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Steris plc: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 raised, 1 lowered, 1 new, 8 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 9%, organic 8%: Revenue from continuing operations was $1,496.2 million against $1,370.6 million; constant currency organic growth was 8%. Source
  • Diluted EPS rose on both bases: Reported diluted EPS from continuing operations was $1.96 against $1.75; adjusted diluted EPS was $2.53 against $2.32. Source
  • AST revenue rose 11%: AST revenue was $286.6 million against $258.1 million; segment operating income was $129.2 million against $115.8 million, on higher price and volume. Source
  • Free cash flow rose on earnings: Nine-month free cash flow was $737.6 million against $588.1 million, which management attributed to earnings growth and lower capital spending. Source
  • Most fiscal 2026 guidance held: Reported revenue growth, constant currency growth, adjusted EPS, capital expenditure and free cash flow expectations were all kept at prior levels. Source
  • Tariff estimate raised to $55 million: Estimated tariff reduction to pre-tax profit rose to about $55 million from about $45 million. Source
  • Unadjusted EPS range lowered: Net income from continuing operations per diluted share is now $7.97 to $8.12, previously $8.04 to $8.19. Source

““We are pleased with our performance in the third quarter,” said Dan Carestio, President and CEO of STERIS.”

Dan Carestio, President and CEO of STERIS

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue growth, as reported, continuing operations Sourcefiscal 20268-9%Kept
Constant currency organic revenue growth, continuing operations Sourcefiscal 20267-8%Kept
Adjusted diluted EPS, continuing operations Sourcefiscal 2026$10.15 to $10.30Kept
Diluted EPS, net income from continuing operations (reconciliation table) Sourcefiscal 2026$7.97 - $8.12Lowered from $8.04 - $8.19
Tariff impact on pre-tax profit Sourcefiscal 2026approximately $55 millionRaised from approximately $45 million
Effective tax rate Sourcefiscal 2026approximately 24%Kept
Capital expenditures Sourcefiscal 2026approximately $375 millionKept
Free cash flow Sourcefiscal 2026approximately $850 millionKept
Cash flows from operating activities (reconciliation table) Sourcefiscal 2026$1,225.0 millionKept
Amortization of acquired intangible assets per diluted share (reconciling item) Sourcefiscal 20262.08Raised from 2.07
Acquisition, integration and divestiture related charges per diluted share (reconciling item) Sourcefiscal 20260.04Raised from 0.01
Restructuring (reconciling item) Sourcefiscal 20260.03Kept
Other unusual items (reconciling item) Sourcefiscal 20260.03New

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: Fiscal 2026 expectations for reported revenue growth, constant currency growth, adjusted EPS, capital expenditures and free cash flow were maintained. Source
  • Guidance raised: Estimated tariff reduction to pre-tax profit increased to about $55 million from about $45 million. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Diluted EPS from continuing operations, before adjustments, is now $7.97 to $8.12, previously $8.04 to $8.19. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 9%, organic 8%: Revenue from continuing operations was $1,496.2 million against $1,370.6 million; constant currency organic growth was 8%. Source
  • Diluted EPS rose on both bases: Reported diluted EPS from continuing operations was $1.96 against $1.75; adjusted diluted EPS was $2.53 against $2.32. Source
  • Operating income rose to $343.1 million: Income from operations before adjustments was $343.1 million against $320.0 million; reported income from operations was $273.2 million against $245.3 million. Source

Segment results

  • Healthcare revenue grew 9%: Healthcare revenue was $1,063.8 million against $976.0 million, with constant currency organic growth of 8%. Source
  • Healthcare operating income rose: Healthcare operating income was $258.1 million against $246.9 million, mainly from volume, price, productivity and prior restructuring benefits. Source
  • AST revenue rose 11%: AST revenue was $286.6 million against $258.1 million; segment operating income was $129.2 million against $115.8 million, on higher price and volume. Source
  • Life Sciences revenue rose 7%: Life Sciences revenue was $145.8 million against $136.4 million, with constant currency organic growth of 5%; operating income was $61.8 million against $58.1 million. Source
  • Corporate operating loss rose: Corporate operating loss was $106.0 million against $100.8 million. Source

“Our performance continues to benefit from strong execution by our commercial teams and our diversified portfolio.”

Dan Carestio, President and CEO of STERIS

Products and customers

  • Recurring revenue reached $1.18 billion: Total recurring revenue was $1,180.6 million against $1,079.7 million: consumables $463.3 million and service $717.3 million. Capital equipment was $315.6 million against $290.9 million. Source
  • Healthcare service and consumables grew: Within Healthcare, service revenue rose 11%, consumable revenue 8% and capital equipment revenue 7%. Source
  • AST capital equipment revenue rose 103%: AST service revenue rose 9%; AST capital equipment revenue was $10.2 million against $5.0 million. Source
  • Life Sciences consumables rose 11%: Life Sciences consumable revenue rose 11% and capital equipment revenue 7%, while service revenue was flat. Source
  • United States share at 73%: United States revenue was $1,087.1 million, 73% of total, against $1,002.6 million; international revenue was $382.3 million, 26% of total. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • AST faced labor, energy and mix costs: At AST, price and volume gains were partly offset by continued labor and energy cost headwinds and unfavorable mix. Source
  • Life Sciences absorbed inflation and tariffs: Life Sciences gains from volume and price were partly offset by inflation and tariff costs. Source
  • Gross profit increased: Gross profit was $655.5 million against $610.3 million; cost of revenues was $840.7 million against $760.2 million. Source
  • Restructuring expense declined: Restructuring expenses were $0.4 million against $2.2 million a year earlier. Source
  • Effective tax rate rose as reported: As-reported effective tax rate on continuing operations was 24.6% against 24.2%; the adjusted rate was 24.2% against 24.5%. Source

“High single digit revenue growth combined with cost discipline is allowing us to deliver meaningful earnings per share growth despite increased tariff headwinds.”

Dan Carestio, President and CEO of STERIS

Adjusted and reported earnings

  • Acquired-intangible amortization excluded: Amortization of acquired intangible assets was $65.4 million this quarter against $67.2 million a year earlier, and is excluded from adjusted results. Source
  • Adjustments worth $0.57 per share: Net after-tax adjustments were $56.6 million, or $0.57 per diluted share, the same as a year earlier. Source

Cash flow, capital and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow reached $1.0 billion: Net cash from operations for the first nine months was $1,006.0 million against $887.3 million. Source
  • Free cash flow rose on earnings: Nine-month free cash flow was $737.6 million against $588.1 million, which management attributed to earnings growth and lower capital spending. Source
  • Capital spending eased: Nine-month purchases of property, plant, equipment and intangibles were $278.8 million against $299.2 million. Source
  • Buybacks fell, dividends paid rose: Share repurchases were $161.2 million against $211.1 million; dividends paid were $180.0 million against $163.9 million. Quarterly dividend declared was $0.63 per share against $0.57. Source
  • Senior notes repaid, cash higher: Cash and cash equivalents were $423.7 million against $171.7 million at March 31, 2025, after $125.0 million of private placement notes were repaid. Source

Fiscal 2026 guidance

  • Most fiscal 2026 guidance held: Reported revenue growth, constant currency growth, adjusted EPS, capital expenditure and free cash flow expectations were all kept at prior levels. Source
  • Tariff estimate raised to $55 million: Estimated tariff reduction to pre-tax profit rose to about $55 million from about $45 million. Source
  • Unadjusted EPS range lowered: Net income from continuing operations per diluted share is now $7.97 to $8.12, previously $8.04 to $8.19. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Healthcare backlog Source$429.0 million, against $434.9 million a year earlier
Life Sciences backlog Source$113.4 million, against $85.1 million a year earlier
Total backlog, continuing operations Source$542.3 million, against $520.0 million a year earlier

Risks management discussed

  • External: Tariffs are a cost headwind; management quantified the pre-tax effect within its fiscal 2026 expectations. Source
  • Operational: Labor and energy cost headwinds and unfavorable product mix are weighing on AST operating income. Source
  • Operational: Inflation and tariff costs are offsetting part of the volume and price gains in Life Sciences. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management kept most fiscal 2026 expectations at the levels set in the prior release, while lowering the unadjusted EPS range. 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.