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Axalta Coating Systems Ltd.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 30 April 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 1 lowered, 3 new, 6 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales slightly lower year over year: Net sales were $1,254 million, down $8 million year over year. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA down $11 million: Adjusted EBITDA was $259 million, down $11 million, at a 20.6% margin against 21.4% in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Mobility sales reached first-quarter record: Mobility Coatings net sales were $452 million, up 3%, a first-quarter record for the segment. Source
  • Pricing and cost discipline against input costs: Management cited higher input costs and said it is deploying pricing strategies and cost discipline to drive financial performance. Source
  • North America macro pressure: Management cited North American macroeconomic pressure as a drag on Performance Coatings sales. Source
  • Record first-quarter operating cash flow: Operating cash flow was $68 million, up $42 million, from improved working capital and lower interest payments. Source
  • Merger workstreams on stated timeline: Management said merger workstreams with AkzoNobel are progressing as planned and are on track with the stated timeline. Source

“We delivered another quarter of excellent execution surpassing our expectations on revenue, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Diluted EPS, while maintaining strong margins and improved cash flow generation,”

Chris Villavarayan, Chief Executive Officer and President of Axalta

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales growth SourceQ2 2026~FLATNew
Adjusted EBITDA SourceQ2 2026$280 - $290New
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFY 2026$1,140 - $1,170Kept
Adjusted Diluted EPS SourceQ2 2026~$0.65New
Adjusted Diluted EPS SourceFY 2026$2.55 - $2.70Kept
Free cash flow SourceFY 2026>$500Kept
Depreciation and amortization SourceFY 2026$305Raised from $300
Tax rate, as adjusted SourceFY 2026~24%Kept
Diluted shares outstanding SourceFY 2026~215Kept
Interest expense SourceFY 2026~$150Lowered from $150 - $160
Capital expenditures SourceFY 2026$180 - $200Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Second-quarter 2026 guidance added; the prior release gave guidance for the first quarter and full year. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Full-year 2026 interest expense guidance moved down to about $150 million from the prior range.
  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 depreciation and amortization guidance raised from $300 million to $305 million. Source
  • Guidance kept: Full-year Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Diluted EPS, free cash flow, tax rate, share count and capital expenditure ranges carried over. Source
  • Ended: First-quarter 2026 guidance ended with the quarter; results were reported against it.

Consolidated results and earnings

  • Net sales slightly lower year over year: Net sales were $1,254 million, down $8 million year over year. Source
  • Net income fell on volume, mix and merger costs: Net income was $91 million, down $8 million, a 7.3% margin. Management attributed the decline to volume and mix and higher merger and acquisition costs, partly offset by a one-time tax benefit and lower interest. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA down $11 million: Adjusted EBITDA was $259 million, down $11 million, at a 20.6% margin against 21.4% in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Adjusted EPS down on product mix: Diluted EPS was $0.42, against $0.45. Adjusted Diluted EPS was $0.56, down $0.03, which management attributed mainly to mix. Source

Segment and regional results

  • Performance Coatings sales fell: Performance Coatings net sales were $802 million, down from $822 million. Source
  • Performance Coatings EBITDA down $17 million: Performance Coatings Adjusted EBITDA was $180 million, down from $197 million, on lower organic sales partly offset by lower operating and variable expenses. Source
  • Refinish sales declined 3%: Refinish net sales were $498 million, down 3%, from lower volumes and unfavorable price-mix, mainly in North America. Source
  • Industrial sales down 2%: Industrial net sales were $304 million, down 2%. Volume growth in Europe and Asia partly offset lower volumes in North America. Source
  • Mobility sales reached first-quarter record: Mobility Coatings net sales were $452 million, up 3%, a first-quarter record for the segment. Source
  • Mobility EBITDA up 9%: Mobility Coatings Adjusted EBITDA was $79 million, up 9% from the prior-year period. Source

“In the current environment of higher input costs, we are deploying pricing strategies and strong cost discipline to drive sustained financial performance.”

Chris Villavarayan, Chief Executive Officer and President of Axalta

Light vehicle and commercial vehicle

  • Light Vehicle sales rose on organic growth: Light Vehicle sales rose on organic growth in three of four regions, plus favorable currency. No regional figures were given. Source
  • Commercial Vehicle sales up 3%: Commercial Vehicle net sales rose 3%, led by price-mix and volume growth in Europe and Asia. Source
  • Class 8 truck production decline cut volumes: Lower Class 8 truck production reduced commercial vehicle volumes, partly offset by currency. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Pricing and cost discipline against input costs: Management cited higher input costs and said it is deploying pricing strategies and cost discipline to drive financial performance. Source
  • Mobility margin up on lower variable costs: Mobility Coatings Adjusted EBITDA margin was 17.5%, up 100 basis points, reflecting lower variable costs. Source
  • Performance Coatings margin hit by mix: Performance Coatings Adjusted EBITDA margin was 22.4%, reflecting unfavorable North America mix. Source

“We are also progressing through various workstreams associated with the proposed merger of equals with AkzoNobel as planned and are on track with the stated timeline.”

Chris Villavarayan, Chief Executive Officer and President of Axalta

Demand and volumes

  • North America macro pressure: Management cited North American macroeconomic pressure as a drag on Performance Coatings sales. Source
  • Growth outside North America: Performance Coatings sales grew year over year in every region outside North America. Source
  • Volume declines offset by currency: Currency translation helped offset volume declines that management had anticipated. Source

Cash flow and capital

  • Record first-quarter operating cash flow: Operating cash flow was $68 million, up $42 million, from improved working capital and lower interest payments. Source
  • Record first-quarter free cash flow: Free cash flow was $21 million, up $35 million, inclusive of higher capital expenditures. Source
  • Cash balance lower than year-end: Cash and cash equivalents were $608 million at March 31, 2026, against $657 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Capital expenditures higher year over year: Purchases of property, plant and equipment were $50 million, against $43 million a year earlier. Source
  • Diluted share count lower: Diluted weighted average shares were 214.6 million, down from 219.4 million a year earlier. Source

Guidance for second quarter and full year

  • Second-quarter guidance added, full-year held: Second-quarter guidance was added for net sales, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Diluted EPS. Most full-year ranges were carried over unchanged. Source
  • Full-year interest expense lowered: Full-year interest expense guidance is now about $150 million, down from the prior range.
  • Full-year depreciation and amortization raised: Full-year depreciation and amortization guidance moved up slightly from the prior release. Source

Proposed merger with AkzoNobel

  • Merger workstreams on stated timeline: Management said merger workstreams with AkzoNobel are progressing as planned and are on track with the stated timeline. Source
  • Joint integration plan being implemented: Management said a disciplined joint integration plan is being implemented while operating priorities continue. Source
  • Close timing from prior release: The prior release expected the merger to close in late 2026 or early 2027, subject to approvals and closing conditions.

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Customers served Sourcemore than 100,000 customers in over 140 countries

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management cited North American macroeconomic pressure on Performance Coatings sales. Source
  • External: Higher input costs, which management said it is addressing with pricing strategies and cost discipline. Source
  • Demand: Lower Class 8 truck production reduced Commercial Vehicle volumes. Source
  • Financial: Higher merger and acquisition costs contributed to the net income decline. Source
  • Operational: Unfavorable mix from lower North America sales reduced Performance Coatings margin. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said the company exceeded its first-quarter guidance on net sales, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Diluted EPS. Source
  • On track: Management said the merger workstreams are on track with the stated timeline. Source
  • Ahead: Adjusted EBITDA was described as slightly above the first-quarter guidance. 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.