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Astec Industries Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales up 20.3% on Materials: Net sales were $396.3 million against $329.4 million, up 20.3%. Management attributed the Materials Solutions increase to organic and inorganic contributions. Source
  • Operating margin fell to 2.3%: Income from operations was $9.0 million, down 56.1%. Operating margin was 2.3% against 6.2%, and adjusted operating margin was 6.0% against 8.8%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA down 13.9%: Adjusted EBITDA was $30.3 million against $35.2 million. EBITDA was $23.6 million against $27.5 million in the prior year quarter. Source
  • Materials sales up 70.6%: Materials Solutions net sales were $159.3 million, up 70.6%. Management attributed the increase to organic growth and inorganic contributions. Source
  • Free cash flow of $32.6 million: Operating cash flow was $40.7 million, against $20.5 million. Free cash flow was $32.6 million, against $16.6 million a year earlier. Source
  • Full-year EBITDA guidance held: Management maintained its full-year 2026 adjusted EBITDA guidance of $170 million to $190 million. Source

“We are optimistic about the remainder of 2026 due to favorable order activity”

Jaco van der Merwe, Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFull year 2026$170 million to $190 millionKept
Leverage target SourceOngoing1.5x to 2.5xKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: Full-year 2026 adjusted EBITDA guidance of $170 million to $190 million was maintained, the same range given in February. Source
  • New: From the first quarter of 2026, adjusted measures include gains or losses on sale of property and equipment, and prior periods were updated to match. Source

Quarterly results and growth drivers

  • Net sales up 20.3% on Materials: Net sales were $396.3 million against $329.4 million, up 20.3%. Management attributed the Materials Solutions increase to organic and inorganic contributions. Source
  • Net income and EPS declined: Net income was $1.3 million against $14.3 million. Diluted EPS was $0.06 against $0.62, and adjusted EPS was $0.54 against $0.91. Source
  • Operating margin fell to 2.3%: Income from operations was $9.0 million, down 56.1%. Operating margin was 2.3% against 6.2%, and adjusted operating margin was 6.0% against 8.8%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA down 13.9%: Adjusted EBITDA was $30.3 million against $35.2 million. EBITDA was $23.6 million against $27.5 million in the prior year quarter. Source

Infrastructure Solutions segment

  • Infrastructure sales edged up: Infrastructure Solutions net sales were $237.0 million, up 0.4%, with acquired sales included in the quarter. Source
  • Segment EBITDA fell 18.9%: Segment operating adjusted EBITDA was $34.8 million, down 18.9%. The segment margin was 14.7%, down 350 basis points. Source
  • Organic backlog rose slightly: Management said organic backlog increased slightly and remained at a healthy level within the Infrastructure Solutions segment. Source

“First quarter profitability was impacted by timing and mix in legacy Infrastructure Solutions net sales”

Brian Harris, Chief Financial Officer

Materials Solutions segment

  • Materials sales up 70.6%: Materials Solutions net sales were $159.3 million, up 70.6%. Management attributed the increase to organic growth and inorganic contributions. Source
  • Segment EBITDA up 71.2%: Segment operating adjusted EBITDA was $8.9 million, up 71.2%. The segment margin was 5.6% in both the first quarter of 2026 and the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Book to bill at 110%: The company reported a book-to-bill ratio of 110% for Materials Solutions in the quarter. Source

Costs, expenses and below-the-line items

  • SG&A rose to $90.2 million: Selling, general and administrative expenses were $90.2 million against $71.9 million. Gross profit was $99.1 million against $92.4 million. Source
  • Interest expense and tax rate rose: Interest expense was $7.4 million against $2.0 million. The GAAP effective tax rate was 53.6% against 27.4%, and the adjusted effective tax rate was 28.2%. Source
  • Transformation and acquisition costs: Transformation program costs were $3.8 million against $6.9 million. Acquisition and integration costs were $2.9 million against $0.8 million. Source

“We are well-positioned for additional organic and inorganic growth.”

Brian Harris, Chief Financial Officer

Backlog and order activity

  • Total backlog up 36.4%: Backlog totaled $549.2 million, up 36.4% from the prior year. Source
  • Both segment backlogs rose: Infrastructure Solutions backlog was $312.6 million, up 13.1%. Materials Solutions backlog was $236.6 million, up 87.5%. Source
  • Management optimistic for rest of year: Management said it is optimistic about the rest of 2026, citing favorable order activity and end markets. Source

Cash, liquidity and capital

  • Free cash flow of $32.6 million: Operating cash flow was $40.7 million, against $20.5 million. Free cash flow was $32.6 million, against $16.6 million a year earlier. Source
  • Liquidity at $267.5 million: Total liquidity was $267.5 million, made up of $73.4 million of cash and $194.1 million available under the revolving credit facility. Source
  • Acquisitions and higher long-term debt: Acquisitions, net of cash acquired, were $67.9 million. Long-term debt rose to $365.5 million from $319.6 million at year end. Source
  • Capital expenditures and dividend: Capital expenditures were $8.1 million, against $3.9 million a year earlier. The dividend was $0.13 per share. Source

Guidance, strategy and reporting

  • Full-year EBITDA guidance held: Management maintained its full-year 2026 adjusted EBITDA guidance of $170 million to $190 million. Source
  • Adjusted measures now include disposal gains: From the first quarter of 2026, adjusted measures include gains or losses on sale of property and equipment, with prior periods updated. Source
  • Positioned for further growth: Management said the company is well-positioned for additional organic and inorganic growth. Source

Coming up, as management said on 6 May 2026

  • Transcript to be posted: A transcript of the call will be posted to the Investor Relations section of the website within five business days after the call. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Backlog Source$549.2 million, up 36.4%
Backlog, Infrastructure Solutions Source$312.6 million, up 13.1%
Backlog, Materials Solutions Source$236.6 million, up 87.5%
Book to bill, Infrastructure Solutions Source101%
Book to bill, Materials Solutions Source110%

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management said freight, duty and tariffs were a headwind to margin in the quarter. Source
  • Demand: Implied orders in Materials Solutions fell 14.9% from the prior quarter. Source
  • Demand: Legacy Infrastructure Solutions sales had timing and mix shortfalls, offset in part by acquired sales. Source
  • Operational: Expenses tied to the ConExpo trade show, held once every three years, weighed on first quarter results. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said the acquired business performed in line with expectations this quarter. Source
  • Not stated: The February release set the full-year 2026 adjusted EBITDA range that the May release maintained.

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.