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Crane Nxt, Co.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 lowered, 1 narrowed, 6 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Sales rose 12% to $497 million: Net sales were $497.1 million against $445.1 million a year earlier. Organic sales grew 1.1%, and foreign exchange reduced sales by $2.9 million. Source
  • Net income and EPS fell: GAAP net income attributable to common shareholders was $38.4 million, down 24.0%. GAAP diluted EPS was $0.66 against $0.87, and net income margin was 7.7% against 11.3%. Source
  • DTT sales up 17.2% on acquisitions: DTT net sales were $253.6 million, up 17.2%. Organic sales fell $11.5 million, or 5.3%, excluding currency and acquisition effects. Source
  • Operating margin fell to 13.2%: Total operating profit was $65.7 million, a margin of 13.2% against 18.4%. The release gives no pricing figures. Source
  • Total backlog declined from June: Total backlog was $40.0 million lower than at June 30, 2026, and $158.5 million higher than at September 30, 2025. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose to $111.8 million: Free cash flow was $90.2 million against $78.7 million, after $21.6 million of capital expenditures. Adjusted free cash flow was $97.7 million. Source
  • Net leverage ratio 2.5 at quarter end: Net debt was $1,161.5 million against trailing twelve-month adjusted EBITDA of $460.3 million, giving a net leverage ratio of 2.5. Source
  • Disciplined capital deployment stated as focus: Management said it remains focused on disciplined capital deployment to support growth and create long-term shareholder value. Source

“We continued to make progress against our strategic priorities in the third quarter.”

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

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Crane NXT sales growth Sourcefull year 2026~14%Lowered from +15% to +17%
SAT segment sales growth Sourcefull year 2026~11%
Adjusted segment EBITDA margin Sourcefull year 2026~27%Kept
Adjusted EBITDA margin Sourcefull year 2026~24%Kept
Adjusted EPS Sourcefull year 2026$4.32 to $4.42Narrowed, low end up from $4.22 to $4.42
Corporate expense Sourcefull year 2026~$58Kept
Non-operating expense, net Sourcefull year 2026~$75-$80
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

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: Full-year sales growth guidance for Crane NXT moved from +15% to +17% to about 14%. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Full-year DTT segment sales growth guidance moved from low 20s percent to high-teens percent. Source
  • Guidance raised: Adjusted EPS guidance low end raised from $4.22 to $4.32; high end unchanged at $4.42. Company says it raised the midpoint and narrowed the range. Source
  • New: Management said the company secured meaningful long-term customer wins in the quarter. The release does not name the customers. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Sales rose 12% to $497 million: Net sales were $497.1 million against $445.1 million a year earlier. Organic sales grew 1.1%, and foreign exchange reduced sales by $2.9 million. Source
  • Acquisitions supplied most of growth: Acquisitions added $50.0 million to sales, against organic growth of $4.9 million, or 1.1%. Source
  • Net income and EPS fell: GAAP net income attributable to common shareholders was $38.4 million, down 24.0%. GAAP diluted EPS was $0.66 against $0.87, and net income margin was 7.7% against 11.3%. Source
  • Adjusted EPS unchanged at $1.28: Adjusted EPS was $1.28 in both the third quarter of 2026 and 2025. Adjusted net income was $74.1 million in both periods. Source

Segment results

  • SAT sales up 6.4%, profit up 17.3%: SAT net sales were $243.5 million, up 6.4%, with organic growth of 7.2%. Operating profit was $46.1 million, a margin of 18.9% against 17.2%. Source
  • DTT sales up 17.2% on acquisitions: DTT net sales were $253.6 million, up 17.2%. Organic sales fell $11.5 million, or 5.3%, excluding currency and acquisition effects. Source
  • DTT operating profit fell 41%: DTT operating profit was $35.7 million, down 41.2%. Its operating margin was 14.1% against 28.1%, and its adjusted EBITDA margin was 28.0% against 32.3%. Source
  • SAT adjusted EBITDA margin rose: SAT adjusted EBITDA was $71.0 million, up 8.6%, and its adjusted EBITDA margin rose to 29.2% from 28.6%. Source

“We secured meaningful long-term customer wins that enhance visibility into future revenue, delivered on our synergy commitments, and generated strong free cash flow.”

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

Products and customers

  • Long-term customer wins secured: Management said the quarter brought meaningful long-term customer wins that enhance visibility into future revenue. The release names no customers or contract values. Source
  • Antares Vision backlog about $125 million: About $125 million of DTT backlog at September 30, 2026 relates to the Antares Vision business, acquired in March 2026. Source
  • Antares Vision acquired March 31: The company says its trailing adjusted EBITDA includes Antares Vision for periods before the March 31, 2026 acquisition date. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Operating margin fell to 13.2%: Total operating profit was $65.7 million, a margin of 13.2% against 18.4%. The release gives no pricing figures. Source
  • Amortization and restructuring costs rose: Acquired intangible asset amortization was $25.6 million against $16.0 million. Restructuring and related costs were $6.2 million against $3.5 million. Source
  • Corporate expense lower year on year: Corporate operating expense was $16.1 million against $18.1 million. Transaction related expenses were $5.1 million against $6.1 million. Source
  • Interest expense rose: Interest expense was $19.9 million against $16.2 million a year earlier. Equity investment income was $0.1 million in both quarters. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin declined: Adjusted EBITDA rose 3.9% to $127.2 million. Its margin was 25.6% against 27.5%, a decline of 190 basis points. Source

“Our robust free cash flow generation keeps us on track to achieve our year-end deleveraging target and further strengthens our financial flexibility.”

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

Demand and the order book

  • Total backlog declined from June: Total backlog was $40.0 million lower than at June 30, 2026, and $158.5 million higher than at September 30, 2025. Source
  • SAT backlog lower than June: SAT backlog was $16.5 million lower than at June 30, 2026, and $34.0 million higher than a year earlier. Source
  • DTT backlog lower than June: DTT backlog was $23.5 million lower than at June 30, 2026, and $124.5 million higher than a year earlier, including about $125 million from Antares Vision. Source

Cash flow and leverage

  • Operating cash flow rose to $111.8 million: Free cash flow was $90.2 million against $78.7 million, after $21.6 million of capital expenditures. Adjusted free cash flow was $97.7 million. Source
  • Adjusted cash conversion at 131.8%: Adjusted free cash flow conversion was 131.8% against 115.1% a year earlier, on adjusted net income of $74.1 million. Source
  • Net leverage ratio 2.5 at quarter end: Net debt was $1,161.5 million against trailing twelve-month adjusted EBITDA of $460.3 million, giving a net leverage ratio of 2.5. Source
  • Term loan repayments in quarter: Term loan repayments were $164.9 million in the quarter, and revolving credit proceeds were $156.9 million. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • Dividend of $0.18 for fourth quarter: The company declared a $0.18 per share quarterly dividend for the fourth quarter of 2026. The third-quarter dividend was also $0.18. Source
  • Dividends paid $10.4 million: Dividends paid were $10.4 million in the quarter against $9.7 million a year earlier. Nine-month dividends paid were $31.1 million. Source
  • Disciplined capital deployment stated as focus: Management said it remains focused on disciplined capital deployment to support growth and create long-term shareholder value. Source
  • Diluted shares near 58 million: Average diluted shares outstanding were 58.1 million, against 58.0 million a year earlier. GAAP diluted EPS was $0.66. Source

Strategy and guidance

  • Strategic priorities progressed: Chief Executive Aaron W. Saak said the company continued to make progress against its strategic priorities in the third quarter. Source
  • Synergy commitments delivered: The company said it delivered on its synergy commitments. The release gives no synergy dollar figure. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 November 2026

  • Dividend payable December 9: The fourth-quarter dividend of $0.18 per share is payable December 9, 2026, to holders of record at November 30, 2026. Source

In management's words

“We are also raising the midpoint of our full-year adjusted EPS guidance.”

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

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Security and Authentication Technologies order backlog Source$481.6 million
Detection and Traceability Technologies order backlog Source$233.9 million
Total order backlog Source$715.5 million

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Restructuring and related costs of $6.2 million are described as mainly severance tied to integrating DLR and OpSec and aligning DTT's cost structure. Source
  • Financial: Interest expense rose to $19.9 million from $16.2 million, and total debt was $1,412.6 million at quarter end, excluding deferred financing costs. Source
  • Demand: DTT organic sales fell $11.5 million, or 5.3%, in the quarter, while acquisitions supplied the reported sales increase. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management states free cash flow keeps the company on track for its year-end deleveraging target. Source
  • Met: Management states the company delivered on its synergy commitments in the quarter. 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.