Here are 1-2 brief analogies to describe Oil-Dri of America (ODC):

• Like a niche 3M, but specializing in absorbent materials made from clay.
• The Procter & Gamble of cat litter.

• Cat Litter: Produces branded and private label cat litters utilizing their proprietary clay technology for odor control and absorbency.
• Industrial & Automotive Absorbents: Manufactures granular absorbents designed to clean up spills of oils, greases, and other liquids across various environments.
• Agricultural Products: Supplies sorbent granules used as carriers for pesticides, herbicides, and other agricultural chemicals, along well as soil amendments.
• Animal Health & Nutrition Products: Provides clay-based products that serve as feed additives to mitigate toxins in animal feed and support animal health.
• Sports Field Products: Offers granular clay solutions engineered to improve drainage and enhance the safety and playability of sports fields.

Oil-Dri of America (symbol: ODC) primarily sells its products to **other companies**, making it a Business-to-Business (B2B) oriented company. While the company does not explicitly name all of its major customers in its public filings, its 10-K report (fiscal year ended July 31, 2023) states that sales to two customers comprised approximately 13.9% and 11.0%, respectively, of its total net sales. These are typically large national retailers given Oil-Dri's business segments.

Based on Oil-Dri's business description, its major customer categories and likely customer companies include:

• Major Retail Chains: These companies are crucial customers, purchasing Oil-Dri's branded cat litter products (e.g., Cat's Pride®, Healthy Pet Zone®, and licensed brands Tidy Cats® and Jonny Cat®) as well as private label cat litter products. These sales occur through various channels, including mass merchandisers, grocery stores, club stores, pet specialty stores, and e-commerce platforms. Examples of such major customers (or the types of companies representing their largest customers) would be:
  • Walmart Inc. (WMT)
  • The Kroger Co. (KR)
  • Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST)
  • Target Corporation (TGT)
  • Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN)
  • Petco Health and Wellness Company, Inc. (WOOF)
• Agricultural Companies and Distributors: These customers purchase products such as granular carriers, absorbents, and soil amendments for agricultural applications.
• Industrial Companies and Distributors: These customers utilize Oil-Dri's industrial absorbents (e.g., Oil-Dri® and Amlan® brands) for managing spills, as floor absorbents, and for other industrial applications.
• Foodservice Companies and Distributors: These customers purchase absorbents designed for grease, oil, and water management in restaurant and other food preparation environments.

null

Daniel S. Jaffee, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

Daniel S. Jaffee is the third-generation leader of Oil-Dri Corporation of America, a family-run public company. He joined Oil-Dri in 1987 after working with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for a year. He served as a product manager in the Industrial and Agricultural divisions until 1989, became Chief Financial Officer in 1990, and held group vice presidential positions in Canadian and domestic operations, finance, management, information systems, and consumer products. Mr. Jaffee was Chief Operating Officer from 1995 to 1997, became President in 1995, and Chief Executive Officer in 1997. He assumed the role of Chairman of the Board of Directors in 2018. Mr. Jaffee's extensive career has been primarily dedicated to Oil-Dri, and he has served on the Board of Directors of Elkay Manufacturing Company. He received his bachelor's degree from Georgetown University and an M.B.A. from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management of Northwestern University.

Susan M. Kreh, Chief Financial Officer & Chief Information Officer

Susan M. Kreh brings over 35 years of experience in corporate finance and information technology to Oil-Dri. She joined Oil-Dri Corporation of America in December 2018 as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Information Officer. Prior to Oil-Dri, Ms. Kreh spent 8 years at Johnson Controls International plc, serving as Chief Financial Officer and VP, Information Technology of their Power Solutions business from 2010 to 2018, and as Vice President, Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer from 2007 to 2010. Before Johnson Controls, she held various financial and operational leadership roles at PPG Industries, Inc. for 22 years, culminating in her service as Treasurer. Ms. Kreh has dedicated her career to three NYSE-traded public companies: PPG Industries, Johnson Controls, and Oil-Dri Corporation of America. She also serves as a director on the Boards of West Bend Mutual Insurance Company and Solid Power, Inc. (NASDAQ: SLDP). She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin and an M.B.A. from Duquesne University.

Jonathan Blake, Vice President, Corporate Controller

Jonathan Blake was appointed Vice President, Corporate Controller, and principal accounting officer of Oil-Dri Corporation of America, effective March 17, 2025. He possesses over 25 years of experience in accounting and finance, with expertise in SEC reporting, SOX compliance, technical accounting, and financial system implementation. Before joining Oil-Dri, Mr. Blake served as the Global Corporate Controller at Videojet Technologies Inc., a Veralto Company, since 2018. From 2015 to 2018, he was the Global Corporate Controller & North America Finance Director at Optimas OE Solutions Holdings. Earlier in his career, he held senior management positions in external reporting, compliance, and sales internal controls at Kraft Foods from 2009 to 2015 and spent over 11 years in public accounting at Deloitte & Touche. Mr. Blake holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting from the College of William and Mary.

Laura G. Scheland, Vice President & General Manager of Consumer Products Division

Laura G. Scheland currently serves as Vice President & General Manager of the Consumer Products Division at Oil-Dri Corporation of America, a role she took on in December 2024. She previously held the position of Chief Legal Officer and Vice President & General Manager of Consumer Products Division from November 2023, and before that, Vice President, Strategic Partnerships and General Counsel & Secretary from 2022 to October 2023. Ms. Scheland joined Oil-Dri in April 2013 as Assistant General Counsel & Assistant Secretary and advanced to Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary in 2017. Her earlier career includes serving as an Associate Attorney at Vedder Price, P.C. from 2007 to 2011, and as an Attorney and Senior Attorney at Navistar, Inc. from 2011 to 2013. Ms. Scheland earned her bachelor's degree in Accounting from the University of Notre Dame and a J.D. from Saint Louis University School of Law.

W. Wade Robey, Ph.D., Vice President of Agriculture and President of Amlan International

Dr. W. Wade Robey serves as Vice President of Agriculture for Oil-Dri Corporation of America and President of Amlan International, a position he assumed in December 2022. He joined Oil-Dri in 2021 as Vice President, Marketing and Product Development for Amlan International and was promoted to Vice President of Agriculture & Amlan Marketing in May 2022. Dr. Robey brings decades of experience in agriculture industries such as animal nutrition, biotech, food, and precision agriculture. His prior roles include Executive Director Autonomy, General Manager, and Board Member at Raven Industries from 2019 to 2020, and Head of Product Management and Strategic Business Development and Director of Engineering from 2016 to 2019. He also held significant positions at POET, where he was Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, and Novozymes as Head of Marketing, Americas. Dr. Robey received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from Auburn University and a Ph.D. in Animal Nutrition from Virginia Tech.

Oil-Dri of America (ODC) operates in several key markets, primarily leveraging its expertise in sorbent minerals. The addressable market sizes for its main products and services are identified as follows:

Cat Litter

The global cat litter market was valued at approximately USD 5.1 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to USD 8.6 billion by 2034. In North America, the market held the largest share globally, with the U.S. cat litter market specifically valued at USD 1.92 billion in 2024. The USA & Canada cat litter market is anticipated to increase from USD 1.7 billion in 2025 to approximately USD 2.7 billion in 2035.

Industrial & Automotive Absorbents

The global industrial absorbents market is estimated to be USD 4.31 billion in 2025 and is forecast to reach USD 5.27 billion by 2030. Another report states the global industrial absorbents market size was valued at USD 4.63 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 8.39 billion by 2032. In the United States, the industrial absorbents market was valued at USD 4,523.17 million in 2024 and is estimated to grow to USD 5,645.67 million in 2031.

Agricultural Ingredients / Adsorbents

This category falls under the broader adsorbents market. The global adsorbents market is valued at USD 5.3 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to USD 7.9 billion by 2030. Other estimates for the global adsorbents market include USD 4.92 billion in 2024, projected to reach USD 7.84 billion by 2032, and USD 5,269.38 million in 2025, expected to climb to USD 10,490.44 million by 2034.

Fluids Purification (Bleaching Clay)

Null. While Oil-Dri of America is a leading manufacturer of bleaching clay products for fluids purification, a specific addressable market size for this sub-segment within the broader adsorbents market was not identified in the provided search results.

Animal Health and Nutrition

Null. A specific addressable market size for Oil-Dri of America's products in the animal health and nutrition market was not identified in the provided search results.

Sports Field, Professional Turf, and Consumer Lawn and Garden

Null. Specific addressable market sizes for Oil-Dri of America's products in the sports field, professional turf, and consumer lawn and garden markets were not identified in the provided search results.

Expected Revenue Growth Drivers for Oil-Dri of America (ODC)

• Strategic Acquisitions and Integration: The acquisition of Ultra Pet Company, Inc. in May 2024 is a significant driver, contributing to sales growth in the Retail and Wholesale segment, particularly in crystal cat litter products. Oil-Dri has expanded distribution of its Cat's Pride and Ultra crystal litter products and is realizing synergies from this acquisition.
• Growth in Fluids Purification Segment: The Fluids Purification business is experiencing significant growth, with a notable tailwind from the renewable diesel market. This segment saw double-digit sales growth in fiscal year 2025, and investments have been made to address operational constraints and support this expansion.
• Favorable Product Mix and Pricing Actions: Oil-Dri has successfully implemented pricing strategies and improved its product mix, leading to higher revenues and expanded gross margins. This includes a focus on high value-added products across both its Retail and Wholesale and Business-to-Business segments.
• Recovery and Expansion in Agricultural Business: After a downturn in fiscal year 2024, the agricultural sector, including Oil-Dri's Amlan business, saw a good recovery in fiscal year 2025. The company expects continued growth in this area, driven by expansion into new geographies and partnerships.
• Investments in Operational Efficiency and Data Analytics/AI: Oil-Dri is consistently investing in its manufacturing facilities, technology, people, and processes to support long-term sustainability and growth. This includes standing up a centralized data analytics function and exploring opportunities to leverage AI for efficiency and to generate acceptable returns.

Share Repurchases

• Oil-Dri of America has consistently engaged in share repurchases over the last five fiscal years (ending July 31), with net common equity repurchases of $3 million in 2025, $3 million in 2024, $1 million in 2023, $12 million in 2022, $3 million in 2021, and $6 million in 2020.
• These repurchases are primarily conducted to offset the dilution associated with the restricted stock program for employees and occasionally for opportunistic buybacks when shares are believed to be undervalued by the market.

Share Issuance

• Over the past five fiscal years (2020-2025), Oil-Dri of America has shown net common equity repurchases rather than issuances to raise capital.
• The company executed a 2-for-1 stock split in January 2025, which adjusted the number of shares outstanding but was not a capital issuance event for funding purposes.

Outbound Investments

• In May 2024, Oil-Dri of America completed the acquisition of Ultra Pet for $46 million.
• The Ultra Pet acquisition has performed well, exceeding synergy and distribution targets, while also strengthening customer relationships and expanding product offerings.

Capital Expenditures

• For fiscal year 2025, Oil-Dri spent approximately $32.6 million on capital expenditures.
• These capital investments were focused on the fixed asset base, including manufacturing facilities, mobile mining equipment, and technology upgrades to support current and future growth.
• The top priority for capital allocation is investing in the business for long-term sustainability.