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Stepan Co.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net income rose 102%: Reported net income was $22.9 million, up from $11.3 million; diluted EPS was $1.00 versus $0.50, and adjusted diluted EPS was $1.18. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA up 45%: Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA was $74.4 million versus $51.4 million, driven by higher Surfactant and Polymer earnings from volume growth and margin recovery. Source
  • First-half loss from restructuring: The six-month reported net loss was $18.5 million versus $31.1 million of income, entirely from a $70.5 million pre-tax restructuring charge; first-half adjusted net income rose 20%. Source
  • Surfactant EBITDA up 59%: Surfactant net sales were $483.9 million, up 18%, with selling prices up 12%; Surfactant adjusted EBITDA reached $54.9 million. Source
  • Free cash flow negative in quarter: Free cash flow was negative $15.0 million, on $8.4 million of cash from operations less $23.4 million of capital expenditures. Source
  • Free cash flow up 69% before working capital: Excluding higher working capital, free cash flow was $32.7 million, up 69% versus the prior year. Source
  • Fieldsboro closure and asset decommissioning: The $5.1 million second-quarter restructuring charge largely relates to the previously announced Fieldsboro, NJ closure and asset decommissioning at Elwood (Millsdale) and Stalybridge. Source

“Quarterly earnings were up significantly driven by improved Surfactant and Polymer results.”

Luis E. Rojo, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Restructuring charges SourceFull year 2026$75.0 to $80.0 millionKept
Restructuring cash impact SourceFull year 2026$14.0 to $18.0 million
Salaried positions reduced SourceBefore end of 2026around 100 rolesNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New: New plan to reduce the global salaried workforce by about 100 roles, part of the organizational-effectiveness component of Project Catalyst. Source
  • New guidance: A full-year 2026 restructuring charge range of $75.0 to $80.0 million is stated; the first-quarter release gave no full-year range. Source
  • New guidance: A full-year 2026 restructuring cash impact range of $14.0 to $18.0 million is stated; the first-quarter release gave no such range. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net income rose 102%: Reported net income was $22.9 million, up from $11.3 million; diluted EPS was $1.00 versus $0.50, and adjusted diluted EPS was $1.18. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA up 45%: Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA was $74.4 million versus $51.4 million, driven by higher Surfactant and Polymer earnings from volume growth and margin recovery. Source
  • Net sales rose 15%: Net sales were $684.1 million, up 15%; higher selling prices contributed most, with volume up 3% and favorable currency translation. Source
  • First-half loss from restructuring: The six-month reported net loss was $18.5 million versus $31.1 million of income, entirely from a $70.5 million pre-tax restructuring charge; first-half adjusted net income rose 20%. Source

Segments and regions

  • Surfactant EBITDA up 59%: Surfactant net sales were $483.9 million, up 18%, with selling prices up 12%; Surfactant adjusted EBITDA reached $54.9 million. Source
  • North American Polymer volume grew: Polymer net sales were $178.0 million, up 9%, with volume up 5%; adjusted EBITDA rose 22% to $31.2 million on volume growth and global margin improvement. Source
  • Specialty Products EBITDA eased: Specialty Products net sales rose 8% to $22.2 million on 4% volume growth; adjusted EBITDA fell 3% to $6.5 million on medium chain triglycerides mix. Source

“We believe the quarter also benefited from customer pre-buys as a result of the global geopolitical situation.”

Luis E. Rojo, President and Chief Executive Officer

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Surfactant selling prices up 12%: Surfactant selling prices rose 12%, mainly from pass-through of raw material costs, product and customer mix, and pricing actions. Source
  • Gross profit rose to $100.0 million: Gross profit was $100.0 million versus $71.9 million; currency translation added $2.9 million to gross profit. Source
  • Corporate expenses up 17%: Adjusted corporate expenses rose $2.7 million, or 17%, to $18.0 million; the company attributed the rise mainly to higher incentive-based compensation. Source

Demand, customers and end markets

  • Organic volume up 6%: Global sales volume rose 3% year-over-year and organic sales volume rose 6%, with the gap reflecting the divestiture-adjusted base. Source
  • Surfactant growth across all regions: Surfactant organic volume rose 7%, with growth in every global region and strategic end markets combined growing high single digits. Source
  • Key strategic end markets grew: Management said growth was achieved in several key strategic end markets during the quarter. Source

“With these actions and the strong first half results, we believe we will deliver full year Adjusted EBITDA growth, positive free cash flow and continue to de-leverage the balance sheet in 2026,”

Luis E. Rojo, President and Chief Executive Officer

Cash, capital and balance sheet

  • Free cash flow negative in quarter: Free cash flow was negative $15.0 million, on $8.4 million of cash from operations less $23.4 million of capital expenditures. Source
  • Free cash flow up 69% before working capital: Excluding higher working capital, free cash flow was $32.7 million, up 69% versus the prior year. Source
  • Working capital components rose: At June 30, 2026, net receivables were $492.3 million, inventories $324.5 million and accounts payable $321.7 million. Source
  • Net debt rose, ratio at 31%: Net debt rose $22.8 million versus March 31 to $533.7 million; the net debt ratio was 31% versus 30%, while total debt fell $4.3 million. Source

Project Catalyst and restructuring

  • Fieldsboro closure and asset decommissioning: The $5.1 million second-quarter restructuring charge largely relates to the previously announced Fieldsboro, NJ closure and asset decommissioning at Elwood (Millsdale) and Stalybridge. Source
  • Year-to-date restructuring cash impact: The cash impact of the restructuring charge was about $7.0 million through June 30, 2026. Source
  • Project Catalyst aims at balanced growth: Project Catalyst is described as a plan to optimize the asset base and build a more productive, agile organization to enable balanced growth. Source
  • Colleagues supported through transition: Management said it is committed to supporting affected colleagues through the transition, in line with its People First culture. Source

Coming up, as management said on 29 July 2026

  • Majority of restructuring expense in H2: Management expects most of the restructuring expense to be recognized in the second half of 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Global sales volume growth, year-over-year Source3%
Organic sales volume growth, year-over-year Source6%
Surfactant organic sales volume growth Source7%
Polymer sales volume growth Source5%
Specialty Products volume growth Source4%
Surfactant global sales volume growth Source2%
North American Polymer sales volume growth Sourcedouble digits

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management described significant market uncertainties and challenges, and said it is pursuing growth, productivity and cash actions in response. Source
  • Operational: Management referred to ongoing supply chain disruptions as a condition under which the growth was achieved. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said Project Catalyst is being executed safely and in line with expectations. Source
  • On track: Management said the full-year restructuring charge range is in line with its prior communications. Source
  • Not stated: Management said earlier workforce actions used normal attrition, a pause in external hiring and an emphasis on internal talent. 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.