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Kennametal Inc.: Q4 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 6 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth-quarter sales reached $737 million: Sales rose 43 percent reported and 42 percent organic. Currency and business days each added 1 percent; divestitures subtracted 1 percent. Source
  • Fourth-quarter operating margin rose sharply: Operating income was $303 million, against $31 million a year earlier at a 6.1 percent margin. Adjusted operating margin was 41.5 percent. Source
  • Infrastructure sales reached $339 million: Sales rose 73 percent, with organic growth of 74 percent. A 3 percent divestiture effect reduced the reported growth rate. Source
  • Raw material pricing timing lifted margin: Favorable timing of raw material-related pricing, against about $252 million of raw material costs, was the first driver listed for the fourth-quarter operating income increase. Source
  • Volume trends improving in several markets: Management said it is encouraged by what it has seen across several end markets, expecting improving conditions and strategic initiatives to keep sales growing through fiscal 2027. Source
  • Operating cash flow turned negative: Operating cash flow for fiscal 2026 was negative $4 million, against positive $208 million a year earlier, mainly on working capital needs. Source
  • Free operating cash flow negative: Lower capital expenditures and higher net income partly offset the working capital requirements in the year. Source

“We achieved record adjusted EPS this quarter through decisive pricing actions in an unprecedented tungsten environment, volume growth and cost improvement efforts.”

Sanjay Chowbey, President and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Sales SourceFirst quarter of fiscal 2027$745 - $775 millionNew
Adjusted EPS SourceFirst quarter of fiscal 2027$2.50 - $2.80New
Sales SourceFiscal 2027$3.33 - $3.45 billionNew
Adjusted EPS SourceFiscal 2027$4.15 - $5.15New
Free operating cash flow SourceFiscal 2027approximately 20 percent of adjusted net incomeNew
Capital spending SourceFiscal 2027approximately $85 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: The release gave first-quarter and full-year fiscal 2027 figures, which the prior release did not include. Source
  • Ended: The May release's full-year fiscal 2026 sales and adjusted EPS expectations covered a year now reported as actual results.

Fourth quarter and full-year results

  • Fourth-quarter sales reached $737 million: Sales rose 43 percent reported and 42 percent organic. Currency and business days each added 1 percent; divestitures subtracted 1 percent. Source
  • Fourth-quarter operating margin rose sharply: Operating income was $303 million, against $31 million a year earlier at a 6.1 percent margin. Adjusted operating margin was 41.5 percent. Source
  • Fiscal 2026 sales and margin: Full-year sales rose 20 percent to $2,357 million, with organic growth of 19 percent. Operating income was $473 million, a 20.1 percent margin; adjusted operating margin was 20.5 percent. Source
  • Record adjusted EPS in both periods: Fourth-quarter diluted EPS was $2.91 and adjusted EPS $2.96. Fiscal 2026 diluted EPS was $4.42 and adjusted EPS $4.57. Source
  • Non-GAAP adjustments in the quarter: Adjusted results excluded restructuring and related charges, a loss on early extinguishment of debt, and differences in projected annual tax rates. Source

Segment and regional results

  • Infrastructure sales reached $339 million: Sales rose 73 percent, with organic growth of 74 percent. A 3 percent divestiture effect reduced the reported growth rate. Source
  • Infrastructure operating margin 58.3 percent: Operating income was $197 million, against $11 million a year earlier at a 5.5 percent margin. Adjusted operating margin was 58.4 percent. Source
  • Infrastructure pricing timing and volume: Raw material pricing timing, against about $198 million of raw material costs, was the driver. Lower sales and production volumes, higher compensation costs and general inflation partly offset it. Source
  • Metal Cutting sales reached $398 million: Sales rose 24 percent, with organic growth of 22 percent, against $321 million a year earlier. Source
  • Metal Cutting margin 26.7 percent: Operating income was $106 million, against $21 million a year earlier at 6.6 percent. Adjusted operating margin was 27.3 percent. Source
  • Regional sales rose in each region: Americas $400.8 million versus $254.3 million; EMEA $203.6 million versus $158.4 million; Asia Pacific $132.2 million versus $103.8 million. Source

“I am confident that our commitment to above market growth and continuous improvement will unlock long-term value for shareholders.”

Sanjay Chowbey, President and CEO

Pricing, tungsten and costs

  • Raw material pricing timing lifted margin: Favorable timing of raw material-related pricing, against about $252 million of raw material costs, was the first driver listed for the fourth-quarter operating income increase. Source
  • Metal Cutting gained from non-raw pricing: Metal Cutting also gained from pricing and surcharges unrelated to raw material costs, as listed among the fourth-quarter drivers. Source
  • Full-year costs partly offset gains: Full-year operating income was partly offset by higher compensation costs, tariffs and general inflation. Restructuring savings were about $27 million. Source

Demand and end markets

  • Volume trends improving in several markets: Management said it is encouraged by what it has seen across several end markets, expecting improving conditions and strategic initiatives to keep sales growing through fiscal 2027. Source
  • Recent wins in three end markets: Management cited wins in Aerospace & Defense, Energy and Earthworks as showing the team's ability to take share in any market condition. Source
  • Higher volumes added to operating income: Higher sales and production volumes, together with restructuring savings of about $5 million, added to fourth-quarter operating income. Source

Cash flow and working capital

  • Operating cash flow turned negative: Operating cash flow for fiscal 2026 was negative $4 million, against positive $208 million a year earlier, mainly on working capital needs. Source
  • Free operating cash flow negative: Lower capital expenditures and higher net income partly offset the working capital requirements in the year. Source
  • Tungsten prices lifted inventory values: Working capital requirements included inventory values raised by unprecedented tungsten price increases, plus advance payments to some suppliers to secure raw material supply. Source

Balance sheet and debt

  • Inventories rose to $1,108 million: At June 30, 2026, inventories were $1,108 million against $538 million a year earlier; accounts receivable were $408 million against $295 million. Source
  • Cash balance declined year on year: Cash and cash equivalents were $96 million against $141 million a year earlier. Source
  • Debt higher than prior year: Long-term debt was $685 million, against $597 million; revolving lines of credit and notes payable were $32 million, against $1 million. Source

Dividend and share purchases

  • Quarterly dividend held at $0.20: The Board declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 per share, unchanged from the prior year quarter. Source
  • Share purchases lower than prior year: Purchases of capital stock were $10,106 thousand in fiscal 2026, against $60,120 thousand. Cash dividends paid were $60,847 thousand, against $61,852 thousand. Term debt borrowings were $296,994 thousand and repayments $209,387 thousand. Source
  • Annual dividend per share unchanged: Dividends per share were $0.80 for fiscal 2026, the same as for fiscal 2025. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 August 2026

  • Dividend payment and record dates: The declared dividend has a record date of August 11, 2026 and a payment date of August 25, 2026. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Advance payments to certain suppliers were made to secure raw material supply, amid the tungsten price increases described. Source
  • Financial: Inventory values rose on unprecedented tungsten price increases, adding to working capital needs in the year. Source
  • External: Tariffs and general inflation partly offset the fourth-quarter operating income gain. Source
  • Financial: Fewer insurance proceeds received within Infrastructure this year weighed on full-year operating income compared with the prior year. 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.