Compx International Inc: Form 10-Q for the period ended Mar 31, 2026

Business Overview

We are a leading manufacturer of engineered components utilized in a variety of applications and industries. Through our Security Products segment we manufacture mechanical and electrical cabinet locks and other locking mechanisms used in postal, recreational transportation, office and institutional furniture, cabinetry, tool storage and healthcare applications. We also manufacture wake enhancement systems, stainless steel exhaust systems, custom metal fabricated parts, gauges, throttle controls, trim tabs and related hardware and accessories for the recreational marine and other industries through our Marine Components segment.

General

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Statements in this Quarterly Report that are not historical facts are forward-looking in nature and represent management’s beliefs and assumptions based on currently available information. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “believes,” “intends,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “anticipates,” “expects” or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategies or trends. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, we do not know if these expectations will be correct. Such statements by their nature involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could significantly impact expected results. Actual future results could differ materially from those predicted. The factors that could cause actual future results to differ materially from those described herein are the risks and uncertainties discussed in this Quarterly Report and those described from time to time in our other filings with the SEC and include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Future supply and demand for our products;
• Changes in our raw material and other operating costs (such as zinc, brass, aluminum, steel and energy costs), including as a result of additional or changed tariffs on imported raw materials, and our ability to pass those costs on to our customers or offset them with reductions in other operating costs;
• Price and product competition from low-cost manufacturing sources (such as China);
• The impact of pricing and production decisions;
• Customer and competitor strategies including substitute products;
• Our ability to retain key customers;
• Uncertainties associated with new product development and the development of new product features;
• Pending or possible future litigation (such as litigation related to our use of certain permitted chemicals in our production process) or other actions;
• Our ability to protect or defend our intellectual property rights;
• Decisions to sell operating assets other than in the ordinary course of business;
• Environmental matters (such as those requiring emission and discharge standards for existing and new facilities);
• The ultimate outcome of income tax audits, tax settlement initiatives or other tax matters, including future tax reform;
• Government laws and regulations and possible changes therein including new environmental, health and safety, sustainability or other regulations;
• General global economic and political conditions that disrupt our supply chain, reduce demand or perceived demand for component products or impair our ability to operate our facilities (including changes in the level of gross domestic product in various regions of the world, natural disasters, terrorist acts, global conflicts and public health crises);
• Operating interruptions (including, but not limited to, labor disputes, leaks, natural disasters, fires, explosions, unscheduled or unplanned downtime, transportation interruptions, certain regional and world events or economic conditions and public health crises);
• The introduction of new, or changes in existing, tariffs, trade barriers or trade disputes (including tariffs imposed by the U.S. government on imports from China and Mexico);
• Technology related disruptions (including, but not limited to, cyber-attacks; software implementation, upgrades or improvements; technology processing failures; or other events) related to our technology infrastructure that could impact our ability to continue operations, or at key vendors which could impact our supply chain, or at key customers which could impact their operations and cause them to curtail or pause orders; and
• Possible disruption of our business or increases in the cost of doing business resulting from terrorist activities or global conflicts.

Should one or more of these risks materialize (or the consequences of such development worsen), or should the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from those currently forecasted or expected. We disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement whether as a result of changes in information, future events or otherwise.

Operating Income Overview

Operating income in the first quarter of 2026 was $7.1 million compared to $5.9 million in the same period of 2025. The increase in operating income in the first quarter of 2026 compared to 2025 is primarily due to higher gross margin at Security Products and, to a lesser extent, the impact of higher sales at Marine Components.

We sell a large number of products that have a wide variation in selling price and manufacturing cost, which results in certain practical limitations on our ability to quantify the impact of changes in individual product sales quantities and selling prices on our net sales, cost of sales and gross margin. In addition, small variations in period-to-period net sales, cost of sales and gross margin can result from changes in the relative mix of our products sold.

Results of Operations

(Dollars in thousands)

Net sales. Net sales increased $.3 million in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025 primarily due to higher Marine Components sales to the industrial market partially offset by lower Security Products sales.

See segment discussion below.

Cost of sales and gross margin. Cost of sales as a percentage of net sales decreased 2.5% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. As a result, gross margin as a percentage of net sales increased over the same period. Gross margin percentage increased in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025 primarily due to higher gross margin percentage at Security Products. See segment discussion below.

Operating costs and expenses. Operating costs and expenses consist primarily of sales and administrative-related personnel costs, sales commissions and advertising expenses directly related to product sales and administrative costs relating to business unit and corporate management activities, as well as any gains and losses on property and equipment. Operating costs and expenses for the first quarter of 2026 were comparable to same period in 2025. Operating costs and expenses as a percentage of net sales for the first quarter of 2026 decreased slightly due to increased coverage of operating costs and expenses as a result of higher sales.

Operating income. As a percentage of net sales, operating income for the first quarter of 2026 increased compared to the same period of 2025 and was primarily impacted by the factors impacting sales, cost of sales, gross margin and operating costs and expenses. See segment discussion below.

Interest income. Interest income decreased $.2 million in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025 primarily due to lower average interest rates and decreased average investment balances.

Provision for income taxes. A tabular reconciliation of our actual tax provision to the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate is included in Note 6 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. Our operations are wholly within the U.S. and therefore our effective income tax rate is primarily reflective of the U.S. federal statutory rate and applicable state taxes.

Segment Results

Key performance indicators for our segments are gross margin and operating income.

(Dollars in thousands)

Security Products. Security Products net sales decreased 1% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period last year primarily due to lower sales across a variety of markets. The decrease was driven by $.3 million lower sales to the healthcare market and $.2 million lower sales to each of the general cabinetry, electric control panel, and gas station security markets. These decreases were partially offset by $.3 million higher sales to the tool storage market and $.2 million higher sales to the institutional furniture market. Gross margin as a percentage of net sales increased in the first quarter primarily due to a more favorable customer and product mix. Operating income margin also increased, primarily due to the improvement in gross margin discussed above.

(Dollars in thousands)

Marine Components. Marine Components net sales increased 6% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period last year primarily due to $1.9 million higher sales to the industrial market partially offset by $1.4 million lower sales to the towboat market. Towboat market sales in the first quarter of 2025 benefitted from a one-time customer stocking event that did not repeat in 2026. Gross margin as a percentage of net sales decreased in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period last year primarily due to higher cost inventory produced during the fourth quarter of 2025 and sold in the first quarter of 2026, partially offset by increased coverage of fixed costs on higher sales. Operating income margin decreased primarily due to the factors impacting gross margin discussed above, partially offset by increased coverage of operating costs and expenses on higher sales.

Outlook. Net sales for the first quarter of 2026 exceeded the prior year period, primarily driven by improved demand in the industrial market at Marine Components. Security Products sales reflected mixed performance across the original equipment manufacturer (“OEM”) markets, driven by differences in customer demand cycles and project timing, resulting in slightly lower net sales compared to the prior year period. Operating income increased compared to the prior year primarily due to a more favorable customer and product mix at Security Products and, to a lesser extent, the impact of higher sales at Marine Components.

For the full year 2026, we expect modest net sales growth as we continue to align pricing, product features, and service levels with market conditions and customer requirements. Net sales growth at Marine Components is expected to be driven primarily by the industrial market. Recreational marine sales have largely stabilized and sales to the towboat market in 2026 are expected to be generally comparable to 2025 (excluding the impact of the one-time stocking event noted above). At Security Products, we expect net sales to be consistent with the prior year, reflecting anticipated continued variability across multiple OEM markets.

We expect gross margin and operating income margins across both segments in 2026 to remain generally comparable to 2025. Operating income margin at Security Products benefited from favorable mix in the first quarter of 2026; however, margins are expected to moderate over the remainder of the year. We increased inventory levels across both segments during 2025 to support customer demand. These actions included an insourcing initiative at Security Products and a shift in customer mix at Marine Components. Inventory levels at the end of the first quarter of 2026 were comparable to those at December 31, 2025 and are expected to remain at these levels, consistent with near-term operating requirements.

We manufacture substantially all our products in the U.S. and source a substantial majority of our raw materials from U.S. suppliers. We also source certain components, primarily electronic components, from suppliers in Asia, including China. Beginning in the second quarter of 2025 and continuing through the first quarter of 2026, we incurred tariff-related surcharges to certain raw materials, primarily electronic components. In addition, some of our U.S.-based suppliers are applying tariff-related surcharges on certain domestically sourced materials. Where possible, we increase selling prices to recover these higher raw material costs, although the extent to which we can fully recover such costs will depend on a variety of factors including the ultimate tariff rate, duration of tariffs, and our customers’ ability to substitute alternative products. We will continue to monitor current and anticipated near-term customer demand levels to ensure our production capabilities and inventories are aligned accordingly.

Our expectations for our operations and the markets we serve are based on a number of factors outside our control. Currently, our supply chains are stable and transportation and logistical delays are minimal. We have experienced global and domestic supply chain challenges in the past. Any future impacts on our operations will depend on, among other things, disruption to our operations or our suppliers’ operations, the effect of tariffs, and the impact of broader economic conditions, consumer confidence, and geopolitical events affecting demand for our products or our customers’ and suppliers’ operations, all of which remain uncertain and cannot be predicted.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Consolidated cash flows –

Operating activities. Trends in cash flows from operating activities, excluding changes in assets and liabilities, have generally been similar to the trends in operating earnings. Changes in assets and liabilities result primarily from the timing of production, sales and purchases. Changes in assets and liabilities generally tend to even out over time. However, period-to-period relative changes in assets and liabilities can significantly affect the comparability of cash flows from operating activities.

We generally report a net use of cash from operating activities in the first three months of each year due to seasonal changes in the level of our working capital. Our net cash used by operating activities for the first three months of 2026 increased by $1.0 million as compared to the first three months of 2025. The increase in net cash used is primarily due to the net effects of a $1.9 million increase in the amount of net cash used by relative changes in our inventories, receivables, prepaids, payables and non-tax related accruals in 2026 and a $1.2 million increase in operating income in 2026.

Changes in working capital can have a significant effect on cash flows from operating activities. As shown below, the change in our average days sales outstanding increased from December 31, 2025 to March 31, 2026, with changes varying by segment primarily as a result of relative changes in the timing of sales and collections relative to the end of the quarter. For comparative purposes, we have provided December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025 numbers below.

As shown below, our average number of days in inventory decreased from December 31, 2025 to March 31, 2026 primarily due to lower days in inventory at Marine Components driven by higher sales volumes in the first quarter of 2026 as compared to the fourth quarter of 2025. For comparative purposes, we have provided December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025 numbers below.

Investing activities. Our capital expenditures were $.4 million and $.8 million in the first three months of 2026 and 2025, respectively. During the first three months of 2026, Valhi repaid a net $.6 million under the promissory note ($3.1 million of gross borrowings and $3.7 million of gross repayments). During the first three months of 2025, the promissory note balance with Valhi had net activity of nil ($.5 million of gross borrowings and $.5 million of gross repayments). See Note 10 to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Financing activities. Financing activities consisted only of cash dividends. Our board of directors declared a regular quarterly dividend of $.30 per share in each of the first quarters of 2025 and 2026. The declaration and payment of future dividends and the amount thereof, if any, is discretionary and is dependent upon our results of operations, financial condition, cash requirements for our businesses, contractual requirements and restrictions and other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors. The amount and timing of past dividends is not necessarily indicative of the amount or timing of any future dividends which we might pay.

Future cash requirements –

Liquidity. Our primary source of liquidity on an ongoing basis is our cash flow from operating activities, which is generally used to (i) fund capital expenditures, (ii) repay short-term or long-term indebtedness incurred primarily for capital expenditures, investment activities or reducing our outstanding stock, (iii) provide for the payment of dividends (if declared), and (iv) lend to affiliates. From time-to-time, we will incur indebtedness, primarily to fund capital expenditures or business combinations.

Periodically, we evaluate liquidity requirements, alternative uses of capital, capital needs and available resources in view of, among other things, our capital expenditure requirements, dividend policy and estimated future operating cash flows. As a result of this process, we have in the past and may in the future seek to raise additional capital, refinance or restructure indebtedness, issue additional securities, modify our dividend policy or take a combination of such steps to manage our liquidity and capital resources. In the normal course of business, we may review opportunities for acquisitions, joint ventures or other business combinations in the component products industry. In the event of any such transaction, we may consider using available cash, issuing additional equity securities or increasing our indebtedness or that of our subsidiaries.

We believe that cash generated from operations together with cash on hand, as well as our ability to obtain external financing, will be sufficient to meet our liquidity needs for working capital, capital expenditures, debt service, dividends (if declared) and any amounts we might loan from time to time under the terms of our revolving loan to Valhi discussed in Note 10 to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (which loans would be solely at our discretion) for both the next 12 months and five years. To the extent that our actual operating results or other developments differ from our expectations, our liquidity could be adversely affected.

All of our $49.4 million aggregate cash and cash equivalents at March 31, 2026 were held in the U.S.

Capital expenditures. Firm purchase commitments for capital projects in process at March 31, 2026 totaled $.4 million. We expect our capital expenditures for 2026 will be approximately $4.3 million primarily to improve our manufacturing facilities and invest in manufacturing equipment, including new technologies and increased automation.

Stock repurchase program. At March 31, 2026, we have 523,647 shares available for repurchase under a stock repurchase program authorized by our board of directors.

Commitments and contingencies –

We are subject to certain commitments and contingencies, as more fully described in our 2025 Annual Report or in Note 8 to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Recent accounting pronouncements –

See Note 11 to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Critical accounting policies –

There have been no changes in the first three months of 2026 with respect to our critical accounting policies presented in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our 2025 Annual Report.

We are exposed to market risk from changes in interest rates and raw material prices. There have been no material changes in these market risks since we filed our 2025 Annual Report, and we refer you to Part I, Item 7A – “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk” in our 2025 Annual Report. See also Note 9 to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures. We maintain disclosure controls and procedures which, as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e), means controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit to the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Act”), is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information we are required to disclose in the reports that we file or submit to the SEC under the Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and our principal financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions to be made regarding required disclosure. Our management with the participation of Scott C. James, our President and Chief Executive Officer, and Amy A. Samford, our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the design and operating effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2026. Based upon their evaluation, these executive officers have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective as of the date of such evaluation.

Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting which, as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f), means a process designed by, or under the supervision of, our principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by our board of directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and includes those policies and procedures that:

• Pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets,
• Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors, and
• Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of an unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended March 31, 2026 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.