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Knowles Corp.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 23 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 5 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue grew 14% year over year: Revenue from continuing operations was $166.8 million, up from $145.9 million a year earlier and $153.1 million in the first quarter. Source
  • Non-GAAP diluted EPS rose 38%: Non-GAAP diluted EPS from continuing operations was $0.33, against $0.24 a year earlier and $0.27 in the first quarter. Source
  • Growth in all four end markets: Within the Precision Devices segment, revenue grew year over year in Medtech, Defense, Industrial and Electrification. Source
  • Book-to-bill above one for seven quarters: Management said book-to-bill has been greater than one for seven consecutive quarters, with total revenue up 14% year over year. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin reached 25.1%: Adjusted EBITDA was 25.1% of revenue, against 23.1% in the first quarter and 22.4% a year earlier; the dollar amount was $41.8 million. Source
  • Operating cash flow was $28.2 million: Net cash provided by operating activities was $28.2 million, against negative $0.7 million in the first quarter and $36.4 million a year earlier. Source

“I am very pleased with the Company's performance in the first half of 2026.”

Jeffrey Niew, President and CEO of Knowles

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue SourceThird quarter 2026 (quarter ending September 30, 2026)$167 to $177 millionNew
Diluted EPS, GAAP and non-GAAP SourceThird quarter 2026GAAP $0.22 to $0.26; non-GAAP $0.34 to $0.38New
Net cash from operating activities SourceThird quarter 2026$35 to $45 millionNew
GAAP adjustments per share SourceThird quarter 2026approximately $0.06, $0.04 and $0.02 per shareNew
Revenue growth SourceFull year 202610-12%
Adjusted EBITDA growth SourceFull year 2026more than 20%
Organic growth Source2027above the May 2025 Investor Day organic growth targetsNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Quantified 2026 growth expectations were given: revenue growth of 10 to 12 percent and adjusted EBITDA growth above 20 percent. The prior release gave only a qualitative 2026 comparison. Source
  • New guidance: Guidance for the third quarter was issued, replacing the second quarter guidance given in the prior release. Source

Results and growth

  • Revenue grew 14% year over year: Revenue from continuing operations was $166.8 million, up from $145.9 million a year earlier and $153.1 million in the first quarter. Source
  • Non-GAAP diluted EPS rose 38%: Non-GAAP diluted EPS from continuing operations was $0.33, against $0.24 a year earlier and $0.27 in the first quarter. Source
  • GAAP diluted EPS reached $0.21: GAAP diluted EPS from continuing operations was $0.21. Management said the $0.12 gap to non-GAAP EPS comprises the items listed in the release footnote. Source
  • Discontinued operations added earnings: Earnings from discontinued operations were $1.0 million, against a loss of $1.6 million in the first quarter. Net earnings were $19.4 million. Source

Segments and end markets

  • Growth in all four end markets: Within the Precision Devices segment, revenue grew year over year in Medtech, Defense, Industrial and Electrification. Source
  • Consumer MEMS business excluded from results: Continuing operations exclude the Consumer MEMS Microphones business, which was divested in December 2024. Source
  • Acquisition integration sits in Precision Devices: Acquisition-related costs cover ongoing integration of Cornell Dubilier within the Precision Devices segment. Source

Demand and order book

  • Book-to-bill above one for seven quarters: Management said book-to-bill has been greater than one for seven consecutive quarters, with total revenue up 14% year over year. Source
  • Bookings rose every quarter for a year: Management said bookings have increased in each quarter over the past twelve months. Source
  • Design wins ramping across end markets: Management pointed to new design wins ramping across multiple end markets and to a backlog of existing orders. Source

Costs and operating expenses

  • Non-GAAP R&D fell sequentially: Non-GAAP research and development expenses were $9.4 million, down from $9.6 million in the first quarter and up from $8.6 million a year earlier. Source
  • Non-GAAP selling costs rose: Non-GAAP selling and administrative expenses were $30.7 million, up from $27.8 million in the first quarter and $27.6 million a year earlier. Source
  • Production transfer costs continued: Production transfer costs of $0.8 million in the second quarter are duplicate costs of moving manufacturing to existing facilities. Source

Margins and profitability

  • GAAP gross margin rose to 44.7%: Gross profit was $74.6 million, or 44.7% of revenue, against 43.8% in the first quarter and 41.5% a year earlier. Source
  • Non-GAAP gross margin near 45%: Non-GAAP gross profit was $75.7 million, or 45.4% of revenue, against 45.5% in the first quarter and 44.2% a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin reached 25.1%: Adjusted EBITDA was 25.1% of revenue, against 23.1% in the first quarter and 22.4% a year earlier; the dollar amount was $41.8 million. Source

Cash, capital and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow was $28.2 million: Net cash provided by operating activities was $28.2 million, against negative $0.7 million in the first quarter and $36.4 million a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted free cash flow was $22.9 million: Adjusted free cash flow was $22.9 million, or 13.7% of revenues, against negative $3.1 million in the first quarter. Source
  • Capital spending eased in second quarter: Capital expenditures were $6.5 million in the second quarter, against $10.8 million in the first quarter; six-month spending was $17.3 million. Source
  • Six-month buybacks totaled $22.5 million: Repurchases of common stock were $22.5 million for the six months, against $35.0 million a year earlier; the first-quarter repurchase was $7.5 million. Source
  • Long-term debt rose on revolver borrowings: Long-term debt was $131.0 million at June 30, 2026, against $114.0 million at December 31, 2025; six-month revolver borrowings were $105.0 million. Source

Strategy and products

  • Strategy centers on custom products: Management described its strategy as leveraging unique technologies, creating custom products through application intimacy, and scaling into production. Source
  • Products named in the release: Products named are high performance capacitors, RF filters, advanced medtech microphones and balanced armature speakers. Source
  • Footprint across 11 countries: Knowles is headquartered in Itasca, Illinois, and has employees spanning 11 countries. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Second-quarter revenue exceeded the high end of the guided range, which was $152 to $162 million in the prior release. Source
  • Ahead: Non-GAAP diluted EPS of $0.33 was above the high end of the $0.28 to $0.32 range given in the prior release. Source
  • Met: Net cash from operating activities of $28.2 million was within the $20 to $30 million range given in the prior release. 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.