Trex Company Reports Third Quarter 2023 Results

Resilient Consumer Demand Drives Robust Sales Growth

Improved Volume and Cost Out Program Generated Strong Profit Growth

Raising Full Year 2023 Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA Guidance

Trex Company, Inc. (“Trex”), the world’s #1 brand of high-performance, low-maintenance and eco-friendly decking and railing and a leader in outdoor living products, reported third quarter 2023 results.

Third Quarter 2023 Highlights

• Net sales of $304 million
• Gross margin of 43.1%; 41.8% excluding $3.8 million warranty reserve benefit
• Net income of $65 million and diluted earnings per share of $0.60
• Adjusted EPS of $0.57 excluding the warranty reserve benefit
• Adjusted EBITDA of $96 million and Adjusted EBITDA margin of 31.5%

CEO Comments

“The third quarter was another quarter of strong results as underlying consumer demand for Trex products, together with operating efficiencies and improved utilization, drove robust performance across all key financial metrics. Channel sell-through growth remained at mid-single-digit levels. Revenue growth benefitted from the success of new product launches and ongoing brand and marketing investments that educate consumers on the value proposition of converting from wood to Trex decking and railing products. Our recently launched premium Trex Transcend^® Lineage^™ and Trex Signature^® decking lines have been favorably received in the marketplace and recognized for their respective attributes: Lineage’s refined look and heat-mitigating technology and Signature’s authentic aesthetics that replicate the graining and color richness of tropical hardwoods. We also gained traction with Trex Select^® T-Rail, our high-performance, low-maintenance composite rail system that is priced to compete with low-cost vinyl railing systems,” said Bryan Fairbanks, President and Chief Executive Officer.

“Higher sales volume, increased utilization rates and the benefits from our investments in production efficiencies drove a significant improvement in gross margin in the third quarter and again demonstrated our ability to achieve strong performance on less-than-full capacity. Our return to normalized brand spending is showing returns as the market continues to demonstrate mid-single digit sell through growth, despite economic uncertainties. During the quarter the Company achieved an adjusted EBITDA margin of 31.5%.

“Year-to-date results reflect the resilience of consumer demand for Trex products and the strength of the outdoor living category. With a full range of product offerings in decking, railing and complementary accessories, we have and will continue to expand our addressable market, positioning Trex for continued long term growth and profitability.”

Third Quarter 2023 Results

Third quarter 2023 consolidated net sales were $304 million, compared to $188 million in the prior-year quarter. The increase in net sales was substantially due to increased volume which resulted from strong secular trends and the non-recurrence of the channel inventory drawdown that occurred during the 2022 quarter. Trex Residential net sales in the year ago quarter were $178 million.

Consolidated gross profit as a percentage of net sales, gross margin, was 43.1% in the third quarter of 2023 compared to consolidated gross margin of 24.5% and Trex Residential gross margin of 25.4% in the same quarter last year. The increase in gross margin was the result of increased volume, cost out initiatives, and positive plant performance.

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $45 million, or 14.7% of net sales, compared to $27 million, or 14.2% of net sales, in the 2022 third quarter. The increase was primarily due to increased branding and a return to normalized personnel and incentive expenses.

Net income for the 2023 third quarter was $65 million, or $0.60 per diluted share, compared to net income of $14 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, reported in the 2022 third quarter. EBITDA was $99 million, compared to $31 million and EBITDA as a percentage of net sales, EBITDA margin, was 32.7%, compared to 16.4%.

During the 2023 third quarter, the Company recognized a benefit of $3.8 million to the Trex Residential warranty reserve related to the legacy surface flaking issue that affected a portion of the products manufactured at the Nevada plant prior to 2007. Excluding the warranty benefit, consolidated gross margin was 41.8%. Net income was $62 million, or $0.57 per diluted share, EBITDA was $96 million, and EBITDA margin was 31.5%.

Year-to-Date Results

Year-to-date consolidated net sales were $899 million compared to $914 million in the year-ago period. Trex Residential net sales were $879 million for the first nine months of 2022. Consolidated gross margin was 42.5%, compared to 37.0% in 2022. Trex Residential gross margin was 38.1% during the same period in the prior year.

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $134 million, or 14.9% of net sales, compared to $106 million, or 11.6% of net sales, in the year-ago period.

Net income year-to-date was $183 million, or $1.69 per diluted share, compared to $175 million, or $1.55 per diluted share, in 2022. EBITDA was $285 million and EBITDA margin was 31.7%, compared to EBITDA of $265 million and EBITDA margin of 29.0% in 2022.

Excluding the warranty benefit, consolidated gross margin was 42.0%. Net income was $181 million, or $1.66 per diluted share, EBITDA was $281 million, and EBITDA margin was 31.3%.

Recent Developments and Recognitions

• Trex Transcend^® Lineage^™ decking has been recognized in Good Housekeeping’s 2023 Home Renovation Awards in the Exterior Enhancements category.
• A joint initiative by Trex Company and Keep Arkansas Beautiful was celebrated as the “2023 Recycling Education Program of the Year” by the Arkansas Recycling Coalition.
• Trex Company has been named a 2023 Eco-Leader, the highest honor awarded by Green Builder Media, North America’s leading media group focused on green building and responsible growth.

Summary and Outlook

“Our year-to-date performance reflects a substantial year-on-year recovery supported by consumer demand for our expanded portfolio of Trex products. Decking, railing and adjacencies represent a $14 billion market opportunity for Trex, which we plan to capture though programs to successfully increase attachment rates of railing to our decking products, additional investments in new products, and the continued cultivation of our market leading distribution platform. We expect to retain our position as the industry’s greenest and lowest cost manufacturer thanks to our unique use of recycled materials together with the benefits of ongoing cost-out programs and the future benefits from our world class Arkansas facility.

“Based on our current market visibility we are projecting fourth quarter revenues of $185 million to $195 million, reflecting both seasonally low demand and our expectation that year-end channel inventories will be below those of year-end 2022. With the fourth quarter estimates, this would imply full year revenue of $1.09 billion using the mid-point of the guidance. This is an increase from the prior guidance of $1.04 billion to $1.06 billion for the year.

“Additionally, we now expect our full year adjusted EBITDA margin to range from 29% to 29.5% compared to the 28% to 29% range we previously provided, which includes our expectation that SG&A spending will represent 15% to 16% of net sales for the year,” Mr. Fairbanks concluded.

For the full third quarter results, click here.

About Trex Company

For more than 30 years, Trex Company [NYSE: TREX] has invented, reinvented and defined the composite decking category. Today, the Company is the world’s #1 brand of sustainably made, wood-alternative decking and deck railing – all proudly manufactured in the U.S.A. – and a leader in high performance, low-maintenance outdoor living products. Trex boasts the industry’s strongest distribution network with products sold through more than 6,700 retail outlets across six continents. Through strategic licensing agreements, the Company offers a comprehensive outdoor living portfolio that includes deck drainage, flashing tapes, LED lighting, outdoor kitchen components, pergolas, spiral stairs, fencing, lattice, cornhole and outdoor furniture – all marketed under the Trex^® brand. Based in Winchester, Va., Trex is proud to have been named 2023 America’s Most Trusted^® Decking Brand by Lifestory Research* and one of 2022’s 50 Best U.S. Manufacturers by Industry Week. For more information, visit Trex.com. You may also follow Trex on Facebook (trexcompany), Instagram (trexcompany), X (Trex_Company), LinkedIn (trex-company), TikTok (trexcompany), Pinterest (trexcompany) and Houzz (trex-company-inc), or view product and demonstration videos on the brand’s YouTube channel (TheTrexCo).

*2023 DISCLAIMER: Trex received the highest numerical score in the proprietary Lifestory Research 2023 America’s Most Trusted^® Outdoor Decking study. Study results are based on experiences and perceptions of people surveyed. Your experiences may vary. Visit www.lifestoryresearch.com.

Contact:

Lynn Morgen/Viktoriia Nakhla – ADVISIRY Partners – (212) 750-5800

Source: Trex Company, Inc.