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Worthington Steel, Inc.: Q1 FY2027 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2027, from the documents filed with the SEC on 7 October 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales rose 212% on Kloeckner: Kloeckner contributed $1,772.7 million of sales. Excluding Kloeckner, net sales rose 9%, driven mainly by higher direct volumes and, to a lesser extent, higher average direct selling prices. Source
  • Kloeckner lifted operating income: Operating income was $56.0 million, up $7.7 million, with Kloeckner adding $24.2 million. Excluding Kloeckner, operating income fell $16.5 million, mainly on higher SG&A. Source
  • Net loss from continuing operations: Net loss attributable to controlling interest was $7.0 million, against net earnings of $36.8 million a year earlier. Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.57, against $0.77. Source
  • Inventory step-up reduced Kloeckner margin: Kloeckner gross margin absorbed an approximately $43 million net inventory fair value step-up recognized at acquisition. Source
  • Gross margin rose $146.0 million: Kloeckner contributed $144.0 million of gross margin. Excluding Kloeckner, gross margin rose $2.0 million. Source
  • Free cash flow was negative $69.0 million: Capital spending was $63.0 million, against $29.4 million a year earlier. Prior-year free cash flow was negative $35.7 million. Source
  • Total debt increased to $2.2 billion: Net debt was $1,948.2 million, against $172.2 million at May 31, 2026. Source

“This quarter marks an important milestone for Worthington Steel as we report our first results including Kloeckner,”

Geoff Gilmore, president and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Quarterly dividend per share SourceDividend payable December 28, 2026$0.16 per common shareKept

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Entered a domination and profit and loss transfer agreement with Kloeckner on September 8, 2026, after quarter end. Source
  • New: Delisting tender offer at €11.00 per share closed, and Kloeckner shares left the Frankfurt regulated market. Source
  • New: Ownership of Kloeckner rose to about 62.11% after settlement of the delisting tender offer. Source
  • New: Kloeckner business units held for sale at acquisition are reported as discontinued operations, with prior periods recast. Source
  • New: Adjusted EBITDA now includes the full adjusted EBITDA of consolidated operations, including noncontrolling interests, with prior-year amounts recast. Source
  • Ended: The former revolving credit facility was replaced by a new asset-based revolving credit facility tied to the Kloeckner financing. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net sales rose 212% on Kloeckner: Kloeckner contributed $1,772.7 million of sales. Excluding Kloeckner, net sales rose 9%, driven mainly by higher direct volumes and, to a lesser extent, higher average direct selling prices. Source
  • Kloeckner lifted operating income: Operating income was $56.0 million, up $7.7 million, with Kloeckner adding $24.2 million. Excluding Kloeckner, operating income fell $16.5 million, mainly on higher SG&A. Source
  • Net loss from continuing operations: Net loss attributable to controlling interest was $7.0 million, against net earnings of $36.8 million a year earlier. Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.57, against $0.77. Source
  • Adjusted EBIT and EBITDA higher: Adjusted EBIT margin was 2.9%, against 6.4%. Adjusted EBITDA was $111.0 million, against $78.8 million, under the revised EBITDA definition. Source

Kloeckner and legacy business

  • Kloeckner consolidated with minority shown: Consolidation runs from the June 3, 2026 acquisition date. The portion of Kloeckner not owned by the company appears as noncontrolling interests. Source
  • Inventory step-up reduced Kloeckner margin: Kloeckner gross margin absorbed an approximately $43 million net inventory fair value step-up recognized at acquisition. Source
  • Kloeckner restructuring gain of $3.6 million: The gain relates to early retirement and severance costs, facility exit and other costs, and fixed-asset sales in Louisiana and Switzerland. Source

“The addition of Kloeckner significantly expands our capabilities and positions us as a more diversified metals processing and manufacturing company.”

Geoff Gilmore, president and CEO

Volumes, mix and selling prices

  • Direct tons and prices both rose: Direct net sales rose $81.7 million. Direct tons sold rose 3% and direct selling prices rose 6% against the prior year quarter. Source
  • Toll volumes fell, toll prices rose: Toll processing net sales decreased $0.7 million, or 2%, compared with the prior year quarter, as toll volume fell while toll prices moved up. Source
  • Direct share of tons rose: Consolidated direct tons were 77% of tons processed, against 63% a year earlier. Excluding Kloeckner, the direct share was 66%. Source

Costs, margins and spreads

  • Gross margin rose $146.0 million: Kloeckner contributed $144.0 million of gross margin. Excluding Kloeckner, gross margin rose $2.0 million. Source
  • Direct spreads up on volume and inventory gain: A $0.2 million unfavorable pricing effect was included. The inventory holding gain was estimated at $12.1 million, against $5.6 million a year earlier. Source
  • Toll spreads and manufacturing expenses: Toll spreads decreased $0.9 million. Manufacturing expenses rose on higher wages and benefits. Source
  • SG&A rose on professional fees: Legacy SG&A rose $17.6 million, mainly on Kloeckner transaction professional fees. Restructuring and other changed unfavorably by $1.0 million. Source

“At the same time, our core Worthington Steel business delivered solid operating performance, driven by higher direct volumes and improved pricing.”

Geoff Gilmore, president and CEO

Cash, debt and capital returns

  • Free cash flow was negative $69.0 million: Capital spending was $63.0 million, against $29.4 million a year earlier. Prior-year free cash flow was negative $35.7 million. Source
  • Operating cash use of $6.0 million: Cash and cash equivalents were $248.2 million at quarter end, up from $84.6 million at May 31, 2026. Source
  • Total debt increased to $2.2 billion: Net debt was $1,948.2 million, against $172.2 million at May 31, 2026. Source
  • Acquisition outflow and new long-term debt: Acquisitions, net of cash acquired, used $545.2 million. Proceeds from long-term debt, net of issuance costs, were $1,568.7 million. Source
  • Dividends paid $8.2 million: Dividends paid were $8.2 million, against $8.1 million. Purchases of noncontrolling interest in Kloeckner used $15.9 million. Source

Kloeckner control path and footprint

  • Milestone toward operating control: Management called the stake a milestone toward eventual operating control and value capture. Source
  • Noncontrolling interests on balance sheet: Noncontrolling interests rose to $604.2 million from $134.3 million, while controlling-interest equity was $1,032.3 million. Source
  • Workforce and facility footprint: The release cites about 12,000 employees and 150 facilities, against about 6,000 and 37 in the prior release. These counts reflect the expected combined organization after the DPLTA becomes effective. Source

Non-GAAP adjustments

  • Acquisition costs excluded from adjusted results: Kloeckner acquisition-related expenses of $22.6 million in operating income were excluded, mainly advisory, legal and professional fees. Source
  • Securities remeasurement loss excluded: The $15.5 million loss, equal to $0.24 per diluted share after tax, is excluded from adjusted results. Source
  • Discrete tax charge excluded: A $0.11 per diluted share deferred tax adjustment is excluded from adjusted EPS. It does not change EBIT or EBITDA. Source

Coming up, as management said on 7 October 2026

  • DPLTA effectiveness timing: Effectiveness needs Kloeckner shareholder approval and registration at the commercial register, and cannot occur before January 1, 2027. Source
  • Kloeckner operates independently until then: Kloeckner continues to operate on its own until the agreement becomes effective. Source
  • Disposal Group sale expected within one year: Kloeckner management committed to a plan to sell the Disposal Group, and the company expects completion within one year of the acquisition. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total volume (tons) Source1,943,340 tons
Direct volume (tons) Source1,501,949 tons
Toll volume (tons) Source441,391 tons
Direct tons sold, change year over year Source3% increase
Toll volume, change year over year Source8% decrease

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The prior-year restructuring income was a gain on an asset sale tied to the previously announced closure of the Cleveland toll facility. 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.