Second Quarter 2026
Filed Jul 30, 2026Exceptional Sales Growth and Operational Execution Drive Strong Earnings
Second-quarter net sales increased 7.7%, GAAP operating earnings increased 25.3%, as adjusted operating earnings increased 19.1%, and the company increased its 2026 full-year guidance.
Key metrics
as reported| Metric | Value | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net SalesGAAP | $1,557.8 million | – | 7.7% |
| Net Salesnon-GAAP | $1,557.8 million | – | 7.7 % |
| Operating EarningsGAAP | $129.4 million | – | 25.3 % |
| Adjusted Operating Earningsnon-GAAP | $150.1 million | – | 19.1 % |
| Operating MarginGAAP | 8.3 % | – | 120 bps |
| Adjusted Operating Marginnon-GAAP | 9.6 % | – | 90 bps |
| Diluted EPS from Continuing OperationsGAAP | $1.66 | – | 84.4 % |
| Adjusted Diluted EPS from Continuing Operationsnon-GAAP | $1.56 | – | 34.5 % |
| Cash and marketable securitiesother | $299.7 million | – | – |
| Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations during the first six months of 2026GAAP | $251.5 million | – | – |
| Capital expenditures during the first half of 2026other | $98.6 million | – | – |
| Net cash used from investing and financing activities during the first half of 2026other | $224.3 million | – | – |
Full-year 2026 and third quarter 2026 outlook
- Revenue$5.7 billion to $5.8 billion
- NoteAdjusted operating margin: ~8.0 percent
- NoteAdjusted diluted EPS: $4.35 to $4.75
- NoteFree cash flow: $400 million or more
- NoteThird quarter 2026 revenue: $1.4 billion to $1.5 billion
- NoteThird quarter 2026 adjusted diluted EPS: $1.20 to $1.40
- NoteFull-year incremental tariffs: approximately $40 million
- NoteNet IEEPA refunds expected to be recognized in 2026: approximately $25 to $30 million
Capital returns
- have repurchased $35 million of shares year-to-date
- $31.2 million of share repurchases during the first half of 2026
- $57.2 million of dividend payments during the first half of 2026
- remain on track to retire at least $160 million of debt this year
What drove it
- Sales growth reflected steady OEM orders, continued strong P&A and aftermarket performance driven by healthy boating participation, pricing taken in previous periods, and improved mix.
- Adjusted operating earnings and margins benefited from higher sales, favorable mix, strong operating execution, and IEEPA refunds.
- Propulsion sales increased 8 percent, driven primarily by healthy OEM orders, steady market share, and pricing actions taken in recent quarters.
- Engine Parts and Accessories sales increased 9 percent, led by strong boater participation, demand for parts and accessories, and past pricing actions.
- Navico Group sales increased 7 percent, with growth across business lines supported by increased OEM demand from new products, sustained boating participation supporting the aftermarket, and pricing.
- Boat sales increased 5 percent, driven by beneficial mix from premium models, improved pricing and discounting, and growth in Freedom Boat Club.
- Freedom Boat Club announced its 450th global network location and achieved a record 13 percent growth in first-half trips.
Concerns
- Certain parts of the U.S. and global new boat market remained pressured in the quarter, primarily in the value segments, as macro uncertainty and the prolonged conflict in Iran weighed on consumer sentiment.
- Elevated material and labor inflation, incremental tariffs, increased variable compensation, and accelerated product development investment were costs in the quarter.
- The tariff environment remains fluid.
- Prolonged geopolitical uncertainty and inflation are weighing on consumer sentiment.
What to watch
- Delivery against full-year net sales guidance of $5.7 billion to $5.8 billion.
- Delivery against full-year adjusted operating margin guidance of ~8.0 percent and adjusted diluted EPS guidance of $4.35 to $4.75.
- Third quarter 2026 revenue guidance of $1.4 billion to $1.5 billion and adjusted diluted EPS guidance of $1.20 to $1.40.
- The expected approximately $40 million of full-year incremental tariffs and approximately $25 to $30 million of net IEEPA refunds expected to be recognized in 2026.
- Progress toward at least $160 million of debt retirement this year.
- Boat and engine pipeline health, premium and core market resilience, and conditions in the value segments.
Balance sheet and cash flow
- Cash and marketable securities totaled $299.7 million at the end of the second quarter, up $24.0 million from 2025 year-end levels.
- Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations during the first six months of 2026 was $251.5 million.
- Investing and financing activities resulted in net cash used of $224.3 million during the first half of 2026.
- $98.6 million of capital expenditures during the first half of 2026.
- $28.2 million of cash paid for the acquisition of the greater Boston & Cape Cod Freedom Boat Club franchise operations.
Analysis
Brunswick reported a strong second quarter, with consolidated net sales of $1,557.8 million, up 7.7%, alongside GAAP operating earnings of $129.4 million, up 25.3%, and adjusted operating earnings of $150.1 million, up 19.1%. GAAP operating margin improved 120 bps to 8.3%, while adjusted operating margin improved 90 bps to 9.6%. GAAP diluted EPS from continuing operations was $1.66, up 84.4%, and adjusted diluted EPS was $1.56, up 34.5%.
Management attributed sales growth to steady OEM orders, strong P&A and aftermarket activity, healthy boating participation, prior-period pricing, and improved mix. All four reporting segments recorded year-over-year sales growth. Propulsion increased 8%, Engine Parts and Accessories increased 9%, Navico Group increased 7%, and Boat increased 5%. The business mix favored premium and core boat brands, while Freedom Boat Club expanded to its 450th global network location and posted record 13 percent growth in first-half trips.
Margins benefited from higher sales, favorable mix, operational execution, and IEEPA tariff refunds. These gains more than offset inflationary pressures, variable compensation, incremental tariffs, and accelerated product-development investment. Navico Group recorded the largest reported improvement in adjusted operating earnings, up 143%, with adjusted operating margin expansion of 680 basis points. Management also stated that adjusted earnings and margin at Navico Group increased significantly even excluding the net IEEPA impact.
The balance sheet and cash flow disclosures show $299.7 million of cash and marketable securities at quarter end, up $24.0 million from 2025 year-end levels. Continuing-operations operating cash flow was $251.5 million during the first six months of 2026. Capital allocation included $98.6 million of capital expenditures, $57.2 million of dividends, $31.2 million of share repurchases, and $28.2 million for the greater Boston & Cape Cod Freedom Boat Club franchise acquisition. Management also stated that it had repurchased $35 million of shares year-to-date and remained on track to retire at least $160 million of debt this year.
Brunswick increased its full-year outlook to net sales of $5.7 billion to $5.8 billion, adjusted operating margin of ~8.0 percent, adjusted diluted EPS of $4.35 to $4.75, and free cash flow of $400 million or more. The outlook incorporates approximately $40 million of full-year incremental tariffs and approximately $25 to $30 million of net IEEPA refunds expected to be recognized in 2026. The key counterweight is continued pressure in value-oriented new boat markets amid geopolitical uncertainty and inflation, although management described premium and core markets, channel dynamics, OEM demand, and boating participation as resilient.
Management, verbatim
Brunswick delivered a strong second quarter despite a turbulent macroeconomic and geopolitical environment, with financial performance ahead of expectations and year-over-year sales growth across all reporting segments for the fourth consecutive quarter.
David Foulkes, Brunswick Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
While prolonged geopolitical uncertainty and inflation are certainly weighing on consumer sentiment, we continue to see some encouraging indicators across the marine ecosystem.
David Foulkes, Brunswick Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Not in the filing
stated, not guessed- Period-end date for the second quarter of 2026.
- GAAP net income.
- Gross profit and gross margin.
- Prior-year and prior-quarter dollar values for net sales, operating earnings, operating margin, and diluted EPS.
- Quarter-over-quarter comparisons for reported metrics.
- Reported segment revenue dollars for Propulsion, Engine Parts and Accessories, Navico Group, and Boat.
- Reported segment adjusted operating earnings dollar values and adjusted operating margin percentages.
- Actual free cash flow for the reported period.
- Total debt balance and net debt balance.
- Prior guidance, which was not provided, preventing comparison of actual performance with prior guidance.
- GAAP reconciliation values for adjusted operating earnings, adjusted operating margin, free cash flow, and adjusted diluted EPS, as the referenced reconciliation tables were not included in the provided filing text.
AlphaAI 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.