Scott Miller appointed to ScottsMiracle-Gro board as John Vines retires

MARYSVILLE, Ohio - ScottsMiracle-Gro Company (NYSE:SMG) announced Tuesday that retired U.S. Army Lt. General John R. Vines is stepping down from its Board of Directors after more than 12 years of service. Vines, whose term was set to expire at the 2027 annual meeting, will continue in an advisory capacity as Board member emeritus. According to InvestingPro data, the company has maintained dividend payments for 21 consecutive years and currently offers a 4.2% dividend yield, demonstrating long-term stability in shareholder returns.

Replacing Vines is retired U.S. Army General Scott Miller, who brings extensive military leadership experience to the lawn and garden products company. Miller previously commanded the U.S. Army Maneuver Center at Fort Benning and the Joint Special Operations Command, where he directed American operations across multiple global regions.

Miller’s military career includes commanding assault forces during the "Blackhawk Down" incident in Mogadishu, Somalia. His decorations include two Combat Infantryman Badges, two Purple Hearts, and the Silver Star. Since retiring from military service, Miller has pursued business interests through the Miller Advisory Group and serves as a senior fellow for the Combating Terrorism Center at the U.S. Military Academy.

"Scott has led men and women at every level of the military and in the toughest, most challenging and dynamic circumstances imaginable," said Jim Hagedorn, chairman and CEO of ScottsMiracle-Gro, in the press release.

Miller is the second Board member appointed in 2025, following Nick Miaritis who joined in January, and the sixth new director since 2022. The company stated it has been focused on adding diverse skills and experiences to its Board over the past three years. These board changes come as InvestingPro analysis suggests the company is currently undervalued, with analysts forecasting improved earnings for the upcoming year. Get access to 10+ additional exclusive ProTips and comprehensive analysis through InvestingPro’s detailed research reports.

ScottsMiracle-Gro, with approximately $3.6 billion in sales and a market capitalization of $3.55 billion, markets consumer lawn and garden products under brands including Scotts, Miracle-Gro, and Ortho, and operates in the indoor and hydroponic growing segment through its Hawthorne Gardening Company subsidiary. The company maintains a healthy current ratio of 1.61 and generated $382 million in levered free cash flow over the last twelve months, demonstrating solid financial fundamentals despite recent market volatility.

In other recent news, Scotts Miracle-Gro reported its fiscal third-quarter 2025 earnings, which surpassed expectations. The company achieved an earnings per share of $2.59, exceeding the forecasted $2.25 by 15.11%. However, its revenue was slightly below expectations, coming in at $1.19 billion compared to the anticipated $1.23 billion. Stifel maintained a Hold rating on Scotts Miracle-Gro but lowered its price target to $70.00 from $71.00, pointing to better-than-expected gross margin performance and the stock’s underperformance compared to peers.

S&P Global Ratings revised its outlook on Scotts Miracle-Gro to positive from stable, affirming the company’s existing credit ratings. This revision was attributed to improved profitability and ongoing deleveraging efforts, with the company’s adjusted EBITDA estimated to have grown by about 11% for the nine-month period ending June 28, 2025. The company is on track to reduce its adjusted leverage below 4x by fiscal 2026. These developments reflect the company’s efforts in managing costs and improving financial stability.

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