EXHIBIT 12.1 HENRY COMPANY COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES (IN THOUSANDS) THREE MONTHS ENDED NINE MONTHS ENDED September 30, 1997 September 30, 1998 September 30, 1997 September 30, 1998 ------------------ ------------------ ------------------ ------------------ EARNINGS: Earnings before taxes $1,365 $3,173 $ 183 $4,069 Add: Fixed Charges* 596 2,434 1,775 5,094 ------ ------ ------- ------ $1,961 $5,607 $1,958 $9,163 *FIXED CHARGES Interest expense $ 372 $2,238 $1,103 $4,337 Interest on rent 224 196 672 757 ------ ------ ------- ------ $ 596 $2,434 $1,775 $5,094 ------ ------ ------- ------ ------ ------ ------- ------ Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges 3.3 2.3 1.1 1.8 ------ ------ ------- ------ ------ ------ ------- ------ The ratios of earnings to fixed charges were computed by dividing earnings by fixed charges. For this purpose, "earnings" consist of earnings before taxes plus fixed charges and "fixed charges" consist of interest expense and the portion of rents representative of an interest factor.