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Motorola Solutions, Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 2 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Sales rose 13% to $3.1 billion: Sales were $3.1 billion, up 13% from the year-ago quarter, with growth in North America and International. Source
  • GAAP and non-GAAP EPS both rose: GAAP diluted EPS was $3.33, up 10%. Non-GAAP EPS was $4.41, up 24%, excluding about $1.08 per share of adjustments. Source
  • Record Q2 backlog reached $15.6 billion: Ending backlog was $15.6 billion, up $1.5 billion or 11%, driven by record Q2 orders. Source
  • IEEPA refund lifted operating margin: The $60 million IEEPA refund benefit added 190 basis points; higher direct material costs were also included in the margin. Source
  • Memory costs rose on AI demand: Memory costs for products rose due to market demand driven by AI, and the company is developing mitigation actions. Source
  • Operating and free cash flow rose: Operating cash flow was $469 million, against $272 million a year earlier. Free cash flow was $414 million, against $224 million. Source
  • D-Fend counter-drone deal agreed: The company agreed to buy D-Fend Solutions, described as an industry leader in counter-drone technology, for $1.5 billion. Source

““Q2 was exceptional across the board,” said Greg Brown, chairman and CEO, Motorola Solutions.”

Greg Brown, chairman and CEO, Motorola Solutions

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue growth Sourcethird quarter of 2026approximately 8%New
Non-GAAP EPS Sourcethird quarter of 2026$4.39 to $4.44 per shareNew
Revenue Sourcefull-year 2026approximately $12.975 billionRaised from $12.8 billion
Non-GAAP EPS Sourcefull-year 2026$17.62 to $17.72 per shareRaised from $16.87 to $16.99 per share
Non-GAAP effective tax rate Sourcefull-year 2026between 22% and 22.5%

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 revenue expectation raised to about $12.975 billion from $12.8 billion. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 non-GAAP EPS expectation raised to $17.62 to $17.72 from $16.87 to $16.99. Source
  • New guidance: Third-quarter 2026 revenue growth and non-GAAP EPS guidance was given for the first time in this release. Source
  • Guidance kept: The approximately 168 million fully diluted share assumption for the full year was kept. Source
  • New: Company agreed to acquire D-Fend Solutions, a counter-drone technology company, for $1.5 billion. Source
  • New: The company recognized IEEPA tariff refunds in the quarter, where the prior release had not recognized any refund asset. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Sales rose 13% to $3.1 billion: Sales were $3.1 billion, up 13% from the year-ago quarter, with growth in North America and International. Source
  • Acquisitions and currency added sales: Acquired businesses contributed $243 million and foreign currency added $35 million to the quarter's sales. Source
  • GAAP and non-GAAP EPS both rose: GAAP diluted EPS was $3.33, up 10%. Non-GAAP EPS was $4.41, up 24%, excluding about $1.08 per share of adjustments. Source

Segment results

  • Products and Systems Integration sales up 15%: Segment sales were $1.908 billion, up 15%, with GAAP operating earnings of $453 million, 23.7% of sales. Source
  • Mission Critical Networks and Video drove products: The products segment growth was attributed to Mission Critical Networks and Video Security and Access Control. Source
  • Software and Services sales up 10%: The Software and Services segment grew 10%, driven by Mission Critical Networks, Command Center and Video. Source

“The company expects inventory levels to remain elevated as it mitigates this dynamic supply chain environment.”

Motorola Solutions, Inc., press release

Orders, customers and backlog

  • Record Q2 backlog reached $15.6 billion: Ending backlog was $15.6 billion, up $1.5 billion or 11%, driven by record Q2 orders. Source
  • Large federal P25 systems order: A $52 million P25 systems order from a U.S. federal customer was among the notable wins. Source
  • Mobile video order for Florida: A $25 million mobile video order for the Florida Highway Patrol was listed among the Software and Services wins. Source
  • Command Center order for Montana: A $20 million Command Center order for the State of Montana Department of Justice was listed among the wins. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • IEEPA refund lifted operating margin: The $60 million IEEPA refund benefit added 190 basis points; higher direct material costs were also included in the margin. Source
  • GAAP operating margin rose to 25.8%: GAAP operating margin was 25.8% of sales, up from 25.0% a year earlier. Non-GAAP operating margin was 32.9%. Source
  • Memory costs rose on AI demand: Memory costs for products rose due to market demand driven by AI, and the company is developing mitigation actions. Source
  • Non-GAAP tax rate fell on exports: The non-GAAP effective tax rate was 22.6%, versus 23.5% a year earlier, from a higher deduction for export sales income. Source

Cash flow and shareholder returns

  • Operating and free cash flow rose: Operating cash flow was $469 million, against $272 million a year earlier. Free cash flow was $414 million, against $224 million. Source
  • Inventory investment offset some gains: Higher investment in inventory partly offset the gains in operating and free cash flow. Source
  • Buybacks and dividends paid in quarter: The company repurchased $326 million of stock at an average $413.53 per share, paid $201 million in dividends and invested $55 million in capital expenditures. Source

Acquisitions and legal recoveries

  • D-Fend counter-drone deal agreed: The company agreed to buy D-Fend Solutions, described as an industry leader in counter-drone technology, for $1.5 billion. Source
  • Hytera payments reached $232 million: Hytera has paid $232 million against the award, including $60 million in the first half of 2026. Source
  • Hytera payments recorded as gains: The Hytera payments were recorded as a gain within Other charges and are excluded from non-GAAP operating earnings. Source

Trade, tariffs and supply chain

  • IEEPA refund recovery now probable: After the refund system launched on April 20, 2026, the company recognized a $60 million favorable adjustment in cost of sales. Source
  • Trade rules keep shifting: Tariffs and import/export rules continue to change, including rare earth mineral restrictions, trade barriers and trade disputes. Source
  • Inventory to stay elevated: Management expects inventory to stay elevated while it manages the supply chain environment. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 August 2026

  • Third-quarter targets given: Management expects third-quarter revenue growth near 8% and non-GAAP EPS of $4.39 to $4.44. Source
  • Inventory to stay elevated: Inventory levels are expected to remain high as the company works through the supply chain environment. Source
  • Hytera collection continues: The company will keep seeking collection of amounts owed by Hytera through the legal process. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Backlog, Q2 ending Source$15.6 billion

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Higher memory and component costs, linked to AI-driven market demand, are raising the company's material costs. Source
  • Operational: Inventory is expected to stay high while the company manages supply chain volatility. Source
  • External: Tariffs, import/export rules and trade disputes are changing quickly, including rare earth mineral restrictions. Source
  • Regulatory: Parts of the Hytera court proceedings on H-Series products are under appeal, and collection depends on the legal process. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The first-quarter release set these second-quarter targets; this release does not state the result against them.

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.