Why Is Griffon (GFF) Up 13.8% Since Last Earnings Report?

Core Viewpoint - Griffon Corporation's recent earnings report showed mixed results, with revenues increasing but adjusted earnings missing estimates, leading to a 13.8% rise in shares since the last report, outperforming the S&P 500 [1] Financial Performance - Griffon reported adjusted earnings of $1.54 per share for Q4 fiscal 2025, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.56, but showing a 4.8% year-over-year increase [2] - Total revenues reached $662.2 million, exceeding the consensus estimate of $630 million, and reflecting a 0.4% year-over-year increase [2] Segmental Performance - Home and Building Products segment, accounting for 63.5% of net revenues, generated $420.3 million, a 3% year-over-year increase, driven by favorable pricing and mix [3] - Consumer and Professional Products segment revenues totaled $241.9 million, down 4% year-over-year, impacted by an 8% volume reduction due to decreased consumer demand in the US and UK [4] Margin and Cost Analysis - Adjusted gross margin improved to 41.7% from 41.1% year-over-year, despite a 2.6% decrease in cost of sales to $385.9 million [6] - Selling, general and administrative expenses rose by 3.6% year-over-year to $157.3 million [6] Balance Sheet and Cash Flow - Cash and cash equivalents at the end of Q4 were $99 million, down from $114.4 million at the end of fiscal 2024, while long-term debt decreased to $1.40 billion from $1.52 billion [7] - The company generated net cash of $357.4 million from operating activities, compared to $380 million in the previous year [7] Shareholder Returns - Griffon paid out dividends of $39.7 million and repurchased shares worth $183.3 million during the same period, with $298 million remaining under the share repurchase program [8] Future Outlook - For fiscal 2026, Griffon anticipates net sales of $2.5 billion and adjusted EBITDA in the range of $580-$600 million, with specific margin expectations for both segments [10] - Interest expense is projected at $93 million, and capital expenditures are expected to be $60 million for the fiscal year [10] Estimate Trends - Recent estimates for Griffon have trended downward, with a consensus estimate shift of -16.98% [11] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 4 (Sell), indicating expectations of below-average returns in the coming months [13]