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UL Solutions 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: 1 raised, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue up 5.2%, organic 6.6%: Revenue was $816 million against $776 million, with organic growth of 6.6% led by the Industrial and Consumer segments. Six-month revenue was $1,574 million, up 6.3%. Source
  • Net income lifted by divestiture gain: Net income was $254 million against $97 million, up 161.9%, with net income margin at 31.1% against 12.5%. Management attributed the margin increase to the divestiture gain and higher revenue. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin rose to 26.8%: Adjusted EBITDA was $219 million, up 11.2%, and its margin rose to 26.8% from 25.4%. Adjusted Net Income was $129 million, up 17.3%, and adjusted diluted EPS was $0.59 against $0.52. Source
  • Consumer margin rose to 21.3%: Consumer revenue was $362 million, up 6.5%, with organic growth of 6.2%. Consumer Adjusted EBITDA margin was 21.3% against 18.2%, and management said the margin expansion was led by this segment. Source
  • Customers may delay or cancel plans: Management said geopolitical uncertainty has caused, and may continue to cause, customers to modify, delay or cancel plans to purchase services. Source
  • Operating and free cash flow rose: Six-month operating cash flow was $379 million against $301 million, partly from timing of certain working capital items. Free cash flow was $241 million against $208 million, a 15.3% margin. Source
  • Restructuring Plan adds business exits: The expense reduction initiative, called the Restructuring Plan, now also exits certain lines of business the company no longer considers strategically important. Source

“I am pleased to report another outstanding quarter, driven once again by record revenue, substantial cash flow and impressive margin expansion,”

Jennifer Scanlon, President and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EBITDA margin Sourcefull-year 2026approximately 27.0%Kept
Effective tax rate Sourcefull-year 2026approximately 26%Kept
Capital expenditures as share of revenue Sourcefull-year 2026approximately 8.5% of revenueRaised from between 7% and 8% of revenue

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Capital expenditures guidance moved from between 7% and 8% of revenue to approximately 8.5% of revenue. Source
  • New: The Restructuring Plan now also covers exiting certain lines of business the company no longer considers strategically important. Source
  • Ended: The Employee Health and Safety software business was sold, and the gain on the sale is included in this quarter's results. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue up 5.2%, organic 6.6%: Revenue was $816 million against $776 million, with organic growth of 6.6% led by the Industrial and Consumer segments. Six-month revenue was $1,574 million, up 6.3%. Source
  • Net income lifted by divestiture gain: Net income was $254 million against $97 million, up 161.9%, with net income margin at 31.1% against 12.5%. Management attributed the margin increase to the divestiture gain and higher revenue. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin rose to 26.8%: Adjusted EBITDA was $219 million, up 11.2%, and its margin rose to 26.8% from 25.4%. Adjusted Net Income was $129 million, up 17.3%, and adjusted diluted EPS was $0.59 against $0.52. Source
  • Diluted EPS up on gain: Diluted EPS was $1.21 against $0.45. The company's adjusted reconciliation removes a $0.94 per share gain on divestiture, which is excluded from adjusted diluted EPS. Source

Segment performance

  • Industrial revenue up 7.8%: Industrial revenue was $402 million against $373 million, with organic growth of 7.2%. Industrial Adjusted EBITDA was $130 million, a 32.3% margin against 32.4%. Source
  • Consumer margin rose to 21.3%: Consumer revenue was $362 million, up 6.5%, with organic growth of 6.2%. Consumer Adjusted EBITDA margin was 21.3% against 18.2%, and management said the margin expansion was led by this segment. Source
  • Risk & Compliance Software revenue fell: Risk & Compliance Software revenue was $52 million against $63 million, down 17.5%, including a $14 million divestiture effect. Organic growth was 4.8%. Source

“We delivered Adjusted EBITDA of $219 million, with Adjusted EBITDA margin expanding 140 basis points to 26.8%.”

Ryan Robinson, Chief Financial Officer

Products and customers

  • Certification testing and ongoing services grew: Certification Testing revenue was $237 million against $215 million. Ongoing Certification Services revenue was $270 million against $250 million. Source
  • Non-certification and software revenue: Non-certification Testing and Other Services revenue was $248 million against $241 million. Software revenue was $61 million against $70 million. Source
  • Six-month certification testing revenue: Six-month Certification Testing revenue was $448 million against $404 million, and six-month Ongoing Certification Services revenue was $535 million against $495 million. Source

Costs, margins and tax

  • Productivity and cost gains cited: The CFO said results benefited from productivity and cost improvements. Cost of revenue was $399 million against $394 million, and SG&A was $267 million against $244 million. Source
  • Stock-based compensation rose: Stock-based compensation was $23 million against $13 million and is added back in the Adjusted EBITDA reconciliation. Source
  • Income tax expense increased: Income tax expense was $84 million against $28 million, on income before income taxes of $338 million against $125 million. Source

Demand and customer uncertainty

  • Customers may delay or cancel plans: Management said geopolitical uncertainty has caused, and may continue to cause, customers to modify, delay or cancel plans to purchase services. Source
  • Downstream impact not yet estimable: Management said it cannot reasonably determine future negative impacts from reduced or delayed customer testing or product development at this time. Source
  • Second-half positioning tied to megatrends: The CEO linked the company's position for the second half of 2026 to its alignment with megatrends and its ability to meet customer needs for safe product innovation. Source

Cash, capital and shareholder returns

  • Operating and free cash flow rose: Six-month operating cash flow was $379 million against $301 million, partly from timing of certain working capital items. Free cash flow was $241 million against $208 million, a 15.3% margin. Source
  • Capital spending increased for capacity: Six-month capital expenditures were $138 million against $93 million. The company said the spending is intended to meet increased demand and drive greater productivity. Source
  • Debt reduced through revolver repayments: Total debt was $303 million at June 30, 2026, after $191 million of net revolver repayments. Cash and cash equivalents were $434 million against $295 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Dividend paid at $0.145 per share: The company paid a dividend of $0.145 per share, totalling $29 million in the second quarter. Six-month dividends to non-controlling interests were $20 million. Source

Portfolio, strategy and restructuring

  • Divestiture proceeds in investing cash: Six-month proceeds from divestiture were $199 million. Six-month net cash provided by investing activities was $70 million, compared with a use of $107 million a year earlier. Source
  • Restructuring Plan adds business exits: The expense reduction initiative, called the Restructuring Plan, now also exits certain lines of business the company no longer considers strategically important. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 August 2026

  • Second-half monitoring: Management said it will monitor the business and the macro environment for the rest of the year and feels confident in second-half positioning. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Certification Testing revenue Source$237 million against $215 million
Ongoing Certification Services revenue Source$270 million against $250 million
Non-certification Testing and Other Services revenue Source$248 million against $241 million
Software revenue Source$61 million against $70 million

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Geopolitical uncertainty may cause customers to modify, delay or cancel plans to purchase services. Source
  • Demand: The company cannot yet determine the negative effect of reduced or delayed customer testing or product development. Source
  • External: Macroeconomic unpredictability tied to geopolitical uncertainty could adversely affect results of operations and financial condition. 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.