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Matson, Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 3 August 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net income and EPS rose: Consolidated revenue was $969.4 million against $830.5 million. Net income was $129.4 million against $94.7 million, and diluted EPS was $4.27 against $2.92. Source
  • Operating income and EBITDA rose: Consolidated operating income was $158.9 million against $113.0 million. EBITDA was $211.0 million against $163.6 million a year earlier. Source
  • Ocean operating income up 46 percent: Ocean operating income was $144.0 million, up 46.0 percent. Operating margin was 18.8 percent against 14.6 percent a year earlier. Source
  • China volume up 15.2 percent: China service containers reached 37,200 FEU, up 4,900 FEU, against a prior-year period affected by a tariff-driven decline in Transpacific demand. Source
  • Fuel costs offset Ocean gain: Higher vessel operating expense, mainly fuel-related costs, partly offset the Ocean operating income gain for the quarter. Source
  • Quarterly buyback of 0.3 million shares: Matson repurchased about 0.3 million shares in the quarter at a total cost of $67.8 million. About 3.4 million shares remained under the program at June 30. Source

“Our CLX and MAX services saw higher-than-expected freight rates and demand across e-commerce, garments and e-goods against a backdrop of tighter supply conditions in the Transpacific tradelane.”

Matt Cox, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Ocean Transportation operating income Sourcethird quarter 2026approximately 45 percent higher than the $147.4 million achieved in the third quarter 2025
Ocean Transportation operating income Sourcefourth quarter 2026modestly lower than the $136.0 million achieved in the fourth quarter 2025
Ocean Transportation operating income Sourcefull year 2026higher than the $455.6 million achieved in full year 2025
Logistics operating income Sourcethird and fourth quarters 2026modestly higher than the $13.6 million and $7.7 million achieved in the third and fourth quarters 2025, respectively
Logistics operating income Sourcefull year 2026higher than the $44.2 million achieved in full year 2025
Consolidated operating income Sourcethird quarter 2026approximately 45 percent higher than the level achieved in the third quarter 2025
Hawaii container volume Sourcefull year 2026approach the level achieved in 2025
China container volume Sourcefull year 2026higher than the level achieved in 2025
SSAT joint venture contribution Sourcefull year 2026lower than the $32.5 million achieved in full year 2025
Depreciation and amortization Sourcefull year 2026approximately $205 million, inclusive of dry-docking amortization of approximately $35 million
Interest income Sourcefull year 2026approximately $18 million
Interest expense, net Sourcefull year 2026approximately $6 million
Other income (expense), net Sourcefull year 2026approximately $7 million in income
Effective tax rate Sourcefull year 2026approximately 21.0 percent
Capital expenditure payments Sourcefull year 2026$150 to $170 million
Vessel construction expenditures Sourcefull year 2026approximately $400 million
Dry-docking payments Sourcefull year 2026approximately $45 million

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: The July 15 preliminary release covered only second quarter figures. Third quarter and full year lines first appear in this release. Source

Earnings and profit results

  • Net income and EPS rose: Consolidated revenue was $969.4 million against $830.5 million. Net income was $129.4 million against $94.7 million, and diluted EPS was $4.27 against $2.92. Source
  • Operating income and EBITDA rose: Consolidated operating income was $158.9 million against $113.0 million. EBITDA was $211.0 million against $163.6 million a year earlier. Source
  • Final results inside July ranges: Final operating income and diluted EPS fell within the July 15 preliminary ranges given for both measures.

Ocean Transportation by service

  • Ocean operating income up 46 percent: Ocean operating income was $144.0 million, up 46.0 percent. Operating margin was 18.8 percent against 14.6 percent a year earlier. Source
  • China volume up 15.2 percent: China service containers reached 37,200 FEU, up 4,900 FEU, against a prior-year period affected by a tariff-driven decline in Transpacific demand. Source
  • Hawaii and Alaska volumes declined: Hawaii containers fell 1.1 percent to 35,600 FEU on lower general demand. Alaska fell 2.3 percent to 21,200 FEU on lower export seafood volume on AAX, partly offset by one more northbound sailing. Source
  • Guam volume rose, Other fell: Guam containers rose 4.4 percent to 4,700 FEU. Other containers, covering Micronesia, the South Pacific and Okinawa, fell 11.4 percent to 3,900 FEU. Source
  • SSAT contribution fell: SSAT joint venture contributed $4.8 million against $7.3 million, on lower lift volume and higher operating expenses. Source

“In Logistics, operating income increased year-over-year primarily due to higher contributions from freight forwarding and transportation brokerage, partially offset by a lower contribution from warehousing.”

Matt Cox, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Logistics segment results

  • Logistics revenue rose on brokerage: Logistics revenue was $202.0 million, up 30.4 percent, mainly from higher transportation brokerage revenue. Source
  • Quarter operating income edged up: Operating income was $14.9 million, with margin at 7.4 percent against 9.3 percent. Freight forwarding and brokerage contributions rose, while warehousing contribution fell. Source
  • Six-month Logistics profit declined: Six-month operating income was $21.7 million, down 5.2 percent, on a lower warehousing contribution partly offset by freight forwarding. Margin was 6.1 percent against 7.6 percent. Source

Costs, fuel and pricing

  • Fuel costs offset Ocean gain: Higher vessel operating expense, mainly fuel-related costs, partly offset the Ocean operating income gain for the quarter. Source
  • Freight rates lifted Ocean revenue: Ocean revenue rose to $767.4 million from $675.6 million, mainly from higher volume and freight rates in the China service. Source
  • Six-month Ocean margin rose: Six-month Ocean operating margin was 14.5 percent against 13.1 percent, on revenue of $1,373.9 million. Source

Cash, debt and capital spending

  • Operating cash flow rose: Operating cash flow was $231.6 million for six months against $194.6 million. Capital expenditures including vessel construction were $255.5 million against $175.5 million. Source
  • Cash and debt at June 30: Cash and equivalents were $119.3 million, with $345.8 million in the Capital Construction Fund. Total debt was $341.3 million, down $19.9 million in six months. Source
  • Second quarter vessel and dry-dock payments: Second quarter payments were $25.4 million for capital expenditures excluding vessels, $181.8 million for vessel construction and $12.7 million for dry-docking. Source

Share repurchases and dividend

  • Quarterly buyback of 0.3 million shares: Matson repurchased about 0.3 million shares in the quarter at a total cost of $67.8 million. About 3.4 million shares remained under the program at June 30. Source
  • Repurchase program extended to 2029: On April 23, 2026, the Board added 3.0 million shares to the program and extended it to December 31, 2029. Source
  • Cash dividend of $0.38 declared: The Board declared a $0.38 per share cash dividend on June 25, 2026, payable September 3, 2026 to holders of record on August 6, 2026. Source

Coming up, as management said on 3 August 2026

  • China service through peak season: Management expects the China service to be at or near capacity through peak season. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Hawaii container volume (FEU) Source35,600, down 1.1 percent
China container volume (FEU) Source37,200, up 15.2 percent
Alaska container volume (FEU) Source21,200, down 2.3 percent
Guam container volume (FEU) Source4,700, up 4.4 percent
Other container volume (FEU) Source3,900, down 11.4 percent
Freight rates (CLX and MAX) Sourcehigher than expected
Fuel costs Sourcehigher, year over year

Risks management discussed

  • External: The Iran conflict has affected fuel prices in all markets, though operations and service levels were not affected to date. Source
  • External: Hawaii's economy is described as stable, but energy-related inflation is a continuing headwind. Source
  • Demand: Fourth quarter 2026 demand is expected to follow a more traditional seasonal pattern, below the elevated Transpacific freight demand of fourth quarter 2025. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management reiterated its expectation of full fuel cost recovery by the end of the year. No status against that expectation is given. 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.