Powell Industries Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 May 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

Revenue rose 6% year over year: Revenue was $296.6 million against $278.6 million a year earlier. Growth in three markets was partly offset by a decline in Petrochemical. Source
Net income eased 1% on costs: Net income was $45.9 million, or $1.25 per diluted share, versus $46.3 million, or $1.27 split-adjusted, a year earlier. Management attributed the decline to higher SG&A and R&D expense. Source
Commercial & Other Industrial up 35%: Commercial & Other Industrial revenue grew 35% year over year, Electric Utility grew 14% and Oil & Gas grew 11%. Source
New orders up 97% to $490M: New orders were $490 million, up from $249 million a year earlier and $439 million in the first quarter, driven by Electric Utility, Commercial and Oil & Gas bookings. Source
Backlog reached $1.8 billion: Backlog was $1.8 billion at March 31, up 12% from December 31 and 33% from a year earlier. Source
Gross margin at 29.6% of revenue: Gross profit was $87.9 million, or 29.6% of revenue, up 5% from $83.4 million, or 29.9% of revenue, a year earlier. Source
Cash and investments reached $545M: Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled $545 million at March 31, up from $475.5 million at September 30, 2025. Source

“The commercial momentum we observed to start the fiscal year continued throughout the second quarter, driving a well-balanced and strong order total of $490 million which led to a 1.7x book-to-bill ratio.”
Brett A. Cope, Powell’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

What changed from last quarter

New: A three-for-one forward split of common stock took effect April 2, 2026, and authorized common stock rose from 30 million to 90 million shares. Source
New: A data center order with a value above $400 million was awarded after quarter end, for a behind-the-meter design of on-site generation assets. Source
New: Management said backlog growth strengthens its confidence to invest prudently in incremental manufacturing capacity alongside the existing footprint. Source

Results and growth drivers

Revenue rose 6% year over year: Revenue was $296.6 million against $278.6 million a year earlier. Growth in three markets was partly offset by a decline in Petrochemical. Source
Sequential rise tracked seasonal pattern: Revenue was up 18% from the first quarter's $251.2 million. Management tied the rise to seasonal acceleration and more working days. Source
Net income eased 1% on costs: Net income was $45.9 million, or $1.25 per diluted share, versus $46.3 million, or $1.27 split-adjusted, a year earlier. Management attributed the decline to higher SG&A and R&D expense. Source

Markets and revenue mix

Commercial & Other Industrial up 35%: Commercial & Other Industrial revenue grew 35% year over year, Electric Utility grew 14% and Oil & Gas grew 11%. Source
Petrochemical revenue fell 37%: Petrochemical was the only market the release named as declining in the quarter, down 37% from the prior year. Source
Gas-market activity expected to continue: Management expects LNG, gas pipeline and gas-to-chemical activity to stay active, citing the competitive position of U.S.-based exporters. Source

“We remain acutely focused on executing our key growth objectives and delivering on project schedules for our customers to further Powell’s competitive position against a favorable demand landscape for engineered-to-order distribution solutions.”
Brett A. Cope, Powell’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Orders, bookings and backlog

New orders up 97% to $490M: New orders were $490 million, up from $249 million a year earlier and $439 million in the first quarter, driven by Electric Utility, Commercial and Oil & Gas bookings. Source
Two mega orders booked in quarter: Within the quarter the company won a mega electric utility order and a mega data center order, each above $75 million. Source
Backlog reached $1.8 billion: Backlog was $1.8 billion at March 31, up 12% from December 31 and 33% from a year earlier. Source

Margins and expenses

Gross margin at 29.6% of revenue: Gross profit was $87.9 million, or 29.6% of revenue, up 5% from $83.4 million, or 29.9% of revenue, a year earlier. Source
Sequential margin gain on volume: Gross profit rose 23% from the first quarter's 28.4% margin. Management linked the sequential gain to volume leverage, project execution and stable pricing. Source
Depreciation and amortization increased: Depreciation and amortization was $2.2 million in the quarter, compared with $1.7 million a year earlier. Source

“Our year-to-date financial results show sustainable growth over the prior year and reinforce our conviction in delivering another year of solid financial performance in Fiscal 2026.”
Michael Metcalf, Powell’s Chief Financial Officer

Cash, capital and dividends

Cash and investments reached $545M: Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled $545 million at March 31, up from $475.5 million at September 30, 2025. Source
Dividends paid rose slightly: Dividends paid were $3.3 million in the quarter and $6.5 million for the six months, versus $3.2 million and $6.4 million a year earlier. Source
Capital spending fell in quarter: Capital expenditures were $1.8 million in the quarter, down from $4.1 million. Six-month capital expenditures were $3.9 million versus $6.3 million. Source

Figures management reported

Figure	Reported
Backlog at March 31, 2026 Source	$1.8 billion
New orders in the quarter Source	$490 million
Book-to-bill ratio Source	1.7x
Mega orders booked in quarter Source	2, each above $75 million

Risks management discussed

Demand: Backlog may not reliably predict future results because of contract adjustments, cancellations or scope reductions, according to a release footnote. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

Not stated: Management reiterated its Fiscal 2026 margin expectation, first given in the first quarter release, and did not state progress against it. 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.

As filed with the SEC

Open the filing on EDGAR

POWELL INDUSTRIES ANNOUNCES SECOND QUARTER FISCAL 2026 RESULTS

HOUSTON - May 4, 2026 - Powell Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ: POWL) (“Powell” or the “Company”), a leading supplier of custom-engineered solutions for the management, control and distribution of electrical energy, today announced results for the second quarter Fiscal 2026 ended March 31, 2026. All comparisons are to the second quarter of Fiscal 2025, unless otherwise noted.

Key Highlights:

Revenues of $297 million increased 6%;
Gross profit of $88 million, or 29.6% of revenue, increased 5%;
Net income of $45.9 million, or $1.25 per diluted share, declined 1%;
New orders totaled $490 million, an increase of 97%;
Backlog as of March 31, 2026 totaled $1.8 billion, an increase of 33%;
Cash and short-term investments as of March 31, 2026 totaled $545 million;
Subsequent to quarter end, Powell was awarded a mega data center order with a value exceeding $400 million.

Brett A. Cope, Powell’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “The commercial momentum we observed to start the fiscal year continued throughout the second quarter, driving a well-balanced and strong order total of $490 million which led to a 1.7x book-to-bill ratio. That momentum has continued into our fiscal third quarter as evidenced by the mega data center order we were awarded after the fiscal second quarter-end with a value in excess of $400 million - the largest order in Powell history. Meanwhile, the team continues to demonstrate high levels of project execution, delivering a gross margin of 29.6% in the quarter. We remain acutely focused on executing our key growth objectives and delivering on project schedules for our customers to further Powell’s competitive position against a favorable demand landscape for engineered-to-order distribution solutions.”

Second Quarter Fiscal 2026 Results

Revenues totaled $296.6 million, an increase of 6% compared to $278.6 million in the prior year, and a sequential increase of 18% compared to $251.2 million in the first quarter of Fiscal 2026. The growth compared to the prior year was driven by higher revenue levels from the Commercial & Other Industrial market, which grew 35%, as well as from the Electric Utility and Oil & Gas markets, which grew 14% and 11%, respectively. This was partially offset by lower revenue within the Petrochemical market, which declined 37%. The sequential increase was consistent with the typical seasonal acceleration from the first fiscal quarter driven by a higher number of working days.

Gross profit of $87.9 million, or 29.6% of revenue, increased 5% compared to $83.4 million, or 29.9% of revenue, in the prior year and increased sequentially by 23% compared to $71.4 million, or 28.4% of revenue, in the first quarter of Fiscal 2026. The year‑over‑year increase in gross profit was primarily driven by higher revenues, while the sequential improvement also reflected favorable volume leverage, strong project execution, and a continued stable pricing environment.

New orders totaled $490 million compared to $249 million in the prior year and $439 million in the first quarter of Fiscal 2026. The increases were driven by improved bookings across the Company’s core markets, including the Electric Utility, Commercial & Other Industrial, and Oil & Gas markets. During the quarter, the Company was awarded a mega electric utility order and a mega data center order, each with a value exceeding $75 million. In addition to these mega orders booked in the second fiscal quarter of 2026, subsequent to the end of the second quarter, the

Company was awarded an additional mega data center order with a value exceeding $400 million related to a behind-the-meter design of on-site generation assets.

Backlog totaled $1.8 billion as of March 31, 2026, an increase of 12% compared to $1.6 billion as of December 31, 2025, and an increase of 33% compared to $1.3 billion as of March 31, 2025.

Net income of $45.9 million, or $1.25 per diluted share, declined 1% compared to $46.3 million, or $1.27 per diluted share as adjusted for the Stock Split, in the prior year. The decline was the result of higher SG&A expenses, driven by higher compensation expenses, as well as an increase in R&D expenses. Net income in the quarter increased sequentially by 11% compared to $41.4 million, or $1.13 per diluted share as adjusted for the Stock Split, in the first quarter of Fiscal 2026.

On April 2, 2026, we effected a three-for-one forward split of our common stock and proportionately increased the number of authorized common stock from 30,000,000 to 90,000,000. Each shareholder of record as of the close of trading on March 20, 2026 (the “Record Date”) received, after the close of trading on April 2, 2026, two additional shares for every one share held on the Record Date. Trading began on a split-adjusted basis at market open on April 6, 2026.

OUTLOOK

Commenting on the Company’s expectations for Fiscal 2026, Cope added, “Market activity across each of our core markets remains favorable. We remain optimistic that the ongoing investment cycle to support data center build outs and AI capacity growth, in addition to addressing future power demand, will remain supportive of overall activity in our commercial and electric utility end markets. We also anticipate that activity within the gas market, including LNG, gas pipeline and gas-to-chemical end markets, will remain active, driven by the advantaged competitive position which we believe U.S.-based exporters currently maintain.”

Michael Metcalf, Powell’s Chief Financial Officer, commented, “Our year-to-date financial results show sustainable growth over the prior year and reinforce our conviction in delivering another year of solid financial performance in Fiscal 2026. Looking at the current composition of our backlog, we expect margins to remain consistent with the performance levels achieved in the prior year. The recent acceleration in backlog growth further strengthens our confidence to prudently invest in incremental capacity to complement our existing manufacturing footprint, including the most recent capacity expansion projects at our facilities. We continue to evaluate potential capacity investments with an emphasis on ensuring adequate returns, supported by the visibility provided by our backlog and the commercial outlook across our core markets.”

CONFERENCE CALL

Powell Industries has scheduled a conference call for Tuesday, May 5, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time. To participate in the conference call, dial 1-833-953-2431 (domestic) or 1-412-317-5760 (international) at least 10 minutes before the call begins and ask for the Powell Industries conference call. A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available through May 12, 2026 and may be accessed by calling 1-855-669-9658 (domestic) or 1-412-317-0088 (international) and using passcode 7179345#.

Investors, analysts and the general public will also have the opportunity to listen to the conference call over the Internet by visiting powellind.com. To listen to the live call on the web, please visit the website at least 15 minutes before the call begins to register, download and install any necessary audio software. For those who cannot listen to the live webcast, an archive will be available shortly after the call and will remain available for approximately twelve months at powellind.com.

About Powell Industries

Powell Industries, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, develops, designs, manufactures and services custom-engineered equipment and systems that distribute, control and monitor the flow of electrical energy and provide protection to motors, transformers and other electrically powered equipment. Powell Industries, Inc. primarily serves the oil and gas and petrochemical markets, the electric utility market, and commercial and other industrial markets. Beyond these major markets, we also provide products and services to the light rail traction power market and other markets that include universities and government entities. We are continuously developing new channels to electrical markets through original equipment manufacturers and distribution market channels. For more information, please visit powellind.com.

Any forward-looking statements in the preceding paragraphs of this release, including those related to our outlook, are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties in that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. In the course of operations, we are subject to certain risk factors, competition and competitive pressures, sensitivity to general economic and industrial conditions, international political and economic risks, availability and price of raw materials, the impact of tariffs and execution of business strategy. For further information, please refer to the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, copies of which are available from the Company without charge.

POWELL INDUSTRIES, INC. & SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

	Three Months EndedMarch 31,				Six Months Ended March 31,
	2026		2025		2026		2025
	(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except per share data)
Revenues	$296,615		$278,631		$547,799		$520,062
Cost of goods sold	208,679		195,199		388,445		377,106
Gross profit		87,936		83,432		159,354		142,956
Selling, general and administrative expenses	25,843		21,767		51,001		43,243
Research and development expenses	4,289		2,746		7,556		5,222
Amortization of intangible assets	223		-		445		-
Operating income	57,581		58,919		100,352		94,491
Other expenses (income):
Interest income, net	(4,203)		(3,555)		(8,468)		(7,420)
Income before income taxes		61,784		62,474		108,820		101,911
Income tax provision	15,897		16,144		21,543		20,818
Net income	$45,887		$46,330		$87,277		$81,093
Earnings per share:
Basic	$1.26		$1.28		$2.40		$2.24
Diluted	$1.25		$1.27		$2.39		$2.22
Weighted average shares:
Basic	36,429		36,206		36,378		36,159
Diluted	36,584		36,523		36,543		36,489
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA:
Depreciation and Amortization	$2,182		$1,718		$4,331		$3,473
Capital Expenditures	$1,832		$4,074		$3,861		$6,263
Dividends Paid	$3,278		$3,227		$6,513		$6,412

POWELL INDUSTRIES, INC. & SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

	March 31, 2026	September 30, 2025
	(Unaudited)
(In thousands)
Assets:
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	$544,889	$475,527
All other current assets	463,497	456,189
Property, plant and equipment, net	111,822	111,049
Long-term assets	59,831	66,219
Total assets	$1,180,039	$1,108,984
Liabilities and equity:
Current liabilities	$447,280	$446,387
Deferred and other long-term liabilities	23,690	21,827
Stockholders’ equity	709,069	640,770
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$1,180,039	$1,108,984
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA:
Working capital	$561,106	$485,329

On April 2, 2026, the Company effected a three-for-one forward split of its common stock (the “Stock Split”). Share and per-share amounts disclosed for all periods have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the effect of the Stock Split.

New orders (bookings) represent the estimated value of contracts added to existing backlog (unsatisfied performance obligations).

The amounts recorded in backlog may not be a reliable indicator of our future operating results and may not be indicative of continuing revenue performance over future fiscal quarters or years primarily due to unexpected contract adjustments, cancellations or scope reductions.

A mega order is defined as an order with a contract value exceeding $50 million.

Working capital is equal to current assets (including cash and short-term investments) minus current liabilities.

Contacts
Michael Metcalf, CFO · Powell Industries, Inc. · 713-947-4422 · Robert Winters or Ryan Coleman · Alpha IR Group · POWL@alpha-ir.com · 312-445-2870