greeksoup/ stock research

Core Molding Technologies Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 new, 4 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Production sales fell only on trucks: Total net revenue was $62.7 million against $79.2 million a year earlier. Production revenue declined 1.2% in the truck vertical; excluding truck, it rose 20.8%. Source
  • Net income and EPS declined: Operating income was $2.3 million, or 3.7% of net revenues, against $5.2 million, or 6.6%. Net income was $1.8 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, against $4.1 million, or $0.47. Source
  • Truck product revenue fell year over year: Medium and heavy-duty truck product revenue was $24.2 million against $31.2 million in the quarter, and $43.7 million against $60.8 million for six months. Source
  • Powersports product revenue rose: Powersports product revenue was $15.2 million against $14.2 million in the quarter, and $35.9 million against $28.4 million for six months. Building products also rose. Source
  • First-half awards all net new: Management said all first-half awards are net new business rather than replacement volume, and about 65% came from markets outside the traditional truck and powersports sectors. Source
  • Gross margin rose to 20.3%: Gross margin was $12.7 million, or 20.3% of net revenues, against 18.1%. Management attributed the rise to product mix, operating efficiencies and a one-time customer capacity credit. Source
  • SG&A rose on Mexico and severance: SG&A was $10.4 million, or 16.6% of net revenues, against $9.1 million, or 11.5%. It included $1.8 million of non-recurring Mexico expansion and severance costs. Source
  • Cash fell to $12.1 million: Cash was $12.1 million at June 30, 2026, against $38.1 million at December 31, 2025. Six-month operating cash flow was $7.1 million, against $9.6 million. Source

“Our second quarter results reflect the resilience of our diversified portfolio and the continued execution of our Invest for Growth strategy.”

Eric Palomaki, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Total net sales growth Sourcefull year 2026flat to approximately 5% growthKept
Gross margin Sourcefull year 202617% to 19%Kept
Capital expenditures Sourcefull year 2026$25 to $30 millionKept
Mexico expansion capital expenditures Sourcefull year 2026$18 million to $20 millionKept
Monterrey manufacturing footprint and Matamoros presses Source2026quadruple Monterrey footprint; two 4500-ton presses in MatamorosNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Credit facilities amended and extended in July 2026, with a $50 million revolver and a $50 million delayed-draw term loan maturing in July 2031. Source
  • Ended: Interest rate swap agreement terminated during the quarter, producing a small gain. Source
  • New: Significant award secured for battery energy storage systems during the quarter. Source
  • Ended: Huntington term loan repaid in full as of June 30, 2026. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Production sales fell only on trucks: Total net revenue was $62.7 million against $79.2 million a year earlier. Production revenue declined 1.2% in the truck vertical; excluding truck, it rose 20.8%. Source
  • Tooling revenue fell on project timing: Tooling project revenue was $1.8 million against $17.6 million a year earlier. Management described tooling as project-based and needed ahead of a customer production cycle. Source
  • Net income and EPS declined: Operating income was $2.3 million, or 3.7% of net revenues, against $5.2 million, or 6.6%. Net income was $1.8 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, against $4.1 million, or $0.47. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin near prior year: Adjusted EBITDA was $7.6 million, or 12.2% of net revenues, against $9.5 million, or 12.0%. Adjusted net income was $3.3 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, against $0.53. Both are non-GAAP measures. Source
  • Six-month operating income lower: Six-month operating income was $3.1 million, or 2.5% of net revenues, against $8.1 million, or 5.7%. Six-month diluted EPS was $0.27 against $0.72; adjusted diluted EPS was $0.74. Source

End markets and truck demand

  • Truck product revenue fell year over year: Medium and heavy-duty truck product revenue was $24.2 million against $31.2 million in the quarter, and $43.7 million against $60.8 million for six months. Source
  • Powersports product revenue rose: Powersports product revenue was $15.2 million against $14.2 million in the quarter, and $35.9 million against $28.4 million for six months. Building products also rose. Source
  • Industrial and other markets grew: Industrial and utilities product revenue was $6.2 million against $5.9 million. All other product revenue was $9.0 million against $5.6 million. Source

“With ample liquidity, enhanced financial flexibility, and a disciplined approach to capital allocation, we remain well positioned to execute our”

Alex Panda, the Company’s EVP and Chief Financial Officer

New business and customers

  • First-half awards all net new: Management said all first-half awards are net new business rather than replacement volume, and about 65% came from markets outside the traditional truck and powersports sectors. Source
  • Most new business built in US: Management said 74% of this new business will be produced within the U.S. manufacturing footprint, using installed capacity and improving returns on invested capital. Source
  • Grid-reliability pursuits continue: Management said it continues to pursue grid-reliability opportunities tied to power demand, citing AI data center development, utility modernization and load-shedding solutions. Source

Margins and costs

  • Gross margin rose to 20.3%: Gross margin was $12.7 million, or 20.3% of net revenues, against 18.1%. Management attributed the rise to product mix, operating efficiencies and a one-time customer capacity credit. Source
  • Margin excluding one-time credit: Excluding the one-time credit, gross margin was 19.4% of net revenues. Source
  • SG&A rose on Mexico and severance: SG&A was $10.4 million, or 16.6% of net revenues, against $9.1 million, or 11.5%. It included $1.8 million of non-recurring Mexico expansion and severance costs. Source
  • Footprint and severance costs reported: Footprint optimization costs were $1.3 million in the quarter, against $0.2 million a year earlier, and $3.4 million for six months. Severance costs were $0.5 million and $1.4 million. Source

“This quarter, we again delivered a strong profitability as gross margin was 20.3% of sales.”

Alex Panda, the Company’s EVP and Chief Financial Officer

Mexico expansion and strategy

  • Must Win Battle transforms Mexico footprint: Management said the 2026 Must Win Battle is transforming the operating footprint and strengthening the competitive position in Mexico. Source
  • Mexico capex within six-month spend: Six-month capital expenditures were $12.1 million, including $9.6 million for the Mexico expansion project, against $4.4 million a year earlier. Source
  • Expansion framed as organic growth: Management said the Mexico investments reflect a disciplined approach to capital allocation and a commitment to organic growth. Source

Cash, debt and capital returns

  • Cash fell to $12.1 million: Cash was $12.1 million at June 30, 2026, against $38.1 million at December 31, 2025. Six-month operating cash flow was $7.1 million, against $9.6 million. Source
  • Free cash flow turned negative: Free cash flow was negative $5.0 million for six months, against $5.2 million positive, as purchases of property, plant and equipment reached $12.1 million. Source
  • Trailing return on capital lower: Trailing twelve-month return on capital employed was 5.7%, or 6.2% excluding cash, against 6.8% and 7.9% in the prior quarter. Source
  • Six-month repurchases matched first quarter: Six-month repurchases were 24,545 shares at an average price of $18.62, totaling $457,000, the same figures reported for the first quarter. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 August 2026

  • Larger tooling acceptances in fourth quarter: Management said larger customer tooling acceptances are anticipated in the fourth quarter; tooling revenue otherwise remains project-driven. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
New business awards, first half 2026 Source$25.7 million

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management cited reliance on historically cyclical end markets as the reason it is diversifying its revenue base through new business. Source
  • Financial: Footprint optimization costs reduced diluted EPS by $0.12 in the quarter and $0.31 for six months, net of tax. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said truck production sales remained soft, as it had expected. Source
  • Met: Management said the Mexico team completed a major plant relocation and consolidation in under nine months. Source
  • Not stated: Management said the capacity expansion is building a platform for secured and future programs. Source
  • Not stated: Management continues to anticipate a gradual truck market recovery during the second half of the year. 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.