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Whirlpool Corp.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 7 lowered, 1 new, 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Ongoing EBIT margin fell to 1.3%: Ongoing EBIT was $44 million against $214 million a year earlier, a margin of 1.3% against 5.9%. Ongoing diluted EPS was $(0.56) against $1.70. Source
  • MDA North America EBIT margin fell to 0.3%: North America net sales were $2,237 million, down 7.5%. EBIT was $6 million against $149 million, a 0.3% margin against 6.2%. Source
  • Double-digit North America price increase: Management announced its largest price increase in a decade for North America, to address multi-year inflationary cost pressures, alongside faster cost take-out initiatives. Source
  • Iran war drove industry decline: Management said the war in Iran produced a recession-level decline in the U.S. industry as consumer confidence collapsed in late February and March. Source
  • Operating cash outflow widened: Cash used in operating activities was $(827) million against $(721) million, and free cash flow was $(896) million against $(793) million. Source
  • Recapitalization added equity proceeds: Common stock issuance netted $524 million and the mandatory convertible preferred stock netted $557 million; financing activities provided $985 million. Source

“We acted decisively to address pricing and costs in the face of rapid deterioration in macroeconomic conditions.”

MARC BITZER, CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Full-year net sales SourceFY2026approximately $15.0 billionLowered from $15.3 - $15.6 billion
Ongoing EBIT margin SourceFY2026approximately 4.0%Lowered from 5.5 - 5.8%
Structural cost take-out SourceFY2026over $150 million or 100 basis points of margin expansionKept
GAAP earnings per diluted share SourceFY2026$2.45 to $2.95Lowered from approximately $6.25
Ongoing earnings per diluted share SourceFY2026$3.00 to $3.50Lowered from approximately $7.00
Cash provided by operating activities SourceFY2026approximately $700 millionLowered from approximately $850 million
Free cash flow SourceFY2026over $300 millionLowered from $400 - $500 million
Capital expenditures SourceFY2026~400Kept
GAAP net earnings margin SourceFY2026~1.1%Lowered from ~2.3%
GAAP and adjusted tax rate SourceFY2026approximately 25%Kept
Debt reduction SourceFY2026over $900 millionRaised from approximately $400 million
Asset-based revolver SourceQ2 2026approximately $2.25BNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: Full-year net sales now about $15.0 billion, against $15.3 - $15.6 billion previously. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Ongoing EBIT margin now about 4%, against 5.5 - 5.8% in the prior release. Source
  • Guidance lowered: GAAP EPS now $2.45 to $2.95, against about $6.25; ongoing EPS now $3.00 to $3.50, against about $7.00. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Operating cash flow now about $700 million, against about $850 million; free cash flow now over $300 million, against $400 - $500 million. Source
  • Guidance lowered: GAAP net earnings margin now about 1.1%, against about 2.3% previously. Source
  • Guidance raised: Debt reduction for 2026 now over $900 million, against about $400 million previously. Source
  • Guidance kept: Tax rate guidance remains about 25%, the same as the prior release. Source
  • New: Common dividend suspended, with debt paydown prioritized. Source
  • New: Transition to an asset-based revolver of about $2.25 billion, nearing completion, with closing expected in Q2 2026. Source
  • New: Recapitalization cited as strengthening the balance sheet, alongside inventory actions and the planned asset-based facility. Source
  • New: Largest price increase in a decade announced for North America, described as double-digit. Source
  • New: Management said Section 232 changes favor domestic manufacturers. Source
  • New: Workforce reduction and multi-region footprint optimization plans committed in March 2026. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net sales and GAAP earnings fell: Net sales were $3,273 million, down 9.6% from $3,621 million; organic net sales fell 6.1%. GAAP net loss available to common shareholders was $(85) million, or $(1.43) per diluted share. Source
  • Ongoing EBIT margin fell to 1.3%: Ongoing EBIT was $44 million against $214 million a year earlier, a margin of 1.3% against 5.9%. Ongoing diluted EPS was $(0.56) against $1.70. Source
  • Organic sales fell less than reported: Organic net sales, excluding India sales and currency effects, were $3,193 million against $3,399 million, down 6.1%. Source

Segments and regions

  • MDA North America EBIT margin fell to 0.3%: North America net sales were $2,237 million, down 7.5%. EBIT was $6 million against $149 million, a 0.3% margin against 6.2%. Source
  • Latin America EBIT margin slipped: Latin America net sales rose 5.0% to $774 million. EBIT was $47 million against $49 million, a 6.0% margin against 6.6%. Source
  • Small appliances grew for sixth quarter: SDA Global net sales rose 13.4% to $222 million, with EBIT up 28.7% to $47 million and a 21.0% margin, the sixth consecutive quarter of revenue growth. Source

“We executed inventory reduction actions, optimizing working capital year-over-year.”

ROXANNE WARNER, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Pricing, costs and margins

  • Double-digit North America price increase: Management announced its largest price increase in a decade for North America, to address multi-year inflationary cost pressures, alongside faster cost take-out initiatives. Source
  • Inventory reduction costs weighed on margin: North America EBIT margin also absorbed higher costs to reduce inventory, partly offset by tariff recovery and mitigation actions. Source
  • GAAP tax rate turned negative: The GAAP tax rate was (26.9)% against 31.1% a year earlier. The adjusted rate used for ongoing EPS was 25.0%, against 22.5%. Source

Demand and industry conditions

  • Iran war drove industry decline: Management said the war in Iran produced a recession-level decline in the U.S. industry as consumer confidence collapsed in late February and March. Source
  • North America volume and pricing fell: North America net sales excluding currency fell 7.8%, driven by lower volume from the industry decline and unfavorable price/mix. Source
  • Latin America promotions cut sales: Latin America net sales excluding currency fell 3.8% due to an aggressive promotional environment, although volume increased. Source

Working capital and cash flow

  • Operating cash outflow widened: Cash used in operating activities was $(827) million against $(721) million, and free cash flow was $(896) million against $(793) million. Source
  • Inventory cut; payables fell: Inventories fell to $2,241 million from $2,307 million at year-end, while accounts payable used $(495) million of operating cash. Source
  • Promotion accruals used cash: Accrued advertising and promotions used $(374) million of operating cash, against $(325) million a year earlier. Source

Capital structure and shareholder returns

  • Recapitalization added equity proceeds: Common stock issuance netted $524 million and the mandatory convertible preferred stock netted $557 million; financing activities provided $985 million. Source
  • Dividends declared were lower: Dividends declared were $0.90 per share against $1.75 a year earlier, and dividends paid were $58 million against $97 million. Source
  • Common shares outstanding rose: Common shares outstanding were 65 million at March 31, 2026, against 56 million at December 31, 2025; the mandatory convertible preferred had 575 thousand shares outstanding. Source

Strategy and portfolio actions

  • Section 232 changes favor domestic makers: Management said Section 232 changes favor domestic manufacturers and described the company as structurally positioned with its American-made products. Source
  • March restructuring of workforce and footprint: Restructuring costs of $32 million were recorded, including $18 million of asset impairments and $12 million of employee termination costs. Source
  • Cost and pricing actions accelerated: The release headline says the company accelerated cost and pricing actions to restore margins, including the North America price increase. Source

Coming up, as management said on 6 May 2026

  • Asset-based revolver closing in Q2: The transition to an approximately $2.25 billion asset-based revolver is nearing completion, with closing expected within the second quarter of 2026. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management described a recession-level decline in the U.S. industry following the war in Iran and the fall in consumer confidence. Source
  • External: The Supreme Court's IEEPA ruling and anticipated refunds disrupted industry pricing, cited as a driver of unfavorable price/mix. Source
  • Operational: North America EBIT margin was pressured by volume decline, unfavorable price/mix and the higher costs incurred to reduce inventory. Source
  • Demand: Latin America faced an aggressive promotional environment that reduced sales excluding currency despite higher volume. Source
  • Financial: Management cited financing flexibility as needed to navigate the current environment, following negative operating cash flow in the quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The prior release set a 2026 debt paydown of about $400 million; the current release raises the expected reduction to over $900 million.
  • Not stated: The current release repeats the plan to deliver over $150 million of structural cost take-out, or 100 basis points of margin expansion. 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.