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Steris plc: Q4 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 11 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 10 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Full-year revenue rose 9%: Revenue from continuing operations reached $5.9 billion, up from $5.5 billion. Constant currency organic growth was 7% for the year. Source
  • Full-year adjusted EPS reached $10.17: Adjusted EPS was $10.17 for fiscal 2026, up from $9.22. Reported diluted EPS from continuing operations was $7.93, up from $6.16. Source
  • Healthcare profit offset by tariffs, inflation: Healthcare operating income was $283.2 million, against $279.7 million. Management said volume and price gains were significantly offset by tariffs and inflation. Source
  • AST capital equipment fell 62%: AST revenue rose 6% to $289.2 million. Service revenue grew 10%, while capital equipment revenue declined 62%. Constant currency organic growth was 2%. Source
  • Backlog ended year at $490.7 million: Total backlog for continuing operations was $490.7 million at March 31, 2026, down from $542.3 million at December 31, 2025 in the prior release. Source
  • Free cash flow reached $982.9 million: Free cash flow was $982.9 million, against $787.2 million. Operating cash flow was $1.34 billion, up from $1.15 billion. Source
  • Fiscal 2027 adjusted EPS guided higher: Adjusted EPS of $11.10 to $11.30 is anticipated for fiscal 2027, an increase of 9-11% from $10.17 in fiscal 2026. Source

“"Fiscal 2026 was another record year," said Dan Carestio, President and CEO of STERIS.”

Dan Carestio, President and CEO of STERIS

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue, as reported Sourcefiscal 20277-8%New
Revenue, constant currency organic growth Sourcefiscal 20276-7%New
Adjusted EPS per diluted share Sourcefiscal 2027$11.10 to $11.30New
Diluted EPS from continuing operations, as reported Sourcefiscal 2027$9.00 - $9.20New
Effective tax rate Sourcefiscal 2027approximately 25%New
Capital expenditures Sourcefiscal 2027approximately $375 millionNew
Free cash flow Sourcefiscal 2027approximately $850 millionNew
Cash flows from operating activities Sourcefiscal 2027$1,225.0 millionNew
Mentor, Ohio plant investment Sourceover two yearsapproximately $60 millionNew
Share repurchases Sourcenot statedup to $1 billionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Fiscal 2027 guidance is given in this release. The prior release maintained fiscal 2026 guidance. Source
  • Ended: The new $1 billion buyback authorization replaces the prior share repurchase authorization. Source
  • New: A strategic investment in a new sterility assurance plant in Mentor, Ohio is included in capital expenditures. It will consolidate existing U.S. production. Source

Full-year and fourth-quarter results

  • Full-year revenue rose 9%: Revenue from continuing operations reached $5.9 billion, up from $5.5 billion. Constant currency organic growth was 7% for the year. Source
  • Fourth-quarter revenue rose 7%: Fourth-quarter revenue from continuing operations was $1.6 billion, up 7%. Constant currency organic revenue grew 5% in the quarter. Source
  • Reported quarterly EPS rose to $2.24: Reported diluted EPS from continuing operations was $2.24 against $1.48. Adjusted EPS was $2.83 against $2.74 in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Full-year adjusted EPS reached $10.17: Adjusted EPS was $10.17 for fiscal 2026, up from $9.22. Reported diluted EPS from continuing operations was $7.93, up from $6.16. Source
  • Operating income rose in the quarter: Income from operations was $316.8 million in the quarter, against $216.1 million. For the year it was $1,101.8 million, against $866.6 million. Source

Segment performance

  • Healthcare revenue rose 7%: Healthcare revenue reached $1.14 billion. Service grew 9%, consumables 7% and capital equipment 6%. Constant currency organic growth was 6%. Source
  • Healthcare profit offset by tariffs, inflation: Healthcare operating income was $283.2 million, against $279.7 million. Management said volume and price gains were significantly offset by tariffs and inflation. Source
  • AST capital equipment fell 62%: AST revenue rose 6% to $289.2 million. Service revenue grew 10%, while capital equipment revenue declined 62%. Constant currency organic growth was 2%. Source
  • AST profit rose on price: AST operating income was $131.1 million, against $122.2 million. Improved price was partly offset by negative volume from lower capital equipment sales. Source
  • Life Sciences revenue rose 9%: Life Sciences revenue was $162.9 million. Capital equipment grew 19%, service 8% and consumables 5%. Constant currency organic growth was 6%. Source
  • Life Sciences profit rose to $70.6 million: Operating income reached $70.6 million, against $65.0 million. Management cited price and volume, somewhat offset by inflation and tariffs. Source

“As we look ahead, we are excited for what is to come as we capitalize on our unique ability to help our Customers enable procedural growth, deliver quality outcomes and drive compliance with standardization and optimization.”

Dan Carestio, President and CEO of STERIS

Revenue mix and order book

  • Recurring revenue rose in quarter: Recurring revenue was $1,201.3 million, up from $1,109.5 million. Capital equipment revenue was $387.1 million, up from $371.1 million. Source
  • Service revenue grew faster than consumables: Service revenue was $743.1 million, up from $679.5 million. Consumables were $458.2 million, up from $430.0 million in the quarter. Source
  • Backlog ended year at $490.7 million: Total backlog for continuing operations was $490.7 million at March 31, 2026, down from $542.3 million at December 31, 2025 in the prior release. Source
  • United States was 72% of revenue: United States revenue was $1,145.8 million, or 72% of the quarter. International revenue was $410.7 million, or 26%. Source

Costs, margins and tax rate

  • Gross profit rose to $697.1 million: Gross profit was $697.1 million, against $641.2 million, on revenue of $1,588.4 million. Cost of revenues was $891.3 million. Source
  • SG&A and R&D increased year over year: Selling, general and administrative expense was $351.8 million, against $333.9 million. Research and development was $28.8 million, against $27.7 million. Source
  • Prior-year quarter had $48.2 million settlement: The prior-year fourth quarter included a $48.2 million Illinois EO litigation settlement. No settlement was recorded in the current quarter. Source
  • Restructuring turned to a credit: Restructuring was a $0.3 million credit in the quarter, against a $15.3 million expense a year earlier. The full-year expense was $4.1 million, against $46.0 million. Source
  • Tax rate rose to 27.6%: The as reported effective tax rate was 27.6% for the quarter, against 25.6%. For the year it was 25.0%, against 23.2%. Source

Cash flow, capital and shareholder returns

  • Free cash flow reached $982.9 million: Free cash flow was $982.9 million, against $787.2 million. Operating cash flow was $1.34 billion, up from $1.15 billion. Source
  • Higher net income drove cash flow: Management said higher net income more than offset a significantly lower working capital contribution in fiscal 2026 compared with fiscal 2025. Source
  • Capital spending held near $369 million: Purchases of property, plant, equipment and intangibles were $369.0 million, against $370.1 million. Asset sale proceeds were $10.5 million, against $9.2 million. Source
  • Buybacks and dividends both increased: Share repurchases were $235.5 million, against $211.3 million. Dividends paid were $241.8 million, against $219.9 million. Dividends declared were $2.46 per share, against $2.23. Source
  • Cash rose after senior notes repaid: Cash ended the year at $439.6 million, against $171.7 million, after $125.0 million of Private Placement Senior Notes were repaid. Long-term indebtedness was $1,812.8 million. Source
  • Prior year included divestiture proceeds: Proceeds from the sale of businesses were $814.6 million in the prior fiscal year and none this year. Acquisitions of businesses used $20.1 million, against $54.1 million. Source

Strategy, people and fiscal 2027 guidance

  • Fiscal 2027 adjusted EPS guided higher: Adjusted EPS of $11.10 to $11.30 is anticipated for fiscal 2027, an increase of 9-11% from $10.17 in fiscal 2026. Source
  • Customer diversity cited as driver: Management attributed performance to a diversified Customer base and growth in procedure volumes. Source
  • Associates credited for Customer focus: Management thanked its global Associates for their efforts in putting Customers first. Source

Coming up, as management said on 11 May 2026

  • Mentor plant operational by late 2027: The Mentor, Ohio sterility assurance plant is anticipated to be operational by late calendar 2027. Source
  • Repurchases under new program: Share repurchases may be made in open market transactions, including under 10b5-1 plans, under the new program. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Healthcare backlog Source$392.1 million
Life Sciences backlog Source$98.7 million

Risks management discussed

  • External: Healthcare operating income gains were significantly offset by tariffs and inflation. Life Sciences gains were also somewhat offset by inflation and tariffs. Source
  • Demand: AST capital equipment revenue fell 62% in the quarter. The company linked this to negative volume that partly offset price gains in AST operating income. 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.