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MKS Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 10 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue reached $1,078 million: Total net revenues were $1,078 million, compared with $1,033 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 and $936 million a year earlier. Source
  • Non-GAAP earnings per share $2.30: Non-GAAP net earnings were $157 million, or $2.30 per diluted share, compared with $168 million or $2.47 in the fourth quarter and $116 million or $1.71 a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose to $277 million: Adjusted EBITDA was $277 million, a 25.7% margin, compared with $249 million and 24.1% in the fourth quarter and $236 million and 25.2% a year earlier. Source
  • Semiconductor revenue reached $466 million: Semiconductor revenue was $466 million, up from $435 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 and $413 million a year earlier. Source
  • Non-GAAP operating margin rose to 21.8%: Non-GAAP operating margin was 21.8%, compared with 21.0% in the fourth quarter of 2025 and 20.2% a year earlier. Source
  • Free cash flow fell to $29 million: Free cash flow was $29 million after $25 million of capital expenditure, compared with $91 million in the fourth quarter of 2025. Source
  • €1.0 billion notes issued in first quarter: The company completed a private offering of €1.0 billion 4.25% senior notes due 2034 and used proceeds, with term loan refinancing and cash, to prepay about $1.3 billion of USD term loan B. Source

“Our robust first quarter performance and second quarter outlook reflect accelerating, broad-based demand, fueled by ramping investment in AI-related applications”

John T.C. Lee, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue Sourcesecond quarter of 2026$1,200 million, plus or minus $40 millionNew
Gross margin Sourcesecond quarter of 202647.0%, plus or minus 1.0%New
GAAP operating expenses Sourcesecond quarter of 2026$337 million, plus or minus $5 millionNew
Non-GAAP operating expenses Sourcesecond quarter of 2026$275 million, plus or minus $5 millionNew
GAAP net income Sourcesecond quarter of 2026$151 million, plus or minus $21 millionNew
Non-GAAP net earnings Sourcesecond quarter of 2026$202 million, plus or minus $21 millionNew
GAAP diluted EPS Sourcesecond quarter of 2026$2.09, plus or minus $0.29New
Non-GAAP diluted EPS Sourcesecond quarter of 2026$2.90, plus or minus $0.30New
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcesecond quarter of 2026$328 million, plus or minus $26 millionNew
Diluted share count Sourcesecond quarter of 2026GAAP 72.3 million; non-GAAP 69.6 million weighted average diluted sharesNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: The prior release gave first-quarter 2026 guidance; this release gives second-quarter 2026 guidance. Source
  • New: Quarterly dividend raised to $0.25 per share from $0.22. Source
  • New: Voluntary $100 million principal prepayment on the USD term loan B made in May 2026, after quarter end. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue reached $1,078 million: Total net revenues were $1,078 million, compared with $1,033 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 and $936 million a year earlier. Source
  • GAAP net income and diluted EPS: GAAP net income was $84 million, or $1.18 per diluted share, compared with $108 million or $1.58 in the fourth quarter of 2025 and $52 million or $0.77 a year earlier. Source
  • Non-GAAP earnings per share $2.30: Non-GAAP net earnings were $157 million, or $2.30 per diluted share, compared with $168 million or $2.47 in the fourth quarter and $116 million or $1.71 a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose to $277 million: Adjusted EBITDA was $277 million, a 25.7% margin, compared with $249 million and 24.1% in the fourth quarter and $236 million and 25.2% a year earlier. Source

Segments and revenue mix

  • Semiconductor revenue reached $466 million: Semiconductor revenue was $466 million, up from $435 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 and $413 million a year earlier. Source
  • Electronics & Packaging grew to $321 million: Electronics & Packaging revenue was $321 million, up from $303 million in the fourth quarter and $253 million a year earlier. Source
  • Specialty Industrial eased to $291 million: Specialty Industrial revenue was $291 million, down from $295 million in the fourth quarter and up from $270 million a year earlier. Source

“First quarter revenue and key profitability metrics came in at or above the high end of our guided ranges, demonstrating both business momentum and outstanding execution”

Ram Mayampurath, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Products, customers and demand

  • Products and services revenue split: Products revenue was $954 million, up from $907 million in the fourth quarter, and services revenue was $124 million, against $126 million. Source
  • Portfolio aimed at fast-rising complexity: Management said its portfolio supports customers facing rising complexity in semiconductor and advanced circuit board manufacturing. Source
  • AI data centers and consumer electronics cited: Management named AI data centers and the latest consumer electronics innovations as areas where the company is positioned. Source
  • Resources cited for innovation spending: Management said the resources from the quarter would fund investment in innovation and a stronger balance sheet. Source

Costs, margins and operating expenses

  • Gross and GAAP operating margins: Gross margin was 47.0%, compared with 46.4% in the fourth quarter and 47.4% a year earlier. GAAP operating margin was 13.8%, against 13.9% and 11.9%. Source
  • Non-GAAP operating margin rose to 21.8%: Non-GAAP operating margin was 21.8%, compared with 21.0% in the fourth quarter of 2025 and 20.2% a year earlier. Source
  • GAAP operating expenses rose to $358 million: GAAP operating expenses were $358 million, compared with $336 million in the fourth quarter. Non-GAAP operating expenses were $271 million, against $263 million. Source
  • Restructuring and legal settlement charges: Restructuring and other charges were $3 million, and a $3 million legal settlement was recorded, a line not shown in the prior quarter. Source
  • Non-GAAP tax rate rose to 20.9%: Non-GAAP effective tax rate was 20.9%, compared with 0.9% in the fourth quarter of 2025. Source

Cash flow and working capital

  • Operating cash flow fell to $53 million: Net cash provided by operating activities was $53 million, compared with $142 million in the fourth quarter and $141 million a year earlier. Source
  • Free cash flow fell to $29 million: Free cash flow was $29 million after $25 million of capital expenditure, compared with $91 million in the fourth quarter of 2025. Source
  • Working capital absorbed $134 million: Changes in operating assets and liabilities used $134 million. Trade receivables rose to $775 million from $651 million, and inventories to $949 million from $921 million. Source

Debt balances and refinancing

  • Term loan principal cut to $1.6 billion: At March 31, 2026, cash was $569 million, with $1.6 billion of secured term loan principal and $1.4 billion of convertible senior notes outstanding. Term loan principal was $2.9 billion at year-end 2025. Source
  • €1.0 billion notes issued in first quarter: The company completed a private offering of €1.0 billion 4.25% senior notes due 2034 and used proceeds, with term loan refinancing and cash, to prepay about $1.3 billion of USD term loan B. Source
  • Revolver capacity up to $1.0 billion: €1.0 billion of senior notes were outstanding at March 31, and up to $1.0 billion of revolving capacity remained, subject to leverage ratio requirements. Source
  • Interest expense down to $45 million: Interest expense was $45 million, compared with $50 million in the fourth quarter. A $5 million loss on extinguishment of debt was recorded. Source

Shareholder returns and share count

  • No share repurchases this quarter: No common stock was repurchased in the first quarter of 2026, compared with $45 million in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Diluted shares 71.1 million: Weighted average diluted shares were 71.1 million. Non-GAAP diluted shares were 68.2 million after removing 2.9 million from convertible capped calls. Source
  • Stock-based compensation rose to $19 million: Stock-based compensation was $19 million, compared with $8 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 and $22 million a year earlier. Source

Coming up, as management said on 6 May 2026

  • Convertible notes convertible in Q2: Noteholders may convert the convertible senior notes at any time during the second quarter of 2026, after the stock price condition was satisfied. Source
  • Continued monitoring of business conditions: The company said it will continue to monitor and adapt to changes in the business environment as needed. Source

Risks management discussed

  • External: Second-quarter guidance reflects the current business environment, including U.S. import tariffs and retaliatory actions by other countries. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said first-quarter revenue came in at the high end of guidance. Source
  • Ahead: Management said Adjusted EBITDA and Non-GAAP diluted EPS were each above the high end of guidance. 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.