MEDINA, OH - RPM International Inc. announced that unusually strong performance in its prior-year first quarter dampened comparative results for the fiscal 2015 first quarter that ended August 31, 2014, but that the company is maintaining its full-year earnings guidance for fiscal 2015, which was issued July 28, 2014. Full-year guidance for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2015 anticipates growth in diluted earnings per share of 9% to 11%, or a range of $2.38 to $2.42 per diluted share.
Fiscal 2015 first-quarter net sales of $1.204 billion increased 3.4% over the $1.165 billion reported a year ago. RPM's consolidated earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) declined 0.2% to $163.7 million from $164.0 million reported in the fiscal 2014 first quarter. First-quarter net income declined 3.9% to $99.1 million from $103.1 million in the year-ago period, and diluted earnings per share declined 5.2% to $0.73 from $0.77 in the fiscal 2014 first quarter.