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Helios Technologies, Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 2 narrowed, 3 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Record third quarter sales: Third quarter sales were $229.7 million, up 4% as reported and 13% on a pro-forma basis. Management described the quarter as a third quarter record. Source
  • Pricing timing lifted third quarter: Management said third quarter sales and adjusted diluted EPS exceeded the high end of guidance, partly due to timing of customer orders tied to announced price increases. Source
  • Diluted and adjusted EPS both rose: Diluted EPS was $0.53, up 71%, against a prior-year quarter that included a $25.9 million goodwill impairment. Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.80, up 11%. Source
  • Faster won first thermal management order: Faster's first thermal management order came after quarter end. Management said it met the stated objective ahead of year-end. Source
  • Inflation and supply pressures persist: Management said teams continue to execute through persistent inflationary pressures and a dynamic supply environment. Source
  • Fourth quarter growth to moderate: Management expects growth in the fourth quarter to slow from the third quarter pace. Source
  • Record quarterly operating cash flow: Cash from operations was $40.0 million in the quarter, up 59%, and free cash flow was $32.5 million. Source

“We delivered a record third quarter, with sales above the high end of our outlook and adjusted earnings exceeding expectations.”

Sean Bagan, President & Chief Executive Officer of Helios

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Sales SourceFY2026$895 to $902 millionRaised from $880 to $900 million
Adjusted EBITDA margin SourceFY202620.2% to 20.4%Narrowed, top end cut from 20.2% to 21.0%
Adjusted diluted EPS SourceFY2026$3.08 to $3.15Narrowed from $3.05 to $3.25
Sales Sourcefourth quarter 2026$205 to $212 millionNew
Adjusted EBITDA margin Sourcefourth quarter 202618.5% to 19.5%New
Adjusted diluted EPS Sourcefourth quarter 2026$0.60 to $0.67New

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 sales range raised. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Adjusted EBITDA margin and adjusted diluted EPS full-year ranges tightened, with top ends reduced. Source
  • New guidance: Fourth quarter 2026 sales, margin and EPS ranges established. Source
  • New: Company closed a strategic acquisition in the third quarter that expands Electronics capabilities. The company identifies it as the Radio Sound assets. Source
  • New: Faster secured its first thermal management order after quarter end, its entry into the thermal management market. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Record third quarter sales: Third quarter sales were $229.7 million, up 4% as reported and 13% on a pro-forma basis. Management described the quarter as a third quarter record. Source
  • Pricing timing lifted third quarter: Management said third quarter sales and adjusted diluted EPS exceeded the high end of guidance, partly due to timing of customer orders tied to announced price increases. Source
  • Diluted and adjusted EPS both rose: Diluted EPS was $0.53, up 71%, against a prior-year quarter that included a $25.9 million goodwill impairment. Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.80, up 11%. Source
  • Nine-month sales and operating income up: Nine-month net sales were $690.0 million, up 10%. Nine-month operating income was $90.5 million, against $40.3 million a year earlier. Source

Segments and regions

  • Both segments contributed to growth: Management said both Hydraulics and Electronics contributed. On a pro-forma basis Hydraulics grew 15% and Electronics grew 9%. Source
  • Hydraulics APAC sales fell: Hydraulics APAC sales fell 18% to $38.2 million. Hydraulics Americas rose 11% to $59.7 million and EMEA rose 9% to $45.0 million. Source
  • Electronics APAC sales rose: Electronics APAC sales rose 32% to $11.5 million. Electronics Americas rose 9% to $66.2 million, and EMEA fell 7% to $9.1 million. Source
  • Electronics operating margin reached 14.3%: Electronics operating margin was 14.3%, against negative 17.5% a year earlier, when a $25.9 million goodwill impairment was recorded. Source

“Our cash continues to fund both growth investments, including our Electronics acquisition, and returns to shareholders through our 119th consecutive quarterly dividend and $19 million of share repurchases in the quarter.”

Jeremy Evans, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

Products and customers

  • Radio Sound assets extend audio capabilities: Electronics began a multi-year relationship with Indian Motorcycle, supported by the acquisition of select Radio Sound assets that expanded audio and communications capabilities. Source
  • Faster won first thermal management order: Faster's first thermal management order came after quarter end. Management said it met the stated objective ahead of year-end. Source
  • Data center entry follows planned strategy: Management described the thermal order as continued execution against a planned and disciplined data center market-entry strategy. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gross margin edged up 10 bps: Gross profit rose $3.2 million to $76.2 million. Gross margin was 33.2%, against 33.1% in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin nearly flat: Adjusted EBITDA margin was 20.3%, against 20.5% a year earlier. Adjusted operating margin was 16.6%, unchanged from the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Inflation and supply pressures persist: Management said teams continue to execute through persistent inflationary pressures and a dynamic supply environment. Source
  • Footprint moves target productivity and tariffs: Faster's North American consolidation in Toledo, Ohio was completed. Further footprint work is intended to raise productivity and reduce tariff exposure. Source

“These actions collectively demonstrate how we are combining organic investment, operational excellence, and disciplined capital deployment to strengthen Helios’ long-term growth platform,”

Sean Bagan, President & Chief Executive Officer of Helios

Demand and order book

  • Order book gives visibility: Management said the order book provides solid visibility as the company enters the fourth quarter. Source
  • Fourth quarter growth to moderate: Management expects growth in the fourth quarter to slow from the third quarter pace. Source
  • Comparisons becoming more demanding: Management said the company is delivering profitable growth as comparisons become more demanding. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Record quarterly operating cash flow: Cash from operations was $40.0 million in the quarter, up 59%, and free cash flow was $32.5 million. Source
  • Buybacks and dividend continued: The company repurchased $19 million of common stock in the quarter and paid its 119th consecutive cash dividend. Source
  • Leverage ratio at 1.4 times: Net debt to trailing twelve-month adjusted EBITDA was 1.4 times, against 2.4 a year earlier. Net debt was $254.9 million. Source
  • Total debt lower than prior year: Total debt was $327.5 million at the end of the quarter, against $419.1 million a year earlier. Cash and equivalents were $72.6 million. Source

Strategy and investment

  • CORE Strategy translated into progress: Management said the company continued to translate The CORE Strategy into commercial and operational progress during the quarter. Source
  • Radio Sound as a growth platform: Management described the Radio Sound assets as a platform to grow with additional customers and markets in Electronics. Source
  • Organic, operational and capital actions combined: Management said the company is combining organic investment, operational excellence and disciplined capital deployment to strengthen its long-term growth platform. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 November 2026

  • Radio Sound cost synergies from early 2027: Management expects to realize cost synergies from the Radio Sound acquisition starting in early 2027. Source
  • Pricing benefits fuller in 2027: Management expects the benefits of recent pricing actions to show more fully in 2027. Source

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management said the company is navigating a dynamic macro environment while advancing toward its 2030 targets. Source
  • Demand: Management said part of third quarter sales came from timing of customer orders driven by announced price increases. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said Faster secured its first thermal management order after quarter end, delivering the stated objective ahead of year-end. Source
  • Ahead: Management said third quarter sales were above the high end of the company's own range. 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.