Fiscal 2026 third quarter
Filed Jul 30, 2026Air Products Reports Fiscal 2026 Third Quarter Results
Adjusted EPS of $3.47 exceeded the top end of guidance and adjusted operating income rose nine percent, but reported GAAP results included an operating loss of $2.1 billion and loss per share of $6.47 driven by approximately $2.9 billion pre-tax project-exit charges.
Key metrics
as reported| Metric | Value | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| SalesGAAP | $3.2 billion | – | increased five percent |
| Sales volumesother | three percent higher volumes | – | three percent higher volumes |
| Sales pricingother | one percent higher pricing | – | one percent higher pricing |
| Sales currency impactother | one percent favorable currency | – | one percent favorable currency |
| Operating incomeGAAP | operating loss of $2.1 billion | – | down over 300 percent |
| Operating marginGAAP | negative 66.3 percent | – | – |
| Loss per shareGAAP | loss per share of $6.47 | – | down over 300 percent |
| Adjusted operating incomenon-GAAP | $810 million | – | increased nine percent |
| Adjusted operating marginnon-GAAP | 25.6 percent | – | improved 110 basis points |
| Adjusted EPSnon-GAAP | $3.47 | – | increased 12 percent |
| Project exit chargesGAAP | approximately $2.9 billion pre-tax | – | – |
| Project exit chargesGAAP | $2.2 billion after-tax | – | – |
| Project exit charges per shareGAAP | $9.92 per share | – | – |
| Americas operating incomeGAAP | $395 million | – | increased six percent |
| Americas operating marginGAAP | 29.9 percent | – | increased 20 basis points |
| Asia operating incomeGAAP | $256 million | – | increased 18 percent |
| Asia operating marginGAAP | 28.9 percent | – | improved 210 basis points |
| Europe operating incomeGAAP | $231 million | – | increased two percent |
| Europe operating marginGAAP | 28.3 percent | – | decreased 90 basis points |
| Middle East and India equity affiliates' incomeGAAP | $101 million | – | increased 18 percent |
| Corporate and other operating lossGAAP | $80 million | – | improved three percent |
Segments
| Segment | Revenue | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| AmericasSeven percent higher volumes were partially offset by two percent lower energy cost pass-through. Operating income growth was driven by volume growth from HyCO facilities and a new on-site asset, and favorable pricing, partially offset by higher costs. | $1.3 billion | – | increased five percent |
| AsiaSix percent higher volumes, two percent favorable currency, and one percent higher energy cost pass-through. Volume growth was driven by higher on-site volumes, including new assets, as well as improved helium volumes. | $886 million | – | increased nine percent |
| EuropeThree percent higher energy cost pass-through, three percent favorable currency, and two percent higher pricing were partially offset by two percent lower volumes. Operating income benefited from higher pricing, net of higher power costs, favorable currency, and favorable business mix attributable to higher-margin on-site volumes. | $816 million | – | increased six percent |
| Middle East and IndiaGrowth was primarily from affiliates in Saudi Arabia. | equity affiliates' income of $101 million | – | increased 18 percent |
| Corporate and otherOperating loss improved on productivity and favorable foreign exchange impacts, partially offset by lower sale of equipment activity. | $103 million | – | decreased 28 percent |
Fiscal 2026 full year and fiscal 2026 fourth quarter outlook
- NoteFull-year fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS guidance: $13.39 to $13.49
- NoteFiscal 2026 fourth quarter adjusted EPS guidance: $3.55 to $3.65
- NoteFull-year fiscal 2026 capital expenditures: approximately $3.5 billion
What drove it
- Third quarter sales increased five percent on three percent higher volumes, one percent higher pricing, and one percent favorable currency.
- Adjusted operating income increased nine percent on higher on-site volumes, favorable currency, and higher pricing, partially offset by higher costs.
- Adjusted EPS increased 12 percent and benefited from higher equity affiliates' income.
- The company expects benefits from new asset contributions, pricing actions, and progress on productivity initiatives.
- Air Products announced a long-term agreement for Air Products San Fu to build, own and operate four air separation units, bulk gas supply systems, and underground pipeline systems supporting a semiconductor manufacturer's expansion in Taiwan.
- Air Products finalized a marketing and distribution agreement with Yara for renewable ammonia from the NEOM Green Hydrogen Project in Saudi Arabia.
Concerns
- GAAP results were driven by charges associated with project exit decisions announced on June 30, 2026.
- Air Products announced the decision not to proceed with the Louisiana Clean Energy Complex and to discontinue the zero-carbon liquid hydrogen facility in Arizona and other smaller-scale clean energy distribution projects.
- Higher costs affected adjusted operating income and segment performance, including fixed-cost inflation, product distribution and dislocation costs, project development costs, power costs, and incentive compensation.
- Europe recorded two percent lower volumes and a 90-basis-point decline in operating margin.
- Management remains cautious given macroeconomic uncertainty.
What to watch
- Delivery of fiscal 2026 fourth quarter adjusted EPS guidance of $3.55 to $3.65.
- Execution of the approximately $3.5 billion full-year fiscal 2026 capital expenditure expectation.
- Contributions from new on-site assets, including HyCO facilities and new assets in Asia.
- Progress on pricing actions and productivity initiatives against higher operating costs.
- Execution of the Air Products San Fu project and the Yara marketing and distribution agreement for NEOM renewable ammonia.
Analysis
Air Products reported a five percent increase in third quarter sales to $3.2 billion, supported by three percent higher volumes, one percent higher pricing, and one percent favorable currency. Underlying profitability improved, with adjusted operating income of $810 million up nine percent, adjusted operating margin of 25.6 percent up 110 basis points, and adjusted EPS of $3.47 up 12 percent. The release states that adjusted EPS exceeded the top end of guidance and that higher equity affiliates' income also benefited adjusted EPS.
Reported GAAP results diverged sharply from the adjusted outcome because of project-exit charges announced on June 30, 2026. The company recorded approximately $2.9 billion pre-tax and $2.2 billion after-tax of charges, or $9.92 per share, associated with those decisions. Consequently, it reported an operating loss of $2.1 billion, loss per share of $6.47, and a negative 66.3 percent GAAP operating margin, compared with 26.2 percent in the prior year.
Regional operating performance was led by Asia, where sales increased nine percent and operating income increased 18 percent as higher on-site volumes, new assets, and improved helium volumes supported results. Americas sales rose five percent and operating income increased six percent, with HyCO volume growth, a new on-site asset, and pricing offsetting higher cost pressures. Europe sales increased six percent despite lower volumes, but its operating margin declined 90 basis points as energy cost pass-through created an approximate 50-basis-point headwind.
Capital allocation and portfolio strategy are central to the release. Air Products decided not to proceed with the Louisiana Clean Energy Complex and to discontinue the Casa Grande zero-carbon liquid hydrogen facility and other smaller-scale clean energy distribution projects. It now expects fiscal 2026 capital expenditures of approximately $3.5 billion. At the same time, the company highlighted the Taiwan semiconductor supply agreement and the Yara agreement supporting renewable ammonia from NEOM.
Management raised full-year fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to $13.39 to $13.49 and set fourth-quarter adjusted EPS guidance at $3.55 to $3.65. The outlook cites expected contributions from new assets, pricing actions, and productivity initiatives, while retaining caution regarding macroeconomic uncertainty. Investors should focus on whether those underlying levers sustain adjusted margin progress while the company executes project exits and lower capital spending.
Management, verbatim
Despite macroeconomic volatility, Air Products delivered 12 percent growth in adjusted EPS and high single-digit adjusted operating income improvement this quarter through continued discipline in our underlying business. Having taken additional decisions to further optimize our large project portfolio, we have a clear pathway to reduce capital expenditures and drive continued profitable growth through high-quality, traditional industrial gas projects. We are also pleased to have finalized our marketing and distribution agreement with Yara, creating the first fully integrated value chain for renewable ammonia by enabling product from the world's first large-scale green ammonia plant to be sold and delivered through Yara's existing global supply chain.
Eduardo Menezes, Chief Executive Officer
Not in the filing
stated, not guessed- Period-end date
- GAAP net income or loss amount
- Prior-year and prior-quarter sales amounts
- Prior-year and prior-quarter GAAP operating income amounts
- Prior-year and prior-quarter GAAP loss per share amounts
- Prior-year and prior-quarter adjusted operating income amounts
- Prior-year and prior-quarter adjusted EPS amounts
- Gross profit and gross margin
- Operating cash flow
- Free cash flow
- Cash and cash equivalents
- Debt
- Share repurchases
- Dividends
- Full-year fiscal 2026 revenue guidance
- Full-year fiscal 2026 gross-margin guidance
- Full-year fiscal 2026 operating-expense guidance
- Full-year fiscal 2026 tax-rate guidance
- Fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 revenue guidance
- Fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 gross-margin guidance
- Fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 operating-expense guidance
- Fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 tax-rate guidance
- Previous release outlook for comparison with actual results
AlphAI analysis generated from the company’s SEC earnings filing (Form 8-K Item 2.02, or Form 6-K for a foreign private issuer). Every figure was cross-checked against the filing text; consensus estimates, price targets and share-price reactions are not shown because they are not in the filing. AI-generated research, not investment advice.