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WillScot Holdings Corp.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

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

Key takeaways

  • Full-year 2026 guidance raised: Management raised 2026 revenue guidance to $2,250 million from $2,175 million and Adjusted EBITDA guidance to $915 million from $900 million, citing continued improving commercial demand. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin fell to 38.5%: Adjusted EBITDA was $211.0 million, a 38.5% margin against 40.9% a year earlier. Adjusted Net Income was $38.8 million against $48.7 million, and adjusted diluted EPS was $0.21 against $0.26. Source
  • Delivery revenue offset leasing decline: Leasing and services revenue was $525.0 million against $523.1 million. Leasing revenue fell 2.0% while delivery and installation revenue rose 12.3% on project activations during the quarter. Source
  • Order trends strengthened through April: Management said order and activation trends kept strengthening through April, giving better visibility into the second half, with a growing volume of larger projects. Source
  • Local-market demand not yet improved: Management said demand across local markets has not improved. It describes that picture as stabilizing and says it remains cautious. Source
  • Operating and free cash flow lower: Operating cash flow was $191.1 million against $206.6 million. Adjusted Free Cash Flow was $115.6 million, a 21.1% margin, against $144.8 million at 25.9%. Source

“Our first quarter 2026 results were encouraging, with clear progress across our commercial and operational priorities for the year.”

Tim Boswell, President and Chief Executive Officer of WillScot

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue Sourcefull year 2026$2,250 millionRaised from $2,175 million
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull year 2026$915 millionRaised from $900 million
Net CAPEX Sourcefull year 2026$325 millionRaised from $275 million
Estimated cash interest expense Sourceannual, based on current debt structure and benchmark ratesapproximately $202 million (approximately $215 million including non-cash amortization of deferred financing fees)Lowered from approximately $206 million

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: 2026 revenue guidance raised to $2,250 million from $2,175 million. Source
  • Guidance raised: 2026 Adjusted EBITDA guidance raised to $915 million from $900 million. Source
  • Guidance raised: 2026 Net CAPEX guidance raised to $325 million from $275 million. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Estimated annual cash interest expense lowered to about $202 million from about $206 million. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Full-year 2026 guidance raised: Management raised 2026 revenue guidance to $2,250 million from $2,175 million and Adjusted EBITDA guidance to $915 million from $900 million, citing continued improving commercial demand. Source
  • Revenue and net income below prior year: Revenue was $548.6 million against $559.6 million a year earlier. Net income was $28.1 million against $43.1 million, and diluted EPS was $0.15 against $0.23. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin fell to 38.5%: Adjusted EBITDA was $211.0 million, a 38.5% margin against 40.9% a year earlier. Adjusted Net Income was $38.8 million against $48.7 million, and adjusted diluted EPS was $0.21 against $0.26. Source
  • Delivery revenue offset leasing decline: Leasing and services revenue was $525.0 million against $523.1 million. Leasing revenue fell 2.0% while delivery and installation revenue rose 12.3% on project activations during the quarter. Source

Leasing lines and product mix

  • Modular and portable storage leasing lower: Modular space leasing revenue was $243.8 million against $245.9 million, and portable storage leasing revenue was $72.5 million against $77.0 million. Source
  • VAPS and third-party leasing steady: VAPS and third-party leasing revenues were $97.1 million against $96.3 million. Other leasing-related revenue was $12.1 million against $15.2 million. Source
  • New unit sales revenue fell: New unit sales revenue was $9.0 million against $22.4 million, while rental unit sales revenue was $14.6 million against $14.1 million. Source
  • Write-offs reduced leasing revenue: Write-offs of uncollectible lease receivables were recorded as a $13.0 million reduction to revenue, against $10.6 million a year earlier. Source

“We remain focused on advancing initiatives that are within our control to strengthen our competitive positioning, serve our customers, and drive long-term shareholder value creation.”

Tim Boswell, President and Chief Executive Officer of WillScot

Demand and order book

  • Order trends strengthened through April: Management said order and activation trends kept strengthening through April, giving better visibility into the second half, with a growing volume of larger projects. Source
  • Larger projects in four sectors: Demand from larger projects rose most notably in data center, power generation and utility, diversified manufacturing, and events sectors. Source
  • Local-market demand not yet improved: Management said demand across local markets has not improved. It describes that picture as stabilizing and says it remains cautious. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Leasing and delivery costs rose: Cost of leasing and services was $96.0 million against $88.1 million, and delivery and installation costs were $83.2 million against $73.8 million. Source
  • Gross margin narrowed to 52.1%: Gross profit was $285.7 million against $300.4 million, a 52.1% gross profit margin against 53.7% a year earlier. Source
  • Selling and administrative expense eased: Selling, general and administrative expense was $154.0 million against $156.8 million. Other depreciation and amortization was $23.7 million against $23.1 million. Source
  • Restructuring charges rose sharply: Restructuring costs, lease impairment and related charges were $11.3 million against $0.7 million in the prior-year quarter. Source

“While these items naturally weigh on Adjusted EBITDA margins in the short-term, we expect that these activity levels will support units-on-rent and an increased lease revenue run-rate heading into the second half of the year.”

Matt Jacobsen, Chief Financial Officer of WillScot

Cash, capital and shareholder returns

  • Operating and free cash flow lower: Operating cash flow was $191.1 million against $206.6 million. Adjusted Free Cash Flow was $115.6 million, a 21.1% margin, against $144.8 million at 25.9%. Source
  • Net CAPEX rose to $89 million: Net CAPEX was $89.3 million against $61.8 million a year earlier, covering maintenance needs and higher-value products tied to large project demand. Source
  • Total debt reduced by $76 million: Total debt was $3,514 million and net debt $3,499 million. Net debt to Adjusted EBITDA was 3.7x on last twelve months Adjusted EBITDA of $953 million. Source
  • Revolver availability about $1.5 billion: Availability under the asset-based revolving credit facility was approximately $1.5 billion at quarter end. Source
  • Buybacks and dividend continued: Repurchased 352,900 shares for $7 million, a 1.2% reduction in the share count over 12 months. Paid a $0.07 quarterly dividend on March 18, 2026. Source

Network, strategy and operations

  • Route optimization platform rolling out: Management said it is rolling out a route optimization and dispatch platform in the field to support increased activity levels. Source
  • Fleet activation to shorten lead times: Management said it is activating fleet to increase availability and minimize lead times across the network. Source
  • Focus on enterprise accounts: Management named enterprise accounts, new verticals and expanded offerings as strategic focus areas. Source

Coming up, as management said on 7 May 2026

  • Second-half leasing revenue growth: Management said there is a credible path to year-over-year leasing revenue growth in the second half of 2026. Source
  • Next debt maturity August 2028: The company's next debt maturity is in August 2028. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Branch locations Sourceapproximately 250

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management flagged continued softness in other transactional product categories. Source
  • Financial: About 10% of debt is floating after swaps, so part of the debt moves with benchmark rates. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management is executing the Network Optimization Plan it announced earlier. The documents give no completion status. 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.