were $519.7 million, while the Specialty Engineered Materials segment reported $308.4 million [31] - The gross margin for the Color, Additives and Inks segment was $173.1 million, compared to $97.8 million for Specialty Engineered Materials [31]

Financial Performance - First quarter 2025 sales were $826.6 million, a slight decrease of 0.3% compared to $829.0 million in the prior year quarter[2]. - First quarter GAAP EPS was ($0.22), down from $0.54 in the prior year quarter, impacted by special items totaling $0.82 related to an impairment[3][6]. - Adjusted EPS for the first quarter was $0.76, consistent with the prior year quarter, reflecting a 4% growth when excluding the unfavorable impact of foreign exchange[4][6]. - The company achieved 2% organic sales growth in the first quarter, excluding foreign exchange effects[6]. - For the second quarter, the company expects adjusted EPS of $0.79, representing a 4% growth over the prior year quarter[7]. - Full year adjusted EPS guidance remains unchanged at a range of $2.70 to $2.94[6][7]. - For the year ended December 31, 2024, net income attributable to Avient common shareholders was $169.5 million, resulting in an EPS of $1.84[37]. - Adjusted net income for the same period was $244.9 million, with an adjusted EPS of $2.66[37]. - For the three months ended June 30, 2024, net income attributable to Avient common shareholders was $33.6 million, leading to an EPS of $0.36[37]. - Adjusted net income for the second quarter was $70.2 million, with an adjusted EPS of $0.76[37]. Operational Metrics - Adjusted EBITDA margins expanded by 20 basis points to 17.5% in the first quarter[5]. - The adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter of 2025 was $144.7 million, up from $143.1 million in the same period last year, representing an adjusted EBITDA margin of 17.5%[36]. - The gross margin for the first quarter of 2025 was $263.2 million, down from $278.2 million in the first quarter of 2024, with an adjusted gross margin of $270.9 million[36]. - Operating income for the first quarter of 2025 was $0.7 million, significantly lower than $94.0 million in the same quarter of 2024[36]. - The company incurred special items impacting operating income totaling $99.5 million for the first quarter of 2025, compared to $6.2 million in the prior year[36]. Cash Flow and Debt Management - The company plans to pay down $100 to $200 million of debt by year-end, supported by a strong cash position and expected free cash flow[7]. - Cash and cash equivalents decreased to $456.0 million as of March 31, 2025, down from $544.5 million at the end of 2024[28]. - Accounts receivable increased to $489.6 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $399.5 million in the previous quarter[28]. - The total assets remained stable at $5,811.2 million as of March 31, 2025, compared to $5,811.1 million at the end of 2024[28]. Expense Management - The company reported a significant increase in selling and administrative expenses, totaling $262.5 million for the first quarter of 2025, compared to $184.2 million in the same period last year[34]. - Special items after-tax for the year totaled $15.9 million, contributing $0.17 to EPS[37]. - Amortization expense after-tax for the year was $59.5 million, impacting EPS by $0.65[37]. - Special items after-tax for the second quarter amounted to $21.8 million, adding $0.24 to EPS[37]. - Amortization expense after-tax for the second quarter was $14.8 million, affecting EPS by $0.16[37]. Market Performance - Organic sales growth was strong in Asia and Latin America, with increases of 9% and 17% respectively, while the U.S. and Canada saw a 3% decline[7]. - The company is focused on executing its strategy to grow organically above market rates while managing costs and enhancing margins[8].

Core Viewpoint - Avient (AVNT) is anticipated to report a year-over-year decline in earnings despite an increase in revenues for the quarter ending March 2025, with the actual results being crucial for its near-term stock price movement [1][2]. Earnings Expectations - The upcoming earnings report is expected to be released on May 6, with a consensus EPS estimate of $0.75 per share, reflecting a year-over-year decrease of 1.3%. Revenues are projected to be $833.46 million, which is a 0.5% increase from the previous year [3]. - The consensus EPS estimate has been revised down by 4.33% over the last 30 days, indicating a bearish sentiment among analysts regarding the company's earnings prospects [4][10]. Earnings Surprise Prediction - The Zacks Earnings ESP model indicates that the Most Accurate Estimate for Avient is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, resulting in an Earnings ESP of -1.42%, which complicates the prediction of an earnings beat [10][11]. - A positive Earnings ESP is generally a strong predictor of an earnings beat, especially when combined with a favorable Zacks Rank, but Avient currently holds a Zacks Rank of 3, making it challenging to predict a positive outcome [8][11]. Historical Performance - In the last reported quarter, Avient was expected to post earnings of $0.48 per share but exceeded expectations with actual earnings of $0.49, resulting in a surprise of +2.08%. Over the last four quarters, the company has consistently beaten consensus EPS estimates [12][13]. Conclusion - While Avient does not appear to be a compelling candidate for an earnings beat, it is essential for investors to consider other factors influencing stock performance ahead of the earnings release [16].