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Matson, Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 raised, 3 lowered, 2 new, 6 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Diluted EPS rose to $6.96: Diluted EPS was $6.96 versus $4.24 a year earlier. Net income was $209.4 million versus $134.7 million. Source
  • Consolidated operating income rose: Consolidated operating income was $255.2 million versus $161.0 million. EBITDA was $310.6 million versus $212.3 million. Source
  • Ocean Transportation operating income up 62%: Ocean Transportation operating income was $239.1 million, up 62.2 percent, with operating margin at 26.8 percent versus 20.5 percent. Source
  • China service volume up 16%: China service container volume was 40,500 FEU, up 16.0 percent, which management attributed to strong freight demand against last year's muted peak season. Source
  • Fuel surcharge revenue rose: Ocean Transportation revenue rose $173.0 million, or 24.1 percent, with higher fuel-related surcharge revenue cited among the drivers. Source
  • China demand and freight rates drove Ocean income: Management attributed the substantial year-over-year rise in Ocean Transportation operating income to China-service demand and elevated freight rates. Source

“Matson had a stronger-than-expected third quarter. Our China service performed well, with its speed and reliability serving as important differentiators amid continued pressure on global shipping networks and congestion at key Asia ports.”

Matt Cox, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Ocean Transportation operating income Sourcefourth quarter 2026approximately 50 percent higher than the $136.0 million achieved in the fourth quarter 2025Raised from modestly lower than the $136.0 million achieved in the fourth quarter 2025
Logistics operating income Sourcefourth quarter 2026modestly higher than the $7.7 million achieved in the fourth quarter 2025Kept
Consolidated operating income Sourcefourth quarter 2026approximately 50 percent higher than the $143.7 million achieved in the fourth quarter 2025New
Effective tax rate Sourcefourth quarter 2026approximately 20.0 percentNew
Hawaii container volume Sourcefull year 2026modestly lower than the level achieved in 2025Lowered from approach the level achieved in 2025
China container volume Sourcefull year 2026higher than the level achieved in 2025Kept
SSAT contribution Sourcefull year 2026lower than the $32.5 million achieved in full year 2025Kept
Depreciation and amortization Sourcefull year 2026approximately $205 million, including dry-docking amortization of approximately $35 millionKept
Interest income Sourcefull year 2026approximately $20 millionRaised from approximately $18 million
Interest expense, net Sourcefull year 2026approximately $6 millionKept
Other income (expense), net Sourcefull year 2026approximately $10 million in incomeRaised from approximately $7 million in income
Capital expenditure payments excluding vessel construction Sourcefull year 2026approximately $130 millionLowered from $150 to $170 million
Vessel construction expenditures Sourcefull year 2026approximately $375 million, including capitalized interest and owner’s itemsLowered from approximately $400 million
Dry-docking payments Sourcefull year 2026approximately $45 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Fourth quarter 2026 Ocean Transportation operating income guidance moved from modestly lower to about 50 percent higher than the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Guidance raised: Guam full-year 2026 volume guidance moved from comparable to modestly higher than 2025. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 interest income guidance rose from about $18 million to about $20 million. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 other income guidance rose from about $7 million to about $10 million. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Hawaii full-year 2026 volume guidance moved from approaching 2025 to modestly lower than 2025. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Alaska full-year 2026 volume guidance moved from approaching 2025 to modestly lower than 2025. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Full-year 2026 capital expenditure payments guidance fell from $150 to $170 million to about $130 million. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Full-year 2026 vessel construction expenditures guidance fell from about $400 million to about $375 million. Source
  • New guidance: Management gave a first fourth quarter 2026 guidance figure for consolidated operating income, about 50 percent above the fourth quarter 2025 level. Source
  • New guidance: Management gave a fourth quarter 2026 effective tax rate guidance of about 20.0 percent. Source
  • Guidance kept: Full-year 2026 depreciation and amortization guidance is unchanged at about $205 million. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Diluted EPS rose to $6.96: Diluted EPS was $6.96 versus $4.24 a year earlier. Net income was $209.4 million versus $134.7 million. Source
  • Consolidated operating income rose: Consolidated operating income was $255.2 million versus $161.0 million. EBITDA was $310.6 million versus $212.3 million. Source
  • Revenue rose on China freight rates: Consolidated revenue was $1,113.5 million versus $880.1 million. The company cited higher freight rates and volume in the China service. Source
  • Effective tax rate 20.5 percent: The effective tax rate for the third quarter 2026 was 20.5 percent. Source
  • Prior-year tax benefit cited: Last year's fourth-quarter rate of 5.2 percent benefited from a one-time $18.5 million tax adjustment, or $0.59 per share. Source

Segments and regions

  • Ocean Transportation operating income up 62%: Ocean Transportation operating income was $239.1 million, up 62.2 percent, with operating margin at 26.8 percent versus 20.5 percent. Source
  • Logistics income rose modestly: Logistics operating income was $16.1 million, up $2.5 million, on higher brokerage and freight forwarding contributions, partly offset by warehousing. Source
  • Nine-month Ocean income up 37%: For the nine months, Ocean Transportation operating income was $437.7 million, with margin of 19.3 percent versus 15.7 percent. Source

“Looking ahead, we expect the strong demand and elevated freight rates we experienced in our China service in the third quarter to continue through year end and into early 2027.”

Matt Cox, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Volumes by service

  • China service volume up 16%: China service container volume was 40,500 FEU, up 16.0 percent, which management attributed to strong freight demand against last year's muted peak season. Source
  • Hawaii volume down 0.3%: Hawaii container volume was 36,200 FEU, down 0.3 percent, which management attributed to lower general demand. Source
  • Alaska volume down 4.8%: Alaska container volume was 22,000 FEU, down 4.8 percent, mainly on lower southbound seafood volume and an extra northbound sailing a year earlier. Source
  • Guam up, other containers down: Guam container volume was 4,800 FEU, up 4.3 percent. Other containers were 4,300 FEU, down 6.5 percent. Source

Costs and margins

  • Fuel surcharge revenue rose: Ocean Transportation revenue rose $173.0 million, or 24.1 percent, with higher fuel-related surcharge revenue cited among the drivers. Source
  • Logistics costs grew faster than revenue: Logistics operating costs rose 39.1 percent against revenue growth of 37.3 percent. Operating margin was 7.2 percent versus 8.4 percent. Source
  • SSAT contribution declined on lift volume: The SSAT joint venture contributed $7.4 million, down $1.9 million, primarily on lower lift volume. Source

Demand and freight rates

  • China demand and freight rates drove Ocean income: Management attributed the substantial year-over-year rise in Ocean Transportation operating income to China-service demand and elevated freight rates. Source
  • Alaska economy expected stable: Management expects Alaska's economy to remain stable in the near term, supported by low unemployment, steady jobs and oil and gas activity. Source
  • Guam economy expected stable: Management expects Guam's economy to remain stable in the near term. Source

Capital, cash and returns to shareholders

  • Operating cash flow rose to $460.6 million: Net cash from operating activities was $460.6 million for the nine months, versus $370.2 million a year earlier. Source
  • Buybacks of 0.3 million shares: The company repurchased about 0.3 million shares for $59.8 million in the third quarter. About 3.1 million shares remained in the program at quarter end. Source
  • Debt reduced to $331.2 million: Total debt was $331.2 million at September 30 after a $30.0 million reduction in the nine months. Cash was $221.9 million and revolver availability was $544.2 million. Source
  • Capital expenditures rose to $349.8 million: Capital expenditures, including capitalized vessel construction, totaled $349.8 million for the nine months, versus $258.7 million a year earlier. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 November 2026

  • Dividend payable December 3, 2026: Cash dividend of $0.38 per share, declared October 20, 2026, payable December 3, 2026 to holders of record on November 5, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
China container volume (FEU) Source40,500, up 16.0 percent
Hawaii container volume (FEU) Source36,200, down 0.3 percent
Alaska container volume (FEU) Source22,000, down 4.8 percent
Guam and other container volume (FEU) SourceGuam 4,800, up 4.3 percent; other 4,300, down 6.5 percent
Fuel costs Sourcehigher, with no figure stated
Fleet capital expenditures (nine months) Source$349.8 million

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management said Hawaii's economy has slowed, with construction strength offset by softer tourism and higher energy-related inflation. Source
  • Operational: Higher vessel operating expense from fuel-related costs partly offset the increase in Ocean Transportation operating income. Source
  • Regulatory: Management cited April 2025 tariffs as having disrupted prior-year Transpacific demand and contributed to a muted peak season. 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.