Kewaunee Scientific Q1 Earnings Rise Y/Y, Stock Slides 19%

Core Viewpoint - Kewaunee Scientific Corporation's stock has significantly underperformed the market despite strong financial results for the first quarter of fiscal 2026, raising concerns among investors about future performance [1][13][14] Earnings & Revenue Performance - The company reported first-quarter fiscal 2026 sales of $71.1 million, a 46.9% increase from $48.4 million in the prior-year quarter [2] - Net earnings rose 41.1% to $3.1 million from $2.2 million a year ago [2] - Diluted earnings per share grew 40.5% to $1.04 from 74 cents in the same quarter last year [2] - EBITDA nearly doubled to $6.3 million from $3.3 million in the prior-year period [2] Domestic and International Sales - Domestic sales soared 53% to $54.4 million, while international sales advanced 30.2% to $16.8 million [4] - Domestic segment net earnings increased to $4.7 million compared to $2.9 million a year ago [4] - International earnings improved to $0.6 million from $0.5 million [4] Order Backlog and Working Capital - The company's order backlog stood at $205 million as of July 31, 2025, up from $159.4 million a year earlier [3] - Working capital rose to $66.7 million from $56 million a year earlier [5] - Total cash on hand increased to $20.4 million at quarter-end from $17.2 million in April 2025 [5] Debt Metrics - Short-term debt declined to $4.3 million from $4.8 million in April [5] - Long-term debt eased to $60.3 million from $60.7 million [5] - The debt-to-equity ratio improved to 0.94-to-1 from 0.99-to-1 three months earlier [5] Management Commentary - CEO Thomas D. Hull III noted that strong quarterly results were achieved amid challenging market conditions [6] - The company expects uneven quarterly performance through fiscal 2026 due to volatility in project delivery timelines [6][11] Strategic Focus - Management reiterated its commitment to growth through organic means and acquisitions, supported by investments in people, processes, and technology [7] - The integration of Nu Aire's results significantly boosted domestic sales and earnings [8][12] Corporate Segment Performance - The corporate segment continued to weigh on consolidated results, with a pre-tax net loss of $3.1 million compared to a $2 million loss a year ago [9] - Corporate segment EBITDA was negative $2.3 million, reflecting higher compliance costs and ongoing investments [9] Future Outlook - Management expects unadjusted EBITDA for fiscal 2026 to surpass that of fiscal 2025 [10] - Despite anticipated pressure on near-term earnings due to strategic investments, leadership remains confident in long-term growth prospects [11]