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Ducommun Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 12 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue reached a record, up 9%: Net revenue was $209.0 million, up from $192.5 million a year earlier. The company said the quarter set a new record for first-quarter revenue. Source
  • Net income rose to $9.9 million: Net income was $9.9 million, or $0.64 per diluted share, against $1.4 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, a year earlier. The company cited higher gross profit and lower stock-based compensation. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 19%: Adjusted EBITDA was $35.4 million, or 16.9% of revenue, compared with $29.7 million, or 15.4% of revenue, in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Commercial aerospace grew 18%: Management said single-aisle demand for Airbus A220, A320 and Boeing 737 MAX, plus commercial rotorcraft, drove 18% growth in commercial aerospace, which it called a rebound. Source
  • Gross margin rose 70 bps to 26.9%: Gross profit was $56.2 million, or 26.9% of revenue, against 26.2% a year earlier. The company cited lower other manufacturing costs, favorable product mix and higher manufacturing volume. Source
  • Destocking headwinds expected in 2026: Management expects destocking headwinds in the remaining 2026 quarters and described its view of 2027 and 2028 as especially favorable. Source
  • Prior-year quarter restated in 10-K/A: The first quarter 2025 comparatives are as restated in the company's Form 10-K/A filed May 8, 2026. The release does not describe the nature of the restatement. Source

“An excellent quarter and strong start to 2026 for Ducommun.”

Stephen G. Oswald, chairman, president and chief executive officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EBITDA goal (VISION 2027) SourceVISION 2027 plan18%Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: The 18% Adjusted EBITDA goal under VISION 2027 was also stated in the fourth quarter 2025 release.
  • Ended: Backlog disclosure ended from January 1, 2026; the company reports only remaining performance obligations.
  • New: Comparative first quarter 2025 figures are restated, as set out in a Form 10-K/A filed May 8, 2026. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue reached a record, up 9%: Net revenue was $209.0 million, up from $192.5 million a year earlier. The company said the quarter set a new record for first-quarter revenue. Source
  • Net income rose to $9.9 million: Net income was $9.9 million, or $0.64 per diluted share, against $1.4 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, a year earlier. The company cited higher gross profit and lower stock-based compensation. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 19%: Adjusted EBITDA was $35.4 million, or 16.9% of revenue, compared with $29.7 million, or 15.4% of revenue, in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Non-GAAP net income and EPS reported: Non-GAAP adjusted net income was $11.7 million, or $0.75 per diluted share, against $3.5 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, in the prior-year quarter. Source

Segments and end markets

  • Electronic Systems revenue up 7.8%: Electronic Systems revenue was $117.6 million, against $109.1 million. Segment operating income was $22.9 million, or 19.5% of revenue, against 16.0%, which the company attributed to product mix and volume. Source
  • Structural Systems margin eased: Structural Systems revenue was $91.4 million, against $83.4 million. Segment operating income was $10.4 million, or 11.4% of revenue, against 11.9%, with unfavorable product mix noted as an offset. Source
  • Industrial revenue dipped on order timing: Industrial end-use revenue fell $1.4 million, which the company attributed mainly to timing of orders. Source

“While we expect to see some destocking headwinds in the remaining quarters of 2026, the outlook is very promising, especially in 2027 and 2028.”

Stephen G. Oswald, chairman, president and chief executive officer

Products and customers

  • Commercial aerospace grew 18%: Management said single-aisle demand for Airbus A220, A320 and Boeing 737 MAX, plus commercial rotorcraft, drove 18% growth in commercial aerospace, which it called a rebound. Source
  • Large aircraft and rotorcraft rates rose: Commercial aerospace end-use revenue rose $12.5 million, due to higher rates on large aircraft and rotary-wing aircraft platforms. Source
  • Patriot missile and F-35 growth cited: Management highlighted the Patriot missile platform within the missile franchise and cited growth on the F-35 and F-15 fixed-wing platforms. Source
  • Some military platforms had lower rates: Military and space end-use revenue rose $5.4 million, with lower rates on electronic warfare, ground vehicle weapons and radar platforms partly offsetting the gains. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gross margin rose 70 bps to 26.9%: Gross profit was $56.2 million, or 26.9% of revenue, against 26.2% a year earlier. The company cited lower other manufacturing costs, favorable product mix and higher manufacturing volume. Source
  • Operating income rose to 7.5%: Operating income was $15.7 million, or 7.5% of revenue, against $5.0 million, or 2.6%, a year earlier. The company attributed the increase to higher gross profit and lower selling, general and administrative expenses. Source
  • Corporate G&A fell on lower stock pay: CG&A expense was $17.6 million, or 8.4% of revenue, against $22.4 million, or 11.6%. The company attributed the decrease to lower stock-based compensation. Source

“with seven quarters remaining, we have high confidence”

Stephen G. Oswald, chairman, president and chief executive officer

Demand and the order book

  • Destocking headwinds expected in 2026: Management expects destocking headwinds in the remaining 2026 quarters and described its view of 2027 and 2028 as especially favorable. Source
  • Total remaining performance obligations fell: Remaining performance obligations were $1,073.7 million at April 4, 2026, down from $1,106.0 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Military and space obligations declined: Military and space remaining performance obligations were $678.8 million, against $692.7 million, and commercial aerospace was $381.9 million, against $402.2 million. Source
  • Electronic Systems obligations rose: Electronic Systems remaining performance obligations rose to $565.9 million from $552.9 million, with commercial aerospace at $56.5 million against $49.5 million. Source
  • Structural Systems obligations declined: Structural Systems remaining performance obligations were $507.9 million, down from $553.1 million, with commercial aerospace at $325.4 million against $352.6 million. Source

Capital, cash and returns to shareholders

  • Operating cash flow rose to $11.2M: Net cash provided by operations was $11.2 million, against $0.8 million a year earlier. The company attributed the increase to higher net income and higher contract liabilities, partly offset by lower accrued liabilities. Source
  • Capital spending fell to $2.6M: Total capital expenditures were $2.6 million, against $4.4 million in the first quarter of 2025, with Electronic Systems at $0.9 million and Structural Systems at $1.5 million. Source
  • Cash balance declined to $39.1M: Cash and cash equivalents were $39.1 million, down from $45.3 million at December 31, 2025. Debt was $5.0 million current and $297.6 million long-term. Source
  • Interest expense rose on debt: Interest expense was $4.0 million, against $3.3 million, which the company attributed mainly to a higher debt balance, partly offset by lower interest rates. Source

Strategy and investment

  • VISION 2027 enters fourth year: Management said the quarter is the start of the fourth year of the VISION 2027 plan and singled out commercial aerospace. Source
  • Missile framework agreements cited: Management said the company is well positioned to benefit from the Department of War's seven-year framework agreements for key missile programs with defense primes, including RTX and Lockheed Martin. Source
  • Margin expansion journey since 2023: Management described its margin expansion as a journey that started in 2023 and said the company continues to make progress on it. Source

Reporting changes and restatement

  • Prior-year quarter restated in 10-K/A: The first quarter 2025 comparatives are as restated in the company's Form 10-K/A filed May 8, 2026. The release does not describe the nature of the restatement. Source
  • December 2025 balance sheet comparatives differ: The December 31, 2025 balance sheet shows accrued and other liabilities of $51.1 million and paid-in capital of $248.5 million, against $50.9 million and $235.9 million in the fourth quarter release. Source
  • Non-GAAP measures used throughout: The release presents non-GAAP measures such as Adjusted EBITDA, which excludes interest, tax, depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation and restructuring charges. Source

Coming up, as management said on 12 May 2026

  • Missile franchise expected to build momentum: Management expects the missile franchise to continue to gather momentum through the rest of the year. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management expects destocking headwinds in the remaining quarters of 2026. Source
  • Demand: Industrial end-use revenue fell $1.4 million on order timing. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said the company is on a good pace toward the 18% Adjusted EBITDA goal and has high confidence, with seven quarters remaining. 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.