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Crane Co.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 27 April 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 raised, 5 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Adjusted EPS rose to $1.65: Adjusted EPS from continuing operations was $1.65 against $1.43. GAAP EPS was $1.14 against $1.34, with the gap reflecting transaction costs and intangible amortization. Source
  • Acquisitions drove most sales growth: Net sales rose 24.9% to $696.4 million. Acquisitions added 18.3%, core sales 3.8% and foreign exchange 2.7%, with core sales up $21.4 million. Source
  • Adjusted operating profit up 28.7%: Adjusted operating profit was $137.8 million against $107.1 million, driven by contribution from recent acquisitions and productivity. Source
  • Full-year adjusted EPS range raised: The full-year adjusted EPS range moved to $6.65 - $6.85 from $6.55 - $6.75, which the company described as balanced against the external backdrop. Source
  • Aerospace sales rose 27.9%: Aerospace & Advanced Technologies sales were $318.3 million: 9.4% core growth, 17.2% from the Druck acquisition and 1.2% from foreign exchange. Source
  • Process Flow core sales slipped: Process Flow Technologies sales were $378.1 million, up 22.5%. Acquisitions added 19.2% and foreign exchange 3.9%, with core sales down 0.6%. Source
  • Total core backlog up 9.1%: Total company core backlog grew 9.1% year over year. Reported total backlog was $1,794.8 million at March 31, 2026, against $1,435.4 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Cash used in operations: Operating activities used $29.5 million, and capital expenditures were $10.7 million. Free cash flow was negative $40.2 million, against negative $60.4 million a year earlier. Source

“Results exceeded our expectations with the majority of our outperformance driven by outstanding execution and momentum across our recent acquisitions which are already contributing meaningfully to earnings growth.”

Alex Alcala, Crane's President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EPS SourceFull year 2026$6.65 - $6.85Raised from $6.55 - $6.75
Adjusted EPS growth versus 2025 (midpoint) SourceFull year 2026approximately 12%Raised from approximately 10%
Total sales growth SourceFull year 2026low- to mid-20%sKept
Foreign exchange benefit to sales SourceFull year 2026roughly 1 percent
Adjusted segment operating margin SourceFull year 2026nearly 23.0%Raised from 22.5%+
Corporate cost SourceFull year 2026approximately $80-$85 millionKept
Net non-operating expense SourceFull year 2026approximately $58 millionKept
Adjusted tax rate SourceFull year 2026approximately 23.0%Kept
Diluted shares SourceFull year 2026~59 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Adjusted EPS range raised to $6.65 - $6.85 from $6.55 - $6.75. Source
  • Guidance raised: Adjusted segment operating margin estimate moved to nearly 23.0% from the prior 22.5%+. Source
  • Guidance kept: Total sales growth range was not changed from the prior release. Source
  • New: Alex Alcala is identified as President and Chief Executive Officer; the prior release set April 27, 2026 as his effective date. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Adjusted EPS rose to $1.65: Adjusted EPS from continuing operations was $1.65 against $1.43. GAAP EPS was $1.14 against $1.34, with the gap reflecting transaction costs and intangible amortization. Source
  • Acquisitions drove most sales growth: Net sales rose 24.9% to $696.4 million. Acquisitions added 18.3%, core sales 3.8% and foreign exchange 2.7%, with core sales up $21.4 million. Source
  • Operating profit fell 1.0%: GAAP operating profit was $100.1 million against $101.1 million, which management attributed primarily to acquisition-related transaction costs and intangible amortization. Source
  • Adjusted operating profit up 28.7%: Adjusted operating profit was $137.8 million against $107.1 million, driven by contribution from recent acquisitions and productivity. Source
  • Full-year adjusted EPS range raised: The full-year adjusted EPS range moved to $6.65 - $6.85 from $6.55 - $6.75, which the company described as balanced against the external backdrop. Source

Segments and business units

  • Aerospace sales rose 27.9%: Aerospace & Advanced Technologies sales were $318.3 million: 9.4% core growth, 17.2% from the Druck acquisition and 1.2% from foreign exchange. Source
  • Aerospace adjusted margin down 160bps: Adjusted Aerospace operating margin, excluding transaction costs and intangible amortization, was 24.6% against 26.2%, a decline of 160 basis points. Source
  • Process Flow core sales slipped: Process Flow Technologies sales were $378.1 million, up 22.5%. Acquisitions added 19.2% and foreign exchange 3.9%, with core sales down 0.6%. Source
  • Process Flow adjusted margin up 50bps: Adjusted Process Flow operating margin was 22.1% against 21.6%. Reported Process Flow margin was 17.0% against 20.3%. Source
  • Corporate operating result declined: Corporate operating result was a loss of $35.6 million against a loss of $26.3 million a year earlier. Source

“With geopolitical developments and a more uncertain macroeconomic environment, our first‑quarter results demonstrate the resilience of our business and the strength of our operating fundamentals.”

Alex Alcala, Crane's President and Chief Executive Officer

Demand and order book

  • Total core backlog up 9.1%: Total company core backlog grew 9.1% year over year. Reported total backlog was $1,794.8 million at March 31, 2026, against $1,435.4 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Aerospace core backlog up 14%: Aerospace & Advanced Technologies core backlog grew 14% year over year. Segment backlog was $1,188.6 million at March 31, 2026. Source
  • Process Flow orders and backlog rose: Process Flow core orders rose 5% year over year, and core backlog rose 7% sequentially. Source
  • Acquired backlog reported separately: Backlog includes $93.4 million from Druck in Aerospace & Advanced Technologies and $222.2 million from Panametrics, Reuter-Stokes and optek-Danulat in Process Flow Technologies. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Reported margin fell on deal costs: GAAP operating margin was 14.4% against 18.1%. Adjusted operating margin was 19.8% against 19.2%, up 60 basis points. Source
  • Transaction and amortization costs rose: Transaction-related expenses were $21.6 million against $2.2 million. Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles was $15.9 million against $3.7 million. Source
  • Volume and price offset Druck dilution: Aerospace reported operating margin fell 350 basis points to 22.5%. Druck dilution was offset by higher volumes and favorable net price. Source

“Our incredible culture and unique business system position us to outperform in evolving market conditions and generate long‑term value for shareholders.”

Alex Alcala, Crane's President and Chief Executive Officer

Cash, capital and shareholder returns

  • Cash used in operations: Operating activities used $29.5 million, and capital expenditures were $10.7 million. Free cash flow was negative $40.2 million, against negative $60.4 million a year earlier. Source
  • Acquisitions drew on escrowed funds: Acquisition payments were $1,355.4 million net of cash acquired. Escrowed funds of $1.2 billion related to the acquisitions were held as restricted cash at year-end. Source
  • Cash and total debt at quarter-end: Cash was $355.4 million and total debt $1,198.2 million at March 31, 2026, against cash of $506.5 million at year-end. Source
  • Second quarter dividend at $0.255: The company declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.255 per share, the same amount declared for the first quarter in the prior release. Source
  • Dividends and debt proceeds in quarter: Dividends paid were $14.7 million, net employee stock plan payments $10.9 million, and proceeds from debt $50.0 million. Source
  • Goodwill rose to $1,346.4 million: Goodwill was $1,346.4 million at March 31, 2026, against $683.9 million at December 31, 2025. Total assets were $4,051.7 million. Source

Strategy, backdrop and workforce

  • Investment in growth priorities: Management said it continues investing in growth priorities and technology platforms, alongside focus on areas within its control. Source
  • Execution and acquired businesses cited: Management cited continued execution of the strategy, progress across growth initiatives, and performance by recently acquired businesses. Source
  • Focus on controllable areas: Management said it remains focused on executing with discipline in the areas within its control, staying agile and supporting customers globally. Source
  • Workforce of about 9,000: The company said it has approximately 9,000 employees across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia, against 8,500 in the prior release. Source
  • Raise balanced against backdrop: Management described the raised EPS range as balanced against the evolving external backdrop. Source
  • Legacy business performed well: Management said the legacy business had nearly 4% core sales growth and solid operating leverage. Source

Coming up, as management said on 27 April 2026

  • Second quarter dividend payable June 10: The $0.255 per share dividend is payable June 10, 2026 to holders of record on May 29, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total company core backlog growth, year over year Source9.1%
Total order backlog at March 31, 2026 Source$1,794.8 million
Aerospace & Advanced Technologies backlog Source$1,188.6 million
Process Flow Technologies backlog Source$606.2 million
Process Flow Technologies core orders growth, year over year Source5%
Aerospace & Advanced Technologies core backlog growth, year over year Source14%

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management cited geopolitical developments and a more uncertain macroeconomic environment as the external backdrop for the quarter. Source
  • Financial: Operating working capital absorbed $133.2 million in the quarter, compared with $146.4 million a year earlier. Source
  • Demand: Process Flow operating margin fell partly on lower volumes, alongside acquisition-related costs and dilution. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said recent acquisitions performed above expectations and drove most of the earnings excess. Source
  • Not stated: Adjusted segment operating margin estimate is now nearly 23.0%, described as up slightly from the prior estimate. 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.