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Latham Group, Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 3 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 new, 5 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Quarter net sales rose 12.5%: Net sales were $182.2 million, up 12.5%, including 8.4% organic growth. Price increases and the Freedom Pools acquisition also contributed. Source
  • Quarter adjusted EBITDA up 18.1%: Adjusted EBITDA was $45.3 million, up 18.1%, at a 24.8% margin, up 110 basis points, as higher gross margin more than offset higher sales and marketing expenses. Source
  • In-ground pool sales grew fastest: In-ground pool sales were $92.4 million, up 22.6%, or 13.9% organically. Management said the increase was driven almost entirely by fiberglass pools. Source
  • Sand States sales up 21.1%: Sand States sales growth accelerated to 21.1% in the third quarter and rose 16.6% year to date, led by Florida and Texas. Source
  • Quarter gross margin up 130 basis points: Gross margin was 36.7%, up 130 basis points, from greater plant absorption on higher volumes and lean manufacturing and value engineering. Gross profit rose 16.6% to $66.8 million. Source
  • Debt refinanced, maturities extended to 2033: Company completed a debt refinancing in the third quarter. Total debt was $292.5 million and the net debt leverage ratio was 1.8. Source

“We delivered strong third quarter and year-to-date results, demonstrating continued success in material conversion, reinforcing our expectation of further market share expansion, and achieving considerable operating leverage while investing to accelerate growth.”

Sean Gadd, President and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales SourceFY 2026$605-615 millionKept
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFY 2026$112-118 millionKept
Net sales growth (midpoint) SourceFY 202611.7%Kept
Adjusted EBITDA growth (midpoint) SourceFY 202615.2%Kept
Capital expenditures SourceFY 2026$40-45 millionKept
Share repurchases SourceThree years$100 millionNew
Fiberglass market share gain Source2026at least one percentage point, about 25% of U.S. in-ground pool sales

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: Net sales and adjusted EBITDA guidance ranges were narrowed; the midpoints did not change. Source
  • New: Board approved a three-year $100 million stock repurchase plan. Source
  • New: Company completed a debt refinancing in the third quarter, including a $75 million revolver and $300 million term loan, extending maturities to 2033. Source
  • New: Todd Antonelli was appointed Chief Commercial Officer. Source
  • New: A national homebuilder partnered with Latham to offer its fiberglass pools as an option for new home construction in Florida. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Quarter net sales rose 12.5%: Net sales were $182.2 million, up 12.5%, including 8.4% organic growth. Price increases and the Freedom Pools acquisition also contributed. Source
  • Quarter net income rose to $0.10 per share: Net income was $12.1 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, against $8.1 million, or $0.07, a year earlier. Net income included a $5.0 million one-time debt loss. Source
  • Quarter adjusted EBITDA up 18.1%: Adjusted EBITDA was $45.3 million, up 18.1%, at a 24.8% margin, up 110 basis points, as higher gross margin more than offset higher sales and marketing expenses. Source
  • Nine-month net income declined: Nine-month net sales were $497.0 million, up 11.4%, with 7.9% organic growth. Nine-month net income was $16.3 million, down 10.3%, or $0.14 per diluted share. Source
  • Nine-month adjusted EBITDA up 14.2%: Nine-month adjusted EBITDA was $102.0 million, up 14.2%, at a 20.5% margin, up 50 basis points. Source

Products and customers

  • In-ground pool sales grew fastest: In-ground pool sales were $92.4 million, up 22.6%, or 13.9% organically. Management said the increase was driven almost entirely by fiberglass pools. Source
  • Covers grew on autocover demand: Cover sales were $59.6 million, up 8.7%, led by organic autocover growth. Management linked this to Coverstar dealer acquisitions completed in the last two years. Source
  • Liner sales fell in the quarter: Liner sales were $30.1 million against $31.6 million a year earlier. Nine-month liner sales were $114.4 million, up from $110.5 million. Source

“These initiatives position Latham to drive meaningful growth regardless of the pace of market recovery, and we are confident that Latham will continue to outperform the U.S. in-ground pool market in 2027 and beyond.”

Sean Gadd, President and CEO

Sand States growth

  • Sand States sales up 21.1%: Sand States sales growth accelerated to 21.1% in the third quarter and rose 16.6% year to date, led by Florida and Texas. Source
  • Community pool events held in Florida: Several community pool events were held in targeted Florida neighborhoods, with more planned in Florida and Texas before year-end. Source
  • Homebuilder option and model home: Latham fiberglass pools are offered as an option for new home construction in Florida. One Latham pool is already installed in a model home. Source

Costs, gross margin and SG&A

  • Quarter gross margin up 130 basis points: Gross margin was 36.7%, up 130 basis points, from greater plant absorption on higher volumes and lean manufacturing and value engineering. Gross profit rose 16.6% to $66.8 million. Source
  • SG&A rose 25.5% in quarter: SG&A was $35.9 million, up 25.5%, reflecting growth investments, Sand States sales and marketing, acquisition and integration costs, and digital transformation costs. Source
  • Earn-out expense in quarterly SG&A: Quarter SG&A included $3.2 million of performance-based earn-out expense tied to the 2024 Coverstar Central acquisition. Nine-month earn-out expense was $7.7 million. Source
  • Nine-month gross margin up 40 basis points: Nine-month gross profit rose 12.9% to $174.1 million. Gross margin rose 40 basis points on lean manufacturing and value engineering initiatives. Source

“The Sand States remain a key growth market for Latham, which we believe has the potential to drive a step-change in companywide sales.”

Sean Gadd, President and CEO

Demand and market share

  • Market described as challenging: Management described the market as challenging and said organic growth reflects its execution, product quality and market leadership. Source
  • Fiberglass pools gaining traction: Management said fiberglass pools continue to gain traction for ease of installation, cost efficiency, durability, lifetime warranty and low maintenance costs. Source
  • Autocover attachment gaining momentum: Management said autocovers gained momentum for safety benefits, cost savings to pool owners, and compatibility with all types of in-ground pools. Source

Cash, debt and capital spending

  • Operating cash flow of $48.8 million: Operating cash flow was $48.8 million in the third quarter and $54.6 million for the first nine months. Cash ended the quarter at $94.8 million. Source
  • Debt refinanced, maturities extended to 2033: Company completed a debt refinancing in the third quarter. Total debt was $292.5 million and the net debt leverage ratio was 1.8. Source
  • Capital spending rose on leased site purchase: Third-quarter capex was $6.1 million against $5.8 million. Nine-month capex was $34.2 million, including four previously leased production sites, against $16.2 million a year earlier. Source
  • Freedom Pools acquisition completed: The company completed the acquisition of Freedom Pools for $17.0 million in February 2026. Source

Strategy and growth investment

  • Micro-market strategy extends further: Management plans to extend its micro-market strategy to additional Sand State markets and to pursue accretive acquisitions. Source
  • Sales and marketing spend targets Sand States: Sales and marketing initiatives aim to drive accelerated fiberglass conversion in the Sand States, which contributed to higher SG&A this year. Source
  • Digital transformation costs continue: Nine-month SG&A includes costs related to the digital transformation program, without a separate amount given in the release. Source

People and leadership

  • New Chief Commercial Officer named: Todd Antonelli was appointed Chief Commercial Officer, and key leaders were added across sales strategy and sales operations. Source
  • Field sales staff added in Florida: Field sales resources were added in Florida, with further expansion planned in Texas and Arizona. Source
  • Workforce size reported: The company reported approximately 1,900 employees across 40 locations. Source

Coming up, as management said on 3 November 2026

  • More Florida and Texas community events: Additional community pool events are planned in Florida and Texas before year-end. Source
  • Homebuilder relationship to expand: Management said it looks forward to expanding the homebuilder relationship beyond the model home pool. Source
  • Market outperformance expected in 2027: Management said it expects Latham to continue outperforming the U.S. in-ground pool market in 2027 and beyond. Source
  • Micro-market expansion and acquisitions planned: Management plans to extend its micro-market strategy to more Sand State markets and to pursue accretive acquisitions. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
In-ground swimming pool net sales Source$92.4 million, up 22.6% (13.9% organic)
Cover net sales Source$59.6 million, up 8.7%
Sand States sales growth Source21.1% in the quarter; 16.6% year to date

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management said its growth initiatives are designed to work regardless of how quickly the market recovers. Source
  • External: Management described the market as challenging for organic growth this quarter. Source
  • Financial: Net income included a $5.0 million one-time loss on extinguishment and modification of debt tied to the refinancing. Source
  • Financial: Quarter SG&A included $3.2 million of performance-based earn-out expense from the 2024 Coverstar Central acquisition. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said it is making meaningful progress executing the Sand States growth strategy it outlined earlier this year. Source
  • Not stated: Management said year-to-date performance reinforces its expectation of at least one point of fiberglass market share gain in 2026. 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.