greeksoup/ stock research

Azenta, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 new, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 1% year over year: Revenue was $149 million, up 1% year over year, and organic revenue, excluding foreign exchange, declined 1%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA and margin declined: Adjusted EBITDA was $13 million with an 8.5% margin, down 230 basis points. Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $0.09, against $0.12 a year earlier. Source
  • Gross margin fell 380 basis points: Gross margin was 42.9%, down 380 basis points, from lost cost leverage on lower volumes in parts of the portfolio and Automated Stores rework costs. Source
  • Free cash flow of $15 million: Operating cash flow was $21 million and capital expenditures were $6 million, leaving free cash flow of $15 million. Source
  • Sale of B Medical agreed at $63 million: The company signed a definitive agreement on December 23, 2025 to sell B Medical Systems for $63 million. A $9 million deposit was received in the quarter. Source
  • Fiscal 2026 guidance reiterated: Organic revenue is expected to grow 3% to 5% in fiscal 2026, and adjusted EBITDA margin is expected to expand about 300 basis points versus fiscal 2025. Source

“We delivered revenue performance consistent with our expectations.”

John Marotta, President and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Total organic revenue growth SourceFiscal year 2026, relative to fiscal 20253% to 5%Kept
Adjusted EBITDA margin expansion SourceFiscal year 2026, relative to fiscal 2025approximately 300 basis pointsKept
Share repurchase authorization SourceThrough December 31, 2028up to $250 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: Fiscal 2026 guidance for organic revenue growth and adjusted EBITDA margin expansion was reiterated without change. Source
  • New: A new share repurchase program of up to $250 million was approved on December 8, 2025. Source
  • New: A definitive agreement to sell the B Medical Systems business for $63 million was entered into on December 23, 2025. Source

Quarter results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 1% year over year: Revenue was $149 million, up 1% year over year, and organic revenue, excluding foreign exchange, declined 1%. Source
  • Organic revenue flat in Multiomics: Organic revenue declined 1% because Multiomics was flat and Sample Management Solutions was lower year over year. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA and margin declined: Adjusted EBITDA was $13 million with an 8.5% margin, down 230 basis points. Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $0.09, against $0.12 a year earlier. Source
  • Continuing-operations EPS loss narrowed: Diluted EPS from continuing operations was ($0.11), against ($0.16) a year earlier. Total diluted EPS was ($0.34), including discontinued operations. Source
  • Net interest income higher: Other income included $5 million of net interest income, compared with $4 million in the prior-year period. Source

Segments and regions

  • Sample Management Solutions flat on revenue: Sample Management Solutions revenue was $81 million, flat year over year, with organic revenue down 2% excluding foreign exchange. Source
  • Multiomics revenue up 1%: Multiomics revenue was $67 million, up 1% year over year, with organic revenue flat year over year. Source

“Further, we saw challenges on the gross margin line, and our turnaround continues, and in any turnaround, it is never a straight line.”

John Marotta, President and CEO

Products and customers

  • Core Products lower in Stores and Cryogenics: Core Products declined, mainly in Automated Stores and Cryogenic Systems, partly offset by higher Sample Storage, Product Services, and Consumables and Instruments revenue. Source
  • Sequencing growth offset by Sanger decline: Multiomics growth came from Next Generation Sequencing and Gene Synthesis, largely offset by a year-over-year decline in Sanger Sequencing. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gross margin fell 380 basis points: Gross margin was 42.9%, down 380 basis points, from lost cost leverage on lower volumes in parts of the portfolio and Automated Stores rework costs. Source
  • Adjusted gross margin down 360 basis points: Adjusted gross margin was 44.1%, down 360 basis points from the first quarter of fiscal 2025. Source
  • Operating loss and margin reported: Operating loss was $7.2 million, and operating margin was (4.9%), up 100 basis points year over year. Source
  • Operating expenses down 8%: Operating expenses were $71 million, down 8%, on lower SG&A, partly offset by higher R&D costs and restructuring charges. Source
  • Adjusted operating expenses down 4%: Adjusted operating expenses were $65 million, down 4% year over year, driven by lower SG&A partly offset by higher R&D costs. Source

“We are equally confident in our long-range plan outlined at Investor Day, which extends through 2028 and supports sustainable growth and long-term value creation.”

John Marotta, President and CEO

Cash, capital and shareholder returns

  • Free cash flow of $15 million: Operating cash flow was $21 million and capital expenditures were $6 million, leaving free cash flow of $15 million. Source
  • Cash and securities total $571 million: Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and marketable securities totaled $571 million at the end of the quarter. Source
  • No shares repurchased to date: As of the release date, no shares had been repurchased under the 2025 repurchase program. Source

B Medical Systems divestiture

  • Sale of B Medical agreed at $63 million: The company signed a definitive agreement on December 23, 2025 to sell B Medical Systems for $63 million. A $9 million deposit was received in the quarter. Source
  • B Medical shown as discontinued: B Medical Systems results are presented as discontinued operations and reflected in total diluted EPS. Source
  • Discontinued operations EPS loss: Diluted EPS from discontinued operations was ($0.22), against ($0.09) in the prior-year quarter. Source

Strategy, guidance and turnaround

  • Fiscal 2026 guidance reiterated: Organic revenue is expected to grow 3% to 5% in fiscal 2026, and adjusted EBITDA margin is expected to expand about 300 basis points versus fiscal 2025. Source
  • Commitment to fiscal 2026 objectives: Management said it remains committed to its fiscal 2026 objectives. Source
  • Second-half improvement expected: Management expects the second half of fiscal 2026 to be better than the first half, supported by ongoing execution initiatives. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 February 2026

  • B Medical sale closing expected: The sale of B Medical Systems to the buyer is expected to close on or before March 31, 2026. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Rework costs on several Automated Stores projects weighed on gross margin during the quarter. Source
  • Demand: Lower sales volumes in certain portfolio areas reduced cost leverage, according to management. Source
  • Operational: Management said the turnaround is not expected to progress in a straight line. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said it remains committed to its fiscal 2026 objectives. Source
  • Not stated: Management reiterated its fiscal 2026 guidance in the release. Source
  • Not stated: Management referred to the long-range plan outlined at Investor Day, which extends through 2028. 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.