Armstrong World Industries Reports Third-Quarter 2024 Results

Business Wire

Tue, Oct 29, 2024, 4:00 AM 17 min read

Record setting quarterly net sales of $387 million, an increase of 11%
Operating income increased 11% and diluted net earnings per share increased 12%
Adjusted EBITDA up 11% and adjusted diluted net earnings per share up 13%
Raising full-year 2024 guidance for adjusted EBITDA, adjusted diluted net earnings per share and adjusted free cash flow

^{(Comparisons above are versus the prior-year period unless otherwise stated)}

LANCASTER, Pa., October 29, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Armstrong World Industries, Inc. (NYSE:AWI), a leader in the design, innovation and manufacture of ceiling and wall solutions in the Americas, today reported third-quarter 2024 financial results highlighted by robust sales and earnings growth.

"With another quarter of record setting sales and strong earnings growth, we continue to demonstrate our ability to deliver growth despite muted market conditions through operational execution and our investments in strategic acquisitions, innovation and digital initiatives," said Vic Grizzle, President and CEO of Armstrong World Industries. "As market demand continues to stabilize, we are well positioned to deliver full year double-digit top and bottom-line growth with industry-leading margin performance through strong Mineral Fiber Average Unit Value improvement, market-driven innovation, operational excellence and Architectural Specialties growth."

Third-Quarter Results
(Dollar amounts in millions except per-share data)	For the Three Months Ended September 30,
	2024			2023			Change
Net sales	$	386.6		$	347.3		11.3%
Operating income	$	111.3		$	100.2		11.1%
Operating income margin (Operating income as a % of net sales)		28.8	%		28.9	%	(10)bps
Net earnings	$	76.9		$	69.5		10.6%
Diluted net earnings per share	$	1.75		$	1.56		12.2%

*Additional Non-GAAP Measures**
Adjusted EBITDA	$	139		$	125		11.2%
Adjusted EBITDA margin (Adjusted EBITDA as a % of net sales)		35.9	%		36.0	%	(10)bps
Adjusted net earnings	$	79		$	71		11.1%
Adjusted diluted net earnings per share	$	1.81		$	1.60		13.1%

* The Company uses non-GAAP adjusted measures in managing the business and believes the adjustments provide meaningful comparisons of operating performance between periods and are useful alternative measures of performance. Reconciliations of the most comparable generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP") measure are found in the tables at the end of this press release. Excluding per share data, non-GAAP figures are rounded to the nearest million and corresponding percentages are rounded to the nearest decimal.

Third-quarter 2024 consolidated net sales increased 11.3% from prior-year results, driven by higher volumes of $30 million and favorable Average Unit Value (dollars per unit sold, or "AUV") of $9 million. Architectural Specialties net sales increased $31 million and Mineral Fiber net sales increased $8 million. Architectural Specialties segment net sales improved primarily due to a $25 million increase from our April 2024 acquisition of 3form, LLC ("3form") and our July 2023 acquisition of BOK Modern, LLC ("BOK"). The increase in Mineral Fiber net sales was primarily driven by favorable AUV.

Consolidated operating income increased 11.1% in the third quarter of 2024 primarily due to a $17 million margin benefit from higher sales volumes, a $6 million benefit from favorable AUV and a $2 million increase in Worthington Armstrong Joint Venture ("WAVE") equity earnings. These benefits were partially offset by a $13 million increase in selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses, primarily due to the impact of acquisitions, and to a lesser extent, an increase in Mineral Fiber SG&A expenses.

Third-Quarter Segment Results
Mineral Fiber
(Dollar amounts in millions)	For the Three Months Ended September 30,
	2024			2023			Change
Net sales	$	258.0		$	249.7		3.3%
Operating income	$	93.0		$	85.5		8.8%
Adjusted EBITDA*	$	113		$	105		8.2%
Operating income margin		36.0	%		34.2	%	180bps
Adjusted EBITDA margin*		43.9	%		41.9	%	200bps

Mineral Fiber net sales increased 3.3% in the third quarter of 2024 due to $10 million of favorable AUV, partially offset by $1 million of lower sales volumes. The improvement in AUV was driven by favorable like-for-like pricing.

Mineral Fiber operating income increased in the third quarter of 2024 primarily due to a $6 million benefit from favorable AUV, a $3 million decrease in manufacturing and input costs and a $2 million increase in WAVE equity earnings primarily driven by favorable AUV. These benefits were partially offset by a $3 million increase in SG&A expenses, primarily driven by higher incentive compensation.

Architectural Specialties
(Dollar amounts in millions)	For the Three Months Ended September 30,
	2024			2023			Change
Net sales	$	128.6		$	97.6		31.8%
Operating income	$	19.2		$	15.5		23.9%
Adjusted EBITDA*	$	26		$	20		27.1%
Operating income margin		14.9	%		15.9	%	(100)bps
Adjusted EBITDA margin*		20.1	%		20.8	%	(70)bps

Architectural Specialties net sales increased 31.8% in the third quarter of 2024 driven primarily by a $25 million increase due to the acquisitions of 3form and BOK, in addition to increased custom metal project net sales.

Architectural Specialties operating income increased in the third quarter of 2024 primarily due to an $18 million margin benefit from increased sales, driven primarily by the acquisitions of 3form and BOK, and partially due to improved custom project margins. This increase largely offset a $10 million increase in SG&A expenses and a $4 million increase in manufacturing costs, both of which were primarily due to the acquisitions of 3form and BOK.

Unallocated Corporate
Unallocated Corporate operating loss was $1 million in the third quarter of 2024 and 2023.

Cash Flow

Year-to-date cash flows from operating activities in 2024 increased $4 million in comparison to the prior-year period. The favorable change in operating cash flows was primarily driven by higher cash earnings partially offset by net unfavorable working capital impacts. Year-to-date cash flows from investing activities decreased $51 million versus the prior-year period primarily due to $94 million of cash paid for the acquisition of 3form, partially offset by proceeds received from sales of real estate.

Share Repurchase Program

During the third quarter of 2024, we repurchased 0.1 million shares of common stock for a total cost of $15 million, excluding the cost of commissions and taxes. As of September 30, 2024, there was $677 million remaining under our Board of Directors' current authorized share repurchase program**.

** In July 2016, our Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program authorizing us to repurchase up to $150 million of our outstanding common stock through July 2018 (the "Program"). Pursuant to additional authorizations and extensions of the Program approved by our Board of Directors, including $500 million authorized on July 18, 2023, we are authorized to purchase up to $1,700 million of our outstanding shares of common stock through December 2026. Since inception and through September 30, 2024, we have repurchased 14.5 million shares under the Program for a total cost of $1,023 million, excluding commissions and taxes.

Updating 2024 Outlook

"We delivered strong profitability in the third quarter, highlighted by forty-four percent Mineral Fiber and twenty percent Architectural Specialties adjusted EBITDA margins. With our strong third quarter results and an improved profitability outlook for the remainder of the year, we are increasing our full-year 2024 guidance for adjusted EBITDA and adjusted diluted net earnings per share, as well as modestly increasing guidance for adjusted free cash flow, while tightening the range on our full-year sales outlook," said Chris Calzaretta, AWI Senior Vice President and CFO. "We remain focused on expanding adjusted EBITDA margin at the total company level and expect to deliver a fourth consecutive year of net sales and earnings growth in 2024. With a strong balance sheet and our demonstrated ability to generate cash, we expect to continue to execute our capital allocation strategy to drive shareholder value."

			For the Year Ended December 31, 2024
(Dollar amounts in millions except per-share data)	2023 Actual		Current Guidance					VPY Growth %
Net sales	$	1,295	$	1,420	to	$	1,435	10%	to	11%
Adjusted EBITDA*	$	430	$	482	to	$	490	12%	to	14%
Adjusted diluted net earnings per share*	$	5.32	$	6.15	to	$	6.25	16%	to	17%
Adjusted free cash flow*	$	263	$	290	to	$	300	10%	to	14%

Earnings Webcast

Management will host a live webcast conference call at 10:00 a.m. ET today, to discuss third-quarter 2024 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, 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 Form 10-Q filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including our quarterly report for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, 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 solutions in the Americas. With $1.3 billion in revenue in 2023, AWI has approximately 3,500 employees and a manufacturing network of 19 facilities, plus seven facilities dedicated to its WAVE joint venture. For over 160 years, Armstrong has delivered products and services to our customers that can transform how people design, build and experience spaces with aesthetics, acoustics, wellbeing and sustainability in mind.

More details on the Company’s performance can be found in its report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, that the Company expects to file with the SEC today.

Reported Financial Results
(Amounts in millions, except per share data)

SELECTED FINANCIAL RESULTS
Armstrong World Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(Unaudited)

	For the Three Months Ended September 30,						For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2024			2023			2024			2023
Net sales	$	386.6		$	347.3		$	1,078.0		$	982.9
Cost of goods sold		222.5			205.9			640.3			605.4
Gross profit		164.1			141.4			437.7			377.5
Selling, general and administrative expenses		77.6			64.6			223.1			189.2
Loss related to change in fair value of contingent consideration		0.2			-			0.6			-
Impairment and gain on sales of fixed assets, net		0.2			-			0.3			-
Equity (earnings) from unconsolidated affiliates, net		(25.2	)		(23.4	)		(78.7	)		(69.1	)
Operating income		111.3			100.2			292.4			257.4
Interest expense		10.5			8.8			30.6			26.7
Other non-operating (income), net		(3.0	)		(2.3	)		(9.3	)		(6.9	)
Earnings before income taxes		103.8			93.7			271.1			237.6
Income tax expense		26.9			24.2			68.4			60.6
Net earnings	$	76.9		$	69.5		$	202.7		$	177.0

Diluted net earnings per share of common stock	$	1.75		$	1.56		$	4.61		$	3.93
Average number of diluted common shares outstanding		43.9			44.6			44.0			45.0

SEGMENT RESULTS
Armstrong World Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(Unaudited)

	For the Three Months Ended September 30,				For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2024		2023		2024		2023
Net Sales
Mineral Fiber	$	258.0	$	249.7	$	747.8	$	712.1
Architectural Specialties		128.6		97.6		330.2		270.8
Total net sales	$	386.6	$	347.3	$	1,078.0	$	982.9

	For the Three Months Ended September 30,						For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2024			2023			2024			2023
Segment operating income (loss)
Mineral Fiber	$	93.0		$	85.5		$	253.9		$	224.8
Architectural Specialties		19.2			15.5			41.1			34.9
Unallocated Corporate		(0.9	)		(0.8	)		(2.6	)		(2.3	)
Total consolidated operating income	$	111.3		$	100.2		$	292.4		$	257.4

SELECTED BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION
Armstrong World Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries

	Unaudited
	September 30, 2024		December 31, 2023
Assets
Current assets	$	357.7	$	313.0
Property, plant and equipment, net		577.4		566.4
Other non-current assets		868.9		793.0
Total assets	$	1,804.0	$	1,672.4
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity
Current liabilities	$	218.4	$	194.5
Non-current liabilities		868.6		886.1
Shareholders' equity		717.0		591.8
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	1,804.0	$	1,672.4

SELECTED CASH FLOW INFORMATION
Armstrong World Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(Unaudited)

	For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2024			2023
Net earnings	$	202.7		$	177.0
Other adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities		12.8			5.4
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net		(35.3	)		(6.0	)
Net cash provided by operating activities		180.2			176.4
Net cash (used for) investing activities		(61.2	)		(10.6	)
Net cash (used for) financing activities		(115.7	)		(175.1	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		(0.4	)		(0.1	)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		2.9			(9.4	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year		70.8			106.0
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	73.7		$	96.6

Supplemental Reconciliations of GAAP to non-GAAP Results (unaudited)
(Amounts in millions, except per share data)

To supplement its consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"), the Company provides additional measures of performance adjusted to exclude the impact of certain discrete expenses and income including adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization ("EBITDA"), adjusted diluted earnings per share ("EPS") and adjusted free cash flow. Investors should not consider non-GAAP measures as a substitute for GAAP measures. The Company excludes certain acquisition related expenses (i.e. – impact of adjustments related to the fair value of inventory, contingent third-party professional fees, changes in the fair value of contingent consideration and deferred compensation accruals for acquisitions). Acquisition related deferred compensation accruals excluded from adjusted EBITDA represented cash and stock awards that were recorded over each award's respective vesting period, as such payments were subject to the sellers’ and employees’ continued employment with the Company. The Company also excludes all acquisition-related intangible amortization from adjusted net earnings and in calculations of adjusted diluted EPS. Examples of other excluded items have included plant closures, restructuring charges and related costs, impairments, separation costs and other cost reduction initiatives, environmental site expenses and environmental insurance recoveries, endowment level charitable contributions, the impact of defined benefit plan settlements, gains and losses on sales or impairment of fixed assets, and certain other gains and losses. The Company also excludes income/expense from its U.S. Retirement Income Plan ("RIP") in the non-GAAP results as it represents the actuarial net periodic benefit credit/cost recorded. For all periods presented, the Company was not required and did not make cash contributions to the RIP based on guidelines established by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, nor does the Company expect to make cash contributions to the plan in 2024. Adjusted free cash flow is defined as cash from operating and investing activities, adjusted to remove the impact of cash used or proceeds received for acquisitions and divestitures, environmental site expenses and environmental insurance recoveries. Management's adjusted free cash flow measure includes returns of investment from WAVE and cash proceeds received from the settlement of company-owned life insurance policies, which are presented within investing activities on our condensed consolidated statement of cash flows. The Company uses these adjusted performance measures in managing the business, including communications with its Board of Directors and employees, and believes that they provide users of this financial information with meaningful comparisons of operating performance between current results and results in prior periods. The Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures are appropriate to enhance understanding of its past performance, as well as prospects for its future performance. The Company also uses adjusted EBITDA and adjusted free cash flow (with further adjustments, when necessary) as factors in determining at-risk compensation for senior management. These non-GAAP measures may not be defined and calculated the same as similar measures used by other companies. Non-GAAP financial measures utilized by the Company may not be comparable to non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. A reconciliation of these adjustments to the most directly comparable GAAP measures is included in this release and on the Company’s website. These non-GAAP measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the most comparable GAAP measures.

In the following charts, numbers may not sum due to rounding. Excluding adjusted diluted EPS, non-GAAP figures are rounded to the nearest million and corresponding percentages are rounded to the nearest percent based on unrounded figures.

Consolidated Results – Adjusted EBITDA
	For the Three Months Ended September 30,						For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2024			2023			2024			2023
Net sales	$	387		$	347		$	1,078		$	983

Net earnings	$	77		$	70		$	203		$	177
Add: Income tax expense		27			24			68			61
Earnings before income taxes	$	104		$	94		$	271		$	238
Add: Interest/other income and expense, net		8			7			21			20
Operating income	$	111		$	100		$	292		$	257
Add: RIP expense (1)		1			1			2			2
Add: Acquisition-related impacts (2)		-			1			2			4
Add: Cost reduction initiatives		-			-			-			3
Add: WAVE pension settlement (3)		-			-			1			-
(Less): Gain on sales of fixed assets, net (4)		(5	)		-			(5	)		-
Add: Impairment of fixed asset (5)		5			-			5			-
Add: Environmental expense		-			-			2			-
Adjusted operating income	$	113		$	102		$	299		$	266
Add: Depreciation and amortization		26			23			76			66
Adjusted EBITDA	$	139		$	125		$	375		$	332

Operating income margin		28.8	%		28.9	%		27.1	%		26.2	%
Adjusted EBITDA margin		35.9	%		36.0	%		34.8	%		33.8	%

1.		RIP expense represents only the plan service cost that is recorded within Operating income. For all periods presented, we were not required to and did not make cash contributions to our RIP.
2.		Represents the impact of acquisition-related adjustments for the fair value of inventory, contingent third-party professional fees, changes in fair value of contingent consideration, deferred compensation and restricted stock expenses.
3.		Represents the Company's 50% share of WAVE's loss upon settlement of their defined benefit pension plan.
4.		During the third quarter of 2024 we sold our idled Mineral Fiber plant in St. Helens, Oregon.
5.		During the third quarter of 2024 we recorded an impairment charge for an undeveloped parcel of land upon reclassification to assets held for sale.

Mineral Fiber
	For the Three Months Ended September 30,						For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2024			2023			2024			2023
Net sales	$	258		$	250		$	748		$	712

Operating income	$	93		$	86		$	254		$	225
Add: Acquisition-related impacts (1)		-			-			1	...		-
Add: Cost reduction initiatives		-			-			-			3
Add: WAVE pension settlement (2)		-			-			1			-
(Less): Gain on sales of fixed assets, net (3)		(5	)		-			(5	)		-
Add: Impairment of fixed asset (4)		5			-			5			-
Add: Environmental expense		-			-			2			-
Adjusted operating income	$	93		$	86		$	257		$	227
Add: Depreciation and amortization		20			19			59			56
Adjusted EBITDA	$	113		$	105		$	316		$	283

Operating income margin		36.0	%		34.2	%		34.0	%		31.6	%
Adjusted EBITDA margin		43.9	%		41.9	%		42.3	%		39.8	%

1.		Represents the impact of acquisition-related adjustments for changes in fair value of contingent consideration.
2.		Represents the Company's 50% share of WAVE's loss upon settlement of their defined benefit pension plan.
3.		During the third quarter of 2024 we sold our idled Mineral Fiber plant in St. Helens, Oregon.
4.		During the third quarter of 2024 we recorded an impairment charge for an undeveloped parcel of land upon reclassification to assets held for sale.

Architectural Specialties
	For the Three Months Ended September 30,						For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2024			2023			2024			2023
Net sales	$	129		$	98		$	330		$	271

Operating income	$	19		$	16		$	41		$	35
Add: Acquisition-related impacts (1)		-			1			1			4
Adjusted operating income	$	19		$	17		$	43		$	39
Add: Depreciation and amortization		6			3			17			10
Adjusted EBITDA	$	26		$	20		$	59		$	49

Operating income margin		14.9	%		15.9	%		12.4	%		12.9	%
Adjusted EBITDA margin		20.1	%		20.8	%		17.9	%		18.0	%

Represents the impact of acquisition-related adjustments for the fair value of inventory, contingent third-party professional fees, changes in fair value of contingent consideration, deferred compensation and restricted stock expenses.

Unallocated Corporate
	For the Three Months Ended September 30,						For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2024			2023			2024			2023
Operating (loss)	$	(1	)	$	(1	)	$	(3	)	$	(2	)
Add: RIP expense (1)		1			1			2			2
Adjusted operating (loss)	$	-		$	-		$	(1	)	$	-
Add: Depreciation and amortization		-			-			-			-
Adjusted EBITDA	$	-		$	-		$	(1	)	$	-

RIP expense represents only the plan service cost that is recorded within Operating loss. For all periods presented, we were not required to and did not make cash contributions to our RIP.

Consolidated Results – Adjusted Free Cash Flow
	For the Three Months Ended September 30,						For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2024			2023			2024			2023
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	97		$	83		$	180		$	176
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities		20			(5	)		(61	)		(11	)
Net cash provided by operating and investing activities	$	117		$	78		$	119		$	166
Add: Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired and investment in unconsolidated affiliate		-			14			99			24
Add: Arktura deferred compensation (1)		-			-			6			-
Add: Contingent consideration in excess of acquisition-date fair value (1)		-			-			-			5
(Less): Proceeds from sales of facilities (2)		(9	)		-			(12	)		-
Adjusted Free Cash Flow	$	107		$	92		$	212		$	195

1.		Deferred compensation and contingent consideration payments related to 2020 acquisitions were recorded as components of net cash provided by operating activities.
2.		Proceeds related to the sale of Architectural Specialties design center and the sale of our idled Mineral Fiber plant in St. Helens, Oregon.

Consolidated Results – Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share (EPS)
	For the Three Months Ended September 30,										For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2024					2023					2024					2023
	Total			Per Diluted Share		Total			Per Diluted Share		Total			Per Diluted Share		Total			Per Diluted Share
Net earnings	$	77		$	1.75	$	70		$	1.56	$	203		$	4.61	$	177		$	3.93
Add: Income tax expense		27					24					68					61
Earnings before income taxes	$	104				$	94				$	271				$	238
(Less): RIP (credit) (1)		-					-					(1	)				(1	)
Add: Acquisition-related impacts (2)		-					1					2					4
Add: Acquisition-related amortization (3)		3					2					8					4
Add: Cost reduction initiatives		-					-					-					3
Add: WAVE pension settlement (4)		-					-					1					-
(Less): Gain on sales of fixed assets, net (5)		(5	)				-					(5	)				-
Add: Impairment of fixed asset (6)		5					-					5					-
Add: Environmental expense		-					-					2					-
Adjusted net earnings before income taxes	$	107				$	96				$	283				$	248
(Less): Adjusted income tax expense (7)		(28	)				(25	)				(71	)				(63	)
Adjusted net earnings	$	79		$	1.81	$	71		$	1.60	$	211		$	4.81	$	184		$	4.10
Adjusted diluted EPS change versus prior year				13.1%										17.3%
Diluted shares outstanding					43.9					44.6					44.0					45.0
Effective tax rate				26%					26%					25%					26%

1.		RIP (credit) represents the entire actuarial net periodic pension (credit) recorded as a component of net earnings. For all periods presented, we were not required to and did not make cash contributions to our RIP.
2.		Represents the impact of acquisition-related adjustments for the fair value of inventory, contingent third-party professional fees, changes in fair value of contingent consideration, deferred compensation and restricted stock expenses.
3.		Represents acquisition-related intangible amortization, including customer relationships, developed technology, software, trademarks and brand names, non-compete agreements and other intangibles.
4.		Represents the Company's 50% share of WAVE's loss upon settlement of their defined benefit pension plan.
5.		During the third quarter of 2024 we sold our idled Mineral Fiber plant in St. Helens, Oregon.
6.		During the third quarter of 2024 we recorded an impairment charge for an undeveloped parcel of land upon reclassification to assets held for sale.
7.		Adjusted income tax expense is calculated using the effective tax rate multiplied by the adjusted net earnings before income taxes.

Adjusted EBITDA Guidance
	For the Year Ending December 31, 2024
	Low				High
Net earnings	$	260		to	$	262
Add: Income tax expense		83				84
Earnings before income taxes	$	343		to	$	346
Add: Interest expense		40				41
Add: Other non-operating (income), net		(11	)			(10	)
Operating income	$	372		to	$	377
Add: RIP expense (1)		2				2
Add: Acquisition-related impacts (2)		2				2
(Less): Gain on sales of fixed assets, net (3)		(5	)			(5	)
Add: Impairment of fixed asset (4)		5				5
Add: Environmental expense		2				2
Add: WAVE pension settlement (5)		1				1
Adjusted operating income	$	380		to	$	385
Add: Depreciation and amortization		102				105
Adjusted EBITDA	$	482		to	$	490

1.		RIP expense represents only the plan service cost that is recorded within Operating income. We do not expect to make cash contributions to our RIP.
2.		Represents the impact of acquisition-related adjustments for the fair value of inventory, contingent third-party professional fees and changes in fair value of contingent consideration.
3.		During the third quarter of 2024 we sold our idled Mineral Fiber plant in St. Helens, Oregon.
4.		During the third quarter of 2024 we recorded an impairment charge for an undeveloped parcel of land upon reclassification to assets held for sale.
5.		Represents the Company's 50% share of WAVE's loss upon settlement of their defined benefit pension plan.

Adjusted Diluted Net Earnings Per Share Guidance
	For the Year Ending December 31, 2024
	Low			Per Diluted Share⁽¹⁾			High			Per Diluted Share⁽¹⁾
Net earnings	$	260		$	5.91	to	$	262		$	5.95
Add: Income tax expense		83						84
Earnings before income taxes	$	343				to	$	346
Add: RIP (credit) (2)		(2	)					(1	)
Add: Acquisition-related amortization (3)		10						11
Add: Acquisition-related impacts (4)		2						2
(Less): Gain on sales of fixed assets, net (5)		(5	)					(5	)
Add: Impairment of fixed asset (6)		5						5
Add: Environmental expense		2						2
Add: WAVE pension settlement (7)		1						1
Adjusted earnings before income taxes	$	356				to	$	361
(Less): Adjusted income tax expense (8)		(86	)					(87	)
Adjusted net earnings	$	271		$	6.15	to	$	275		$	6.25

1.		Adjusted diluted EPS guidance for 2024 is calculated based on approximately 44 million of diluted shares outstanding.
2.		RIP (credit) represents the entire actuarial net periodic pension (credit) recorded as a component of net earnings. We do not expect to make any cash contributions to our RIP.
3.		Represents acquisition-related intangible amortization, including customer relationships, developed technology, software, trademarks and brand names, non-compete agreements and other intangibles.
4.		Represents the impact of acquisition-related adjustments for the fair value of inventory, contingent third-party professional fees and changes in fair value of contingent consideration.
5.		During the third quarter of 2024 we sold our idled Mineral Fiber plant in St. Helens, Oregon.
6.		During the third quarter of 2024 we recorded an impairment charge for an undeveloped parcel of land upon reclassification to assets held for sale.
7.		Represents the Company's 50% share of WAVE's loss upon settlement of their defined benefit pension plan.
8.		Income tax expense is based on an adjusted effective tax rate of approximately 24%, multiplied by adjusted earnings before income taxes.

Adjusted Free Cash Flow Guidance
	For the Year Ending December 31, 2024
	Low				High
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	181		to	$	195
Add: Return of investment from joint venture		98				100
Adjusted net cash provided by operating activities	$	279		to	$	295
Less: Capital expenditures		(82	)			(88	)
Net cash provided by operating and investing activities	$	197		to	$	207
Add: Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired and investment in unconsolidated affiliate		99				99
Add: Arktura deferred compensation (1)		6				6
(Less): Proceeds from sales of facilities (2)		(12	)			(12	)
Adjusted Free Cash Flow	$	290		to	$	300

1.		Deferred compensation payments related to 2020 acquisition recorded as a component of net cash provided by operating activities.
2.		Proceeds related to the sale of Architectural Specialties design center and the sale of our idled Mineral Fiber plant in St. Helens, Oregon.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241029415018/en/

Contacts

Investors & Media: Theresa Womble, tlwomble@armstrongceilings.com or (717) 396-6354

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