The earnings release and presentation to supplement today's call are available for download on our investor relations website at investors.cmco.com. Please see our earnings release and our filings to the Securities and Exchange Commission for more information. Last week, we were very pleased to announce that we closed the Kito Crosby acquisition. This will be the final step in aligning the combined company towards our next phase of growth.

We delivered double-digit growth in sales, orders, EPS, and backlog year-over-year, as we saw continued stabilization in U.S. We continue to see an attractive global funnel of opportunities, and our backlog remains at healthy levels, positioning us well for the future. Adjusted EBITDA was $40 million, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 15.4%. This margin was flat to the prior quarter as our tariff mitigation actions offset normal seasonality.

We continue to expect that we will achieve tariff cost neutrality by the end of the year and margin neutrality in fiscal 2027. grew 15%, driven by strength in lifting, automation, and precision conveyance, and EMEA grew 3%, despite the continuation of a weaker economic landscape that is causing slower order conversion. Globally, growth was balanced across both short cycle and project orders, reflecting stabilization of short cycle demand, traction on our commercial initiatives, and implementation of tariff-related price increases. Our pipeline of quotation activity remains encouraging, and we continue to see a strong funnel of new business opportunities.

What went well
  • The company closed its transformational Kito Crosby acquisition, announced during the quarter, positioning Columbus McKinnon as a scaled, more-than-$2 billion global provider of intelligent motion solutions for material handling.
  • Columbus McKinnon delivered double-digit year-over-year growth in sales, orders, backlog and adjusted EPS, with net sales up 10.5% to $258.7 million and adjusted EPS up 11% to $0.62 (GAAP EPS up 50% to $0.21).
  • Orders grew 11% to $247 million – U.S. orders up 15% on strength in lifting, automation and precision conveyance – and backlog rose 15% year over year to $342 million with growth across all platforms.
  • Permanent financing was completed at attractive rates below the initial ~8% estimate, comprising a $1.65 billion Term Loan B (SOFR + 350 bps at 99% of face), $900 million of 7.125% senior secured notes at par, $800 million of perpetual convertible preferred stock, and a new $500 million revolver.
  • Adjusted EBITDA reached $39.8 million (15.4% margin), flat sequentially as tariff-mitigation actions offset normal seasonality, and free cash flow was $16.5 million; the pending ~$160 million net divestiture of the U.S. power-chain-hoist/chain operations was on track to fund Term Loan B paydown.
What went wrong
  • Adjusted gross margin contracted 170 basis points year over year to 35.1%, driven mainly by unfavorable product mix (timing of higher-margin precision-conveyance shipments and a weaker U.S. lifting mix, plus more lower-margin rail project shipments) and tariffs.
  • The company withdrew its standalone fiscal 2026 guidance given the just-closed acquisition and uncertain timing of the pending divestiture.
  • Management flagged that transaction-related expenses, purchase-accounting adjustments, early integration costs and higher interest expense would be dilutive to GAAP EPS in the fiscal fourth quarter and for full-year fiscal 2026, and would pressure free cash flow.
  • EMEA demand remained soft (orders up just 3%, much of it FX-driven) with slower project decision-making expected to persist into the coming quarter amid a weak German ifo backdrop.
  • SG&A carried $6.3 million of acquisition- and divestiture-related costs, and net leverage sat at an elevated level post-financing, making debt repayment the company's primary capital-allocation priority.

Guidance Changes

MetricPeriodCurrent guidance
FY2026 standalone guidanceFY2026Withdrawn following the Kito Crosby close and pending divestiture
Cost synergiesPost-close (3-year)$70M net run-rate confirmed – ~20% realized in year one, ~60% in year two, 100% in year three
Net leverageBy end of FY2028Reduce net leverage ratio to below 4x by end of fiscal 2028
Pro forma combined scaleFull-year pro forma (per Jan 14 8-K)Revenue ~$2.0–$2.1B and EBITDA ~$440–$460M (inclusive of $70M synergies)
Kito Crosby standalone (CY2025)Calendar 2025$1.14–$1.15B revenue and $273–$283M adjusted EBITDA

Performance Breakdown

MetricYoYNote
Net sales +10.5% to $258.7M Higher volume, pricing and favorable FX; particular strength in lifting, linear motion and automation, led by North America.
Adjusted EPS $0.62 (+11%) Higher net income from volume and pricing plus lower FX losses versus the prior year.
GAAP EPS $0.21 (+50%) Higher operating income despite $6.3M of acquisition/divestiture costs.
Adjusted EBITDA $39.8M; 15.4% margin Flat sequential margin as tariff mitigation offset seasonality; definition now adds back stock comp per the credit agreement.
Adjusted gross margin 35.1% (-170 bps) Unfavorable mix (precision-conveyance timing, U.S. lifting, more rail shipments) and tariffs.
Orders $247M (+11%) U.S. up 15% on lifting/automation/precision conveyance; EMEA up 3% (largely FX).
Backlog $342M (+15%) Growth across all platforms in both short-cycle and project businesses.
Free cash flow $16.5M Higher earnings, favorable working capital, customer deposits and lower cash taxes, net of $6.7M transaction cash payments.

Earnings Call Themes & Trends

TopicPrevious mentionCurrent periodTrend
Kito Crosby close and integrationPending, targeting end of fiscal yearClosed early in the quarter (announced Feb 3, 2026); integration underway with a $70M net cost-synergy target (20/60/100% over three years) and a dedicated IMO working since October.
Capital structure and deleveragingCommitted bridge financingPermanent financing completed below the ~8% estimate ($1.65B TLB, $900M 7.125% notes, $800M perpetual convertible preferred, $500M revolver); debt repayment is the primary priority, targeting sub-4x net leverage by end of FY2028.
Portfolio realignmentPending divestiture of the U.S. power-chain-hoist and chain operations expected to close later in the quarter for ~$160M net, with proceeds directed to Term Loan B paydown.
Regional demand splitU.S. stabilizing, EMEA softU.S. short-cycle robust (orders +15%, favorable tax/CapEx deduction rules and onshoring tailwinds); EMEA choppy with slower conversion expected to persist.
Synergy cadence and pro forma economics$70M identifiedCombined business framed at ~$2.0–$2.1B revenue and ~$440–$460M pro forma EBITDA; Kito Crosby seen at a 22–23% EBITDA margin, with synergies back-end loaded.

More on Columbus Mckinnon Corp

Reported 2026-02-09 · figures from the Columbus Mckinnon Corp Q3 2026 earnings call.

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