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Crane Nxt, Co.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 raised, 2 lowered, 6 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Sales rose 17.4% to $387.7 million: Net sales were $387.7 million against $330.3 million. Acquisitions added $26.5 million (8.0%), foreign exchange $12.6 million (3.8%) and organic sales $18.3 million (5.6%). Source
  • Sales growth guidance raised to 15% to 17%: Full-year Crane NXT sales growth guidance was raised to 15% to 17% including Antares Vision, from 4% to 6%. The release says the update reflects the acquisition. Source
  • Margin guidance lowered to 27% and 24%: Adjusted segment EBITDA margin guidance moved to about 27% from about 28%, and adjusted EBITDA margin guidance to about 24% from about 25%. Source
  • DTT sales fell 4% on lower organic volume: DTT net sales were $194.9 million, down 4.0%. Organic sales fell $10.3 million (5.1%) and foreign exchange added $2.3 million (1.1%). Source
  • Operating margin fell to 5.7%: Total operating profit was $22.2 million, a 5.7% margin against $37.3 million and 11.3%. Adjusted operating profit was $62.3 million, a 16.1% margin, with corporate operating loss of $24.3 million. Source
  • Free cash flow was negative $24.1 million: Free cash flow was negative $24.1 million against negative $32.2 million a year earlier. Operating cash flow was negative $14.0 million and capital expenditures were $10.1 million. Adjusted free cash flow conversion was negative 54.5%. Source
  • Antares Vision acquisition completed March 31: The company completed the Antares Vision acquisition on March 31, 2026, for about €362 million in cash. The prior release said it had made an initial equity investment in Q4 2025. Source

“In the first quarter, we delivered on our value creation priorities, accelerating organic growth and building on our leadership positions.”

Aaron W. Saak, Crane NXT's President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Crane NXT sales growth Sourcefull year 2026+15% to +17%Raised from +4% to +6%
DTT segment sales growth Sourcefull year 2026Low 20's %Raised from ~Flat
Adjusted segment EBITDA margin Sourcefull year 2026~27%Lowered from ~28%
Adjusted EBITDA margin Sourcefull year 2026~24%Lowered from ~25%
Adjusted EPS Sourcefull year 2026$4.10 to $4.40Kept
Corporate expense Sourcefull year 2026~$58Kept
Non-operating expense, net Sourcefull year 2026~$85Raised from ~$60
Adjusted tax rate Sourcefull year 2026~21.5%Kept
Adjusted free cash flow conversion Sourcefull year 2026~90% to ~110%Kept
Diluted shares Sourcefull year 2026~58 millionKept
Quarterly dividend Sourcesecond quarter 2026$0.18 per shareKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Crane NXT full-year sales growth guidance raised to 15% to 17% from 4% to 6%, now including Antares Vision. Source
  • Guidance raised: DTT segment sales growth guidance moved to low 20s percent from about flat. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Adjusted segment EBITDA margin guidance moved to about 27% from about 28%, and adjusted EBITDA margin guidance to about 24% from about 25%. Source
  • Guidance raised: Non-operating expense, net guidance rose to about $85 from about $60, which is an increase in expense. Source
  • New: The Antares Vision acquisition was completed on March 31, 2026, for about €362 million in cash. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Sales rose 17.4% to $387.7 million: Net sales were $387.7 million against $330.3 million. Acquisitions added $26.5 million (8.0%), foreign exchange $12.6 million (3.8%) and organic sales $18.3 million (5.6%). Source
  • Currency demand offset by CPI: Management attributed sales growth to Currency demand and acquisitions, partly offset by lower CPI volumes and acquisition-related expenses. Source
  • GAAP net income fell to $6.4 million: Net income attributable to common shareholders was $6.4 million, or $0.11 diluted EPS, against $21.7 million, or $0.38 a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose to $0.60: Adjusted EPS was $0.60 against $0.54 a year earlier. Adjusted figures exclude acquisition-related expenses and restructuring actions. Source

Full-year 2026 guidance update

  • Sales growth guidance raised to 15% to 17%: Full-year Crane NXT sales growth guidance was raised to 15% to 17% including Antares Vision, from 4% to 6%. The release says the update reflects the acquisition. Source
  • DTT growth guidance moved to low 20s: Full-year DTT segment sales growth guidance moved to low 20s percent from about flat. Source
  • Margin guidance lowered to 27% and 24%: Adjusted segment EBITDA margin guidance moved to about 27% from about 28%, and adjusted EBITDA margin guidance to about 24% from about 25%. Source
  • Adjusted EPS guidance maintained: Full-year Adjusted EPS guidance was maintained at $4.10 to $4.40, the same range given in February. Source
  • Non-operating expense guidance raised: Non-operating expense, net guidance rose to about $85 from about $60. Corporate expense guidance stayed at about $58. Source
  • Tax rate and cash conversion kept: Adjusted tax rate guidance of about 21.5% and adjusted free cash flow conversion guidance of about 90% to 110% were kept. Source

“Our first quarter results continue to show progress in the evolution of Crane NXT, with approximately 6% organic sales growth and adjusted EPS of $0.60.”

Aaron W. Saak, Crane NXT's President and Chief Executive Officer

Segment results: SAT and DTT

  • SAT sales up 51% with acquisitions: SAT net sales were $192.8 million, up 51.3%. Acquisitions added $26.5 million (20.8%), organic sales $28.6 million (22.4%) and foreign exchange $10.3 million (8.1%). Source
  • SAT margins widened year on year: SAT GAAP operating profit was $15.1 million, a 7.8% margin against 1.9%. Adjusted EBITDA was $38.6 million, a 20.0% margin against 13.9%. Source
  • DTT sales fell 4% on lower organic volume: DTT net sales were $194.9 million, down 4.0%. Organic sales fell $10.3 million (5.1%) and foreign exchange added $2.3 million (1.1%). Source
  • DTT margins compressed: DTT GAAP operating profit was $31.4 million, a 16.1% margin against 24.5%. Adjusted EBITDA was $51.8 million, a 26.6% margin against 28.2%. Source

Demand and order backlog

  • Total backlog rose to $649.3 million: Total order backlog was $649.3 million at March 31, 2026, against $492.8 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • DTT backlog almost doubled: DTT backlog rose to $220.8 million from $113.4 million at year-end. The release says $98.9 million of that backlog is from Antares Vision. Source
  • SAT backlog above year-end and prior year: SAT backlog was $428.5 million, up from $379.4 million at December 31, 2025 and $401.2 million at March 31, 2025. Source

“With the Antares Vision acquisition complete, our portfolio is increasingly integrated and aligned to growing markets with sustainable tailwinds.”

Aaron W. Saak, Crane NXT's President and Chief Executive Officer

Costs, margins and operating profit

  • Operating margin fell to 5.7%: Total operating profit was $22.2 million, a 5.7% margin against $37.3 million and 11.3%. Adjusted operating profit was $62.3 million, a 16.1% margin, with corporate operating loss of $24.3 million. Source
  • Cost of sales and SG&A rose: Cost of sales rose to $231.8 million from $190.1 million, and SG&A to $130.6 million from $102.9 million. Restructuring charges were $3.1 million, against none a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin rose to 19.3%: Adjusted EBITDA was $74.7 million, up 22.3% from $61.1 million, with a 19.3% margin against 18.5%. Source
  • Restructuring costs excluded from adjusted results: Restructuring and related costs of $3.4 million were excluded from adjusted results. The release says they are mainly severance tied to integrating DLR and OpSec and aligning DTT's cost structure. Source

Cash flow, debt and leverage

  • Free cash flow was negative $24.1 million: Free cash flow was negative $24.1 million against negative $32.2 million a year earlier. Operating cash flow was negative $14.0 million and capital expenditures were $10.1 million. Adjusted free cash flow conversion was negative 54.5%. Source
  • Net leverage ratio rose to 2.9: Total debt was $1,539.8 million and net debt $1,311.5 million at March 31, 2026. On TTM adjusted EBITDA of $448.9 million, the net leverage ratio was 2.9, against 2.3 at December 31. Source
  • Acquisition funded with term loan: Acquisitions used $225.4 million net of cash acquired. Term loan proceeds were $366.9 million and repayments $112.4 million. Cash and cash equivalents ended at $228.3 million. Source
  • Goodwill and intangibles increased: Goodwill rose to $1,398.2 million from $1,164.0 million at year-end, and intangible assets to $789.3 million from $557.2 million. Source

Dividend and share count

  • Second-quarter dividend of $0.18: The dividend for the second quarter of 2026 is $0.18 per share, the same amount as the first-quarter dividend in the prior release. Source
  • Dividends paid $10.3 million: Dividends paid were $10.3 million against $9.7 million a year earlier. Tax withholding on vested equity awards was $2.8 million. Source
  • Diluted shares 58.0 million: Average diluted shares were 58.0 million against 57.9 million. Average basic shares were 57.5 million against 57.3 million. Source

Antares Vision acquisition and portfolio

  • Antares Vision acquisition completed March 31: The company completed the Antares Vision acquisition on March 31, 2026, for about €362 million in cash. The prior release said it had made an initial equity investment in Q4 2025. Source
  • Antares described as track and trace leader: The release describes Antares Vision as a global leader in inspection, detection, and track and trace technologies, and says the portfolio is increasingly integrated. Source
  • Equity investment reduced on the balance sheet: Investment in equity affiliates and joint ventures fell to $8.1 million from $139.4 million at year-end. Redeemable noncontrolling interest rose to $21.1 million from $6.9 million. Source

Coming up, as management said on 6 May 2026

  • Second-quarter dividend payment date: The $0.18 second-quarter dividend is payable June 10, 2026, to holders of record as of May 31, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
SAT order backlog at March 31, 2026 Source$428.5 million
DTT order backlog at March 31, 2026 Source$220.8 million, including $98.9 million from Antares Vision
Total order backlog at March 31, 2026 Source$649.3 million

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Transaction related expenses of $10.3 million and acquisition related adjustments of $6.5 million were excluded from adjusted results. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said organic sales growth of 6% was in line with its expectations for the quarter. Source
  • Met: The prior release said the company remained on track to complete the acquisition in 2026. This release reports completion on March 31, 2026.
  • Not stated: Management said it was maintaining full-year Adjusted EPS guidance in the same range. 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.