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Cooper-Standard Holdings Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 4 lowered, 2 narrowed, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Sales rose despite lower production: Third-quarter sales were $708.6 million, up 1.9%, driven by volume, mix and price adjustments, while global light vehicle production volumes fell 2.3%. Source
  • Net loss widened on restructuring: Net loss was $20.4 million, or $(1.13) per diluted share, including $19.2 million of restructuring charges, against a $7.6 million net loss a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA near prior-year level: Adjusted EBITDA was $52.8 million, or 7.5% of sales, compared with $53.3 million, or 7.7% of sales, in the third quarter of 2025. Source
  • Material and inflation costs weighed on margin: Higher material costs, general inflation, and unfavorable volume and mix were partly offset by lower compensation expense, manufacturing and purchasing savings, lower SGA&E, and lower customs, duties and tariffs. Source
  • Management expects cost recoveries sooner: Management said it is working with customers to refine commercial agreements and accelerate cost recoveries, which it expects will de-risk the business. Source
  • Net new business awards of $148.8 million: Net new business awards in the quarter totaled $148.8 million in anticipated incremental annualized sales, including $28.2 million tied to battery electric or full-hybrid platforms. Source
  • Operating cash flow positive in quarter: Net cash provided by operating activities was $5.2 million in the third quarter, versus $38.6 million a year earlier; free cash flow was an outflow of $10.8 million. Source

“headwinds from commodity prices and general inflation remained greater than we had expected in the third quarter”

Jeffrey Edwards, chairman and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Sales Sourcefull year 2026$2.75 - $2.85 billionNarrowed from $2.7 - $2.9 billion
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull year 2026$235 - $245 millionLowered from $265 - $295 million
Capital expenditures Sourcefull year 2026$65 - $70 millionNarrowed, low end up from $60 - $70 million
Cash restructuring Sourcefull year 2026$30 - $35 millionKept
Net cash interest Sourcefull year 2026$90 - $100 millionKept
Net cash taxes Sourcefull year 2026$15 - $20 millionLowered from $30 - $35 million
North America light vehicle production Sourcefull year 202615.0 million unitsLowered from 15.1 million
Europe light vehicle production Sourcefull year 202617.2 million unitsRaised from 16.9 million
Greater China light vehicle production Sourcefull year 202631.0 million unitsLowered from 31.6 million
South America light vehicle production Sourcefull year 20263.2 million unitsRaised from 3.1 million

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: Adjusted EBITDA and sales guidance lowered; prior ranges were $265-$295 million adjusted EBITDA and $2.7-$2.9 billion sales, now $235-$245 million and $2.75-$2.85 billion. Net cash taxes lowered. Source
  • Guidance raised: Capital expenditures lower bound raised to $65 million from $60 million; Europe and South America production assumptions raised. Source
  • Guidance kept: Cash restructuring and net cash interest guidance kept at prior ranges. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Sales rose despite lower production: Third-quarter sales were $708.6 million, up 1.9%, driven by volume, mix and price adjustments, while global light vehicle production volumes fell 2.3%. Source
  • Net loss widened on restructuring: Net loss was $20.4 million, or $(1.13) per diluted share, including $19.2 million of restructuring charges, against a $7.6 million net loss a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted net loss narrowed year over year: Excluding special items, adjusted net loss was $2.1 million, or $(0.11) per diluted share, compared with an adjusted net loss of $4.4 million in the third quarter of 2025. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA near prior-year level: Adjusted EBITDA was $52.8 million, or 7.5% of sales, compared with $53.3 million, or 7.7% of sales, in the third quarter of 2025. Source

Segments and regions

  • Fluid handling sales grew, sealing flat: Fluid handling systems sales were $335.1 million, up $6.6 million, while sealing systems sales were $350.3 million, up $1.5 million. Source
  • Fluid handling EBITDA rose; sealing fell: Fluid handling segment adjusted EBITDA was $32.0 million, up $3.0 million, while sealing segment adjusted EBITDA was $29.0 million, down $1.8 million. Source

“We expect these actions will further de-risk our business and enable greater long-term value creation going forward.”

Jeffrey Edwards, chairman and CEO

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Material and inflation costs weighed on margin: Higher material costs, general inflation, and unfavorable volume and mix were partly offset by lower compensation expense, manufacturing and purchasing savings, lower SGA&E, and lower customs, duties and tariffs. Source
  • Gross profit and SGA&E both declined: Gross profit was $77.8 million versus $87.1 million a year earlier; SGA&E expense was $47.0 million versus $55.4 million. Source
  • Management expects cost recoveries sooner: Management said it is working with customers to refine commercial agreements and accelerate cost recoveries, which it expects will de-risk the business. Source

Demand and new business

  • Net new business awards of $148.8 million: Net new business awards in the quarter totaled $148.8 million in anticipated incremental annualized sales, including $28.2 million tied to battery electric or full-hybrid platforms. Source
  • Nine-month awards reached $395.1 million: Net new business awards for the first nine months totaled $395.1 million, including $96.6 million associated with battery electric or full-hybrid platforms. Source

Cash, capital and liquidity

  • Operating cash flow positive in quarter: Net cash provided by operating activities was $5.2 million in the third quarter, versus $38.6 million a year earlier; free cash flow was an outflow of $10.8 million. Source
  • Cash and liquidity declined: Cash and cash equivalents were $112.3 million and total liquidity was $305.4 million at September 30, 2026. Source
  • Nine-month free cash flow outflow: Free cash flow for the first nine months was an outflow of $87.6 million, compared with an outflow of $28.3 million a year earlier. Source
  • Sufficient resources stated: Management believes it has sufficient financial resources for ongoing operations and planned strategic initiatives for the foreseeable future. Source

Strategy and value drivers

  • Value drivers named for margin recovery: Management cited new customer relationships, new programs, index-based commercial agreements and manufacturing footprint actions as drivers of profitable growth and margin enhancement as commodity costs and volumes stabilize. Source
  • Restructuring charges rose: Restructuring charges were $19.2 million in the quarter, compared with $3.5 million in the third quarter of 2025. Source

Risks management discussed

  • External: Commodity prices and general inflation remained above prior expectations, and management is seeking customer recoveries. Source
  • Demand: Global light vehicle production volumes declined 2.3% year over year, affecting volume and mix. Source
  • Financial: Free cash flow was negative for the quarter and the nine months, with restructuring charges rising. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Missed: Q2 release said the company remained on track for full-year sales and adjusted EBITDA in line with its plan; the Q3 release lowered adjusted EBITDA guidance to $235-$245 million from $265-$295 million. 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.