greeksoup/ stock research

Gates Industrial Corp. Ltd.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 31 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 raised, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales rose 6.6%: Net sales were $941.6 million against $883.7 million a year earlier. Core sales rose 4.9% to $926.6 million, excluding a $15.0 million currency movement effect. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA reached $211.4 million: Adjusted EBITDA was $211.4 million, or 22.5% of net sales, against $199.2 million and the same 22.5% margin a year earlier. Source
  • Power Transmission sales up 7.0%: Power Transmission net sales were $588.5 million, up 7.0%, with core sales up 5.3%. Adjusted EBITDA was $134.8 million, up 9.8%. Source
  • Fluid Power margin down 120 bps: Fluid Power adjusted EBITDA margin was 21.7%, against 22.9% a year earlier, a 120 bps decline. Six-month Fluid Power adjusted EBITDA fell 3.4%. Source
  • Income tax was a $78.0M benefit: Income tax was a $78.0 million benefit, against $16.8 million of expense a year earlier. Discrete tax items of $100.7 million were excluded from adjusted net income. Source
  • Order momentum improving globally: Management said order momentum improved globally in the quarter, and reported record sales and EPS. Source
  • Second-half growth above initial guidance: Management said it anticipates higher sales growth in the second half of 2026 than its initial guidance. Source
  • Share repurchases increased: Repurchases of shares were $38.7 million in the six months, against $13.0 million a year earlier. Shares outstanding were 253,151,170 at June 27, against 253,543,540 at December 31. Source

“We have raised our 2026 guidance for sales, profitability and adjusted earnings per share.”

Ivo Jurek, Gates Industrial’s Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Core sales growth SourceFull year 20262.5% to 4.5%Raised from 1% to 4%
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFull year 2026$800 to $830 MillionRaised from $775 to $835 Million
Adjusted EPS SourceFull year 2026$1.62 to $1.70Raised from $1.52 to $1.68
Capital expenditures SourceFull year 2026~$120 MillionKept
Free cash flow conversion SourceFull year 202690%+Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year core sales growth guidance was raised to 2.5% to 4.5%, from 1% to 4%. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year Adjusted EBITDA guidance moved to $800 to $830 million, from $775 to $835 million, with the midpoint up $10 million. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year Adjusted EPS guidance moved to $1.62 to $1.70, from $1.52 to $1.68, with the midpoint up $0.06. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net sales rose 6.6%: Net sales were $941.6 million against $883.7 million a year earlier. Core sales rose 4.9% to $926.6 million, excluding a $15.0 million currency movement effect. Source
  • Net income and diluted EPS rose: Net income attributable to shareholders was $170.9 million, or $0.67 per diluted share, against $56.5 million and $0.22. Net income from continuing operations was $178.2 million, an 18.9% margin. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose to $0.44: Adjusted net income was $112.5 million, or $0.44 per diluted share, against $101.1 million and $0.39. Diluted weighted-average shares were 256,135,551, against 260,469,532. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA reached $211.4 million: Adjusted EBITDA was $211.4 million, or 22.5% of net sales, against $199.2 million and the same 22.5% margin a year earlier. Source

Segment results

  • Power Transmission sales up 7.0%: Power Transmission net sales were $588.5 million, up 7.0%, with core sales up 5.3%. Adjusted EBITDA was $134.8 million, up 9.8%. Source
  • Power Transmission margin up 60 bps: Power Transmission adjusted EBITDA margin was 22.9%, against 22.3% a year earlier. The six-month margin was 22.0%, down 20 bps. Source
  • Fluid Power sales up 5.8%: Fluid Power net sales were $353.1 million, up 5.8%, with core sales up 4.2%. Adjusted EBITDA was $76.6 million, up 0.3%. Source
  • Fluid Power margin down 120 bps: Fluid Power adjusted EBITDA margin was 21.7%, against 22.9% a year earlier, a 120 bps decline. Six-month Fluid Power adjusted EBITDA fell 3.4%. Source
  • Six-month Power Transmission figures: Six-month Power Transmission net sales rose 4.1%, with core sales up 1.5%. Six-month adjusted EBITDA rose 3.0%. Source

“We believe we are in solid position to capitalize on strengthening industrial demand.”

Ivo Jurek, Gates Industrial’s Chief Executive Officer

Costs, margins and tax

  • Adjusted gross margin rose to 41.8%: Adjusted gross profit was $393.7 million, or 41.8% of net sales, against 41.3% a year earlier. Reported gross profit was $386.1 million, or 41.0%. Source
  • SG&A costs rose year over year: Selling, general and administrative expenses were $250.7 million, against $231.2 million a year earlier. Source
  • Restructuring charges fell to $0.7M: Restructuring expenses were $0.7 million, against $13.0 million a year earlier. Source
  • Income tax was a $78.0M benefit: Income tax was a $78.0 million benefit, against $16.8 million of expense a year earlier. Discrete tax items of $100.7 million were excluded from adjusted net income. Source
  • Interest and other expense: Interest expense was $30.0 million, against $28.8 million. Other expense was $1.4 million, against $6.8 million; transaction-related expenses were $3.1 million, against none. Source

Demand and order momentum

  • Order momentum improving globally: Management said order momentum improved globally in the quarter, and reported record sales and EPS. Source
  • First-quarter book-to-bill above 1: The first-quarter release said order rates were solid and book-to-bill was nicely above 1 at quarter end. The second-quarter release gives no book-to-bill figure.
  • Second-half growth above initial guidance: Management said it anticipates higher sales growth in the second half of 2026 than its initial guidance. Source

Cash, balance sheet and capital returns

  • Six-month operating cash flow lower: Net cash provided by operating activities was $108.8 million for the six months, against $110.3 million. Purchases of PP&E were $35.0 million and intangible assets $5.2 million. Source
  • Receivables and inventories rose: Trade receivables were $900.3 million at June 27, against $744.2 million at December 31. Inventories were $740.6 million, against $700.0 million. Source
  • Share repurchases increased: Repurchases of shares were $38.7 million in the six months, against $13.0 million a year earlier. Shares outstanding were 253,151,170 at June 27, against 253,543,540 at December 31. Source
  • Cash and debt balances: Cash and cash equivalents were $823.5 million, against $812.1 million at year end. Debt, less current portion, was $2,194.3 million, against $2,196.3 million. Source

Strategy, investment and people

  • Focus on strategic priorities: Management thanked the global Gates teams and referred to delivering on the company's strategic priorities. Source
  • Europe ERP system implemented: The first-quarter release said the company executed well and successfully implemented a new ERP system in Europe, while continuing to invest in growth initiatives.
  • Balance sheet positioned for objectives: The first-quarter release said the balance sheet was well positioned to support strategic objectives.

Coming up, as management said on 31 July 2026

  • Form 10-Q expected at release date: The Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 27, 2026 is expected to be filed with the SEC on or about the date of the press release. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The first-quarter release reiterated full-year 2026 guidance. The second-quarter release raises that guidance.

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.