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Dow Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 23 April 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales down 6% year-over-year: Net sales were $9.8 billion, down 6% from $10.4 billion a year earlier. Sales were flat in Performance Materials & Coatings and declined in the other operating segments. Source
  • GAAP net loss and lower Op. EBIT: GAAP net loss was $445 million and GAAP loss per share was $0.74. Operating EBIT was $154 million, down $76 million from the year-ago quarter. Source
  • Packaging & Specialty Plastics sales fell: Packaging & Specialty Plastics net sales were $4.9 billion, down 7% year-over-year, with local price down 9% on lower polyethylene prices. Operating EBIT fell $134 million to $208 million. Source
  • Lower prices drove the EBIT decline: Management said Operating EBIT declined mainly because of lower prices, which were partly offset by tailwinds from the cost reduction program. Source
  • Margin backdrop turned positive in March: Management said the margin backdrop began to improve in March, as global supply constraints from the Middle East conflict became widespread. Source
  • Announced pricing actions gaining momentum: Management said it is already seeing rapid momentum from announced pricing actions in every business and region, with constructive effects on operating rates. Source
  • Sadara liability adjustment of $292 million: The Sadara guarantee liability adjustment was a $292 million pretax charge, or $0.31 per share after tax, recorded in equity in losses of nonconsolidated affiliates. Source
  • Transform to Outperform reaffirmed: Management reaffirmed its commitment to Transform to Outperform, which it said is already becoming a catalyst for growth, productivity and sustained value creation. Source

“the margin backdrop began to positively inflect in March following global supply constraints, as impacts from the conflict in the Middle East quickly became widespread”

Jim Fitterling, Dow chair and CEO

What changed from last quarter

  • New: The company suspended recognition of Sadara equity losses in the first quarter of 2026, in accordance with GAAP. Source
  • New: Cash from operations and working capital improved, mainly from receipt of a payment from NOVA Chemicals in the litigation. Source
  • New: Polyethylene volumes rose in the quarter, enabled by a new polyethylene unit in Freeport, Texas. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net sales down 6% year-over-year: Net sales were $9.8 billion, down 6% from $10.4 billion a year earlier. Sales were flat in Performance Materials & Coatings and declined in the other operating segments. Source
  • Volume down 2%, local price down 7%: Volume fell 2%, driven by Industrial Intermediates & Infrastructure, which management said was affected by the Middle East conflict. Local price was down 7% against the year-ago period. Source
  • GAAP net loss and lower Op. EBIT: GAAP net loss was $445 million and GAAP loss per share was $0.74. Operating EBIT was $154 million, down $76 million from the year-ago quarter. Source
  • Operating EPS loss of $0.14: Operating EPS was a loss of $0.14, against earnings of $0.02 a year earlier. Significant items of $0.60 per share were excluded, mainly the Sadara liability adjustment and taxes on the NOVA payment. Source
  • Operating cash flow up $1.0 billion: Cash from continuing operations was $1.1 billion, up $1.0 billion from $104 million a year earlier, driven by the NOVA Chemicals payment and working capital improvements. Source

Segments and regions

  • Packaging & Specialty Plastics sales fell: Packaging & Specialty Plastics net sales were $4.9 billion, down 7% year-over-year, with local price down 9% on lower polyethylene prices. Operating EBIT fell $134 million to $208 million. Source
  • Polyethylene volumes gained in all regions: Polyethylene volumes rose in all regions, offset in part by lower merchant olefins sales and lower licensing revenue. Cost reduction tailwinds also supported segment operating EBIT. Source
  • Industrial Intermediates loss narrowed: Net sales were $2.6 billion, down 8%, with volume down 4% on Polyurethanes & Construction Chemicals. Operating EBIT was a loss of $118 million, against a loss of $128 million a year earlier. Source
  • Performance Materials & Coatings earnings rose: Net sales were $2.1 billion, flat, with volume up 2% led by downstream silicones and acrylic monomers. Operating EBIT rose $68 million to $117 million. Source
  • Sales down in U.S. & Canada: U.S. & Canada sales were $3.8 billion, down 10% from $4.2 billion. EMEAI was $3.2 billion, down 3%, Asia Pacific $1.7 billion, down 6%, and Latin America $1.1 billion, flat. Source

“We also remain steadfast in our commitment to Transform to Outperform, which is already becoming a catalyst for growth, productivity and sustained value creation well into the future.”

Jim Fitterling, Dow chair and CEO

Products and customers

  • Alkoxylation and data center demand: Industrial Solutions volumes rose on recent alkoxylation investments and data center demand. Those gains were more than offset by lower local prices and lower licensing revenue. Source
  • Silicones volume growth in Consumer Solutions: Consumer Solutions net sales rose on currency tailwinds and volume gains in downstream silicones, led by electronics applications globally and home and personal care in the U.S. & Canada. Source
  • Propylene oxide unit shutdown cut volumes: Polyurethanes & Construction Chemicals volumes fell after the late 2025 shutdown of a higher-cost upstream propylene oxide unit in the U.S. Gulf Coast, and from the Middle East conflict. Source
  • Merchant olefins fell after cracker idling: Hydrocarbons & Energy net sales declined on lower merchant olefins sales, following the mid-2025 idling of a cracker in EMEAI and planned maintenance on the U.S. Gulf Coast. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Lower prices drove the EBIT decline: Management said Operating EBIT declined mainly because of lower prices, which were partly offset by tailwinds from the cost reduction program. Source
  • Local price down in every segment: Local price fell 9% in Packaging & Specialty Plastics, 8% in Industrial Intermediates & Infrastructure, and 4% in Performance Materials & Coatings, for a 7% total decline. Source
  • Planned maintenance weighed on margins: Packaging & Specialty Plastics operating EBIT was also hit by higher planned maintenance activity, while Corporate operating EBIT was a loss of $53 million against $33 million a year earlier. Source
  • Cost reduction offset part of price drop: Cost reduction tailwinds were cited across segments, partly offsetting lower prices in Industrial Intermediates & Infrastructure, which also benefited from lower planned maintenance. Source

“We are already seeing rapid positive momentum from our announced pricing actions in every business and every region, as well as constructive impacts to our operating rates”

Fitterling

Demand and market conditions

  • Margin backdrop turned positive in March: Management said the margin backdrop began to improve in March, as global supply constraints from the Middle East conflict became widespread. Source
  • Announced pricing actions gaining momentum: Management said it is already seeing rapid momentum from announced pricing actions in every business and region, with constructive effects on operating rates. Source
  • Supply routes used to serve customers: Management said it is using its asset footprint, supply chain routes and asset reliability to prioritize customers and manage the conflict in the Middle East. Source

Significant items and Sadara

  • Sadara liability adjustment of $292 million: The Sadara guarantee liability adjustment was a $292 million pretax charge, or $0.31 per share after tax, recorded in equity in losses of nonconsolidated affiliates. Source
  • Sadara equity losses no longer recognized: Management said the company suspended Sadara equity loss recognition in the first quarter, and that carrying value of balance sheet liabilities reached total existing obligations and commitments. Source
  • NOVA-related tax charge excluded: A $150 million income tax charge tied to the NOVA Chemicals legal matter was excluded from operating results, alongside a $26 million pretax litigation gain. Source
  • Transform to Outperform costs excluded: Transform to Outperform costs excluded from operating results were $80 million pretax, $63 million after tax, or $0.09 per share, in SG&A and restructuring charges. Source

Capital, cash and returns

  • Free cash flow of $621 million: Free cash flow was $621 million after $503 million of capital expenditures, compared with negative $581 million a year earlier. Source
  • Dividends of $252 million paid: The company returned $252 million to shareholders in dividends in the quarter, down from $494 million paid a year earlier. Source
  • Cash flow conversion at 65.4% trailing: Cash flow conversion to Operating EBITDA was 128.8% in the quarter and 65.4% on a trailing twelve-month basis, per the company's reconciliation. Source
  • Cash balance rose to $4.1 billion: Cash and cash equivalents were $4.1 billion at March 31, 2026, up from $3.8 billion at December 31, 2025. Noncurrent long-term debt was $17.3 billion. Source
  • Receivables and inventory absorbed cash: Receivables used $531 million and inventories used $180 million, offset by a $551 million rise in trade payables. Source
  • Noncontrolling interests income rose: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests was $88 million, against $17 million a year earlier. Net loss available to Dow Inc. common stockholders was $533 million. Source

Strategy and investment

  • Transform to Outperform reaffirmed: Management reaffirmed its commitment to Transform to Outperform, which it said is already becoming a catalyst for growth, productivity and sustained value creation. Source
  • Simplifying the operating model: Transform to Outperform aims to radically simplify operations, reengineer processes and cost structures, and modernize how the company serves customers. Source
  • Expected margins and shareholder returns: Management said these actions position the company for improved growth and productivity, expanded margins, and higher shareholder returns across the cycle. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Volume change, year-over-year Source-2%

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Planned maintenance activity on the U.S. Gulf Coast reduced merchant olefins sales this quarter. Source
  • External: The Middle East conflict affected volumes in Industrial Intermediates & Infrastructure and spread supply constraints. Source
  • Demand: Local prices declined 7% year-over-year, which management cited as the main driver of lower operating EBIT. Source
  • Financial: The Sadara guarantee liability was adjusted and the carrying value of balance sheet liabilities reached existing obligations and commitments. Source
  • Regulatory: The company is in ongoing litigation with NOVA Chemicals, and the related gain and tax effects were treated as significant items. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management reaffirmed its commitment to Transform to Outperform as the company's continuing program. Source
  • Not stated: Management said first-quarter results reflect the growing impact of its self-help actions. 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.