second quarter of 2026
Filed Aug 5, 2026Order Growth and Robotics Momentum Continued as Margin Recovery Progressed More Slowly Than Expected
Net sales, orders, backlog, and AMR sales increased, but organic sales declined and profitability, cash flow from operations, and full-year Adjusted EBITDA guidance deteriorated amid ERP-related inefficiencies and EMEA pressure.
Key metrics
as reported| Metric | Value | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net salesGAAP | $324.0 million | – | 1.7% |
| Net salesGAAP | $621.9 million | – | 2.2% |
| Net incomeGAAP | $7.6 million | – | (62.4)% |
| Net incomeGAAP | $7.8 million | – | (76.6)% |
| Diluted EPSGAAP | $0.44 | – | (59.3)% |
| Diluted EPSGAAP | $0.45 | – | (74.6)% |
| Adjusted diluted EPSnon-GAAP | $0.83 | – | (44.3)% |
| Adjusted diluted EPSnon-GAAP | $1.41 | – | (45.8)% |
| Adjusted EBITDAnon-GAAP | $35.3 million | – | (30.8)% |
| Adjusted EBITDAnon-GAAP | $64.4 million | – | (30.0)% |
| Adjusted EBITDA marginnon-GAAP | 10.9% | – | (510) bps |
| Adjusted EBITDA marginnon-GAAP | 10.4% | – | (470) bps |
| Ordersother | $339.5 million | – | 6.6% |
| Backlogother | $127 million | – | – |
| AMR salesother | approximately $31 million | – | 37% |
| Organic sales growth / (decline)other | (0.5)% | – | (0.5)% |
| Organic sales growth / (decline)other | (1.2)% | – | (1.2)% |
| Americas organic sales growth / (decline)other | 1.4% | – | 1.4% |
| EMEA organic sales growth / (decline)other | (2.8)% | – | (2.8)% |
| APAC organic sales growth / (decline)other | (10.6)% | – | (10.6)% |
| Americas organic sales growth / (decline)other | (0.7)% | – | (0.7)% |
| EMEA organic sales growth / (decline)other | (1.0)% | – | (1.0)% |
| APAC organic sales growth / (decline)other | (6.8)% | – | (6.8)% |
| Gross profit marginGAAP | 39.5% | – | 260 basis points lower |
| Selling and administrative expenseGAAP | $99.5 million | – | a $5.8 million increase |
| Selling and administrative expense as a percentage of salesGAAP | 30.7% | – | – |
| Adjusted S&A as a percentage of net salesnon-GAAP | 29.1% | – | – |
| Research and development expenseGAAP | $12.5 million | – | – |
| Adjusted net incomenon-GAAP | $14.4 million | – | a decrease of $13.4 million |
| Cash flow for operating activitiesGAAP | $5.0 million | – | a $17.5 million decrease |
| Capital expendituresGAAP | $5.3 million | – | – |
| Cash and cash equivalentsGAAP | $76.9 million | – | – |
| Unused borrowing capacity under revolving credit facilityother | $289.4 million | – | – |
| Net leverage ratio (Adjusted Net Debt / TTM Adjusted EBITDA)non-GAAP | 2.0 times | – | – |
2026 Guidance Ranges outlook
- Revenue$1,270 - $1,310 million
- Tax rate24% - 29%
- NoteOrganic net sales growth: 3.5% - 7.0%
- NoteDiluted net income per share: $2.15 - $2.80
- NoteAdjusted diluted net income per share: $3.80 - $4.45 (non-GAAP)
- NoteAdjusted EBITDA: $155 - $170 million (non-GAAP)
- NoteAdjusted EBITDA margin: 12.2% - 13.0% (non-GAAP)
- NoteCapital expenditures: ~$25 million
Capital returns
- Returned $5.3 million to shareholders through dividends during the second quarter of 2026.
- Adjusted diluted EPS benefited from a reduction of approximately 1.5 million diluted weighted average shares outstanding versus the prior-year period.
What drove it
- Net sales growth reflected price realization and favorable foreign currency effects, partially offset by an organic sales decline.
- Orders increased across most regions, and backlog built to $127 million.
- Americas organic sales growth was driven by price realization and continued strength in Latin America.
- AMR sales increased 37% year over year, with progress toward the Company's $250 million AMR revenue target by 2028.
- Gross-margin pressure was partly offset by price realization and cost management actions.
Concerns
- Residual ERP-related inefficiencies, supply constraints, and elevated freight and tariff-related material costs in North America reduced gross margin.
- EMEA faced competitive price concessions, volume deleverage, unfavorable mix, and lower equipment volumes in certain European and export markets.
- APAC organic sales declined 10.6%, reflecting lower equipment volumes, softer market demand, and distributor overstock in certain markets.
- S&A expense increased due to unfavorable foreign currency, higher people-related costs, and technology spend.
- Higher accounts receivable and inventory balances and lower accounts payable adversely affected working capital and cash conversion.
- The Company lowered its full-year Adjusted EBITDA guidance range to reflect first-half profitability impacts and a more measured pace of margin recovery.
What to watch
- Whether ERP stabilization converts into the expected optimization benefits and improved North America production, fulfillment, working-capital efficiency, and cash conversion.
- The pace of gross-margin recovery amid freight and material costs tied to Middle East disruptions.
- EMEA pricing, volume, and mix trends, including demand in Southern Europe, the Benelux region, and export markets.
- APAC equipment volumes and distributor inventory levels.
- Order conversion from the $127 million backlog and continued AMR sales momentum.
- Delivery against the $155 - $170 million full-year Adjusted EBITDA guidance range and the 12.2% - 13.0% Adjusted EBITDA margin range.
Balance sheet and cash flow
- Cash flow for operating activities was $5.0 million during the second quarter of 2026, a $17.5 million decrease compared to the prior-year period.
- Cash and cash equivalents were $76.9 million at the end of the second quarter.
- Unused borrowing capacity under the revolving credit facility was $289.4 million.
- Capital expenditures were $5.3 million during the second quarter of 2026.
- Net leverage ratio was 2.0 times as of June 30, 2026.
Analysis
Second-quarter demand indicators were constructive while reported sales growth remained modest. Net sales increased 1.7% to $324.0 million, orders increased 6.6% to $339.5 million, and backlog reached $127 million. Sales benefited from price realization, acquisitions, and foreign currency, but organic sales declined 0.5% because lower volume more than offset price. Regional organic performance was uneven: Americas grew 1.4%, while EMEA declined 2.8% and APAC declined 10.6%.
Profitability weakened materially. Gross profit margin was 39.5%, 260 basis points lower than the prior-year quarter, while Adjusted EBITDA fell to $35.3 million from $51.0 million and Adjusted EBITDA margin declined to 10.9% from 16.0%. The company attributed the shortfall to residual North America ERP recovery costs and supply constraints, elevated freight and tariff-related material costs, and EMEA price concessions, volume deleverage, and unfavorable mix. S&A expense increased to $99.5 million, and its percentage of sales rose to 30.7% from 29.4%; R&D expense also increased to $12.5 million from $9.8 million as the company continued innovation investment.
The earnings impact extended below EBITDA. Net income declined to $7.6 million from $20.2 million, GAAP diluted EPS declined to $0.44 from $1.08, and adjusted diluted EPS declined to $0.83 from $1.49. Adjusted diluted EPS was partially supported by a reduction of approximately 1.5 million diluted weighted average shares outstanding versus the prior-year period. AMR sales of approximately $31 million, up 37% year over year, remained a notable growth area and supported management's stated progress toward its $250 million AMR revenue target by 2028.
Cash conversion was a key weakness during the quarter. Cash flow for operating activities was $5.0 million, a $17.5 million decrease compared with the prior-year period, as lower operating performance and increased working-capital requirements weighed on results. Cash and cash equivalents were $76.9 million, unused revolving-credit capacity was $289.4 million, and net leverage was 2.0 times. The company invested $5.3 million in capital expenditures and paid $5.3 million in dividends.
Management raised full-year net sales guidance to $1,270 - $1,310 million and guided to organic net sales growth of 3.5% - 7.0%, citing orders, backlog, and robotics momentum. At the same time, it lowered the full-year Adjusted EBITDA range to $155 - $170 million, with an Adjusted EBITDA margin range of 12.2% - 13.0%, reflecting the first-half profitability impact and slower expected margin recovery. The principal reported issue for the second half is whether operational improvements can overcome North America ERP inefficiencies and EMEA pricing, volume, and cost pressure.
Management, verbatim
Our second quarter results reflect solid demand and order growth, though margin recovery progressed more slowly than we expected.
Dave Huml, Tennant President and Chief Executive Officer
Not in the filing
stated, not guessed- Prior-quarter comparisons for reported quarterly metrics were not provided.
- Segment revenue by Americas, EMEA, and APAC was not provided.
- Prior-year gross profit margin percentage was not explicitly provided.
- Gross profit dollars were not provided.
- GAAP operating income or loss was not provided.
- Prior-year selling and administrative expense was not explicitly provided.
- Prior-year adjusted net income was not explicitly provided.
- Prior-year cash flow for operating activities was not explicitly provided.
- Free cash flow was not provided.
- Total debt, gross debt, and adjusted net debt amounts were not provided.
- Share repurchase dollars and shares repurchased were not provided.
- Prior guidance was not provided, so actual performance versus prior guidance cannot be assessed.
- Full-year gross-margin and operating-expense guidance were not provided.
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.