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Trex Company Reports Strong Results in Third Quarter 2021

General News
Trex Company Logo - Composite Decking Manufacturer

Trex Company, Inc., the world’s #1 brand of composite decking and railing, innovator of high-performance, low-maintenance and eco-friendly outdoor living products and a leading national provider of custom-engineered commercial railing systems, reported third quarter 2021 results and year-to-date performance.

“The strength of the outdoor living repair and remodel sector and continued broad-based demand for Trex-branded decking and railing products, together with our expanded manufacturing capacity, drove impressive revenue growth of 45% in the third quarter. The accelerated pace of market share conversion from wood to composites continues, and our ability to capture a large portion of this expanded addressable market reflects the strength of our brand and the range of our product portfolio, which supports consumer decision-making by providing a range of product aesthetics, features and price points that have broad appeal and distinct competitive advantages over wood.

“Strong sales growth coupled with disciplined SG&A spending resulted in significant operating leverage in the third quarter. This was noteworthy given that Trex, like many other manufacturers, continued to experience inflationary pressures on raw materials, labor and other costs. We expect recent price increases to mitigate those impacts beginning in the fourth quarter.

“Trex continues to prioritize cost reduction projects and continuous improvement opportunities, primarily related to automation, modernization, energy efficiency and raw material processing, while remaining focused on innovation and new product development”, said Bryan Fairbanks, President and CEO.

Third Quarter 2021 Results

Consolidated net sales for the 2021 third quarter were $336 million, representing a 45% increase year-over-year. Trex Residential net sales increased 46% to $319 million, with Trex Commercial contributing $17 million to net sales. The increase in net sales was largely due to volume growth across all Trex Residential product lines; however, labor shortages constrained the extent of the volume growth. The increase also reflects price increases on certain product lines at Trex Residential that were realized in early September 2021 to address inflationary pressures in key raw materials and freight.

Consolidated gross margin for the 2021 third quarter was 38.2%, including inflationary pressures on raw materials and logistics cost. This compares to 36.7% in the year-ago quarter, which included the impact of the $6.5 million Trex Residential warranty reserve charge. Third quarter 2021 gross margin for Trex Residential and Trex Commercial were 38.9% and 24.0%, respectively, compared to 37.4% and 24.4%, respectively, in the 2020 quarter. Excluding the warranty reserve charge, third quarter 2020 consolidated and Residential margins were 39.5% and 40.4%, respectively, compared to the 38.2% and 38.9%, respectively, in the 2021 quarter. Excluding the provision, gross margin decreased as a result of inflationary pressures on key raw materials, higher transportation costs and labor shortages, partially offset by the price increase realized in September and increased production efficiencies.

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $30 million, or 9.0% of net sales, inclusive of a gain on insurance proceeds of $3.7 million related to the fire at the Virginia plant in March of 2021. This compares to $28 million, or 12.1% of net sales, in the 2020 third quarter. Excluding the gain on insurance proceeds, SG&A would have been $34 million or 10.1% of sales.

Net income for the 2021 third quarter grew to $74 million, or $0.64 per diluted share, both representing an increase of 73%, from net income of $43 million, or $0.37 per diluted share, in the 2020 third quarter. EBITDA increased 76% to $108 million and EBITDA margin was 32.2%. Excluding the warranty charge, third quarter 2020 net income was $48 million, or $0.41 per diluted share, and EBITDA and EBITDA margin were $68 million and 29.4%, respectively.

Year-to-Date Performance

Net sales year-to-date were $893 million, 37% ahead of the $653 million reported in the prior year. Trex Residential net sales increased 39% to $851 million, with Trex Commercial contributing an additional $42 million to net sales. Year-to-date consolidated gross margin was 38.3%, representing gross margins of 39.2% and 21.2% for Trex Residential and Trex Commercial, respectively. Excluding the $6.5 million Trex Residential warranty reserve charge, year-to-date 2020 consolidated and Residential margins were 41.9% and 42.7%, respectively.

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $97 million, inclusive of a gain on insurance proceeds of $4.7 million related to the fire at the Virginia facility, or 10.9% of net sales, compared to $92 million, or 14.0% of net sales, in the prior year.

Net income year-to-date was $184 million, or $1.59 per diluted share, compared to $132 million, or $1.14 per diluted share. EBITDA increased 44% to $271 million and EBITDA margin was 30.3%, compared to EBITDA of $188 million and EBITDA margin of 28.8% during the same period. Excluding the warranty charge, year-to-date 2020 net income amounted to $137 million, or $1.18 per diluted share, and EBITDA and EBITDA margin were $194 million and 29.8%, respectively.

The company repurchased 576,714 shares of its outstanding common stock during the first nine months of the year totaling $52.3 million.

Recent Developments

On October 26, 2021, the Company announced its plan to add a third U.S.-based Trex Residential manufacturing facility in Little Rock, Arkansas. The new campus will sit on nearly 300 acres of land and will include buildings dedicated to decking and railing production, plastic film recycling and processing, reclaimed wood storage, warehousing, and administrative offices. When completed, the new facility will substantially expand the Company’s production capacity and address increased demand for Trex Residential outdoor living products. Construction is slated to begin in early 2022 with the first production output anticipated in 2024. Funded primarily through ongoing cash generation, the Company expects to invest approximately $400 million over five years in the development of the new Arkansas site.

Summary and Outlook

“Demand trends remain strong, mirroring repair and remodel spending forecasts for the remainder of 2021 and into 2022. Supporting this view is the significant rise in home improvement permits indicating that homeowners are continuing to invest in their primary and secondary residences.

“Order activity together with our website traffic and analytics point to a strong finish to 2021. For the fourth quarter of 2021, we expect consolidated net sales to range from $295 million to $305 million, representing 31% year-over-year growth at the midpoint of the range. Anticipating sustained consumer demand along with infilling of low channel inventories, as we look to 2022, we expect another year of strong double-digit revenue gains.

“Trex Company’s commitment to environmental sustainability remains a core principle of our operations. The high percentage of recycled materials contained in our decking and railing products is of increasing importance to consumers. I would like to thank the entire Trex organization for their dedication and collaboration in building a better tomorrow for our customers, employees, communities, investors and the environment.” Mr. Fairbanks concluded.

For the complete press release, click here.

About Trex Company

Trex Company is the world’s largest manufacturer of high-performance, low-maintenance wood-alternative decking and railing, with nearly 30 years of product experience. The #1 brand in outdoor living is proud to be named to Fortune magazine’s 2020 list of the world’s 100 Fastest-Growing Companies and to Forbes’ 2021 List of America’s Best Mid-Size Companies. Stocked in more than 6,700 retail locations worldwide, Trex outdoor living products offer a wide range of style options with fewer ongoing maintenance requirements than wood, as well as a truly environmentally responsible choice. Also, Trex is a leading national provider of custom-engineered railing systems for the commercial and multi-family market, including performing arts venues and sports stadiums. For more information, visit trex.com.

Contact:

Dennis Schemm – Senior Vice President & CFO – (540) 542-6300

Source: Trex Company, Inc.