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Company Overview - Mohawk Industries is the leading global flooring manufacturer, enhancing residential and commercial spaces worldwide [2] - The company has transformed from an American carpet manufacturer into the world's largest flooring company over the past two decades, with operations in North America, Europe, South America, Oceania, and Asia [2] - Mohawk's vertically integrated manufacturing and distribution processes provide competitive advantages in producing various flooring products, including carpet, rugs, ceramic tile, laminate, wood, stone, and vinyl flooring [2] Upcoming Earnings Call - Mohawk Industries will release its Second Quarter 2025 earnings on July 24, 2025, followed by a conference call on July 25, 2025, at 11:00 am ET [1] - The conference call will be available for live streaming on the company's investor relations website [1] - For those unable to attend the live call, a replay will be available until August 22, 2025 [1]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported diluted earnings per share of $0.45 for the first quarter of fiscal 2025, a slight decrease from $0.46 in the same period last year [5][6] - Total sales increased by 5.8% to $1,161 million from $1,097 million year-over-year [6][30] - Gross profit rose by 8.1% driven by the sales increase and a 100 basis point increase in gross margin rate to 43.8% [30][34] - Selling and store operating expenses increased by 10.3% to $368.8 million, primarily due to new stores [30][31] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Comparable store sales decreased by 1.8% year-over-year, with the West Division outperforming this decline [16][17] - Sales growth was strongest in laminate and luxury vinyl plank, wood, and installation materials [18] - Connected customer sales increased by 2.1%, now accounting for approximately 18.3% of total sales [19][20] - Sales to professional customers continued to grow, accounting for about 50% of total sales [22] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The U.S. is now the largest country of manufacture for the company, accounting for approximately 27% of products sold, up from 20% in fiscal 2018 [11] - China accounted for 18% of products sold, down from 25% in fiscal 2023 and 50% in fiscal 2018 [11] - The company anticipates receipts from China to approximate mid to low single digits of total receipts by the end of fiscal 2025 [11][12] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on managing tariff impacts through vendor negotiations and sourcing diversification strategies [9][10] - Plans to open 20 new warehouse format stores in fiscal 2025, down from a previous expectation of 25 [14][15] - The company aims to maintain its competitive advantage through a broad assortment and innovative product offerings [12][18] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed uncertainty regarding consumer spending due to economic volatility and potential recession risks [7][36] - The company is proactively implementing flexible plans to navigate economic challenges [7][36] - Updated fiscal 2025 guidance reflects a cautious outlook, with total sales expected to increase by 5% to 8% [37][39] Other Important Information - The company maintains a strong liquidity position with $949.8 million in unrestricted liquidity [35] - General and administrative expenses increased by 3.5% to $69.1 million, attributed to investments in store growth [32] Q&A Session Summary Question: Clarification on tariff impact and pricing strategy - Management confirmed that they have experience managing tariffs and are negotiating with vendors to offset impacts, expecting modest price increases if necessary [44][46] Question: Concerns about business weakness and guidance reduction - Management acknowledged the challenges but emphasized strong execution and market share growth, while being prepared for various scenarios [56][58] Question: Store growth strategy and criteria for adjustments - The company plans to open 20 new stores based on current market conditions, with flexibility to adjust if necessary [66][68] Question: Impact of tariffs on gross margin - Management aims to maintain gross margin rates despite tariff impacts, with a focus on managing gross profit dollars [102]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported diluted earnings of $0.44 per share for Q4 2024, including a net benefit of $6.8 million from a derivative litigation settlement [14] - For the full year 2024, diluted earnings were $1.90 per share, which also included the $0.05 benefit from the settlement [15] - Q4 2024 gross profit rose by 8.9%, with a gross margin rate of 43.5%, while the full-year gross margin rate increased to 43.3% from 42.1% [56] - Selling and store operating expenses increased by 10.1% in Q4 2024, while general and administrative expenses decreased by 5.4% [57][59] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q4 2024 increased by 11.1% to $119.8 million, while full-year adjusted EBITDA declined by 7.0% to $512.5 million [63][65] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total sales for Q4 2024 increased by 5.7% year-over-year, while comparable store sales decreased by 0.8%, showing improvement from previous quarters [23][24] - The company opened 10 new warehouse format stores in Q4 2024, totaling 30 new stores for the fiscal year [19] - Spartan Surfaces experienced a 17.9% decline in Q4 sales, primarily due to weakness in the multifamily residential market [46] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company noted that existing home sales rose for the third consecutive month in December 2024, despite elevated mortgage interest rates [24] - The west division showed encouraging comparable store sales trends, with modest growth year-over-year [28] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to open 25 new warehouse format stores in fiscal 2025, focusing on strategic growth despite industry pressures [20][21] - Investments in innovative merchandise and technology are prioritized to enhance customer experience and drive long-term growth [15][30] - The company is diversifying its supply chain to reduce reliance on China, with the U.S. now being the largest country of manufacture [34] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about long-term growth opportunities in hard-surface flooring due to supply and demand imbalances in housing [16] - The company is carefully planning for fiscal 2025 amid geopolitical uncertainties and mixed economic indicators, with total sales expected to range from $4.740 billion to $4.900 billion [68][70] - Management highlighted the importance of existing home sales for driving growth in same-store sales [100] Other Important Information - The company achieved a record high net promoter score in January 2025, reflecting strong customer service [53] - The company plans to continue investing in technology and e-commerce to enhance customer engagement [37] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is driving the slightly weaker performance quarter-to-date? - Management attributed the slowdown to weather impacts, noting that sales typically recover over time [80] Question: How should we think about the incrementality or flow-through to the model? - Management indicated that better-than-expected sales lead to strong flow-through, with expectations of high 30s flow-through if sales exceed projections [84][86] Question: What are the expectations for housing backdrop and its impact on sales? - Management expects a slow recovery in housing, with benefits from immature stores contributing to sales growth [99][100] Question: How will the company manage supply chain costs and pricing in 2025? - The company plans to negotiate with suppliers, diversify sourcing, and adjust prices as necessary to manage costs [128]