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Ecovyst Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 7 raised, 1 narrowed, 1 new, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Sales grew 42% year on year: Sales rose to $250.0 million from $176.1 million, reflecting higher sales volume and pricing. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA up 27%: Adjusted EBITDA was $53.1 million, up from $41.9 million, a margin of 21.2% against 23.8% a year earlier. Source
  • Full-year guidance raised on first half: Management raised full-year guidance, citing first-half results and the expected second-half contribution of Calabrian. Source
  • Pass-through of higher sulfur costs: Average selling prices rose mainly from pass-through of about $55 million of higher sulfur costs, plus contract pricing for regenerated acid. Source
  • Broader sulfur-based platform: Management says the Calabrian deal broadens the sulfur-based platform and expands presence in mining and water treatment. Source

“In the second quarter of 2026 Ecovyst continued to deliver on its financial and long-term strategic objectives.”

Kurt J. Bitting, Ecovyst’s Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Sales Sourcefull year 2026$1,020 million to $1,060 millionRaised from $890 million to $970 million
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull year 2026approximately $195 million to $207 millionRaised from $180 million to $195 million
Adjusted EBITDA, Calabrian contribution Sourcesecond half of 2026$10 million to $12 millionNew
Adjusted Free Cash Flow Sourcefull year 2026$45 million to $55 millionNarrowed, low end up from $40 million to $55 million
Capital expenditures Sourcefull year 2026$85 million to $95 millionRaised from $80 million to $90 million
Interest expense Sourcefull year 2026$18 million to $22 millionKept
Depreciation & Amortization Sourcefull year 2026$80 million to $84 millionRaised from $78 million to $82 million
Effective tax rate Sourcefull year 2026mid 20% rangeKept
Adjusted Net Income Sourcefull year 2026$65 million to $85 millionRaised from $55 million to $75 million
Adjusted Diluted Income per share Sourcefull year 2026$0.58 to $0.72Raised from $0.50 to $0.65
Sulfur cost pass-through in sales Sourcefull year 2026approximately $220 millionRaised from approximately $155 million

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year Adjusted EBITDA guidance raised to a range of $195 million to $207 million. Source
  • Guidance raised: Sulfur cost pass-through assumption in 2026 sales raised from about $155 million to about $220 million. Source
  • New: Completed acquisition of the Calabrian sulfur dioxide and related derivatives business from INEOS Enterprises, closing June 30, 2026. Source
  • Guidance kept: Interest expense and effective tax rate guidance were not changed. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Sales grew 42% year on year: Sales rose to $250.0 million from $176.1 million, reflecting higher sales volume and pricing. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA up 27%: Adjusted EBITDA was $53.1 million, up from $41.9 million, a margin of 21.2% against 23.8% a year earlier. Source
  • Net income and diluted EPS: Net income from continuing operations was $10.7 million, against $5.0 million a year earlier, with diluted EPS of $0.10. Source
  • Adjusted diluted EPS $0.21: Adjusted Net Income was $23.4 million, against $11.4 million a year earlier, with Adjusted Diluted Income per share of $0.21. Source
  • Full-year guidance raised on first half: Management raised full-year guidance, citing first-half results and the expected second-half contribution of Calabrian. Source

Products and volumes

  • Regenerated acid volume increased: Regenerated acid sales volume rose on demand and lower customer downtime, with refinery utilization and alkylate economics cited. Source
  • Virgin acid volume up double digits: Virgin acid volume rose double digits, which management attributed to demand and the Waggaman plant acquired in May 2025. Source

“We remain focused on creating long-term stockholder value by delivering differentiated growth by capitalizing on favorable trends in our end-use segments”

Kurt J. Bitting, Ecovyst’s Chief Executive Officer

Costs, pricing and margins

  • Pass-through of higher sulfur costs: Average selling prices rose mainly from pass-through of about $55 million of higher sulfur costs, plus contract pricing for regenerated acid. Source
  • Manufacturing and freight costs rose: Adjusted EBITDA growth was partly offset by higher manufacturing costs, general inflation and higher transportation costs. Source

Strategy and the Calabrian acquisition

  • Broader sulfur-based platform: Management says the Calabrian deal broadens the sulfur-based platform and expands presence in mining and water treatment. Source
  • Adjacent applications named as growth areas: Management names food processing and pharmaceuticals as adjacent applications for growth through the Calabrian business. Source

Cash flow and balance sheet

  • Operating cash flow for six months: Operating cash flow from continuing operations was $55.2 million for the first six months, against $25.3 million a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted Free Cash Flow for six months: Adjusted Free Cash Flow was $12.8 million for the first six months, against negative $2.4 million a year earlier. Source
  • Available liquidity of $176.3 million: Cash of $87.8 million plus $88.5 million of ABL availability; no revolving credit borrowings were outstanding at June 30. Source
  • Net debt leverage rose to 2.0x: The ratio rose from 1.2x at year-end 2025 because of a $100 million term loan increase for Calabrian, with no Calabrian Adjusted EBITDA in the trailing twelve months. Source

Capital returns to shareholders

  • No repurchases in second quarter: The company made no repurchases under its stock repurchase program in the second quarter of 2026. Source
  • Six-month buybacks totalled $35.7 million: Over six months 3,226,461 shares were repurchased at an average $11.07, a total cost of $35.7 million, all in the first quarter. Source
  • $146.5 million left under program: $146.5 million remained available under the repurchase program at June 30, 2026; the program's expiration date was removed in October 2025. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 August 2026

  • Calabrian integration and synergies: Management expects to realize meaningful synergies as Calabrian is integrated, and says they will create additional value for stockholders. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Virgin sulfuric acid sales volume Sourceincreased double digits

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management is cautious about possible softer demand in some industrial applications for virgin sulfuric acid. Source
  • Demand: Lower virgin acid sales are expected in the third and fourth quarters versus 2025, mainly from lower spot sales. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management says the lower virgin acid sales expected in the second half are consistent with prior guidance. Source
  • Met: Management says second-quarter Adjusted EBITDA of $53 million was within its guidance range. Source
  • Met: Management says higher refinery utilization and alkylate economics lifted regenerated acid volume, as it had anticipated. 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.