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Energy Recovery, Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 August 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue fell 57% year on year: Revenue was $12.0 million against $28.1 million a year earlier, a decrease of $16.1 million. Six-month revenue was $21.7 million, down 40% from $36.1 million. Source
  • Operating loss replaced prior-year income: Loss from operations was $5.9 million, against income of $1.5 million a year earlier. Operating margin was (49.0%) against 5.3%. Management attributed the change primarily to lower revenue from the war in Iran. Source
  • Megaproject revenue down 82%: Megaproject revenue was $2.7 million against $14.8 million. Six-month megaproject revenue was $3.1 million against $14.8 million, down 79%. Source
  • Gross margin rose to 74.7%: Gross margin was 74.7% against 64.0%, up 1070 bps. Six-month gross margin was 53.7% against 62.1%. Management cited indirect manufacturing costs and channel mix, partly offset by lower volume. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose to $16.3M: Cash provided by operations was $16.3 million against $4.1 million. Free cash flow was $15.4 million against $4.0 million. Six-month operating cash flow was $37.3 million against $14.8 million. Source
  • CEO plans to retire: David Moon, President and CEO, notified the Board of his intention to retire once a replacement is appointed. He remains in role until a successor is named and will advise during the transition.

“Loss from operations of $5.9 million, a decrease of $7.4 million as compared to income from operations of $1.5 million during Q2’2025, due primarily to lower revenue due to the war in Iran.”

Energy Recovery, Inc., press release

What changed from last quarter

  • New: The company announced that CEO David Moon intends to retire once a successor is appointed, and that a search has begun.
  • New: Chief Financial Officer Mike Mancini resigned effective May 6, 2026, to take another role.
  • New: Aidan Ryan, VP of Finance, was named Interim Chief Financial Officer.
  • New: The Board authorized a new share repurchase plan of up to $25.0 million over the next 12 months.

Second-quarter results

  • Revenue fell 57% year on year: Revenue was $12.0 million against $28.1 million a year earlier, a decrease of $16.1 million. Six-month revenue was $21.7 million, down 40% from $36.1 million. Source
  • Operating loss replaced prior-year income: Loss from operations was $5.9 million, against income of $1.5 million a year earlier. Operating margin was (49.0%) against 5.3%. Management attributed the change primarily to lower revenue from the war in Iran. Source
  • Quarterly net loss and adjusted EBITDA: Net loss was $3.2 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, against net income of $2.1 million, or $0.04. Adjusted EBITDA was a loss of $2.6 million against income of $4.4 million. Source
  • Six-month loss per share widened: Six-month net loss was $15.4 million, or $0.30 per diluted share, against $7.8 million, or $0.14. Six-month adjusted EBITDA was a loss of $9.7 million against a loss of $4.4 million. Source

Segment results

  • Desalination revenue and income fell: Desalination revenue was $11.5 million against $25.5 million. Its operating income was $2.8 million against $11.9 million. Source
  • Wastewater moved to operating loss: Wastewater revenue was $0.5 million against $2.3 million. It recorded an operating loss of $2.1 million against an operating loss of $0.2 million a year earlier. Source
  • Corporate and Other loss narrowed: Corporate and Other operating loss was $6.6 million against $10.2 million. Its general and administrative expense was $4.9 million against $6.3 million. Source

“Cash and investments of $98.1 million, which includes cash, cash equivalents, and short- and long-term investments.”

Energy Recovery, Inc., press release

Channel revenue mix

  • Megaproject revenue down 82%: Megaproject revenue was $2.7 million against $14.8 million. Six-month megaproject revenue was $3.1 million against $14.8 million, down 79%. Source
  • Aftermarket revenue down 16%: Aftermarket revenue was $4.1 million against $4.9 million, down 16%. Six-month aftermarket revenue fell 23% to $6.9 million. Source
  • OEM revenue down 38% in quarter: Original equipment manufacturer revenue was $5.2 million against $8.4 million, down 38%. Six-month OEM revenue was $11.8 million, down 5%. Source

Costs and gross margin

  • Gross margin rose to 74.7%: Gross margin was 74.7% against 64.0%, up 1070 bps. Six-month gross margin was 53.7% against 62.1%. Management cited indirect manufacturing costs and channel mix, partly offset by lower volume. Source
  • Operating expenses down 10%: Operating expenses were $14.8 million, down 10.0% from $16.5 million. Lower employee compensation and consulting costs drove the decline, partly offset by restructuring charges. Source
  • Stock-based compensation declined: Stock-based compensation expense was $1.4 million in the quarter against $1.9 million a year earlier. Six-month expense was $3.3 million against $3.9 million. Source

“Gross margin of 74.7%, as compared to gross margin of 64.0% in Q2’2025 primarily due to to indirect manufacturing costs and channel mix, partially offset by lower volume.”

Energy Recovery, Inc., press release

Cash flow and liquidity

  • Operating cash flow rose to $16.3M: Cash provided by operations was $16.3 million against $4.1 million. Free cash flow was $15.4 million against $4.0 million. Six-month operating cash flow was $37.3 million against $14.8 million. Source
  • Capital spending increased: Capital expenditures were $0.9 million in the quarter and $1.7 million for six months, against $0.1 million and $0.3 million a year earlier. Source
  • Cash and investments reached $98.1M: Cash, cash equivalents and investments were $98.1 million at June 30, 2026, against $92.1 million at March 31, 2026 and $83.3 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Receivables fell as inventories rose: Accounts receivable and contract assets fell to $14.2 million from $78.3 million at December 31, 2025. Inventories rose to $38.2 million from $24.3 million. Source

Share repurchases and equity

  • Six-month buybacks totaled $20.4M: Repurchase of common stock and net excise tax activity was $20.4 million for six months, against $22.0 million a year earlier. Diluted weighted shares were 51.5 million against 54.5 million. Source
  • New $25.0M plan added to authorizations: The May plan allows up to $25.0 million of purchases over 12 months. Aggregate authorizations announced since November 2024 total $130.0 million.

Restructuring and charges

  • CO2 retail grocery wind-down charges: First-quarter gross margin included $1.6 million of restructuring charges booked to inventory from the wind down of the CO2 retail grocery business, which reduced gross margin by 17%.
  • Second-quarter restructuring charges recorded: Restructuring charges were $855 thousand in the quarter and $2.4 million for six months. The company cited restructuring charges as partly offsetting the lower operating expenses. Source
  • Goodwill impairment and restructuring in Q1: Operating expenses in the first quarter rose mainly from goodwill impairment and restructuring charges tied to the CO2 retail grocery wind down.

Leadership changes

  • CEO plans to retire: David Moon, President and CEO, notified the Board of his intention to retire once a replacement is appointed. He remains in role until a successor is named and will advise during the transition.
  • CFO resigned in May: Chief Financial Officer Mike Mancini resigned effective May 6, 2026, to take a new professional role elsewhere.
  • Interim CFO named: Aidan Ryan, who joined in 2024 and is VP of Finance, was named Interim Chief Financial Officer.

Coming up, as management said on 5 August 2026

  • CEO successor search underway: Mr. Moon remains as CEO until a successor is appointed, and a search for that successor has begun.
  • Buyback plan covers 12 months: The up to $25.0 million repurchase plan was authorized to run over the next 12 months from the May announcement.

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management cited lower revenue from the war in Iran as the main cause of the quarter’s operating loss. Source
  • Operational: The chief executive intends to retire and the chief financial officer resigned, with a successor search under way and an interim CFO in place.
  • Operational: Restructuring charges continued into the second quarter and were included within operating expenses. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The Board authorized a new buyback plan of up to $25.0 million over the next 12 months. The documents do not state progress against it.
  • Not stated: Mr. Moon committed to advise the company during the transition period for as long as the Board deems necessary.

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.