Second quarter 2026
Filed Jul 31, 2026Gates Industrial Reports Second-Quarter 2026 Results
Second-quarter net sales increased 6.6%, core sales increased 4.9%, adjusted EBITDA margin was 22.5%, and the Company raised its full-year 2026 guidance for core sales growth, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EPS.
Key metrics
as reported| Metric | Value | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net salesGAAP | $941.6 million | – | 6.6% |
| Core sales increasenon-GAAP | 4.9% | – | – |
| Cost of salesGAAP | $555.5 million | – | – |
| Gross profitGAAP | $386.1 million | – | – |
| Selling, general and administrative expensesGAAP | $250.7 million | – | – |
| Transaction-related expensesGAAP | $3.1 million | – | – |
| Asset impairmentsGAAP | — | – | – |
| Restructuring expensesGAAP | $0.7 million | – | – |
| Operating income from continuing operationsGAAP | $131.6 million | – | – |
| Interest expenseGAAP | $30.0 million | – | – |
| Other expenseGAAP | $1.4 million | – | – |
| Income from continuing operations before taxesGAAP | $100.2 million | – | – |
| Income tax expenseGAAP | $(78.0) million | – | – |
| Net income from continuing operationsGAAP | $178.2 million | – | – |
| Net income from continuing operations marginGAAP | 18.9% | – | – |
| Loss on disposal of discontinued operationsGAAP | $0.2 million | – | – |
| Net incomeGAAP | $178.0 million | – | – |
| Non-controlling interestsGAAP | $7.1 million | – | – |
| Net income attributable to shareholdersGAAP | $170.9 million | – | – |
| Diluted earnings per shareGAAP | $0.67 per diluted share | – | – |
| Adjusted Net Income per diluted sharenon-GAAP | $0.44 | – | – |
| Adjusted EBITDAnon-GAAP | $211.4 million | – | – |
| Adjusted EBITDA marginnon-GAAP | 22.5% | – | – |
| Power Transmission Adjusted EBITDAnon-GAAP | $134.8 million | – | 9.8% |
| Power Transmission Adjusted EBITDA marginnon-GAAP | 22.9% | – | 60 bps |
| Fluid Power Adjusted EBITDAnon-GAAP | $76.6 million | – | 0.3% |
| Fluid Power Adjusted EBITDA marginnon-GAAP | 21.7% | – | (120 bps) |
Segments
| Segment | Revenue | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power TransmissionCore sales increased 5.3%. | $588.5 million | – | 7.0% |
| Fluid PowerCore sales increased 4.2%. | $353.1 million | – | 5.8% |
Full year 2026 outlook
- NoteCore Sales Growth: 2.5% to 4.5%
- NoteAdjusted EBITDA: $800 to $830 Million
- NoteAdjusted EPS: $1.62 to $1.70
- NoteCapital Expenditures: ~$120 Million
- NoteFree Cash Flow Conversion: 90%+
What drove it
- Second-quarter net sales increased 6.6% and core sales increased 4.9%.
- Power Transmission net sales increased 7.0%, including 5.3% core sales growth.
- Fluid Power net sales increased 5.8%, including 4.2% core sales growth.
- Management cited improving order momentum globally and strengthening industrial demand.
Concerns
- Fluid Power Adjusted EBITDA increased 0.3%, while its Adjusted EBITDA margin declined (120 bps) to 21.7%.
- Interest expense was $30.0 million, compared with $28.8 million in the prior-year period.
- The Company identified risks from U.S. policies and tariffs, international operations, supply-chain disruption, production-material availability and costs, channel partner conditions, manufacturing and information technology systems, demand forecasting, and market acceptance of new products.
What to watch
- Whether higher sales growth in the second half of 2026 materializes as management anticipates.
- Delivery against updated full-year Core Sales Growth guidance of 2.5% to 4.5%.
- Delivery against updated Adjusted EBITDA guidance of $800 to $830 Million and Adjusted EPS guidance of $1.62 to $1.70.
- Fluid Power margin performance following the second-quarter decline to 21.7%.
- Free Cash Flow Conversion against the 90%+ full-year guidance.
Balance sheet and cash flow
- Cash and cash equivalents: $823.5 million as of June 27, 2026; $812.1 million as of December 31, 2025.
- Debt, current portion: $39.2 million as of June 27, 2026; $36.2 million as of December 31, 2025.
- Debt, less current portion: $2,194.3 million as of June 27, 2026; $2,196.3 million as of December 31, 2025.
- Total assets: $7,392.8 million as of June 27, 2026; $7,151.4 million as of December 31, 2025.
- Total liabilities: $3,498.6 million as of June 27, 2026; $3,462.2 million as of December 31, 2025.
- Total shareholders’ equity: $3,521.9 million as of June 27, 2026; $3,334.0 million as of December 31, 2025.
- Six-month net income: $244.2 million; $131.4 million in the prior-year period.
- Six-month depreciation and amortization: $112.8 million; $105.5 million in the prior-year period.
- Six-month share-based compensation expense: $15.7 million; $15.7 million in the prior-year period.
Analysis
Gates reported a stronger second quarter, with net sales of $941.6 million, up 6.6%, and a core sales increase of 4.9%. Both operating segments grew. Power Transmission net sales increased 7.0%, including 5.3% core sales growth, while Fluid Power net sales increased 5.8%, including 4.2% core sales growth. Management described improving order momentum globally and strengthening industrial demand.
Profitability was mixed across the segments but solid at the consolidated adjusted level. Adjusted EBITDA was $211.4 million and the Adjusted EBITDA margin was 22.5%. Power Transmission Adjusted EBITDA increased 9.8% to $134.8 million and its margin improved 60 bps to 22.9%. Fluid Power Adjusted EBITDA was essentially flat at $76.6 million, while its margin declined (120 bps) to 21.7%, making that segment's margin trajectory a key point of attention.
GAAP net income attributable to shareholders was $170.9 million, or $0.67 per diluted share, compared with $56.5 million, or $0.22 per diluted share, in the prior-year period. Net income from continuing operations was $178.2 million and carried an 18.9% margin. The statement of operations also showed income tax expense of $(78.0) million, compared with $16.8 million in the prior-year period, an important contributor to the reported GAAP earnings outcome.
The balance sheet reported $823.5 million of cash and cash equivalents, $39.2 million of current debt and $2,194.3 million of debt less current portion as of June 27, 2026. No quarterly operating cash flow, free cash flow, actual capital expenditures, dividends or share repurchases were available in the provided filing text. The disclosed six-month cash-flow statement was truncated before net cash provided by operating activities and investing and financing cash flows.
The Company raised its full-year 2026 outlook. Updated guidance calls for Core Sales Growth of 2.5% to 4.5%, Adjusted EBITDA of $800 to $830 Million and Adjusted EPS of $1.62 to $1.70. Capital Expenditures remain ~$120 Million and Free Cash Flow Conversion remains 90%+. Management specifically anticipates higher sales growth in the second half of 2026 relative to its initial guidance, placing execution against that expected acceleration and Fluid Power margin performance at the center of the next-period read.
Management, verbatim
We delivered a strong second quarter, exceeding expectations. We generated record sales and EPS and experienced improving order momentum globally. We believe we are in solid position to capitalize on strengthening industrial demand.
Ivo Jurek, Chief Executive Officer
We have raised our 2026 guidance for sales, profitability and adjusted earnings per share. We anticipate higher sales growth in the second half of 2026 relative to our initial guidance. Our balance sheet is strong and our capital allocation optionality is significant.
Ivo Jurek, Chief Executive Officer
Not in the filing
stated, not guessed- Total gross margin
- Quarterly operating cash flow
- Quarterly free cash flow
- Actual capital expenditures
- Actual free cash flow conversion
- Share repurchases
- Dividends
- Adjusted Net Income dollar amount
- Prior-quarter comparisons for reported metrics
- Forward revenue guidance expressed as a dollar amount
- Forward gross margin guidance
- Forward operating expenses guidance
- Forward tax-rate guidance
- Previous-release outlook for comparison with actual results
- Complete six-month statement of cash flows, which was truncated 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.