Third Quarter 2026
Filed Oct 29, 2026Brunswick Reports Strong Third Quarter Results; Increasing 2026 Full-Year Guidance: As Adjusted Diluted EPS of approximately $4.65
Third-quarter net sales increased 6.9%, all reporting segments grew sales, adjusted operating earnings increased 37.9%, adjusted operating margin expanded 230 basis points, and adjusted diluted EPS increased 62.9%. The company increased full-year guidance while maintaining targets for free cash flow, debt retirement, and share repurchases.
Key metrics
shortened, hover for the filing’s print| Metric | Value | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net sales, three months ended October 3, 2026GAAP | $1.45B | – | 6.9% |
| Cost of sales, three months ended October 3, 2026GAAP | $1.04B | – | 3% |
| Selling, general and administrative expense, three months ended October 3, 2026GAAP | $237.5M | – | 10% |
| Research and development expense, three months ended October 3, 2026GAAP | $49.2M | – | 13% |
| Restructuring, exit and impairment charges, three months ended October 3, 2026GAAP | $21.1M | – | (94)% |
| Operating earnings, three months ended October 3, 2026GAAP | $104M | – | NM |
| Operating margin, three months ended October 3, 2026GAAP | 7.2% | – | NM |
| Adjusted operating earnings, three months ended October 3, 2026non-GAAP | $146.7M | – | 37.9% |
| Adjusted operating margin, three months ended October 3, 2026non-GAAP | 10.1% | – | 230 bps |
| Net earnings from continuing operations, three months ended October 3, 2026GAAP | $65.6M | – | NM |
| Net earnings, three months ended October 3, 2026GAAP | $61.6M | – | NM |
| Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations, three months ended October 3, 2026GAAP | $1.01 | – | NM |
| Diluted net earnings per share, three months ended October 3, 2026GAAP | $0.95 | – | NM |
| Adjusted net earnings from continuing operations, three months ended October 3, 2026non-GAAP | $102.9M | – | – |
| Adjusted diluted earnings per share, three months ended October 3, 2026non-GAAP | $1.58 | – | 62.9% |
| Effective tax rate, three months ended October 3, 2026GAAP | 20.9% | – | NM |
| Net sales, nine months ended October 3, 2026GAAP | $4.39B | – | 9% |
| Operating earnings, nine months ended October 3, 2026GAAP | $283.7M | – | NM |
| Adjusted operating earnings, nine months ended October 3, 2026non-GAAP | $379.4M | – | 24.6% |
| Adjusted operating margin, nine months ended October 3, 2026non-GAAP | 8.6% | – | – |
| Net earnings from continuing operations, nine months ended October 3, 2026GAAP | $194.8M | – | NM |
| Net earnings, nine months ended October 3, 2026GAAP | $192.4M | – | NM |
| Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations, nine months ended October 3, 2026GAAP | $2.97 | – | NM |
| Adjusted diluted earnings per share, nine months ended October 3, 2026non-GAAP | $3.83 | – | – |
| Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations, nine months ended October 3, 2026GAAP | $438.8M | – | – |
| Free cash flow, nine months ended October 3, 2026non-GAAP | $301.1M | – | – |
| Cash and cash equivalents, October 3, 2026GAAP | $257.8M | – | – |
| Total cash and short-term investments in marketable securities, October 3, 2026GAAP | $279.4M | – | – |
| Short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt, October 3, 2026GAAP | $195.1M | – | – |
| Debt, October 3, 2026GAAP | $1.81B | – | – |
| Debt-to-capitalization rate, October 3, 2026other | 54.2% | – | – |
Segments
| Segment | Revenue | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| PropulsionSteady OEM demand in a low pipeline environment and growth in high-horsepower outboard applications. | $570.5M | – | 6.6% |
| Engine Parts & AccessoriesSustained boating participation, distribution share gains, and broad-based regional growth. | $380.9M | – | 4.7% |
| Navico GroupGrowth across all business lines supported by OEM demand, steady aftermarket sales, product launches, and new customer wins. | $197.7M | – | 5.8% |
| BoatStrength in premium and core products and continued momentum in the Business Acceleration portfolio. | $394.4M | – | 9.5% |
Full-year 2026 outlook
- Revenue$5.7 billion to $5.8 billion
- NoteAdjusted operating margin: approximately 8.0 percent
- NoteAdjusted diluted EPS: approximately $4.65
- NoteFree cash flow: $400 million or more
- NoteDebt retirement: $160 million or more
- NoteShare repurchases: $80 million or more
Capital returns
- $75 million of shares bought back year-to-date, according to the Chief Executive Officer commentary.
- Common stock repurchases of $60.0 million during the first nine months of 2026.
- Cash dividends paid of $85.7 million during the first nine months of 2026.
- Full-year 2026 share repurchases guidance: $80 million or more.
- Full-year 2026 debt retirement guidance: $160 million or more.
What drove it
- Consolidated sales growth reflected steady OEM demand, pricing actions taken in previous periods, continued market share gains, and healthy boating participation supporting parts, accessories, and aftermarket demand.
- Adjusted operating earnings and adjusted margins benefited from stronger sales, operational strength and efficiency, improved absorption on higher production, favorable mix, disciplined cost management, and lapping of last year's tariff impacts.
- Propulsion adjusted operating earnings increased 51.1% and adjusted operating margin expanded 350 bps.
- Engine Parts & Accessories adjusted operating earnings increased 13.6% and adjusted operating margin expanded 190 bps.
- Navico Group adjusted operating earnings increased 36.4% and adjusted operating margin expanded 140 bps.
- Boat adjusted operating earnings increased 100.0% and adjusted operating margin expanded 160 bps.
Concerns
- Persistent inflation, higher borrowing costs, and geopolitical uncertainty continued to pressure value categories.
- Material, freight, labor, commodity, and other material input cost inflation remained headwinds.
- Consumer sentiment remained pressured by inflation, borrowing costs, and global uncertainty.
- Nine-month free cash flow declined to $301.1 million from $354.6 million, while capital expenditures increased to $148.9 million from $116.5 million.
- Corporate/other adjusted operating loss was $(41.7) million in the third quarter, compared with $(37.3) million in the prior-year quarter.
What to watch
- Delivery against full-year net sales guidance of $5.7 billion to $5.8 billion and adjusted diluted EPS guidance of approximately $4.65.
- Delivery of full-year adjusted operating margin of approximately 8.0 percent.
- Conversion of operating cash flow into free cash flow of $400 million or more.
- Progress toward debt retirement of $160 million or more and share repurchases of $80 million or more.
- OEM demand, pipeline inventory, high-horsepower outboard applications, aftermarket demand, and premium and core boat product demand.
- Aine Denari's succession as Chief Executive Officer effective January 1, 2027.
Balance sheet and cash flow
- Cash and marketable securities totaled $279.4 million at the end of the third quarter, up $3.7 million from 2025 year-end levels.
- Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations was $438.8 million during the first nine months of 2026, compared with $451.1 million in the prior-year period.
- Free cash flow was $301.1 million during the first nine months of 2026, compared with $354.6 million in the prior-year period.
- Capital expenditures were $148.9 million during the first nine months of 2026, compared with $116.5 million in the prior-year period.
- Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired, was $(32.5) million during the first nine months of 2026.
- Debt was $1,806.4 million at October 3, 2026, compared with $1,806.8 million at December 31, 2025.
- Debt-to-capitalization rate was 54.2% at October 3, 2026, compared with 56.4% at December 31, 2025.
Analysis
Brunswick reported broad-based third-quarter growth, with consolidated net sales of $1,453.9 million, up 6.9%. Each reporting segment increased sales, led by Boat at 9.5%, followed by Propulsion at 6.6%, Navico Group at 5.8%, and Engine Parts & Accessories at 4.7%. Management attributed growth to steady OEM demand, pricing actions taken in prior periods, market share gains, and healthy boating participation supporting recurring parts, accessories, and aftermarket demand.
Profitability improved materially. GAAP operating earnings were $104.0 million, compared with a GAAP operating loss of $(242.2) million, while adjusted operating earnings increased to $146.7 million from $106.4 million. Adjusted operating margin reached 10.1% from 7.8%, supported by higher sales, improved production absorption, favorable mix, cost discipline, operational improvements, and the lapping of prior-year tariff impacts. Segment adjusted margin expanded in all four operating businesses, with the largest increase in Propulsion at 350 bps.
The nine-month results also show growth and normalized earnings following prior-year restructuring, exit and impairment charges. Net sales increased to $4,389.8 million from $4,029.0 million, and adjusted operating earnings increased to $379.4 million from $304.5 million. GAAP net earnings from continuing operations were $194.8 million versus a loss of $(154.5) million. The release identifies continued material, freight, labor, commodity, and other input-cost inflation, as well as pressured consumer sentiment, as ongoing constraints.
Cash generation remained positive but was lower year over year. Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations was $438.8 million for the first nine months, compared with $451.1 million, and free cash flow was $301.1 million, compared with $354.6 million. Capital expenditures increased to $148.9 million, while Brunswick also used cash for debt payments, dividends, repurchases, and acquisitions of certain Freedom Boat Club franchise operations. Cash and marketable securities totaled $279.4 million, and debt-to-capitalization improved to 54.2% from 56.4% at 2025 year end.
The company increased its full-year outlook and now guides to net sales of $5.7 billion to $5.8 billion, adjusted operating margin of approximately 8.0 percent, and adjusted diluted EPS of approximately $4.65. It retained targets for free cash flow of $400 million or more, debt retirement of $160 million or more, and share repurchases of $80 million or more. The principal execution items into year end are the durability of OEM and aftermarket demand, premium and core boat demand, low pipeline inventories, inflation management, and cash conversion.
Management, verbatim
Brunswick delivered another strong quarter characterized by solid execution across the enterprise, with financial performance ahead of expectations and year-over-year sales growth across all reporting segments for the fifth consecutive quarter. Adjusted operating margin increased by 230 basis points and across all segments versus the prior year.
David Foulkes, Brunswick Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Despite an external environment with headwinds from persistent inflation, higher borrowing costs, and geopolitical uncertainty continuing to pressure value categories, our premium- and core-focused brand portfolio continued to demonstrate resilience and perform ahead of the overall market.
David Foulkes, Brunswick Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
As we close out 2026, we continue to demonstrate the decoupling of our business and financial performance from overall U.S. new boat market unit sales trends and we are very encouraged by Brunswick's ability to deliver sales growth and margin expansion despite ongoing macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty.
David Foulkes, Brunswick Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Not in the filing
stated, not guessed- Previous-period outlook was not provided; comparison of reported results with prior guidance is unavailable.
- Gross margin was not reported.
- Quarterly operating cash flow was not reported.
- Quarterly free cash flow was not reported.
- Quarterly capital expenditures were not reported.
- A prior-quarter comparison was not reported for the financial and segment metrics.
- Forward-looking GAAP operating margin, GAAP diluted EPS, gross margin, operating expenses, and tax rate guidance were not provided.
Written by an AI language model 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 checked against the filing text, and a metric whose value, prior period and change do not add up is dropped from the metrics. The model can still misread a table, in the metrics or in the text, so check a number in the filing before you rely on it. Consensus estimates, price targets and share-price reactions are not shown because they are not in the filing. AI-generated research, not investment advice.