Delivered Another Record Quarterly Operating Income, Up 20 Percent Sequentially
Drove Adjusted Operating Margins in Specialty Alloys Operations Segment to Record 35.6 Percent
Exceeded Third Quarter Operating Income Guidance for Specialty Alloys Operations Segment
Demand Accelerating in Aerospace and Defense End-Use Market
Generated
Increased Operating Income and Adjusted Free Cash Flow Outlook for Fiscal Year 2026
Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2026 Highlights
- Delivered
$186.5 million of operating income, up 20 percent sequentially, 35 percent year-over-year and a record result - Realized adjusted earnings per diluted share of
$2.77 in the quarter - Generated
$193.5 million of cash from operating activities - Exceeded expectations in Specialty Alloys Operations (“SAO”) segment with record operating income of
$208.0 million, up 19 percent sequentially and 37 percent year-over-year - Delivered adjusted operating margin of 35.6 percent in the SAO segment, up from 33.1 percent sequentially and 29.1 in the prior year third quarter
- Bookings for
Commercial Aerospace structural sub-market up sequentially - Executed
$52.7 million in share repurchases against$400.0 million repurchase program
Outlook
- For the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2026, anticipate between
$205 million to$210 million in operating income - Increasing operating income guidance for fiscal year 2026 to be in the range of
$700 million to$705 million , representing at least a 33 percent increase over fiscal year 2025 - Increasing adjusted free cash flow outlook to approximately
$350 million in fiscal year 2026 - Well-positioned for continued growth in fiscal year 2027 and beyond with strong market demand outlook for our broad portfolio of specialized solutions, increasing productivity, optimizing product mix and pricing actions
“The third quarter of fiscal year 2026 represents yet another record setting quarter.” said
“The SAO segment drove the results, delivering
“Looking ahead, demand in our Aerospace and Defense end-use market continues to accelerate as customers gain confidence in higher build rates. As a result, we saw sequential growth in bookings for the commercial aerospace structural sub-market during the quarter. Structural demand is closely tied to new production activity and is a clear indication of growing confidence in the aerospace supply chain. And as customers prioritize security of supply for these critical applications, we continue to advance long-term agreements that support volume visibility and pricing consistency, reinforcing our outlook for sustained growth.”
“With the record third quarter performance and strengthening outlook, we have raised our operating income and adjusted free cash flow expectations for fiscal year 2026. We expect operating income to be in the range of
“Carpenter Technology just delivered record earnings at a time when the Aerospace and Defense end-use market is at the beginning of the growth cycle. With demand accelerating, we believe
Financial Highlights
| Q3 | Q2 | Q3 | |||||||
| ($ in millions, except per share amounts) | FY2026 | FY2026 | FY2025 | ||||||
| Net sales | $ | 811.5 | $ | 728.0 | $ | 727.0 | |||
| Net sales excluding surcharge (a) | $ | 655.6 | $ | 589.1 | $ | 597.0 | |||
| Operating income | $ | 186.5 | $ | 155.2 | $ | 137.8 | |||
| Net income | $ | 139.6 | $ | 105.3 | $ | 95.4 | |||
| Earnings per diluted share | $ | 2.77 | $ | 2.09 | $ | 1.88 | |||
| Adjusted earnings per diluted share (a) | $ | 2.77 | $ | 2.33 | $ | 1.88 | |||
| Net cash provided from operating activities | $ | 193.5 | $ | 132.2 | $ | 74.2 | |||
| Adjusted free cash flow (a) | $ | 124.8 | $ | 85.9 | $ | 34.0 | |||
| (a) Non-GAAP financial measures explained in the attached tables | |||||||||
Net sales for the third quarter of fiscal year 2026 were
Operating income for the third quarter of fiscal year 2026 was
Cash provided from operating activities in the third quarter of fiscal year 2026 was
Under the Company's authorized share repurchase program of up to
Total liquidity, including cash and available revolver balance, was
Conference Call and Webcast Presentation
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This press release includes discussions of financial measures that have not been determined in accordance with
About
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those projected, anticipated or implied. The most significant of these uncertainties are described in
| PRELIMINARY CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (in millions, except per share data) (Unaudited) | |||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | ||||||||||||
| 2026 | 2025 | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||||
| $ | 811.5 | $ | 727.0 | $ | 2,273.2 | $ | 2,121.5 | ||||||
| Cost of sales | 559.7 | 526.2 | 1,586.6 | 1,566.9 | |||||||||
| Gross profit | 251.8 | 200.8 | 686.6 | 554.6 | |||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 65.3 | 63.0 | 191.5 | 180.6 | |||||||||
| Restructuring and asset impairment charges | — | — | — | 3.6 | |||||||||
| Operating income | 186.5 | 137.8 | 495.1 | 370.4 | |||||||||
| Interest expense, net | 8.7 | 12.0 | 30.3 | 36.6 | |||||||||
| Debt extinguishment losses | — | — | 15.6 | — | |||||||||
| Other expense (income), net | 1.1 | 3.8 | (2.3 | ) | 5.6 | ||||||||
| Income before income taxes | 176.7 | 122.0 | 451.5 | 328.2 | |||||||||
| Income tax expense | 37.1 | 26.6 | 84.1 | 63.9 | |||||||||
| NET INCOME | $ | 139.6 | $ | 95.4 | $ | 367.4 | $ | 264.3 | |||||
| EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE: | |||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | 2.79 | $ | 1.90 | $ | 7.34 | $ | 5.27 | |||||
| Diluted | $ | 2.77 | $ | 1.88 | $ | 7.29 | $ | 5.21 | |||||
| WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING: | |||||||||||||
| Basic | 50.0 | 50.2 | 50.1 | 50.2 | |||||||||
| Diluted | 50.3 | 50.7 | 50.4 | 50.7 | |||||||||
| Cash dividends per common share | $ | 0.20 | $ | 0.20 | $ | 0.60 | $ | 0.60 | |||||
| PRELIMINARY CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (in millions) (Unaudited) | ||||||||
| Nine Months Ended | ||||||||
| 2026 | 2025 | |||||||
| OPERATING ACTIVITIES | ||||||||
| Net income | $ | 367.4 | $ | 264.3 | ||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided from operating activities: | ||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 108.8 | 103.6 | ||||||
| Noncash restructuring and asset impairment charges | — | 2.5 | ||||||
| Debt extinguishment losses | 15.6 | — | ||||||
| Deferred income taxes | 12.8 | (12.3 | ) | |||||
| Net pension expense | 10.8 | 18.6 | ||||||
| Share-based compensation expense | 18.6 | 16.2 | ||||||
| Net loss on disposals of property, plant and equipment | 0.6 | 0.9 | ||||||
| Changes in working capital and other: | ||||||||
| Accounts receivable | (106.9 | ) | (39.4 | ) | ||||
| Inventories | (45.1 | ) | (93.3 | ) | ||||
| Other current assets | 1.5 | 10.2 | ||||||
| Accounts payable | 33.6 | (10.6 | ) | |||||
| Accrued liabilities | (31.0 | ) | (14.0 | ) | ||||
| Pension plan contributions | (17.1 | ) | (58.5 | ) | ||||
| Other postretirement plan contributions | (3.0 | ) | (2.8 | ) | ||||
| Other, net | (1.7 | ) | (3.1 | ) | ||||
| Net cash provided from operating activities | 364.9 | 182.3 | ||||||
| INVESTING ACTIVITIES | ||||||||
| Purchases of property, plant, equipment and software | (157.6 | ) | (96.3 | ) | ||||
| Proceeds from disposals of property, plant and equipment | — | 0.1 | ||||||
| Net cash used for investing activities | (157.6 | ) | (96.2 | ) | ||||
| FINANCING ACTIVITIES | ||||||||
| Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt, net of offering costs | 692.1 | — | ||||||
| Payments on long-term debt | (700.0 | ) | — | |||||
| Payments for debt extinguishment costs | (11.4 | ) | — | |||||
| Payments for debt issue costs | (4.1 | ) | — | |||||
| Dividends paid | (30.2 | ) | (30.2 | ) | ||||
| Purchases of treasury stock | (133.9 | ) | (77.8 | ) | ||||
| Proceeds from stock options exercised | 13.9 | 12.2 | ||||||
| Withholding tax payments on share-based compensation awards | (55.9 | ) | (36.6 | ) | ||||
| Net cash used for financing activities | (229.5 | ) | (132.4 | ) | ||||
| Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | 1.5 | (1.3 | ) | |||||
| DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | (20.7 | ) | (47.6 | ) | ||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year | 315.5 | 199.1 | ||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | 294.8 | $ | 151.5 | ||||
| PRELIMINARY CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in millions) (Unaudited) | ||||||||
| 2026 | 2025 | |||||||
| ASSETS | ||||||||
| Current assets: | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 294.8 | $ | 315.5 | ||||
| Accounts receivable, net | 682.0 | 575.5 | ||||||
| Inventories | 839.2 | 793.8 | ||||||
| Other current assets | 81.6 | 79.9 | ||||||
| Total current assets | 1,897.6 | 1,764.7 | ||||||
| Property, plant, equipment and software, net | 1,433.3 | 1,359.4 | ||||||
| 227.3 | 227.3 | |||||||
| Other intangibles, net | 5.3 | 9.5 | ||||||
| Deferred income taxes | 8.0 | 7.8 | ||||||
| Other assets | 107.6 | 118.1 | ||||||
| Total assets | $ | 3,679.1 | $ | 3,486.8 | ||||
| LIABILITIES | ||||||||
| Current liabilities: | ||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | 322.6 | $ | 267.4 | ||||
| Accrued liabilities | 185.7 | 216.3 | ||||||
| Total current liabilities | 508.3 | 483.7 | ||||||
| Long-term debt | 690.4 | 695.4 | ||||||
| Accrued pension liabilities | 134.7 | 146.9 | ||||||
| Accrued postretirement benefits | 10.9 | 12.5 | ||||||
| Deferred income taxes | 176.4 | 162.8 | ||||||
| Other liabilities | 90.8 | 98.5 | ||||||
| Total liabilities | 1,611.5 | 1,599.8 | ||||||
| STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY | ||||||||
| Common stock | 286.7 | 286.2 | ||||||
| Capital in excess of par value | 349.9 | 354.3 | ||||||
| Reinvested earnings | 2,047.4 | 1,710.2 | ||||||
| Common stock in treasury, at cost | (548.9 | ) | (395.8 | ) | ||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (67.5 | ) | (67.9 | ) | ||||
| Total stockholders' equity | 2,067.6 | 1,887.0 | ||||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | $ | 3,679.1 | $ | 3,486.8 | ||||
| PRELIMINARY SEGMENT FINANCIAL DATA (in millions, except pounds sold) (Unaudited) | |||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | ||||||||||||||
| 2026 | 2025 | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Pounds sold ('000): | |||||||||||||||
| Specialty Alloys Operations | 51,832 | 44,584 | 143,418 | 139,400 | |||||||||||
| 2,602 | 2,584 | 7,104 | 7,424 | ||||||||||||
| Intersegment | (960 | ) | (672 | ) | (2,226 | ) | (2,590 | ) | |||||||
| Consolidated pounds sold | 53,474 | 46,496 | 148,296 | 144,234 | |||||||||||
| Net sales: | |||||||||||||||
| Specialty Alloys Operations | |||||||||||||||
| Net sales excluding surcharge | $ | 585.0 | $ | 519.4 | $ | 1,646.1 | $ | 1,509.9 | |||||||
| Surcharge | 150.1 | 123.5 | 410.2 | 379.6 | |||||||||||
| Specialty Alloys Operations net sales | 735.1 | 642.9 | 2,056.3 | 1,889.5 | |||||||||||
| Net sales excluding surcharge | 90.6 | 96.8 | 255.0 | 275.3 | |||||||||||
| Surcharge | 7.1 | 8.1 | 19.5 | 25.5 | |||||||||||
| 97.7 | 104.9 | 274.5 | 300.8 | ||||||||||||
| Intersegment | |||||||||||||||
| Net sales excluding surcharge | (20.0 | ) | (19.2 | ) | (53.3 | ) | (62.8 | ) | |||||||
| Surcharge | (1.3 | ) | (1.6 | ) | (4.3 | ) | (6.0 | ) | |||||||
| Intersegment net sales | (21.3 | ) | (20.8 | ) | (57.6 | ) | (68.8 | ) | |||||||
| Consolidated net sales | $ | 811.5 | $ | 727.0 | $ | 2,273.2 | $ | 2,121.5 | |||||||
| Operating income (loss): | |||||||||||||||
| Specialty Alloys Operations | $ | 208.0 | $ | 151.4 | $ | 553.2 | $ | 421.5 | |||||||
| 6.7 | 10.9 | 23.0 | 25.3 | ||||||||||||
| Corporate | (27.3 | ) | (24.4 | ) | (80.1 | ) | (76.0 | ) | |||||||
| Intersegment | (0.9 | ) | (0.1 | ) | (1.0 | ) | (0.4 | ) | |||||||
| Consolidated operating income | $ | 186.5 | $ | 137.8 | $ | 495.1 | $ | 370.4 | |||||||
The Company has two reportable segments, Specialty Alloys Operations (“SAO”) and
The SAO segment is comprised of Carpenter's major premium alloy and stainless steel manufacturing operations. This includes operations performed at mills primarily in
The PEP segment is comprised of the Company’s differentiated operations. This segment includes the
Corporate costs are comprised of executive and director compensation, and other corporate facilities and administrative expenses not allocated to the segments. Also included are items that management considers not representative of ongoing operations and other specifically-identified income or expense items.
The service cost component of net pension expense, which represents the estimated cost of future pension liabilities earned associated with active employees, is included in the operating results of the business segments. The residual net pension expense is included in other expense (income), net, and is comprised of the expected return on plan assets, interest costs on the projected benefit obligations of the plans, amortization of actuarial gains and losses and prior service costs.
| PRELIMINARY NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (in millions, except per share data) (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||
| ADJUSTED OPERATING MARGIN EXCLUDING SURCHARGE REVENUE AND SPECIAL ITEM | Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | ||||||||||||||
| 2026 | 2025 | 2026 | 2025 | |||||||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 811.5 | $ | 727.0 | $ | 2,273.2 | $ | 2,121.5 | ||||||||
| Less: surcharge revenue | 155.9 | 130.0 | 425.4 | 399.1 | ||||||||||||
| Net sales excluding surcharge revenue | $ | 655.6 | $ | 597.0 | $ | 1,847.8 | $ | 1,722.4 | ||||||||
| Operating income | $ | 186.5 | $ | 137.8 | $ | 495.1 | $ | 370.4 | ||||||||
| Special item: | ||||||||||||||||
| Restructuring and asset impairment charges | — | — | — | 3.6 | ||||||||||||
| Adjusted operating income | $ | 186.5 | $ | 137.8 | $ | 495.1 | $ | 374.0 | ||||||||
| Operating margin | 23.0 | % | 19.0 | % | 21.8 | % | 17.5 | % | ||||||||
| Adjusted operating margin excluding surcharge revenue and special item | 28.4 | % | 23.1 | % | 26.8 | % | 21.7 | % | ||||||||
| ADJUSTED SEGMENT OPERATING MARGIN EXCLUDING SURCHARGE REVENUE | Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | ||||||||||||||
| 2026 | 2025 | 2026 | 2025 | |||||||||||||
| Specialty Alloys Operations | ||||||||||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 735.1 | $ | 642.9 | $ | 2,056.3 | $ | 1,889.5 | ||||||||
| Less: surcharge revenue | 150.1 | 123.5 | 410.2 | 379.6 | ||||||||||||
| Net sales excluding surcharge revenue | $ | 585.0 | $ | 519.4 | $ | 1,646.1 | $ | 1,509.9 | ||||||||
| Operating income | $ | 208.0 | $ | 151.4 | $ | 553.2 | $ | 421.5 | ||||||||
| Operating margin | 28.3 | % | 23.5 | % | 26.9 | % | 22.3 | % | ||||||||
| Adjusted operating margin excluding surcharge revenue | 35.6 | % | 29.1 | % | 33.6 | % | 27.9 | % | ||||||||
| ADJUSTED SEGMENT OPERATING MARGIN EXCLUDING SURCHARGE REVENUE | Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | ||||||||||||||
| 2026 | 2025 | 2026 | 2025 | |||||||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 97.7 | $ | 104.9 | $ | 274.5 | $ | 300.8 | ||||||||
| Less: surcharge revenue | 7.1 | 8.1 | 19.5 | 25.5 | ||||||||||||
| Net sales excluding surcharge revenue | $ | 90.6 | $ | 96.8 | $ | 255.0 | $ | 275.3 | ||||||||
| Operating income | $ | 6.7 | $ | 10.9 | $ | 23.0 | $ | 25.3 | ||||||||
| Operating margin | 6.9 | % | 10.4 | % | 8.4 | % | 8.4 | % | ||||||||
| Adjusted operating margin excluding surcharge revenue | 7.4 | % | 11.3 | % | 9.0 | % | 9.2 | % | ||||||||
Management believes that removing the impact of raw material surcharge from operating margin provides a more consistent basis for comparing results of operations from period to period, thereby permitting management to evaluate performance and investors to make decisions based on the ongoing operations of the Company. In addition, management believes that excluding the impact of special items from operating margin is helpful in analyzing the operating performance of the Company, as these items are not indicative of ongoing operating performance. Management uses its results excluding these amounts to evaluate its operating performance and to discuss its business with investment institutions, the Company’s board of directors and others.
| ADJUSTED EARNINGS PER DILUTED SHARE EXCLUDING SPECIAL ITEM | Earnings Before Income Taxes | Income Tax Expense | Net Income | Earnings Per Diluted Share* | |||||||||
| Three Months Ended | $ | 176.7 | $ | (37.1 | ) | $ | 139.6 | $ | 2.77 | ||||
| Special item: | |||||||||||||
| None reported | — | — | — | — | |||||||||
| Three Months Ended | $ | 176.7 | $ | (37.1 | ) | $ | 139.6 | $ | 2.77 | ||||
| * Impact per diluted share calculated using weighted average common shares outstanding of 50.3 million for the three months ended | |||||||||||||
| ADJUSTED EARNINGS PER DILUTED SHARE EXCLUDING SPECIAL ITEM | Earnings Before Income Taxes | Income Tax Expense | Net Income | Earnings Per Diluted Share* | |||||||||
| Three Months Ended | $ | 122.0 | $ | (26.6 | ) | $ | 95.4 | $ | 1.88 | ||||
| Special item: | |||||||||||||
| None reported | — | — | — | — | |||||||||
| Three Months Ended | $ | 122.0 | $ | (26.6 | ) | $ | 95.4 | $ | 1.88 | ||||
| * Impact per diluted share calculated using weighted average common shares outstanding of 50.7 million for the three months ended | |||||||||||||
| ADJUSTED EARNINGS PER DILUTED SHARE EXCLUDING SPECIAL ITEM | Earnings Before Income Taxes | Income Tax Expense | Net Income | Earnings Per Diluted Share* | |||||||||
| Nine Months Ended | $ | 451.5 | $ | (84.1 | ) | $ | 367.4 | $ | 7.29 | ||||
| Special item: | |||||||||||||
| Debt extinguishment losses | 15.6 | (3.6 | ) | 12.0 | 0.24 | ||||||||
| Nine Months Ended | $ | 467.1 | $ | (87.7 | ) | $ | 379.4 | $ | 7.53 | ||||
| * Impact per diluted share calculated using weighted average common shares outstanding of 50.4 million for the nine months ended | |||||||||||||
| ADJUSTED EARNINGS PER DILUTED SHARE EXCLUDING SPECIAL ITEM | Earnings Before Income Taxes | Income Tax Expense | Net Income | Earnings Per Diluted Share* | |||||||||
| Nine Months Ended | $ | 328.2 | $ | (63.9 | ) | $ | 264.3 | $ | 5.21 | ||||
| Special item: | |||||||||||||
| Restructuring and asset impairment charges | 3.6 | (0.9 | ) | 2.7 | 0.06 | ||||||||
| Nine Months Ended | $ | 331.8 | $ | (64.8 | ) | $ | 267.0 | $ | 5.27 | ||||
| * Impact per diluted share calculated using weighted average common shares outstanding of 50.7 million for the nine months ended | |||||||||||||
Management believes that earnings per share adjusted to exclude the impact of the special items is helpful in analyzing the operating performance of the Company, as these items are not indicative of ongoing operating performance. Management uses its results excluding these amounts to evaluate its operating performance and to discuss its business with investment institutions, the Company’s board of directors and others.
| Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | |||||||||||||||
| ADJUSTED FREE CASH FLOW | 2026 | 2025 | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Net cash provided from operating activities | $ | 193.5 | $ | 74.2 | $ | 364.9 | $ | 182.3 | ||||||||
| Purchases of property, plant, equipment and software | (68.7 | ) | (40.2 | ) | (157.6 | ) | (96.3 | ) | ||||||||
| Proceeds from disposals of property, plant and equipment | — | — | — | 0.1 | ||||||||||||
| Adjusted free cash flow | $ | 124.8 | $ | 34.0 | $ | 207.3 | $ | 86.1 | ||||||||
Management believes that the presentation of adjusted free cash flow provides useful information to investors regarding our financial condition because it is a measure of cash generated which management evaluates for alternative uses. It is management's current intention to use excess cash to fund investments in capital equipment, acquisition opportunities and consistent dividend payments. Additionally, we will discretionarily use excess cash for a share repurchase program up to
| PRELIMINARY SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE (in millions) (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | |||||||||||
| NET SALES BY END-USE MARKET | 2026 | 2025 | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||
| End-Use Market Excluding Surcharge Revenue: | ||||||||||||
| Aerospace and Defense | $ | 435.6 | $ | 373.2 | $ | 1,209.0 | $ | 1,056.8 | ||||
| Medical | 51.7 | 72.4 | 170.2 | 219.3 | ||||||||
| Energy | 50.5 | 35.0 | 131.5 | 106.6 | ||||||||
| Transportation | 19.3 | 21.9 | 54.5 | 64.4 | ||||||||
| Industrial and Consumer | 78.1 | 72.4 | 227.4 | 212.2 | ||||||||
| Distribution | 20.4 | 22.1 | 55.2 | 63.1 | ||||||||
| Total net sales excluding surcharge revenue | 655.6 | 597.0 | 1,847.8 | 1,722.4 | ||||||||
| Surcharge revenue | 155.9 | 130.0 | 425.4 | 399.1 | ||||||||
| Total net sales | $ | 811.5 | $ | 727.0 | $ | 2,273.2 | $ | 2,121.5 | ||||
| Investor Inquiries: | Media Inquiries: | |
| +1 610-208-2061 | +1 610-208-2278 | |
| jhuyette@cartech.com | hbeardsley@cartech.com |
Source: