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PPG Industries Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 28 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 6 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales rose 7% in quarter: Net sales were $4,495 million, up from $4,195 million. Sales volumes and selling prices each rose 2%, foreign currency added 2%, and acquisitions added 1%. Source
  • Diluted EPS $1.96, adjusted $2.23: Reported diluted EPS from continuing operations was $1.96, against $1.98 a year earlier. Adjusted EPS was $2.23, against $2.22. Net income was $439 million, against $450 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA flat, margin lower: Adjusted EBITDA was $780 million, against $778 million. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 17.4%, against 18.5%, and EBIT margin was 13.3%, against 14.7%. Source
  • Performance Coatings margin fell 300 basis points: Net sales rose 7% to $1,619 million, with organic growth of 3%. Segment income fell 8% to $329 million, and segment EBITDA fell 5% to $368 million, with margin at 22.7%. Source
  • Aerospace grew double digits: Aerospace achieved double-digit percentage organic sales growth. Its order backlog was near $300 million, against about $315 million in the first-quarter release. Source
  • Pricing covered about 90% of inflation: Costs rose for raw materials, energy, logistics and packaging. The company covered about 90% of cost of goods sold inflation in the quarter, with selling prices up 2%. Source
  • Industrial margin fell on cost inflation: Industrial Coatings segment EBITDA margin was 15.9%, down 70 basis points. Management said the second-half margin will compress from the timing of index-based pricing. Source
  • Operating cash flow up $220 million: Cash from operating activities was about $600 million year to date. Continuing-operations operating cash flow was $594 million, against $371 million a year earlier. Source

“I am proud to announce that PPG delivered its sixth consecutive quarter of organic sales growth, a solid increase of 4%, with equal contributions from sales volumes and selling prices.”

Tim Knavish, PPG chairman and chief executive officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Full-year adjusted earnings per share Sourcefull year 2026$7.70 to $8.10Kept
Organic sales growth, all three segments combined Sourcethird quarter 2026low single-digit to mid-single-digit percentageNew
Company adjusted EBITDA margin, year over year Sourcethird quarter 2026flat to a decline of 100 basis pointsNew
Global Architectural Coatings organic sales and EBITDA margin Sourcethird quarter 2026organic sales flat to low single-digit percentage growth; EBITDA margin relatively flatNew
Performance Coatings organic sales Sourcethird quarter 2026mid-single-digit to high single-digit percentage growthNew
Industrial Coatings organic sales Sourcethird quarter 2026flat to low single-digit percentage growthNew
Automotive refinish coatings organic sales Sourcesecond half 2026low to mid-single-digit percentage growthNew
Raw material cost inflation covered by selling prices Sourcefourth quarter 2026100%

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: Full-year 2026 adjusted EPS guidance of $7.70 to $8.10 was reaffirmed, the same range as in the first-quarter release. Source
  • New guidance: Quantified third-quarter organic sales ranges by segment and for the company were given. The first-quarter release gave only second-quarter ranges. Source
  • New guidance: A figure was given for second-half automotive refinish organic sales growth. The first-quarter release described improvement without a percentage. Source
  • Ended: Second-quarter guidance from the first-quarter release for flat to low single-digit growth is no longer forward. The company reported second-quarter organic sales growth of 4%.
  • New: The company issued long-term bonds of CHF320 million in the second quarter, due in 2030 and 2034. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net sales rose 7% in quarter: Net sales were $4,495 million, up from $4,195 million. Sales volumes and selling prices each rose 2%, foreign currency added 2%, and acquisitions added 1%. Source
  • Diluted EPS $1.96, adjusted $2.23: Reported diluted EPS from continuing operations was $1.96, against $1.98 a year earlier. Adjusted EPS was $2.23, against $2.22. Net income was $439 million, against $450 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA flat, margin lower: Adjusted EBITDA was $780 million, against $778 million. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 17.4%, against 18.5%, and EBIT margin was 13.3%, against 14.7%. Source
  • Organic growth in eight of nine businesses: Management said the company outpaced the industry by 300 basis points. Organic growth came in all three segments, led by aerospace and architectural coatings in Latin America. Source
  • Tax rate fell about 100 basis points: The effective tax rate was 22.3% and the adjusted effective tax rate was 22.5%, both down about 100 basis points. Net interest expense was $29 million, against $18 million a year earlier. Source

Segment results

  • Global Architectural Coatings sales up 8%: Net sales rose 8% to $1,098 million, with organic growth of 2% from higher selling prices. Segment EBITDA rose 14% to $213 million, and its margin was 19.4%, up 100 basis points. Source
  • Latin America led architectural growth: Latin America and Asia Pacific organic sales rose a mid-single-digit percentage on Latin America volume growth. EMEA rose a low single-digit percentage. In Mexico, retail and project-related sales improved. Source
  • Performance Coatings margin fell 300 basis points: Net sales rose 7% to $1,619 million, with organic growth of 3%. Segment income fell 8% to $329 million, and segment EBITDA fell 5% to $368 million, with margin at 22.7%. Source
  • Industrial Coatings volumes rose 5%: Net sales rose 7% to $1,778 million, with organic sales up 5% on volume growth in all three businesses. Segment EBITDA rose 2% to $282 million. Source

“This demonstrates our confidence in our earnings trajectory given our positive momentum, realization of pricing, and execution of self-help actions.”

Tim Knavish, PPG chairman and chief executive officer

Products and customers

  • Aerospace grew double digits: Aerospace achieved double-digit percentage organic sales growth. Its order backlog was near $300 million, against about $315 million in the first-quarter release. Source
  • Protective and marine up double digits: Protective and marine coatings organic sales rose by a double-digit percentage. This was the 13th consecutive quarter of sales volume growth, including marine volume growth in Asia Pacific and Europe. Source
  • Automotive refinish sales fell double digits: Automotive refinish organic sales fell by a double-digit percentage on lower volumes, reflecting a tough comparison with 2025 customer order patterns and slower underlying demand. Source
  • Packaging volumes up over 20%: Packaging coatings organic sales rose by a double-digit percentage. Sales volumes were up over 20% on a two-year stacked basis, from share gains as customers adopt PPG technologies. Source
  • Automotive OEM outpaced global production: Automotive OEM organic sales rose a low single-digit percentage, with mid-single-digit volume growth. Management said this outpaced global automotive production by about 500 basis points. Source

Costs, pricing and margins

  • Pricing covered about 90% of inflation: Costs rose for raw materials, energy, logistics and packaging. The company covered about 90% of cost of goods sold inflation in the quarter, with selling prices up 2%. Source
  • Industrial prices flat after declines: Industrial Coatings selling prices were flat for the quarter after earlier declines, as new pricing actions were executed. Source
  • Industrial margin fell on cost inflation: Industrial Coatings segment EBITDA margin was 15.9%, down 70 basis points. Management said the second-half margin will compress from the timing of index-based pricing. Source
  • Performance margin expected to expand: Management expects Performance Coatings EBITDA margin to expand in the second half, driven by pricing actions and stabilization in automotive refinish. Source

“The company has proactively made price adjustments globally and across all of our businesses, resulting in a 2% selling price improvement in the quarter.”

Tim Knavish, PPG chairman and chief executive officer

Demand and order book

  • Aerospace demand expected to stay robust: Management expects aerospace industry demand to remain robust, and says its technology-advantaged products position it for above-industry growth in that business. Source
  • Industrial share gains continued: Management said it is delivering on previously communicated share gains in all three Industrial Coatings businesses, which produced sales volume growth of 5%. Source
  • Technology and innovation drive growth: Management attributed the company's ability to outpace industry growth to technology leadership, product innovation investment and commercial excellence. Source

Cash, balance sheet and returns

  • Operating cash flow up $220 million: Cash from operating activities was about $600 million year to date. Continuing-operations operating cash flow was $594 million, against $371 million a year earlier. Source
  • Net debt down $415 million: Net debt was $5.3 billion at quarter end. Cash and short-term investments totaled $1.6 billion. Source
  • Buybacks and dividends year to date: Share repurchases were $75 million in the quarter and $175 million year to date, against $540 million a year earlier. Dividends paid were $317 million year to date. Source
  • Swiss franc bonds issued: The company issued CHF320 million of long-term bonds in the second quarter, due in 2030 and 2034, at rates of 1.22% and 1.66%. Source
  • Working capital ratio fell year over year: Operating working capital was $3,279 million, or 18.2% of annualized quarter sales, against 19.4% a year earlier. Receivables rose to $3,912 million from $3,336 million at year-end. Source
  • Capital spending lower year to date: Capital expenditures were $309 million year to date, against $330 million a year earlier. Source

Other items and charges

  • Legal settlement charge of $8 million: The company settled a legal matter in the quarter. The $8 million charge is included in Other charges, net and excluded from adjusted results. Source
  • Environmental charges excluded from adjusted: Legacy environmental remediation charges at non-operating sites were $19 million, against $12 million a year earlier, and are excluded from adjusted results. Source
  • Adjusted EPS excludes $0.27 of items: Adjusted EPS of $2.23 excludes $0.27 from reported EPS of $1.96. The items are acquisition amortization, restructuring, portfolio optimization, environmental charges and the legal settlement. Source

Coming up, as management said on 28 July 2026

  • Projection slides posted to investor site: Additional 2026 projection detail is posted in slides associated with the second-quarter earnings documents on the Investors section of PPG.com. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Aerospace order backlog Sourcenear $300 million
Sales volumes, consolidated Sourceup 2%
Industrial Coatings sales volumes Sourceup 5%
Packaging coatings sales volumes, two-year stacked Sourceup over 20%
Protective and marine coatings sales volume growth Source13th consecutive quarter

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Automotive refinish demand was lower because insurance-claim recovery came more slowly than management had anticipated. Source
  • Operational: Raw material, energy, logistics and packaging costs rose across the coatings value chain. Price increases are being used to offset them. Source
  • Operational: Management expects Industrial Coatings EBITDA margin to compress in the second half because of the timing of index-based pricing. Source
  • External: The guidance reflects management's updated view of global economic activity, foreign exchange rates, and regional and business mix. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said price coverage of cost inflation reached about 90% in the quarter, and the 100% target is one quarter ahead of its original commitment. Source
  • Not stated: Management said it is delivering on previously communicated share gains in all three Industrial Coatings businesses. 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.