Ferguson plc delivered a resilient QQ1 2025 performance, with net sales of $7.77 billion, up 0.8% year-over-year, supported by a 3% increase in total volume and 1.1% acquisition impact. Gross margin remained solid at 30.1%, while adjusted operating margin stood at 9.1% and adjusted diluted EPS was $2.45, down 7.5% year-over-year on lower profitability despite volume gains. Management attributed the modest margin pressure to ongoing commodity price deflation (~2%) and mix effects, notably a stronger HVAC initiative and waterworks growth that carry slightly lower gross margins but are positioned to drive longer-term share gain. The quarter featured intentional investment to support growth, including HVAC counter expansion, a robust trainee program, and large project teams, which added to near-term SG&A but are expected to yield higher leverage in a recovering volume environment.
From a cash and balance-sheet perspective, Ferguson generated $345 million of operating cash flow and $274 million of free cash flow in the quarter, funded capex of $77 million and returned $256 million to shareholders via share repurchases, while raising the quarterly dividend by 5% to $0.83 per share. Net debt stood at approximately $4.08 billion with a reported net-debt-to-adjusted-EBITDA multiple of about 1.2x, evidencing a solid balance sheet to fund growth and capital return. The company reaffirmed its fiscal 2025 guidance: low-single-digit net sales growth, mid-to-high-single-digit operating margins (9.0%â9.5%), capex of $400â$450 million, and an approximately 26% tax rate, with acquisitions contributing modestly to EPS and sales growth.
Management emphasized multi-year structural tailwinds in housing, data-center spending, and dual-trade contractor penetration (HVAC/plumbing), plus ongoing M&A to consolidate a fragmented market. The near-term outlook contemplates continued deflation headwinds in commodity-based products, but management signaled an eventual easing of deflation and a potential improvement in finished-goods pricing in the back half of 2025, which could support margin expansion as volumes recover. Overall, Ferguson remains well-positioned to outperform its markets through productivity, digital tools, and strategic investments, while maintaining flexibility to adjust cost structure if volumes deteriorate.