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Ralliant Corp.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 12 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 raised, 1 lowered, 10 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 11 percent: Revenue reached $535 million, up 11% year-over-year and 9% organically, with double-digit growth in both segments. Source
  • Test & Measurement returned to growth: T&M revenue was $210 million, up 12% and 9% organically; electrification and defense demand lifted Communications and Diversified Electronics. Source
  • Defense backlog passed $1 billion: Defense & Space revenue reflected execution against a multi-year backlog from missile and munitions replenishment, now over $1 billion. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin declined: Adjusted EBITDA margin was 18.6%, down about 250 basis points year-over-year; on a normalized basis it rose 270 basis points. Source
  • Trailing-year free cash flow $303 million: Trailing twelve-month operating cash flow was $345 million and free cash flow was $303 million. Source
  • Savings from sourcing and G&A: Cost of sales savings come mainly from strategic sourcing and a Group Purchasing Office; G&A savings focus on labor productivity and spend. Source

“Our first quarter performance exceeded the high end of guidance, and we are raising 2026 full year guidance,”

Tami Newcombe, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue Sourcesecond quarter 2026$540 to $556 millionNew
Adjusted EBITDA margin Sourcesecond quarter 202618.5% to 19.5%New
Adjusted EPS Sourcesecond quarter 2026$0.58 to $0.64New
Net interest expense Sourcesecond quarter 2026$14 to $16 millionNew
Adjusted effective tax rate Sourcesecond quarter 202616% to 18%New
Weighted average diluted shares Sourcesecond quarter 2026approximately 112 millionNew
Revenue Sourcefull year 2026$2.185 to $2.245 billionRaised from $2.1 to $2.2 billion
Adjusted EBITDA margin Sourcefull year 202619.5% to 20.5%Raised from 18% to 20%
Adjusted EPS Sourcefull year 2026$2.53 to $2.69Raised from $2.22 to $2.42
Weighted average diluted shares Sourcefull year 2026111 to 112 millionLowered from approximately 114 to 115 million
Share repurchases Sourcefull year 2026approximately 50% of free cash flowNew
Enterprise Productivity Program in-year savings Sourcefull year 2026$10-12MNew
Enterprise Productivity Program run-rate savings Sourceby 2028$50-60 millionNew
Accelerated share repurchase Sourcesecond quarter 2026$100 millionNew
Share repurchase authorization Sourcenot stated$500 millionRaised from $200 million
Quarterly dividend per share Sourcequarter declared May 7, 2026$0.05Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year revenue, adjusted EBITDA margin and adjusted EPS ranges were raised; the release headline states the change. Source
  • New: Enterprise Productivity Program was implemented, with oversight placed in the CEO office. Source
  • New: Accelerated share repurchase program planned as part of the expanded buyback authorization. Source
  • New: Term loan refinanced on March 30, 2026, with a later maturity and amended covenants. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 11 percent: Revenue reached $535 million, up 11% year-over-year and 9% organically, with double-digit growth in both segments. Source
  • Earnings per share lower year-over-year: Net earnings were $44 million and diluted EPS $0.39, against $64 million and $0.57 a year earlier; adjusted EPS was $0.57 against $0.73. Source
  • Net earnings margin fell 500 basis points: Net earnings margin was 8.3%, down 500 basis points from the prior-year quarter, as reported. Source

Segments and end markets

  • Sensors & Safety Systems grew 11%: S&SS revenue was $324 million, with operating profit of $89 million, up 2%, and a 27.3% operating margin. Source
  • Test & Measurement returned to growth: T&M revenue was $210 million, up 12% and 9% organically; electrification and defense demand lifted Communications and Diversified Electronics. Source
  • Test & Measurement operating loss narrowed: T&M operating loss was $3 million, a (1.5)% margin; adjusted EBITDA margin was 11.9%, up 515 basis points, or 700 basis points normalized. Source

“Following three consecutive quarters of sequential improvement, Test & Measurement not only returned to year-over-year growth but has seen broad-based acceleration in global demand.”

Tami Newcombe, President and Chief Executive Officer

Demand and order backlog

  • Defense backlog passed $1 billion: Defense & Space revenue reflected execution against a multi-year backlog from missile and munitions replenishment, now over $1 billion. Source
  • Industrial demand began short-cycle recovery: Industrial Manufacturing and Other started a short-cycle recovery in most geographies. Source
  • Utility orders at historic high: Customer investment in utilities continued, producing historically high orders in the quarter. Source

Costs and margins

  • Adjusted EBITDA margin declined: Adjusted EBITDA margin was 18.6%, down about 250 basis points year-over-year; on a normalized basis it rose 270 basis points. Source
  • Higher employee costs hit S&SS margins: S&SS operating and adjusted EBITDA margins declined, mainly from higher employee costs. Source
  • Mix offset normalized S&SS gains: Normalized S&SS margin expansion from operating leverage was partly offset by mix from faster Defense & Space growth. Source
  • Standalone public company costs rose: Unallocated corporate costs were $17.4 million against $1.3 million a year earlier, mainly standalone public company costs. Source
  • Higher revenue lifted T&M margin: T&M margins improved on higher revenue, partly offset by higher employee costs. Source

“This program will be part of the CEO office, where I will have oversight and governance.”

Tami Newcombe, President and Chief Executive Officer

Cash, capital and shareholder returns

  • Trailing-year free cash flow $303 million: Trailing twelve-month operating cash flow was $345 million and free cash flow was $303 million. Source
  • Quarter operating cash flow $19 million: Reported operating cash flow was $19 million and capital expenditure was $9 million in the quarter. Source
  • Quarterly buybacks totalled $50 million: The company repurchased 1.2 million shares at an average $42.40 for $50 million during the quarter. Source
  • Authorization remaining before increase: At quarter end, $150.0 million remained under the original repurchase authorization, before the May increase. Source
  • Cash and debt at quarter end: Cash and equivalents were $268 million and long-term debt was $1.15 billion at the end of the first quarter. Source

Enterprise Productivity Program

  • Savings from sourcing and G&A: Cost of sales savings come mainly from strategic sourcing and a Group Purchasing Office; G&A savings focus on labor productivity and spend. Source
  • Savings net of reinvestment: Savings are net of reinvestment and sit beyond baseline incremental margin expectations from revenue growth, and include the Cost Savings Program. Source
  • Execution rests on operating system: Execution is supported across the organization by the Ralliant Business System and a focus on simplicity and continuous improvement. Source
  • Savings tied to more capital deployment: Management linked the program, with innovation, commercial execution and balance sheet health, to deploying more capital. Source

Coming up, as management said on 12 May 2026

  • Second-quarter dividend dates set: The second-quarter 2026 dividend is payable June 23, 2026, to holders of record on June 8, 2026. Source
  • ASR share count fixed at settlement: Shares repurchased under the ASR will be set at final settlement, based on average daily Rule 10b-18 VWAP during the program term. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Defense & Space backlog Sourceover $1 billion

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Semiconductor sales declined because a large customer project completed in Q3 2025 outweighed broader customer investment gains. Source
  • External: Guidance assumes the geopolitical environment stays consistent, without more severe disruption from the Middle East conflict. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said first-quarter performance exceeded the high end of guidance. Source
  • Not stated: Management referred to a commitment to ongoing margin expansion as the basis for the productivity program. 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.