Net sales consist of sales and freight, net of returns and discounts. The level of net sales is principally affected by sales volume and the prices paid for Trex products. The operating results for Trex Residential have historically varied from quarter to quarter, often due to seasonal trends in the demand for outdoor living products. Seasonal, erratic or prolonged adverse weather conditions in certain geographic regions reduce the level of home improvement and construction activity and can shift demand for its products to a later period. As part of its normal business practice and consistent with industry practices, Trex Residential has historically offered incentive programs to its distributors and dealers to build inventory levels before the start of the prime deck-building season to ensure adequate availability of its product to meet anticipated seasonal consumer demand and to enable production planning. These incentives include prompt payment discounts and favorable payment terms. In addition, we offer price discounts or volume rebates on specified products and other incentives based on increases in purchases as part of specific promotional programs. The timing of sales incentive programs can impact sales, receivables and inventory levels during the offering period. In addition, the operating results for Trex Commercial have not historically varied from quarter to quarter as a result of seasonality, but are driven by the timing of individual projects, which may vary significantly each period.
Gross profit represents the difference between net sales and cost of sales. Cost of sales consists of raw materials costs, direct labor costs, manufacturing costs, warranty costs, and freight. Raw materials costs generally include the costs to purchase and transport reclaimed wood fiber, scrap polyethylene and pigmentation for coloring Trex products. Direct labor costs include wages and benefits of personnel engaged in the manufacturing process. Manufacturing costs consist of costs of depreciation, utilities, maintenance supplies and repairs, indirect labor, including wages and benefits, and warehouse and equipment rental activities.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses.
The largest component of selling, general and administrative expenses is personnel related costs, which include salaries, commissions, incentive compensation, and benefits of personnel engaged in sales and marketing, accounting, information technology, corporate operations, research and development, and other business functions. Another component of selling, general and administrative expenses is branding and other sales and marketing costs, which are used to build brand awareness of Trex. These costs consist primarily of advertising, merchandising, and other promotional costs. Other general and administrative expenses include professional fees, office occupancy costs attributable to the business functions previously referenced, and consumer relations expenses. As a percentage of net sales, selling, general and administrative expenses have varied from quarter to quarter due, in part, to the seasonality of our business.
. Our results of operations are affected by economic conditions, including macroeconomic conditions and levels of business and consumer confidence. The
COVID-19
pandemic increased the level of volatility and uncertainty globally and created macroeconomic disruption. The pandemic remains an evolving situation and while macro-economic recovery seems likely, the duration and extent of the recovery remains uncertain. However, we continue to manage our business to ensure the continuity of operations and the safety of our employees. Trex Residential has not experienced any decline in demand for its outdoor living products. Trex Commercial had not experienced any material reduction to its net sales. However, measures taken to contain the spread of the virus have reduced new project commitments from its customer base. The reduction in project commitments was influenced by a delay in new projects due to lingering uncertainty created in the commercial railing and staging markets by the COVID-19 virus. The delay in new projects, coupled with the Company’s successful fulfillment of its pre-pandemic projects, resulted in lower project backlog and reduced forecasted net sales and EBITDA, which became apparent in the fourth quarter of 2021. The Company continued to assess the impact on project commitments throughout the year and, during the fourth quarter of 2021, determined that the impact will adversely affect Trex Commercial’s financial condition and results of operations in future periods. The continued impact of
COVID-19
and its effect on project commitments was a consideration in the Company’s quantitative assessment for goodwill impairment testing at its railing and staging reporting units as of October 31, 2021. Refer to the below discussion in “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” for additional information.
Trex Residential Arkansas Manufacturing Facility
. On October 26, 2021, we announced our plan to add a third U.S.-based Trex Residential manufacturing facility in Little Rock, Arkansas. The new campus will sit on nearly 300 acres of land and will address increased demand for Trex Residential outdoor living products.