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Koppers Holdings Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 8 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 2 lowered, 1 new, 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Adjusted EBITDA down 11.2%: Adjusted EBITDA was $49.3 million, down 11.2% from $55.5 million. Adjusted EPS was $0.57 against $0.71, down 19.7%. Source
  • Performance Chemicals sales and profit up: Performance Chemicals sales rose 17.5% to $142.1 million, and adjusted EBITDA rose 28.4% to $25.8 million, with margin at 18.2%. Source
  • Carbon Materials EBITDA down 90.9%: CMC sales fell 7.4% to $93.2 million, and adjusted EBITDA fell to $0.9 million from $9.9 million, a margin of 1.0%. Source
  • Oil prices raised raw material costs: Management cited higher raw material costs, including oil price spikes from the Middle East conflict, as a driver of lower Carbon Materials and Chemicals profitability. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA and EPS ranges revised: The adjusted EBITDA range is now $240 - $260 million, from $250 - $270 million, and adjusted EPS is $3.80 - $4.60, from $4.20 - $5.00, reflecting the oil price effect. Source
  • Operating cash flow and free cash flow positive: Operating cash flow was $46.3 million against $(22.7) million, and free cash flow was $34.9 million against $(37.0) million. Source
  • Stickney plant to cease production: Production at the Stickney, Illinois, plant is to cease by this year-end, with the decision announced alongside these results. Source

“I’m happy to report that our consolidated first quarter results matched our expectations, while our cash generation picked up tremendous momentum.”

Chief Executive Officer and Chair Leroy Ball

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales Source2026$1.9 - $2.0 billionKept
Adjusted EBITDA Source2026$240 - $260 millionLowered from $250 - $270 million
Effective tax rate on adjusted net income Source202628 percentKept
Adjusted EPS Source2026$3.80 - $4.60Lowered from $4.20 - $5.00
Operating cash flow Source2026$165 - $185 millionRaised from $150 - $170 million
Capital expenditures Source2026$55 millionKept
Oil price impact on profitability Source2026up to $10 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: Adjusted EBITDA range lowered to $240 - $260 million from $250 - $270 million. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Adjusted EPS range lowered to $3.80 - $4.60 from $4.20 - $5.00. Source
  • Guidance raised: Operating cash flow range raised to $165 - $185 million from $150 - $170 million. Source
  • Guidance kept: Net sales, effective tax rate and capital expenditure guidance are unchanged from the prior release. Source
  • New: Production at the Stickney, Illinois, plant is to cease by this year-end. Source
  • New: The company acquired a western U.S. pole procurement business, reported within Railroad and Utility Products and Services. Source

Results and reported profit

  • Net sales slightly lower: Net sales were $455.3 million, down 0.3% from $456.5 million a year earlier, with segment shifts described below. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA down 11.2%: Adjusted EBITDA was $49.3 million, down 11.2% from $55.5 million. Adjusted EPS was $0.57 against $0.71, down 19.7%. Source
  • Net income positive from prior loss: Net income was $7.1 million and diluted EPS $0.35, against a $(13.9) million loss and $(0.68) a year earlier. The prior-year quarter included a $29.0 million pension settlement loss. Source
  • Operating profit and impairment lower: Operating profit was $22.0 million against $27.0 million. Impairment and restructuring was $7.8 million against $20.0 million, and a $4.3 million gain on sale of assets was recorded. Source

Segment results

  • Performance Chemicals sales and profit up: Performance Chemicals sales rose 17.5% to $142.1 million, and adjusted EBITDA rose 28.4% to $25.8 million, with margin at 18.2%. Source
  • Performance Chemicals costs partly offset gains: Higher sales volumes and prices lifted Performance Chemicals profit, partly offset by higher raw material and operating costs. Source
  • Carbon Materials EBITDA down 90.9%: CMC sales fell 7.4% to $93.2 million, and adjusted EBITDA fell to $0.9 million from $9.9 million, a margin of 1.0%. Source
  • Carbon pitch prices lower: Carbon pitch prices were down approximately nine percent globally, driven by market dynamics, and most other products also had lower sales prices. Source
  • Phthalic savings offset part of decline: Operating cost savings from ceasing phthalic anhydride production partly offset the Carbon Materials decline this quarter. Source
  • Railroad and utility sales and profit lower: RUPS sales fell 6.4% to $220.0 million and adjusted EBITDA fell 11.4% to $22.6 million; higher domestic utility pole volumes partly offset the sales decline. Source

“The best news is that underlying demand in our PC and RUPS markets is projecting to be in line if not slightly better than what we thought coming into the year.”

Chief Executive Officer and Chair Leroy Ball

Costs, raw materials and pricing

  • Cost of sales up $18 million: Cost of sales was $368.7 million against $350.7 million a year earlier, and selling, general and administrative expense was $41.7 million against $41.1 million. Source
  • Oil prices raised raw material costs: Management cited higher raw material costs, including oil price spikes from the Middle East conflict, as a driver of lower Carbon Materials and Chemicals profitability. Source
  • Scrap copper costs partly hedged: Scrap copper costs raised Performance Chemicals raw material costs, net of the benefit from the company's copper-hedging program. Source

Demand and 2026 forecast

  • Underlying demand seen in line: Management said underlying demand in its PC and RUPS markets is in line with, or slightly better than, its expectations at the start of the year. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA and EPS ranges revised: The adjusted EBITDA range is now $240 - $260 million, from $250 - $270 million, and adjusted EPS is $3.80 - $4.60, from $4.20 - $5.00, reflecting the oil price effect. Source
  • Net sales range held: The 2026 net sales range of $1.9 to $2.0 billion was kept, and the effective tax rate on adjusted net income stayed at 28 percent. Source

“While we welcome end market improvement, the actions we have planned and already taken put us in position for a step change in profitability in 2027 while maintaining our already healthy cash generation.”

Chief Executive Officer and Chair Leroy Ball

Cash flow and working capital

  • Operating cash flow and free cash flow positive: Operating cash flow was $46.3 million against $(22.7) million, and free cash flow was $34.9 million against $(37.0) million. Source
  • Inventory release and payables rise: Inventories released $17.8 million of cash and accounts payable rose $22.1 million, offsetting a $23.2 million increase in accounts receivable. Source
  • Operating cash flow guidance raised: Management expects higher operating cash flow and free cash flow than prior guidance, as the company delivers at the higher end of its inventory reduction targets. Source
  • Net capital spending $11.4 million: Capital expenditures, net of insurance proceeds and sale of assets, were $11.4 million against $10.0 million a year earlier. Source

Capital returns and debt

  • Share repurchases rose: Repurchases of common stock were $29.0 million against $19.1 million a year earlier. Dividends and return of capital to noncontrolling interests were $2.2 million. Source
  • Treasury shares increased: Treasury shares rose to 7,560,355 from 6,757,247 at year-end, and total Koppers shareholders' equity fell to $549.5 million from $574.0 million. Source
  • Credit facility borrowings and repayments: Credit facility borrowings were $166.8 million and repayments were $165.5 million, and long-term debt was $915.3 million against $914.3 million at year-end. Source

Network and strategy

  • Stickney plant to cease production: Production at the Stickney, Illinois, plant is to cease by this year-end, with the decision announced alongside these results. Source
  • Catalyst benefits offset part of decline: Management said Performance Chemicals share gains and Catalyst benefits partially offset the Carbon Materials and Chemicals profit decline this quarter. Source
  • Western U.S. pole business acquired: The company acquired a western U.S. pole procurement business, which added to domestic utility pole volumes in the quarter. Source

Coming up, as management said on 8 May 2026

  • Stickney production ends this year: Production at the Stickney, Illinois, plant is set to cease by year-end 2026. Source
  • Stickney benefit from 2027: Management said the Stickney decision will bring benefit beginning in 2027. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Performance Chemicals volumes Source15 percent increase

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management cited ongoing uncertainty from geopolitical and supply chain challenges as a factor in the 2026 forecast. Source
  • Demand: Management described persistent competitive pressures weighing on Carbon Materials and Chemicals profitability. Source
  • Financial: Management said higher oil prices could reduce 2026 profitability by up to $10 million. Source
  • Demand: Customer mix in Class I crossties and crosstie price decreases lowered Railroad and Utility Products and Services sales. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said first-quarter results matched its expectations. Source
  • Met: Management said the company is delivering at the higher end of its inventory reduction targets. Source
  • Not stated: The prior release expected share gains in 2026 in all businesses other than CMC; the current release cites Performance Chemicals share gains.

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.