PPG reported financial results for the first quarter 2026.

Chairman and CEO Comments

Tim Knavish, PPG chairman and chief executive officer, commented on the quarter:

In the first quarter, PPG delivered organic sales growth of 1%, demonstrating our ability to maintain growth momentum in a challenging environment. We delivered higher selling prices, with further selling price realization targeted to offset any inflationary impact more quickly than prior cycles. Adjusted EPS increased 6% driven by strong results in our differentiated aerospace and architectural coatings Latin America businesses, reflecting the benefits of our technology-advantaged products and strong brand recognition, along with excellent commercial execution.

Our Global Architectural Coatings segment achieved low single-digit percentage organic sales growth and EBITDA margin improvement of 230 basis points driven by strength in Latin America. In Europe, demand remains mixed whereas in Mexico, project-related sales are recovering and retail sales were especially strong.

Performance Coatings segment organic sales grew a low single-digit percentage benefitting from strong demand for aerospace and protective and marine coatings products. Aerospace industry growth is expected to remain robust, and our order backlog positions us well to deliver consistent above-industry growth in this key end market.

In our Industrial Coatings segment, we are delivering on previously communicated share gains in automotive original equipment manufacturer (OEM) coatings and packaging coatings, which allowed us to grow above industry levels. However, margins in the first quarter were negatively impacted by regional mix as China automotive production dropped in comparison to a particularly high level in the first quarter of last year. Results for packaging coatings were outstanding as we increased both organic sales and EBITDA margin.

Looking ahead, we expect strong growth in aerospace, architectural coatings in Latin America, protective and marine coatings and packaging coatings. Automotive refinish coatings organic sales are anticipated to improve for PPG in the second half of the year related to the phasing of customer order patterns last year. We are also seeing early signs of demand improvement in the U.S. refinish market as insurance claims begin to normalize to historical levels.

In recent weeks, costs have risen for raw materials, energy, logistics and packaging across the coatings value chain. As a result, PPG has proactively announced price adjustments globally and across the portfolio. Given the scale of our differentiated portfolio, we are able to source raw materials globally, and compared to prior inflation cycles, we have an improved ability to offset inflation by increasing selling prices in step with raw material price increases.

In the second quarter, we expect both organic sales and adjusted earnings per share in the range of flat to growth of a low single-digit percentage. We are maintaining our full-year earnings per share guidance range of $7.70 to $8.10. This guidance reflects confidence in our growth momentum, including share gains and realization of pricing and execution of self-help actions, which will serve to mitigate the raw material inflation impact.

Thank you to our PPG team around the world who make it happen and deliver on our purpose every day: We protect and beautify the world®.

Additional Financial Information

•       Net sales in the quarter increased 7% year over year, including benefits from higher selling prices of 1% and positive foreign currency translation of 6%.

•       At quarter end, the company had cash and short-term investments totaling $1.6 billion. Net debt was $5.5 billion, an increase of $150 million from the first quarter 2025.

•       Cash from operating activities was $33 million, approximately $50 million higher year over year.

•       The company repaid $700 million of debt which matured in the first quarter.

•       Corporate expenses were $83 million in the first quarter.

•       First quarter net interest expense was $24 million.

•       In the first quarter, the effective tax rate was approximately 25.5%, up about 100 basis points year over year.

Global Architectural Coatings segment net sales increased 13% compared to the first quarter 2025 driven by higher selling prices and a benefit from foreign currency translation partially offset by divestitures.

Organic sales for architectural coatings Latin America and Asia Pacific increased by a mid-single-digit percentage compared to the first quarter 2025 driven by growth in Latin America. Organic sales for architectural coatings EMEA declined by a low single-digit percentage year over year, with higher selling prices more than offset by lower sales volumes. In Mexico, retail sales were especially strong in the quarter. Mexican project-related sales continued to recover and the company expects further incremental improvement in the second quarter aided by higher business and governmental project investment.

Segment EBITDA increased 28% and segment EBITDA margin improved 230 basis points compared to the prior year with realization of higher selling prices and cost-control actions.

erformance Coatings segment net sales increased 5% driven by higher selling prices, foreign currency translation benefit, and acquisitions, partially offset by lower sales volumes.

Organic sales improved 1% compared to the prior year driven by aerospace, protective and marine coatings, and traffic solutions, partially offset by expected year-over-year sales volume declines in automotive refinish coatings. Aerospace achieved exceptional quarterly sales with double-digit percentage organic sales growth while our order backlog remained at about $315 million. Organic sales in automotive refinish coatings decreased by a double-digit percentage as sales volumes were lower, reflecting a difficult comparison to the prior year when customer order patterns were heavily weighted to the first half of 2025. Protective and marine coatings organic sales increased by a high single-digit percentage compared to the prior year, achieving its 12th consecutive quarter of sales volume growth, including above-market marine sales volume growth in Asia Pacific. Organic sales in traffic solutions increased a high single-digit percentage driven by strong demand across the U.S. and Canada.

Compared to the first quarter 2025, segment EBITDA increased by 6% and segment EBITDA margin improved slightly, driven by higher selling prices partially offset by lower automotive refinish coatings sales volumes and higher growth-related investment spending in aerospace and protective and marine coatings.

Industrial Coatings segment net sales increased 4% compared to the first quarter 2025 driven by foreign currency translation. Organic sales were flat, including sales volumes growth of 1%, reflecting the benefits from share gains offset by the impact of lower selling prices from certain index-based customer contracts.

Automotive OEM coatings organic sales decreased a low single-digit percentage, with flat sales volumes, including share gains, resulting in the business outpacing the decline in global automotive industry production by about 300 basis points. Industrial coatings organic sales declined a low single-digit percentage driven by soft demand in the United States which offset growth in other regions. Packaging coatings organic sales increased by a double-digit percentage versus the prior year period and sales volumes are up over 20 percent on a two-year stacked basis, driven by share gains, as customers adopt our leading technologies.

Segment EBITDA decreased 7% and segment EBITDA margin declined 180 basis points compared to the first quarter 2025. This was driven by regional mix and lower selling prices due to index-based contracts.

Outlook

The company expects both second quarter organic sales and adjusted earnings per share in the range of flat to growth of a low single-digit percentage. We are maintaining our full-year earnings per share guidance range of $7.70 to $8.10. This reflects the momentum of share gains and self-help actions, along with an updated view of current global economic activity, foreign exchange rates as well as regional and business mix.

Additional information related to 2026 financial projections is posted within the slides and prepared commentary associated with the first quarter earnings documents on the Investors section of PPG.com.

The term organic sales as used in this press release is defined as net sales excluding the impact of currency, acquisitions and divestitures.