The Eastern Company Reports Second Quarter 2026 Results

About this update from Eastern Company (the)

Acquired Two Precision Manufacturers, Extending Eastern into the Aerospace and Defense Markets Backlog Increased 45% Year-Over-Year to $126.2 Million , Driven by Acquired Aerospace Orders and Strengthening Demand for Truck Mirror Assemblies, Returnable Transport Packaging and Latch and Handle Assemblies Repurchased 19,529 Shares in the Second Quarter, with 256,275 Shares Remaining Available Under Existing Repurchase Program Entering the Second Half with Strong Momentum and Enhanced Visibility to Support Improving Underlying Profitability Over the Balance of 2026 SHELTON, CT / ACCESS Newswire / August 11, 2026 / The Eastern Company ("Eastern" or the "Company") (NASDAQ:EML), an industrial manufacturer of engineered products and solutions serving commercial transportation, logistics, and other industrial markets, today announced its results of operations for the second fiscal quarter of 2026 ended July 4, 2026 . Results for the reported period reflect the June 1, 2026 , acquisition of Sungear, LLC and Sinecera, LLC (dba Crown Precision), two California -based precision manufacturers serving the aerospace, defense, and adjacent end markets. Ryan Schroeder , Eastern's President and CEO, stated, "Second quarter net sales and gross margin improved sequentially as order execution strengthened and demand improved across our core commercial transportation businesses, though both remained below prior year levels. The unfavorably priced contracts within our returnable transport packaging business, as discussed in our first quarter 2026 earnings call, are now behind us, and new orders are booking at stronger margins. We also expanded into the aerospace and defense markets through the acquisition of Sungear and Crown Precision. These businesses complement our existing portfolio by adding embedded positions within long-cycle programs and exposure to multi-year procurement tailwinds. We ended the quarter with a backlog of $126.2 million , a 45% increase from a year ago, supported by acquired aerospace orders together with strengthening demand for truck mirror assemblies, returnable transport packaging, and latch and handle assemblies. "We enter the second half of the year with strong momentum and improved visibility across our businesses," continued Mr. Schroeder . "Our manufacturing expertise supplies key components to some of America's most admired industrial companies. Heavy-truck build rates have risen, benefiting both Eberhard Manufacturing and Velvac , and bringing Eberhard's largest customer back into the market for mechanical access systems after an extended slowdown, driving meaningful backlog growth. As production volume builds, our product mix improves, and we integrate the acquired operations, we remain focused on disciplined execution to translate this momentum into improving underlying profitability through the remainder of 2026." Second Quarter 2026 Financial Results The following analysis excludes discontinued operations. Net sales for the second quarter of 2026 decreased 12% to $61.8 million from $70.2 million for the corresponding period in 2025. The decrease in sales was due to lower shipments of truck mirror assemblies, returnable transport packaging and latch and handle assemblies of $5.7 million , $3.4 million , and $0.9 million , respectively, partially offset by $1.7 million in aerospace sales from the acquisition of Sungear and Crown Precision. Net sales for the first six months of 2026 decreased 11% to $121.5 million from $136.1 million for the corresponding period in 2025. Sales decreased in the first six months of 2026 due to lower shipments of returnable transport packaging, truck mirror assemblies and latch and handle assemblies of $10.9 million , $4.5 million , and $0.9 million , respectively, partially offset by a $1.7 million increase in aerospace sales from the acquisition of Sungear and Crown Precision. Gross margin as a percentage of sales was 20.6% for the second quarter of 2026 and 20.3% for the first six months of 2026, compared to 23.3% and 23.1%, respectively, for the corresponding periods in 2025. Selling and administrative expenses decreased $2.1 million , or 17.5%, for the second quarter of 2026 compared to the corresponding period in 2025 due to $1.9 million of lower restructuring charges, lower personnel costs of $0.1 million , lower amortization of $0.1 million and other expenses of $0.4 million , partially offset by higher computer expenses of $0.4 million . Selling and administrative expenses decreased $2.9 million , or 12.9% for the first six months of 2026 due to $1.9 million of lower restructuring charges, lower personnel costs of $0.5 million , lower amortization of $0.2 million , lower commission expenses of $0.4 million and other expenses of $0.6 million , partially offset by higher legal expenses of $0.3 million and higher computer expenses of $0.4 million . Net income from continuing operations for the second quarter of fiscal 2026 was $5.6 million , or $0.94 per diluted share, compared to net income of $2.0 million , or $0.33 per diluted share, for the comparable period in 2025. For the first six months of 2026, net income from continuing operations was $6.3 million , or $1.04 per diluted share, compared to $4.2 million , or $0.69 per diluted share, for the comparable period in 2025. Net income from continuing operations in both periods included a one-time, non-cash bargain purchase gain of $6.5 million recognized in connection with the recently completed acquisition of Sungear and Crown Precision, which is excluded from the adjusted measures described below. Adjusted net income from continuing operations (a non-GAAP measure) for the second quarter of fiscal 2026 was $0.9 million , or $0.15 per diluted share, compared to adjusted net income from continuing operations of $3.5 million , or $0.57 per diluted share, for the corresponding period in 2025. For the six months ended July 4, 2026 , adjusted net income from continuing operations was $1.6 million , or $0.26 per diluted share, compared to $5.7 million , or $0.93 per diluted share, for the comparable 2025 period. Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations (a non-GAAP measure) for the second quarter of 2026 was $3.4 million compared to $6.7 million for the corresponding period in 2025, a decrease of $3.3 million or approximately 49%. For the six months ended July 4, 2026 , adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations was $6.4 million compared to $11.7 million in the corresponding 2025 period. See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" below and the reconciliation table accompanying this release. During the second quarter of fiscal 2026, total debt increased by $8.8 million to $41.7 million , reflecting borrowings to complete the acquisition of Sungear and Crown Precision. In addition, the Company repurchased 19,529 shares of common stock under its share repurchase program authorized in April 2025 . As of July 4, 2026 , 256,275 shares remained available for repurchase under the program. Conference Call and Webcast The Eastern Company will host a conference call to discuss its results for the second quarter of 2026 and related matters on Wednesday, August 12, 2026 , at 9:00AM Eastern Time . Participants can access the conference call by phone at 888-506-0062 (toll-free in the US and Canada ) or 973-528-0011 (international), using access code 573591. Participants can also join via the web at https://www.webcaster5.com/Webcast/Page/1757/54302 . About The Eastern Company The Eastern Company manages businesses that design, manufacture and sell engineered solutions for industrial markets. The Company operates from locations in the U.S ., Canada , Mexico , Taiwan , and China . More information on the Company can be found at www.easterncompany.com. Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements Statements contained in this press release that are not based on historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "would," "should," "could," "may," "will," "expect," "believe," "estimate," "anticipate," "intend," "continue," "plan," "potential," "opportunities," or similar terms or variations of those terms or the negative of those terms. There are many factors that affect the Company's business and the results of its operations and that may cause the actual results of operations in future periods to differ materially from those currently expected or anticipated. These factors include: risks associated with doing business overseas, including fluctuations in exchange rates and the inability to repatriate foreign cash, the impact on our cost structure and on economic conditions as a result of actual and threatened increases in trade tariffs and the impact of political, economic, and social instability; the impact of tariffs, trade sanctions or political instability on the availability or cost of raw materials; the impact of higher raw material and component costs and cost inflation, supply chain disruptions and shortages, particularly with respect to steel, plastics, scrap iron, zinc, copper, and electronic components; delays in delivery of our products to our customers; the impact of global economic conditions and interest rates, and more specifically conditions in the automotive, construction, aerospace, energy, oil and gas, transportation, electronic, and general industrial markets, including the impact, length and degree of economic downturns on the customers and markets we serve and demand for our products, reductions in production levels, the availability, terms and cost of financing, including borrowings under credit arrangements or agreements, and the impact of market conditions on pension plan funded status; restrictions on operating flexibility imposed by the agreement governing our credit facility; the inability to achieve the savings expected from global sourcing of materials; lower-cost competition; our ability to design, introduce and sell new or updated products and related components; market acceptance of our products; the inability to attain expected benefits from acquisitions or dispositions or the inability to effectively integrate acquired businesses and achieve expected synergies; costs and liabilities associated with environmental compliance; the impact of climate change, natural disasters, geopolitical events, and public health crises, including pandemics and epidemics, and any related Company or government policies or actions, including any potential adverse economic impacts resulting from a U.S . federal government shutdown; military conflict (including the Russia / Ukraine conflict, the conflict in the Middle East , the possible expansion of such conflicts and geopolitical consequences) or terrorist threats and the possible responses by the U.S . and foreign governments; failure to protect our intellectual property; cyberattacks, data breaches or interruptions or failures of our information technology systems; and materially adverse or unanticipated legal judgments, fines, penalties, or settlements. The Company is also subject to other risks identified and discussed in Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors , and in Part II, Item 7, Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations , of the 2025 Form 10-K/A which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 19, 2026 , and that may be identified from time to time in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and other filings we make with the SEC . Although the Company believes it has an appropriate business strategy and the resources necessary for its operations, future revenue and margin trends cannot be reliably predicted, and the Company may alter its business strategies to address changing conditions. Also, the Company makes estimates and assumptions that may materially affect reported amounts and disclosures. These relate to valuation allowances for accounts receivable and excess and obsolete inventories, accruals for pensions and other postretirement benefits (including forecasted future cost increases and returns on plan assets), provisions for depreciation (estimating useful lives), uncertain tax positions, and, on occasion, accruals for contingent losses. The Company undertakes no obligation to update, alter, or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law. Non-GAAP Financial Measures The non-GAAP financial measures we provide in this press release should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, results prepared in accordance with U.S . GAAP. To supplement the condensed consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S . GAAP, we have presented Adjusted Net Income from Continuing Operations, Adjusted Earnings Per Share from Continuing Operations, and Adjusted EBITDA from Continuing Operations, which are considered non-GAAP financial measures. The non-GAAP financial measures presented may differ from similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures presented by other companies, and other companies may not define these non-GAAP financial measures in the same way. These measures are not substitutes for their comparable U.S . GAAP financial measures, such as net sales, net income, diluted earnings per share, or other measures prescribed by U.S . GAAP, and there are limitations to using non-GAAP financial measures. Adjusted Net Income from Continuing Operations is defined as net income from continuing operations excluding, when incurred, gains or losses that we do not believe reflect our ongoing operations, including, for example, the impacts of impairment losses, gains/losses on the sale of subsidiaries, property and facilities, transaction expenses primarily relating to acquisitions and divestitures, factory start-up costs, factory relocation expenses, executive severance, and restructuring costs. This measure also excludes credit agreement refinancing expenses, when applicable because we do not believe these expenses are reflective of our ongoing operations. Adjusted Net Income from Continuing Operations is a tool that can assist management and investors in comparing our performance on a consistent basis across periods by removing the impact of certain items that management believes do not directly reflect our underlying operating performance. Adjusted Earnings Per Share from Continuing Operations is defined as earnings per share from continuing operations excluding, when incurred, certain per share gains or losses that we do not believe reflect our ongoing operations, including, for example, the impacts of impairment losses, gains/losses on the sale of subsidiaries, property and facilities, transaction expenses primarily relating to acquisitions and divestitures, factory start-up costs, factory relocation expenses, executive severance, and restructuring costs. This measure also excludes credit agreement refinancing expenses, when applicable, because we do not believe these expenses are reflective of our ongoing operations. We believe that Adjusted Earnings Per Share from Continuing Operations provides important comparability of underlying operational results, allowing investors and management to assess operating performance on a consistent basis from period to period. Adjusted EBITDA from Continuing Operations is defined as net income from continuing operations before interest expense, provision for income taxes, and depreciation and amortization and excluding, when incurred, the impacts of certain losses or gains that we do not believe reflect our ongoing operations, including, for example, impairment losses, gains/losses on sale of subsidiaries, property and facilities, transaction expenses primarily relating to acquisitions and divestitures, factory start-up costs, factory relocation expenses, executive severance, and restructuring expenses. This measure also excludes credit agreement refinancing expenses, when applicable, because we do not believe these expenses are reflective of our ongoing operations. Adjusted EBITDA from Continuing Operations is a tool that can assist management and investors in comparing our performance on a consistent basis by removing the impact of certain items that management believes do not directly reflect our underlying operations. Management uses such measures to evaluate performance period over period, to analyze the underlying trends in our business, to assess our performance relative to our competitors, and to establish operational goals and forecasts that are used in allocating resources. These financial measures should not be considered in isolation from, or as a replacement for, U.S . GAAP financial measures. We believe that presenting non-GAAP financial measures in addition to U.S . GAAP financial measures provides investors greater transparency to the information used by our management for its financial and operational decision-making. We further believe that providing this information better enables our investors to understand our operating performance and to evaluate the methodology used by management to evaluate and measure such performance. Investor Relations Contacts The Eastern Company Ryan Schroeder or Nicholas Vlahos 203-729-2255 THE EASTERN COMPANY CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS Three Months Ended Six Months Ended July 4 , 2026 June 28 , 2025 July 4 , 2026 June 28 , 2025 Net sales $ 61,821,757 $ 70,164,086 $ 121,498,295 $ 136,101,298 Cost of products sold (49,069,618 ) (53,801,184 ) (96,816,475 ) (104,642,211 ) Gross margin 12,752,139 16,362,902 24,681,820 31,459,087 Product development expense (1,042,688 ) (1,031,716 ) (2,078,000 ) (2,140,902 ) Selling and administrative expenses (10,051,659 ) (12,188,736 ) (19,621,306 ) (22,534,931 ) Operating profit 1,657,792 3,142,450 2,982,514 6,783,254 Interest expense (581,318 ) (636,287 ) (1,108,831 ) (1,330,941 ) Bargain purchase gain 6,529,299 - 6,529,299 - Other income (expense) (101,235 ) 75,210 (88,050 ) (124,495 ) Income before income taxes from continuing operations 7,504,539 2,581,373 8,314,933 5,327,818 Income tax expense (1,855,254 ) (546,383 ) (2,025,518 ) (1,124,703 ) Net income from continuing operations $ 5,649,285 $ 2,034,990 $ 6,289,415 $ 4,203,115 Discontinued Operations (see note C) Loss from operations of discontinued unit $ - $ (234,237 ) $ - $ (520,005 ) Income from disposal of discontinued unit - 2,016,696 - 2,016,696 Income tax expense - (377,282 ) - (315,952 ) Net income from discontinued operations - 1,405,177 - 1,180,739 Net Income $ 5,649,285 $ 3,440,167 $ 6,289,415 $ 5,383,854 Earnings per share from continuing operations: Basic $ 0.94 $ 0.33 $ 1.04 $ 0.69 Diluted $ 0.94 $ 0.33 $ 1.04 $ 0.69 Earnings per share from discontinued operations: Basic $ - $ 0.23 $ - $ 0.19 Diluted $ - $ 0.23 $ - $ 0.19 Total earnings per share: Basic $ 0.94 $ 0.56 $ 1.04 $ 0.88 Diluted $ 0.94 $ 0.56 $ 1.04 $ 0.88 Cash dividends per share: $ 0.11 $ 0.11 $ 0.22 $ 0.22 THE EASTERN COMPANY CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS July 4, 2026 January 3, 2026 (unaudited) ASSETS Current Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 15,108,764 $ 7,412,019 Marketable Securities 32,825 - Accounts receivable, less allowances: 2026 - $681,170 ; 2025 - $633,391 36,842,066 30,128,669 Inventories 65,989,520 56,343,756 Current portion of notes receivable 28,844 33,844 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 6,754,824 5,349,486 Total Current Assets 124,756,843 99,267,774 Property, Plant and Equipment 66,497,282 60,163,556 Accumulated depreciation (35,807,530 ) (33,246,213 ) Property, Plant and Equipment, Net 30,689,752 26,917,343 Goodwill 58,666,199 58,631,336 Trademarks 5,082,816 5,082,767 Patents and other intangibles, net of accumulated amortization 4,121,143 5,269,204 Deferred income taxes 5,528,496 5,528,496 Right of use assets 16,170,708 15,979,696 Other long term assets 102,674 - Total Other Assets 89,672,036 90,491,499 TOTAL ASSETS $ 245,118,631 $ 216,676,616 THE EASTERN COMPANY CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (CONTINUED) July 4, 2026 January 3, 2026 (unaudited) LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Current Liabilities Accounts payable $ 27,192,690 $ 16,426,259 Accrued compensation 5,615,457 4,203,720 Other accrued expenses 6,884,543 2,349,400 Current portion of operating lease liability 3,997,516 3,729,769 Current portion of finance lease liability 905,524 908,332 Total Current Liabilities 44,595,730 27,617,480 Other long-term liabilities 464,902 464,902 Operating lease liability, less current portion 12,173,424 12,235,188 Finance lease liability, less current portion 2,772,205 3,080,446 Long-term debt, less current portion 41,683,212 33,902,353 Accrued postretirement benefits 329,767 332,165 Accrued pension cost 13,106,148 14,398,753 Total Liabilities 115,125,388 92,031,287 Shareholders' Equity Voting Preferred Stock, no par value: Authorized and unissued: 1,000,000 shares Nonvoting Preferred Stock, no par value: Authorized and unissued: 1,000,000 shares Common Stock, no par value, Authorized: 50,000,000 shares 36,525,234 36,337,100 Issued: 9,195,728 shares as of July 4, 2026 and 9,179,288 shares as of January 3, 2026 - Outstanding: 6,017,558 shares as of July 4, 2026 and 6,041,767 shares as of January 3, 2026 - Treasury Stock: 3,178,170 shares as of July 4, 2026 and 3,137,521 shares as of January 3, 2026 (30,895,650 ) (30,067,777 ) Retained earnings 142,959,790 137,997,382 Accumulated other comprehensive loss: - Foreign currency translation (975,778 ) (1,437,363 ) Unrealized gain on foreign currency swap, net of tax 711,155 570,097 Unrecognized net pension and postretirement benefit costs, net of tax (18,331,508 ) (18,754,110 ) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (18,596,131 ) (19,621,376 ) Total Shareholders' Equity 129,993,243 124,645,329 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY $ 245,118,631 $ 216,676,616 THE EASTERN COMPANY CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED) Six Months Ended July 4, 2026 June 28, 2025 Operating Activities Net income $ 6,289,415 $ 5,383,854 Less: Income from discontinued operations - 1,180,739 Income from continuing operations $ 6,289,415 $ 4,203,115 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 3,209,318 3,178,318 Bargain purchase gain (6,529,299 ) - Reduction in carrying amount of ROU assets 1,276,927 1,502,376 Unrecognized pension and postretirement benefit (1,211,007 ) (397,676 ) (Gain) loss on sale of equipment (64,661 ) 38,479 Provision for doubtful accounts 54,828 14,000 Stock compensation expense 188,134 289,126 Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable (4,974,987 ) (2,271,343 ) Inventories 920,744 1,886,960 Prepaid expenses and other (947,631 ) (314,221 ) Other assets (144,699 ) 124,859 Accounts payable 8,968,808 2,511,193 Accrued compensation 642,535 (445,105 ) Operating lease liability (1,276,927 ) (1,502,376 ) Other accrued expenses 5,635,050 (6,908,197 ) Net cash provided by operating activities 12,036,548 1,909,508 Investing Activities Marketable securities (32,825 ) 2,222,059 Acquisition (8,041,927 ) (421,039 ) Payments received from notes receivable 5,000 14,545 Proceeds from sale of equipment 3,500 800 Proceeds from sale of discontinued operations - 1,593,646 Purchases of property, plant, and equipment (1,482,339 ) (1,599,780 ) Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities (9,548,591 ) 1,810,231 Financing Activities Proceeds from long-term debt 8,000,000 - Proceeds from promissory note 785,000 - Principal payments on long-term debt (1,000,000 ) (5,919,065 ) Financing leases, net (442,282 ) (393,352 ) Purchase common stock for treasury (827,873 ) (2,123,705 ) Dividends paid (1,327,007 ) (1,347,951 ) Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 5,187,838 (9,784,073 ) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash 20,950 331,115 Net change in cash and cash equivalents 7,696,745 (5,733,219 ) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 7,412,019 14,843,530 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 15,108,764 $ 9,110,311 Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: Interest $ 1,099,963 $ 1,683,412 Income taxes 694,933 1,679,091 Non-cash investing and financing activities Right of use asset 205,983 3,050,510 Lease liability 104,836 2,836,158 Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures Adjusted Net Income from Continuing Operations and Adjusted Earnings per Share from Continuing Operations Calculation For the Three and Six Months ended July 4, 2026 and June 28, 2025 ( $000 's, except for per share data) Three Months Ended Six Months Ended July 4, 2026 June 28, 2025 July 4, 2026 June 28, 2025 Net income from continuing operations as reported per generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) $ 5,649 $ 2,035 $ 6,289 $ 4,203 Earnings per share from continuing operations as reported under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP): Basic $ 0.94 $ 0.33 $ 1.04 $ 0.69 Diluted $ 0.94 $ 0.33 $ 1.04 $ 0.69 Adjustments: Restructuring (a) - 1,822 - 1,887 Bargain purchase gain (6,529 ) - (6,529 ) - Acquisition related transaction costs 192 - 192 - Acquired Inventory Step up adjustment 92 - 92 - Non-GAAP tax impact of adjustments (1) 1,521 (385 ) 1,521 (398 ) Total adjustments (Non-GAAP) $ (4,724 ) $ 1,437 $ (4,724 ) $ 1,489 Adjusted net income from continuing operations (Non-GAAP) $ 925 $ 3,472 $ 1,565 $ 5,692 Adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations (Non-GAAP): Basic $ 0.15 $ 0.57 $ 0.26 $ 0.93 Diluted $ 0.15 $ 0.57 $ 0.26 $ 0.93 (1) We estimate the tax effect of the items identified to determine a non-GAAP annual effective tax rate applied to the pre-tax amount in order to calculate the non-GAAP provision for income taxes (a) consists of personnel related and facility costs Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures Adjusted EBITDA Calculation For the Three and Six Months ended July 4, 2026 and June 28, 2025 ( $000 's) Three Months Ended Six Months Ended July 4, 2026 June 28, 2025 July 4, 2026 June 28, 2025 Net income from continuing operations as reported per generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) $ 5,649 $ 2,035 $ 6,289 $ 4,203 Interest expense 581 637 1,109 1,331 Provision for income taxes 1,855 546 2,026 1,125 Depreciation and amortization 1,589 1,695 3,209 3,178 Restructuring (a) - 1,822 - 1,887 Bargain purchase gain (6,529 ) - (6,529 ) - Acquisition related transaction costs 192 - 192 - Acquired Inventory Step up Adjustment 92 - 92 - Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations (non-GAAP) $ 3,429 $ 6,735 $ 6,388 $ 11,724 (a) consists of personnel related and facility costs SOURCE: The Eastern Company View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire Copyright 2026 ACCESS Newswire. 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