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Worthington Steel, Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 26 March 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales up 12% on direct volume: Net sales were $769.8 million, up $82.4 million, on higher direct volumes and higher average direct selling prices, partly offset by lower toll volumes. Source
  • Operating income fell to $3.1 million: Operating income was $3.1 million, down $15.2 million. Higher SG&A and lower gross margin were the main drivers, partly offset by favorable restructuring and impairment changes. Source
  • Diluted EPS and adjusted EPS both down: Diluted EPS attributable to controlling interest was $0.20 against $0.27. Adjusted diluted EPS, a non-GAAP measure, was $0.27 against $0.35. Source
  • Toll volumes fell 22%: Toll volumes were down 22% on the prior year quarter, so toll processing was a smaller share of total tons processed. Source
  • Gross margin fell $5.1 million: Gross margin was $76.1 million, down $5.1 million, as lower toll volumes and Sitem Group outweighed higher direct spreads. Source
  • Free cash flow of $33.3 million: Investment in property, plant and equipment was $30.0 million, against $28.6 million. Free cash flow was $33.3 million, against $25.2 million. Source
  • No control of Kloeckner at quarter end: At February 28, 2026, the company had no controlling interest in and no significant influence over Kloeckner, despite its equity purchase during the quarter. Source

“This was a challenging quarter from a macroeconomic standpoint, but our focus did not change,”

Geoff Gilmore, President and CEO of Worthington Steel

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Quarterly dividend SourcePayable June 26, 2026 (record date June 12, 2026)$0.16 per shareKept

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Entered a Business Combination Agreement with Kloeckner and launched a voluntary public tender offer at €11 per share for Kloeckner shares. Source
  • New: Used short-term borrowings to buy $101.4 million of Kloeckner equity securities during the quarter. Source
  • New: Recognized a $6.0 million pre-tax gain on the sale of assets at WSCP, reported within restructuring and other income. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net sales up 12% on direct volume: Net sales were $769.8 million, up $82.4 million, on higher direct volumes and higher average direct selling prices, partly offset by lower toll volumes. Source
  • Operating income fell to $3.1 million: Operating income was $3.1 million, down $15.2 million. Higher SG&A and lower gross margin were the main drivers, partly offset by favorable restructuring and impairment changes. Source
  • Diluted EPS and adjusted EPS both down: Diluted EPS attributable to controlling interest was $0.20 against $0.27. Adjusted diluted EPS, a non-GAAP measure, was $0.27 against $0.35. Source
  • Nine-month earnings above prior year: Nine-month diluted EPS was $1.30 against $1.09. The non-GAAP adjusted figure was $1.49 against $1.11. Source
  • Trailing EBITDA figures differ by release: Trailing 12-month adjusted EBITDA is $257.0 million for the period ended February 28, 2026. The release shows $257.3 million for the period ended November 30, 2025, against $252.4 million in the prior release. Source

Direct and toll processing

  • Direct tons grew 4%: Direct tons sold rose 4%. Growth was split evenly between the legacy business and the addition of Sitem Group. Source
  • Direct selling prices rose 9%: Direct selling prices were up 9% on the prior year quarter, a second driver of the net sales increase alongside direct volume. Source
  • Sitem Group reduced gross margin: Sitem Group reduced gross margin by $3.2 million in the quarter, which management cited alongside lower toll volumes as the drivers of the gross margin decrease. Source

“We also took an important step forward with our proposed acquisition of Kloeckner, which we believe will be transformational for Worthington Steel and support long-term value creation.”

Geoff Gilmore, President and CEO of Worthington Steel

Demand and toll volumes

  • Toll volumes fell 22%: Toll volumes were down 22% on the prior year quarter, so toll processing was a smaller share of total tons processed. Source
  • WSCP closure and mill demand cited: Management attributed the toll decline to closing the Cleveland-area WSCP plant in May 2025 and to softening demand from mill customers. Source
  • Toll spreads fell $6.4 million: Toll spreads fell $6.4 million, with $6.0 million from lower volumes and $0.4 million from an unfavorable change in toll price. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gross margin fell $5.1 million: Gross margin was $76.1 million, down $5.1 million, as lower toll volumes and Sitem Group outweighed higher direct spreads. Source
  • Inventory holding moved to a gain: Direct spreads rose on higher volumes and on an inventory holding change, from an estimated loss in the prior year quarter to an estimated gain of $2.1 million this quarter. Source
  • SG&A rose $22.9 million: SG&A increased by $22.9 million. Sitem Group accounted for $4.8 million of the increase, and most of the rest was Kloeckner-related professional fees. Source
  • Software impairments of $1.5 million: Impairment charges were $1.5 million, related to internal-use software assets, against $7.4 million in the prior year quarter. Source
  • Adjusted EBIT $20.0 million: Adjusted EBIT was $20.0 million, a 2.6% margin against 3.7%. Adjusted EBITDA was $41.6 million, a 5.4% margin against 6.1%. Source

Cash flow and balance sheet

  • Operating cash flow rose: Net cash provided by operating activities was $63.3 million, compared with $53.8 million in the prior year quarter. Source
  • Free cash flow of $33.3 million: Investment in property, plant and equipment was $30.0 million, against $28.6 million. Free cash flow was $33.3 million, against $25.2 million. Source
  • Cash balance at quarter end: Cash and cash equivalents were $90.0 million at February 28, 2026. Source

Strategy and Kloeckner transaction

  • No control of Kloeckner at quarter end: At February 28, 2026, the company had no controlling interest in and no significant influence over Kloeckner, despite its equity purchase during the quarter. Source
  • Kloeckner costs excluded from adjusted results: Management excludes Kloeckner acquisition costs from adjusted results because they relate to one strategic transaction that it expects to be transformative. Source
  • Deal costs excluded from adjusted EPS: The after-tax Kloeckner acquisition-related expenses adjustment was $11.8 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, in the quarter. Source

People and leadership

  • Safety-first culture emphasized: Management said the company stayed grounded in its safety-first culture, executed with discipline and continued to serve customers well. Source
  • About 6,000 employees, 37 facilities: The company reports approximately 6,000 employees and 37 facilities in seven states and 10 countries. Source
  • Geoff Gilmore leads as CEO: Geoff Gilmore is president and CEO of Worthington Steel and was quoted in the release. Source

Coming up, as management said on 26 March 2026

  • Kloeckner completion expected second half 2026: Completion of the Kloeckner offer is expected in the second half of calendar 2026, subject to the minimum acceptance threshold and pending regulatory approvals. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Volume (tons), third quarter of fiscal 2026 Source817,524 tons (881,410 in the prior year quarter)
Direct tons sold, change year over year Source+4%
Toll volume, change year over year Source-22%
Direct to toll tons mix Source63% direct, 37% toll (57% and 43% in the prior year quarter)

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Net debt was $161.4 million at quarter end, with total debt of $251.4 million against $90.0 million of cash. Source
  • Financial: Professional fees for the proposed Kloeckner acquisition totaled $15.4 million within SG&A during the quarter. 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.