Story Stocks®
- Adjusted diluted EPS fell 14% yr/yr to $1.02, meeting analyst expectations but reflecting higher interest and amortization costs from the UW Solutions acquisition. Net sales of $348.6 mln (+2.1% yr/yr) missed expectations, as growth from the UW Solutions acquisition was largely offset by lower organic volume, particularly within the Metals segment.
- Gross margin contracted by 230 bps yr/yr to 23.8%. This decline was primarily driven by lower volume and pricing, alongside inflationary pressures from higher aluminum prices and increased health insurance costs.
- In the Metals segment, sales declined due to lower volume, though adjusted EBITDA margin improved to 13.5% through productivity gains and cost savings from Project Fortify.
- Meanwhile, Services delivered its seventh consecutive quarter of growth with a 9.7% adjusted EBITDA margin. Backlog remains healthy at $775 mln.
- Glass experienced slight sales growth, but EBITDA margins moderated due to lower pricing driven by soft end-market demand and higher material costs.
- The company lowered its FY26 outlook, forecasting revenue of approximately $1.39 bln and adjusted diluted EPS between $3.40-$3.50. This guidance includes a $0.30 per share unfavorable impact from tariffs. Management cited persistent macroeconomic challenges and pricing pressure in Metals and Glass as the primary drivers of the lowered forecast.
- The company is expanding "Project Fortify Phase 2" to include further restructuring in Metals and Corporate. Total pre-tax charges are now expected to be $28-$29 mln, with estimated annualized pre-tax savings of $25-$26 mln.
Briefing.com Analyst Insight
APOG is navigating a perfect storm of internal transition and external headwinds. The departure of CFO Matt Osberg during a period of guidance downgrades is rarely a positive signal for the market, likely fueling the stock's sharp decline today. While the UW Solutions acquisition provides a clear inorganic growth pillar, it is currently being overshadowed by organic volume erosion and severe price volatility in aluminum, which rose 13% sequentially in Q3. The expansion of Project Fortify suggests management is moving aggressively to protect the bottom line, but with a $0.30 tariff overhang and softening demand in Glass, the path to margin recovery remains steep. Investors appear skeptical that cost-cutting alone can offset these macroeconomic pressures, especially as the company searches for new leadership to execute its long-term strategy.