Dorman Products Inc (DORM) Q1 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Strong Sales Growth Amid Market ...

Yahoo

07-05-2025

Q : Have you seen any of your bigger customers buying ahead to get ahead of tariffs, or is the difference due to gaining shelf space with larger partners? A : Kevin Olsen, CEO: We haven't seen any indications of customers buying ahead of tariffs yet. The strong performance in light duty was driven by new product performance and favorable macro trends. Our sell-in growth exceeded POS growth due to an easier comp in the quarter.
The company anticipates increased inventory costs due to tariffs, which may impact cash flow and require strategic financial management.
Despite strong performance, the company faces potential challenges from the newly enacted 232 auto tariffs, which could affect pricing and supply chain costs.
The heavy-duty segment experienced an 11% year-over-year decline in net sales due to continued market pressures in freight transportation and the trucking aftermarket.
Dorman Products Inc ( NASDAQ:DORM ) successfully diversified its supply chain, reducing reliance on Chinese imports to 30-40% and sourcing 30% from the U.S.
For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript .
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Q: Could you remind us of some of the mitigation efforts you have in place for tariffs, and when would these impacts start to hit your results? A: Kevin Olsen, CEO: We have a diverse supply chain, with 30-40% sourced from China, 30% from the U.S., and the rest globally. Most of our parts are nondiscretionary, historically inelastic. We expect to see tariff impacts roughly six months after incurring them due to FIFO inventory. Mitigation efforts include negotiating with suppliers, driving productivity, and adjusting prices.
Q: Can you break out the EBIT margin in light vehicle between product mix and leverage on volume? A: Kevin Olsen, CEO: Our operating margins in light duty are largely due to product mix, particularly new products. The vehicle cohort of 7- to 14-year-old vehicles has grown, aiding margin expansion.
Q: How does your supply chain footprint compare to competitors, especially in commoditized segments like chassis? A: Kevin Olsen, CEO: While I can't comment on specific categories, we believe we have less exposure to high-tariff regions like China compared to competitors, giving us a competitive advantage.
Q: Is the current interest expense a good number to use for the rest of the year? A: David Hession, CFO: Yes, using the current quarter's interest expense is a good assumption. We've paid down significant debt, reducing our leverage to 1x EBITDA.
Q: How much of your product was sourced from China during the last tariff situation, and what takeaways can you apply now? A: Kevin Olsen, CEO: Previously, over 70% was sourced from China and Taiwan. We've since diversified our supply chain significantly, building a more resilient network and driving productivity through automation.
Q: Can you provide any indication of how the 30-40% sourced from China is split among segments? A: Kevin Olsen, CEO: We won't disclose specific impacts by segment due to fluidity and competitive reasons. However, we believe we have a competitive advantage in light duty and are well-positioned in heavy duty and specialty vehicles.
Q: Are there any exemptions or clawbacks related to the 232 tariffs on auto parts? A: Kevin Olsen, CEO: The 232 tariffs are tied to HTS codes, and exemptions are primarily for OE. We're still evaluating the impact on Dorman.
For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.
This article first appeared on GuruFocus.