H.B. Fuller Company (NYSE:FUL) is the largest pure-play adhesives company in the world, with a diverse portfolio of functional coatings, adhesives, and sealants that enhance the quality, safety, and performance of products used every day. The company's mission to "Connect What Matters" is brought to life by its global team of over 7,000 employees, who collaborate with customers across more than 30 market segments in over 140 countries.
Financials
In the fiscal year 2023, H.B. Fuller reported annual revenue of $3.51 billion and net income of $144.9 million, reflecting the company's ability to navigate a challenging macroeconomic environment. The company's strong performance was driven by its focus on higher-growth, higher-margin market segments, strategic acquisitions, and operational excellence initiatives.
H.B. Fuller's second quarter of fiscal 2024 results showcased the company's continued momentum. Net revenue increased 2.1% year-over-year to $917.1 million, with organic volume growth of 3.3% offsetting a 3.4% decline in pricing. Adjusted EBITDA grew 10% to $157 million, and the adjusted EBITDA margin expanded 120 basis points to 17.1%, demonstrating the company's ability to effectively manage raw material costs and drive operational efficiencies.
Segmental Performance
The company's three reportable segments - Hygiene, Health and Consumable Adhesives (HHC), Engineering Adhesives (EA), and Construction Adhesives (CA) - each contributed to the overall strong performance.
In the HHC segment, organic revenue declined 2.8% year-over-year due to reformulation activity and index-based pricing adjustments, but adjusted EBITDA margin expanded 50 basis points to 16.6% as the company navigated the challenging hygiene market.
The EA segment saw a 2.5% increase in organic revenue, marking a return to positive organic growth, driven by strength in electronics, automotive, aerospace, and recreational vehicle market segments. Adjusted EBITDA margin in EA increased 160 basis points to 18.4%.
The CA segment delivered an impressive 16.1% increase in net revenue, driven by a 7% increase in organic sales and a 8.9% contribution from acquisitions. Adjusted EBITDA margin in CA expanded 90 basis points to 15%.
Geographically, the Americas region saw flat organic revenue, with EA and CA achieving over 6% combined organic growth, offset by a 7% decline in HHC. The EIMEA region saw a sequential improvement in organic revenue development, although still down year-over-year. Asia Pacific organic revenues increased 7%, driven by strength in China.
Outlook
H.B. Fuller's path to achieving its target of 20% adjusted EBITDA margin is multifaceted, including restructuring opportunities, volume growth, improved organic mix between growth and leveraged market segments, and strategic acquisitions.
During the second quarter, the company completed the acquisition of ND Industries, a leading provider of specialty adhesives and fastener locking solutions. This highly strategic and financially compelling transaction expands H.B. Fuller's presence in the attractive fastener locking solutions market, which the company expects to generate approximately $80 million in full-year 2024 sales at greater than 30% EBITDA margin.
For the full fiscal year 2024, the company expects net revenue growth of 2% to 4%, with organic revenue flat to up 2%. Adjusted EBITDA is projected to be in the range of $620 million to $640 million, representing growth of 7% to 10% year-over-year. Adjusted earnings per share is expected to be between $4.20 and $4.45, indicating growth of 9% to 15% compared to the prior year.
Conclusion
H.B. Fuller's strong financial performance, strategic focus, and disciplined capital allocation have positioned the company well to continue delivering value to its shareholders. The company's robust acquisition pipeline, cost optimization initiatives, and focus on high-growth, high-margin market segments suggest that H.B. Fuller is poised for continued success in the years ahead.