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Kimball Electronics, Inc.: Q4 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 12 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 5 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Sales rose sequentially across verticals: Fourth-quarter net sales rose 5% from the third quarter, with all end-market verticals up sequentially. Sales were 2% lower than a year earlier. Source
  • Operating margin rose on disposal gain: Operating margin was 7.8% against 4.3% a year earlier. Adjusted operating margin was 4.9% against 5.2%. The reported figure includes a $15.0 million gain on disposal. Source
  • Medical sales rose 1% in Q4: Medical sales were $108.8 million, or 29% of fourth-quarter net sales. Fiscal 2026 Medical sales were $412.8 million, up 4% as reported. Source
  • Balance sheet funds medical CDMO investment: Management said it is using the balance sheet to make strategic investments in medical CDMO growth, including the facility and acquisition named under changes. Source
  • Gross margin rose for the year: Fiscal 2026 gross margin was 8.2% against 7.0%. Fourth-quarter gross margin was 8.9% against 8.0%. Source
  • Open orders rose to $643 million: Open orders were $643 million, against $602 million in the prior quarter. The June 30, 2025 comparison was revised to $642 million from $702 million. Source
  • Fourth-quarter operating cash of $42.4 million: Operating cash was positive for the tenth consecutive quarter. The prior release reported $14.9 million for the third quarter. Source

“we generated strong cash from operations, which was used to pay down debt to its lowest level in over 4 years”

Richard D. Phillips, Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales Sourcefiscal 2027$1,535 - $1,560 millionNew
Organic net sales growth Sourcefiscal 20273% - 5%New
Helvoet net sales Sourcefiscal 2027approximately $60 millionNew
Adjusted operating income margin Sourcefiscal 20274.4% - 4.7% of net salesNew
Capital expenditures Sourcefiscal 2027$50 - $60 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Fiscal 2027 guidance provided, following fiscal 2026 guidance affirmed in the prior release. Source
  • New: Indianapolis medical facility buildout and the Helvoet acquisition are named as medical CDMO investments. The prior release did not mention either. Source
  • New: Listed operating locations now include India and The Netherlands, which the prior release did not list. Source
  • New: Company description now reads Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO); the prior release used Contract Manufacturing Organization (CMO). Source

Quarter results and drivers

  • Sales rose sequentially across verticals: Fourth-quarter net sales rose 5% from the third quarter, with all end-market verticals up sequentially. Sales were 2% lower than a year earlier. Source
  • Fiscal 2026 sales fell 4%: Fiscal 2026 net sales were $1,431.4 million, down 4%. Medical rose over 10% after normalizing fiscal 2025 for a consigned inventory sale. Source
  • Operating margin rose on disposal gain: Operating margin was 7.8% against 4.3% a year earlier. Adjusted operating margin was 4.9% against 5.2%. The reported figure includes a $15.0 million gain on disposal. Source
  • Adjusted EPS was negative: Diluted EPS was $0.35 against $0.26. Adjusted diluted EPS was $(0.01) against $0.34, with adjusted net income of $(0.2) million. Source

Vertical market performance

  • Medical sales rose 1% in Q4: Medical sales were $108.8 million, or 29% of fourth-quarter net sales. Fiscal 2026 Medical sales were $412.8 million, up 4% as reported. Source
  • Automotive and industrial sales declined: Automotive fell 3% to $169.7 million in the quarter and 7% for the year. Industrial excluding AT&M fell 5% to $93.1 million and 5% for the year. Source
  • AT&M no longer contributes sales: AT&M, divested in July 2024, had no sales in the fourth quarter or fiscal 2026. Fiscal 2025 AT&M sales were $2.1 million. Source

“Our guidance for fiscal 2027 projects a return to top line growth and we will be leveraging the balance sheet to support those efforts”

Jana T. Croom, Chief Financial Officer

Medical CDMO and product scope

  • Balance sheet funds medical CDMO investment: Management said it is using the balance sheet to make strategic investments in medical CDMO growth, including the facility and acquisition named under changes. Source
  • Medical covers many product areas: Medical product areas listed in the release range from sleep therapy and AED to patient monitoring and blood separation. Source
  • Automotive covers steering, braking, body controls: The release defines the automotive vertical as electronic power steering, electronic braking systems and body controls. Source

Costs, margins and gains

  • Gross margin rose for the year: Fiscal 2026 gross margin was 8.2% against 7.0%. Fourth-quarter gross margin was 8.9% against 8.0%. Source
  • Selling and admin costs rose: Reported selling and administrative expenses were $18.0 million against $13.2 million. Stock compensation of $2.2 million and acquisition costs of $0.5 million are excluded from adjusted figures. Source
  • Restructuring expense declined: Restructuring expense was $0.9 million in the quarter against $2.0 million. For fiscal 2026 it was $5.0 million against $11.0 million. Source
  • Interest expense fell, tax charge rose: Interest expense was $2.0 million against $2.8 million. The income tax provision was $17.9 million against $6.1 million, as reported. Source

“Our strategic journey continues to build, and so does my excitement for the future of this Company”

Richard D. Phillips, Chief Executive Officer

Demand and order book

  • Open orders rose to $643 million: Open orders were $643 million, against $602 million in the prior quarter. The June 30, 2025 comparison was revised to $642 million from $702 million. Source
  • Medical normalized growth was 11%: After excluding the $24 million consigned sale, Medical grew 17% in the third quarter and 11% for fiscal 2026. Consolidated normalized growth was 1% and (2)%. Source
  • Cash conversion days improved to 82: Cash Conversion Days were 82, against 90 in the prior quarter and 85 a year earlier. The release calls this the best result in 17 quarters. Source

Operating cash and debt

  • Fourth-quarter operating cash of $42.4 million: Operating cash was positive for the tenth consecutive quarter. The prior release reported $14.9 million for the third quarter. Source
  • Fiscal year operating cash fell: Fiscal 2026 operating cash generation was $72.3 million, against $183.9 million in fiscal 2025. Source
  • Debt at lowest level in four years: Debt was $116.6 million, down from $163.0 million in the prior quarter. The release describes it as the lowest level in over four years. Source

Liquidity and share repurchases

  • Borrowing capacity rose to $322.4 million: Borrowing capacity was $322.4 million, against $276.0 million in the prior quarter. Cash was $88.9 million at year end. Source
  • Share repurchases in quarter and year: The company bought 83,000 shares for $2.1 million in the quarter, and 447,000 shares for $11.9 million in fiscal 2026. Source
  • Balance sheet held for investment: The CFO said the company exited the year with borrowing capacity and available cash to invest strategically. Source

Coming up, as management said on 12 August 2026

  • Helvoet expected to add to earnings: Management expects the Helvoet acquisition to be accretive in fiscal 2027. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Backlog (open orders) Source$643 million
Gross margin Source8.9% of net sales, fourth quarter
Medical end-market revenue Source$108.8 million (29% of net sales)
Automotive end-market revenue Source$169.7 million (46% of net sales)
Industrial end-market revenue Source$93.1 million (excluding AT&M)

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management described the fiscal 2026 operating environment as challenging. Source
  • Demand: Fiscal 2026 growth comparisons are affected by a $24 million non-recurring inventory sale recorded in the third quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said fourth-quarter sales were in line with expectations and adjusted operating income was better than estimates. Source
  • Met: Management said fiscal 2026 was a year of transition, as it had expected. Source
  • Not stated: The prior release said adjusted margin was expected at the high end of the 4.2% to 4.5% range. The fourth-quarter release reports fiscal 2026 adjusted margin of 4.6%.
  • Not stated: The prior release said management continued to focus on inorganic growth. The fourth-quarter release reports the Helvoet acquisition.

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.