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Sotera Health Co.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 raised, 2 lowered, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Second-quarter revenue rose 9.2%: Net revenues rose to $321.4 million, up 9.2% (8.0% constant currency), against the second quarter of 2025. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 10.0%: Adjusted EBITDA was $165.7 million, up 10.0% (8.7% constant currency), against $150.7 million a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EPS reached $0.26: Adjusted EPS was $0.26 per diluted share, up 30%. First-half Adjusted EPS was $0.44 per diluted share, against $0.33. Source
  • Full-year guidance raised on both lines: Management raised full-year net revenues and Adjusted EBITDA guidance at both ends of the ranges, detailed in the guidance section. Source
  • Nordion revenue rose 15.8%: Nordion net revenues rose to $49 million, with segment income up 19.2% to $28 million. First-half net revenues rose 21.6% to $91 million. Source
  • Net leverage ratio fell to 3.0x: Net leverage was 3.0x at June 30, 2026, down from 3.2x at year end. Available liquidity was about $950 million, with the $600 million revolver undrawn. Source

“These results further underscore the essential nature of Sotera Health’s offerings to healthcare.”

Chief Executive Officer Alton Shader

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net revenues SourceFull-year 2026$1.236 billion to $1.254 billion, 5.25% to 6.75% constant currency growthRaised from $1.233 billion to $1.251 billion, 5.0% to 6.5% constant currency growth
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFull-year 2026$634 million to $643 million, 5.75% to 7.25% constant currency growthRaised from $632 million to $641 million, 5.5% to 7.0% constant currency growth
Interest expense, net SourceFull-year 2026$135 million to $142 millionLowered from $135 million to $145 million
Tax rate applicable to Adjusted Net Income SourceFull-year 202627.0% to 28.0%Lowered from 27.0% to 29.0%
Adjusted EPS SourceFull-year 2026$0.95 to $1.01Raised from $0.93 to $1.01
Weighted-average fully diluted share count SourceFull-year 2026289 million to 291 million sharesKept
Capital expenditures SourceFull-year 2026$200 million to $225 millionRaised from $175 million to $225 million

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Net revenues range raised at both ends, to $1.236 billion to $1.254 billion, from $1.233 billion to $1.251 billion. Source
  • Guidance raised: Adjusted EBITDA range raised at both ends, to $634 million to $643 million, from $632 million to $641 million. Source
  • Guidance raised: Adjusted EPS range raised at the low end, to $0.95 to $1.01, from $0.93 to $1.01. Source
  • Guidance raised: Capital expenditure range raised at the low end, to $200 million to $225 million, from $175 million to $225 million. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Interest expense range top end lowered to $142 million, from $145 million; bottom end kept at $135 million. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Tax rate range top end lowered to 28.0%, from 29.0%; bottom end kept at 27.0%. Source
  • New: Alton Shader is named Chief Executive Officer in this release, following the planned CEO transition announced with the first-quarter results. Source
  • New: Term loan was repriced, saving approximately $3.5 million of annual interest expense. Source
  • Ended: Final private equity sponsor secondary offering was completed, leaving no remaining sponsor ownership. Source

Second-quarter results and guidance

  • Second-quarter revenue rose 9.2%: Net revenues rose to $321.4 million, up 9.2% (8.0% constant currency), against the second quarter of 2025. Source
  • Net income rose to $54 million: Net income was $53.6 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, against $8.0 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 10.0%: Adjusted EBITDA was $165.7 million, up 10.0% (8.7% constant currency), against $150.7 million a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EPS reached $0.26: Adjusted EPS was $0.26 per diluted share, up 30%. First-half Adjusted EPS was $0.44 per diluted share, against $0.33. Source
  • Full-year guidance raised on both lines: Management raised full-year net revenues and Adjusted EBITDA guidance at both ends of the ranges, detailed in the guidance section. Source

Segment results

  • Sterigenics revenue rose 8.6%: Sterigenics net revenues rose to $212 million, and segment income rose 9.6% to $118 million. First-half segment income was $215 million, up 9.6%. Source
  • Sterigenics growth from price and volume: Management attributed Sterigenics growth to pricing, volume/mix and currency. Source
  • Nordion revenue rose 15.8%: Nordion net revenues rose to $49 million, with segment income up 19.2% to $28 million. First-half net revenues rose 21.6% to $91 million. Source
  • Nordion volume tied to Cobalt-60 timing: Volume/mix rose mainly on the timing of Cobalt-60 harvests, with favorable pricing; currency partly offset growth. Source
  • Nelson Labs revenue rose 6.3%: Nelson Labs net revenues rose to $61 million, and segment income rose 0.6% to $20 million. First-half segment income fell 4.9% to $34 million. Source

“Since joining the Company, I have been impressed by the dedication of our teams, the trust our customers place in us”

Chief Executive Officer Alton Shader

Margins and cost pressures

  • Adjusted EBITDA margin reached 51.6%: Adjusted EBITDA margin was 51.6% in the second quarter, against 51.2% a year earlier. First-half margin was 49.9%, against 49.7%. Source
  • Nordion and Sterigenics margins improved: Nordion segment income margin rose 160 basis points; Sterigenics segment income margin rose 53 basis points. Source
  • Nelson Labs margin affected by costs: Nelson Labs segment income margin was affected by higher costs, though it rose 438 basis points sequentially from the first quarter. Source
  • Inflation partly offset segment gains: Management said segment income and margins benefited from pricing, volume and currency at Sterigenics and Nordion, partly offset by inflation. Source

Supply and cost assumptions

  • Guidance assumes EO and Cobalt-60 supply: Guidance assumes supply chain continuity, particularly for EO and Cobalt-60 supply, according to the company. Source
  • Guidance assumes inflation, energy and labor: Guidance also assumes inflationary trends, including effects on energy prices and the supply of labor. Source
  • Illinois EO settlements absent this quarter: Q2 2025 included $34.0 million of Illinois EO settlements; none appears in Q2 2026. EO facility professional fees were $13.3 million, against $14.0 million. Source

Cash, debt and capital spending

  • Operating cash flow of $88 million: Operating cash flow was $88 million in the quarter and $117.9 million in the first half, against $112.9 million a year earlier. Source
  • Net leverage ratio fell to 3.0x: Net leverage was 3.0x at June 30, 2026, down from 3.2x at year end. Available liquidity was about $950 million, with the $600 million revolver undrawn. Source
  • Total debt flat, cash higher: Total debt was $2.2 billion, and unrestricted cash rose to $357 million from $345 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Capital spending up in first half: First-half capital spending was $92.6 million, against $51.1 million a year earlier. The full-year capital expenditure range is in guidance. Source

Strategy and leadership

  • Growth through customers and investment: Management plans to deepen customer relationships, invest in people, facilities and capabilities, and execute its long-term strategy. Source
  • Alton Shader named chief executive: A planned CEO transition was announced in a separate release with the first-quarter results; this release names Alton Shader as Chief Executive Officer.
  • Strengths position for consistent growth: Management said these strengths position the company to deliver consistent and reliable growth. Source

Coming up, as management said on 6 August 2026

  • Wells Fargo conference on September 9: Management will present at the Wells Fargo 21st Annual Healthcare Conference at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on September 9, 2026. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Management's guidance assumes continuity of EO and Cobalt-60 supply, which the release names as an assumption behind the full-year ranges. Source
  • External: Management's guidance assumes inflationary trends, energy prices and labor supply, which the release cites as assumption drivers. Source
  • Regulatory: Management cited changes to the regulatory landscape as an uncertainty affecting items it cannot reconcile in guidance. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said the net leverage ratio achieved the long-term target range of 2.0x to 3.0x. 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.