Memorialization reports higher sales and adjusted EBITDA
Arbitrator reaffirms Matthews' right to develop, produce, market and sell proprietary dry battery electrode solutions to third parties
Propelis JV achieves key milestone toward executing on synergy targets
Bond refinancing and reduced debt drive lower recurring interest expense
Company maintains outlook for fiscal 2026
Webcast: Friday, May 1, 2026, 9:00 a.m., 203-518-9843
PITTSBURGH, April 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Matthews International Corporation (NASDAQ GSM: MATW) today announced financial results for its second quarter of fiscal 2026.
In discussing the results for the Company's fiscal 2026 second quarter, Joseph C. Bartolacci, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated:
"We are pleased with our operating results for the fiscal 2026 second quarter. While our GAAP earnings were unfavorably impacted by unusual charges and amortization, we are happy to report non-GAAP adjusted earnings per share growth this quarter compared to last year despite recent divestitures. The Memorialization segment reported higher sales and adjusted EBITDA, and the Product Identification business also delivered higher sales. Although we continue to experience challenges in our energy storage solutions business, customer interest remains very strong. Corporate and other non-operating costs also declined meaningfully compared to last year. We continue to work on additional cost reduction plans to scale our structure as post-divestiture support obligations expire over the coming quarters."
"Sales for the Memorialization segment for the fiscal 2026 second quarter were higher than a year ago primarily reflecting the recent acquisition of The Dodge Company. This acquisition continues to be nicely accretive to earnings as we leverage the benefits of our Memorialization commercial platform and have already begun to realize cost synergies from integration. Sales volumes of caskets and cemetery memorials declined in the quarter due to lower U.S. casketed deaths. Inflationary price realization offset lower sales volumes of caskets and cemetery memorials in the quarter. The earnings impact of these sales increases and benefits from the segment's ongoing productivity initiatives were significant factors in the segment's improved operating margins."
"The Propelis Group ("Propelis") continues to report solid operating results since formation of the joint venture between our SGK business and SGS in May of 2025. During the quarter, Propelis successfully converted to a new business system platform that is expected to enable the integration of graphic production work across the global enterprise, activating a significant portion of the estimated $60 million of targeted cost synergies for realization in the second half of calendar 2026. Additionally, we expect Propelis to redeem a portion of preferred shareholders' interests in the second half of our fiscal year."
"The Industrial Technologies segment reported a decline in sales for the fiscal 2026 second quarter. The decrease mainly resulted from the divestiture of the warehouse automation business during the fiscal first quarter of 2026 and challenges in our engineering business, including the impacts of the ongoing Tesla dispute. During the quarter, we received a favorable ruling from an arbitrator again confirming our right to develop, produce, market and sell our proprietary dry battery electrode ("DBE") solutions to third parties. Matthews successfully defeated Tesla's most meaningful claims as the arbitrator issued an interim decision denying the broad injunctive relief requested by Tesla and rejecting Tesla's attempts to prohibit us from selling Matthews' proprietary DBE technology and equipment. Instead, the interim decision includes a narrow injunction preventing Matthews from using certain parts in dry battery electrode machines. Matthews already has replacement parts, and thus the injunction is not expected to materially impede Matthews' operations or sales. Importantly, this most recent ruling provides further clarity for Matthews and its customers on a going forward basis. Interest from other customers in our dry battery electrode solutions remains very strong, and we anticipate will start to convert to orders in the second half of fiscal 2026. The Product Identification business achieved a major milestone during the quarter by recording its first commercial sales of the MPERIA® Axian Inkjet (XIJ) systems. We have received significant customer interest in the new product, and buildout of the supply chain to meet anticipated market demand is ongoing."
"During the fiscal 2026 second quarter, we redeemed $300 million aggregate principal of 8.625% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2027, which has reduced interest expense for the quarter. The refinancing was funded using the proceeds from the recent divestitures of the warehouse automation and European packaging businesses combined with additional borrowings from our existing revolving credit facility."
"The Board, with the support of J.P. Morgan, identified several alternatives for evaluation and consideration toward improving shareholder value and better alignment with the underlying value of the organization. The divestitures of SGK in 2025, and the warehouse automation and European packaging businesses in the first quarter are all outcomes of this effort to simplify Matthews' business structure and enhance shareholder value. The Company's strategic alternatives review remains ongoing."
"For the remainder of fiscal 2026, we expect the Memorialization segment to continue to deliver modest year-to-year sales growth. Additionally, we expect conditions for the engineering business to remain challenging and dependent upon winning substantial new orders. Lastly, our projected share of the Propelis' financial results includes the expectation for significant cost synergies to be executed and realized during the remainder of the year. Based on our results through March 31, 2026, and projections for the remainder of fiscal 2026, we are maintaining our previous earnings guidance of adjusted EBITDA of $180 million (which includes our estimated 40% share of Propelis adjusted EBITDA) for fiscal 2026."
Divestiture of the SGK Business
As previously reported, on May 1, 2025, the Company contributed the SGK business to a newly formed entity, Propelis, in exchange for cash and other consideration. The fiscal 2025 consolidated financial information presented in this release reflects the financial results of the SGK business through the closing date. As a result of the integration process of Propelis and transition to its stand-alone reporting systems, our 40% portion of the financial results of Propelis is reported on a one-quarter lag. Consequently, for the three months ended March 31, 2026, the Company's portion of earnings (losses) for its equity-method investment in Propelis includes the months from October 2025 through December 2025. For the six months ended March 31, 2026, the Company's portion of earnings (losses) for its equity-method investment in Propelis includes the months from July 2025 through December 2025.
The Company's consolidated adjusted EBITDA for the fiscal second quarter of 2026 includes approximately a $9.5 million adjusted EBITDA contribution from Propelis. Based on preliminary financial projections provided by Propelis, their current estimate of adjusted EBITDA for the period January 1, 2026 through March 31, 2026 was $24.8 million. For comparison, our 40% portion of this amount would be $9.9 million. The Company's consolidated adjusted EBITDA for the fiscal six months ended March 31, 2026 includes a $22.4 million adjusted EBITDA contribution from Propelis. Based on preliminary financial projections provided by Propelis, their current estimate of adjusted EBITDA for the period October 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026 was $48.5 million. For comparison, our 40% portion of this amount would be $19.4 million. Please note that these projections are unaudited and subject to review and, as a result, may change.
Webcast
The Company will host a conference call and webcast on Friday, May 1, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time to review its financial and operating results and discuss its corporate strategies and outlook. A question-and-answer session will follow. The conference call can be accessed by dialing (203)-518-9843, Conference ID: Matthews. The audio webcast can be monitored at www.matw.com. As soon as available after the call, a transcript of the call will be posted on the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at www.matw.com.
About Matthews International Corporation
Matthews International Corporation operates through two core global businesses, Industrial Technologies and Memorialization. Both are focused on driving operational efficiency and long-term growth through continuous innovation and strategic expansion. The Industrial Technologies segment evolved from our original marking business, which today is a leading global innovator committed to empowering visionaries to transform industries through the application of precision technologies and intelligent processes. The Memorialization segment is a leading provider of memorialization products, including memorials, caskets and cremation and incineration equipment, primarily to cemetery and funeral home customers that help families move from grief to remembrance. In addition, the Company also has a significant investment in Propelis, a brand solutions business formed through the merger of SGK and SGS & Co. Propelis delivers integrated solutions including brand creative, packaging, print solutions, branded environments, and content production. Matthews International has over 4,300 employees in 15 countries on four continents that are committed to delivering the highest quality products and services.
Forward-looking Information
Any forward-looking statements contained in this release are included pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies of the Company regarding the future, and may be identified by the use of words such as "expects," "believes," "intends," "projects," "anticipates," "estimates," "plans," "seeks," "forecasts," "predicts," "objective," "targets," "potential," "outlook," "may," "will," "could" or the negative of these terms, other comparable terminology and variations thereof. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the Company's actual results in future periods to be materially different from management's expectations, and no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove correct. Factors that could cause the Company's results to differ materially from the results discussed in such forward-looking statements principally include risks to our ability to achieve the anticipated benefits of the joint venture transaction with Peninsula Parent LLC, d.b.a. Propelis Group ("Propelis"), changes in domestic or international economic conditions, changes in foreign currency exchange rates, changes in interest rates, changes in the cost of materials used in the manufacture of the Company's products, including changes in costs due to adjustments to tariffs or supply chain disruptions, any impairment of goodwill or intangible assets, environmental liability and limitations on the Company's operations due to environmental laws and regulations, disruptions to certain services, such as telecommunications, network server maintenance, cloud computing or transaction processing services, provided to the Company by third-parties, changes in mortality and cremation rates, changes in product demand or pricing as a result of consolidation in the industries in which the Company operates, or other factors such as labor shortages or labor cost increases, changes in product demand or pricing as a result of domestic or international competitive pressures, ability to achieve cost-reduction objectives, unknown risks in connection with the Company's acquisitions, divestitures, and business combinations, cybersecurity concerns and costs arising with management of cybersecurity threats, effectiveness of the Company's internal controls, compliance with domestic and foreign laws and regulations, technological factors beyond the Company's control, impact of pandemics or similar outbreaks, or other disruptions to our industries, customers, or supply chains, the impact of global conflicts, such as the current war between Russia and Ukraine and hostilities in the Middle East, and conflicts and related sanctions or trade restrictions involving Venezuela, the Company's plans and expectations with respect to its exploration, and contemplated execution, of various strategies with respect to its portfolio of businesses, the Company's plans and expectations with respect to its Board of Directors, and other factors described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and other periodic filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited)
(In thousands, except per share data)
Three Months Ended
March 31,
Six Months Ended
March 31,
2026
2025
% Change
2026
2025
% Change
Sales
$ 258,619
$ 427,629
(39.5) %
$ 543,382
$ 829,471
(34.5) %
Cost of sales
(156,635)
(283,517)
(44.8) %
(341,725)
(559,667)
(38.9) %
Gross profit
101,984
144,112
(29.2) %
201,657
269,804
(25.3) %
Gross margin
39.4 %
33.7 %
37.1 %
32.5 %
Selling and administrative expenses
(98,540)
(131,812)
(25.2) %
(210,932)
(243,222)
(13.3) %
Amortization of intangible assets
(2,674)
(4,280)
(37.5) %
(5,640)
(12,888)
(56.2) %
Gain (loss) on divestitures, net
(3,945)
(2,072)
90.4 %
109,264
(2,072)
NM
Operating (loss) profit
(3,175)
5,948
(153.4) %
94,349
11,622
NM
Operating margin
(1.2) %
1.4 %
17.4 %
1.4 %
Interest and other deductions, net
(8,533)
(17,592)
(51.5) %
(21,639)
(29,096)
(25.6) %
Loss on debt extinguishment
(16,343)
—
NM
(16,343)
—
NM
(Loss) income before income taxes
(28,051)
(11,644)
140.9 %
56,367
(17,474)
NM
Income taxes
6,217
2,728
127.9 %
(34,572)
5,086
NM
Net (loss) income
$ (21,834)
$ (8,916)
144.9 %
$ 21,795
$ (12,388)
NM
(Loss) earnings per share -- diluted
$ (0.69)
$ (0.29)
137.9 %
$ 0.69
$ (0.40)
NM
