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Tronox Holdings plc: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 5 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 19% year-over-year: Revenue reached $868 million, up 19% from $731 million a year earlier and up 14% from the first quarter, driven mainly by higher TiO 2 and zircon volumes. Source
  • Net loss widened to $171 million: Net loss attributable to Tronox was $171 million, or $1.07 per diluted share, against $84 million, or $0.53, a year earlier. Adjusted diluted loss per share was $0.51. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA fell 22% year-over-year: Adjusted EBITDA was $73 million, down from $93 million. Management cited exchange rates, lower prices including mix, and higher production, freight and other costs, partly offset by volumes. Source
  • Zircon revenue up 43%: Zircon revenue was $97 million, up 43% year-over-year and 9% sequentially, on higher volumes partly offset by lower average selling prices including mix. Source
  • Pricing rose 5% sequentially: Pricing for TiO 2 and zircon both rose 5% sequentially as earlier-announced increases took effect across markets. Source
  • Free cash flow of $60 million: Free cash flow was $60 million, after a $135 million use in the first quarter. Capital expenditures were $45 million in the quarter. Source
  • Inventory down about $120 million: Inventory fell about $120 million from first-quarter levels to the lowest since June 2024, which management linked to working capital initiatives. Source
  • Net leverage rose to 11.4x: Net debt of $3.0 billion gave a trailing twelve-month net leverage ratio of 11.4x, up from 9.0x at December 31, 2025. Source

“TiO 2 volumes came in at the high end of our guidance and at the highest level since the second quarter of 2022.”

Chief Executive Officer John Romano

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
TiO 2 sales volumes Sourcethird quarter 2026down, mid-single-digit percentage range, sequentiallyNew
Zircon sales volumes Sourcethird quarter 2026moderate slightly versus Q2New
TiO 2 pricing Sourcethird quarter 2026up, mid-single-digit percentage range, sequentiallyNew
Zircon pricing Sourcethird quarter 2026up, mid- to high single-digit percentage range, sequentiallyNew
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcethird quarter 2026$95-$115 millionNew
Cost improvement program run-rate savings Sourceend of 2026higher end of $125-$175 million annual run-rateKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: Full-year 2026 free cash flow expectation of meaningful positive generation was restated. Source
  • New guidance: Third-quarter 2026 Adjusted EBITDA range of $95-$115 million was first given. Source
  • New: A new long-term financing arrangement replaced an expired short-term revolving credit facility. Source
  • New: The company reported a gain on the sale of its Fuzhou facility in the quarter. Source
  • New: A sale and leaseback transaction is listed among other financing arrangements, excluded from net debt. Source
  • New: Management said it is restarting a furnace and advancing plans to bring the West Mine back online, both at Namakwa, to support inventory. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 19% year-over-year: Revenue reached $868 million, up 19% from $731 million a year earlier and up 14% from the first quarter, driven mainly by higher TiO 2 and zircon volumes. Source
  • Net loss widened to $171 million: Net loss attributable to Tronox was $171 million, or $1.07 per diluted share, against $84 million, or $0.53, a year earlier. Adjusted diluted loss per share was $0.51. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA fell 22% year-over-year: Adjusted EBITDA was $73 million, down from $93 million. Management cited exchange rates, lower prices including mix, and higher production, freight and other costs, partly offset by volumes. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 18% from first quarter: Compared with the first quarter's $62 million, adjusted EBITDA rose on higher TiO 2 and zircon prices including mix and higher volumes, partly offset by production costs and exchange rates. Source

Segments and product lines

  • TiO 2 revenue up 19%: TiO 2 revenue was $700 million, up 19% year-over-year. Average selling prices including mix were flat, and revenue rose 14% from the first quarter. Source
  • Zircon revenue up 43%: Zircon revenue was $97 million, up 43% year-over-year and 9% sequentially, on higher volumes partly offset by lower average selling prices including mix. Source
  • Other products down year-over-year, up sequentially: Other products revenue was $71 million, down 7% from a year earlier on lower volumes. Sequentially it rose 29% on higher pig iron sales. Source

“Cash generation remains a key priority for our business and we delivered $60 million of positive free cash flow in the second quarter.”

Chief Executive Officer John Romano

Demand, customers and supply

  • Volumes supported by global footprint: Management said its ability to reliably serve customers through its global footprint supported volume performance during the quarter. Source
  • Trade defense measures still benefiting: Management said Tronox continues to benefit from trade defense measures and structural shifts across the industry. Source
  • Zircon volumes exceeded expectations: Zircon volumes strengthened in the second quarter, running above expectations and building on the first quarter's level. Source
  • Zircon supply constrained industry-wide: Management tied zircon volume performance to supply that remained constrained across the industry, while inventory availability shapes the third quarter. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Pricing rose 5% sequentially: Pricing for TiO 2 and zircon both rose 5% sequentially as earlier-announced increases took effect across markets. Source
  • Planned outages raised costs: Adjusted EBITDA margin was 8.4%, against 12.7% a year earlier. Higher costs from two planned outages were partly offset by selling lower-cost inventory. Source
  • Middle East input costs elevated: Management said third-quarter benefits are expected to be partly offset by elevated input costs, and it continues to evaluate recovering these costs through pricing. Source

Cash flow and working capital

  • Free cash flow of $60 million: Free cash flow was $60 million, after a $135 million use in the first quarter. Capital expenditures were $45 million in the quarter. Source
  • Inventory down about $120 million: Inventory fell about $120 million from first-quarter levels to the lowest since June 2024, which management linked to working capital initiatives. Source
  • Working capital actions improved liquidity: Management said these actions improved liquidity and further strengthened the financial position, while it keeps its focus on cash generation. Source

Debt, leverage and liquidity

  • Net leverage rose to 11.4x: Net debt of $3.0 billion gave a trailing twelve-month net leverage ratio of 11.4x, up from 9.0x at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Liquidity totaled $527 million: Liquidity was $194 million cash plus $333 million under revolving credit agreements, up from $406 million at March 31, 2026. Source
  • Next significant maturity in 2029: The next significant maturity is not until 2029. The company says it has no financial covenants on its term loans or bonds. Source

Rare earths and strategy

  • Rare earths pathways prioritize returns: Rare earths work continues toward a downstream focus, with development pathways that prioritize returns and limit incremental leverage. Source
  • Engaging partners and funding sources: Management said it is engaging customers, partners and funding sources while assessing the most responsible, value-accretive path forward. Source
  • Positioning in rare earth supply: Management believes the rare earths strategy positions Tronox to take part in longer-term efforts to diversify rare earth supply chains. Source

Coming up, as management said on 6 August 2026

  • Rare earths study concludes 2027: The definitive feasibility study for the cracking and leaching facility is expected to conclude by third quarter 2027. Source
  • Additional pricing in effect Q3: Additional pricing increases for TiO 2 and zircon were announced during the quarter and are in effect for the third quarter. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
TiO 2 sales volumes, year-over-year Sourceup 18%
TiO 2 sales volumes, sequential Sourceup 9%
Zircon sales volumes, year-over-year Sourceup 61%
Zircon sales volumes, sequential Sourceup 4%

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management cited continued geopolitical developments in the Middle East as creating uncertainty across portions of the industry. Source
  • Financial: Management said it has ample liquidity and does not expect to trigger the springing covenant on the US revolving credit facility. Source
  • Financial: The quarter's net loss included a $103 million valuation allowance against certain state deferred tax assets in the US. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said the cost program remains on track to deliver at the higher end of the target by the end of 2026. Source
  • Met: Management said Adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter came within the guided 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.