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Columbus McKinnon Corp.: Q2 FY2027 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2027, from the documents filed with the SEC on 3 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 raised, 2 lowered, 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales more than doubled: Net sales were $539.3 million, up 106.6%. The Kito Crosby Acquisition drove the increase, partly offset by the Divestiture. Source
  • Net loss included integration costs: Net loss attributable to the Company was $25.5 million, or $0.76 per diluted share, including $12.5 million of acquisition and integration related expenses. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin rose 520 basis points: Adjusted EBITDA was $111.2 million, a 20.6% margin, compared with 15.4% in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Adjusted EPS dipped one cent: Adjusted EPS was $0.61, down $0.01, attributed largely to a higher share count and increased interest expense. Adjusted net income rose 74% to $31.1 million. Source
  • Orders grew 122% to $562.6 million: Orders were $562.6 million, up 122%, giving a book-to-bill of 1.0x. Source
  • Net leverage at 4.9x: The company reported a Credit Agreement Net Leverage Ratio of 4.9x at September 30, 2026, and 5.1x at March 31, 2026, per the leverage reconciliation. Source
  • Integration priorities firmly underway: Management said initial integration priorities are underway and it is sharpening focus on longer-term initiatives for the combined business. Source

“Building on record orders and sales in the first quarter, our team delivered strong second quarter performance that exceeded expectations.”

David J. Wilson, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales SourceFiscal 2027 (ending March 31, 2027)$2.13 billion to $2.17 billionRaised from $2.09 billion to $2.15 billion
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFiscal 2027 (ending March 31, 2027)$425 million to $440 millionRaised from $405 million to $420 million
Adjusted EPS SourceFiscal 2027 (ending March 31, 2027)$2.00 to $2.15Raised from $1.90 to $2.10
Interest expense SourceFiscal 2027 (ending March 31, 2027)$185 million to $190 millionKept
Amortization expense SourceFiscal 2027 (ending March 31, 2027)$130 million to $135 millionLowered from $135 million to $140 million
Depreciation expense SourceFiscal 2027 (ending March 31, 2027)$80 million to $85 millionRaised from $75 million to $80 million
Capital expenditures SourceFiscal 2027 (ending March 31, 2027)$45 million to $55 millionLowered from $50 million to $60 million
Normalized effective tax rate SourceFiscal 2027 (ending March 31, 2027)25%Kept
Adjusted Diluted Shares Outstanding SourceFiscal 2027 (ending March 31, 2027)52 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Net sales guidance raised to $2.13 billion to $2.17 billion from $2.09 billion to $2.15 billion. Source
  • Guidance raised: Adjusted EBITDA guidance raised to $425 million to $440 million from $405 million to $420 million. Source
  • Guidance raised: Adjusted EPS guidance raised to $2.00 to $2.15 from $1.90 to $2.10. Source
  • Guidance raised: Depreciation expense assumption raised to $80 million to $85 million from $75 million to $80 million. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Amortization expense assumption lowered to $130 million to $135 million from $135 million to $140 million. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Capital expenditures range lowered to $45 million to $55 million from $50 million to $60 million. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net sales more than doubled: Net sales were $539.3 million, up 106.6%. The Kito Crosby Acquisition drove the increase, partly offset by the Divestiture. Source
  • Net loss included integration costs: Net loss attributable to the Company was $25.5 million, or $0.76 per diluted share, including $12.5 million of acquisition and integration related expenses. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin rose 520 basis points: Adjusted EBITDA was $111.2 million, a 20.6% margin, compared with 15.4% in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Operating income rose to $35.0 million: Income from operations was $35.0 million, a 6.5% operating margin, against $12.2 million and 4.7% a year earlier. Source
  • Legacy sales grew 5.3%: Legacy CMCO net sales growth was 5.3%, with both pricing and volume contributing. Source

Segments and regions

  • Non-U.S. share of sales rose to 46%: U.S. sales were $292.0 million, 54% of the total. Non-U.S. sales were $247.3 million, 46%, up 117.9% from the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Pricing and volume added to growth: Net sales growth adjusted for the Divestiture was $312.2 million, or 137.5%. Pricing contributed $10.1 million and volume $2.3 million. Source
  • Currency translation was small: Foreign currency translation reduced quarterly net sales by $0.5 million. Source

“Our increased full-year outlook reflects strong first-half orders and financial performance, as well as confidence in the execution of our strategic priorities and our ability to sustain this momentum through the second half of fiscal 2027,”

John Linker, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Adjusted gross margin reached 36.5%: Adjusted gross margin was 36.5% against 35.3%. Reported gross margin was 34.8% against 34.5%. Source
  • Inventory step-up expense hit gross profit: Acquisition inventory step-up expense was $7.4 million in the quarter and $62.6 million year-to-date. Integration costs in cost of sales were $1.4 million. Source
  • Overheads fell as share of sales: General and administrative expenses were 11.5% of net sales, against 13.9%. Selling expenses were 9.7%, against 11.2%. Source
  • Adjusted EPS dipped one cent: Adjusted EPS was $0.61, down $0.01, attributed largely to a higher share count and increased interest expense. Adjusted net income rose 74% to $31.1 million. Source

Demand and the order book

  • Orders grew 122% to $562.6 million: Orders were $562.6 million, up 122%, giving a book-to-bill of 1.0x. Source
  • Project and short-cycle demand increased: Management attributed increased demand from both project and short-cycle business to continued focus on operational execution and customer experience. Source
  • Combined portfolio drew customer response: Management cited early success and customer response to the combined portfolio as support for growth in the company's opportunities. Source

“Our teams are working effectively as one, and the meaningful progress we are making provides higher confidence in achieving our targeted value creation objectives.”

David J. Wilson, President and Chief Executive Officer

Cash, liquidity and leverage

  • Liquidity stood at $532.0 million: Total liquidity was $532.0 million: $110.9 million of cash and $421.1 million of revolving credit availability. Source
  • Year-to-date operating cash flow and free cash flow: Operating cash flow was $21.1 million year-to-date. Capital expenditures were $16.5 million, giving free cash flow of $4.6 million. Source
  • Acquisition cash costs $24.3 million year-to-date: Year-to-date cash costs related to the Kito Crosby Acquisition were $24.3 million. Source
  • Net leverage at 4.9x: The company reported a Credit Agreement Net Leverage Ratio of 4.9x at September 30, 2026, and 5.1x at March 31, 2026, per the leverage reconciliation. Source
  • Preferred dividends to accrue in fiscal 2027: The previous release said dividends on the Preferred Shares were expected to accrue and compound, rather than be paid in cash, during fiscal 2027.

Integration and strategy

  • Integration priorities firmly underway: Management said initial integration priorities are underway and it is sharpening focus on longer-term initiatives for the combined business. Source
  • Fiscal 2027 assumptions reflect purchase accounting: Updated assumptions for amortization, depreciation and capital expenditures reflect final purchase price accounting for the Kito Crosby Acquisition. Source
  • Divestiture closed in March: The company divested its U.S. power chain hoist and chain manufacturing operations, other than Little Mule products, closing on March 4, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Orders Source$562.6 million, up 122%
Book-to-bill Source1.0x

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: The prior-year goodwill test produced a $200 million partial impairment on the Precision Conveyance reporting unit. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said the Kito Crosby integration remains on track. Source
  • Ahead: Management said synergy realization is ahead of plan. Source
  • Not stated: Management said it remains committed to paying down debt in the near term and continuing dividend payments. 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.