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Mueller Water Products, Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

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

Key takeaways

  • Net sales rose on pricing and volume: Net sales rose 5.5% to $384.4 million from $364.3 million, primarily due to higher pricing across most product lines and increased volumes. Management described the figures as quarterly records. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 15.0%: Adjusted EBITDA rose to $97.2 million from $84.5 million, and adjusted EBITDA margin was 25.3% against 23.2%. Operating income was $80.4 million, up from $69.9 million. Source
  • Water Flow Solutions adjusted margin rose: Water Flow Solutions net sales rose 1.0% to $218.3 million on higher pricing, partly offset by lower volumes. Adjusted operating margin was 29.9% against 25.9%, as efficiencies and pricing more than offset tariffs and inflation. Source
  • Gross margin up 250 basis points: Gross margin was 37.6% against 35.1%, driven by higher pricing, manufacturing efficiencies and higher volumes. Gross profit rose 12.9% to $144.5 million. Source
  • Greater uncertainty flagged: Management said the external operating environment carries greater uncertainty, including changes in demand, tariffs and inflationary pressures. Source
  • Operating cash flow fell: Six-month operating cash flow was $48.4 million, against $68.4 million, with the decline driven by working capital and other assets and liabilities. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA guidance raised: Adjusted EBITDA guidance is now $360 million to $365 million, up from $355 million to $360 million, with growth of 10.4% to 11.9%. Source
  • Free cash flow conversion target lowered: The expected free cash flow as a percentage of adjusted net income is now above 70%, down from above 85% in the first-quarter release. Source

“We set new quarterly records for net sales, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income per diluted share, demonstrating the strength of our brands and impact of our ongoing commitment to operational excellence and cost management.”

Paul McAndrew, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales SourceFiscal 2026$1,470 million to $1,490 millionKept
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFiscal 2026$360 million to $365 millionRaised from $355 million to $360 million
Free cash flow as a percentage of adjusted net income SourceFiscal 2026exceed 70%Lowered from exceed 85%
Total SG&A expenses SourceFiscal 2026$243 million to $247 millionKept
Net interest expense SourceFiscal 2026$5 million to $6 millionKept
Effective income tax rate SourceFiscal 202624% to 25%Lowered from 25% to 27%
Depreciation and amortization SourceFiscal 2026$49 million to $50 millionRaised from $47 million to $49 million
Capital expenditures SourceFiscal 2026$60 million to $65 millionKept
Pension expense other than service SourceFiscal 2026approximately $0.1 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Fiscal 2026 adjusted EBITDA guidance was raised to $360 million to $365 million from $355 million to $360 million. Source
  • Guidance lowered: The expected ratio of free cash flow to adjusted net income was lowered to exceed 70% from exceed 85%. Source
  • Guidance lowered: The effective income tax rate range moved to 24% to 25% from 25% to 27%. Source
  • Guidance raised: The depreciation and amortization range moved to $49 million to $50 million from $47 million to $49 million. Source
  • New: The first-quarter release named Martie Edmunds Zakas as chief executive officer. The second-quarter release names Paul McAndrew as President and Chief Executive Officer.

Results and growth drivers

  • Net sales rose on pricing and volume: Net sales rose 5.5% to $384.4 million from $364.3 million, primarily due to higher pricing across most product lines and increased volumes. Management described the figures as quarterly records. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 15.0%: Adjusted EBITDA rose to $97.2 million from $84.5 million, and adjusted EBITDA margin was 25.3% against 23.2%. Operating income was $80.4 million, up from $69.9 million. Source
  • Net income and diluted EPS rose: Net income was $59.1 million, against $51.3 million a year earlier. Diluted EPS was $0.38, against $0.33. Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.40, up 17.6%. Source

Segment performance

  • Water Flow Solutions adjusted margin rose: Water Flow Solutions net sales rose 1.0% to $218.3 million on higher pricing, partly offset by lower volumes. Adjusted operating margin was 29.9% against 25.9%, as efficiencies and pricing more than offset tariffs and inflation. Source
  • Water Flow adjusted EBITDA margin 33.2%: Water Flow Solutions adjusted EBITDA was $72.4 million, up $10.2 million or 16.4%, and its adjusted EBITDA margin widened to 33.2% from 28.8%. Source
  • Water Management sales up 12.2%: Water Management Solutions net sales rose to $166.1 million. Adjusted operating margin was 21.4% against 21.2%, after tariffs, manufacturing inefficiencies, higher SG&A and inflation offset pricing and volume gains. Source
  • Water Management EBITDA margin eased slightly: Water Management Solutions adjusted EBITDA was $40.6 million, up 11.5%. Its adjusted EBITDA margin was 24.4%, compared with 24.6% a year earlier. Source

“we are focused on driving results and investing in the capabilities and capacity needed to support long-term value creation”

Paul McAndrew, President and Chief Executive Officer

Margins and costs

  • Gross margin up 250 basis points: Gross margin was 37.6% against 35.1%, driven by higher pricing, manufacturing efficiencies and higher volumes. Gross profit rose 12.9% to $144.5 million. Source
  • Adjusted operating margin up 200 basis points: Adjusted operating income rose 16.0% to $84.8 million, and adjusted operating margin reached 22.1% compared with 20.1%. Source
  • SG&A rose on currency and inflation: SG&A expense rose 7.2% to $59.7 million, which management attributed to unfavorable foreign currency and inflationary pressures. Source
  • Strategic charges excluded from adjusted results: The company recorded $4.4 million of strategic reorganization and other charges, mainly for the leadership transition, transaction expenses and severance. These were excluded from adjusted results. Source

Demand and the operating environment

  • Demand described as resilient: The CEO credited the quarter to disciplined execution and resilient end-market demand, alongside pricing and efficiency gains. Source
  • Greater uncertainty flagged: Management said the external operating environment carries greater uncertainty, including changes in demand, tariffs and inflationary pressures. Source
  • Water Management volumes and pricing: Water Management Solutions net sales growth was attributed to higher volumes and pricing across most product lines. Source

“We believe we are positioned for another record year.”

Paul McAndrew, President and Chief Executive Officer

Cash flow and balance sheet

  • Operating cash flow fell: Six-month operating cash flow was $48.4 million, against $68.4 million, with the decline driven by working capital and other assets and liabilities. Source
  • Free cash flow down on lower operating cash: Six-month free cash flow was $16.5 million, against $47.3 million, reflecting lower operating cash flow and higher capital expenditures. Source
  • Liquidity of $584.7 million: At March 31, 2026, cash was $421.0 million and total debt was $452.4 million. There were no ABL borrowings, and no debt maturities until June 2029. Source

Capital investment and shareholder returns

  • Capex rose on iron foundries: Six-month capital expenditures were $31.9 million, against $21.1 million, mainly for investments in the company's iron foundries. Source
  • Quarterly dividend held at $0.070: Dividends declared were $0.070 per share, the same as the first quarter and up from $0.067 a year earlier. Source
  • Buybacks of $5.5 million year to date: Six-month repurchases under the buyback program were $5.5 million, the same as the first-quarter figure and up from $5.0 million a year earlier. Source

Fiscal 2026 guidance changes

  • Adjusted EBITDA guidance raised: Adjusted EBITDA guidance is now $360 million to $365 million, up from $355 million to $360 million, with growth of 10.4% to 11.9%. Source
  • Net sales guidance reiterated: Net sales guidance of $1,470 million to $1,490 million was reiterated, equal to growth of 2.8% to 4.2%. Source
  • Free cash flow conversion target lowered: The expected free cash flow as a percentage of adjusted net income is now above 70%, down from above 85% in the first-quarter release. Source
  • Tax rate and D&A ranges updated: The effective tax rate range moved to 24% to 25%, from 25% to 27%. Depreciation and amortization moved to $49 million to $50 million, from $47 million to $49 million. Source

Leadership and strategy

  • Paul McAndrew now President and CEO: The first-quarter release named Paul McAndrew as President and Chief Operating Officer. The second-quarter release names him President and Chief Executive Officer.
  • Balance sheet supports investment and returns: Management said the balance sheet provides capacity for capital investments and acquisitions, and for continued cash returns to shareholders. Source
  • Focus on efficiency and supply chain: Management said it remains focused on customer service, operational efficiency and proactive supply chain management while the environment is uncertain. Source

Risks management discussed

  • External: Tariffs and inflationary pressures were cited as offsets to gross margin gains and as cost pressures in SG&A during the quarter. Source
  • Demand: Management said a slowdown in new residential construction activity is anticipated, and the company is working with customers and suppliers to adapt to changes in demand. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: The first-quarter release said the company was on track for another year of gross and adjusted EBITDA margin expansion. The second quarter reported gross margin up 250 basis points and adjusted EBITDA margin up 210 basis points.
  • Not stated: The first-quarter release maintained this expectation. The second-quarter release now expects the ratio to exceed 70%.

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.