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Veralto Corp.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 28 April 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 5 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Sales rose 6.7%, core 1.9%: Sales were $1,422 million against $1,332 million a year earlier. Core sales growth was 1.9% after the reconciliation removed acquisitions, divestitures and currency. Source
  • Adjusted net earnings rose to $266 million: Adjusted net earnings were $266 million, or $1.07 per diluted share, against $237 million, or $0.95, a year earlier, per the non-GAAP reconciliation. Source
  • Product Quality and Innovation core declined: Product Quality and Innovation reported total sales growth of 1.7% but core sales declined 1.0%. The reconciliation shows currency at (4.0)% for the segment. Source
  • Operating margin 23.8%, adjusted 25.1%: Operating margin was 23.8% against 24.2% a year earlier. Adjusted operating margin was 25.1% against 25.0%, on adjusted operating profit of $357 million. Source
  • Operating and free cash flow rose: Operating cash flow was $182 million against $157 million. Free cash flow was $170 million against $142 million, with capital expenditures of $12 million against $15 million. Source
  • About $1 billion deployed this year: Management said about $1 billion has gone to strategic acquisitions and opportunistic share repurchases so far this year. Source

“We are off to a strong start in 2026, reflecting the effectiveness of the Veralto Enterprise System, the essential role of our products and services in customers’ operations, and the resilience of our end markets,”

Jennifer L. Honeycutt, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Core sales growth SourceSecond quarter of 2026 (three months ending July 3, 2026)3.0% to 4.0% year-over-yearNew
Adjusted operating profit margin SourceSecond quarter of 2026approximately ~23.5%, flat to prior-year periodNew
Adjusted diluted EPS SourceSecond quarter of 2026$0.96 to $1.00 per shareNew
Core sales growth SourceFull year 20263.0% to 4.5% year-over-year
Adjusted operating profit margin expansion SourceFull year 2026, versus 2025+25 basis pointsKept
Adjusted diluted EPS SourceFull year 2026$4.20 to $4.28Raised from $4.10 to $4.20
Free cash flow conversion SourceFull year 2026approximately 100% of GAAP net earningsRaised from approximately ~100%
Cost optimization program charge SourceProgram charge; timing not stated$85 to $105 millionNew
Cost optimization annual savings SourceBy 2028$65 to $75 million annual savingsNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 adjusted diluted EPS guidance was raised to $4.20 to $4.28 from $4.10 to $4.20. Source
  • Guidance raised: The release describes free cash flow conversion guidance as increased to about 100% of GAAP net earnings. The prior release also gave about 100%. Source
  • New guidance: Second-quarter 2026 guidance appears for the first time. The prior release covered first-quarter and full-year 2026 guidance. Source
  • New: A cost optimization program was initiated to streamline business processes and enhance operating efficiency. Source
  • New: The release reports completed acquisitions of In-Situ and GlobalVision for about $620 million and marks them as subsequent events. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Sales rose 6.7%, core 1.9%: Sales were $1,422 million against $1,332 million a year earlier. Core sales growth was 1.9% after the reconciliation removed acquisitions, divestitures and currency. Source
  • Adjusted net earnings rose to $266 million: Adjusted net earnings were $266 million, or $1.07 per diluted share, against $237 million, or $0.95, a year earlier, per the non-GAAP reconciliation. Source
  • Adjusted EPS up 13%: Management cited approximately 7% sales growth and 13% adjusted EPS growth, while continuing spending on commercial execution, productivity and innovation. Source

Segments and regions

  • Water Quality core growth 3.8%: Water Quality reported total sales growth of 10.1% and core sales growth of 3.8%. The reconciliation shows acquisitions and divestitures of (3.0)% and currency of (3.3)%. Source
  • Product Quality and Innovation core declined: Product Quality and Innovation reported total sales growth of 1.7% but core sales declined 1.0%. The reconciliation shows currency at (4.0)% for the segment. Source

“Going forward, our balance sheet remains strong, providing flexibility to pursue additional acquisitions and share repurchases.”

Jennifer L. Honeycutt, President and Chief Executive Officer

Costs and margins

  • Operating margin 23.8%, adjusted 25.1%: Operating margin was 23.8% against 24.2% a year earlier. Adjusted operating margin was 25.1% against 25.0%, on adjusted operating profit of $357 million. Source
  • SG&A and R&D expenses rose: Selling, general and administrative expenses were $448 million against $419 million. Research and development expenses were $68 million against $64 million. Source
  • Gross profit rose to $854 million: Gross profit was $854 million against $805 million, with cost of sales of $568 million against $527 million. Source
  • Other income and lower interest: Other income was $7 million against a $6 million expense. Net interest expense was $24 million against $27 million. Source

Earnings per share bridge

  • GAAP diluted EPS $1.02: GAAP diluted EPS was $1.02 against $0.90 a year earlier, on net earnings of $254 million against $225 million. Source
  • Amortization and In-Situ gain adjusted: Non-GAAP adjustments included $13 million of intangible amortization, or $0.05 per share. A $7 million fair value gain on the In-Situ step acquisition was removed, or $0.03 per share. Source
  • Diluted share count fell: Average diluted shares were 249.2 million against 250.1 million. Average basic shares were 247.6 million against 247.9 million. Source
  • Pretax earnings and income taxes: Earnings before income taxes were $321 million against $289 million. Income taxes were $67 million against $64 million. Source

“Looking ahead, we expect core sales growth to accelerate as the year progresses.”

Jennifer L. Honeycutt, President and Chief Executive Officer

Cash flow and capital returns

  • Operating and free cash flow rose: Operating cash flow was $182 million against $157 million. Free cash flow was $170 million against $142 million, with capital expenditures of $12 million against $15 million. Source
  • Investing outflow rose sharply: Cash used in investing activities was $439 million against $11 million. Cash used in financing activities was $332 million against $26 million. Source
  • About $1 billion deployed this year: Management said about $1 billion has gone to strategic acquisitions and opportunistic share repurchases so far this year. Source
  • Repurchases equal 1.3% of shares: The company repurchased $300 million of shares, or 1.3% of outstanding shares as of February 13, 2026. Source
  • Trailing free cash flow margin 18.6%: Trailing twelve-month free cash flow was $1,042 million on trailing sales of $5,593 million, a free cash flow margin of 18.6%. Source

Strategy, acquisitions and productivity

  • In-Situ and GlobalVision transactions: The release marks the GlobalVision and In-Situ acquisitions, about $620 million combined, as subsequent events. The prior release said In-Situ closed in late January.
  • Cost optimization program started: Management said the new program is designed to streamline business processes and enhance operating efficiency. Charge and savings figures appear under guidance. Source
  • Several levers for shareholder value: Management said the acquisitions, repurchases and new program reflect the free cash flow profile and several levers for creating shareholder value. Source

Coming up, as management said on 28 April 2026

  • Cost savings expected by 2028: Management expects the cost optimization program to yield annual savings of $65 to $75 million by 2028. Source
  • Second-quarter guidance period: The second-quarter guidance covers the three-month period ending July 3, 2026. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Currency translation contributed 3.5 points to reported total sales growth, and core growth excludes that effect. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The prior release guided first-quarter core growth to flat to low-single digits, adjusted margin of about 24.5%, and adjusted EPS of $0.97 to $1.01. This release reports 1.9%, 25.1%, and $1.07.
  • Not stated: The prior release expected another year of core growth and margin expansion, with mid-to-high single digit adjusted EPS growth. This release raised full-year adjusted EPS guidance.

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.