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Whirlpool Corp.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 3 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 raised, 4 lowered, 2 new, 9 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales fell 6.8%: Net sales were $3,517 million against $3,773 million. Organic net sales, excluding India and currency, were $3,437 million against $3,496 million, down 1.7%. Source
  • Ongoing EBIT fell to $62 million: Ongoing EBIT was $62 million against $200 million. The prior-year quarter included results from the previously-owned India business. Source
  • North America margin rose sequentially: MDA North America net sales were $2,408 million, with EBIT of $64 million and a 2.7% margin against 5.9%. Sales rose 8% and margin rose 240 bps from the first quarter. Source
  • North America pricing actions executed: Management said previously announced pricing actions were executed in North America, supported by new product launches. Price increases were announced in Latin America. Source
  • Tariff and input costs weighed on North America: Management attributed the North America margin decline to volume decline and the unfavorable impact of tariff, raw material inflation and fuel costs, partly offset by price/mix. Source
  • Operating cash outflow widened: Cash used in operating activities was $947 million for the six months, against $702 million. Free cash flow was $(1,108) million against $(856) million. Source
  • Beko stake and Russia terms settled: Under the Arcelik agreement, the Beko stake sale, the Russia termination and the release of indemnities together made up the transaction. Source

“We are encouraged by the sequential margin expansion achieved in Q2, driven by price increase execution, progress with our cost take-out program and key product innovation.”

Marc Bitzer, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales SourceFull year 2026approximately $15.0 billionKept
GAAP net earnings margin SourceFull year 20261.0%Lowered from approximately 1.1%
Ongoing EBIT margin SourceFull year 2026approximately 4.0%Kept
Structural cost take-out SourceFull year 2026over $150 million or 100 basis points of margin expansionKept
GAAP earnings per diluted share SourceFull year 2026$2.25 to $2.75Lowered from $2.45 to $2.95
Ongoing earnings per diluted share SourceFull year 2026$2.50 to $3.00Lowered from $3.00 to $3.50
GAAP tax rate SourceFull year 2026approximately 20.0%
Adjusted (non-GAAP) tax rate SourceFull year 2026approximately 25.0%Kept
Cash provided by operating activities SourceFull year 2026approximately $700 millionKept
Free cash flow SourceFull year 2026over $300 millionKept
Capital expenditures SourceFull year 2026about $400 millionKept
Net debt SourceYear end 2026below $5.0 billionNew
Interest expense SourceFull year 2026about $350 millionRaised from about $300 million
Restructuring costs SourceFull year 2026about $175 millionRaised from about $50 million
Earnings before interest and taxes SourceFull year 2026about $590 millionRaised from about $580 million
Ongoing EBIT SourceFull year 2026about $630 millionKept
Net earnings available to Whirlpool common shareholders SourceFull year 2026about $150 millionLowered from about $170 million
Income tax expense SourceFull year 2026about $50 million
Impact of M&A transactions SourceFull year 2026(135) millionNew
Mandatory convertible preferred stock dividends SourceFull year 2026about $40 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: Full-year GAAP and ongoing EPS ranges lowered; the company tied the EPS change to a new interest expense expectation. Source
  • Guidance lowered: GAAP net earnings margin lowered to about 1.0% from about 1.1%. Source
  • Guidance raised: Interest expense expectation raised to about $350 million from about $300 million. Source
  • Guidance raised: Restructuring costs expectation raised to about $175 million from about $50 million. Source
  • New guidance: Year-end net debt expectation of below $5.0 billion added. Source
  • Guidance kept: Full-year revenue and margin guidance kept as before. Source
  • New: Asset-based facility completed at $2 billion, against about $2.25 billion expected in the first-quarter release; $2 billion of secured bonds issued. Source
  • New: Agreement with Arcelik to sell the remaining 25% Beko stake, settle Russia terms and simplify certain obligations. Source
  • New: Closure of the Supsa manufacturing plant in Apodaca, Mexico announced on July 1, 2026. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net sales fell 6.8%: Net sales were $3,517 million against $3,773 million. Organic net sales, excluding India and currency, were $3,437 million against $3,496 million, down 1.7%. Source
  • Ongoing EBIT fell to $62 million: Ongoing EBIT was $62 million against $200 million. The prior-year quarter included results from the previously-owned India business. Source
  • GAAP and ongoing EPS compared: GAAP diluted EPS was $1.15 against $1.17. Ongoing diluted EPS was $(0.21) against $1.34 a year earlier. Source
  • Margin rose from first quarter: Ongoing EBIT margin was 1.8%, against 1.3% in the first quarter. GAAP net earnings margin was 2.1%, against (2.6)% in the first quarter. Source

Segments and regions

  • North America margin rose sequentially: MDA North America net sales were $2,408 million, with EBIT of $64 million and a 2.7% margin against 5.9%. Sales rose 8% and margin rose 240 bps from the first quarter. Source
  • Latin America sales rose on volume: MDA Latin America net sales rose 7.8% to $868 million. Excluding currency they fell 1.7% on negative price/mix in Brazil, despite higher volume. EBIT was $26 million, a 3.0% margin. Source
  • Small appliance margin declined: SDA Global net sales were $202 million, up 0.5%, with EBIT of $24 million and an 11.9% margin against 17.3%. Source

“These decisive actions position our business for sustained performance improvement.”

Marc Bitzer, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Margins, pricing and costs

  • North America pricing actions executed: Management said previously announced pricing actions were executed in North America, supported by new product launches. Price increases were announced in Latin America. Source
  • Gross margin fell: Gross margin was $442 million against $610 million. Cost of products sold was $3,075 million against $3,162 million. Source
  • Tariff and input costs weighed on North America: Management attributed the North America margin decline to volume decline and the unfavorable impact of tariff, raw material inflation and fuel costs, partly offset by price/mix. Source
  • Brazil margin helped by tax gain: Latin America margin was pressured by unfavorable price/mix and partly supported by a favorable Brazil tax-case gain. Source

Demand and sell-out

  • Small appliance demand described as positive: Management said underlying demand is positive, with sell-out and share gains globally. Source
  • Retailer inventory reduced small appliance sales: SDA net sales excluding currency decreased 1.2% because retailer inventory fell, despite sell-out growth. Source
  • North America industry decline lowered volume: Management attributed lower North America volume to industry decline, partly offset by favorable price/mix. Source

“By completing the $2B ABL facility and successfully issuing $2B in secured bonds, we have significantly extended our debt maturity profile and created financial flexibility to support our strategic priorities.”

Roxanne Warner, Chief Financial Officer

Cash, debt and capital

  • Operating cash outflow widened: Cash used in operating activities was $947 million for the six months, against $702 million. Free cash flow was $(1,108) million against $(856) million. Source
  • Cash rose with restricted balance: Cash and equivalents were $1,239 million at June 30, against $669 million at year end. $212 million was restricted for a debt payment made on July 1. Source
  • Equity raised earlier in 2026: Financing inflows for the six months included $524 million from common stock and $557 million from mandatory convertible preferred stock, both net of issuance costs. Source
  • Dividends paid lower, none declared: Dividends paid were $68 million for the six months, against $194 million. No dividend was declared in the second quarter, against $1.75 a share a year earlier. Source
  • Shares outstanding increased: Shares outstanding rose to 65 million from 56 million at year end. Diluted weighted-average shares were 65.2 million in the second quarter. Source

Portfolio and restructuring actions

  • Beko stake and Russia terms settled: Under the Arcelik agreement, the Beko stake sale, the Russia termination and the release of indemnities together made up the transaction. Source
  • Gain and cash proceeds recorded: Net cash proceeds were $84 million and the gain was $139 million, recorded in the second quarter. Source
  • Arcelik equity stake acquired: Whirlpool received cash consideration and acquired an approximately 2.9% equity stake in Arcelik. Source
  • Supsa closure costs in quarter: Restructuring costs of $41 million in the quarter included $33 million tied to the Supsa closure. Source
  • Other restructuring actions: Workforce and footprint actions committed in March 2026 cost $3 million in the second quarter, and other approved actions cost $5 million. Source

Interest, tax and equity method items

  • Interest expense fell: Interest expense was $63 million against $86 million. Interest and sundry was a $5 million expense against $(4) million of income. Source
  • Second-quarter GAAP tax rate: The second-quarter GAAP tax rate was 3.5%, against 23.9% a year earlier. The adjusted rate used for ongoing EPS was 25.0%. Source
  • Equity method loss narrowed: Equity method investment loss was $(5) million against $(18) million. On an ongoing basis the figure was $(1) million after an M&A charge of $4 million. Source

Coming up, as management said on 3 August 2026

  • Supsa production ends by 2027: Production at the Supsa facility in Apodaca, Mexico is expected to cease by the second quarter of 2027. Source

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management cited tariff, raw material inflation and fuel costs as unfavorable to North America margin. Source
  • Demand: Industry decline is reducing North America volume. Source
  • Demand: Lower retailer inventory reduced SDA net sales despite sell-out growth. Source
  • Financial: Interest expense expectation was raised, and the EPS range was revised to reflect it. Source
  • Financial: $212 million of June 30 cash was restricted for a debt payment made on July 1, 2026. Source
  • Operational: Restructuring costs reached $41 million in the quarter, against $2 million a year earlier, including Supsa closure expense. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said second-quarter performance was in line with expectations. Source
  • Met: Management said previously announced pricing actions were executed in North America. Source
  • Met: The transition to an asset-based facility, planned for the second quarter in the first-quarter release, is reported as completed. 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.