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MasterBrand, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 new, 4 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales fell 6.4%: Net sales were $618.0 million against $660.3 million a year earlier, following a mid-single-digit market decline and slower housing completions. Source
  • Net loss against prior-year profit: Net loss was $(15.4) million against net income of $13.3 million; diluted EPS was $(0.12) against $0.10. Management cited lower gross profit and higher deal-related SG&A, partly offset by early cost-action benefits. Source
  • Gross margin down 530 basis points: Gross profit was $156.6 million against $202.2 million; margin was 25.3% against 30.6%, on lower volume, fixed cost leverage and product mix. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin at 4.5%: Adjusted EBITDA was $28.0 million against $67.1 million, a margin of 4.5% against 10.2% a year earlier. Source
  • Operating cash outflow of $133.0 million: Operating cash used was $(133.0) million against $(31.4) million, and free cash flow was $(146.2) million against $(41.2) million. Source
  • Close now expected in Q2 2026: Management expects the pending combination to close in the second calendar quarter of 2026; the prior release had expected early 2026. Source
  • Q2 adjusted EBITDA guided $51-61 million: Second-quarter adjusted EBITDA is guided to $51 million to $61 million, with margin of 7.8% to 8.8% and adjusted diluted EPS of $0.03 to $0.13. Source

“Continuous improvement efforts contributed meaningfully to the quarter, our tariff mitigation actions are taking hold, and we took decisive action to implement our $30 million cost reduction initiative.”

Andi Simon, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales Sourcesecond quarter of 2026year-over-year decrease of mid-single-digit to high-single-digit percentageNew
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcesecond quarter of 2026$51 to $61 millionNew
Adjusted EBITDA margin Sourcesecond quarter of 20267.8% to 8.8%New
Adjusted diluted EPS Sourcesecond quarter of 2026$0.03 to $0.13New
Gross tariff costs Sourcefull year 2026approximately 5-6% of 2026 net salesKept
Interest expense Sourcefull year 2026flat to down year-over-yearKept
Free cash flow Sourcefull year 2026in excess of 2026 net incomeKept
Cost reduction savings Source2026$30 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Second-quarter 2026 guidance provided for net sales, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin and adjusted diluted EPS. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Full-year effective tax rate expectation changed from improvement versus the prior year to elevated relative to the prior year. Source
  • Guidance kept: Full-year addressable market expectation reiterated at down mid-single digits. Source
  • New: Credit agreement amended during the quarter to preserve financial flexibility, with debt obligations still met. Source
  • New: Voluntary and involuntary separation program implemented in the quarter, primarily in corporate functions. Source
  • New: Expected closing of the American Woodmark combination moved to the second calendar quarter of 2026, from the earlier expectation of early 2026. Source

Sales and earnings

  • Net sales fell 6.4%: Net sales were $618.0 million against $660.3 million a year earlier, following a mid-single-digit market decline and slower housing completions. Source
  • Net loss against prior-year profit: Net loss was $(15.4) million against net income of $13.3 million; diluted EPS was $(0.12) against $0.10. Management cited lower gross profit and higher deal-related SG&A, partly offset by early cost-action benefits. Source
  • Adjusted EPS fell to $0.06: Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.06 against $0.18 a year earlier. The measure excludes restructuring, acquisition-related costs and amortization. Source

Margins and cost pressures

  • Gross margin down 530 basis points: Gross profit was $156.6 million against $202.2 million; margin was 25.3% against 30.6%, on lower volume, fixed cost leverage and product mix. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin at 4.5%: Adjusted EBITDA was $28.0 million against $67.1 million, a margin of 4.5% against 10.2% a year earlier. Source
  • Inflation and tariffs add pressure: Material, personnel and utility inflation, along with tariffs, added to margin pressure. Management said continuous improvement and tariff mitigation partly offset these headwinds. Source

“we remain confident that we are building the right strategic and financial foundation to position MasterBrand for future growth as demand recovers.”

Dave Banyard, President and Chief Executive Officer

Tariffs and workforce actions

  • Gross tariff costs near $25 million: Gross tariff costs were about $25 million in the quarter, with mitigation plans continuing to progress. Source
  • Separation program cut headcount: The company ran a voluntary and involuntary separation program to reduce overall headcount, mainly in corporate functions. Source
  • $8.1 million termination benefits: Restructuring charges were $12.8 million against $4.7 million a year earlier; the workforce reduction included $8.1 million of one-time termination benefits. Source

Cash flow and balance sheet

  • Operating cash outflow of $133.0 million: Operating cash used was $(133.0) million against $(31.4) million, and free cash flow was $(146.2) million against $(41.2) million. Source
  • Working capital and tax receivable weighed: Management attributed the lower cash flow to lower net income, less favorable working capital movements and a higher income tax receivable. Source
  • Cash and revolver availability: Cash was $138.4 million and revolver availability $332.3 million at March 29, 2026. Source
  • Net debt at 3.7x adjusted EBITDA: Net debt was $946.5 million, 3.7 times trailing twelve-month adjusted EBITDA, against 2.7 times a year earlier. Source
  • Capital expenditures $13.2 million: Capital expenditures were $13.2 million against $9.8 million; free cash flow is operating cash flow less capital expenditures. Source

Capital and share repurchases

  • No buybacks in the quarter: No shares were repurchased in the first quarter of 2026. The year-earlier quarter included $11.4 million of repurchases. Source
  • Repurchases restricted until merger closes: Management said the merger agreement with American Woodmark restricts share repurchases until the combination closes. Source
  • Credit agreement amended in quarter: The company amended its credit agreement during the quarter to preserve financial flexibility, and says it continues to meet all debt obligations. Source

American Woodmark combination

  • Close now expected in Q2 2026: Management expects the pending combination to close in the second calendar quarter of 2026; the prior release had expected early 2026. Source
  • Guidance excludes deal benefits and costs: Guidance excludes any anticipated financial benefits from the combination and any transaction or integration-related costs. Source
  • Deal costs of $5.6 million: Acquisition-related costs were $5.6 million, mainly for the American Woodmark deal. Some are non-deductible for US tax purposes, with a $1.4 million tax impact. Source

Second-quarter and full-year guidance

  • Q2 adjusted EBITDA guided $51-61 million: Second-quarter adjusted EBITDA is guided to $51 million to $61 million, with margin of 7.8% to 8.8% and adjusted diluted EPS of $0.03 to $0.13. Source
  • Guidance moves to quarterly: Management moved to quarterly guidance until visibility improves; the release gives second-quarter ranges.
  • Full-year market and cost items kept: Full-year expectations for addressable market, tariff costs, interest expense and free cash flow were reiterated; the tax rate expectation changed. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 May 2026

  • Cost savings build into second half: Management expects the financial benefit of the cost actions to build through the remainder of the year, mostly in the second half. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management cited an uncertain macroeconomic environment that continued to weigh on demand during the quarter. Source
  • External: Guidance reflects only tariffs in effect at the release date; management said tariff timing and duration limit estimating further impacts. Source
  • Financial: Adjusted EPS guidance carries higher uncertainty, since low pre-tax income magnifies the effect of non-deductible deal costs and discrete tax items. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said first-quarter performance was in line with the guidance it gave in February. Source
  • On track: Management said the operational actions, including cost actions, are progressing as planned. Source
  • Not stated: The February release described a coordinated tariff mitigation plan; the first-quarter release says mitigation plans continue to progress.

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.