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Plexus Corp.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 7 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Record revenue, up 28% year over year: Revenue of $1.305 billion rose 12% from the prior quarter and 28% from a year earlier. Nine-month revenue reached $3.54 billion, against $2.97 billion a year earlier. Source
  • GAAP EPS fell; non-GAAP EPS rose: GAAP diluted EPS was $1.58, against $1.82 in the prior quarter and $1.64 a year earlier. Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $2.32, against $2.05 in the prior quarter. Source
  • 31 program wins, $255 million annualized: Won 31 manufacturing programs in the quarter, against 30 programs and $355 million in the prior quarter. Management attributed the record revenue to program launches and demand. Source
  • Accelerated stock compensation from retirements: $12.9 million of accelerated stock-based compensation, or $12.5 million net of tax, was recorded in selling and administrative expenses, tied to executive retirement agreements. Source
  • Cash cycle fell to 62 days: The annualized cash cycle was 62 days, against 64 in the prior quarter and 69 a year earlier. Management called it the best quarterly cash cycle result in over five years. Source
  • ROIC reached 14.9%: ROIC was 14.9%, up from 13.8% in the prior quarter and 14.1% a year earlier. Economic return was 5.9% over a weighted average cost of capital of 9.0%. Source
  • Q4 growth led by two sectors: Fourth-quarter revenue growth is expected to be led by Healthcare/Life Sciences and Industrial, including the semiconductor capital equipment subsector. Source

“Plexus generated record quarterly revenue in the fiscal third quarter by capturing strengthening end market demand and successfully launching numerous new programs.”

Todd Kelsey, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue Sourcefiscal fourth quarter 2026$1.330 billion to $1.380 billionNew
GAAP operating margin Sourcefiscal fourth quarter 20265.5% to 5.9%New
GAAP diluted EPS Sourcefiscal fourth quarter 2026$2.18 to $2.34New
Non-GAAP operating margin Sourcefiscal fourth quarter 20266.1% to 6.5%New
Non-GAAP diluted EPS Sourcefiscal fourth quarter 2026$2.47 to $2.63New
Revenue growth Sourcefiscal 2026in excess of 20%Raised from mid-teens or greater fiscal 2026 revenue growth
Non-GAAP operating margin Sourcefiscal 2026greater than 6%New
Cash cycle days Sourcefiscal fourth quarter 2026low-to-mid 60sKept
Revenue growth Sourcefiscal 2027in excess of our 9% to 12% goalNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Fiscal 2026 revenue growth guidance moved from mid-teens or greater to in excess of 20%.
  • Guidance lowered: Fiscal 2026 free cash flow guidance moved from a $50 to $75 million generation to a usage.
  • New guidance: Fiscal fourth quarter 2026 guidance initiated for revenue, GAAP and non-GAAP margins and EPS. Source
  • New: New partnership in the Industrial sector to manufacture a battery energy storage system for data centers. Source
  • New: Financial commentary now comes from David Abuhl, Senior Vice President and CFO; the prior release quoted Patrick Jermain, Executive Vice President and CFO. Source
  • New: Previously announced executive retirement agreements led to $12.9 million of accelerated stock-based compensation this quarter. Source

Quarter results and growth drivers

  • Record revenue, up 28% year over year: Revenue of $1.305 billion rose 12% from the prior quarter and 28% from a year earlier. Nine-month revenue reached $3.54 billion, against $2.97 billion a year earlier. Source
  • GAAP EPS fell; non-GAAP EPS rose: GAAP diluted EPS was $1.58, against $1.82 in the prior quarter and $1.64 a year earlier. Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $2.32, against $2.05 in the prior quarter. Source
  • 31 program wins, $255 million annualized: Won 31 manufacturing programs in the quarter, against 30 programs and $355 million in the prior quarter. Management attributed the record revenue to program launches and demand. Source

Segments, sectors and customers

  • Asia-Pacific revenue rose to $774 million: Asia-Pacific revenue was $774 million, up from $652 million in the prior quarter. Americas was $428 million, up from $397 million; EMEA was $109 million, down from $116 million. Source
  • Industrial share rose to 45%: Industrial revenue was $589 million, up from $479 million in the prior quarter, and now the largest of the three market sectors at 45% of revenue. Source
  • Top 10 customers reached 55%: Top 10 customers were 55% of revenue, up 1 percentage point from the second quarter and up 7 percentage points from a year earlier. Source

“Our favorable cash cycle days, prudent capital expenditures and strong operating performance produced a return on invested capital of 14.9% in the quarter”

David Abuhl, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Costs, margins and tax

  • Gross margin held near 10%: Gross profit was $131.4 million, a gross margin of 10.1%, against 10.2% in the prior quarter. GAAP operating margin was 4.7%, against 5.3%. Source
  • Stock-based compensation lifted the GAAP gap: Stock-based compensation was about 160 bps of third-quarter operating margin, against about 70 bps for second-quarter results, and about 60 bps in fourth-quarter guidance. Source
  • Accelerated stock compensation from retirements: $12.9 million of accelerated stock-based compensation, or $12.5 million net of tax, was recorded in selling and administrative expenses, tied to executive retirement agreements. Source
  • Income tax expense rose: Income tax expense was $13.5 million on $56.4 million of pre-tax income, against $8.1 million in the prior quarter and $4.7 million a year earlier. Source

Working capital and free cash flow

  • Cash cycle fell to 62 days: The annualized cash cycle was 62 days, against 64 in the prior quarter and 69 a year earlier. Management called it the best quarterly cash cycle result in over five years. Source
  • Inventory days fell; payables days rose: Days in inventory fell to 116 from 120 and 128, and days in accounts payable rose to 76. Inventories were $1.49 billion, against $1.23 billion at fiscal year-end 2025. Source
  • Quarter free cash flow was a usage: Operating cash flow was $25.9 million and capital expenditures were $26.6 million, which gave a free cash flow usage of $0.7 million for the quarter. Source
  • Nine-month operating cash flow fell: Nine-month operating cash flow was $39.0 million, against $117.2 million a year earlier. Capital expenditures for the nine months were $74.3 million. Source

“Our differentiated value proposition, focused on providing unmatched quality and delivery, is resulting in robust performance for fiscal 2026 and positions Plexus for sustained, long-term momentum.”

Todd Kelsey, President and Chief Executive Officer

Returns, capital and buybacks

  • ROIC reached 14.9%: ROIC was 14.9%, up from 13.8% in the prior quarter and 14.1% a year earlier. Economic return was 5.9% over a weighted average cost of capital of 9.0%. Source
  • Repurchases of $20.6 million: Shares were bought at an average of $258.75, against $189.22 in the prior quarter, leaving $21.4 million under the $100.0 million authorization. Nine-month repurchases were $64.1 million. Source
  • Current debt rose to $183.8 million: Current debt and finance lease obligations rose from $143.1 million in the prior quarter. Nine-month borrowings were $605.5 million and debt repayments were $476.7 million. Source

Guidance, strategy and leadership

  • Q4 growth led by two sectors: Fourth-quarter revenue growth is expected to be led by Healthcare/Life Sciences and Industrial, including the semiconductor capital equipment subsector. Source
  • Record funnel of $4.5 billion: The funnel of qualified manufacturing prospects reached $4.5 billion, a record level, which management said supports the potential for sustained long-term revenue growth. Source
  • Investment in talent and technology: Management said it expects to continue investing in talent and technology while delivering operating margin expansion in fiscal 2027. Source

Coming up, as management said on 29 July 2026

  • Fiscal fourth quarter results next: The next guidance update covers the fiscal fourth quarter, which ends October 3, 2026. The release does not give a date for that update. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Gross margin Source10.1% in the quarter (10.2% in the prior quarter)
Inventory days Source116 days (120 in the prior quarter)
End-market revenue, Aerospace/Defense Source$233 million, 18% of revenue
End-market revenue, Healthcare/Life Sciences Source$483 million, 37% of revenue
End-market revenue, Industrial Source$589 million, 45% of revenue

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Management said further working capital investment is required to support its revenue growth projections, which is behind the expected fiscal 2026 free cash flow usage. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said the 6.3% non-GAAP operating margin met the high end of the guidance range. Source
  • Ahead: Management said the 62-day cash cycle exceeded its expectations. Source
  • Ahead: Management said the quarter's free cash flow usage was better than its expectations. 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.