ATMU - NYSE

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for standing by. My name is Krista, and I will be your conference operator today. At this time, I would like to welcome you to the Atmus Filtration Technologies Inc. First Quarter 2026 Earnings Call. All lines have been placed on mute to prevent any background noise. After the speakers' remarks, there will be a question-and-answer session. To ask a question, simply press star then the number one on your telephone keypad. And if you would like to withdraw that question, again, star one. Thank you. I would now like to turn the conference over to Todd Chirillo, Executive Director of Investor Relations. Todd, please go ahead. Thank you, Krista.

Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the Atmus Filtration Technologies Inc. First Quarter 2026 Earnings Call. On the call today, we have Stephanie Disher, Chief Executive Officer, and Jack Kienzler, Chief Financial Officer. Certain information presented today will be forward looking and involve risks and uncertainties that could materially affect expected results. Please refer to the slides on our website for the disclosure of the risks that could affect our results and for a reconciliation of any non-GAAP measures referred to on this call. For additional information, please see our SEC filings and the Investor Relations pages available on our website at atmos.com. Now I will turn the call over to Stephanie.

Thank you, Todd, and good morning, everyone. Today, I will provide an update on our first quarter results and share details of our progress executing our four-pillar growth strategy. I will also provide updates to our outlook for 2026. Jack will then speak to our financial results and segment performance. I want to begin by recognizing Atmusonians for their ability to navigate continued challenging market conditions, all while delivering strong financial results to start the year. Our global team remains focused on solving our filtration challenges and delivering on our four-pillar growth strategy. During the first quarter, we completed the acquisition of Cook Filter, which represents our first step toward advancing our strategy to expand into industrial filtration. This establishes our industrial air filtration platform and expands our portfolio into commercial and industrial HVAC and high-growth end markets including data centers and health care. We have made significant progress integrating Cook Filter into the Atmus Filtration Technologies Inc. organization. We have exited over 50% of the transition services agreement and expect all remaining integration activities to be completed early in the third quarter. The combination of Cook Filter’s deep industry experience with our filtration expertise and footprint, along with a strong cultural alignment, will provide benefits for all stakeholders. With the acquisition, we will report on two business segments in 2026: Power Solutions, which serves global on-highway and off-highway equipment markets, and Industrial Solutions, where the Cook Filter acquisition will be reported. Now let me provide an update on our capital allocation strategy. During the first quarter, we returned $12 million of cash to shareholders, consisting of $7 million of share buybacks and $5 million of dividends. We have $62 million remaining on our share repurchase authorization and expect share repurchases to be $20 million to $40 million in 2026. Behind our strong performance is our people, and I want to take a moment to provide some insight into how the culture at Atmus Filtration Technologies Inc. is driving momentum in the overall business. As I have shared previously, we have developed and embedded the ATLAS Way as a way of working, which incorporates our purpose, our values, our behaviors, and our strategy. As part of the ATLAS Way, we are committed to being learning oriented. Embracing a learning mindset will enable our growth strategy and support the scaling of our operation. During 2026, we continued to invest in building future generations of leadership for Atmus Filtration Technologies Inc. At an executive level, we launched our second cohort of our executive development program. This program is focused on building executive leadership capability over two years. Additionally, we launched our leadership foundations program focused on developing frontline leaders with foundational leadership skills grounded in our Atmus Filtration Technologies Inc. values. We have 200 managers and supervisors currently in the program and anticipate all frontline leaders to complete this by 2027. I am inspired as our leaders around the world participate in these programs and develop both personal and professional skills to lead our organization. Now let us turn to our four-pillar growth strategy. Our first pillar is to grow share in first fit. We continue to win with the winner by growing our long-term partnership with leading global and regional OEMs across a broad range of applications. Recently, we announced the opening of a new state-of-the-art laboratory facility at our Compare Brands location, reinforcing our commitment to advancing filtration technology and reducing testing lead times for our customers. This modernized testing facility strengthens our global laboratory network and allows us to work collaboratively with our customers. Our second pillar is focused on accelerating profitable growth in the aftermarket. We have partnered with leading global and regional OEMs who continue to grow their aftermarket business and expand market share. These OEMs trust our industry-leading products to solve their filtration challenges and protect what is important. Additionally, we are expanding our product coverage in independent channels with new distributors. This allows us to provide our industry-leading Sweetgard and Cook Filter branded products to our customers in their desired service channel. Our third pillar is focused on transforming our supply chain. We have established a strong distribution network that has enabled us to enhance the customer experience. We have raised our delivery and on-shelf availability metrics to all-time highs, ensuring our customers have the right product when and where they need them. Our fourth pillar is to expand into industrial filtration markets. The execution of our first acquisition with Cook Filter enables us to unlock operational, commercial, and growth synergies through the alignment of Cook Filter’s leading industrial air filtration brands and our advanced technology capabilities in filtration media. As we continue to review a robust pipeline of opportunities, we will focus on industrial air to build a platform of scale and create value through targeted bolt-on acquisitions. While our primary focus is industrial air, we will remain opportunistic in evaluating industrial water and liquid filtration assets, with the goal of identifying an anchor investment that can serve as the foundation as we build out our broader industrial platform over time. As demonstrated by the Cook Filter acquisition, we remain focused on executing a disciplined approach to develop opportunities which deliver long-term shareholder value. Now let us discuss our first quarter financial results. Sales were $478 million, compared to $417 million during the same period last year, an increase of 14.6%, largely driven by the acquisition of Cook Filter. Adjusted EBITDA was $95 million, or 19.8%, compared to $82 million, or 19.6%, last year. Adjusted earnings per share was $0.69 in 2026, and adjusted free cash flow was $33 million. Now I will discuss our market outlook for 2026. The conflict in the Middle East introduces uncertainty to the outlook for the year. This includes uncertainties regarding impact on input costs, our ability to sell products in the Middle East, and broader macroeconomic impact. At this stage, we have not incorporated adverse impact into our guidance associated with the Middle East conflict, but it is an ongoing risk factor that we will continue to monitor. Now let us turn to our outlook for the Power Solutions segment. In the aftermarket, overall freight activity remains muted, and we expect the market to continue at current levels and be relatively flat year over year. In our first fit market, customers have indicated strengthening activity as the year progresses, related to cyclical market recovery and prebuy activity ahead of 2027 U.S. regulatory changes. Our outlook for heavy- and medium-duty markets in the U.S. is now expected to be in a range of up 5% to up 15% compared to 2025. In our Industrial Solutions segment, we continue to expect favorable market conditions, and we anticipate the market to contribute 1% to 4% of growth. We expect share gains to deliver an additional 1% to 2% of growth, and overall pricing is expected to provide approximately 1% of revenue growth. As we noted last quarter, some tariff pricing implemented in 2025 will not carry into 2026 due to changes in the status of global trade agreements, implementation of offsets, and the actions we have taken to mitigate tariff impact. Based on tariffs in effect as of April 30, we expect the impact of tariff pricing to be flat relative to 2025 on a full-year basis. We will continue to be nimble and adjust pricing as necessary should the tariff environment change, and we expect to remain price-cost neutral. The U.S. dollar is expected to weaken year over year and provide an approximate 1% revenue tailwind. In summary, our expectations for Power Solutions total revenue will be in a range of $1.79 billion to $1.85 billion, an increase of approximately 3% at the midpoint from the prior year. In Industrial Solutions, we expect revenue to be in the range of $155 million to $165 million, which includes revenue from January. Taken together, we expect total company revenue to be in a range of $1.945 billion to $2.015 billion, an increase of 10% to 14% compared to 2025. We are maintaining our full-year adjusted EBITDA guidance of 19.5% to 20.5%. As noted, the conflict in the Middle East is expected to put pressure on commodity prices throughout our supply chain, most notably in petroleum-based components such as plastics. Should this occur, we would expect to recover these inflationary costs; however, there may be a timing lag for recovery. Lastly, adjusted EPS is expected to be in a range of $2.75 to $3. Before I turn the call over to Jack, I want to thank our team members around the world for delivering a strong quarter and for your continued focus on our customers. Now I will turn the call over to Jack.

Thank you, Steph, and good morning, everyone. Our team delivered strong financial performance in 2026 even though we continued to experience uncertain global market conditions. Sales in the first quarter were $478 million compared to $417 million during the same period last year, an increase of 14.6%. Power Solutions delivered sales of $439 million compared to $417 million in the prior year, an increase of 5.4%. The increase was primarily due to favorable foreign exchange of 4% and higher pricing of 2%. Volume was down slightly year over year. Industrial Solutions sales were $38 million, resulting from the acquisition of Cook Filter. Gross margin for the first quarter was $137 million compared to $111 million in 2025. The increase was primarily due to incremental contribution from the acquisition of Cook Filter, increases in pricing, the cessation of one-time separation costs, and the favorable impacts of currency, partially offset by higher logistics and duties costs, higher manufacturing costs, along with lower volume. Selling, administrative, and research expenses for the first quarter were $59 million compared to $55 million in the prior year. The increase was primarily due to people-related expenses and information technology consulting. Joint venture income was $8 million in the first quarter, compared to $9 million in the prior-year quarter. The decrease was primarily due to a $3 million expense in our India joint venture related to a benefit obligation remeasurement driven by recent labor law changes. Other income was an expense of $7 million compared to income of $1 million in 2025. The increased expense was primarily due to the Cook Filter acquisition, consisting of $6 million in transaction costs. Excluded from adjusted results are one-time costs related to the integration of Cook Filter, which for the full year 2026 are expected to be in the range of $3 million to $8 million, along with approximately $6 million of transaction costs. Additionally, we will exclude intangible asset amortization resulting from the Cook Filter acquisition, which is expected to be in a range of $10 million to $15 million. Adjusted EBITDA in the first quarter was $95 million, or 19.8%, compared to $82 million, or 19.6%, in the prior period. Adjusted EBITDA for Power Solutions was $86 million, or 19.6%, compared to $82 million, or 19.6%, last year. Industrial Solutions adjusted EBITDA was $8 million, or 21.9%. Adjusted earnings per share was $0.69 compared to $0.63 last year. Adjusted free cash flow was $33 million this quarter, compared to $20 million in the prior year. Now let us turn to our balance sheet and the operational flexibility it provides to execute on our growth and capital allocation strategy. We ended the quarter with $210 million of cash on hand. Combined with the full availability of our $500 million revolving credit facility, we have $710 million in available liquidity. Our strong liquidity provides us with operational flexibility to effectively manage our business and to execute growth opportunities. Our cash position and continued strong performance, along with inorganic growth from the acquisition of Cook Filter, has resulted in an estimated net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio of two times for the last twelve months ended March 31. I want to echo Steph and thank Atmusonians around the world for all of their hard work and dedication to deliver a strong start to 2026. Our disciplined execution of our four-pillar growth strategy, underpinned with a strong balance sheet, will allow us to continue to drive growth and create long-term value for all of our stakeholders. We will now open the call for questions.

Thank you. We do ask that you limit yourself to one question and one follow-up. For any additional questions, please requeue. Your first question comes from Quinn Fredrickson with Baird. Please go ahead.

Yes. Thank you. Just wanted to start off with a question about pricing. It seemed to come in a bit stronger than you were expecting in 1Q, but it sounds like you have not changed your expectation for the full year at 1%. First, can you confirm that is accurate? And if so, can you unpack why that would be the case, given it sounds like input costs are moving up?

Absolutely. Thanks, Quinn, for the question. Overall, I would say our pricing expectations for the full year remain 1%. As we highlighted when we initiated our guide on our last call, part of what you are seeing there is the evolution of tariff dynamics. And so as we talk about that pricing figure of 1%, it is holistic, including both base pricing actions that we took in January, for example, as well as tariff pricing. And as we move through the year, that tariff pricing will reflect the evolution of the tariff dynamics. As you compare year on year, you have different puts and takes as tariffs went up and down relative to specific countries. As we had highlighted, we do expect the first quarter from a year-over-year comparison to be our strongest pricing quarter, and then as tariffs change, and as Steph alluded to in her comments, we expect the full-year impact from tariffs to be essentially flat year over year. In terms of input costs, and whether or not we will be taking price actions for that, as we stand here right now, we are keeping a vigilant eye on those costs. As we noted, we will certainly look to recover those costs either through different things we can do in our supply chain or through pricing. As you know, base pricing is generally done at the beginning and the middle of the year. We would not expect necessarily similar dynamics to what we employed for tariffs to counter those input cost headwinds, and so that is the inherent timing lag that may exist should input costs become a dynamic this year.

Thank you. That was helpful. And then second question would just be on share gains. Any estimate on what that contributed in the quarter? And then any update to the 150 basis points that you are guiding to for the year?

Great. Thanks, Quinn. Let me get started on that one. Stepping back, we are really pleased with the performance in the quarter. It was strong growth. We saw 14.6% growth in the quarter. We were very happy with Industrial Solutions, about 6% growth in the quarter, so a very good start to the acquisition of Cook Filter, and a shout out to that team who performed very well. If I look at Power Solutions, 5.4% growth year on year. That was made up of, as Jack just discussed, 4% in FX and 2% in price, with volume overall slightly down. There is a mix in there of market conditions and share and some other one-time impacts that we experienced in the quarter also. We saw the market was down year on year. First fit was 8% down in our numbers, and aftermarket slightly down. If you start to unpack some of the specific one-time impacts we saw, the Middle East impacted our ability to deliver to our customers in the Middle East in the month of March. That impacted us by about $4 million in sales, about 1%. That was because we could not deliver to our customers for a period of time because of restrictions in the supply chain. We have mitigated those impacts and are now able to overcome that. Obviously, the Middle East conflict is an ongoing challenge, and we continue to monitor it and seek to mitigate those impacts, but in the quarter, it was a 1% impact that we are not expecting to continue. We also saw some stocking dynamics across the world, some within Latin America and Southeast Asia, that we expect are timing. Overall, share was about in the middle of that 1% to 2% level, right on top of the guide and where we are seeing it. That gives us confidence to continue to maintain our guide through the year. In addition, we are seeing positive inflection in the first fit market. We have already seen that coming through in our build rates and orders from customers. That gives us confidence in the second half guide underpinned by a recovery in first fit markets.

Appreciate all those details. Thank you.

Your next question comes from the line of Joseph O'Dea with Wells Fargo. Please go ahead.

Hi, good morning. Can you unpack Middle East uncertainty a little bit more just from both a revenue and cost consideration perspective? Based on what you see on current market prices, how do you think about the potential cost headwinds there? And then also, you talked about a little bit of supply chain disruption in the quarter, but stepping back, what you see as a potential demand response to ongoing conflict and a revenue impact that you consider? And then I have a follow-up on Cook Filter and aftermarket distribution.

Good morning, Joe, and thanks for the question. The Middle East is an ongoing uncertainty for all of us. We have been just over sixty days in the conflict now, and I am certainly in no position to predict how long that continues. The way I am thinking about the impact of the Middle East on our business really is in three key areas. The first of those is input cost pressures. We could see increases in costs related to inflationary pressures or supply shortages. We see the biggest impact for us there in plastics, or petroleum-based products. Right now, we are not seeing a lot that is already impacting or is baked into our forecast. We are really monitoring this as a risk at this point, but we expect to see some pressure on cost as the year plays out. Jack spoke to that. We will obviously look to mitigate those, but there may be some lag here in the second half on pricing, depending on how the conflict continues. The second dimension that may have an impact on our business is our sales in the Middle East. For context, our sales in the Middle East were $38 million in 2025, so about 2% of our overall revenue. We did see a $4 million impact in the first quarter. We are not expecting that to continue through the remainder of the year, but, obviously, we are watching to see how the conflict continues to evolve. And then the third piece, which you rightly pointed out, is the broader business confidence impact on global demand. It is very difficult to predict that. Obviously, our aftermarket is heavily weighted towards economic activity and freight activity around the world and particularly in North America. At this stage, we do not see the conflict having an impact on that, but we continue to monitor business confidence and the projection we are getting from our customers as to the outlook. At this stage, we think that the view of a flat outlook on aftermarket markets year over year still holds.

Those are helpful details. Thank you. And then on Cook Filter and with respect to your pillar of accelerating profitable growth in the aftermarket, any color on how different the distribution network is there and some of the work that is underway or opportunities that you have identified in the near term to go after some of that aftermarket opportunity?

Great question. As I alluded to, I am really pleased with the start of the acquisition of the Cook Filter business. They had a strong quarter, 6% revenue growth in the quarter, and we are progressing very well with the integration. We expect to wrap up integration early in the third quarter, and I am very pleased with how that is beginning. The team is very focused on share gains in their markets and orienting the focus of their growth towards higher-growth end markets. There are some similarities between the distribution channel strategies. Our overall broad coverage of products across a very broad distribution network holds across both our Power Solutions business and our Industrial Solutions business, and some of our industrial broad-based distributors that we have signed up in recent times do have coverage across both segments. We will look to leverage the synergies across those distribution channels. Right now, we see plenty of opportunity with the Cook Filter business continuing to target its growth strategy and orienting towards higher-growth end markets, and doing the integration well.

Got it. Thank you.

Your next question comes from the line of Tami

Hi. Good morning. Thank you so much. I wanted to revisit the volume comments you have made. For Power Solutions, volume was slightly down against a down number last year. Do you expect volumes to turn positive later in the year in any quarter, maybe driven by aftermarket or first fit due to prebuy? How are you thinking about volume in Power Solutions through the rest of the year? And a follow-up on Cook Filter growth versus market.

Good morning, Tami, and thanks for the question. Yes, we do expect volume to grow quarter over quarter through this year. The second quarter is a stronger quarter for us, and then we see the first fit dynamics in the third and fourth quarter starting to come in. We talked about the heavy-duty and medium-duty market adjustment to being 5% to 15% up year over year. We expect that to be all second-half loaded. We are starting to see that progress through the second quarter. We have also already seen increases in build rates, and we will start to see that trend up through the second quarter and through the second half. From a share perspective, we see the 1% to 2% share gain as being about the right balance for us throughout this year. We still see a path to how we will deliver that. With the aftermarket, aftermarket was challenged in the first quarter. We continue to see it operating pretty flat year over year, which is the assumption underpinning our guide. Overall, that leads you to a volume growth environment through 2Q and the second half.

Understood. That is very helpful color. On Cook Filter, I think I heard you say 6% revenue growth. Is that all organic? If it grew 6% and you are saying the market would grow 1% to 4%, was share gain 200 to 300 basis points in the quarter? And do you expect roughly 6% growth year over year for the rest of the quarters in the year?

We have given a pretty wide range on Industrial, and I appreciate that. It is a smaller number, so as we find our way here, you will give us some grace. Our full-year guide is a growth of 1% to 8% with a midpoint of 4%. If I look at the first quarter performance, it is right where I would expect it to be at about 1% price, 2% share, and about 3% market growth. We expect that market growth to be around that level. I would still position it around the midpoint of 4% for now, but that is the range we are suggesting for Industrial.

Thanks, Tami. Your next question comes from the line of Bobby Brooks with Northland Capital Markets. Please go ahead.

Hey, good morning, team, and thank you for taking my question. Now that you have had Cook under the hood for a little longer than three months, I would be curious to hear what are the most compelling cross-sell or growth opportunities you see that are directly arising from your ownership, and then, secondly, opportunities on the cost or manufacturing side?

Thanks, Bobby. Let me outline how I am seeing the opportunity of Cook Filter, and then I will ask Jack to talk through the integration activity and the supply chain cost opportunities. Firstly, I am really happy with the first quarter performance. When you do due diligence of an acquisition, obviously we were very thorough, but you then get to work out exactly what is under the hood. Here is what I would say is the opportunity. This was really a market step for us and about expanding into new markets. We really want to support fully the Cook Filter business to do what they do well. They have a very clear plan to continue to expand their share at this 1% to 2% rate with their customers. They have strong, favorable market conditions, and we expect continued growth at a higher rate than our Power Solutions business into the future. Strategically, we want to direct the team’s opportunities around products, customers, and channels to higher-growth end markets. That includes data centers and health care, and there is also a very strong and robust set of opportunities across the broader industrial and commercial HVAC. That is how I would describe the growth strategy. Very pleased with how we have started. Jack, can you comment on the cost and synergy perspective?

Thanks, Steph, and thanks, Bobby, for the question. First, I would echo Steph’s comment. We continue to be very excited about the acquisition of Cook Filter. We are really pleased to see a strong cultural fit between the two organizations, which makes collaboration all the more possible. First-quarter performance also demonstrates the margin accretion that the business can deliver to our overall portfolio and the overall potential for the business. On integration, we have made significant progress. Fortunately, we gained a lot of experience through our separation from Cummins, and that has really served us well as we now integrate this business and they go through their own separation from the prior parent. We have completed about half of the TSAs and are on track to complete the integration by early in the third quarter. As I shift to synergies, it has been great to see the teams come together and share learnings between the two organizations, not only on the cost synergies that we outlined when we highlighted the $4 million of potential—things like supply chain procurement savings, etc.—but also other potential growth areas that Steph was alluding to, where we can use our media expertise or some of our product know-how, or, likewise, use their product know-how and products to complement sales upside into each other’s end markets. We are excited about the future. As you know, it is early days—close occurred in January—so we are excited about the potential, and we will certainly update you all as those opportunities come to fruition.

Absolutely. Really appreciate the color. And then maybe for Jack, any outlook on tariff recoveries or just how to be thinking about that playing out this year, if so?

Thanks, Bobby. First, just to reiterate, our overall approach to tariffs remains unchanged. We will continue to pursue all of our available avenues to mitigate tariff exposure, minimize the impact on our customers, and our overall objective remains unchanged to be price-cost neutral. There has been some evolution from a tariff perspective, so let me give some color. As you all know, effective in early April, the Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs went into effect. I would just say that there is an immaterial number of our products that qualify under that category, really because most of our products are already qualified under the Section 232 tariffs around heavy-duty and medium-duty products. There is not really an incremental change there for us. Because they qualify under the prior heavy-duty and medium-duty Section 232, the USMCA exemption that we have been availing ourselves of is still valid and something we can take advantage of. Overall, from a refund standpoint, as you all know, a refund mechanism has been established using the CAPE system as of mid to late April of this year. Like other companies, we expect refund requests will be fulfilled once the mechanism is fully operational. These refunds, to our understanding, will be provided in phases, and we are following the normal steps with respect to filing our claim based upon their classification and the status of the entries. I would just say that the timing of those refunds and corresponding treatment in the market in terms of how those ultimately flow through is still highly uncertain, but we will certainly keep you updated as we gain more clarity there.

Appreciate the color.

Next question comes from the line of Andrew Obin with Bank of America. Please go ahead.

Andrew, I am sorry. We are having a hard time hearing you.

Oh, sorry about that. This is David Ridley-Lane on for Andrew Obin. Question on the potential impact for you from higher diesel prices. As you are thinking about your commodity and freight, if you snap the line today and assume that diesel prices remained constant, what kind of drag or year-over-year headwind would you be facing? And a quick follow-up on aftermarket performance in the quarter.

Yes. Overall, I would say, David, from an input cost perspective, we are monitoring it. That is one of many dynamics that flow through not only directly to us in terms of freight costs, etc., but also to end users in our space who are navigating higher input costs and a challenging freight dynamic overall. Right now, in terms of the impact of those costs, again, as Steph said, we are more in the monitor phase and would expect to react to those in terms of pricing or other supply chain maneuvering to offset. Our guide, as stated, really is in more of a watch-and-see mode on those just now, and we will continue to update that as we move through the year.

Got it. The other question I had, just real quickly, was on the aftermarket performance this quarter. I know you quantified the Middle East headwind, so that was a point overall. You also mentioned some destocking in LatAm and Southeast Asia. I just want to better understand: was this a surprisingly light quarter for aftermarket, and any thoughts you have on reasons why or what you have seen maybe in April? Was there a little bit of recovery? Thank you.

Thanks, David. The first quarter is always a little challenging for us. There are some dynamics between fourth quarter and first quarter, and we see this in North America a little bit. If you look at published results of our customers, you see this reflected as well—there is some stocking up at the end of the fourth quarter, and then you see some timing impacts of that into the first quarter. So I think there is some impact there in the first quarter. We do see improved volume performance throughout the year. In aftermarket, the second quarter is the strongest quarter for us, and then we see the tailwinds on the first fit side in the second half. Hopefully, that gives you some additional insight.

Thank you very much.

We have no further questions in our queue at this time. I would now like to turn the conference back over to Todd Chirillo for closing comments.

Thank you, Krista. That concludes our teleconference for the day. Thank you for participating and for your continued interest. Have a great day.