RPM International Inc
RPM International Inc. is a U.S.-based holding company organized around four operating segments that make paints, coatings, sealants, adhesives, roofing systems, and related specialty building products. Its businesses serve construction, industrial, consumer, and specialty end markets through a portfolio of branded products and acquired operating companies across North America and international markets.
Fiscal year 2026 · change from previous year
Development 2021–2026
Business
Share of revenueSealants, adhesives, roofing systems, building envelope, flooring, and firestopping products for construction and repair.
Branded paints, caulks, sealants, primers, cleaners, woodcare, and other home-improvement products.
Industrial flooring, corrosion control, fireproofing, infrastructure repair, FRP structures, and raised flooring.
Restoration equipment, colorants, nail enamels, industrial coatings, preservation products, and specialty glazes.
Customers
RPM sells to a mix of contractors, distributors, retailers, industrial users, and specialty end markets. Its Consumer segment is heavily exposed to home-improvement channels such as home centers, mass merchandisers, hardware stores, and distributors, while its construction and coatings businesses serve contractors, building owners, and industrial customers. The specialty segment also reaches pharmaceutical and food-related customers that need niche coatings and glazes.
Ace Hardware, Home Depot, Lowe's, Walmart, and similar channels buy branded paints, caulks, sealants, and cleaners for DIY consumers.
Buy roofing systems, building envelope products, firestopping, flooring, and repair materials for commercial and residential projects.
Buy corrosion control, fireproofing, FRP structures, and repair systems for industrial facilities and infrastructure assets.
Buy edible coatings, glazes, and preservation products for pharmaceutical and food applications.
Distribute branded and specialty products into contractor, industrial, and retail end markets.
Strategy
RPM’s strategy centers on growing through branded specialty products, technical differentiation, and acquisitions that expand its product portfolio and channel reach. The company also emphasizes operational efficiency, capacity investment, and international expansion to support its construction, coatings, and consumer platforms.
Acquisitions add brands, technologies, and channels across fragmented markets.
Capacity and efficiency investments support growth and service levels.
Turnkey roofing and restoration projects deepen customer relationships and differentiation.
International markets diversify demand and create growth opportunities.
Geography
Q1/2026RPM is headquartered in Medina, Ohio and operates through a broad North American base with additional manufacturing and distribution locations in Europe and Latin America. The company also sells internationally through its operating businesses, and foreign manufacturing represented a meaningful portion of net sales in the latest annual filing. Its geography matters because the business combines domestic consumer exposure with international industrial and construction demand, creating currency and trade-policy sensitivity.
Risks
RPM faces cyclical demand in construction, consumer, and industrial end markets, along with intense competition in fragmented coatings and sealants categories. Its exposure to foreign operations, customer concentration in Consumer, tariffs, cyber risk, and goodwill/intangible asset impairment can all materially affect results because the business relies on brands, acquisitions, and global supply chains.
- Goodwill and intangible asset impairmentImpact: HighLikelihood: High
Acquisition-driven growth leaves a large balance of goodwill and intangibles that must be tested for impairment.
Exposure: Reporting units across all four segments
- Customer concentration in ConsumerImpact: HighLikelihood: Medium
A small number of retailers account for a large share of Consumer sales, so lost shelf space or lower orders would hit revenue quickly.
Exposure - Foreign operations and geopolitical exposureImpact: HighLikelihood: Medium
The company has meaningful foreign manufacturing and sales, which exposes it to currency swings, trade restrictions, unrest, and regulatory changes.
Exposure - Tariffs and trade policyImpact: MediumLikelihood: Medium
Import duties and trade barriers can increase raw material costs and squeeze pricing flexibility.
Exposure: Global sourcing and cross-border supply chains
- Cybersecurity and data privacyImpact: MediumLikelihood: Medium
A breach could disrupt manufacturing, damage proprietary information, and create legal and reputational costs.
Exposure
Accounting
Judgemental itemsThe company has about $2.4 billion of goodwill and other intangible assets, so valuation assumptions are critical.
Impact: Could produce material noncash charges if reporting unit values decline
Estimates for environmental, warranty, and other claims require judgment and can change with experience.
Impact: Affects SG&A and balance-sheet reserves
A broad product portfolio and acquired brands increase the risk of slow-moving or obsolete inventory.
Impact: Affects cost of sales and working capital
Foreign earnings, GILTI, credits, and permanently reinvested cash affect the effective tax rate.
Impact: Can create volatility in tax expense and cash repatriation planning
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Last updated: 24/09/2026