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Borgwarner Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 3 lowered, 10 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales up about 1% reported: Net sales were $3,533 million against $3,515 million. Organic net sales fell 4.2%. Management attributed the reported rise to stronger foreign currencies, partly offset by lower production volumes and Battery Energy Systems sales. Source
  • Adjusted EPS up 12%: Adjusted diluted EPS was $1.24 against $1.11, up about 12%. GAAP diluted EPS was $1.16 against $0.72, with $0.08 of net non-comparable losses excluded from the adjusted figure. Source
  • Battery Energy Systems sales down 36%: Battery Energy Systems sales fell to $102 million from $150 million, down 36.0% organically, the largest organic decline reported in the segment table. Source
  • GAAP margin change labelled as decrease: The release calls the 9.5% GAAP operating margin a decrease of 280 basis points, but the table shows 6.7% a year earlier, which would be an increase of 280 basis points. Source
  • Operating cash flow $152 million: Net cash from operating activities was $152 million against $82 million. Free cash flow was $13 million against $(35) million a year earlier, after capital expenditures net of customer advances. Source
  • $185 million returned to shareholders: The company returned about $185 million in the quarter: roughly $150 million of share repurchases and a $35 million cash dividend. Source

“The Company’s continued focus on cost controls allowed it to deliver strong performance despite a lower industry production environment.”

Borgwarner Inc., press release

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales Sourcefull year 2026$14.0 billion to $14.3 billionKept
Organic net sales change Sourcefull year 2026down 3.5% to down 1.5%Kept
Battery Energy Systems sales Sourcefull year 2026decline of approximately $210 millionKept
Foreign currency effect on sales Sourcefull year 2026increase of approximately $200 millionKept
U.S. GAAP operating margin Sourcefull year 20269.7% to 9.9%Lowered from 9.8% to 10.0%
Adjusted operating margin Sourcefull year 202610.7% to 10.9%Kept
U.S. GAAP diluted EPS Sourcefull year 2026$4.70 to $4.87Lowered from $4.74 to $4.91
Adjusted diluted EPS Sourcefull year 2026$5.00 to $5.20Kept
Restructuring expense Sourcefull year 2026$80 million to $90 millionRaised from $70 million to $80 million
Operating cash flow Sourcefull year 2026$1,600 million to $1,700 millionKept
Free cash flow Sourcefull year 2026$900 million to $1,100 millionKept
Capital expenditures, including tooling outlays Sourcefull year 2026$600 million to $700 millionKept
Light vehicle production, total Sourcefull year 2026(3)% to (1)%Lowered from (2)% to 0%
BorgWarner weighted light vehicle markets Sourcefull year 2026down 3% to approximately flatKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: Full-year GAAP operating margin range moved to 9.7% to 9.9% from 9.8% to 10.0%. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Full-year GAAP diluted EPS range moved to $4.70 to $4.87 from $4.74 to $4.91. Source
  • Guidance raised: Restructuring expense range raised to $80 million to $90 million from $70 million to $80 million. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Total light vehicle production estimate moved to (3)% to (1)% from (2)% to 0%. Source
  • Guidance kept: Management described full-year 2026 guidance as maintained, though some ranges in the tables moved. Source
  • New: Data center and industrial portfolio now includes battery energy storage systems and bi-directional microgrid inverters. Source
  • New: The segment is now named Battery Energy Systems; the prior release called it Battery & Charging Systems. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net sales up about 1% reported: Net sales were $3,533 million against $3,515 million. Organic net sales fell 4.2%. Management attributed the reported rise to stronger foreign currencies, partly offset by lower production volumes and Battery Energy Systems sales. Source
  • Adjusted EPS up 12%: Adjusted diluted EPS was $1.24 against $1.11, up about 12%. GAAP diluted EPS was $1.16 against $0.72, with $0.08 of net non-comparable losses excluded from the adjusted figure. Source
  • Income and fewer shares drove EPS: Management attributed adjusted EPS growth to higher adjusted operating income and a lower share count. Diluted weighted shares were 208.3 million against 218.1 million a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted operating income rose: Adjusted operating income was $372 million against $352 million. GAAP operating income was $336 million against $237 million. Source

Segments and regions

  • Turbos & Thermal sales fell 7.0%: Turbos & Thermal Technologies sales were $1,433 million, down 7.0% organically, against $1,454 million. Segment adjusted operating income was $214 million against $235 million. Source
  • Drivetrain & Morse grew 0.9%: Drivetrain & Morse Systems sales rose 0.9% organically to $1,422 million. Segment adjusted operating income was $260 million against $243 million. Source
  • PowerDrive and BES losses narrowed: PowerDrive Systems sales were $587 million, down 0.9% organically, with an adjusted operating loss of $(36) million against $(43) million. Battery Energy Systems loss was $(2) million against $(22) million. Source
  • Battery Energy Systems sales down 36%: Battery Energy Systems sales fell to $102 million from $150 million, down 36.0% organically, the largest organic decline reported in the segment table. Source

“BorgWarner expects to deliver another year of adjusted operating margin improvement and adjusted earnings per share growth despite the Company’s expectation that its weighted light vehicle markets will be down 3% to approximately flat”

Borgwarner Inc., press release

Products and customers

  • Twelve awards across portfolio: The company announced 12 awards across its portfolio, which it said are expected to support long-term profitable growth. Source
  • Seven-year off-highway controller extension: A seven-year contract extension covers eight families of controllers, starting in 2026, with a world-leading off-highway engine and machine manufacturer. Source
  • EMotor awards with Asian OEMs: Three eMotor awards: two hybrid vehicle awards in China and one electric vehicle award in South Korea, with production starting in 2026 and 2027. Source
  • European turbo and VTG awards: Awards with European OEMs include VTG turbochargers and EGR coolers for on-highway commercial vehicles, with production expected to begin in 2028. Source

Costs and margins

  • Gross margin rose to 19.2%: Gross margin was 19.2% against 18.2%. Gross profit rose to $677 million from $639 million on net sales up about 1%. Source
  • GAAP margin change labelled as decrease: The release calls the 9.5% GAAP operating margin a decrease of 280 basis points, but the table shows 6.7% a year earlier, which would be an increase of 280 basis points. Source
  • Restructuring spending fell: Restructuring expense was $18 million against $31 million. Other operating income was $5 million against $17 million of expense, and impairment charges were nil against $39 million. Source
  • Adjusted margin up 50 basis points: Adjusted operating margin was 10.5% against 10.0%, an increase of 50 basis points, according to the release. Source

“The Company returned approximately $185 million to its shareholders during the first quarter of 2026.”

Borgwarner Inc., press release

Cash and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow $152 million: Net cash from operating activities was $152 million against $82 million. Free cash flow was $13 million against $(35) million a year earlier, after capital expenditures net of customer advances. Source
  • Capital spending rose: Capital expenditures including tooling outlays were $143 million against $119 million, with customer advances of $4 million. Source
  • $185 million returned to shareholders: The company returned about $185 million in the quarter: roughly $150 million of share repurchases and a $35 million cash dividend. Source
  • Cash balance declined: Cash and cash equivalents were $2,110 million at March 31, 2026, against $2,313 million at December 31, 2025. Source

Strategy and portfolio

  • Data center and microgrid portfolio widened: Management said the data center and industrial portfolio now includes battery energy storage systems and bi-directional microgrid inverters. Source
  • Turbine generator system on schedule: Management said the planned 2027 turbine generator system launch is on track, with B-samples delivered to the customer. Source
  • Awards expected to support profitable growth: The company said multiple new business awards are expected to support its long-term profitable growth. Source

Coming up, as management said on 6 May 2026

  • Award production phases through 2029: Production for the turbocharger program awards starts in phases from 2026 through 2029, with other awards starting between 2026 and 2029. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management expects weighted light vehicle markets down 3% to approximately flat for 2026, with lower Battery Energy Systems sales. Source
  • Demand: Battery Energy Systems sales are expected to fall about $210 million in 2026, a headwind of about 1.5% to organic growth. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Launch planned for 2027, with B-samples delivered to the customer. Source
  • Not stated: Management said it maintained full-year 2026 guidance from the prior release. 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.