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Dauch Corp.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

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

Key takeaways

  • Dowlais drove the year-over-year change: Sales rose to $2.91 billion from $1.51 billion a year earlier. Management attributed the year-over-year change in results mainly to the Dowlais acquisition. Source
  • Net loss attributable to Dauch: The company reported a net loss attributable to Dauch of $(45.3) million, or $(0.19) per share, against net income of $9.2 million, or $0.07 per share, a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EPS fell year over year: Adjusted earnings per share was $0.22, against $0.30 in the third quarter of 2025. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin declined: Adjusted EBITDA was $358.5 million, or 12.3% of sales, against $195.7 million, or 13.0% of sales, a year earlier. Source
  • Restructuring and acquisition costs more than doubled: Restructuring and acquisition-related costs were $47.4 million against $21.4 million, and selling, general and administrative expenses were $140.4 million against $98.8 million. Source
  • Interest expense more than doubled: Interest expense was $86.6 million against $42.7 million, while interest income was $5.7 million against $7.0 million. Source
  • Adjusted free cash flow rose: Adjusted free cash flow was $126.7 million against $98.1 million, after cash payments for restructuring, acquisition-related and synergy integration costs. Source

“We generated strong cash flow in the quarter while supporting new program launches”

David C. Dauch, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales SourceFull year 2026$10.8 - $10.875 billionRaised from $10.6 - $10.8 billion
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFull year 2026$1.35 - $1.375 billionLowered from $1.36 - $1.425 billion
Synergy benefits included in Adjusted EBITDA SourceFull year 2026$70 - $75 millionNarrowed, low end up from $60 - $75 million
Synergy run rate SourceEnd of year onegreater than $100 million
Adjusted free cash flow SourceFull year 2026$270 - $310 million
Restructuring cash payments SourceFull year 2026$135 - $150 million
Synergy implementation cash payments SourceFull year 2026$85 - $100 million
Net loss SourceFull year 2026$(220) million to $(195) million
Targeted EBITDA SourceFull year 2026$960 - $985 million
Acquisition-related costs (Adjusted EBITDA reconciling item) SourceFull year 2026$60 million
Restructuring costs (Adjusted EBITDA reconciling item) SourceFull year 2026$100 million
Synergy integration costs (Adjusted EBITDA reconciling item) SourceFull year 2026$110 million
Net cash provided by operating activities SourceFull year 2026$330 - $340 million
Capital expenditures net of proceeds SourceFull year 2026$(450) million
Free cash flow SourceFull year 2026$(120) - $(110) million
Cash payments for acquisition-related costs SourceFull year 2026$170 million

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year sales target raised to $10.8 - $10.875 billion from $10.6 - $10.8 billion. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Full-year Adjusted EBITDA target lowered to $1.35 - $1.375 billion from $1.36 - $1.425 billion. Source
  • Guidance raised: Synergy benefit within Adjusted EBITDA raised to $70 - $75 million from $60 - $75 million, with the low end raised. Source
  • Guidance kept: China JV equity income target of $70 - $80 million is unchanged. Source
  • New: Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted earnings per share now use a revised definition, and prior-period amounts were recast to match. Source
  • New: Certain plant locations previously reported under Metal Forming were moved to Driveline in the first quarter of 2026, and 2025 segment figures were recast. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Dowlais drove the year-over-year change: Sales rose to $2.91 billion from $1.51 billion a year earlier. Management attributed the year-over-year change in results mainly to the Dowlais acquisition. Source
  • Net loss attributable to Dauch: The company reported a net loss attributable to Dauch of $(45.3) million, or $(0.19) per share, against net income of $9.2 million, or $0.07 per share, a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EPS fell year over year: Adjusted earnings per share was $0.22, against $0.30 in the third quarter of 2025. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin declined: Adjusted EBITDA was $358.5 million, or 12.3% of sales, against $195.7 million, or 13.0% of sales, a year earlier. Source
  • Nine-month sales and net loss: For the nine months, net sales were $8,243.1 million against $4,452.8 million, and net loss attributable to Dauch was $(144.6) million. Source

Segments and regions

  • Driveline sales and EBITDA rose: Driveline sales were $2,165.8 million against $1,073.8 million, and segment Adjusted EBITDA was $263.9 million against $163.3 million. Source
  • Metal Forming sales and EBITDA rose: Metal Forming sales were $870.5 million against $543.3 million, and segment Adjusted EBITDA was $94.6 million against $32.4 million. Source
  • Intersegment sales removed to reach total: Total segment sales were $3,036.3 million, less intersegment sales of $(127.7) million, giving net external sales of $2,908.6 million. Source

“At the same time, we are making excellent progress on synergy realization, and we remain focused on delivering long-term value for our stakeholders.”

David C. Dauch, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Products, customers and demand

  • Powertrain-agnostic driveline and metal forming: The company describes itself as a Driveline and Metal Forming supplier with a portfolio that supports electric, hybrid and internal combustion vehicles. Source
  • GKN businesses sit within Dauch: The company was formed through the Dowlais acquisition and its subsidiaries GKN Automotive and GKN Powder Metallurgy. Source
  • Footprint across 24 countries: Operations span 24 countries and more than 175 locations, with headquarters in Detroit, Michigan. Source
  • Guidance rests on production estimates: Full-year targets are based on production estimates for key programs the company supports and on the current operating environment. Source
  • Equity-method affiliate income rose: Income from equity-method affiliates was $15.1 million against a $(0.4) million loss a year earlier. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gross profit rose on higher sales: Gross profit was $282.2 million against $189.0 million, on net sales of $2,908.6 million against $1,505.3 million. Source
  • Restructuring and acquisition costs more than doubled: Restructuring and acquisition-related costs were $47.4 million against $21.4 million, and selling, general and administrative expenses were $140.4 million against $98.8 million. Source
  • Interest expense more than doubled: Interest expense was $86.6 million against $42.7 million, while interest income was $5.7 million against $7.0 million. Source
  • Derivative mark-to-market item in other expense: Other income (expense), net was $(35.9) million, including a $32.2 million mark-to-market item on nondesignated derivatives assumed in the Dowlais combination. Source

Cash, debt and capital

  • Adjusted free cash flow rose: Adjusted free cash flow was $126.7 million against $98.1 million, after cash payments for restructuring, acquisition-related and synergy integration costs. Source
  • Operating and free cash flow both periods: Operating cash flow was $150.1 million against $143.3 million; free cash flow was $55.4 million against $79.5 million, after capital expenditures net of proceeds. Source
  • Debt and cash position changed: Net debt activity was $(125.1) million in the quarter. Long-term debt, net was $4,895.0 million at September 30, 2026, against $4,039.1 million at December 31, 2025. Source

Synergies and investment

  • Synergy integration cash payments: Cash payments for synergy integration costs were $18.8 million in the quarter and $54.8 million for the nine months. Source
  • Acquisition cash payments in nine months: Cash payments for acquisition-related costs were $21.5 million in the quarter and $168.0 million for the nine months, against $17.4 million a year earlier. Source
  • Goodwill and affiliate investments rose: Goodwill was $682.9 million and investments in equity-method affiliates were $865.1 million at September 30, 2026, against $174.4 million and $12.1 million at December 31, 2025. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Full-year targets assume no change to USMCA and mitigation of most incremental tariff costs. Source
  • Demand: Full-year targets depend on production estimates for key programs and on the current operating environment. Source
  • Financial: Restructuring and acquisition-related costs were $47.4 million in the quarter, against $21.4 million a year earlier. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management restated its synergy benefit target and run-rate expectation in the updated guidance. Source
  • Not stated: The China JV equity income target carried over unchanged from the earlier plan. Source
  • Not stated: Management said it is making progress on synergy realization and remains focused on long-term value. 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.