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Columbus McKinnon Corp.: Q4 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 June 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 8 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth quarter sales up 77%: Q4 net sales were $437.8 million, up 77.3% from $246.9 million; the company attributed the increase mainly to the Kito Crosby Acquisition. Source
  • Q4 net loss from one-time items: Q4 net loss attributable to the Company was $238 million, a 54.4% net loss margin, including a goodwill charge and deal costs, partly offset by a divestiture gain. Source
  • Legacy sales grew 7.3% in Q4: Legacy CMCO net sales, excluding the acquisition and divestiture, were $227.4 million in Q4, up 7.3%, and $882.3 million for the year, up 6.6%. Source
  • Gross margin down sharply in Q4: Q4 gross margin was 23.5% against 32.3%; adjusted gross margin was 32.7% against 35.2%, and full-year adjusted gross margin was 34.1% against 36.6%. Source
  • Q4 orders up 68%: Q4 orders were $442.8 million, up 68%, primarily from the acquisition; full-year orders were $1.2 billion, up 20%. Source
  • Backlog reached $519.6 million: Backlog was $519.6 million at March 31, 2026, against $322.5 million a year earlier, including $199.9 million from Kito Crosby. Source
  • Free cash flow excluding deal costs $68.0M: Excluding $204.9 million of Kito Crosby cash payments and $27.2 million of divestiture-related payments, free cash flow excluding deal costs was $68.0 million, up 171% on a comparable basis. Source
  • Preferred Shares described: The Preferred Shares are described as 800,000 Series A cumulative convertible participating shares, par value $1.00, and are included in Adjusted EPS share counts. Source
  • Sales, EBITDA and EPS ranges: Fiscal 2027 net sales are guided at $2.05 billion to $2.12 billion, Adjusted EBITDA at $390 million to $410 million, and Adjusted EPS at $1.70 to $1.90. Source

“Fiscal 2026 was a defining year marked by meaningful strategic progress and disciplined execution across our operational, commercial, and customer experience priorities,”

David J. Wilson, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales Sourcefiscal 2027 (ending March 31, 2027)$2.05 billion to $2.12 billionNew
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefiscal 2027 (ending March 31, 2027)$390 million to $410 millionNew
Adjusted EPS Sourcefiscal 2027 (ending March 31, 2027)$1.70 to $1.90New
Interest expense Sourcefiscal 2027 (ending March 31, 2027)$185 million to $190 millionNew
Amortization expense Sourcefiscal 2027 (ending March 31, 2027)$135 million to $140 millionNew
Depreciation expense Sourcefiscal 2027 (ending March 31, 2027)$75 million to $80 millionNew
Effective tax rate Sourcefiscal 2027 (ending March 31, 2027)25%New
Adjusted Diluted Shares Outstanding Sourcefiscal 2027 (ending March 31, 2027)52 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Fiscal 2027 guidance issued for net sales, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EPS, after fiscal 2026 standalone guidance had been withdrawn in the prior release. Source
  • Ended: The required divestiture of U.S. power chain hoist and chain manufacturing operations closed March 4, 2026; the prior release described it as pending. Source
  • New: The cash flow statement shows $781.0 million of net proceeds from preferred stock issuance; the prior release balance sheet showed no preferred stock. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Fourth quarter sales up 77%: Q4 net sales were $437.8 million, up 77.3% from $246.9 million; the company attributed the increase mainly to the Kito Crosby Acquisition. Source
  • Full-year sales up 24%: Full-year net sales were $1.2 billion, up 24%, mainly from the Kito Crosby Acquisition. Source
  • Q4 net loss from one-time items: Q4 net loss attributable to the Company was $238 million, a 54.4% net loss margin, including a goodwill charge and deal costs, partly offset by a divestiture gain. Source
  • Adjusted EPS fell on share count: Q4 Adjusted EPS was $0.24 against $0.60; convertible preferred shares were included in the Adjusted EPS share count. Source

Segments and regions

  • U.S. sales up 68%: U.S. sales were $234.3 million in Q4, up 68.1% and 54% of total net sales; the divestiture partly offset the acquisition. Source
  • Non-U.S. sales up 89%: Non-U.S. sales were $203.5 million, up 89.3% and 46% of total; the company attributed the rise to the acquisition and foreign exchange. Source
  • Legacy sales grew 7.3% in Q4: Legacy CMCO net sales, excluding the acquisition and divestiture, were $227.4 million in Q4, up 7.3%, and $882.3 million for the year, up 6.6%. Source

“We completed the Kito Crosby Acquisition and immediately established a blended organization that brought together the strengths, capabilities, and cultures of both companies.”

David J. Wilson, President and Chief Executive Officer

Margins, costs and pricing

  • Gross margin down sharply in Q4: Q4 gross margin was 23.5% against 32.3%; adjusted gross margin was 32.7% against 35.2%, and full-year adjusted gross margin was 34.1% against 36.6%. Source
  • Full-year margin included tariffs: Full-year Adjusted EBITDA margin was 15.2%; Q4 was 15.7%, up 130 basis points with the acquisition. Management cited tariff and product mix impacts for the year. Source
  • Volume and pricing in sales bridge: In the full-year sales bridge, volume added $10.2 million and pricing $21.5 million, with the acquisition adding $188.1 million; Q4 pricing was $8.0 million. Source
  • Price net of cost changes: Price net of manufacturing cost changes, including inflation and tariffs, added $0.5 million to Q4 gross profit and reduced full-year gross profit by $5.9 million. Source
  • G&A expenses more than doubled: Q4 general and administrative expenses were $79.0 million, or 18.1% of net sales, up 138.1% from a year earlier. Source

Demand, orders and backlog

  • Q4 orders up 68%: Q4 orders were $442.8 million, up 68%, primarily from the acquisition; full-year orders were $1.2 billion, up 20%. Source
  • Backlog reached $519.6 million: Backlog was $519.6 million at March 31, 2026, against $322.5 million a year earlier, including $199.9 million from Kito Crosby. Source
  • Demand trends cited for fiscal 2027: Management said fiscal 2027 growth and margin expansion prospects are supported by demand trends, operational improvement, and integration and portfolio actions. Source
  • Inventory days lower year on year: Days inventory were 104.3 at March 31, 2026, against 107.4 a year earlier and 121.7 at December 31, 2025. Source

“We remain focused on driving profitable growth, advancing our strategy, accelerating debt repayment and delivering compelling returns for our shareholders.”

David J. Wilson, President and Chief Executive Officer

Cash flow and liquidity

  • Operating cash use for the year: Operating cash used for the fiscal year was $146.2 million, and capital expenditures were $17.9 million, giving a free cash flow use of $164.1 million. Source
  • Free cash flow excluding deal costs $68.0M: Excluding $204.9 million of Kito Crosby cash payments and $27.2 million of divestiture-related payments, free cash flow excluding deal costs was $68.0 million, up 171% on a comparable basis. Source
  • Year-end liquidity of $561.2 million: Total liquidity was $561.2 million, including $96.6 million of cash and $458.9 million of revolver availability; net leverage under the credit agreement was 5.1x. Source

Capital allocation and shareholder returns

  • Dividend held at prior-year level: Dividends declared were $0.28 per common share for fiscal 2026, the same as fiscal 2025; no treasury stock purchases appear in fiscal 2026 cash flows. Source
  • Preferred Shares described: The Preferred Shares are described as 800,000 Series A cumulative convertible participating shares, par value $1.00, and are included in Adjusted EPS share counts. Source
  • Debt-to-capital ratio rose: Debt to total capitalization was 62.3% at March 31, 2026, against 34.8% a year earlier; debt net of cash to net capitalization was 61.3%. Source

Integration and portfolio actions

  • Synergy capture and systems alignment: Management said it is capturing synergies, aligning systems and processes, and building a unified operating model. Source
  • Divestiture closed March 4: The divestiture of U.S. power chain hoist and chain manufacturing operations, required by the acquisition, closed March 4, 2026, with a $103.3 million gain. Source
  • Kito Crosby acquisition closed February 3: Kito Crosby Limited was acquired on February 3, 2026, and is included in the fourth quarter and full-year results. Source

Fiscal 2027 guidance and assumptions

  • Fiscal 2027 guidance first issued: Management issued fiscal 2027 guidance covering the Kito Crosby Acquisition and the Divestiture, for the year ending March 31, 2027. Source
  • Sales, EBITDA and EPS ranges: Fiscal 2027 net sales are guided at $2.05 billion to $2.12 billion, Adjusted EBITDA at $390 million to $410 million, and Adjusted EPS at $1.70 to $1.90. Source
  • Interest, amortization and depreciation assumed: Guidance assumes $185 million to $190 million of interest expense, $135 million to $140 million of amortization, and $75 million to $80 million of depreciation. Source
  • Tax rate and share count assumed: Guidance assumes a 25% effective tax rate and 52 million Adjusted Diluted Shares Outstanding, reflecting preferred dividends accrued rather than paid in cash. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 June 2026

  • Cash generation directed at strategy: Over time, management expects to use significant free cash flow generation to advance its Intelligent Motion strategy across the fragmented marketplace. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Backlog Source$519.6 million at March 31, 2026
Long-term backlog expected to ship beyond three months Source$263.7 million, 50.8% of total backlog

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management said Q4 performance was affected by a challenging macroeconomic and geopolitical environment. Source
  • Financial: Incremental interest expense tied to the Kito Crosby Acquisition was cited as a factor in Q4 Adjusted EPS. Source
  • Financial: A $200.0 million goodwill impairment on the Precision Conveyance unit followed a sustained decline in stock price and market capitalization. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said it remains committed to allocating capital to pay down debt and deleverage the balance sheet in the near term. Source
  • Not stated: Management said it continues its track record of consistent dividend payment. Source
  • Not stated: The prior release said fiscal 2027 guidance would come with Q4 results in late May 2026; this release is dated June 4, 2026.

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.