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Rush Enterprises Inc. \Tx\: 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: 3 raised. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue fell, diluted EPS rose: Revenue was $1.900 billion, down 1.6% from $1.931 billion. Net income attributable to the company was $72.8 million, or $0.91 per diluted share, against $72.4 million and $0.90 a year earlier. Source
  • Class 8 sales flat, share 5.8%: Rush sold 3,172 new US Class 8 trucks, down 0.2%, while the market fell 6.7% to 54,718 units. Share was 5.8%, against 7.2% in the first quarter. Management said this allowed the company to increase share. Source
  • Orders rose as quarter progressed: Orders for new commercial vehicles increased significantly as the quarter progressed, and used truck sales held up. Source
  • Freight and fleet drive second half: Management attributed higher quoting and order intake to improving freight rates, stronger fleet profitability and rising customer confidence. Source
  • Absorption ratio fell year on year: Absorption was 130.8%, against 135.5% a year earlier and 126.9% in the first quarter. Management defines it as parts, service and collision gross profit against dealership overhead. Source
  • Cash and inventory both rose: Cash was $264.9 million at June 30 against $212.6 million at December 31. Inventories were $1,687.6 million against $1,534.5 million, and floor plan notes payable were $961.1 million. Source
  • Acquisitions and venture broaden reach: Management said the completed acquisitions and the planned joint venture broaden geographic reach and the range of solutions offered to customers. Source
  • Refrigerated venture with MCT: The 50 percent-owned venture would operate MCT's 17 Carrier Transicold full-service dealerships and 3 mobile service locations in six states, establishing a presence in refrigerated transportation. Source

“As I mentioned at the end of April, we believe the first quarter represented the trough of the extended industry downcycle, and during the second quarter we continued to see signs of gradual improvement in market conditions.”

W.M. "Rusty" Rush, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Rush Enterprises, Inc.

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
US Class 8 retail market (ACT Research forecast, cited by the company) Source2026228,800 units, a 7.6% increase compared to 2025Raised from 224,800 units, a 5.7% increase compared to 2025
US Class 4-7 retail market (ACT Research forecast, cited by the company) Source2026approximately 207,575 units, a decrease of 4.5% compared to 2025Raised from approximately 200,500 units, relatively flat compared to 2025
Quarterly cash dividend Sourcepayable September 24, 2026$0.14 per share of Class A and Class B common stock (post-split)Raised from $0.19 per share (pre-split)

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Three-for-two stock split on Class A and Class B shares. Class A shares rise from about 61.1 million to 91.7 million, and Class B from 16.7 million to 25.0 million. Source
  • New: Agreement signed on July 23 to form a 50 percent-owned joint venture with MCT Companies, a Carrier Transicold dealer group. Source
  • New: Five commercial vehicle dealerships in southwestern Ontario were acquired, expanding Canadian operations. Source
  • New: The five Louisiana Peterbilt dealerships signed for in the first quarter were acquired and completed in the second quarter. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue fell, diluted EPS rose: Revenue was $1.900 billion, down 1.6% from $1.931 billion. Net income attributable to the company was $72.8 million, or $0.91 per diluted share, against $72.4 million and $0.90 a year earlier. Source
  • Aftermarket revenue rose 1.5%: Parts, service and collision center revenue was $645.7 million, up 1.5% from the second quarter of 2025. Source
  • Results credited to diversified model: Management credited the diversified model and the team's ability to execute with capitalizing on improving market conditions as the quarter progressed. Source
  • Management thanked employees: Rush thanked employees for their commitment to customers and one another, citing their professionalism, dedication and focus on operational excellence. Source

Vehicle sales and market share

  • Class 8 sales flat, share 5.8%: Rush sold 3,172 new US Class 8 trucks, down 0.2%, while the market fell 6.7% to 54,718 units. Share was 5.8%, against 7.2% in the first quarter. Management said this allowed the company to increase share. Source
  • Medium-duty US sales down 12.7%: The company sold 3,165 new US Class 4-7 medium-duty vehicles, down 12.7%, for a 5.7% share. Management attributed the year-on-year comparison to timing of orders and deliveries for large fleet customers. Source
  • Used truck volume up 4.3%: The company sold 1,788 used commercial vehicles, up 4.3%. Management said June was the strongest month of the year for used trucks. Source
  • Canadian shares small: In Canada the company sold 117 new Class 8 trucks, 1.8% of that market, and 217 Class 5-7 vehicles, 5.1% of that segment. Source

“customer quoting activity and order intake improved significantly as the quarter progressed, reinforcing our belief that the recovery we anticipated earlier this year is beginning to take shape”

W.M. "Rusty" Rush, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Rush Enterprises, Inc.

Products, units and leasing

  • Unit deliveries by vehicle type: Deliveries were 3,289 new heavy-duty trucks (3,259 a year earlier), 3,382 medium-duty (3,803), 907 light-duty (703) and 1,788 used (1,715). Source
  • Ready-to-Roll medium-duty inventory: Management said medium-duty sales strengthened as the quarter progressed, particularly in June, and that the Ready-to-Roll program differentiates the company. Source
  • Leasing revenue up 1.9%: Leasing and rental revenue was $94.8 million, up 1.9%. Rush Truck Leasing runs 70 PacLease and Idealease franchises, with more than 10,000 lease fleet trucks and more than 2,200 under contract maintenance. Source

Demand and the order book

  • Orders rose as quarter progressed: Orders for new commercial vehicles increased significantly as the quarter progressed, and used truck sales held up. Source
  • Industry Class 8 below replacement levels: Industry Class 8 retail sales were 54,718 units, down 6.7%, and management said they remained below normal replacement levels. Source
  • Freight and fleet drive second half: Management attributed higher quoting and order intake to improving freight rates, stronger fleet profitability and rising customer confidence. Source
  • Customers buying ahead of 2027 rules: Management said customers are planning equipment purchases ahead of the 2027 emissions regulations, which supports higher quoting activity. Source
  • Aftermarket recovery trails truck sales: Parts and service demand improved gradually through the quarter, particularly among over-the-road fleets. Management said the aftermarket is trailing commercial vehicle sales and quoting. Source

“Looking ahead, we expect our aftermarket business to continue improving as fleet utilization increases and new commercial vehicle deliveries accelerate”

W.M. "Rusty" Rush, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Rush Enterprises, Inc.

Costs, absorption and aftermarket mix

  • Absorption ratio fell year on year: Absorption was 130.8%, against 135.5% a year earlier and 126.9% in the first quarter. Management defines it as parts, service and collision gross profit against dealership overhead. Source
  • Aftermarket share of gross profit eased: Aftermarket products and services provided about 64.0% of total gross profit, against 66.1% in the first quarter. Source
  • Expense discipline and service focus: Management said it will keep disciplined expense management while delivering exceptional service and growing managed and national accounts. Source

Cash, dividends and buybacks

  • Dividend up 10.5% after split: The post-split dividend is a 10.5% increase on the prior quarterly payment and the tenth increase since the company first announced a quarterly dividend in July 2018. Source
  • Buybacks small against authorization: The company repurchased $5.5 million of stock in the quarter under the $150.0 million authorization, and total repurchases under it were $5.5 million. Source
  • Dividends paid $14.8 million: Cash dividends paid in the second quarter totaled $14.8 million, compared with $14.7 million in the first quarter. Source
  • Cash and inventory both rose: Cash was $264.9 million at June 30 against $212.6 million at December 31. Inventories were $1,687.6 million against $1,534.5 million, and floor plan notes payable were $961.1 million. Source
  • Trailing free cash flow lower: Trailing twelve-month free cash flow was $348.7 million, down from $402.4 million. Adjusted free cash flow was $676.8 million, up from $664.7 million. Source

Strategy, acquisitions and joint venture

  • Acquisitions and venture broaden reach: Management said the completed acquisitions and the planned joint venture broaden geographic reach and the range of solutions offered to customers. Source
  • Refrigerated venture with MCT: The 50 percent-owned venture would operate MCT's 17 Carrier Transicold full-service dealerships and 3 mobile service locations in six states, establishing a presence in refrigerated transportation. Source
  • Continued search for acquisitions: Management said the company continues to search for and invest in businesses that strengthen it and advance its long-term growth strategy. Source

Coming up, as management said on 28 July 2026

  • MCT joint venture closing: The joint venture is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions. Source
  • Stock split payable August 31: The three-for-two split is paid as a stock dividend on August 31, 2026, to holders of record on August 11, 2026. Source

In management's words

“Our ability to maintain essentially flat Class 8 truck sales while the broader market declined compared to the second quarter of 2025 allowed us to increase market share.”

W.M. "Rusty" Rush, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Rush Enterprises, Inc.

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Inventory Source$1,687.6 million at June 30, 2026, up from $1,534.5 million at December 31, 2025
Dealership locations Sourcemore than 160 locations in 24 states and Ontario, Canada (up from more than 150 in 23 states)

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management cited the ACT Research expectation that the broader medium-duty market will remain challenging in 2026. Source
  • Demand: Management said it expects the recovery in commercial vehicles to be gradual, despite higher order activity and improved customer confidence. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The April release expected gradual improvement from the second quarter and a more meaningful recovery in the second half. The July release says the anticipated recovery is beginning to take shape.
  • Not stated: The April release expected this. The July release reports second quarter medium-duty units down 12.7% year on year, and says sales strengthened as the quarter progressed.
  • Not stated: The April release expected aftermarket demand to improve gradually. The July release says the aftermarket business is continuing to improve.

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.