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Helios Technologies, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 11 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 3 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Sales rose 17%, 23% pro forma: Net sales were $228.4 million, up 17%. Management said pro forma growth, adjusted for the Custom Fluidpower divestiture and FX impact, was 23%. Source
  • Electronics sales up 29%: Electronics segment sales were $89.2 million, up 29%. Segment gross margin was 34.3% and operating margin was 15.9%, up 430 basis points. Source
  • End markets show limited recovery: Management said results came against continued geopolitical volatility and limited recovery across end markets. Source
  • Gross margin up 220 basis points: Gross margin was 32.8%, up 220 basis points. Management attributed the change to volume, segment mix and cost efficiencies from in-region production optimization. Source
  • Operating cash and free cash flow: Cash from operations was $24 million and free cash flow was $17 million. Management described the cash from operations as a first-quarter record. Source
  • Net leverage down to 1.6x: Net debt-to-adjusted EBITDA was 1.6x, down from 2.7x a year earlier. Net debt was $284 million, the lowest since 3Q20. Source
  • Dividend raised 33%: Dividends declared per share rose to $0.12 from $0.09. The company reported more than 29 years of consecutive cash dividend payments. Source

“Notably, the Company delivered one of the highest sales quarters in its 56-year history, while Enovation Controls achieved a record quarter.”

Sean Bagan, President & Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Sales SourceFull year 2026$840 to $870 millionRaised from $820 to $860 million
Adjusted EBITDA margin SourceFull year 202619.5% to 21.0%Kept
Adjusted diluted EPS SourceFull year 2026$2.75 to $3.00Raised from $2.60 to $2.90
Sales SourceSecond quarter 2026$227 to $232 millionNew
Adjusted EBITDA margin SourceSecond quarter 202620.0% to 21.0%New
Adjusted diluted EPS SourceSecond quarter 2026$0.78 to $0.83New

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Management raised the full-year 2026 sales and adjusted diluted EPS ranges. Source
  • Guidance kept: The full-year adjusted EBITDA margin range was kept at 19.5% to 21.0%. Source
  • New: Dividend increased 33% in the first quarter; dividends declared per share were $0.12 against $0.09 a year earlier. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Sales rose 17%, 23% pro forma: Net sales were $228.4 million, up 17%. Management said pro forma growth, adjusted for the Custom Fluidpower divestiture and FX impact, was 23%. Source
  • Diluted EPS up 168%: Diluted EPS was $0.59 against $0.22 a year earlier. Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.80, up 82%, on the company's non-GAAP basis. Source
  • Operating income up 76%: Operating income was $29.9 million, up 76%, with operating margin of 13.1%, up 440 basis points. Adjusted operating margin was 16.7%. Source

Segments and regions

  • Electronics sales up 29%: Electronics segment sales were $89.2 million, up 29%. Segment gross margin was 34.3% and operating margin was 15.9%, up 430 basis points. Source
  • Hydraulics sales up 10%: Hydraulics segment sales were $139.2 million, up 10%, or 19% on a pro forma and FX basis. Operating margin was 16.8%, up 300 basis points. Source
  • APAC down, other regions up: Americas sales rose 21% to $128.7 million and EMEA rose 31% to $57.8 million. APAC fell 6% to $41.9 million, with Hydraulics APAC down 14%. Source

“Importantly, this performance was delivered against a backdrop of continued geopolitical volatility and limited recovery across our end markets,”

Sean Bagan, President & Chief Executive Officer

Products, innovation and end markets

  • Innovation and go-to-market pace cited: Management linked the quarter to a faster pace of innovation and to go-to-market initiatives advanced over the past year. Source
  • Sales funnel conversion named as priority: Management named converting a growing sales funnel into new business wins as a key priority, alongside innovation and operational excellence. Source
  • End markets show limited recovery: Management said results came against continued geopolitical volatility and limited recovery across end markets. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gross margin up 220 basis points: Gross margin was 32.8%, up 220 basis points. Management attributed the change to volume, segment mix and cost efficiencies from in-region production optimization. Source
  • Overhead rose, amortization fell: Selling, engineering and administrative expense rose 8% to $37.4 million, while amortization of intangible assets fell 8% to $7.6 million. Source
  • Lower interest, higher pre-tax income: Net interest expense fell 31% to $5.1 million. Income before income taxes was $25.6 million, up 169%, and the tax provision was $5.9 million. Source

“we are raising the full year outlook for sales and earnings per share, reflecting expected year-over-year sales growth even at the bottom end of the range.”

Jeremy Evans, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

Capital, cash and returns to shareholders

  • Operating cash and free cash flow: Cash from operations was $24 million and free cash flow was $17 million. Management described the cash from operations as a first-quarter record. Source
  • Net leverage down to 1.6x: Net debt-to-adjusted EBITDA was 1.6x, down from 2.7x a year earlier. Net debt was $284 million, the lowest since 3Q20. Source
  • Dividend raised 33%: Dividends declared per share rose to $0.12 from $0.09. The company reported more than 29 years of consecutive cash dividend payments. Source
  • Share repurchases of $4.6 million: The company repurchased $4.6 million of its common stock in the first quarter. Source

Strategy and execution priorities

  • CORE Strategy and 2030 targets: Management said Helios is positioned to advance The CORE Strategy and its 2030 financial targets. Source
  • Operational execution and high-return investment: The CFO said the company is focused on operational execution and on investment in high-return areas. Source
  • Execution against key priorities: The CEO said management's focus remains on executing its key priorities as the company builds on the quarter. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management cited continued geopolitical volatility and limited recovery across its end markets as the backdrop to the quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said first-quarter results exceeded the prior guidance. The prior first-quarter sales guidance was $218 to $223 million. Source
  • Not stated: In March, management said it was executing on plan to drive growth, improve margins and returns.

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.