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Sotera Health Co.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 7 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 10.0% to $280.0M: Net revenues were $280.0 million, against $254.5 million a year earlier. Constant currency growth was 6.5%; foreign currency accounted for the remainder. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 10.5%: Adjusted EBITDA was $134.7 million, up from $121.8 million, with margin at 48.1% against 47.9%. Constant currency growth was 6.9%. Source
  • Nordion revenue rose 29.0%: Nordion net revenues were $42.0 million, up 29.0%, or 25.8% on a constant currency basis. Segment income rose 36.1% to $23.7 million, reflecting cobalt-60 harvest timing. Source
  • Nelson Labs revenue slipped 0.7%: Nelson Labs net revenues were $51.9 million, down 0.7%, or 3.8% on a constant currency basis. Segment income fell 11.5% to $14.5 million on unfavorable volume/mix. Source
  • Nordion margin up over 290 basis points: Nordion's segment margin improved by more than 290 basis points. Its segment income growth came from volume/mix, foreign currency and pricing, partly offset by inflation. Source
  • Operating cash flow included $34M settlement: Operating cash flow was $29.4 million, against $55.5 million a year earlier. The company said the figure includes a previously disclosed $34 million legal settlement. Source
  • Net leverage 3.2x, liquidity over $900M: Cash and cash equivalents were $315.9 million, down from $346.5 million at December 31, 2025. Net leverage was 3.2x and available liquidity exceeded $900 million. Source

“We delivered a strong start to the year, with solid revenue and Adjusted EBITDA growth while driving margin expansion”

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Michael B. Petras, Jr.

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net revenues SourceFull year 2026$1.233 billion to $1.251 billion, 5.0% to 6.5% constant currency growth, est. 100bps FX benefitKept
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFull year 2026$632 million to $641 million, 5.5% to 7.0% constant currency growth, est. 100bps FX benefitKept
Interest expense SourceFull year 2026$135 million to $145 millionKept
Tax rate applicable to Adjusted Net Income SourceFull year 202627.0% to 29.0%Kept
Adjusted EPS SourceFull year 2026$0.93 to $1.01Kept
Weighted-average fully diluted share count SourceFull year 2026289 million to 291 million sharesKept
Capital expenditures SourceFull year 2026$175 million to $225 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: The 2026 ranges were reaffirmed without change, first given on February 24, 2026. Source
  • New: Ken Krause joined the Board of Directors in March 2026. Source
  • New: A planned CEO transition was announced in a separate release on the same day; these documents give no further detail. Source
  • New: Public float rose to about 90% of outstanding shares, from 80% reported in the February 24, 2026 release. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 10.0% to $280.0M: Net revenues were $280.0 million, against $254.5 million a year earlier. Constant currency growth was 6.5%; foreign currency accounted for the remainder. Source
  • Net income turned positive: Net income was $26.6 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, compared with a net loss of $13.3 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 10.5%: Adjusted EBITDA was $134.7 million, up from $121.8 million, with margin at 48.1% against 47.9%. Constant currency growth was 6.9%. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose 29% to $0.18: Adjusted EPS was $0.18 per diluted share, up from $0.14, an increase of 29%. Adjusted EPS is a non-GAAP measure defined in the release. Source

Segments and regions

  • Sterigenics revenue rose 9.7%: Sterigenics net revenues were $186.1 million, up 9.7%, or 6.1% on a constant currency basis. Segment income was $96.4 million, up 9.6%, on pricing, foreign currency and volume/mix. Source
  • Nordion revenue rose 29.0%: Nordion net revenues were $42.0 million, up 29.0%, or 25.8% on a constant currency basis. Segment income rose 36.1% to $23.7 million, reflecting cobalt-60 harvest timing. Source
  • Nelson Labs revenue slipped 0.7%: Nelson Labs net revenues were $51.9 million, down 0.7%, or 3.8% on a constant currency basis. Segment income fell 11.5% to $14.5 million on unfavorable volume/mix. Source

“Based on our first-quarter performance, we are reaffirming our 2026 outlook and remain confident in our trajectory for the remainder of the year.”

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Michael B. Petras, Jr.

Costs and margins

  • Nordion margin up over 290 basis points: Nordion's segment margin improved by more than 290 basis points. Its segment income growth came from volume/mix, foreign currency and pricing, partly offset by inflation. Source
  • Sterigenics segment costs rose: Sterigenics segment income growth was driven by pricing, volume/mix and foreign currency, partly offset by higher costs. Source
  • Share-based compensation nearly doubled: Share-based compensation expense was $14.4 million, up from $7.3 million in the first quarter of 2025. Source

Cash, debt and shareholders

  • Operating cash flow included $34M settlement: Operating cash flow was $29.4 million, against $55.5 million a year earlier. The company said the figure includes a previously disclosed $34 million legal settlement. Source
  • Capital spending rose to $46.2M: Purchases of property, plant and equipment were $46.2 million, against $19.9 million; purchases included in accounts payable were $20.7 million. Source
  • Net leverage 3.2x, liquidity over $900M: Cash and cash equivalents were $315.9 million, down from $346.5 million at December 31, 2025. Net leverage was 3.2x and available liquidity exceeded $900 million. Source
  • Interest expense declined: Interest expense, net was $34.7 million, against $40.9 million a year earlier. Source
  • Shares withheld for taxes rose: Shares withheld for employee taxes on equity awards were $8.8 million, up from $3.6 million. Source

Legal and EO matters

  • EO professional fees declined: Professional services relating to EO sterilization facilities were $9.9 million, against $12.3 million. The line covers litigation and other professional fees. Source
  • No Illinois settlement charge this quarter: The first quarter of 2025 carried a $30.9 million Illinois EO litigation settlement charge; the first quarter of 2026 shows none. Source
  • Prior settlement covered 97 claims: The 2025 charge covered 97 pending and threatened EO claims against Sterigenics in Illinois, under an April 3, 2025 term sheet. Source

Board and leadership

  • Two independent directors added: Two independent directors were added to the Board of Directors. Source
  • Rich Kyle joined in February: Rich Kyle was added to the Board of Directors in February. Source
  • Krause brings public CFO experience: Petras cited Ken Krause's experience as a public company chief financial officer, along with his strategy, finance and governance background. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 May 2026

  • RBC conference on May 19: The company lists an investor event at the RBC Capital Markets Global Healthcare Conference at 3:05 p.m. EDT on May 19, 2026. Source
  • Annual meeting on May 21: The company lists its 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders at 9:00 a.m. EDT on May 21, 2026. Source
  • Jefferies conference on June 3: The company lists an investor event at the 2026 Jefferies Global Healthcare Conference at 2:35 p.m. EDT on June 3, 2026. Source
  • Goldman Sachs conference on June 8: The company lists an investor event at the Goldman Sachs 47th Annual Global Healthcare Conference at 11:20 a.m. EDT on June 8, 2026. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: The company's 2026 ranges assume continuity of ethylene oxide and Cobalt-60 supply. Source
  • External: The 2026 ranges assume inflation's effects on energy prices and labor supply. Source
  • Demand: Nordion's revenue growth in the quarter depended partly on the timing of cobalt-60 harvest schedules. Source
  • Regulatory: Management cited regulatory change, restructuring items and fair value measurements as sources of uncertainty for forward non-GAAP figures. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said Nelson Labs came in as it had outlined on the fourth-quarter 2025 earnings call. 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.