PPG reports Q3 EPS $2.13, consensus $2.15

Reports Q3 revenue $4.58B, consensus $4.65B. Q3 organic sales were “flat versus prior year”. Segment margins improved 60 basis points year over year, marking eight consecutive quarters of margin expansion. Tim Knavish, CEO, commented on the quarter: “We delivered record third quarter EPS driven by positive volume growth in seven of our ten businesses, including strong growth in several of our key technology businesses and despite deterioration in automotive original equipment manufacturer (OEM) build rates during the quarter. Our reported EPS was $2.00, and adjusted EPS of $2.13 grew 3% year over year even with an unfavorable impact from a higher effective income tax rate, which reduced the year-over-year EPS comparison by $0.08. The third quarter was our seventh consecutive quarter of adjusted EPS growth. Our aggregate segment margin improved 60 basis points year over year aided by business mix and lower costs, marking our eighth consecutive quarter of increases. We delivered year-over-year sales volume growth of 2% in the Performance Coatings segment, offset by increasingly challenged global industrial production, which constrained demand in the Industrial Coatings segment. Performance Coatings growth was catalyzed by sustained strength in aerospace demand, refinish coatings share gains, and strong performance in the architectural coatings Americas and Asia Pacific business. This growth was offset by Industrial Coatings segment declines in Europe and the U.S. where automotive OEM build rates weakened, especially late in the quarter and general industrial production remained soft. In the Asia-Pacific region, both reporting segments delivered solid sales growth in China and India, driven by our share gains.”