Myers Industries reports fourth-quarter earnings
Akron, OH – Myers Industries, a manufacturer of a wide range of polymer and metal products and distributor for the tire, wheel, and under-vehicle service industry, has announced results for the fourth quarter and full year ended Dec. 31, 2022.
McGaugh continued, “While recognizing that 2022 was a year of record results, I’m excited about Myers’ future, because I continue to believe that the company still has significant unrealized potential. We can see the opportunity and we have the right people in place to capture it. We are now working to institutionalize our improvements into an operating system. In 2023, we will implement the “Myers Operating System” to make sure our improvements are ingrained, lasting and scalable. The Myers Operating System will drive standard work processes across the company, ensuring that best practices are applied across all of our legacy business units as well as our new acquisitions. I am confident the Myers Operating System will further Myers on its journey to become a world class company. I believe there is still a long runway for our company and significant value creation opportunity for our shareholders.”
Net sales for the fourth quarter of 2022 were $212.8 million, an increase of $13.3 million, or 6.6%, compared with $199.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2021, primarily driven by incremental sales of $17 million from the Mohawk Rubber acquisition in the Distribution Segment. On an organic basis, higher pricing was offset by lower volume/mix.
Gross profit increased $13.3 million, or 25.6% to $65.1 million, primarily due to continued benefits from pricing actions, lower material costs and the Mohawk Rubber acquisition, partially offset by lower volume and a change in sales mix. While we continue to experience cost inflation, we were able to successfully offset it through our self-help initiatives, including cost reductions. Gross margin expanded to 30.6% compared with 26.0% for the fourth quarter of 2021. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $6.1 million, or 14.8% to $47.4 million due to the Mohawk Rubber acquisition, higher variable selling expenses, salaries, and incentive compensation. SG&A as a percentage of sales increased to 22.3%, compared with 20.7% in the same period last year. Net income per diluted share was $0.36, compared with $0.20 for the fourth quarter of 2021. Adjusted earnings per diluted share were $0.32, compared with $0.23 for the fourth quarter of 2021.
Net sales for the full year of 2022 were $899.5 million, an increase of $138.1 million, or 18.1%, compared with $761.4 million for the full year of 2021, driven by strong sales in both the Material Handling and Distribution segments. Excluding the incremental $64 million of net sales from the Trilogy Plastics and Mohawk Rubber acquisitions, organic net sales increased 10% primarily due to higher pricing.
Gross profit increased $71.9 million, or 34.0% to $283.4 million, primarily due to the contribution from pricing actions and the Trilogy Plastics and Mohawk Rubber acquisitions, partially offset by cost inflation and unfavorable volume/mix. Gross margin improved to 31.5% compared with 27.8% for the full year of 2021. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $36.0 million, or 22.0% to $199.5 million, reflecting the Mohawk Rubber and Trilogy Plastics acquisitions, higher salaries and incentive compensation costs, increased variable selling expenses and higher repairs and maintenance costs, partly due to inflation. SG&A as a percentage of sales increased to 22.2% for the full year, compared with 21.5% last year. Net income per diluted share was $1.64, compared with $0.92 for the full year of 2021. Adjusted earnings per diluted share were $1.68, compared with $0.97 for the full year of 2021.