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Steris plc: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 November 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 6 raised, 1 lowered, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 10% to $1.5 billion: Revenue from continuing operations was $1,460.3 million against $1,328.9 million a year earlier. Constant currency organic growth was 9%. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose to $2.47: Adjusted net income was $244.5 million, or $2.47 per diluted share, against $212.2 million, or $2.14 per diluted share a year earlier. Source
  • Life Sciences capital equipment up 39%: Life Sciences revenue was $145.0 million, up 13%, with capital equipment up 39%, service up 9% and consumables up 7%. Constant currency organic growth was 12%. Source
  • Volume, price and restructuring lifted Healthcare: Management attributed higher Healthcare operating income of $259.5 million to volume, price, productivity and prior restructuring, partly offset by tariff costs and inflation. Source
  • Total backlog reached $541.3 million: Total backlog for continuing operations was $541.3 million against $480.9 million a year earlier. The prior release gave $514.5 million at June 30, 2025. Source
  • Constant currency growth range raised: Constant currency organic revenue growth from continuing operations is now 7-8%, up from 6-7%. Source
  • Adjusted EPS range raised: Adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations is now $10.15 to $10.30, up from $9.90 to $10.15. Source
  • Free cash flow estimate raised to $850 million: Free cash flow is now expected at about $850 million, up from $820 million. Source

“We are pleased with our performance in the second quarter,”

Dan Carestio, President and CEO of STERIS

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue, as reported (continuing operations) Sourcefiscal 20268-9%Kept
Constant currency organic revenue growth (continuing operations) Sourcefiscal 20267-8%Raised from 6-7%
Foreign currency impact on revenue Sourcefiscal 2026100 basis pointsLowered from 200 basis points
Adjusted EPS from continuing operations (diluted) Sourcefiscal 2026$10.15 to $10.30Raised from $9.90 to $10.15
Net income per diluted share from continuing operations (GAAP) Sourcetwelve months ending March 31, 2026$8.04 - $8.19Raised from $7.79 - $8.04
Effective tax rate Sourcefiscal 2026approximately 24%Raised from approximately 23.5%
Capital expenditures Sourcefiscal 2026approximately $375 millionKept
Free cash flow Sourcefiscal 2026approximately $850 millionRaised from $820 million
Cash flows from operating activities Sourcetwelve months ending March 31, 2026$1,225.0 millionRaised from $1,195.0 million

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Constant currency organic revenue growth range raised from 6-7% to 7-8%. Source
  • Guidance raised: Adjusted diluted EPS range from continuing operations raised from $9.90-$10.15 to $10.15-$10.30. Source
  • Guidance raised: Free cash flow estimate raised from about $820 million to about $850 million. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Foreign currency benefit to revenue reduced from 200 basis points to 100 basis points. Source
  • Guidance raised: Assumed effective tax rate raised from about 23.5% to about 24%. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 10% to $1.5 billion: Revenue from continuing operations was $1,460.3 million against $1,328.9 million a year earlier. Constant currency organic growth was 9%. Source
  • Reported EPS rose to $1.94: Net income from continuing operations was $191.9 million, or $1.94 per diluted share, against $150.2 million, or $1.51 per diluted share. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose to $2.47: Adjusted net income was $244.5 million, or $2.47 per diluted share, against $212.2 million, or $2.14 per diluted share a year earlier. Source

Segments and regions

  • Healthcare revenue rose 9%: Healthcare revenue was $1,033.8 million against $944.2 million, with constant currency organic growth of 9%. Source
  • AST revenue rose 10%: AST revenue was $281.5 million against $256.7 million, with service revenue up 13%. Constant currency organic growth was 7%. Source
  • AST operating income rose on price: AST segment operating income was $127.6 million against $109.9 million. Management attributed the increase to price, volume and mix. Source
  • Life Sciences capital equipment up 39%: Life Sciences revenue was $145.0 million, up 13%, with capital equipment up 39%, service up 9% and consumables up 7%. Constant currency organic growth was 12%. Source
  • Life Sciences operating income rose: Life Sciences operating income was $59.9 million against $53.7 million. Management said volume and price more than offset tariff costs and inflation. Source
  • United States share of revenue 74%: United States revenue was $1,075.2 million, or 74% of total, against $979.5 million. International revenue was $357.8 million against $326.6 million. Source

“Our performance exceeded expectations and margins improved nicely, despite several headwinds. As a result, we are increasing our outlook for fiscal 2026.”

Dan Carestio, President and CEO of STERIS

Products and customers

  • Recurring revenue reached $1.17 billion: Total recurring revenue was $1,166.8 million against $1,047.4 million, made up of consumables and service revenue. Source
  • Capital equipment revenue rose to $293.5 million: Capital equipment revenue was $293.5 million against $281.5 million in the quarter, and $549.0 million year to date against $523.8 million. Source
  • Healthcare consumables and service grew: Healthcare consumables were $374.2 million against $341.7 million, and Healthcare service revenue was $400.1 million against $352.8 million. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Operating income rose to $265.8 million: Gross profit was $645.9 million against $578.8 million, and income from operations was $265.8 million against $219.7 million. Source
  • Volume, price and restructuring lifted Healthcare: Management attributed higher Healthcare operating income of $259.5 million to volume, price, productivity and prior restructuring, partly offset by tariff costs and inflation. Source
  • Selling and administrative costs rose: Selling, general and administrative expense was $349.7 million against $329.3 million. Research and development was $28.2 million against $27.0 million. Source
  • Reported tax rate rose to 23.9%: The as reported tax rate for continuing operations was 23.9% against 22.3%. The adjusted rate was 24.5% against 22.7%. Source

Demand and the order book

  • Total backlog reached $541.3 million: Total backlog for continuing operations was $541.3 million against $480.9 million a year earlier. The prior release gave $514.5 million at June 30, 2025. Source
  • AST capital equipment sales fell 76%: AST service revenue rose 13%, while AST capital equipment revenue fell 76%, to $2.1 million from $8.8 million. Source

Cash, debt and shareholder returns

  • First-half free cash flow rose to $527.7 million: Net cash from operations for the first half was $707.8 million against $554.4 million; the cash flow statement shows $554.5 million for the prior year. Management cited earnings growth and working capital. Source
  • Share repurchases and dividends paid: First-half repurchases of ordinary shares were $111.1 million, against $110.6 million, and dividends paid were $118.1 million, against $107.7 million. Source
  • Quarterly dividend rose to $0.63: Cash dividends declared per share were $0.63 in the quarter against $0.57, and $1.20 for the first half against $1.09. Source
  • Cash rose to $319.2 million: Cash and cash equivalents were $319.2 million at September 30, 2025, against $171.7 million at March 31, 2025. Diluted shares were 98.8 million against 99.2 million. Source

Fiscal 2026 guidance

  • Constant currency growth range raised: Constant currency organic revenue growth from continuing operations is now 7-8%, up from 6-7%. Source
  • Adjusted EPS range raised: Adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations is now $10.15 to $10.30, up from $9.90 to $10.15. Source
  • Free cash flow estimate raised to $850 million: Free cash flow is now expected at about $850 million, up from $820 million. Source
  • Reported revenue and tariff estimates held: Reported revenue growth stays at 8-9%, and the tariff impact stays at about $45 million of pre-tax profit. The currency benefit was cut to 100 basis points. Source
  • Tax rate and capital spending plan: The effective tax rate is assumed at about 24%, up 50 basis points. Capital expenditures are about $375 million, unchanged. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total backlog, continuing operations Source$541.3 million (prior year $480.9 million)
Healthcare backlog Source$427.5 million (prior year $405.3 million)
Life Sciences backlog Source$113.7 million (prior year $75.6 million)

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Tariffs are estimated to reduce fiscal 2026 pre-tax profit by about $45 million, and tariff costs offset part of segment operating income gains. Source
  • External: Management cited inflation and tariff costs as offsets to operating income gains in Life Sciences. Source
  • Financial: The assumed effective tax rate for fiscal 2026 rose by 50 basis points to about 24%, increasing the expected tax charge. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said second-quarter performance exceeded its expectations. Source
  • Not stated: Capital expenditures of about $375 million are unchanged from the prior expectation. 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.