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Quaker Chemical Corp.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 30 April 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales rose 8% in quarter: Net sales were $480.5 million, up 8% from $442.9 million. Organic volumes added 3%, acquisitions 4% and currency 4%, while selling price and mix subtracted 3%. Source
  • Volume growth from new business wins: Berquist attributed the 3% organic volume growth to new business wins in all regions, led again by Asia/Pacific, and said soft end markets were down a low-single-digit percentage. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA up 5%: Adjusted EBITDA was $72.5 million compared with $69.0 million a year earlier, an increase of about 5%, driven by higher net sales partly offset by lower operating margins. Source
  • Asia/Pacific sales up 25%: Asia/Pacific sales rose to $124.7 million from $99.9 million, from higher organic volumes, acquisitions (primarily Dipsol) and favorable currency, partly offset by lower price and mix. Source
  • Raw material inflation ahead: Management expects raw material inflation from the second quarter, offset in part by price recovery and cost actions, with a temporary lag on second-quarter gross margins. Source
  • Transformation and cost program launched: A global business transformation and cost savings program was started, expected to deliver at least $20 million to $30 million of annualized savings by 2028. Source
  • Revenue and EBITDA growth expected in 2026: Management expects year-over-year revenue and adjusted EBITDA growth in 2026, assuming no significant deterioration in end markets from the Middle East conflict. Source

“We achieved 3% year-over-year organic volume growth despite challenging markets, resulting in our third consecutive quarter of profitability improvement compared to prior year.”

Joe Berquist, Chief Executive Officer and President

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Raw material costs and gross margin Sourcebeginning second quarter of 2026raw material inflation beginning in the second quarterNew
Transformation and cost savings Sourcerun rate by end of 2026; annualized by 2028$20 to $30 million savings, with run rate of $10M by end of 2026New

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Management set a new global transformation and cost savings target of $20 million to $30 million, expected at least by 2028. Source
  • New: The company amended its credit agreement after quarter-end, extending the nearest maturity from June 2027 to April 2031 and expanding revolver availability. Source
  • Guidance kept: Management reiterated expected year-over-year revenue and adjusted EBITDA growth for 2026, consistent with the prior quarter's statement. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net sales rose 8% in quarter: Net sales were $480.5 million, up 8% from $442.9 million. Organic volumes added 3%, acquisitions 4% and currency 4%, while selling price and mix subtracted 3%. Source
  • Volume growth from new business wins: Berquist attributed the 3% organic volume growth to new business wins in all regions, led again by Asia/Pacific, and said soft end markets were down a low-single-digit percentage. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA up 5%: Adjusted EBITDA was $72.5 million compared with $69.0 million a year earlier, an increase of about 5%, driven by higher net sales partly offset by lower operating margins. Source
  • GAAP net income and diluted EPS higher: Net income attributable to the company was $19.7 million, or $1.13 per diluted share, against $12.9 million, or $0.73 per diluted share, a year earlier. Source

Segments and regions

  • Asia/Pacific sales up 25%: Asia/Pacific sales rose to $124.7 million from $99.9 million, from higher organic volumes, acquisitions (primarily Dipsol) and favorable currency, partly offset by lower price and mix. Source
  • EMEA sales up 10%: EMEA sales were $142.1 million, up from $129.3 million, on higher organic volumes, acquisitions and favorable currency, partly offset by lower price and geographic mix. Source
  • Americas earnings down on price and SG&A: Americas sales were flat at $213.7 million, but segment operating earnings fell to $53.9 million from $58.5 million on lower price and product mix and higher SG&A. Source
  • EMEA and Asia/Pacific earnings higher: Segment operating earnings rose to $25.6 million in EMEA and $34.3 million in Asia/Pacific, from $23.4 million and $25.9 million, helped by lower raw material costs. Source

“Looking ahead we expect demand to improve incrementally with normal seasonality, even with volatility and current uncertainty in the market.”

Joe Berquist, Chief Executive Officer and President

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gross margin improved as expected: Gross profit was $176.7 million against $161.3 million a year earlier. Management said gross margins improved as expected, with higher earnings from that improvement. Source
  • Non-GAAP operating margin eased: Non-GAAP operating income was $45.3 million, a 9.4% margin, against $45.8 million and 10.3% a year earlier. Source
  • Selling price and mix declined 3%: Selling price and product mix fell 3% year over year, reflecting product, service and geographic mix and index-based customer contracts. Source
  • Restructuring charges lower, transformation costs added: Restructuring and related charges were $7.4 million against $14.6 million, and business transformation costs of $1.7 million were recorded this quarter. Source
  • Raw material inflation ahead: Management expects raw material inflation from the second quarter, offset in part by price recovery and cost actions, with a temporary lag on second-quarter gross margins. Source

Demand and the order book

  • Volumes outperformed soft end markets: Management said its sales execution let it outperform soft end markets, which it estimates were down a low-single-digit percentage in the quarter. Source
  • Sales up 3% from prior quarter: Net sales rose about 3% from the fourth quarter of 2025, on higher organic volumes and favorable currency, partly offset by lower price and geographic mix. Source
  • Demand expected to improve incrementally: Management expects demand to improve incrementally with normal seasonality, while noting current uncertainty in the market. Source

“I am proud of the resilience and unwavering commitment to our customers demonstrated by the entire Quaker Houghton team in an exceptionally volatile environment.”

Joe Berquist, Chief Executive Officer and President

Capital, cash and returns

  • Operating cash flow positive: Operating cash flow was $3.8 million, against a $3.1 million outflow a year earlier, reflecting better operating performance and lower restructuring and working capital outflows. Source
  • Net debt and leverage: At March 31, 2026, gross debt was $875.0 million and cash $169.7 million, giving net debt of about $705.3 million, or about 2.3 times trailing adjusted EBITDA. Source
  • Capital spending and dividends: Capital expenditure was $10.7 million against $12.3 million a year earlier, and dividends paid were $8.8 million. Source

Strategy and investment

  • Transformation and cost program launched: A global business transformation and cost savings program was started, expected to deliver at least $20 million to $30 million of annualized savings by 2028. Source

Uncertainty and the year ahead

  • Revenue and EBITDA growth expected in 2026: Management expects year-over-year revenue and adjusted EBITDA growth in 2026, assuming no significant deterioration in end markets from the Middle East conflict. Source
  • Geopolitical uncertainty noted: Management said recent geopolitical events have added near-term uncertainty. Source

Coming up, as management said on 30 April 2026

  • Cost program run rate by year-end: Management expects the transformation and cost program to reach a run rate of $10 million by the end of 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Capital expenditure Source$10.7 million in Q1 2026, against $12.3 million in Q1 2025

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management noted that soft underlying end markets were down a low-single-digit percentage in the quarter. Source
  • Operational: Raw material inflation from the second quarter will temporarily lag price recovery, weighing on second-quarter gross margins. Source
  • Operational: Americas segment operating earnings fell on lower segment operating margins. Source
  • External: Management said recent geopolitical events have added near-term uncertainty. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said gross margins improved as expected in the first quarter. Source
  • Not stated: The prior quarter's statement of confidence in 2026 revenue and adjusted EBITDA growth was carried forward.

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.