Reliance Worldwide Ltd (ASX: RWC) has announced a new $120 million share buyback, after its gearing levels fell below their target range.
The company said in a statement to the ASX that the new buyback was in addition to a US$15.3 million buyback announced on February 17, which was part of its interim distribution, which also included a US2 cents per share dividend.
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Reliance Chair Russell Chenu said the buyback reflected the Board's confidence in the company's strategy and outlook.
He said further:
RWC has continued to generate strong cash flows over the past two years despite subdued end markets. This has enabled us to substantially reduce net debt. Consequently, RWC's leverage ratio has fallen below the bottom end of our target range of 1.5 time to 2.5 times net debt to EBITDA1. Undertaking this additional share buy-back will enable us to return excess capital to shareholders efficiently and is consistent with our previously articulated capital management strategy. We expect to be comfortably within the leverage ratio target range at the conclusion of the $120 million buy-back.
Reliance in mid-February said it had had a challenging first half, with its results impacted by US tariffs and weaker demand in the US and the UK.
Sales revenue was 4% lower at US$645.4 million for the first half, while net profit was 34.9% lower at US$43.7 million.
The company added:
As foreshadowed in RWC's FY25 earnings announcement in August 2025, operating earnings for the period were adversely impacted by US tariffs. The expected full year net impact of tariffs in FY26 is in the range of US$25 million to US$30 million, with the impact weighted to the first half of FY26. The benefits from the transfer of product sourcing away from China to lower tariff countries, coupled with price adjustments and cost reduction measures, will continue to flow through in the second half of FY26.
Reliance Chief Executive Officer Heath Sharp said the first half had been "particularly challenging" due to the US tariffs and weak markets.
He added:
While residential remodelling and new construction markets remained subdued, we have made significant progress on a number of strategic initiatives. We commissioned our new assembly facility in Poland and finalised plans for a new facility in Mexico which will support activity in the Americas and lower the impact of associated tariffs. During the half we also launched new product ranges with key distributors in Germany, France and Italy, while SharkBite Max was launched nationwide across Australia.
Morgans in February released a research note to its clients on Reliance and has a price target of $3.50 on Reliance Worldwide shares, compared with $2.92 currently.
Reliance Worldwide was valued at $2.24 billion at the close of trade on Friday.
