Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net sales for the quarter reached $7.6 billion, an increase of 4.3% year-over-year, driven by organic growth of 5% and acquisition growth of 1%, despite a 1.7% negative impact from one fewer sales day and foreign exchange [6][16][19] - Gross margin improved to 31%, up 50 basis points year-over-year, attributed to actions taken to capture value and moderating deflation [6][18] - Operating profit increased by 6.1% to $715 million, with an operating margin of 9.4%, expanding by 20 basis points [19][22] - Diluted earnings per share rose by 7.8% to $2.5, supported by operating profit growth and share repurchases [7][19] Performance by Business Lines - HVAC customer group saw a strong growth of 10% in the quarter, primarily due to focused investments and expansion efforts [10][13] - Waterworks revenue grew by 12%, driven by public works and municipal activities, reflecting diversification efforts [11][14] - Residential trade plumbing revenues declined by 1%, consistent with recent trends, facing challenges in new construction [10][12] Performance by Markets - In the U.S., net sales grew by 4.5%, with non-residential revenue growth of approximately 7% driven by large capital projects [8][21] - Canadian net sales were down 0.3%, with organic growth of 3% offset by foreign exchange impacts [21] Company Strategy and Industry Competition - The company continues to invest in key growth areas, including HVAC, Waterworks diversification, and large capital projects, while streamlining operations to enhance efficiency [29][30] - The launch of Ferguson Home aims to provide a seamless omnichannel experience, integrating showroom and digital channels [15][30] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in medium-term market conditions despite a dynamic and uncertain environment, with expectations for low to mid single-digit revenue growth for the full year [7][27] - The company anticipates continued strong performance in the fourth quarter, supported by solid bidding activity and market share gains [62][63] Other Important Information - The company completed three acquisitions during the quarter, enhancing its market position and capabilities [25] - A nonrecurring business restructuring charge of $68 million was incurred, expected to yield approximately $100 million in annualized cost savings [19][72] Q&A Session Summary Question: How much of the organic volume growth is attributed to internal initiatives versus market improvement? - Management indicated that the 5% organic growth is largely due to internal initiatives, particularly in the non-residential sector, and they expect the market to improve in the coming years [33][34] Question: What factors contributed to the strong gross margin of 31%? - Management noted that the strong gross margin was due to actions taken in pricing strategy and moderating deflation, with expectations to maintain margins above 30% in the fourth quarter [36][37] Question: How is bidding activity progressing in the commercial industrial sector? - Management reported strong bidding activity, particularly in data centers, and expressed optimism about the growth in large capital projects [42][43] Question: How is the company managing price increases in the current tariff environment? - Management emphasized their pricing strategy focuses on value rather than just price, and they are working closely with suppliers to manage costs effectively [44][45] Question: Can you provide insights on the Waterworks segment's growth and bidding activity? - Management highlighted strong growth in Waterworks, particularly in public works, and noted supportive bidding activity in residential new construction [55][56] Question: What is the outlook for HVAC growth and branch conversions? - Management stated that the majority of HVAC growth is organic, with ongoing counter conversions to enhance service for dual trade contractors [67][69] Question: How will the restructuring program impact future operations? - Management indicated that the restructuring is largely complete, with expected annualized savings and improved operational efficiency moving forward [72][73]

MRC Global (MRC) Q1 2025 Earnings Call May 07, 2025 10:00 AM ET Speaker0 and welcome to MRC Global's First Quarter twenty twenty five Earnings Conference Call. At this time, participants are in a listen only mode. A question and answer session will follow the formal presentation. As a reminder, this conference is being recorded. I would now like to turn the conference over to your host, Monica Brouton. Thank you. You may begin. Speaker1 Thank you, and good morning. Welcome to the MRC Global First Quarter tw ...