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Cadre Holdings, Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 narrowed, 1 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Third-quarter sales up 30%: Net sales were $202.9 million against $155.9 million a year earlier. The company attributed the increase primarily to current-year acquisitions and higher EOD product demand. Source
  • Quarterly net income rose: Net income was $16.0 million, or $0.37 per diluted share, against $10.9 million, or $0.27, a year earlier. Increased gross profit was the main driver. Source
  • Quarterly gross margin rose: Gross margin was 43.4% against 42.7% a year earlier, with gross profit of $88.1 million against $66.6 million. Management cited favorable pricing, partly offset by operating leverage. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA reached $41.1 million: Adjusted EBITDA was $41.1 million for the quarter against $29.8 million, and $104.2 million for nine months against $77.3 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin widened: Adjusted EBITDA margin was 20.2% for the quarter, against 19.1% a year earlier, and 18.4% for nine months against 17.4%. Source
  • Cash balance fell this year: Cash and cash equivalents fell from $122.9 million at December 31, 2025 to $63.9 million at September 30, 2026. Source
  • AI named as margin lever: Management said AI initiatives will target repetitive workflows, improve decision-making and help teams scale. The second-quarter release did not name AI. Source

“Heightened geopolitical uncertainty, evolving public-safety requirements and investment in nuclear infrastructure create enduring demand drivers for our mission-critical products.”

Warren Kanders, CEO and Chairman

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales SourceFull year 2026$756 million to $769 millionNarrowed, low end up from $749 million to $769 million
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFull year 2026$140 million to $144 millionNarrowed, low end up from $139 million to $144 million
Capital expenditures SourceFull year 2026$11 million to $14 millionNarrowed, low end up from $10 million to $14 million
Share repurchases SourceProgram authorized November 4, 2026Up to $100 million of common stockNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Net sales and Adjusted EBITDA full-year ranges raised at the low end; second consecutive quarter of guidance raises. Source
  • New: AI initiatives named as a margin lever alongside the Cadre Operating Model; the second-quarter release did not mention AI. Source

Sales and earnings growth

  • Third-quarter sales up 30%: Net sales were $202.9 million against $155.9 million a year earlier. The company attributed the increase primarily to current-year acquisitions and higher EOD product demand. Source
  • Nine-month sales up on acquisitions: Nine-month net sales were $565.4 million against $443.1 million, driven by current- and prior-year acquisitions and higher EOD, crowd control and chemiluminescent demand. Source
  • Quarterly net income rose: Net income was $16.0 million, or $0.37 per diluted share, against $10.9 million, or $0.27, a year earlier. Increased gross profit was the main driver. Source
  • Nine-month net income declined: Net income was $29.4 million, or $0.68 per diluted share, against $32.4 million, or $0.79. Management cited acquisition expenses, compensation, interest and adverse currency movements. Source

Gross margin and Adjusted EBITDA

  • Quarterly gross margin rose: Gross margin was 43.4% against 42.7% a year earlier, with gross profit of $88.1 million against $66.6 million. Management cited favorable pricing, partly offset by operating leverage. Source
  • Nine-month gross margin lower: Nine-month gross margin was 41.6% against 42.2%. Gross profit was $235.4 million against $187.0 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA reached $41.1 million: Adjusted EBITDA was $41.1 million for the quarter against $29.8 million, and $104.2 million for nine months against $77.3 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin widened: Adjusted EBITDA margin was 20.2% for the quarter, against 19.1% a year earlier, and 18.4% for nine months against 17.4%. Source

“Our share repurchase program announced today reflects our disciplined approach to capital allocation.”

Warren Kanders, CEO and Chairman

Product and distribution segments

  • Product segment margin slightly lower: Product segment gross margin was 43.7% for the quarter and 42.3% for nine months, against 43.9% and 43.3% a year earlier. Source
  • Distribution margin higher in quarter: Distribution gross margin was 23.4% for the quarter against 21.3%, and 22.1% for nine months against 22.0%. Source
  • Segment sales before reconciling items: Product net sales were $188.7 million and distribution net sales $23.6 million, against $138.8 million and $26.5 million a year earlier. Reconciling items were $(9.5) million. Source

Operating costs and other items

  • Selling and admin expense rose: Selling, general and administrative expense was $58.9 million in the quarter against $45.6 million, and $170.9 million for nine months against $132.5 million. Source
  • Interest expense and other income: Net interest expense was $5.4 million in the quarter against $3.0 million, and $14.7 million for nine months against $8.8 million. Other income was $1.0 million in the quarter against $(0.8) million, and $0.1 million for nine months against $6.6 million. Source
  • Tax provision rose in quarter: Income tax provision was $7.9 million in the quarter against $3.9 million, and $14.3 million for nine months against $12.3 million. Source
  • Transaction costs and related party fee: Restructuring and transaction costs were $0.9 million in the quarter against $2.2 million. A $2.0 million fee to Kanders & Company, Inc. for the TYR acquisition was recorded in nine-month related party expense. Source

“We will continue to pursue complementary acquisitions and apply our operating model across both existing and newly acquired businesses to drive profitable growth, stronger cash generation and long-term shareholder value.”

Warren Kanders, CEO and Chairman

Backlog and demand

  • Backlog not reported this quarter: The third-quarter release gives no orders backlog figure. The second-quarter release reported a record $368 million backlog, the second consecutive quarterly record.
  • Demand drivers named by management: Management named geopolitical uncertainty, evolving public-safety requirements and nuclear infrastructure investment as demand drivers for mission-critical products. Source

Cash, debt and capital spending

  • Cash balance fell this year: Cash and cash equivalents fell from $122.9 million at December 31, 2025 to $63.9 million at September 30, 2026. Source
  • Total debt rose: Total debt rose to $369.5 million from $307.3 million at year-end 2025. The cash flow statement shows $75.0 million of term loan proceeds and $82.5 million of revolver draws, offset by repayments. Source
  • Operating cash flow and acquisition spend: Nine-month operating cash flow was $67.6 million against $42.5 million. Business acquisitions used $164.8 million, net of cash acquired, against $89.6 million. Source
  • Capital spending increased: Capital expenditures were $2.9 million in the quarter against $0.6 million, and $9.3 million for nine months against $3.6 million. Source

Dividend and share repurchases

  • Quarterly dividend kept at $0.10: The board declared a $0.10 quarterly dividend in October, $0.40 annualized. Nine-month dividends distributed were $12.8 million against $11.6 million. Source
  • Buyback at management's discretion: Board authorized up to $100 million of repurchases. Management said repurchases may run through several channels, subject to market conditions and other factors. Source

Strategy, AI and operating model

  • AI named as margin lever: Management said AI initiatives will target repetitive workflows, improve decision-making and help teams scale. The second-quarter release did not name AI. Source
  • Operating model focus areas: Margin work is focused on manufacturing productivity, sourcing and pricing discipline, and overhead efficiency under the Cadre Operating Model. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 November 2026

  • Dividend payment on November 13: The $0.10 dividend is payable November 13, 2026, to holders of record at the close of October 30, 2026. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Net debt rose to $305.6 million from $184.4 million at year-end 2025; total debt is $369.5 million and interest expense was higher than a year earlier. Source
  • External: Other income includes transaction gains and losses from currency rate changes; nine-month other income fell to $0.1 million from $6.6 million. Source
  • Operational: Acquisition operating expenses, higher tax expense and higher compensation expense offset part of the gross profit gain in the quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management describes results as better than expected and says that supports raising full-year guidance again, the second quarter in a row. Source
  • Not stated: Management says it remains focused on further operating-margin improvement through the operating model; no target or timing is given. 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.