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Howmet Aerospace Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 October 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 5 raised, 4 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue growth was a quarterly record: Revenue rose 29% to $2.70 billion, with 25% organic growth. Management described it as the strongest quarterly growth rate on record for Howmet. Source
  • Engine Products margin reached 39.1%: Engine Products revenue was $1.45 billion, up 33%. Segment adjusted EBITDA was $567 million, up 57%, with margin up about 580 basis points. Source
  • Commercial aerospace backlog supports output: Management described the commercial aerospace market as robust, citing an extraordinary aircraft order backlog that supports expected production increases through 2027 and beyond. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin expanded 310 bps: Adjusted EBITDA margin was 32.5%, up about 310 basis points. GAAP operating income margin was 28.7%, up 280 basis points. Source
  • Free cash flow reached $562 million: Free cash flow was $562 million after $147 million of capital expenditures, up 33% from $423 million. Nine-month free cash flow was $1.40 billion. Source

“Howmet's performance was solid in all dimensions, with third quarter results exceeding the high end of guidance.”

John Plant, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue SourceFY 2026$10,290 / $10,300 / $10,310 million (low / baseline / high)Raised from $10,000 / $10,050 / $10,100 million (low / baseline / high)
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFY 2026$3,325 / $3,330 / $3,335 million (low / baseline / high)Raised from $3,210 / $3,230 / $3,250 million (low / baseline / high)
Adjusted EBITDA margin SourceFY 202632.3% (low, baseline and high)Raised from 32.1% baseline (range 32.1% to 32.2%)
Adjusted EPS SourceFY 2026$5.49 / $5.50 / $5.51 (low / baseline / high)Raised from $5.23 / $5.27 / $5.31 (low / baseline / high)
Free cash flow SourceFY 2026$1,950 / $2,000 / $2,050 million (low / baseline / high)Raised from $1,850 / $1,900 / $1,950 million (low / baseline / high)
Revenue SourceQ4 2026$2,740 / $2,750 / $2,760 million (low / baseline / high)New
Adjusted EBITDA and margin SourceQ4 2026Adjusted EBITDA $895 / $900 / $905 million; margin 32.7% to 32.8%New
Adjusted EPS SourceQ4 2026$1.49 / $1.50 / $1.51 (low / baseline / high)New
Revenue SourceFY 2027approximately $11.5 billionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 guidance raised for revenue, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EPS and free cash flow, with baselines up $250 million, $100 million, $0.23 and $100 million. Source
  • New guidance: Guidance for the fourth quarter of 2026 is included in this release for the first time. Source
  • New guidance: Revenue guidance for full-year 2027 is given at approximately $11.5 billion. Source
  • New: The Board increased the share repurchase program by $5 billion on October 28, 2026, bringing total authorization to $5.397 billion. Remaining authorization was $697 million as of August 6, 2026. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue growth was a quarterly record: Revenue rose 29% to $2.70 billion, with 25% organic growth. Management described it as the strongest quarterly growth rate on record for Howmet. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 43%: The company reported adjusted EBITDA of $879 million, up 43% from $614 million a year earlier. GAAP operating income was $777 million, up 43%. Source
  • EPS rose on both GAAP and adjusted bases: GAAP diluted EPS was $1.42, up 49% from $0.95. Adjusted EPS was $1.46, up 54%, with diluted shares averaging 400 million against 405 million a year earlier. Source
  • Nine-month revenue up 24%: Nine-month revenue was $7.56 billion, up 24% from $6.08 billion. Nine-month GAAP EPS was $4.18, up 50%. Source

Segment results

  • Engine Products margin reached 39.1%: Engine Products revenue was $1.45 billion, up 33%. Segment adjusted EBITDA was $567 million, up 57%, with margin up about 580 basis points. Source
  • Fastening revenue lifted by acquisitions: Fastening Systems revenue was $630 million, up 41%. Excluding the CAM and Brunner acquisitions, revenue grew 10%. Source
  • Fastening margin eased on CAM: Fastening segment adjusted EBITDA margin was 29.4%, down about 140 basis points, reflecting the CAM acquisition. Source
  • Engineered Structures sales fell on divestiture: Engineered Structures revenue was $295 million, down 4%, principally from the Savannah disk forging divestiture. Excluding it, revenue grew 8%. Segment margin was 23.7%. Source
  • Forged Wheels revenue up on volume and pass-through: Forged Wheels revenue was $327 million, up 32%, on higher commercial transportation volumes and higher aluminum cost pass-through. Source

“Our trajectory points to a healthy fourth quarter and the conclusion of another strong year for Howmet.”

John Plant, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Demand and the order book

  • Commercial aerospace backlog supports output: Management described the commercial aerospace market as robust, citing an extraordinary aircraft order backlog that supports expected production increases through 2027 and beyond. Source
  • Defense spares and fighter builds: Management described defense markets as solid, with further spares needs and likely increases in legacy fighter builds. Source
  • Commercial transport recovering in North America: Management said the commercial transportation market continues to recover in North America. Source
  • Gas turbine growth from share gains: Management said gas turbine revenue growth reflected both added output and a higher market share. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Adjusted EBITDA margin expanded 310 bps: Adjusted EBITDA margin was 32.5%, up about 310 basis points. GAAP operating income margin was 28.7%, up 280 basis points. Source
  • Engine segment added headcount: The Engine Products segment absorbed net headcount of about 520 in the quarter to support expected future revenue increases. Source
  • Special items were small: Pre-tax special items were acquisition and acquisition-related costs of $7 million and restructuring and other charges of $2 million. Source

Cash flow, capital and shareholder returns

  • Free cash flow reached $562 million: Free cash flow was $562 million after $147 million of capital expenditures, up 33% from $423 million. Nine-month free cash flow was $1.40 billion. Source
  • Third-quarter buybacks of $500 million: The company repurchased $500 million of stock at an average $264.77, retiring about 1.9 million shares. Year-to-date repurchases total $1.1 billion at an average of $250.72. Source
  • Commercial paper paid down: The company paid down $60 million of commercial paper in the quarter. At quarter end, $390 million of the $1 billion program was outstanding. Source
  • Quarterly dividend raised 17%: The quarterly common stock dividend was increased 17% to $0.14 per share in the third quarter. Source

Strategy and investment

  • Capital spending elevated beyond 2027: Capital expenditure plans call for elevated spend beyond 2027 to support aerospace, defense and gas turbine growth. Source
  • Focus on cash conversion during investment: Management said it will keep a disciplined focus on free cash flow conversion through the elevated investment period. Source
  • Organic growth excludes recent deals: Organic revenue excludes CAM, acquired April 2026, Brunner, acquired February 2026, and the Savannah disk forging divestiture. Source

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management does not expect a material impact on spares demand from the Middle East conflict, given the engine shop-visit backlog and next-generation narrowbody requirements. Source
  • Operational: Forged Wheels segment margin fell about 330 basis points to 26.3%, which management attributed to higher aluminum cost pass-through. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: In the August release, management said the CAM integration was on track. The third-quarter release does not restate this.
  • Not stated: In the August release, management said the commercial transportation market had begun to recover as anticipated. No status term was given.

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.