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Axalta Coating Systems Ltd.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 28 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 new, 8 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Adjusted EBITDA reached quarterly record: Adjusted EBITDA rose 5% to $305 million, with a 22.7% margin, up 30 basis points from the prior year period. Source
  • Net sales rose 3% on currency and deals: Net sales reached $1.35 billion, up $41 million, with favorable currency translation, acquisitions and positive price mix named as the drivers. Source
  • Performance Coatings margin rose: Segment Adjusted EBITDA rose 10% to $218 million, with a 25.1% margin up 130 basis points, on favorable price mix and lower variable and operating expenses. Source
  • Diluted EPS fell on merger costs: Diluted EPS was $0.41 against $0.50 a year earlier. The company attributes the decline to higher merger and acquisition costs. Source
  • Adjusted EPS up on conversion and interest: Adjusted Diluted EPS was $0.72, up 13%, driven by conversion on higher sales and lower interest expense. Source
  • Free cash flow of $107 million: Free cash flow was $107 million, up $6 million, including the headwind from merger-related costs. Source
  • Net leverage at lowest level: Total net leverage was 2.2x, which the company describes as the lowest in its history. Source

“We delivered an excellent second quarter with record Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Diluted EPS, expanded margins and generated strong free cash flow demonstrating the earnings power of our business model”

Chris Villavarayan, Chief Executive Officer and President of Axalta

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EBITDA SourceQ3 2026$295 - $305New
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFY 2026$1,140 - $1,170Kept
Adjusted Diluted EPS SourceQ3 2026~$0.70New
Adjusted Diluted EPS SourceFY 2026$2.55 - $2.70Kept
Free cash flow SourceFY 2026>$500Kept
Depreciation and amortization SourceFY 2026$305Kept
Tax rate, as adjusted SourceFY 2026~24%Kept
Diluted shares outstanding SourceFY 2026~215Kept
Interest expense SourceFY 2026~$150Kept
Capital expenditures SourceFY 2026$180 - $200Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: Full-year 2026 net sales, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Diluted EPS, free cash flow, capital expenditure and other ranges match the prior release. Source
  • New: The registration statement on Form F-4 for the AkzoNobel merger was declared effective on June 23, 2026; the prior release said it would be filed. Source
  • New: The definitive proxy statement was filed on June 24, 2026, and mailing to holders of record began on or about that date. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Adjusted EBITDA reached quarterly record: Adjusted EBITDA rose 5% to $305 million, with a 22.7% margin, up 30 basis points from the prior year period. Source
  • Net sales rose 3% on currency and deals: Net sales reached $1.35 billion, up $41 million, with favorable currency translation, acquisitions and positive price mix named as the drivers. Source
  • Adjusted net income up on lower costs: Adjusted net income rose 10% to $153 million, excluding merger and acquisition expenses, on reduced operating expenses and lower interest expense. Source

Segment results

  • Performance Coatings sales up 4%: Performance Coatings net sales were $872 million, up 4%. Organic sales rose on growth in Europe and Asia and favorable price mix. Source
  • Performance Coatings margin rose: Segment Adjusted EBITDA rose 10% to $218 million, with a 25.1% margin up 130 basis points, on favorable price mix and lower variable and operating expenses. Source
  • Mobility EBITDA fell on 2025 one-time items: Mobility Coatings Adjusted EBITDA was $87 million, margin 18.4%, against $92 million a year earlier. Commercial vehicle volume gains were offset by one-time items recorded in the prior-year quarter. Source

“This strategic combination creates a premier global coatings company and provides significant value creation opportunities for Axalta shareholders”

Chris Villavarayan, Chief Executive Officer and President of Axalta

Products and end markets

  • Refinish sales grew 6%: Refinish net sales were $545 million, up 6%, mainly from acquisitions, with favorable price mix and currency also contributing. Source
  • Industrial sales up 2% on Europe and Asia: Industrial net sales were $327 million, up 2%. Volume growth in Europe and Asia and positive price mix offset lower North America volumes. Source
  • Mobility sales hit quarterly record: Mobility Coatings net sales were $474 million, a quarterly record, up 1%. Source
  • Commercial vehicle volumes grew in all regions: Commercial vehicle net sales rose 7% on volume growth in all four regions and favorable foreign currency. Source

Earnings per share and costs

  • Diluted EPS fell on merger costs: Diluted EPS was $0.41 against $0.50 a year earlier. The company attributes the decline to higher merger and acquisition costs. Source
  • Adjusted EPS up on conversion and interest: Adjusted Diluted EPS was $0.72, up 13%, driven by conversion on higher sales and lower interest expense. Source
  • Net income margin was 6.6%: Net income was $89 million, a 6.6% margin, against $110 million a year earlier. Source

“Our team continues to drive operational excellence that underpins our consistent financial performance, and we carry solid momentum into the second half of the year.”

Chris Villavarayan, Chief Executive Officer and President of Axalta

Cash flow and leverage

  • Operating cash flow up 7%: Operating cash flow was $152 million, up 7%, on improved working capital and lower interest payments. Source
  • Free cash flow of $107 million: Free cash flow was $107 million, up $6 million, including the headwind from merger-related costs. Source
  • Net leverage at lowest level: Total net leverage was 2.2x, which the company describes as the lowest in its history. Source

Proposed merger with AkzoNobel

  • Registration statement declared effective: The SEC declared AkzoNobel's Form F-4 registration statement effective on June 23, 2026, after amendment on June 18, 2026. Source
  • Proxy statement mailed to holders: The definitive proxy statement was filed June 24, 2026, and mailed to holders of record as of June 11, 2026. Source
  • Share prospectus supplemented July 22: The AkzoNobel share prospectus was published June 24, 2026 and supplemented July 22, 2026. Source

Guidance and reporting basis

  • Guidance table adds third-quarter figures: The guidance table gives third-quarter 2026 and full-year 2026 figures, in millions except percentages and per-share data. Source
  • Non-GAAP estimates given without reconciliation: Forward-looking Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Diluted EPS and free cash flow are given without GAAP reconciliation, as reconciling items cannot be estimated without unreasonable effort. Source
  • Full-year ranges match prior release: Full-year 2026 ranges are the same as in the prior release, while third-quarter 2026 figures are new. Source

Coming up, as management said on 28 July 2026

  • Special General Meeting on August 5: Shareholder meeting on August 5 to approve the proposed merger with AkzoNobel. Source

Figures management reported

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

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Merger and acquisition costs were an incremental $31 million in the quarter and are the main reason net income declined. Source
  • Demand: Light vehicle net sales declined slightly on lower organic sales, partly offset by currency. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The call on July 28, 2026 was announced in advance; the release does not state how the event went. 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.