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LKQ Corp.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 30 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 6 lowered, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue fell 3.0% on organic decline: Revenue was $3.4 billion. Parts and services organic revenue fell 5.1%, with foreign exchange adding 1.0% and acquisitions and divestitures adding 0.5%. Source
  • Diluted EPS fell to $0.52: Diluted EPS from continuing operations was $0.52 against $0.72. Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.67 against $0.84 for the same period of 2025. Source
  • North America organic growth returned: North America returned to organic growth after nine quarters. Management cited record alternative-parts utilization above 40%, insurance premiums negative in May and June, and sequential gains in repairable claims. Source
  • Europe revenue and margin fell: Europe segment revenue was $1,455 million against $1,607 million. Segment EBITDA was $109 million, a 7.5% margin against 9.4%. Management tied results to the ERP implementation in Germany. Source
  • Second-quarter free cash flow was $60 million: Operating cash flow was $111 million and free cash flow $60 million, against free cash flow of $243 million a year earlier. Source
  • Specialty under sale evaluation: Specialty is being evaluated within the broader strategic review begun in January, which covers strategic alternatives including a sale of the Company. Source
  • Talks with multiple parties continue: The company said the strategic review remains active and that it continues to engage with multiple parties. Source
  • Europe recovery paced more slowly: Management said the revised full-year ranges reflect a more measured pace of recovery in Europe, while cost, cash and capital discipline continue. Source

“Overall, the fundamentals of our business are improving, and as market conditions continue to recover, we expect those operational gains to translate into stronger financial performance and profitability in the quarters ahead,”

Justin Jude, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Organic revenue growth, parts and services Sourcefull year 2026(3.0%) to (1.0%)Lowered from (0.5%) to 1.5%
Diluted EPS Sourcefull year 2026$1.78 to $2.08Lowered from $2.16 to $2.46
Adjusted diluted EPS Sourcefull year 2026$2.60 to $2.90Lowered from $2.90 to $3.20
Operating cash flow Sourcefull year 2026$825 to $1,025 millionLowered from $900 to $1,100 million
Free cash flow Sourcefull year 2026$625 to $775 millionLowered from $700 to $850 million
Adjusted net income Sourcefull year 2026$662 to $738 millionLowered from $742 to $819 million
Restructuring and transaction related expenses Sourcefull year 2026$90 millionRaised from $70 million
Share repurchase authority remaining Sourcethrough October 25, 2026$1.5 billion
Global effective tax rate assumption Sourcefull year 202626.8%Kept
Foreign exchange rate assumptions Sourcebalance of 2026$1.17 euro, $1.35 pound sterling, $0.72 Canadian dollarKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: Full-year 2026 ranges lowered for organic revenue growth, diluted EPS, adjusted diluted EPS, operating cash flow and free cash flow, citing a more measured Europe recovery. Source
  • Guidance kept: Tax rate and foreign exchange rate assumptions carried forward without change from the first-quarter release. Source
  • New: Specialty is now described as being evaluated within the strategic review. This release also cites a December 2025 process to explore a Specialty sale, which the first-quarter release did not mention. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue fell 3.0% on organic decline: Revenue was $3.4 billion. Parts and services organic revenue fell 5.1%, with foreign exchange adding 1.0% and acquisitions and divestitures adding 0.5%. Source
  • Diluted EPS fell to $0.52: Diluted EPS from continuing operations was $0.52 against $0.72. Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.67 against $0.84 for the same period of 2025. Source
  • North America organic growth returned: North America returned to organic growth after nine quarters. Management cited record alternative-parts utilization above 40%, insurance premiums negative in May and June, and sequential gains in repairable claims. Source
  • Net income and adjusted income declined: Net income from continuing operations was $134 million against $185 million. Adjusted net income was $170 million against $218 million. Operating income fell 24.7% to $225 million. Source

Segments and regions

  • Europe revenue and margin fell: Europe segment revenue was $1,455 million against $1,607 million. Segment EBITDA was $109 million, a 7.5% margin against 9.4%. Management tied results to the ERP implementation in Germany. Source
  • Europe cost cuts partly offset volume loss: Excluding the ERP effect, cost reductions largely offset lower volumes in the UK and Benelux regions, according to management. Source
  • North America segment revenue edged up: North America segment revenue was $1,466 million against $1,442 million. Segment EBITDA was $207 million, a 14.1% margin against 15.5%. Source
  • Specialty revenue rose, margin declined: Specialty segment revenue was $488 million against $465 million. Segment EBITDA was $33 million, a 6.7% margin against 8.5%. Management cited a challenging end-market. Source

“Second-quarter results reflected improving trends in North America and resilient demand in Specialty, offset by a slower-than-expected recovery following the ERP implementation in Germany.”

Rick Galloway, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Costs and margins

  • Gross margin rose slightly: Gross margin was 38.8% of revenue against 38.6%. Cost of goods sold fell 3.3% to $2,087 million, or 61.2% of revenue. Source
  • SG&A rose as share of revenue: Selling, general and administrative expenses rose 3.3% to $990 million, or 29.0% of revenue against 27.3% a year earlier. Source
  • Restructuring costs rose in quarter: Restructuring and transaction related expenses were $14 million against $8 million. Six-month expenses were $47 million against $19 million. Source
  • Mekonomen investment impairment recorded: Six-month figures include a $44 million other-than-temporary impairment of the Mekonomen equity method investment. The impairment is excluded from adjusted net income. Source

Cash, debt and shareholder returns

  • Second-quarter free cash flow was $60 million: Operating cash flow was $111 million and free cash flow $60 million, against free cash flow of $243 million a year earlier. Source
  • Six-month free cash flow was negative: Six-month operating cash flow was $55 million and free cash flow negative $36 million, against $186 million of free cash flow in the prior-year six months. Source
  • Leverage rose to 2.8x: Total debt was $4.0 billion at June 30, 2026, with credit-facility leverage at 2.8x EBITDA, up from 2.6x at March 31, 2026. Source
  • Buybacks and dividends in quarter: The company spent $52 million repurchasing 1.9 million shares and paid $77 million in cash dividends in the second quarter. Six-month returns totaled $207 million. Source

Strategic review and Specialty sale

  • Specialty under sale evaluation: Specialty is being evaluated within the broader strategic review begun in January, which covers strategic alternatives including a sale of the Company. Source
  • Specialty sale process began December 2025: The company announced in December 2025 that it had begun exploring a potential sale of Specialty. The first-quarter release did not mention this process. Source
  • Talks with multiple parties continue: The company said the strategic review remains active and that it continues to engage with multiple parties. Source

Guidance revision and assumptions

  • Europe recovery paced more slowly: Management said the revised full-year ranges reflect a more measured pace of recovery in Europe, while cost, cash and capital discipline continue. Source
  • Tariff and currency assumptions carried forward: Full-year figures include tariffs in effect July 1, 2026, a 26.8% tax rate, and currency rates of $1.17 euro, $1.35 pound and $0.72 Canadian dollar. Source
  • Europe actions target service and costs: Management said actions in Europe focus on restoring service levels and aligning the cost structure with current demand. Source

Coming up, as management said on 30 July 2026

  • Strategic review updates to come: The company said it will provide updates on the strategic review process as appropriate. Source
  • Dividend payable September 3: Quarterly dividend of $0.30 per share was declared July 28, payable September 3, 2026 to holders of record August 20, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
North America organic revenue change Source0.5%
Parts and services organic revenue change Source(5.1)%
Europe organic revenue change Source(12.6)%
Specialty organic revenue change Source4.5%

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Management said Europe results were affected by the ERP implementation in Germany, which fell short of its expectations. Source
  • External: The full-year figures may change if tariff, currency or other stated conditions move, which could affect achieving the estimates. Source
  • External: Management said the strategic review has no set deadline and that a transaction or other strategic outcome is not assured. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said North America remains on track against its full-year plan. Source
  • Not stated: Management said Specialty revenue performance has been consistent with its expectations. Source
  • Not stated: The April release said management remained focused on executing against the full-year 2026 plan; the July release revised that plan.

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.