Armstrong World Industries Reports Third-Quarter 2023 Results

Armstrong World Industries, Inc. (NYSE:AWI, Financial), a leader in the design, innovation and manufacture of ceiling and wall solutions in the Americas, today reported robust third-quarter 2023 financial results demonstrating strong operating income and adjusted EBITDA growth and margin expansion with positive contributions from both the Mineral Fiber and Architectural Specialties segments.

“With record-setting total company net sales and adjusted EBITDA this quarter, we continue to demonstrate the resilience of our business in the face of challenging market conditions. With our diverse set of end markets, consistent Mineral Fiber average unit value growth and attractive growth initiatives, we are showing how Armstrong can deliver strong financial performance in all parts of the cycle,” said Vic Grizzle, President and CEO of Armstrong World Industries. “We remain well on our way to generating solid sales, earnings and cash flow growth for 2023, even as difficult market conditions persist. I’m especially proud of our team’s ability to execute in these challenging conditions and deliver results while continuing to invest in and advance our growth initiatives.”

Third-quarter 2023 consolidated net sales increased 6.9% from prior-year results, driven by favorable Average Unit Value (dollars per unit sold, or "AUV") of $20 million and higher sales volumes of $2 million. Mineral Fiber net sales increased $16 million while Architectural Specialties net sales increased $6 million.

Third-quarter 2023 operating income increased 36.7% versus the prior-year period driven primarily by favorable AUV performance, a margin benefit from increased Architectural Specialties sales and lower input costs. In the quarter, raw materials remained inflationary while energy and freight costs declined compared to the prior-year period. Input costs also benefited from favorable inventory valuation impacts. Lower acquisition-related charges, primarily due to the absence of the change in fair value of contingent consideration related to the 2020 acquisition of TURF Design, Inc. (“Turf”) that was recorded in the prior-year period, provided an additional benefit to operating income. These benefits were partially offset by an increase in selling expense.

Mineral Fiber net sales increased $16 million in the third quarter of 2023 due to $18 million of favorable AUV, partially offset by $2 million of lower sales volumes. The increase in AUV was driven primarily by favorable price and to a lesser extent, favorable mix, that resulted largely from positive customer channel mix. The decrease in sales volumes was primarily due to softer market demand and lower sales within our Latin America channel, partially offset by the benefit from our growth initiatives.

Third-quarter 2023 operating income increased primarily due to an $11 million benefit from favorable AUV and a $6 million benefit from lower input costs, including favorable inventory valuation impacts. These increases were partially offset by a $3 million increase in selling expenses, primarily due to advertising expense, and an increase in incentive compensation.

Third-quarter 2023 Architectural Specialties net sales increased 6.9% from prior-year results, driven primarily by growth in metal product sales and contributions from the acquisitions of GC Products, Inc. and BOK Modern, LLC.

Operating income increased in the third quarter of 2023 due to an $8 million benefit from increased sales and improved custom project margins and an $8 million reduction in acquisition-related expenses, primarily due to the absence of the change in fair value of contingent consideration related to the acquisition of Turf, that was recorded in the prior-year period. These benefits were partially offset by a $2 million increase in manufacturing costs and a $2 million increase in selling expenses.

Cash Flow

Cash flows from operating activities for the first nine months of 2023 increased $57 million versus the prior-year period, while cash flows used for investing activities decreased $19 million versus the prior-year period. The net $38 million, or 30%, increase in operating and investing cash flows was primarily due to favorable working capital changes, most notably in inventories and accounts receivable, a favorable change in net income taxes payable and an increase in dividends from WAVE. These benefits were partially offset by an increase in purchases of property, plant and equipment and cash paid for acquisitions.

Share Repurchase Program

During the third quarter of 2023, we repurchased 0.5 million shares of common stock for a total cost of $40 million, excluding the cost of commissions and taxes. In the first nine months of 2023, we repurchased 1.3 million shares of common stock for a total cost of $97 million, excluding the cost of commissions and taxes. As of September 30, 2023, there was $752 million remaining under the Board of Directors' current authorized share repurchase program**.

Updating 2023 Outlook

“Our strong third-quarter results with margin expansion in both businesses give us confidence to raise full year 2023 guidance,” said Chris Calzaretta, AWI Senior Vice President and CFO. “We continue to expect full-year margin improvement in both the Mineral Fiber and Architectural Specialties segments and we remain confident in our growth strategy and the strong cash flow generation of the business. This cash flow generation enables us to invest back in our business while also providing direct returns to shareholders. Year-to-date, we have returned over $130 million to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends and, just last week, we announced the fifth consecutive annual increase of our quarterly dividend, further supporting our capital allocation priorities.”

Earnings Webcast

Management will host a live webcast conference call at 10:00 a.m. ET today, to discuss third-quarter 2023 results. This event will be available on the Company's website. The call and accompanying slide presentation can be found on the investor relations section of the Company's website at www.armstrongworldindustries.com. The replay of this event will be available on the website for up to one year after the date of the call.

Uncertainties Affecting Forward-Looking Statements

Disclosures in this release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including without limitation, those relating to future financial and operational results, expected savings from cost management initiatives, the performance of our WAVE joint venture, market and broader economic conditions and guidance. Those statements provide our future expectations or forecasts and can be identified by our use of words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “outlook,” “target,” “predict,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “seek,” and other words or phrases of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance. This includes annual guidance. Forward-looking statements, by their nature, address matters that are uncertain and involve risks because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future. As a result, our actual results may differ materially from our expected results and from those expressed in our forward-looking statements. A more detailed discussion of the risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those projected, anticipated or implied is included in the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis” sections of our reports on Form 10-K and 10-Q filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including the Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, that the Company expects to file today. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements beyond what is required under applicable securities law.

About Armstrong and Additional Information

Armstrong World Industries, Inc. is a leader in the design, innovation and manufacture of innovative ceiling and wall system solutions in the Americas. With $1.2 billion in revenue in 2022, AWI has approximately 3,100 employees and a manufacturing network of 16 facilities, plus seven facilities dedicated to its WAVE joint venture.

More details on the Company’s performance can be found in its report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, that the Company expects to file with the SEC today.

Reported Financial Results
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