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Azenta, Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 1 lowered, 1 new, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue up 12%, organic up 9%: Revenue from continuing operations was $161 million, up 12% year over year. Organic growth was 9%, excluding a 1-point foreign exchange effect and a 3-point effect from the UK Biocentre acquisition. Source
  • Sample Management Solutions up 14%: Sample Management Solutions revenue was $88 million, up 14% year over year, with organic growth of 9%. Source
  • Multiomics up 10% on sequencing and synthesis: Multiomics revenue was $73 million, up 10%. Organic growth of 8% came from Next Generation Sequencing and Gene Synthesis, partly offset by lower Sanger Sequencing revenue. Source
  • Gross margin fell 130 basis points: Gross margin was 44.9%. Management attributed the decline to lower fixed-cost absorption from lower volumes in some portfolio areas and to Automated Stores rework costs, partly offset by operating leverage and cost initiatives. Source
  • Free cash flow negative $5 million: Operating cash flow was $1 million and capital expenditures were $7 million, leaving free cash flow of negative $5 million for the quarter. Source
  • Fourth-quarter organic revenue decline: Organic revenue is expected to decline by about low single digits in the fourth quarter, relative to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025. Source
  • Full-year revenue range narrowed: Reported revenue from continuing operations is now expected at $613 million to $618 million, narrowed from $603 million to $621 million. Source
  • Multiomics full-year range lifted: Multiomics organic revenue is now expected between down 1% and flat for fiscal 2026, against a prior expectation of a mid-single-digit decline. Source

“Despite an uneven and challenging market backdrop, our third quarter results exceeded our expectations, with continued strength in our recurring revenue businesses, and a modest improvement in Multiomics in North America”

John Marotta, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EBITDA, fourth quarter SourceFourth quarter of fiscal 2026$20 million to $23 millionNew
Revenue from continuing operations SourceFiscal 2026$613 million to $618 million
Total organic revenue SourceFiscal 2026 vs fiscal 2025flat to up 1%
Sample Management Solutions organic revenue SourceFiscal 2026low-single-digit growthKept
Multiomics organic revenue SourceFiscal 2026down 1% to flatRaised from down mid-single-digits
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFiscal 2026$59 million to $62 million
UK Biocentre margin dilution SourceFiscal 2026about 30 basis pointsLowered from about 35 basis points (prior release)
Free cash flow SourceFiscal 2026 vs fiscal 2025improve approximately 10% to 15%Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Multiomics organic revenue guidance for fiscal 2026 moved to down 1% to flat from down mid-single-digits. Source
  • New guidance: Fourth-quarter organic revenue decline guidance given, relative to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025. Source
  • New guidance: Fourth-quarter Adjusted EBITDA range given: $20 million to $23 million. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Expected margin dilution from the UK Biocentre acquisition reduced to about 30 basis points from about 35 basis points. Source
  • Guidance kept: Sample Management Solutions organic growth guidance kept at low single digits. Source
  • Guidance kept: Free cash flow improvement guidance kept at approximately 10% to 15%. Source
  • New: Share repurchases under the 2025 program: 2.3 million shares for $50.0 million as of June 30, 2026. Source
  • Ended: Sale of B Medical Systems closed July 1, 2026; its results are reported as discontinued operations. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue up 12%, organic up 9%: Revenue from continuing operations was $161 million, up 12% year over year. Organic growth was 9%, excluding a 1-point foreign exchange effect and a 3-point effect from the UK Biocentre acquisition. Source
  • Operating loss widened year over year: Operating loss was $4.2 million, against $1.9 million a year earlier. Operating margin was (2.6%), down 131 basis points year over year. Source
  • Continuing diluted EPS was ($0.03): Diluted EPS from continuing operations was ($0.03), compared with ($0.01) in the same quarter of fiscal 2025. Source
  • Net interest income declined slightly: Net interest income was $4 million, against $5 million in the prior year period, within total other income. Source

Segments and revenue drivers

  • Sample Management Solutions up 14%: Sample Management Solutions revenue was $88 million, up 14% year over year, with organic growth of 9%. Source
  • Automated Stores revenue fell: Within Sample Management Solutions, Automated Stores revenue was lower, partly offsetting higher revenue in Sample Repository Solutions and Consumables and Instruments. Source
  • Multiomics up 10% on sequencing and synthesis: Multiomics revenue was $73 million, up 10%. Organic growth of 8% came from Next Generation Sequencing and Gene Synthesis, partly offset by lower Sanger Sequencing revenue. Source

“While these results represent an encouraging step forward, our turnaround continues, and we remain focused on executing against our strategic priorities.”

John Marotta, President and Chief Executive Officer

Gross margin and operating costs

  • Gross margin fell 130 basis points: Gross margin was 44.9%. Management attributed the decline to lower fixed-cost absorption from lower volumes in some portfolio areas and to Automated Stores rework costs, partly offset by operating leverage and cost initiatives. Source
  • Adjusted gross margin down 140 basis points: Adjusted gross margin was 46.2%, down 140 basis points from the third quarter of fiscal 2025. Source
  • Operating expenses rose 12%: Operating expenses were $77 million, up 12%, driven by higher research and development and selling, general and administrative expenses, partly offset by lower restructuring and transformation charges. Source

Adjusted earnings and EBITDA

  • Adjusted EBITDA $18.5 million: Adjusted EBITDA was $18.5 million, with a margin of 11.4%, down 60 basis points from a year earlier. Source
  • Non-GAAP diluted EPS $0.16: Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $0.16, against $0.17 a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted operating margin 2.9%: Adjusted operating margin was 2.9%, down 180 basis points from a year earlier. Source

Cash flow and liquidity

  • Free cash flow negative $5 million: Operating cash flow was $1 million and capital expenditures were $7 million, leaving free cash flow of negative $5 million for the quarter. Source
  • Cash and securities $529 million: Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and marketable securities totalled $529 million at June 30, 2026. Source
  • Nine-month operating cash flow lower: Net cash from operating activities for the nine months was $35.8 million, against $70.0 million a year earlier. Source

Share repurchases under 2025 program

  • 2.3 million shares repurchased: The company repurchased 2.3 million shares for $50.0 million, excluding fees, commissions and excise tax, as of June 30, 2026. Source
  • $250 million program through 2028: The Board authorized repurchases of up to $250 million of common stock through December 31, 2028. Source
  • Repurchased shares retired: All shares repurchased under the program have been retired. Source

Fourth-quarter and full-year guidance

  • Fourth-quarter organic revenue decline: Organic revenue is expected to decline by about low single digits in the fourth quarter, relative to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025. Source
  • Full-year revenue range narrowed: Reported revenue from continuing operations is now expected at $613 million to $618 million, narrowed from $603 million to $621 million. Source
  • Multiomics full-year range lifted: Multiomics organic revenue is now expected between down 1% and flat for fiscal 2026, against a prior expectation of a mid-single-digit decline. Source
  • Full-year Adjusted EBITDA range: Adjusted EBITDA is expected between $59 million and $62 million for fiscal 2026, including about 30 basis points of margin dilution from UK Biocentre. Source

Discontinued operations and divestiture

  • B Medical Systems sale closed: The sale of B Medical Systems closed July 1, 2026, on terms described in a July 8, 2026 Form 8-K. Its results are reported as discontinued operations. Source
  • Discontinued operations added $0.09: Diluted EPS from discontinued operations was $0.09, compared with a loss of $1.04 a year earlier. Source
  • Results reported in total diluted EPS: The results of B Medical Systems are reported as discontinued operations and reflected in total diluted EPS. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Lower sales volumes in some portfolio areas reduced fixed-cost absorption, which management cited as a driver of the gross margin decline. Source
  • Operational: Quality remediation and rework in Automated Stores added costs in the quarter. Source
  • External: Management described the market backdrop as uneven and challenging. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management described low-single-digit organic growth for the segment as consistent with prior guidance. Source
  • Not stated: Management described the free cash flow improvement range as consistent with prior guidance. Source
  • Not stated: The sale closed July 1, 2026, on the terms described in an earlier 8-K; the prior release had targeted closing by March 31, 2026. 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.