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Distribution Solutions Group, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 30 April 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue grew 3.8% on organic sales: Revenue rose $18.0 million, or 3.8%, to $496.0 million; daily sales improved across all verticals, with organic growth of 3.6%. Source
  • Operating income fell from last year: Operating income was $13.6 million, down from $20.1 million; adjusted operating income was $29.1 million against $34.4 million a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin fell 140bps: Adjusted EBITDA was $37.8 million, or 7.6% of sales, against $42.8 million, or 9.0%; the fourth quarter was $35.4 million, or 7.4%. Source
  • Gross margin fell to 32.9%: Gross margin was 32.9% against 34.3%, which the company ties to customer and vertical sales mix shifts and higher tariff rates, partly offset by pricing benefits. Source
  • Operating cash outflow of $20.4 million: Operating cash flow was negative $20.4 million, against negative $4.8 million a year earlier. Source
  • Liquidity $415.2 million at quarter end: Total liquidity was $415.2 million, including $65.0 million of cash and $350.2 million available under the credit facility; net debt leverage was 3.8x, against 3.5x at year end. Source

“Distribution Solutions Group delivered improved revenue and sequential profitability growth in the first quarter.”

Distribution Solutions Group, Inc., press release

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Closed the acquisition of Eastern Valve & Control Specialties Ltd. during the quarter. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue grew 3.8% on organic sales: Revenue rose $18.0 million, or 3.8%, to $496.0 million; daily sales improved across all verticals, with organic growth of 3.6%. Source
  • Organic sales grew sequentially: Compared with the fourth quarter, organic sales rose 2.8% and organic average daily sales rose 3.7%. Source
  • Operating income fell from last year: Operating income was $13.6 million, down from $20.1 million; adjusted operating income was $29.1 million against $34.4 million a year earlier. Source
  • Net income and EPS declined: Net income was $0.4 million against $3.3 million; diluted EPS was $0.01 against $0.07, and non-GAAP adjusted diluted EPS was $0.24 against $0.31. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin fell 140bps: Adjusted EBITDA was $37.8 million, or 7.6% of sales, against $42.8 million, or 9.0%; the fourth quarter was $35.4 million, or 7.4%. Source

Segments and regions

  • Lawson Products profit declined: Lawson Products revenue was $123.7 million against $120.5 million; operating income fell to $3.1 million from $6.3 million, and adjusted EBITDA margin was 9.3% against 11.9%. Source
  • TestEquity revenue grew most: TestEquity revenue was $204.2 million against $188.8 million; operating income was $4.0 million against $4.1 million, and adjusted EBITDA margin was 6.5% against 6.8%. Source
  • Gexpro Services profit lower: Gexpro Services revenue was $117.6 million against $118.9 million; operating income fell to $8.4 million from $11.2 million, and adjusted EBITDA margin was 10.2% against 12.6%. Source
  • Canada Branch roughly flat: Canada Branch Division revenue was $51.0 million against $50.5 million; operating income was $0.4 million against $0.7 million, and adjusted EBITDA margin was 5.5% against 5.2%. Source
  • Centers ship across several regions: Distribution and service centers ship to customers in North America, Europe, Asia, South America and the Middle East. Source

“Profitability improved sequentially on higher sales with positive momentum exiting the fourth quarter.”

Distribution Solutions Group, Inc., press release

Costs and expenses

  • SG&A rose $5.8 million: Selling, general and administrative expenses were $149.7 million, against $143.9 million a year earlier. Source
  • Non-recurring items were $4.5 million: Non-recurring items were $4.5 million, against $2.7 million a year earlier. Source
  • Cost of goods sold rose: Cost of goods sold was $332.7 million against $314.0 million, while revenue rose 3.8%. Source
  • Interest expense fell $2.0 million: Interest expense was $12.2 million against $14.2 million; income tax expense was $0.4 million against $2.3 million. Source
  • All Other loss little changed: The All Other operating loss was $2.3 million, against $2.2 million a year earlier. Source

Margins and pricing

  • Gross margin fell to 32.9%: Gross margin was 32.9% against 34.3%, which the company ties to customer and vertical sales mix shifts and higher tariff rates, partly offset by pricing benefits. Source
  • Operating margin fell to 2.7%: Operating margin was 2.7% against 4.2% a year earlier and 1.6% in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Timing and selling days cost 70bps: The company estimates timing and isolated expenses, plus fewer selling days, reduced adjusted EBITDA margin by about 70bps. Source

“Excluding these items, adjusted EBITDA would have been 8.3% for the quarter.”

Distribution Solutions Group, Inc., press release

Cash, capital and returns to shareholders

  • Operating cash outflow of $20.4 million: Operating cash flow was negative $20.4 million, against negative $4.8 million a year earlier. Source
  • Receivables and inventory rose: Receivables rose to $306.7 million from $271.3 million, and inventories rose to $373.5 million from $353.4 million. Source
  • Liquidity $415.2 million at quarter end: Total liquidity was $415.2 million, including $65.0 million of cash and $350.2 million available under the credit facility; net debt leverage was 3.8x, against 3.5x at year end. Source
  • Capex and acquisition cash outflows: Net capital expenditures were $5.6 million; business acquisitions used $16.2 million, net of cash acquired. Source
  • Share repurchases nearly nil: Common stock repurchases were $3 thousand, against $11.2 million a year earlier. Source

Eastern Valve acquisition

  • Eastern Valve serves Atlantic Canada: Eastern Valve & Control Specialties Ltd. provides industrial valve products and related services across Atlantic Canada. Source
  • Acquisition added $0.8 million revenue: The acquisition contributed $0.8 million of revenue for the partial quarter after closing. Source
  • Acquisition expands Canadian footprint: The company says the acquisition scales and expands its operating footprint in the Canadian market. Source

People and workforce

  • Severance and retention costs $1.1 million: Severance and acquisition-related retention expenses were $1.1 million, for actions outside a formal restructuring plan. Source
  • Stock-based compensation more than doubled: Stock-based compensation was $2.4 million against $1.0 million; part of it varies with the stock price. Source
  • About 4,300 employees: The company describes itself as supported by about 4,300 dedicated employees. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Customers Sourceapproximately 220,000

Risks management discussed

  • External: Higher tariff rates on inbound shipments weighed on gross margin. Source
  • Operational: Timing and isolated expenses, plus fewer selling days, reduced adjusted EBITDA margin. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The company had flagged first-quarter margin pressure earlier; the release does not state whether that was met. 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.