Power Solutions International, Inc. (PSIX) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

Good afternoon, and welcome to Power Solutions International First Quarter 2026 Earnings Conference Call. Currently, all participants are in listening-only mode. A question-and-answer session will follow the formal presentation. As a reminder, this conference call is being recorded. I would now like to hand the conference over to Ken Jank, VP Corporate Controller, PSI. You may begin.

Good afternoon, and welcome to Power Solutions International's First Quarter 2026 Earnings Conference Call. Joining me on today's call are Dino Zykus, Chief Executive Officer, Ken Lee, Chief Financial Officer, and Dorothy Du, General Counsel. Statements made in today's discussion, as well as information provided from time to time by Power Solutions International, Inc., will include forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are the timing and ultimate conversion of power systems orders, including data center-related orders, quarterly variability in our product mix and corresponding gross margin, the cost, pace, and outcome of capacity ramp-up activities at our Wisconsin operations, demand in the oil and gas end market, supply chain, and component availability, macroeconomic, regulatory, and trade conditions, pending litigation and regulatory inquiries and the other risks and uncertainties described in our most recent annual report on form 10k our quarterly reports on form 10q and other filings with the SEC all of which are incorporated by reference for purposes of today's call the company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required by law. We will also reference certain non-GAAP financial measures on today's call. Reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP measures are available in our earnings release and SEC filings. With that I will turn the call over to Dino.

Good afternoon everyone and thank you for joining us. We appreciate your time today and your continued interest in PSI. For many of This is the first earnings conference call you have heard from PSI since December 2024 up listening to the NASDAQ stock market. I will start with a brief overview of our company and will then turn the call over to Kent to walk through our financial performance and our outlook. Company overview. Power Solutions International, founded in 1985 and headquartered in Wooddale, Illinois, designs and manufactures emission certified engines and integrated power systems across natural gas, propane, diesel, gasoline and biofuels. The company has produced more than 1.5 million engines over its history and operates manufacturing and engineering facilities across Illinois, Wisconsin, Texas and Michigan. PSI serves OEM customers across power systems, industrial and transportation and markets, including data centers, standby power, oil and gas, material handling, and specialized vehicles. Over the past several years, PSI has improved profitability, reduced its debt, stretched its balance sheet, refinanced its credit facility, and uplifted it to NASDAQ in December of 2024. In 2025, the company was added to the Russell 3000, Russell 2000, Russell microcap, and MSCI USA small cap indices. The first quarter. Turning to the quarter, as Ken will describe in more detail, our first quarter results were below the strong prior year period, which had benefit from significant growth in our power systems business. The year-over-year declines in sales and profitability primarily reflected softer oil and gas demand, the timing of certain power system shipments, and elevated production costs associated with the capacity ramp up in our Wisconsin operation. At the same time, demand related to data center application remained solid, and gross margin improved sequentially from the fourth quarter of 2025, owing it in part to the company's efforts to improve operational efficiency in Wisconsin but partially offset by unfavorable product mix with that I will turn the call over to Ken thank you Dino and a good afternoon everyone I will work through our financial performance for the first quarter CM provided some operational contacts and updates on liquidity and our outlook framework for the balance of the year.

Net sales for the first quarter were 128.6 million, representing a decline of approximately 5% year-over-year. This decrease was primarily joined by lower sales in our power systems and the market, reflecting uneven customer ordering patterns and continued softness in the oil and gas markets. These declines were partially offset by growth in our industrial and transportation and markets. Growth profit for the quarter was $29.4 million compared to $40.3 million in the prior year, and the growth margin was 22.9% compared to 29.7% in the prior year period. The year-over-year decline in growth margin requires a less favorable powder mix in the period, including lower contributions from oil and gas powder. Together, we elevate the production cost associated with capacity ramp-up activities supporting data center-related applications. On a sequential basis, growth margin was approximately 100 base points higher than the fourth quarter of 2025, which we believe shows early progress in reducing operational inefficiencies. So, the gain was partially offset by an unfavorable pot mix in the first quarter. We caution that the capacity ramp-up activities at our Wisconsin operations are continuing, and we expect elevates the pot cost rates to that ramp-up to persist, with the trajectory of any further sequential improvement subject to pot mix, slow pot, and other operational factors. Operating expense was $18 million, up approximately 15% year-over-year, reflecting continued investments in research and development to support new product initiatives, as well as increase the selling and administrative expense to support growth. Operating income for the quarter was $11.4 million, compared to $20.6 million in the five-year period. Net income was $7.3 million, our $0.32 per diluted share, compared to $19.1 million, our $0.83 per diluted share in the five-year. At just the EBITDA, it was $13.9 million, reflecting the same underlying operational dynamics impacting profitability. Turning to cash flow, we generated $18.7 million of operating cash flow in the quarter, more than doubling compared to the five-year period, and driven primarily by favorable working capital dynamics. From a balance sheet perspective, we ended the quarter with $45.1 million of cash and cash equivalents, and approximately $103.4 million of total debt. Our balance sheet remains solid, and we continue to generate positive cash flow. From a liquidity standpoint, we are well position. Our cash generation combined with access to our $135 million revolving credit facility provides flexibility to support our operations and ongoing investments. We believe our current liquidity position is sufficient to meet our anticipated cash needs for at least the next 12 months. Turning to our priorities for 2026, our team is focused on operational execution, ongoing margin recovery, reliable delivery against the customer commitment, and consistent communication with our investors. Given ongoing viability in order timing and market conditions, the company is not providing formal four-year guidance at this time. Based on current visibility, the company currently expects second quarter 2026 revenue to be generally consistent with the first quarter on a sequential basis. The company anticipates strong sales goals in the second half of 2026. Approximately in line with sales in the second half of 2025, as larger power system orders move into production and are recognized as revenue. However, the timing and ultimate volume of those shipments remain subject to customer scheduling, manufacturing slow parts, costs, supply chain factors, and other variables. There can be no assurance that those orders will translate to a uniformly strong second half. Continued softness in oil and gas and market is expected to weigh on quarterly revenue trends. And the capacity ramp-up activities at the company's Wisconsin operations and their related cost effects on gold margin are expected to continue. We continue to see ongoing demand for power infrastructure, particularly in data center and distributed power applications, and to invest in our manufacturing footprints and the product platforms in support of that demand. Converting that demand into revenue depends on the operational and market factors I have described, and we will continue to update investors as the year progresses. With that, operate. Please open the line for questions.

Thank you. To ask a question, please press star-11 on your telephone and wait for your name to be announced. To withdraw your question, please press star-11 again. Please stand by while we compile the Q&A roster. Our first question comes from the line of Eric Stein with Craig Hallam Capital Group. Your line is now open.

Hi, Dino. Hi, Alec. Hello. So, you know, I'm wondering, so on Q1, if you're able to, could you just give a little detail on specifically power systems and, you know, maybe not exact, but, you know, talk about kind of the contribution from oil and gas, you know, clearly that is something that you've talked about since late last year, have seen it, not really a surprise, but curious how do we view that and then also view that you are ramping up the enclosure business. And then curious what that enclosure business, are you expecting more of a ramp up in Q2? What kind of goes into your Q2 view as well?

So Alec, for the whole system, the 1Q sales is about 96 million and versus last year like 107 million and as we mentioned you know we start to notice the softness in the oil and gas later last year right and this softness extended to one q this year so most of the sales decrease you know this quarter versus last year one q is driven by the poor system the oil and gas the softness and also the uneven customer demand for other data center rate the product. So we right now in the near term we still assume all the guys will remain soft throughout the year and if there's some pickup definitely it will be favorable for the sales and also margin perspective. Now for the Wisconsin operation, the company you know adding resource to support the Wisconsin operation and we you know we are doing lots of process improvements, time study, you know, we see some notable improvements in the cost of structure, labor overhead in the manufacturing cost if we compare this quarter versus, you know, 4K last year. And the improvements is also the fact that you know our margin, gross margin improvements, you know, 100 base points, this quarter versus last quarter, right. Now for the orders regarding According to the data center products, as we indicated in the first release, we anticipate strong activity in the second half, and this based on some order we already received. So now we expect the second half, the sales, will be the same level as we had last year for the second half. But again, the actual, you know, shipment timing and volume is subject to the customer schedule, our slow pause, and also the supply chain, right?

Yep. No, of course. So then if I think about second quarter, I mean, are you, because obviously you're coming out of, you know, this period where you're now starting to ramp up the enclosure business after doing, you know, you've got a number of ongoing improvements, so I get that. But if you're looking for a flat sequential quarter, looking for enclosure growth, I mean, that would imply that you are expecting further weakening of oil and gas in Q2. curious if that is your intention or because I mean it sounds like you haven't really seen an improvement there and and don't expect you even if oil you know it certainly was you know has appreciated given what's going on in the Middle East but it sounds like you don't necessarily think that that has a positive impact anytime soon you're right Alex you know even though the oil

price is very high, and we are now seeing a significant ordering for oil and gas products. So for the second quarter, you know, we expect it will be the same level as Q1.

Okay. I may have missed it, but just on gross margins, can you talk about, I don't know if you said it, but I think you might have said that you expect that you're starting to see a little bit of improvement, given all the steps that you took in Q4 and early in Q1, and that expect continued improvement throughout the year, and I'm not sure if you gave any indications of the magnitude.

So the 1Q goes margin 22.9%, and the 4Q was 21.9%, so it's about 100 base point improvements, But we, as I said, you know, we did see some notable improvements for our Wisconsin operation, and going forward, you know, we expect the growth margin will be flat or slightly better than 1Q. Again, you know, this also, you know, subject to the powder mix and also, you know, our cost structure improvement. And the 1Q, the gross margin, you know, was kind of, you know, negatively impacted by powder mix. Usually our oil and gas products carry a high gross margin. So this is impacted by the oil and the gas also for the 1Q. Okay.

Last one for me, just curious. I mean, I know you're about a quarter in or a little bit over, but just would love some thoughts on the MTL acquisition, you know, some of the benefits you're seeing, why you did it. I mean, it's pretty straightforward, but would just love you to kind of give your thoughts on that acquisition in its early days.

Sure. So we completed the MTL acquisition on January 9th, you know, ZCL. And the MTL specialized in fabrication, welding, painting, and assembly of metal components, and it's also make the data center, you know, parts. And MTR has been, you know, PSI supplier for a long time, more than 10 years. They have been, you know, supplying us the fuel tank, right? And these acquisitions definitely help us to vertically integrate our supply chain, help us to reduce the lead time, and also PSI can have access to its UI, you know, UL certification. So, since acquisition, the integration is underway, and, you know, we are exploring different opportunities, you know, to leverage the MTL asset base to help us, you know, to do other, you know, fabrication for the data center raised components. So the revenue contribution from NTR, you know, is expected to be pretty modest in 2026. And in the near term, the team focus will be on the operational execution, slow part collaboration, and production, you know, consistency.

Okay. Thank you very much. Thank you.

Our next question comes from the line of Alan Lau with Jefferies.

Your line is now open. uh thanks for taking my question um so we'd like to um understand more on um the um growth outlook especially from the enclosure business as the company ramps up uh the production uh so we'd like to know uh if you might share uh uh what's the capacity uh in dollar terms for the enclosure and are getting orders from our major clients, thanks.

Thank you, Alan. So, Alan, you know, we serve our customer, you know, mainly in three kind of industry under markets, you know, basically industrial power system and also transportation. And for the power system, we provide the power that's, you know, micro grade, standby power, prime power, and also data center related to the power that's like an enclosure. So, in our financial statements, you know, we do not break down the sales to the enclosure business. So, it's within our power system, you know, in the power system, you know, the end user market. So, we will say, you know, we receive some orders from our customer and we anticipate in the second half of the year, and we expect the second half sales will be at the level we had in our second half last year, right? And we still have some pretty solid demand for our customer, our products. And certainly, as I said, the actual shipment timing and the volume still subject to the customer schedule and our capability, you know, how successful we can convert the orders to sales.

Understood. So I would like to follow up on oil and gas, because so you mentioned that you expect second half of the revenue would be similar to last year. So So we'd like to know if it's in terms of absolute terms, which means because second half last year, I think the revenue in total is roughly $4 billion. So do you mean you expect second half the revenue is approximately at $4 billion level?

So the second half right now, our kind of general outlook is the second half sales will be similar last year, second half, right? because we anticipate a strong demand of our products, you know, and activity in the second half, right? So that's our, you know, odds lock based on the orders, you know, we have right now from our customer and also our forecast.

So what's the mix of oil and gas in second half last year?

We do not, Alan, we do not provide, you know, the mixed information, you know, particular, you know, products in the endermatical group, yeah.

We have never provided that speech.

So then we'd like to know if, like, any major clients that, I understand maybe a bit sensitive, but like any major orders you get from hyperscalers or key contractors for hyperscalers?

We do not name individual customers. We never have.

Yeah, we do not provide information on any specific customers.

So I wonder then, would you share the updates on gas engine? Because I think this gas engine for prime power is an upcoming trend. So I wonder if you might share updates on that front.

Yeah, so you know, the PSI, we provided, you know, a variable out-of-power portfolio of engines, starting from one lid all the way to 8-8 lid and 110 lid, and we are using multiple fuel sources such as gas, purporting, gasoline, diesel, and biofuel. So we spend R&D to develop the products. For the one year we spend about $4.8 million, and we continue to spend R&D to develop new products and admission certification and also develop a special you know special application for our customers right so what I say is you know there definitely activities going on you know on the gas side and and we are working to develop the product to meet the industry demand. That's what I'm doing. And I will say the current, we have lots of current engineering activity, you know, includes ongoing work related to the emission compliance, thermal management, packaging optimization, and all kind of, you know, customer-specific application requirements. And we also, you know, doing R&D to develop a larger digital engine for the data center market.

So by bigger diesel engines, I wonder if it's above 3 megawatts?

I'm sorry, could you repeat that question again?

I wonder if the bigger diesel engines are above the typical 2 to 3 megawatts?

So I think right now we have our 88 LIT. It's I was seeing my glass, yeah.

So thank you. I'll pass on. Yeah, thank you.

Thank you. This concludes the Q&A session. Thank you all for your participation. This does conclude today's call. You may now disconnect.