second-quarter 2026
Filed Jul 30, 2026Eastman Announces Second-Quarter 2026 Financial Results
Sales revenue, EBIT, adjusted EBIT, and adjusted diluted EPS increased from second-quarter 2025, while management highlighted strong sequential EPS growth and a 350-basis-point sequential adjusted EBIT margin improvement. Results were tempered by lower Fibers sales revenue and lower operating cash flow versus second-quarter 2025.
Key metrics
as reported| Metric | Value | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales revenueGAAP | $2,513 million | 15 percent | 10 percent |
| EBITGAAP | $311 million | – | – |
| Adjusted EBITnon-GAAP | $320 million | – | – |
| Earnings per diluted shareGAAP | $1.59 | – | – |
| Adjusted earnings per diluted sharenon-GAAP | $1.97 | – | – |
| Net cash provided by operating activitiesGAAP | $224 million | – | – |
| Adjusted EBIT margin sequential changenon-GAAP | 350-basis-point sequential adjusted EBIT margin improvement | 350-basis-point sequential adjusted EBIT margin improvement | – |
Segments
| Segment | Revenue | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced MaterialsSales revenue increased due to 4 percent higher sales volume/mix and 1 percent favorable foreign currency exchange rates. Higher sales volume/mix was driven by growth across the segment, while price-cost was stable. | not reported | – | increased 5 percent |
| Additives & Functional ProductsSales revenue increased primarily due to 4 percent higher selling prices, primarily driven by cost-pass-through contracts. EBIT was relatively unchanged. | not reported | – | increased 5 percent |
| FibersSales revenue declined primarily due to 10 percent lower sales volume/mix and 2 percent lower selling prices. Lower volume/mix reflected customer inventory destocking in acetate tow and continued weakness in textiles relative to tariff-driven volume strength last year. | not reported | – | decreased 11 percent |
| Chemical IntermediatesSales revenue increased primarily due to 24 percent higher sales volume/mix and 14 percent higher selling prices. Increased volume availability and supply disruptions drove higher volume/mix and prices, particularly for olefin and derivative products. | not reported | – | increased by 39 percent |
third-quarter 2026 and full-year 2026 outlook
- NoteThird-quarter adjusted diluted EPS is projected to approach second-quarter 2026 EPS of $1.97.
- NoteCost reductions are expected to be between $125 million and $150 million, net of inflation.
- NoteCapital expenditures are expected to be approximately $400 million this year.
- NoteOperating cash flow is expected to approach $900 million.
- NoteAdvanced Materials EBIT is expected to be higher.
- NoteFibers earnings are expected to be higher.
- NoteAdditives & Functional Products earnings are expected to decline modestly.
- NoteChemical Intermediates earnings are expected to modestly decline.
- NoteManagement remains confident it can significantly improve earnings in 2026 versus 2025.
Capital returns
- The company returned $96 million to stockholders through dividends.
- Priorities for uses of available cash for 2026 include payment of the quarterly dividend, capital expenditures, and share repurchases while maintaining a solid investment-grade balance sheet.
What drove it
- Company sales revenue increased 10 percent primarily due to 5 percent higher sales volume/mix and 4 percent higher selling prices.
- Sequential sales revenue increased 15 percent, driven by strong volume growth across the company and disciplined price-cost management in specialty businesses.
- EBIT increased due to favorable price-cost, cost-reduction initiatives, favorable foreign currency exchange rates, and higher sales volume/mix.
- Chemical Intermediates benefited from higher spreads, improved volume/mix, increased volume availability, and supply disruptions.
- The circular platform doubled revenue in the first half of the year, and the Kingsport methanolysis facility continued its commercial ramp up.
- Management made substantial progress toward delivering $125 million to $150 million of cost savings, net of inflation.
Concerns
- Fibers EBIT decreased due to lower sales volume/mix, modestly lower acetate tow contract pricing, higher operating costs including lower asset utilization, and elevated logistics costs associated with the Middle East conflict.
- Advanced Materials EBIT decreased as lower asset utilization and higher variable compensation expense more than offset higher sales volume/mix, favorable foreign currency exchange rates, and cost-reduction initiatives.
- Higher variable compensation expense, higher planned maintenance expense, and unfavorable asset utilization partly offset corporate EBIT growth.
- Management cited constantly changing impacts of the Middle East conflict and continued weak demand in key discretionary end markets.
- Operating cash flow is expected to approach $900 million, modestly below the previous expectation of approaching 2025 levels.
What to watch
- Whether Advanced Materials delivers expected third-quarter EBIT growth from improved price-cost and asset utilization.
- Whether Fibers acetate tow volumes increase as customers purchase to meet annual contracts.
- The expected modest third-quarter earnings declines in Additives & Functional Products and Chemical Intermediates.
- The durability of Chemical Intermediates spread expansion as supply chain disruptions lessen.
- Working-capital release in the second half of 2026 and progress toward operating cash flow approaching $900 million.
- Execution of cost reductions between $125 million and $150 million, net of inflation, and capital expenditures of approximately $400 million.
Balance sheet and cash flow
- Cash provided by operating activities was $224 million in second quarter 2026 versus $233 million in second quarter 2025.
- Management expects to release working capital in the second half of 2026.
- The inflationary environment is putting pressure on accounts receivable.
- Operating cash flow is now expected to approach $900 million.
Analysis
Eastman reported a stronger second quarter versus second-quarter 2025, with sales revenue of $2,513 million, EBIT of $311 million, adjusted EBIT of $320 million, and adjusted diluted EPS of $1.97. Sales revenue increased 10 percent year over year, driven by 5 percent higher sales volume/mix and 4 percent higher selling prices. Management also characterized sequential sales revenue growth as 15 percent and cited a 350-basis-point sequential adjusted EBIT margin improvement.
The segment picture was uneven. Chemical Intermediates was the principal growth contributor, with sales revenue up 39 percent on higher volume availability, supply disruptions, stronger volume/mix, and higher pricing for olefin and derivative products. Advanced Materials and Additives & Functional Products each increased sales revenue 5 percent. Fibers was the outlier, with sales revenue down 11 percent as acetate tow customers continued inventory destocking and textiles demand remained weak.
Margin and earnings performance reflected favorable price-cost, cost-reduction initiatives, foreign currency, and improved volume/mix, particularly in Chemical Intermediates. These positives were partly offset by higher variable compensation expense, planned maintenance expense, and unfavorable asset utilization. Advanced Materials EBIT declined despite revenue growth, while Additives & Functional Products EBIT was relatively unchanged. Fibers EBIT also declined, pressured by lower volume/mix, contract pricing, lower utilization, and Middle East-related logistics costs.
Cash generation was lower than the prior-year quarter, with cash provided by operating activities of $224 million versus $233 million. Eastman returned $96 million through dividends and identified dividends, capital expenditures, and share repurchases as cash priorities. Management expects working-capital release in the second half of 2026, but lowered its operating-cash-flow expectation to approach $900 million because inflation is pressuring accounts receivable.
For the third quarter, management projects adjusted diluted EPS to approach second-quarter 2026 EPS of $1.97. It expects higher Advanced Materials EBIT and higher Fibers earnings, offset by modest declines in Additives & Functional Products and Chemical Intermediates earnings. Full-year priorities include cost reductions between $125 million and $150 million, net of inflation, capital expenditures of approximately $400 million, innovation-led specialty growth, and continued commercial progress at the Kingsport methanolysis facility.
Management, verbatim
The Eastman team delivered a strong second quarter despite continued dynamic macroeconomic conditions.
Mark Costa, Board Chair and CEO
Sales revenue increased 15 percent sequentially driven by strong volume growth across the company and disciplined price-cost management in our specialty businesses.
Mark Costa, Board Chair and CEO
When putting these factors together, we project third-quarter adjusted EPS to approach second-quarter 2026 EPS of $1.97.
Mark Costa, Board Chair and CEO
Not in the filing
stated, not guessed- Period-end date
- Segment revenue amounts
- Gross profit and gross margin
- Operating expenses
- Net income
- GAAP operating income
- GAAP and non-GAAP tax rate
- Free cash flow
- Capital expenditures incurred in second quarter 2026
- Share repurchases completed in second quarter 2026
- Cash balance
- Debt balance or net debt amount
- Adjusted EBIT margin level
- Prior-quarter values for sales revenue, EBIT, adjusted EBIT, earnings per diluted share, adjusted earnings per diluted share, and operating cash flow
- Year-over-year percentage changes for EBIT, adjusted EBIT, earnings per diluted share, adjusted earnings per diluted share, and operating cash flow
- Prior outlook section from the previous release for guidance comparison
- Quantified full-year revenue, gross margin, operating expense, or tax-rate guidance
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.