RPM International, Inc. (RPM)

RPM reported record first-quarter fiscal 2027 sales of $2.22 billion on 6 October 2026, up 4.8 percent 1. Net income was $256.4 million and adjusted diluted earnings per share were $1.98 1.

The Construction Products Group was the weak spot, with sales up 0.8 percent and an organic decline of 1.7 percent 1. The company blamed delayed sales from a slowdown in the healthcare and education markets and supplier raw material availability issues 1.

Performance Coatings Group sales rose 10.2 percent, led by engineered solutions for high-performance buildings, energy and infrastructure projects 1.

The company changed its fiscal 2027 outlook from sales growth of 3 percent to 7 percent to mid-single-digit growth, and from adjusted EBITDA growth of 5 percent to 10 percent to mid-single-digit growth 1. Adjusted EBITDA is profit before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, with some items removed 1.

At its annual meeting on 8 October 2026 all board nominees were elected, and the board declared a quarterly dividend of $0.57 per share, the 53rd year in a row of increases 23.

BlackRock reported in an amended Schedule 13G that it holds 9.2 percent of RPM's common stock for various clients 4.

RPM will host an investor day on 9 November 2026 at its Stonhard facility in New Jersey, which the company said will update strategic priorities and outline its next operating improvement plan 16.

The company began in 1947 as Republic Powdered Metals, Inc. and took the name RPM, Inc. in 1971 5. It became RPM International Inc., a Delaware corporation, in a 2002 reincorporation 5.

A cost program called MAP to Growth, the 2020 Margin Acceleration Plan, came first 5. In August 2022 RPM announced MAP 2025, a multi-year restructuring plan that it formally concluded on 31 May 2025 5.

Fiscal 2025, which ended 31 May 2025, brought sales of $7,372.6 million, up 0.5 percent from $7,335.3 million 8. Consumer sales fell on weaker do-it-yourself demand at retail, customer destocking and the dropping of some lower-margin products 8.

On 30 April 2025 RPM bought Clean Topco Limited, the parent of the Star Brands Group and its Pink Stuff cleaning paste, for a purchase price of $487.4 million 5.

From 1 June 2025 RPM reported three segments instead of four, after moving its Specialty Products businesses into the other groups 5.

Fiscal 2026, which ended 31 May 2026, brought record sales of $7,863.4 million, up 6.7 percent 5. Organic growth was 2.0 percent and acquisitions added 3.6 percent 5.

Consumer organic sales fell 2.6 percent on soft do-it-yourself and European markets and weak demand in the Color Group, while acquisitions added 8.4 percent 5.

Net income attributable to RPM stockholders was $661.4 million against $688.7 million a year earlier 5. Operating cash flow was $898.7 million, up from $768.2 million 5.

In the last quarter of fiscal 2026 RPM acquired Kalzip GmbH, a maker of metal roofs and facades, and in June 2025 it announced buying Ready Seal, a Texas maker of exterior wood stains 5.

RPM also said it acquired Volteco, an Italy-based supplier of below-grade waterproofing, for the Construction Products Group; Volteco had calendar 2025 sales of €28 million 1.

Construction Products Group

This group sells waterproofing, roofing, sealants, concrete products and building envelope systems, and made $3.1 billion of sales in fiscal 2026, about 39 percent of the total 5. Its roofing and waterproofing carry brands such as Tremco 5.

Performance Coatings Group

This group makes high-performance flooring, corrosion-control and fireproofing coatings, fiberglass structures and food-industry coatings, with $2.1 billion of sales in fiscal 2026, about 27 percent of the total 5.

Consumer

Consumer sells paints, caulks, sealants, primers and cleaners for do-it-yourself and professional users, with $2.7 billion of sales in fiscal 2026, about 34 percent of the total 5. Brands include Rust-Oleum and The Pink Stuff cleaning paste 5.

No customer was over 10 percent of sales, but the largest Consumer customer was 20 percent of that segment's sales in fiscal 2026 5.

Plants and people

At 31 May 2026 RPM's subsidiaries sold in about 167 countries and territories and ran manufacturing in about 120 locations, and about 31 percent of sales were international 5.

The headquarters is in Medina, Ohio, and operations occupied about 20.3 million square feet, including an owned Euclid site in Cacapava, Brazil of 485,691 square feet 5.

RPM employed 17,546 people at 31 May 2026, and about 313 U.S. employees were under union contracts 5.

Frank Sullivan is chair and chief executive 7. On 17 July 2026 David Dennsteadt became president and chief operating officer, and the group presidents now report to him 7.

Rivals and current problems

RPM says its markets are fragmented and that it faces no single rival across all products 5. Its risk factors name Akzo Nobel, Axalta, Carlisle, H.B. Fuller, Masco, PPG, Sherwin-Williams and Sika 5.

The company expects inflation in raw materials from the Middle East conflict and tariffs to create headwinds in fiscal 2027 5.

In its fiscal 2027 first quarter the group had a $4.4 million rise in bad debt expense from a customer bankruptcy and a $6.3 million warranty charge at a small European business 1.

RPM reports it knows of no environmental proceeding above its $1.0 million disclosure threshold 5.

The umbrella, in words

RPM International is the parent of subsidiaries that make coatings, sealants and building materials 2. Its brands include Rust-Oleum, DAP, Zinsser, Varathane, The Pink Stuff, Stonhard, Carboline, Finish Works, Tremco, Euclid, Dryvit and Nudura 2.

The annual report's subsidiary exhibit names, among others, Carboline Company, DAP Products Inc., The Euclid Chemical Company, Flowcrete Group Limited, Kalzip GmbH and Ready Seal, LLC 9.

BlackRock reports holding 9.2 percent of RPM's common stock for various clients, in an amended Schedule 13G 4.

RPM will hold an investor day on 9 November 2026, where it said it will outline its next operating improvement plan 6.

For the second quarter of fiscal 2027 the company expects consolidated sales and adjusted EBITDA to rise in the low- to mid-single-digit range 1. It expects Construction Products sales to rise in the low-single-digit range and Performance Coatings sales in the mid- to high-single-digit range 1.

For all of fiscal 2027 the company expects sales and adjusted EBITDA to rise in the mid-single-digit range 1.

Chief executive Frank Sullivan said the company anticipates that the Construction Products Group will return to positive organic growth by the end of the year 1.

On 22 July 2026 RPM announced a $700.0 million increase to its stock repurchase program 7.

The company expects to incur MAP 2025 restructuring costs into fiscal 2027 5.