greeksoup/ stock research

Lincoln Electric Holdings Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 30 July 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales rose 12.0% on organic growth: Net sales rose 12.0% to $1,219.7 million, with organic sales up 10.1%, acquisitions adding 1.5% and foreign exchange adding 0.4%. Source
  • Operating margin reached 18.1%: Operating income was $220.6 million, or 18.1% of sales, against $192.1 million, or 17.6%, a year earlier. Adjusted operating income was 18.4% of sales. Source
  • Americas Welding led sales growth: Americas Welding net sales rose 11.2% to $774.4 million. Volume added 7.1%, price added 3.7% and foreign exchange added 0.4%. Source
  • Demand improving in two regions: Management said it is encouraged by improved demand and capital spending in the Americas and Asia Pacific. Source
  • Gross margin eased to 36.8%: Gross profit was 36.8% of sales against 37.3%, as cost of goods sold rose to 63.2% of sales from 62.7%. Source
  • Cash conversion reached 138%: Operating cash flow was $253.8 million and capital expenditures were $31.4 million, giving free cash flow of $222.3 million and cash conversion of 138%, against 81%. Source
  • $120 million returned in quarter: The company returned $120 million through dividends and share repurchases, including $76.1 million of buybacks and $43.4 million of dividends. Source

“We achieved record second quarter results across key metrics including sales, operating income profitability, earnings, and cash generation”

Steven B. Hedlund, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Results and growth drivers

  • Net sales rose 12.0% on organic growth: Net sales rose 12.0% to $1,219.7 million, with organic sales up 10.1%, acquisitions adding 1.5% and foreign exchange adding 0.4%. Source
  • Operating margin reached 18.1%: Operating income was $220.6 million, or 18.1% of sales, against $192.1 million, or 17.6%, a year earlier. Adjusted operating income was 18.4% of sales. Source
  • Diluted EPS rose to $2.88: Diluted EPS was $2.88 against $2.56. Adjusted EPS was $2.93 against $2.60, after special items of $0.05 per share. Source
  • Six-month sales and organic growth: Six-month sales rose 11.9% to $2,341.1 million, with organic sales up 9.0%. Six-month adjusted EPS was $5.43 against $4.76. Source

Segments, regions and demand

  • Americas Welding led sales growth: Americas Welding net sales rose 11.2% to $774.4 million. Volume added 7.1%, price added 3.7% and foreign exchange added 0.4%. Source
  • International Welding volume declined: International Welding net sales rose 4.5% to $243.3 million. Volume fell 4.7%, acquisitions added 7.0%, price added 1.6% and foreign exchange added 0.6%. Source
  • Harris Products Group grew on price: The Harris Products Group net sales rose 26.9% to $201.9 million. Price added 34.2%, while volume fell 8.2%. Source
  • Demand improving in two regions: Management said it is encouraged by improved demand and capital spending in the Americas and Asia Pacific. Source

“We are encouraged by improved demand and capital spending in the Americas and Asia Pacific”

Steven B. Hedlund, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Price added 7.7 points of growth: Price contributed 7.7% and volume contributed 2.4% to consolidated sales growth of 12.0%. Source
  • Gross margin eased to 36.8%: Gross profit was 36.8% of sales against 37.3%, as cost of goods sold rose to 63.2% of sales from 62.7%. Source
  • SG&A fell as a share of sales: Selling, general and administrative expenses were $224.9 million, or 18.4% of sales, against $210.9 million, or 19.4%. Source
  • Effective tax rate rose: The effective tax rate was 23.7%, against 21.9% a year earlier. Source
  • Rationalization charges continued: Rationalization and asset impairment net charges were $3.5 million, against $2.5 million. The company said the 2026 and 2025 charges relate mainly to Americas Welding and International Welding. Source

Cash flow and working capital

  • Cash conversion reached 138%: Operating cash flow was $253.8 million and capital expenditures were $31.4 million, giving free cash flow of $222.3 million and cash conversion of 138%, against 81%. Source
  • Working capital ratio declined: Average operating working capital to sales was 16.9% at June 30, against 18.6% at March 31 and 17.9% at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Six-month free cash flow higher: Six-month free cash flow was $285.3 million against $277.1 million. Six-month cash conversion was 95% against 104%. Source
  • Debt reduced and leverage ratio lower: Total debt was $1,150.1 million at June 30, after short-term borrowings were repaid. Total debt to invested capital was 42.5%, against 46.8% at December 31, 2025. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • $120 million returned in quarter: The company returned $120 million through dividends and share repurchases, including $76.1 million of buybacks and $43.4 million of dividends. Source
  • Quarterly dividend per share rose: Cash dividends paid were $0.79 per share, against $0.75 a year earlier. Source
  • Diluted share count fell: Weighted average diluted shares were 55.1 million, against 56.0 million a year earlier. Six-month share repurchases totaled $132.8 million. Source
  • Return on invested capital rose: Twelve-month return on invested capital was 21.9% as reported and 23.0% adjusted, against 20.4% and 21.7% a year earlier. Source

Strategy, acquisitions and special items

  • RISE strategy execution credited: Management credited execution of its RISE Strategy initiatives for positioning the company to generate returns for shareholders. Source
  • No acquisition cash paid this quarter: The company paid no cash for acquisitions this quarter, against $32.3 million in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Six-month special items per share: Six-month special items were $0.09 per share, against $0.10 in the prior-year period. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Manufacturing and automation facilities Source71 across 20 countries
Countries served Sourceover 160

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: In the first quarter release, management said it was advancing its new long-term RISE strategy. The second quarter release refers to execution of those initiatives without a stated status.

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.