Trex Company Reports Robust Demand and Record Results for Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2021

Trex Company, Inc. (“Trex” or the “Company”), the world’s #1 brand of high-performance, low-maintenance and eco-friendly composite decking, railing and outdoor living products and a leading national provider of custom-engineered commercial railing systems, today reported fourth quarter results and full year 2021 performance.

Highlights

Fourth Quarter

• Consolidated net sales increased 33% to $304 million
• Net income of $25 million; diluted earnings per share of $0.22
• Adjusted net income of $64 million, up 47%; Adjusted EPS of $0.55, up 49%
• Adjusted EBITDA up 44% to $92 million; Adjusted EBITDA margin of 30.2%

Full Year 2021

• Consolidated net sales increased 36% to $1.2 billion
• Net income of $209 million; diluted earnings per share of $1.80
• Adjusted Net income grew 35% to $243 million; Adjusted EPS increased 36% to $2.10
• Adjusted EBITDA up 38% to $357 million; Adjusted EBITDA margin of 29.8%

CEO Comments

“We closed 2021 on a very strong note with all-time record sales of $1.2 billion for the full year driven by continued robust demand in the outdoor living category coupled with our expanded manufacturing capacity to service our Trex Residential distributors and dealers,” said Bryan Fairbanks, President and CEO. “With strong growth across our product lines and channel partners, Trex continues to benefit from strong-trending consumer interest in our environmentally friendly, low maintenance product portfolio that transforms and enhances the outdoor living experience. Consumer interest in and preference for sustainable outdoor living products is accelerating industrywide annual market share gains to approximately 200 basis points. As the market leader, Trex continues to capitalize on strong remodeling activity and wood conversion to capture incremental market share from the strength of our products and brand.

“We remain focused on ensuring the capacity to service our channel partners is aligned with both current demand and expected future growth. Nearly complete capacity expansion initiatives at our Virginia and Nevada facilities position us to effectively meet customer demand in 2022, having increased total capacity approximately 85% above 2019 volume levels. Additionally, we recently announced plans to develop a third U.S. based Trex Residential manufacturing facility on approximately 300 acres in Little Rock, Arkansas. When this plant opens in 2024, Trex will have the strategic advantage of unmatched geographical coverage with sites servicing the East Coast, West Coast and Central regions that will provide both our domestic and international customers with better access to Trex Residential products when and where they need them.

“While we continue to manage through operating headwinds including higher raw material costs and higher transportation costs, we are pleased with the strong fourth quarter results, as record revenue and operating leverage drove adjusted net income and adjusted EBITDA growth of 47% and 44%, respectively.”

Fourth Quarter 2021 Results

Fourth quarter 2021 consolidated net sales were $304 million, representing a 33% increase year-over-year. Trex Residential net sales increased 35% to $288 million, with Trex Commercial contributing $16 million to net sales. The increase in net sales was mostly due to broad-based volume growth and a favorable impact from pricing actions in Trex Residential, offsetting inflation and higher transportation costs.

Consolidated gross margin was 38.9%, reflecting inflationary pressures on raw materials, labor and logistics costs, compared to 40.5% in the year-ago quarter. Fourth quarter 2021 gross margin for Trex Residential and Trex Commercial were 39.7% and 24.0%, respectively, compared to 41.3% and 28.0%, respectively, in fourth quarter 2020.

In the fourth quarter 2021, the Company recorded a $54 million goodwill impairment charge at Trex Commercial that was primarily due to a reduction in project commitments, which adversely impacted project backlog, forecasted net sales and EBITDA. The reduction in project commitments was influenced by a delay in new projects due to lingering uncertainty created in our commercial markets by the COVID-19 virus. The delay in new projects, coupled with the Company’s continued successful fulfillment of pre-pandemic projects, resulted in lower project backlog and reduced forecasted net sales and EBITDA. The Company expects revenues from Trex Commercial to be constrained in 2022, but increased bookings point to an expected resumption of revenue growth in 2023. Additionally, the Company recognized a gain from insurance proceeds of $3.2 million during fourth quarter 2021 primarily related to the fire at the Trex Residential Virginia plant that occurred in March.

Excluding the goodwill impairment charge and the gain on insurance proceeds, selling, general, and administrative expenses were $37 million compared to $34 million in fourth quarter 2020.

Net income for the 2021 fourth quarter was $25 million, or $0.22 per diluted share. Excluding the goodwill impairment charge and the gain on insurance proceeds, net income was $64 million, or $0.55 per diluted share, representing increases of 47% and 49%, respectively, from net income of $43 million, or $0.37 per diluted share, in the 2020 fourth quarter. EBITDA was $41 million and EBITDA margin was 13.4%. Excluding the goodwill impairment charge and the gain on insurance proceeds, adjusted EBITDA was $92 million, a 44% increase compared to EBITDA of $64 million reported in the year ago quarter. Fourth quarter 2021 adjusted EBITDA margin was 30.2% compared to 27.9% in fourth quarter 2020.

Full Year 2021 Performance

Full year 2021 consolidated net sales were $1.2 billion, representing a 36% increase year-over-year. Trex Residential net sales increased 38% to $1.14 billion, and Trex Commercial contributed $58 million to net sales.

Consolidated gross margin was 38.5%, compared to 40.8% in 2020. Full year 2021 gross margins for Trex Residential and Trex Commercial were 39.3% and 22.0%, respectively, compared to 41.6% and 29.2%, respectively, in 2020. Gross margin was unfavorably impacted by inflation on key raw materials, higher transportation costs and higher depreciation related to capacity expansion, partially offset by price increases and increased production efficiencies.

Excluding the goodwill impairment charge and the gain on insurance proceeds of $8.7 million for the year, full year 2021 selling, general, and administrative expenses were $140 million compared to $126 million in 2020.

Full year 2021 net income was $209 million, or $1.80 per diluted share. Excluding the goodwill impairment charge, and gain on insurance proceeds, and the $6.5 million surface flaking warranty charge in 2020, adjusted net income was $243 million, or $2.10 per diluted share, an increase of 35% and 36%, respectively, from adjusted net income of $180 million, or $1.55 per diluted share, in 2020. EBITDA was $311 million and EBITDA margin was 26.0%. Excluding the impairment charge and gain on insurance proceeds in 2021, and the warranty charge in 2020, EBITDA increased 38% to $357 million for 2021 compared to $258 million for 2020. Full year 2021 adjusted EBITDA margin was 29.8%.

The Company repurchased 809,099 shares of its outstanding common stock in 2021 at an average price of $91 per share totaling $74 million.

Summary and Outlook

“2021 was a year of significant accomplishments for the entire Trex team, as we exceeded the billion-dollar mark in sales and successfully completed a major capacity expansion program. Importantly, we have entered 2022 well positioned to continue to meet the robust demand for outdoor living products. Consumers have continued to invest in their homes as lower new home inventories drive increased repair and remodel activity. Additionally, our own research and website traffic data support our outlook for continued secular growth and market share conversion from wood, which we expect to increase by at least another 200 basis points in 2022. Our plans to develop a third manufacturing facility in Arkansas will allow us to address further wood conversion demand.

“First quarter 2022 consolidated net sales are expected to range from $320 million to $330 million, representing 32% year-over-year growth at the midpoint. For the full year 2022, we expect double-digit revenue growth rates with a return to a more normalized seasonal cadence similar to pre-pandemic patterns. We anticipate full-year 2022 incremental EBITDA margin of 30% to 35%, which includes additional investments in marketing and branding now that we have ramped up our new capacity and market inventories have improved. Our capital expenditure guidance for 2022 is $200 million to $220 million.

“We remain focused on growing the business in a sustainable and socially-responsible manner while continuing to take market share from wood. As our sales grow, so does Trex Company’s positive impact on the environment by using recycled materials to manufacture the most aesthetically pleasing and long-lasting decking and railing products in the market, while focusing on employee safety, wellness, and training,” Mr. Fairbanks commented. In keeping with that commitment, the Company recently formalized ESG oversight at the executive level, naming Leslie Adkins Vice President of Marketing and ESG Development.

For the full fourth quarter results, 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 C. Schemm – Senior Vice President & CFO – (540) 542-6300

Source: Trex Company, Inc.