and quarter a turn business to with first with situation. impact I'm discuss pleased and Thanks, afternoon, address pandemic, on Coronavirus summary we taking performance this begin first the it then discussion to financial everyone. and like has the unprecedented to are our to of you had I'd Kim, more our good detailed our on today. the level actions a high results will
quarter, was an which COVID-XX weaker and the in to increased the financially. by quarter due operationally solid of $XXX.X volume Sales conditions by was mid-March. a cold key ago markets unusually weather in in by our which winter. to beginning impacted milder Europe, partially Sales compared wet million in sales higher We conditions a XXXX and offset delivered were year volumes Sales X.X% primarily increased first first the driven over and of were North America.
an This costs. largely was sales and due was points XXX material margin basis of profit improvement gross decreased strong to mix at XX.X%, Our year-over-year.
diluted our performance income Our gross of per now relatively year-over-year shortly, details earnings on let year-over-year. me provide and generate margin COVID-XX. strong with discussion operating $XX.X QX turn of operating flat $X.XX up Brian the will share, XX% additional to up help million, of XX.X% [ph] expenses, coupled but the
to the who all the out courageous thank Simpson my as need employees for I Our their by safe remains all of their workplace. help those hearts would been gratitude impacted for to help to have well to responders in pandemic. and those ensure selflessness first go extend our over a as efforts like to and of sincerely cooperation Coronavirus commitment X,XXX
our rigorous enact and make. action to to crisis safety to The location. of where social possible protocols top and and the well-being and reducing of employees, staff at our immediate distancing, health remote shifts sanitation our priority, is facilities, visitor implementing mandatory our forefront improving and We scheduled onset our communities took working on-site their the of all our we decision and safety restricting every families, and at this is customers in by access measures, staggered of
all applicable companies. manufacturing other U.S. deemed our with operational As as including and facilities remain of today, of building businesses of shelter-in-place accordance orders essential, store material suppliers hardware in the
temporarily to us cease of in of all in Kingdom employees. and forcing nearly European March, our the were ordered However, two furlough United affected operations operation to larger late France those many
to We when right. employees intention work, the those being have timing to bring of back every is able
continue protecting with and while accordance in customers, we reputation Over a we've and we that can with employees, group the talented ensure brand local to government built of every years, regulations. to our have service loyal base strong a of customer the intention operating
demand compared COVID-XX general starts anticipated related due disruptions month experienced lower to been activities. to and housing April, Importantly, to of our from we chain any levels have to the supply meet able the have declined customer slowdown needs. construction and not the In March in sales
we any well believe other is the strength. situation unique positioned emerge this other side the to unlike of a past, and we from we've are position in While highly downturn on experienced
financial ample If back in facility by XXXX supporting sales, a million major sheet $XXX that ensure was down revolving our flexibility a support during you'll with and our on business see be working as capital needs our housing our drastic to ended period. our current crisis, the drop will with $XXX.X provides a accompanied stemming the our pandemic. decline a which COVID-XX this strong us financial met to cash after in from the liquidity to precautionary starts XXXX and day-to-day balance on uncertainty, XX% recovery of Today, credit drawing you quarter We role simultaneous balance played operation. sheet million look measure in in in hand, through preserve U.S. light the and
by first Importantly, goals. products and following we've XXXX. XXXX our future rationalize in the a XXX to the with making our able first of our point in significant improvement in strategic business expenses basis included over housing markets. structure XXXX of more even to total the will to our ensure connection step compared evidenced been a U.S. percent to starts, three business, diversifying changes operating foundation adjacent plan our the quarter investments we reliant less of made by of our We've recession. be in for years significant operate on actions our quarter More as key crisis, taken cost be sales stronger to past efficiently, recently, XXXX These the as to event
second we in of implemented long-term including additional to regarding taken market and retention position. based on our on in will demand impact and freeze quarter, near conditions a of the strong levels and focus level employees production lower trends, measures COVID-XX, ensure adjust we've the we hours maintain and employee uncertainty term. the hiring have Beginning proactively the Given financial
have orders abide and operations. on expenses shelter-in-place as been In the addition, discretionary projects our our significantly including employee reduced, travel we certain by throughout consultant-related spend
Turning to capital allocation.
passes. months, crisis the preservation strategy has Our shifted recent in cash more on this focus until
for or to issues planned are to safety for that potential our we reducing repair result, are only maintenance capital used in our be As or expenditures address factories. a required projects
In out our the our selective goal to management with That purchases rollout environment of to look inventory inventory providing purchasing dollars would addition, inventory the compared call. finished balance improve in at December notice inventory you XXXX. as been a in of the highly conference to careful including on XXst significant more line new second being quarter total have customer, on-hand, March we compared rolled increased our our balance regard details second upcoming sheet This on and levels to through primarily of quarter this and goods, down forward XXst. to the practices. our customer said, new pounds in in are We the current to impact dollars December of level support at on will the is Absent XXst. this
our to than and average as of of activities, total XXX,XXX regard shares we share repurchased stockholder dividends price stock $XX.XX In April a at paid our XX, shareholders million an more return of of over $XX.X year-to-date $XX million. to common in for per
is conservation in program until suspending priority we our cash this are environment, current further our given However, notice. share repurchase
organizations with Stockton final I of our SAP. we during conclude, We first our SAP organization completed now the U.S. facility. manufacturing implementation phase major U.S. I'd boarding the over transitioned of Finally, our of the the of like sales to have XXXX highlight quarter in to based that on sales all successful before
a XXXX, end time. anticipate we As to completion remain timeline we the our will however, in companywide update at monitor today, still goal of prolonged should home of place for of at stay a continue orders and period
begun Since quarter we are In unpredictable that delivered that pleased of results. global operate to highly end the environment towards first quarter, a our have summary, we've difficult the has first strong shaken in pandemic began we COVID-XX economy. and the
our significant of surrounding due this COVID-XX, withdraw uncertainty regarding XXXX press plan at release annual As targets financial our this XXXX from chosen our the outlook our previously announced we've level conditions future to in well time. earnings as issued to issued afternoon, market as
terms this In end underlying plan, execute to achievable continue the with to principle financial our cost targets environment based and move made forward. fiscal through pandemic while as guide of XXXX, of on remain difficult operating by the to us on these of same we the the predict, it savings focusing has operating XXXX efficiencies we
in uncertainty, result experience believe best-in-class customer business liquidity the current weather very and focus cash a with can our products, as is well with to filled world much maintaining flexibility near-term. of by our the our manufacturing on we can upholding I a high-quality approach control, financial overall on preservation that have focus we and in capital a allocation including In trusted say storm that positioned remaining we ample so ensuring elements conservative
excellent I'd again and and passion employees safety our to thank their all commitment health their to our of for service. customer and like
discuss will like now to call financials I'd our detail. quarter the who to Brian? in turn first Brian, over And
