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Garmin Ltd.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 3 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Record quarterly revenue and operating income: Net sales were $2.02 billion, up 11%; operating income was $616 million, up 30%. First-half net sales were $3.78 billion, up 13%. Source
  • Pro forma EPS up 29%: Pro forma diluted EPS was $2.81 against $2.17; GAAP diluted EPS was $2.80 against $2.07. First-half pro forma diluted EPS was $4.89, up 29%. Source
  • Fitness revenue up 25%: Fitness sales rose 25% to $757 million, with growth in all product categories. Fitness operating income was $277 million, a 37% margin. Source
  • CIRQA screenless band announced: Management said it recently announced the CIRQA Smart Band, a screenless wearable with health and wellness features and no subscription required. Source
  • Gross margin rose 360 basis points: Gross margin was 62.4% against 58.8%, with higher margins in all segments. Management attributed it to product mix in certain segments and about $21 million of tariff refunds. Source
  • Free cash flow more than doubled: Operating cash flow was $404 million and free cash flow $276 million, against $127 million a year earlier. First-half free cash flow was $745 million. Source
  • Dividend paid and shares repurchased: Management paid a $202 million quarterly dividend and bought back $43 million of shares. About $448 million remains of the $500 million program authorized through December 2028. Source
  • Full-year guidance raised on first half: Management raised full-year 2026 revenue and pro forma EPS guidance, citing first-half performance and expectations for the rest of the year. Source

“We delivered another quarter of outstanding financial results with double-digit revenue growth and robust margin expansion, which resulted in record revenue and operating income.”

Cliff Pemble, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue Sourcefiscal 2026approximately $8.05 billionRaised from approximately $7.9 billion
Pro forma diluted EPS Sourcefiscal 2026$10.00Raised from $9.35
Gross margin Sourcefiscal 202659.7%New
Operating margin Sourcefiscal 202627.0%New
Effective tax rate Sourcefiscal 202616.5%New
Dividend per share Sourcefiscal 2026 installments$1.05 per share per installment, $4.20 per share in totalKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year revenue guidance raised to about $8.05 billion from about $7.9 billion. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year pro forma diluted EPS guidance raised to $10.00 from $9.35. Source
  • New guidance: Full-year gross margin, operating margin and tax rate guidance given, not in the prior release. Source
  • New: Acquisition of TrainingPeaks and TrainHeroic completed, adding training platforms for athletes and coaches. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Record quarterly revenue and operating income: Net sales were $2.02 billion, up 11%; operating income was $616 million, up 30%. First-half net sales were $3.78 billion, up 13%. Source
  • Pro forma EPS up 29%: Pro forma diluted EPS was $2.81 against $2.17; GAAP diluted EPS was $2.80 against $2.07. First-half pro forma diluted EPS was $4.89, up 29%. Source
  • Every segment contributed to results: Management said each segment contributed. Outdoor revenue fell 2%, but its operating income rose to $164 million from $158 million. Source

Segments and regions

  • Fitness revenue up 25%: Fitness sales rose 25% to $757 million, with growth in all product categories. Fitness operating income was $277 million, a 37% margin. Source
  • Outdoor revenue fell 2%: Outdoor sales fell 2% to $483 million, mainly in consumer auto and adventure watch categories. Outdoor operating income was $164 million, a 34% margin. Source
  • Aviation revenue up 8%: Aviation sales rose 8% to $269 million, with growth in both OEM and aftermarket categories. Aviation operating income was $72 million, a 27% margin. Source
  • Marine revenue up 14%: Marine sales rose 14% to $341 million, with broad growth across categories. Marine operating income was $100 million, a 29% margin. Source
  • Auto OEM returns to operating profit: Auto OEM sales rose 1% to $172 million on domain controllers. Operating income was $3 million, against a $9.5 million loss a year earlier. Source
  • All three regions grew: Americas sales rose 12% to $979 million, EMEA rose 13% to $766 million, and APAC rose 7% to $277 million. Source

“Each business segment contributed to these impressive results.”

Cliff Pemble, President and Chief Executive Officer

Products and launches

  • CIRQA screenless band announced: Management said it recently announced the CIRQA Smart Band, a screenless wearable with health and wellness features and no subscription required. Source
  • AXIS cockpit displays announced: AXIS, a family of cockpit display solutions for certified and experimental aircraft, was recently announced. The D2 Mach 2 Pro launched in the quarter. Source
  • LiveScope 2 sonar announced: Next-generation LiveScope 2 sonar was recently announced, with improved range and clarity over the prior generation. Source
  • Embraer supplier award: Embraer named Garmin Best Supplier of the Year for the 11th consecutive year, for electrical and electronic systems on Phenom business jets. Source

Margins and costs

  • Gross margin rose 360 basis points: Gross margin was 62.4% against 58.8%, with higher margins in all segments. Management attributed it to product mix in certain segments and about $21 million of tariff refunds. Source
  • Operating expenses rose 9%: Total operating expenses were $647 million, up 9%. Operating margin was 30.4% against 26.0% a year earlier. Source
  • Effective tax rate edged up: Effective tax rate was 16.8% versus 16.5% a year earlier; management attributed the increase to income mix by jurisdiction. Source

Cash flow and capital returns

  • Free cash flow more than doubled: Operating cash flow was $404 million and free cash flow $276 million, against $127 million a year earlier. First-half free cash flow was $745 million. Source
  • Dividend paid and shares repurchased: Management paid a $202 million quarterly dividend and bought back $43 million of shares. About $448 million remains of the $500 million program authorized through December 2028. Source
  • Cash and securities about $4.4 billion: Cash and marketable securities were about $4.4 billion at quarter end. Capital spending on property and equipment was $128 million, against $46 million a year earlier. Source

Full-year view and dividend

  • Full-year guidance raised on first half: Management raised full-year 2026 revenue and pro forma EPS guidance, citing first-half performance and expectations for the rest of the year. Source
  • Shareholders approved $4.20 dividend: Shareholders approved a 2026 cash dividend of $4.20 per share in total, payable in four equal installments. The first installment was paid June 26, 2026. Source
  • Board sets dividend dates: Installment dates are set by the Board in its discretion, with the next payment and remaining dates scheduled by the Board. Source

Coming up, as management said on 29 July 2026

  • Dividend payment September 25: Next $1.05 per share installment is payable September 25, 2026, with a September 11, 2026 record date. Source
  • Remaining installments scheduled: Remaining $1.05 installments are anticipated on December 24, 2026 and March 26, 2027, subject to Board scheduling. 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.