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Valmont Industries Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 20 October 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 4 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Sales and EPS both rose: Net sales rose 5.5% to $1.10 billion, and diluted EPS rose 25.3% to $6.24 from $4.98 a year earlier. Source
  • Operating margin widened to 15.7%: Operating income rose 22.2% to $172.8 million, a margin of 15.7% against 13.5%. Gross margin was 30.0% against 30.4%. Source
  • Pricing recovers steel and zinc costs: Management said it is taking pricing actions and contractual pass-throughs to recover higher steel and zinc costs. Source
  • Infrastructure margin dipped on costs: Infrastructure operating margin was 17.6% against 17.8%. Higher pricing and volumes in Utility and Coatings were partly offset by higher material costs. Source
  • Backlog rose to $2.0 billion: Total backlog was $2,007.8 million at September 26, 2026, up from $1,653.7 million at December 27, 2025, with Infrastructure and Agriculture both higher. Source
  • Quarter cash generation and leverage: Operating cash flow was $100.5 million, cash was $122.0 million, and the net leverage ratio was about 0.9x. Source
  • EPS guidance range lifted: Management said it is raising the adjusted EPS guidance range given the quarter's results. Source

“We delivered another quarter of sales and earnings growth.”

Avner M. Applbaum, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Infrastructure net sales Sourcefull-year 2026$3.4 to $3.5 billionKept
Agriculture net sales Sourcefull-year 2026$0.9 to $0.95 billionKept
Adjusted diluted EPS Sourcefull-year 2026$22.75 to $23.75Raised from $22.25 to $23.50
Capital expenditures Sourcefull-year 2026$170 to $200 millionKept
Adjusted effective tax rate Sourcefull-year 2026~26.0%Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Management raised the adjusted diluted EPS guidance range to $22.75 to $23.75 from $22.25 to $23.50. Source
  • Guidance kept: Net sales, segment sales, capital expenditure and tax rate guidance were reaffirmed without change. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Sales and EPS both rose: Net sales rose 5.5% to $1.10 billion, and diluted EPS rose 25.3% to $6.24 from $4.98 a year earlier. Source
  • Operating margin widened to 15.7%: Operating income rose 22.2% to $172.8 million, a margin of 15.7% against 13.5%. Gross margin was 30.0% against 30.4%. Source

Segments and regions

  • Infrastructure sales grew 9.1%: Infrastructure sales rose to $882.1 million from $808.3 million, with North America Utility and Coatings growth partly offset by Telecommunications. Source
  • International Infrastructure rose on pricing: International Infrastructure sales rose on pricing actions and favorable currency effects. Source
  • Agriculture sales fell 6.4%: Agriculture sales decreased to $226.0 million from $241.3 million in the year-earlier quarter. Source
  • North America Agriculture sales rose: North America Agriculture sales rose 15.8% on higher volumes, including storm replacement activity, and favorable pricing. Source
  • International Agriculture sales fell: International Agriculture sales fell 25.3%, mainly on lower volumes in the Middle East and Brazil. Source
  • Agriculture margin rose to 17.9%: Agriculture operating margin was 17.9% against 9.7%, helped by lower Brazil credit losses and higher North America volumes, partly offset by lower international volumes. Source

“Higher sales in North America Utility and Coatings reinforce our confidence in the strength and durability of the infrastructure market.”

Avner M. Applbaum, President and Chief Executive Officer

Products and customers

  • Aftermarket and technology push: Management said it is deepening strategic customer relationships and expanding higher-value aftermarket and technology solutions in Agriculture. Source
  • Utility capacity is being increased: Management said it is increasing capacity and improving throughput to support continued infrastructure demand. Source
  • Agriculture product lines described: Agriculture covers irrigation equipment components, aftermarket parts, tubular products and precision agriculture technology. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Pricing recovers steel and zinc costs: Management said it is taking pricing actions and contractual pass-throughs to recover higher steel and zinc costs. Source
  • Infrastructure margin dipped on costs: Infrastructure operating margin was 17.6% against 17.8%. Higher pricing and volumes in Utility and Coatings were partly offset by higher material costs. Source
  • Utility ramp added costs: Costs of ramping Utility capacity and lower North America Telecommunications volumes also weighed on Infrastructure operating income. Source

“The pace of margin expansion depends in part on how quickly input costs stabilize.”

Avner M. Applbaum, President and Chief Executive Officer

Demand and the order book

  • Backlog rose to $2.0 billion: Total backlog was $2,007.8 million at September 26, 2026, up from $1,653.7 million at December 27, 2025, with Infrastructure and Agriculture both higher. Source
  • Telecom carrier spend fell: Telecommunications volumes were significantly lower as carriers shifted capital allocation priorities. Source
  • Agriculture softness noted: Management said Agriculture North America sales grew despite broader market softness. Source

Cash, capital and shareholder returns

  • Quarter cash generation and leverage: Operating cash flow was $100.5 million, cash was $122.0 million, and the net leverage ratio was about 0.9x. Source
  • Shareholder returns of $97.2 million: The company returned $97.2 million to shareholders, split between $82.3 million of buybacks and $14.9 million of dividends. Source
  • Utility capacity capex: Capital expenditures were $45.6 million, mainly for growth-related capacity in the North America Utility product line. Source

Strategy and investment

  • Turning capacity into throughput: For 2027, management is focused on converting capacity investments into higher throughput and productivity across Infrastructure. Source
  • Confidence in Investor Day objectives: Management linked its investments and operating improvements to its confidence in objectives set at the 2026 Investor Day. Source

Full-year guidance and assumptions

  • EPS guidance range lifted: Management said it is raising the adjusted EPS guidance range given the quarter's results. Source
  • FX assumption dated October 16: Foreign currency assumptions use FX rates as of October 16, 2026, and steel cost assumptions are aligned with markets as of that date. Source

Coming up, as management said on 20 October 2026

  • Live call on October 20: Management will discuss the quarter on a live audio call at 8:00 a.m. CT on October 20, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Infrastructure backlog ($ millions) Source1,808.2 at September 26, 2026 (1,548.3 at December 27, 2025)
Agriculture backlog ($ millions) Source199.6 at September 26, 2026 (105.4 at December 27, 2025)
Total backlog ($ millions) Source2,007.8 at September 26, 2026 (1,653.7 at December 27, 2025)

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Management pointed to reliable delivery and disciplined execution as it adds Utility capacity and throughput. Source
  • Demand: Management cited broader market softness in Agriculture, even as North America Agriculture sales grew in the quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said its investments and operating improvements support its confidence in the Investor Day objectives. Source
  • Not stated: Management said it is focused on turning capacity investments into higher throughput and productivity heading into 2027. 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.