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Belden Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 30 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 6 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Record revenue, up 12%: Revenue was $750 million, up 12% year over year and 8% organically. Currency added 1 point and copper pass-through pricing added 3 points; acquisitions added nothing in the quarter. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose 24%: Adjusted diluted EPS was $2.34, against $1.89. GAAP diluted EPS was $1.74, against $1.53, on 39.3 million diluted shares, down from 40.0 million. Source
  • Tariff recovery added to EPS: The company recognized a net EPS benefit of about $0.25 from the expected recovery of IEEPA tariffs, partly offset by the introduction of new tariffs. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 28%: Adjusted EBITDA was $146 million, up 28%, and adjusted EBITDA margin was 19.5%, up 250 basis points from 17.0% a year earlier. Source
  • Orders reached record level: Orders were $836 million, up 19% year over year, giving a book-to-bill of 1.11 for the quarter. Source
  • AI data center investment showing: Management said the company has been building its AI data center presence for several quarters, and that this is beginning to appear in the order book. Source
  • RUCKUS deal closed July 1: Belden completed the RUCKUS Networks acquisition on July 1, 2026, after the second quarter ended. Source
  • Free cash flow was $88.6 million: Non-GAAP free cash flow was $88.6 million for the quarter, against $56.9 million; six-month free cash flow was $25.5 million, against $32.2 million. Source

“Demand across our end markets is robust and broad-based, and our results reflect the strength of that environment.”

Ashish Chand, President and CEO of Belden Inc.

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenues SourceThird quarter 2026$950 - $970 millionNew
GAAP EPS SourceThird quarter 2026$0.69 - $0.84New
Adjusted EPS SourceThird quarter 2026$2.15 - $2.30New
Amortization of intangibles (per share) SourceThird quarter 20260.94New
Severance, restructuring and acquisition integration costs (per share) SourceThird quarter 20260.41New
Adjustments related to acquisitions and divestitures (per share) SourceThird quarter 20260.11New

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Third-quarter 2026 guidance for revenue, GAAP EPS and adjusted EPS was issued and includes RUCKUS. The prior release's second-quarter guidance excluded RUCKUS. Source
  • New: The RUCKUS Networks acquisition closed on July 1, 2026, after quarter end. The April 30, 2026 release had announced the definitive agreement. Source

Second quarter results and growth

  • Record revenue, up 12%: Revenue was $750 million, up 12% year over year and 8% organically. Currency added 1 point and copper pass-through pricing added 3 points; acquisitions added nothing in the quarter. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose 24%: Adjusted diluted EPS was $2.34, against $1.89. GAAP diluted EPS was $1.74, against $1.53, on 39.3 million diluted shares, down from 40.0 million. Source
  • Tariff recovery added to EPS: The company recognized a net EPS benefit of about $0.25 from the expected recovery of IEEPA tariffs, partly offset by the introduction of new tariffs. Source
  • Net income and margin: Net income was $69 million against $61 million, a 9.1% net margin, the same as a year earlier. Six-month net income was $119.6 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 28%: Adjusted EBITDA was $146 million, up 28%, and adjusted EBITDA margin was 19.5%, up 250 basis points from 17.0% a year earlier. Source

Orders, demand and data center work

  • Orders reached record level: Orders were $836 million, up 19% year over year, giving a book-to-bill of 1.11 for the quarter. Source
  • AI data center investment showing: Management said the company has been building its AI data center presence for several quarters, and that this is beginning to appear in the order book. Source
  • Orders entering quarter at record: Orders entering the third quarter are at record levels, the solutions pipeline is growing, and engagement from data center and physical AI customers is increasing. Source
  • Physical AI as emerging area: Physical AI, meaning intelligent autonomous systems in factories and distribution centers, is described as an emerging area the company is well-positioned to capture. Source

“We are excited about what this platform means for our customers and our growth.”

Ashish Chand, President and CEO of Belden Inc.

Margins and operating costs

  • Income tax expense increased: Income tax expense was $16.7 million against $5.7 million a year earlier, on pre-tax income of $85.2 million against $66.7 million. Source
  • Interest and amortization rose: Interest expense, net was $13.6 million against $12.2 million, and amortization of intangibles was $14.8 million against $13.5 million. Source

RUCKUS acquisition and portfolio

  • RUCKUS deal closed July 1: Belden completed the RUCKUS Networks acquisition on July 1, 2026, after the second quarter ended. Source
  • Agreement announced in April: The April 30, 2026 release announced a definitive agreement to acquire RUCKUS from Vistance Networks for about $1.85 billion.
  • Full-stack network coverage: Management said RUCKUS brings every layer of the network, from passive infrastructure to Wi-Fi 7 to intelligent cloud management, from a single source. Source

Third quarter guidance basis

  • Guidance assumes current conditions: Third-quarter guidance assumes current market conditions continue and includes the RUCKUS contribution. Source
  • Expanded portfolio after RUCKUS: Chand described the company's portfolio as meaningfully expanded after the RUCKUS close, and the third-quarter guidance includes that contribution. Source
  • Reconciling items per share: The guidance reconciliation lists amortization of intangibles at $0.94 per share, severance, restructuring and integration costs at $0.41, and acquisition-related adjustments at $0.11, bridging GAAP to adjusted EPS. Source

Cash flow and balance sheet

  • Operating cash flow rose: Operating cash flow was $129.2 million for the quarter, against $82.0 million a year earlier; six-month operating cash flow was $110.6 million, against $89.5 million. Source
  • Free cash flow was $88.6 million: Non-GAAP free cash flow was $88.6 million for the quarter, against $56.9 million; six-month free cash flow was $25.5 million, against $32.2 million. Source
  • Capital spending increased: Capital expenditures were $40.7 million in the quarter, against $25.2 million, and $85.1 million for six months, against $57.4 million. Source
  • Debt payments offset by borrowings: Six-month payments under borrowing arrangements were $535.9 million, while borrowings under credit arrangements were $537.3 million; debt issuance costs paid were $14.6 million. Source
  • Cash and debt declined: Cash and cash equivalents were $348.7 million at June 28, 2026, against $389.9 million at December 31, 2025; long-term debt was $1,230.6 million, against $1,285.7 million. Source

Shareholder returns and dividends

  • Dividend held at $0.05: Dividends declared were $0.05 per share in the quarter, the same as a year earlier; six-month dividends declared totaled $0.10 per share. Source
  • Share repurchase payments lower: Six-month payments under the share repurchase program, including excise tax, were $31.8 million, against $101.0 million a year earlier. Source
  • Treasury stock increased: Treasury stock was $937.2 million at June 28, 2026, against $911.9 million at December 31, 2025. Source

Coming up, as management said on 30 July 2026

  • Focus on RUCKUS integration: Management said its focus is execution and integration of RUCKUS, along with capturing growth ahead. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Orders Source$836 million, up 19% y/y
Book-to-bill Source1.11

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management said the near-term macroeconomic environment calls for continued discipline, while long-term market drivers remain in place. Source
  • Regulatory: New tariffs introduced in the quarter partly offset the expected IEEPA tariff recovery benefit. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said the acquisition announced earlier was completed after the second quarter ended. 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.