Masco Slides as 2Q Sales Fall, Tariff Pressures Overshadow Higher Profit

By Anvee Bhutani

Shares of Masco slipped after the maker of home-improvement products reported lower second-quarter revenue and warned input costs and tariffs continue to weigh on its business, despite raising its full-year earnings outlook.

The stock was down 9.7%, at $73.73, midday Wednesday, but has risen 16% this year.

The maker of Behr paint and Delta faucets reported second-quarter sales fell to $1.99 billion from $2.05 billion a year earlier and missed analysts' expectations of $2.08 billion.

Net income was $318 million, or $1.60 a share, for the second quarter, up from $270 million, or $1.28 a share, a year earlier.

Adjusted earnings rose 26%, to $1.64 a share. Wall Street analysts expected $1.32 a share.

Sales declined 3% in plumbing products and 4% in decorative architectural products. Operating profit rose 14%, to $470 million, helped by about $95 million in refunds related to tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

On the earnings call, executives said North American sales were hurt by difficult year-earlier comparisons, targeted strategic investments and continued pressure from higher input costs and tariffs.

The company also said second-quarter results were affected by the transition of its primer and applicator business to a customer, though it doesn't expect that to have a meaningful effect in the second half of the year.

Masco raised its full-year adjusted earnings guidance to $4.40 to $4.60 a share from its prior outlook of $4.10 to $4.30 a share, citing the tariff refunds.

The company said it continues to expect DIY paint sales to decline by a mid-single-digit percentage this year but remains confident in the strength of its brands despite an uncertain macroeconomic and geopolitical backdrop.

Write to Anvee Bhutani at anvee.bhutani@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

July 29, 2026 14:21 ET (18:21 GMT)