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Curtiss Wright Corp.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 7 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 13 raised, 6 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Total A&D and Commercial sales both grew double digits: Total A&D sales rose 14% and total Commercial sales rose 12%, with both end-market groups reporting double-digit growth in the quarter. Source
  • Adjusted operating income up 20%: Adjusted operating income rose 20% and adjusted operating margin rose 100 basis points to 17.6%, with higher revenue in all three segments lifting overhead absorption. Source
  • Adjusted diluted EPS up 23%: Adjusted diluted EPS was $3.48 against $2.82 a year earlier; reported diluted EPS was $3.46 against $2.68. Source
  • Full-year guidance raised on five measures: Full-year 2026 adjusted ranges were raised for sales, operating income, operating margin, diluted EPS and free cash flow; the company cited its start to the year. Source
  • Defense growth above expectations: Defense markets grew more than expected, led by higher submarine revenue in naval defense and higher actuation equipment sales. Source
  • Commercial nuclear sales drove power growth: Power & process growth came from commercial nuclear solutions, supporting existing reactors and advanced reactors moving from development to prototype. Source
  • Free cash flow improved to negative: Free cash flow was negative $17 million against negative $55 million, reflecting higher cash earnings and improved working capital. Source

“we have confidently increased our full-year 2026 guidance ranges for sales, operating income, operating margin, diluted EPS and free cash flow.”

Lynn M. Bamford, Chair and CEO of Curtiss-Wright Corporation

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Total sales SourceFull-year 2026$3,740 - $3,795 million; 7 - 8% growthRaised from $3,710 - $3,765 million; 6 - 8% growth
Operating income (adjusted) SourceFull-year 2026$712 - $729 million; 9 - 12% growthRaised from $703 - $722 million; 8 - 11% growth
Total operating margin (adjusted) SourceFull-year 202619.0% - 19.2%; 40 - 60 bps over 2025 adjustedRaised from 18.9% - 19.2%
Diluted EPS (adjusted) SourceFull-year 2026$14.90 - $15.30; 13 - 16% growthRaised from $14.70 - $15.15; 11 - 15% growth
Free cash flow SourceFull-year 2026$580 - $600 million; 5 - 8% growth; conversion greater than 105%Raised from $575 - $595 million
Capital expenditures SourceFull-year 2026 versus 2025Increase of approximately $25 millionKept
Aerospace & Industrial sales SourceFull-year 2026$1,040 - $1,055 million; 6 - 8% growthRaised from $1,030 - $1,045 million; 5 - 7% growth
Defense Electronics sales SourceFull-year 2026$1,055 - $1,075 million; 4 - 6% growthKept
Naval & Power sales SourceFull-year 2026$1,645 - $1,665 million; 9 - 11% growthRaised from $1,625 - $1,645 million; 8 - 9% growth
Aerospace & Industrial operating margin (adjusted) SourceFull-year 202618.4% - 18.6%; 100 - 120 bps over 2025 adjustedRaised from 18.3% - 18.5%; 90 - 110 bps
Defense Electronics operating margin (adjusted) SourceFull-year 202627.3% - 27.5%; 0 - 20 bps over 2025 adjustedKept
Naval & Power operating margin (adjusted) SourceFull-year 202616.7% - 16.9%; 40 - 60 bps over 2025 adjustedRaised from 16.6% - 16.8%; 30 - 50 bps
Aerospace & Industrial operating income (adjusted) SourceFull-year 2026$192 - $196 million; 13 - 15% growthRaised from $189 - $193 million; 11 - 14% growth
Naval & Power operating income (adjusted) SourceFull-year 2026$276 - $281 million; 13 - 15% growthRaised from $270 - $276 million; 10 - 13% growth
Defense Electronics operating income (adjusted) SourceFull-year 2026$288 - $296 million; 4 - 6% growthKept
Diluted EPS (GAAP) SourceFull-year 2026$14.76 - $15.16Raised from $14.62 - $15.07
Aerospace Defense, Naval Defense, Power & Process and total A&D and Commercial sales growth SourceFull-year 2026Aerospace Defense 11 - 13%; Naval Defense 6 - 8%; Power & Process 13 - 15%; Total A&D 6 - 8%; Total Commercial 8 - 10%Raised from Aerospace Defense 9 - 11%; Naval Defense 5 - 7%; Power & Process 12 - 14%; Total A&D 5 - 7%; Total Commercial 7 - 9%
Ground Defense, Commercial Aerospace and General Industrial sales growth SourceFull-year 2026Ground Defense (4 - 6%); Commercial Aerospace 10 - 12%; General Industrial flatKept
Other 2026 assumptions SourceFull-year 202637.1 million diluted shares; 21.5% effective tax rateKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year total sales growth range raised to 7% to 8% from 6% to 8%. Source
  • Guidance raised: Adjusted operating income growth range raised to 9% to 12% from 8% to 11%. Source
  • Guidance raised: Operating margin range raised to 19.0% to 19.2% from 18.9% to 19.2%. Source
  • Guidance raised: Adjusted diluted EPS range raised to $14.90 to $15.30 from $14.70 to $15.15. Source
  • Guidance raised: Free cash flow guidance range raised by $5 million to $580 to $600 million. Source

Results and guidance raise

  • Total A&D and Commercial sales both grew double digits: Total A&D sales rose 14% and total Commercial sales rose 12%, with both end-market groups reporting double-digit growth in the quarter. Source
  • Adjusted operating income up 20%: Adjusted operating income rose 20% and adjusted operating margin rose 100 basis points to 17.6%, with higher revenue in all three segments lifting overhead absorption. Source
  • Adjusted diluted EPS up 23%: Adjusted diluted EPS was $3.48 against $2.82 a year earlier; reported diluted EPS was $3.46 against $2.68. Source
  • Full-year guidance raised on five measures: Full-year 2026 adjusted ranges were raised for sales, operating income, operating margin, diluted EPS and free cash flow; the company cited its start to the year. Source

Segment results and margins

  • Aerospace & Industrial margin up 150 bps: Aerospace & Industrial sales rose 12% to $255 million; adjusted margin rose to 15.4% on absorption from higher revenue and restructuring benefits. Source
  • Defense Electronics margin up 60 bps: Defense Electronics sales rose 5% to $256 million; adjusted operating margin reached 28.1%, on absorption, product mix and restructuring benefits. Source
  • Naval & Power sales up 21%: Naval & Power sales rose 21% to $402 million; adjusted operating margin rose 140 basis points to 14.9%, with higher research and development spending. Source

“Overall, Curtiss-Wright remains strategically aligned with many favorable secular growth trends a cross our markets and well positioned to deliver long-term profitable growth for our shareholders.”

Lynn M. Bamford, Chair and CEO of Curtiss-Wright Corporation

End markets and growth drivers

  • Defense growth above expectations: Defense markets grew more than expected, led by higher submarine revenue in naval defense and higher actuation equipment sales. Source
  • Commercial nuclear sales drove power growth: Power & process growth came from commercial nuclear solutions, supporting existing reactors and advanced reactors moving from development to prototype. Source
  • Commercial aerospace OEM sales grew: Commercial aerospace grew on OEM sales of actuation equipment, sensors and surface treatment on narrowbody and widebody platforms; general industrial sales were modest. Source

Demand and the order book

  • Orders grew in three end markets: New orders rose compared with the prior year, principally from naval defense, commercial nuclear and industrial end markets. Source
  • Backlog rose from year-end: Backlog rose from December 31, 2025 on higher demand across the A&D and Commercial markets. Source

Margins and cost lines

  • Restructuring expense declined: Restructuring expenses were $0.9 million, against $1.3 million a year earlier, and are excluded from adjusted results. Source
  • Research and selling costs increased: Research and development was $24.2 million, selling expenses were $44.5 million and general and administrative expenses were $102.3 million. Source
  • Gross profit rose on higher sales: Gross profit was $331.5 million against $292.5 million a year earlier, with total cost of sales at $582.2 million. Source

Cash flow and working capital

  • Free cash flow improved to negative: Free cash flow was negative $17 million against negative $55 million, reflecting higher cash earnings and improved working capital. Source
  • Operating cash use narrowed: Operating cash used was $6 million against $39 million; capital expenditures were $12 million against $16 million. Source
  • Receivables and inventories increased: Receivables rose to $996 million and inventories to $641 million from year-end, while accounts payable and accrued expenses fell. Source

Capital returns

  • Buyback of 21,865 shares in Q1: The company bought back 21,865 shares for about $14 million during the first quarter. Source
  • Quarterly dividend declared at $0.24: The company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.24 a share; the income statement shows $0.21 per share a year earlier. Source

Strategy and balance sheet

  • Pivot to Growth strategy continues: Management said it continues to execute its Pivot to Growth strategy while maintaining an efficient balance sheet with ample liquidity. Source
  • 2026 restructuring excluded from adjusted: Costs of the 2026 Restructuring Program are excluded from adjusted results; the 2024 program applies to the prior-year period. Source
  • Cash and debt at quarter end: Cash and equivalents were $343 million at March 31; debt comprised $200 million current and about $758 million long-term. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
New orders Source$1.2 billion, up 16%
Book-to-bill Source1.3x
Backlog Source$4.3 billion, up 5% from December 31, 2025

Risks management discussed

  • External: Unfavorable foreign currency translation partly offset the adjusted margin gains from overhead absorption. Source
  • Operational: Timing of revenue on several helicopter programs offset part of the Defense Electronics aerospace defense growth. Source
  • Operational: Naval defense growth reflects the timing of production on submarine programs, which can move revenue between periods. Source
  • Operational: Higher research and development investment reduced the Defense Electronics margin gain. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said first-quarter results exceeded its overall expectations. 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.