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Latham Group, Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 raised, 1 lowered, 1 narrowed, 1 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Sales rose 14.4% in the quarter: Net sales reached $197.5 million, up 14.4%, with organic growth of 10.3%, the Freedom Pools acquisition, and the full-year effect of the 2025 price increase contributing. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA up 11.9%: Adjusted EBITDA reached $44.6 million, with margin at 22.6%, down 50 basis points on lower gross margin and timing of Sand States sales and marketing campaigns. Source
  • In-ground pool sales led growth: In-ground pool sales rose, led by fiberglass pools, with organic growth stated separately in the release. Source
  • Sand States sales grew double digits: Management described the Sand States as a key growth market for Latham, where second-quarter sales increased at a double-digit rate. Source
  • Gross margin down 160 basis points: Gross margin was 35.5%, 160 basis points below a year earlier, including ramp-up costs of about $2.8 million, or 140 basis points. Source
  • Demand surge added ramp-up costs: Fiberglass demand ran ahead of the typical seasonal ramp-up, adding about $2.8 million of incremental costs in the quarter, with most expected to be recovered in the second half. Source

“Second quarter sales growth was driven by execution of our strategic priorities and supports our expectations of continued share gains across our product lines.”

Sean Gadd, President and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales SourceFY 2026$600-620 millionRaised from $580-610 million
Net sales growth (midpoint) SourceFY 202611.7%Raised from 9.0%
Organic net sales growth (midpoint) SourceFY 20268.4%New
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFY 2026$110-120 millionNarrowed, low end up from $105-120 million
Adjusted EBITDA growth (midpoint) SourceFY 202615.2%Raised from 12.7%
Capital expenditures SourceFY 2026$40-45 millionLowered from $42-48 million
U.S. pool market (industry expectation) SourceFY 2026flat versus the prior yearKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year net sales growth and adjusted EBITDA growth midpoints raised from 9.0% and 12.7% to 11.7% and 15.2%. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year net sales range raised to $600-620 million and the adjusted EBITDA low end raised to $110 million. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Capital expenditures range lowered to $40-45 million from $42-48 million. Source
  • New: Program to optimize certain operational and administrative functions completed, with resources redeployed to sales and marketing. Source
  • New: Sand States market development framework refined from segmentation by neighborhood to segmentation by communities, with target micro-markets identified. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Sales rose 14.4% in the quarter: Net sales reached $197.5 million, up 14.4%, with organic growth of 10.3%, the Freedom Pools acquisition, and the full-year effect of the 2025 price increase contributing. Source
  • Net income declined year over year: Net income was $12.8 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, against $16.0 million, or $0.13, a year earlier. Net income margin was 6.5% against 9.3%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA up 11.9%: Adjusted EBITDA reached $44.6 million, with margin at 22.6%, down 50 basis points on lower gross margin and timing of Sand States sales and marketing campaigns. Source
  • First-half sales up 10.8%: Six-month net sales rose 10.8% to $314.8 million, with organic growth of 7.5% and Freedom Pools contributing the remainder. Six-month net income was $4.2 million. Source

Product lines

  • In-ground pool sales led growth: In-ground pool sales rose, led by fiberglass pools, with organic growth stated separately in the release. Source
  • Covers grew on autocover demand: Cover sales rose, led by autocovers, which management linked to a steady increase in attachment rates on new pool installations. Source
  • Liner sales grew year over year: Liner sales were higher than a year earlier, at $60.2 million in the quarter against $56.8 million, and $84.3 million in the first half. Source

“As a leader in each of our product categories, Latham is well-positioned to continue to significantly outperform new U.S. pool starts”

Sean Gadd, President and CEO

Sand States and regions

  • Sand States sales grew double digits: Management described the Sand States as a key growth market for Latham, where second-quarter sales increased at a double-digit rate. Source
  • Conversion timing raised marketing costs: Management said the timing of sales and marketing spending to speed fiberglass conversion in the Sand States was one reason for higher SG&A. Source
  • Field sales resources added: Sales resources were added in the field to support the sales process alongside dealers, as part of the Sand States build-out. Source

Costs, gross margin and SG&A

  • Gross margin down 160 basis points: Gross margin was 35.5%, 160 basis points below a year earlier, including ramp-up costs of about $2.8 million, or 140 basis points. Source
  • Demand surge added ramp-up costs: Fiberglass demand ran ahead of the typical seasonal ramp-up, adding about $2.8 million of incremental costs in the quarter, with most expected to be recovered in the second half. Source
  • SG&A rose 17.8%: SG&A rose 17.8% to $37.6 million, driven by growth investments and acquisition-related costs. Source
  • Earn-out expense in integration costs: Acquisition and integration costs included $2.2 million of performance-based compensatory earn-out expense tied to the 2024 Coverstar Central acquisition. Source
  • First-half gross margin flat: Six-month gross margin of 34.1% matched the prior year, with lean manufacturing and value engineering gains offset by second-quarter ramp-up costs. Source

Cash, debt and capital spending

  • Second-quarter operating cash flow: Operating cash flow was $53.5 million in the quarter. First-half operating cash flow was $5.8 million, which management tied to seasonal working capital trends. Source
  • Debt and leverage at quarter end: Cash was $43.5 million at quarter end. Total debt was $279.8 million, with net debt leverage at 2.2 times. Source
  • Quarterly capital spending lower: Capital expenditures were $5.6 million in the quarter, compared with $6.8 million in the same quarter last year. Source
  • First-half capex included four sites: First-half capital expenditures were $28.1 million, including the purchase of four key production sites, against $10.3 million a year earlier. Source
  • Freedom Pools acquisition completed: The company completed the acquisition of Freedom Pools in February 2026 for a purchase price of $17.0 million. Source

Strategy and investment

  • Commercial organization being built: Management reported progress building the commercial organization and a refined market development framework segmented by communities. Source
  • Operations program freed resources: The completed program lets the company redeploy resources from operational and administrative functions to sales and marketing initiatives aimed at accelerating growth. Source
  • Digital transformation costs continued: Six-month SG&A also included costs for the digital transformation program. Source

Market expectations and share

  • Market expected flat, share gains: Management said it is gaining share in a market it expects to be flat versus the prior year. Source
  • Share gains expected across lines: The CEO said second-quarter sales growth supports management's expectations of continued share gains across the product lines. Source
  • Guidance based on first-half and Q3: The guidance increase was based on year-to-date performance and management's current visibility into the third quarter. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 August 2026

  • Call transcript to follow: A transcript of the call will be posted on the investor relations website about three business days after the call. Source
  • Ramp-up costs expected to be recovered: Management expects most of the quarter-specific ramp-up costs to be recovered in the second half of the year. Source
  • Sand States initiatives moving ahead: Several new Sand States initiatives are moving ahead and could drive a step-change in companywide sales, management said. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Organic in-ground pool sales growth Source13.6%
Cover sales growth Source10%
Liner net sales Source$60.2 million (second quarter)

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Fiberglass demand ran ahead of the usual seasonal ramp, adding production cost in the quarter. Source
  • Financial: Unfavorable change in foreign currency transaction gains and losses at international subsidiaries reduced net income in the quarter. Source
  • Demand: Management expects the market to be flat versus the prior year. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said fiberglass pool sales are on track for approximately 80% of full-year in-ground pool sales. Source
  • On track: First-half operating cash flow reflected seasonal working capital requirements in line with the company's expectations. Source
  • Not stated: Management referred to the new Sand States initiatives it said it would pursue last quarter and said it is moving ahead with them. 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.