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Agilent Technologies, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 25 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 raised, 4 new, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue grew 7.0% reported: Revenue was $1.80 billion, up 7.0% reported and 4.4% core. Core growth excludes currency and acquisitions and divestitures within the past 12 months. Source
  • Non-GAAP EPS up, GAAP down: GAAP EPS was $1.07 against $1.11 a year earlier. Non-GAAP EPS was $1.36 against $1.31, up 4%, with non-GAAP excluding restructuring, amortization and other listed items. Source
  • Snowstorm hit final week: Management said a major U.S. snowstorm affected the last week of the quarter. Management also said that, normalized for the weather effect, results would have been above the guidance midpoint. Source
  • LDG operating margin fell: LDG revenue was $679 million. Operating margin was 16.0%, against 18.1% a year earlier. Source
  • ACG revenue and income rose: ACG revenue was $758 million, up 9% reported and 6% core. Income from operations was $240 million, against $221 million, with operating margin of 31.6%, against 31.8%. Source
  • Instrument replacement momentum continued: Management cited continued momentum in the instrument-replacement cycle, engagement in Enterprise Services and innovation across the portfolio. Source
  • Operating income fell year over year: Income from operations was $353 million, against $376 million. Interest expense was $25 million, against $28 million, and other income was $21 million, against $4 million. Source
  • Ignite as enterprise operating system: Management described Ignite as the enterprise-wide operating system, aimed at execution excellence and operational rigor. Source

“It was a solid start to the year with the Agilent team executing well in a healthy - albeit dynamic - market environment”

Agilent President and CEO Padraig McDonnell

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue Sourcefiscal year 2026$7.3 billion to $7.5 billionRaised from $7.3 billion to $7.4 billion
Revenue growth, reported Sourcefiscal year 20265.5% to 7.5%Raised from 5% to 7%
Revenue growth, core Sourcefiscal year 20264% to 6%Kept
Non-GAAP EPS Sourcefiscal year 2026$5.90 to $6.04Raised from $5.86 to $6.00
Revenue Sourcesecond quarter of fiscal 2026$1.79 billion to $1.82 billionNew
Revenue growth, reported Sourcesecond quarter of fiscal 2026approximately 7% to 9%New
Revenue growth, core Sourcesecond quarter of fiscal 20264% to 5.5%New
Non-GAAP EPS Sourcesecond quarter of fiscal 2026$1.39 to $1.42 per shareNew
Intangible amortization Sourcefuture quarters$19 million per quarterKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Fiscal 2026 reported revenue range raised at the top end, from $7.3 billion to $7.4 billion to $7.3 billion to $7.5 billion. Source
  • Guidance raised: Non-GAAP EPS range for fiscal 2026 raised, with the release citing favorable currency. Source
  • Guidance kept: Core revenue growth range and margin expansion for fiscal 2026 are maintained. Source
  • New guidance: Guidance for the second quarter of fiscal 2026 is given for the first time in this release. Source
  • New: Release says the section 174 R&D capitalization adjustment does not apply to fiscal 2026 because of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue grew 7.0% reported: Revenue was $1.80 billion, up 7.0% reported and 4.4% core. Core growth excludes currency and acquisitions and divestitures within the past 12 months. Source
  • Non-GAAP EPS up, GAAP down: GAAP EPS was $1.07 against $1.11 a year earlier. Non-GAAP EPS was $1.36 against $1.31, up 4%, with non-GAAP excluding restructuring, amortization and other listed items. Source
  • Snowstorm hit final week: Management said a major U.S. snowstorm affected the last week of the quarter. Management also said that, normalized for the weather effect, results would have been above the guidance midpoint. Source
  • Currency added 3 points: Currency contributed 3 percentage points to reported growth, equal to $44 million, based on the constant-currency reconciliation. Source

Segments and operating margins

  • LDG operating margin fell: LDG revenue was $679 million. Operating margin was 16.0%, against 18.1% a year earlier. Source
  • LDG core growth slowed from Q4: LDG core growth was 11% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, compared with 3% in the first quarter of fiscal 2026.
  • ACG revenue and income rose: ACG revenue was $758 million, up 9% reported and 6% core. Income from operations was $240 million, against $221 million, with operating margin of 31.6%, against 31.8%. Source
  • AMG revenue and margin rose: AMG revenue was $361 million, up 7% reported and 4% core. Operating margin was 25.8%, against 25.0%, and income from operations was $93 million, against $84 million. Source

“allows us to maintain our core growth (1) and margin-expansion outlook for the full year, while modestly increasing our non-GAAP EPS range (3) for favorable currency.”

Agilent President and CEO Padraig McDonnell

Products, customers and demand

  • Instrument replacement momentum continued: Management cited continued momentum in the instrument-replacement cycle, engagement in Enterprise Services and innovation across the portfolio. Source
  • Market described as dynamic: Management described the market as healthy but dynamic during the quarter. Source
  • Deferred revenue rose on balance sheet: Deferred revenue was $682 million at January 31, 2026, compared with $624 million at October 31, 2025. Source

Costs and operating margin

  • Cost of products rose: Cost of products and services was $852 million, against $782 million a year earlier. Source
  • SG&A and total costs rose: Selling, general and administrative expense was $476 million, against $410 million. Total costs and expenses were $1,445 million, against $1,305 million. Source
  • Operating income fell year over year: Income from operations was $353 million, against $376 million. Interest expense was $25 million, against $28 million, and other income was $21 million, against $4 million. Source
  • Segment gross margins by business: Gross margin was 55.2% in ACG, against 56.1%. LDG was 50.5%, against 52.8%, and AMG was 56.5%, against 55.8%. Source

“With Ignite as our enterprise-wide operating system - driving execution excellence and operational rigor - we are well positioned to deliver resilient growth and long-term value for our customers and shareholders.”

Agilent President and CEO Padraig McDonnell

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow fell: Net cash from operations was $268 million, against $431 million. Employee compensation and benefits used $151 million, against $104 million, and income tax payments were $105 million. Source
  • Repurchases rose, dividends flat: Repurchases of common stock were $152 million, against $90 million. Dividends paid were $72 million, against $71 million. Source
  • Capex and cash balance: Capital expenditure was $93 million, against $97 million. Cash and cash equivalents were $1,758 million at January 31, 2026, against $1,789 million at October 31, 2025. Source
  • Debt unchanged, share count lower: Long-term debt stayed at $3,050 million. Shares outstanding fell to 282,695,763 from 283,054,377 at October 31, 2025. Source

Non-GAAP adjustments and tax rate

  • Restructuring costs rose: Restructuring and other related costs were $20 million, against $1 million, and intangible amortization was $19 million, against $28 million. Source
  • Transformation costs rose; deal costs fell: Transformational initiatives were $19 million, against $6 million. Acquisition and integration costs were $3 million, against $9 million. Source
  • Non-GAAP tax rate rose: Management used a non-GAAP effective tax rate of 14.50% for the quarter, against 12.50% a year earlier and 12.00% in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Other adjustments rose to $27 million: Other adjustments were $27 million, against $6 million, covering items the release lists as legal, consulting, compliance and other costs. Source

Strategy, investment and people

  • Ignite as enterprise operating system: Management described Ignite as the enterprise-wide operating system, aimed at execution excellence and operational rigor. Source
  • Transformational initiatives cover manufacturing moves: Transformational initiatives include manufacturing transfers, site consolidations and programs to transform PLM, HR and financial systems. Source
  • No acquisition payments this quarter: The cash flow statement shows no payments to acquire businesses and intangible assets in the quarter, against a $4 million line a year earlier. Source
  • About 18,000 employees worldwide: The company employs approximately 18,000 people worldwide, according to the release. Source

Risks management discussed

  • External: Weather affected results in the last week of the quarter; the release does not quantify the effect. Source
  • Demand: Management described the market environment as dynamic. Source
  • Financial: Guidance is based on forecasted currency exchange rates. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said it is maintaining full-year core growth and margin expansion. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.