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Graham Corp.: Q1 FY2027 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2027, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 new, 9 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Record net sales, up 29%: Net sales rose $15.9 million to $71.3 million, with FlackTek adding $6.6 million and growth across all business units. Source
  • Diluted EPS fell to $0.33: Diluted EPS was $0.33 against $0.42, down 21%. Adjusted diluted EPS rose 9% to $0.49. Source
  • Defense sales up 40%: Defense sales rose $11.8 million, mainly from the timing of project milestones, plus new programs and growth in existing programs. Source
  • Gross margin down 150 bps: Gross margin was 25.0% against 26.5%, reflecting a higher level of Defense sales and material receipts that carry lower margins. Source
  • Prior-year orders included Virginia follow-on: The prior-year quarter included $86.5 million of follow-on orders for the Virginia Class submarine program, which affects the year-on-year comparison. Source
  • Operating cash used $12.7 million: Operating activities used $12.7 million, mainly from the timing of billing and collection and the payment of fiscal 2026 bonuses. Source
  • Full-year guidance reaffirmed: Full-year fiscal 2027 guidance was reaffirmed, and the Adjusted EBITDA add-back for equity compensation and related costs was widened. Source

“Our first quarter results reflect continued disciplined execution and give us confidence as we look ahead to the remainder of fiscal 2027”

Matthew J. Malone, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales Sourcefiscal 2027$285 million to $295 millionKept
Gross margin Sourcefiscal 202724.5% to 25.5% of salesKept
SG&A expense including amortization Sourcefiscal 202716.5% to 17.5% of salesKept
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefiscal 2027$35 million to $40 millionKept
Effective tax rate Sourcefiscal 202718% to 20%Kept
Capital expenditures Sourcefiscal 2027$18.0 million to $22.0 millionKept
Adjusted EBITDA add-backs (equity compensation, acquisition and integration, ERP) Sourcefiscal 2027approximately $5.5 million to $6.5 million
SG&A-included equity compensation, acquisition and integration, and ERP costs Sourcefiscal 2027approximately $4.0 million to $5.0 millionKept
Incremental investment in people, processes and technology Sourcefiscal 2027approximately $2.5 millionKept
Backlog conversion to sales Sourcenext twelve monthsapproximately 35% to 40%Kept
Backlog conversion to sales Sourceone to two years20% to 25%New

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: Full-year fiscal 2027 guidance was reaffirmed, with no change to the June 2026 figures. Source
  • New: A $50.0 million investment from accounts advised by T. Rowe Price was received, and $13.0 million of debt was repaid. Source
  • Ended: The Barber-Nichols Performance Bonus is no longer in effect in fiscal 2027, so no related expense was recorded in the quarter. Source
  • New: A three-year financial framework was introduced at the June 2026 Investor Day. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Record net sales, up 29%: Net sales rose $15.9 million to $71.3 million, with FlackTek adding $6.6 million and growth across all business units. Source
  • Diluted EPS fell to $0.33: Diluted EPS was $0.33 against $0.42, down 21%. Adjusted diluted EPS rose 9% to $0.49. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 28%: Adjusted EBITDA reached $8.8 million, with the margin at 12.3%, unchanged from the prior-year quarter. Source

Segments and regions

  • Defense sales up 40%: Defense sales rose $11.8 million, mainly from the timing of project milestones, plus new programs and growth in existing programs. Source
  • Space sales up 86%: Space sales rose $2.9 million, from new programs, the ramp of existing programs and the FlackTek acquisition. Source
  • Energy & Process up 5%: Energy & Process sales rose 5%. Aftermarket and FlackTek gains were partly offset by push-outs on large capital projects. Source

“With our first quarter results in line with our expectations, we are reaffirming our full year fiscal 2027 guidance”

Christopher J. Thome, Chief Financial Officer

Costs, margins and operating profit

  • Gross margin down 150 bps: Gross margin was 25.0% against 26.5%, reflecting a higher level of Defense sales and material receipts that carry lower margins. Source
  • SG&A up 33% on deal costs: SG&A including amortization rose $3.2 million, including $0.6 million of acquisition and integration costs and $1.8 million from FlackTek. Source
  • Operating income down 16%: Operating income fell 16% to $4.2 million, and operating margin was 5.8% against 8.9% a year earlier. Source

Demand and the order book

  • Prior-year orders included Virginia follow-on: The prior-year quarter included $86.5 million of follow-on orders for the Virginia Class submarine program, which affects the year-on-year comparison. Source
  • Defense orders for submarines and torpedo: New and follow-on Defense orders of about $61.8 million covered Columbia and Virginia Class submarines and MK48 Mod 7 torpedo hardware. Source
  • Orders are lumpy by nature: Management said orders are lumpy given large capital projects, and Defense orders span multiple years and can be significantly larger. Source

“Our first quarter results reflect the discipline we have applied across the business, and we enter fiscal 2027 with a stronger, more flexible balance sheet and no outstanding debt”

Christopher J. Thome, Chief Financial Officer

Cash, capital and balance sheet

  • Operating cash used $12.7 million: Operating activities used $12.7 million, mainly from the timing of billing and collection and the payment of fiscal 2026 bonuses. Source
  • Cash rose to $27.0 million: Cash and cash equivalents ended the quarter at $27.0 million, up from $6.6 million at the prior quarter end. Source
  • No debt, revolver available: No debt was outstanding at June 30, 2026, with $74.5 million available on the revolver after letters of credit. Source
  • Capital spending of $2.6 million: Net capital expenditures were $2.6 million, focused on capacity expansion, increasing capabilities, and productivity improvements. Source

Strategy, integration and guidance

  • Three-year framework introduced: At the June 2026 Investor Day, management introduced a three-year financial framework for the next phase of growth. Source
  • ERP and integration costs recorded: Acquisition and integration expense was $1.2 million and ERP implementation costs were $0.1 million in the quarter. Source
  • Full-year guidance reaffirmed: Full-year fiscal 2027 guidance was reaffirmed, and the Adjusted EBITDA add-back for equity compensation and related costs was widened. Source

Coming up, as management said on 6 August 2026

  • Remaining proceeds for growth: Remaining proceeds from the investment are expected to fund future organic and inorganic growth opportunities. Source
  • Converting backlog through year-end: Management said it remains focused on converting the record backlog into profitable growth through the rest of the year. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Orders Source$95.9 million
Backlog Source$557.2 million
Book-to-bill ratio Source1.3x
Space market orders Source$14.4 million
Aftermarket orders (Energy & Process and Defense) Source$10.9 million
FlackTek orders Source$13.2 million

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Large capital project timing pushed some Energy & Process sales out of the quarter. Source
  • Demand: Most backlog (84%) is Defense; management describes this as providing stability and visibility for future revenue. Source
  • Operational: Acquisition and integration expenses added to SG&A compared with the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Financial: Working capital timing reduced operating cash flow in the quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management reaffirmed the full-year fiscal 2027 guidance given in June 2026. Source
  • Not stated: Management described first quarter results as in line with its expectations. 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.