BOSTON, Aug. 03, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cabot Corporation (NYSE: CBT) today announced results for its third quarter fiscal year 2026.
Third Quarter Highlights
- Third Quarter Diluted EPS of $0.12 and Adjusted EPS of $1.67
- Reinforcement Materials segment EBIT of $97 million and Performance Chemicals segment EBIT of $68 million
- Battery Materials product line expanding global conductive additive capacity to support growing demand; reaffirming expectation of approximately $40 million of EBITDA for the full fiscal year
- Awarded Platinum rating from EcoVadis for exceptional leadership in sustainability performance for the sixth consecutive year
- Announced a planned leadership transition, with Erica McLaughlin elected to succeed Sean Keohane as President and CEO and a member of Cabot’s Board of Directors, all effective October 1, 2026
Sean Keohane, Cabot President and Chief Executive Officer, commented: “I am pleased with our strong third-quarter performance as our teams continued to execute at a high level despite a dynamic operating environment. We delivered adjusted EPS of $1.67, an increase of 4% sequentially, driven by strong performance in our Performance Chemicals segment. In Performance Chemicals, segment EBIT increased 19% year-over-year, driven by higher volumes and expanded unit margins. In Reinforcement Materials, segment EBIT declined 24% year-over-year, as higher volumes were more than offset by lower gross profit per ton. Overall, our results demonstrate the strength of our execution as we continue to navigate the current market conditions.”
Keohane continued, “During the quarter, we advanced a program to expand global conductive additive capacity in our battery materials product line, consisting of targeted investments in both the United States and China. These investments are intended to support expected growth in global battery demand and enable continued expansion of our participation with leading battery manufacturers. We are pleased with the continued momentum in battery materials this fiscal year and reaffirm our expectation of approximately $40 million of EBITDA in fiscal 2026.”
Financial Detail
For the third quarter of fiscal 2026, net income attributable to Cabot Corporation was $6 million ($0.12 per common share). Net income reflects an after-tax per share charge from certain items of $1.55, primarily related to charges for restructuring actions and the termination of employee benefit plans. Adjusted EPS for the third quarter of fiscal 2026 was $1.67 per share.
Segment Results
Reinforcement Materials – Third quarter fiscal 2026 EBIT in Reinforcement Materials decreased by $31 million compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2025. The decline in EBIT was primarily driven by lower gross profit per ton, primarily due to the outcomes of our calendar year 2026 customer agreements, partially offset by higher volumes and a more favorable regional product mix. Volumes increased by 5% in the third quarter of fiscal 2026 as compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2025 driven by higher volumes in Asia and the Americas, including higher volumes from our capacity addition in Indonesia and our acquisition in Mexico.
Global and regional volume changes for Reinforcement Materials for the third quarter of fiscal 2026 as compared to the same quarter of the prior year are set forth in the table below:
Third QuarterYear-over-Year ChangeGlobal Reinforcement Materials Volumes5%Asia Pacific10%Europe, Middle East, Africa(4%)Americas4%
Performance Chemicals – Third quarter fiscal 2026 EBIT in Performance Chemicals increased by $11 million compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2025 primarily due to increased volumes and higher gross profit per ton. Volumes increased in our battery materials and fumed metal oxides product lines in the third quarter of fiscal 2026 as compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2025. The increase in battery materials volumes was driven by higher demand for electric vehicles and battery energy storage systems and our strengthening participation with market-leading global battery manufacturers. The increase in fumed metal oxides volumes was driven by growth in electronics applications. The higher gross profit per ton was primarily due to price increases implemented ahead of rising raw material costs and a favorable product mix.
Cash Performance – The Company ended the third quarter of fiscal 2026 with a cash and cash equivalents balance of $250 million. During the third quarter of fiscal 2026, cash flows from operating activities were a source of $75 million. Uses of cash during the quarter included funding $44 million of higher net working capital due to the rapidly rising raw material costs during the quarter, $38 million in capital expenditures and $24 million for the payment of dividends. We ended the third quarter with $1.3 billion of available liquidity and a net debt to EBITDA ratio of 1.4 times as of June 30, 2026.
Taxes – During the third quarter of fiscal 2026, the Company recorded tax expense of $46 million, resulting in an effective tax rate of 79%. The provision for income taxes included a net discrete tax expense of $19 million primarily related to changes in valuation allowance as a result of the Company ceasing carbon black production at its plant in Campana, Argentina. On a year-to-date basis, the Company’s operating tax rate was 29% as of June 30, 2026, and we expect our full-year fiscal 2026 operating tax rate to be in the range of 28% to 30%.
Outlook
Commenting on the outlook for the Company, Sean Keohane said, “Given the year-to-date performance and our expectations for the fourth fiscal quarter, we are tightening our fiscal 2026 Adjusted EPS guidance range from $6.00 to $6.50 per share to $6.15 to $6.45 per share.”
Keohane continued, “While the macroeconomic and geopolitical environment remains dynamic, our teams continue to execute at a high level. We have demonstrated our ability to successfully manage through changing conditions while maintaining strong operational and financial performance, generating robust cash flow, and delivering value to our customers.”
Keohane concluded, “As I prepare to retire after nearly 25 years with Cabot and more than 10 years as President and CEO, I am incredibly proud of what the Cabot team has accomplished, and I am excited about the future of the Company. I am pleased that the Board has announced the appointment of Erica McLaughlin to succeed me as CEO. This reflects the Board’s longstanding commitment to thoughtful succession planning and positions the Company for continued success. Erica is an exceptional leader with deep knowledge of our businesses, customers, and strategy, and I am confident she will build on our strong foundation. Supported by our operating model, deep and experienced management team and robust financial position, I believe Cabot is well positioned to deliver a strong fiscal 2026 while continuing to execute on our strategy and create long-term value for shareholders.”
Earnings Call
The Company will host a conference call with industry analysts at 8:00 a.m. Eastern time on Tuesday, August 4, 2026. The call can be accessed through Cabot’s investor relations website at http://investor.cabot-corp.com
About Cabot Corporation
Cabot Corporation (NYSE: CBT) is a global specialty chemicals and performance materials company headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. The company is a leading provider of reinforcing carbons, specialty carbons, battery materials, engineered elastomer composites, inkjet colorants, masterbatches and conductive compounds, fumed metal oxides and aerogel. For more information on Cabot, please visit the company’s website at cabotcorp.com. The Company regularly posts important information on its website and encourages investors and potential investors to consult the Cabot website regularly.
Forward-Looking Statements – This earnings release contains forward-looking statements. All statements that address expectations or projections about the future, including with respect to our expectations for our performance in fiscal year 2026, including our expectations for Adjusted EPS for fiscal 2026 and EBITDA in our battery materials product line, our expectations for customer demand and growth opportunities in our battery materials product line including our participation with leading battery manufacturers and our investments to support that expected growth, our expected operating tax rate for fiscal 2026, with respect to the planned leadership transition and expectations for future performance growth and value creation for shareholders and our assumptions underlying those expectations are forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties, potentially inaccurate assumptions, and other factors, some of which are beyond our control and difficult to predict. If known or unknown risks materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove inaccurate, our actual results could differ materially from past results and from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the inherent uncertainty of management transitions and the ability of the Company to successfully execute its planned leadership transition, industry capacity utilization and competition from other specialty chemical companies; safety, health and environmental requirements and related constraints imposed on our business; regulatory and financial risks related to climate change developments; volatility in the price and availability of energy and raw materials, including with respect to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and conflict in the Middle East; a significant adverse change in a customer relationship or the failure of a customer to perform its obligations under agreements with us; failure to achieve growth expectations from new products, applications and technology developments; failure to realize benefits from acquisitions, alliances, or joint ventures or achieve our portfolio management objectives; unanticipated delays in, or increased cost of site development projects; negative or uncertain worldwide or regional economic conditions and market opportunities, including from trade relations, global health matters or geo-political conflicts; litigation or legal proceedings; interest rates, tax rates, currency exchange controls, tariffs and fluctuations in foreign currency rates; and the accuracy of the assumptions we used in establishing reserves for our share of liability for respirator claims. These factors are discussed more fully in the reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), particularly under the heading “Risk Factors” in our annual report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended September 30, 2025, which are filed with the SEC at www.sec.gov. We assume no obligation to provide revisions to any forward-looking statements should circumstances change, except as otherwise required by securities and other applicable laws.
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
To supplement Cabot’s consolidated financial statements presented on a generally accepted accounting principle (“GAAP”) basis, the preceding discussion of our results and the accompanying financial tables report Adjusted EPS, Adjusted EBITDA, our operating tax rate, Free Cash Flow and Discretionary Free Cash Flow, all of which are non-GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP financial measures are not computed in accordance with, or as an alternative to, GAAP, and the definitions of these measures may not be comparable to those used by other companies. Reconciliations of Adjusted EPS to net income (loss) per share attributable to Cabot Corporation, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, Adjusted EBITDA to Income (loss) from operations before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliated companies, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure of each such non-GAAP measure, operating tax rate to effective tax rate, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure and Free Cash Flow and Discretionary Free Cash Flow to Cash flow provided by (used in) operating activities, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, are provided in the tables titled “Cabot Corporation Certain Items and Reconciliation of Adjusted EPS and Operating Tax Rate” and “Cabot Corporation Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”
Management believes these non-GAAP measures provide investors with greater transparency to the information used by Cabot management in its financial and operational decision-making, allow investors to see Cabot’s results through the eyes of management, and better enable Cabot’s investors to understand Cabot’s operating performance and financial condition.
Adjusted EPS. In calculating Adjusted EPS, we exclude from our net income (loss) attributable to Cabot Corporation items of expense and income that management does not consider representative of the Company’s business operations. Accordingly, reporting earnings on an adjusted basis supplements the GAAP measure of performance and provides additional information related to the underlying performance of the business. For example, certain of the items we exclude are items that we are required by GAAP to recognize in one period that relate to activities extending over several periods or relate to single events that management considers to be unusual and infrequent, although not necessarily non-recurring. We refer to these items as “certain items.” Management believes excluding these items facilitates operating performance comparisons from period to period by eliminating differences caused by the existence and timing of certain expense and income items that would not otherwise be apparent on a GAAP basis and evaluates the Company’s operating performance without the impact of these costs or benefits. Management also uses Adjusted EPS as a key measure in evaluating management performance for incentive compensation purposes.
The items of income and expense that we exclude from our calculations of Adjusted EPS but that are included in our GAAP net income (loss) per share, as applicable in a particular reporting period, include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Global restructuring activities, which include costs or benefits associated with cost reduction initiatives or plant closures and are primarily related to (i) employee termination costs, (ii) asset impairment charges associated with restructuring actions, (iii) costs to close facilities, including environmental costs and contract termination penalties, and (iv) gains realized on the sale of land or equipment associated with restructured plants or locations.
- Legal and environmental matters and reserves, which consist of costs or benefits for matters typically related to former businesses or that are otherwise incurred outside of the ordinary course of business.
- Acquisition and integration-related charges, which include transaction costs, redundant costs incurred during the period of integration, and costs associated with transitioning certain management and business processes to Cabot’s processes.
- Employee benefit plan settlements, which consist of either charges or benefits associated with the termination of a pension plan
- Argentina controlled currency devaluation loss related to the foreign exchange loss from government-controlled currency devaluations on our net monetary assets denominated in the Argentine peso and investment losses related to the utilization of government bond programs established for the settlement of certain foreign payables.
Cabot does not provide an expected GAAP EPS range or reconciliation of the Adjusted EPS range with an expected GAAP EPS range because, without unreasonable effort, we are unable to predict with reasonable certainty the matters we would allocate to “certain items,” including unusual gains and losses, costs associated with future restructurings, acquisition-related expenses and litigation outcomes. These items are uncertain, depend on various factors, and could have a material impact on GAAP EPS in future periods.
Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA reflects Income (loss) from operations before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliated companies adjusted for certain items, interest expense, depreciation and amortization, equity in earnings of affiliated companies, and unallocated corporate costs, which include unallocated corporate overhead expenses such as certain corporate salaries and headquarters expenses, plus costs related to corporate projects and initiatives.
Free Cash Flow. To calculate “Free Cash Flow” we deduct Additions to property, plant and equipment from cash flow provided by (used in) operating activities.
Discretionary Free Cash Flow. To calculate “Discretionary Free Cash Flow” we deduct sustaining and compliance capital expenditures and changes in Net Working Capital from cash flow provided by (used in) operating activities.
Operating Tax Rate. Our “operating tax rate” is calculated based upon management's forecast of the annual operating tax rate for the fiscal year applied to adjusted pre-tax earnings. The operating tax rate excludes income tax (expense) benefit on certain items, discrete tax items and, on a quarterly basis the timing of losses in certain jurisdictions. The income tax (expense) benefit on certain items is determined using the applicable rates in the taxing jurisdictions in which the certain items occurred and includes both current and deferred income tax (expense) benefit based on the nature of the certain items. Discrete tax items include, but are not limited to, changes in valuation allowance, uncertain tax positions, and other tax items, such as the tax impact of legislative changes and tax accruals on historic earnings due to changes in indefinite reinvestment assertions. Management believes that this non-GAAP financial measure is useful supplemental information because it helps our investors compare our tax rate year to year on a consistent basis and to understand what our tax rate on current operations would be without the impact of these items.
Cabot does not provide a forward-looking reconciliation of the operating tax rate range with an effective tax rate range because, without unreasonable effort, we are unable to predict with reasonable certainty the matters we would allocate to “certain items,” including unusual gains and losses, costs associated with future restructurings, acquisition-related expenses and litigation outcomes. These items are uncertain, depend on various factors, and could have a material impact on the effective tax rate in future periods.
Explanation of Terms Used
Product Mix. The term “product mix” refers to the mix of types and grade of products sold or the mix of geographic regions where products are sold, and the positive or negative impact this has on the revenue or profitability of the business or segment.
Net Working Capital. The term “net working capital” includes accounts receivable, inventory and accounts payable and accrued expenses.
Third Quarter Earnings Announcement, Fiscal 2026CABOT CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Periods ended June 30Three MonthsNine MonthsDollars in millions, except per share amounts (unaudited)2026
2025
2026
2025
Net sales and other operating revenues$982 $923 $2,735 $2,814 Cost of sales 798 679 2,130 2,094 Gross profit 184 244 605 720 Selling and administrative expenses 73 62 209 192 Research and technical expenses 13 15 40 44 Income (loss) from operations 98 167 356 484 Interest and dividend income 8 7 22 20 Interest expense (18) (19) (54) (56)Other income (expense) (30) — (28) 2 Income (loss) from operations before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliated companies 58 155 296 450 (Provision) benefit for income taxes (46) (43) (127) (133)Equity in earnings of affiliated companies, net of tax 2 1 5 5 Net income (loss) 14 113 174 322 Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax 8 12 27 34 Net income (loss) attributable to Cabot Corporation$6 $101 $147 $288 Weighted-average common shares outstanding Basic 51.6 53.5 52.1 53.9 Diluted 52.0 53.8 52.4 54.4 Earnings (loss) per common share: Basic$0.12 $1.87 $2.79 $5.27 Diluted$0.12 $1.86 $2.77 $5.22
$147 Diluted earnings (loss) per share of common stock attributable to Cabot Corporation$1.67 $1.69 $1.86 $0.79 $6.02 $1.37 $1.27 $0.12 $—$2.77 Adjusted earnings (loss) per share (E)$1.76 $1.90 $1.90 $1.70 $7.25 $1.53 $1.61 $1.67 $—$4.82 Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding 55.0 54.4 53.8 53.4 54.2 52.9 52.2 52.0 — 52.4
CABOT CORPORATION CERTAIN ITEMS AND RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED EPS AND OPERATING TAX RATE TABLE 1: DETAIL OF CERTAIN ITEMS Periods ended June 30Three MonthsNine Months Dollars in millions, except per share amounts (unaudited)2026202520262025 Certain items before and after income taxes Global restructuring activities$(42)$(3)$(57)$(6) Employee benefit plan settlement and other charges (30) — (30) — Legal and environmental matters and reserves (5) — (5) (6) Acquisition and integration-related charges (1) — (2) — Other certain items — — — (1) Total certain items, pre-tax (78) (3) (94) (13) Non-GAAP tax adjustments(A) (4) — (14) (6) Total certain items after tax$(82)$(3)$(108)$(19) Total certain items after tax per share$(1.55)$(0.04)$(2.05)$(0.34) TABLE 2: CERTAIN ITEMS STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS LINE ITEM Periods ended June 30Three MonthsNine Months Dollars in millions, Pre-Tax (unaudited)2026202520262025 Statement of Operations Line Item (B) Cost of sales$(46)$(2)$(59)$(10) Selling and administrative expenses (2) (1) (5) (2) Research and technical expenses — — — (1) Other income (expense) (30) — (30) — Total certain items$(78)$(3)$(94)$(13) TABLE 3: RECONCILIATION OF EFFECTIVE TAX RATE TO OPERATING TAX RATE Three months ended June 30 2026 2025 Dollars in millions (unaudited)(Provision) / Benefit for Income TaxesRate(Provision) / Benefit for Income TaxesRate Effective Tax Rate$(46) 79%$(43) 28% Less: Non-GAAP tax adjustments(A) (4) — Operating tax rate (C) (D)$(42) 31%$(43) 28% Nine months ended June 30 2026 2025 Dollars in millions (unaudited)(Provision) / Benefit for Income TaxesRate(Provision) / Benefit for Income TaxesRate Effective Tax Rate$(127) 43%$(133) 29% Less: Non-GAAP tax adjustments(A) (14) (6) Operating tax rate (C) (D)$(113) 29%$(127) 28% TABLE 4: RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED EPS BY QUARTER FOR FISCAL 2026 and FISCAL 2025 Fiscal 2026 (E)Periods ended (unaudited)Dec. QMar. QJune QSept. Q FY 2026Reconciliation of Adjusted EPS to GAAP EPS Net income (loss) per share attributable to Cabot Corporation$1.37 $1.27 $0.12 $— $2.77 Less: Certain items after tax per share (0.16) (0.34) (1.55) — $(2.05)Adjusted earnings (loss) per share$1.53 $1.61 $1.67 $— $4.82 Fiscal 2025 (E)Periods ended (unaudited)Dec. QMar. QJune QSept. Q FY 2025Reconciliation of Adjusted EPS to GAAP EPS Net income (loss) per share attributable to Cabot Corporation$1.67 $1.69 $1.86 $0.79 $6.02 Less: Certain items after tax per share (0.09) (0.21) (0.04) (0.91) (1.23)Adjusted earnings (loss) per share$1.76 $1.90 $1.90 $1.70 $7.25
$296 Interest expense 18 18 18 — 54 Certain items 7 9 78 — 94 General unallocated (income) expense (6) (12) (5) — (23)Less: Equity in earnings of affiliated companies (1) (2) (2) — (5)Depreciation and amortization 41 44 43 — 128 Adjusted EBITDA$179 $181 $194 $―
$554 Dollars in millionsDec. QMar. QJune QSept. QFY 2026Reinforcement Materials EBIT$102 $93 $97 $―
$292 Reinforcement Materials Depreciation and amortization 19 21 20 — 60 Reinforcement Materials EBITDA$121 $114 $117 $―
$352 Reinforcement Materials Sales$520 $544 $599 $― $1,663 Reinforcement Materials EBITDA Margin 23% 21% 20% —% 21% Dollars in millionsDec. QMar. QJune QSept. QFY 2026Performance Chemicals EBIT$48 $59 $68 $―
$175 Performance Chemicals Depreciation and amortization 22 23 23 — 68 Performance Chemicals EBITDA$70 $82 $91 $―
$243 Performance Chemicals Sales$300 $328 $351 $― $979 Performance Chemicals EBITDA Margin 23% 25% 26% —% 25% Dollars in millionsFiscal 2026Reconciliation of Free Cash Flow and Discretionary Free Cash Flow to Cash provided by (used in) operating activitiesDec. QMar. QJune QSept. QFY 2026Cash provided by (used in) operating activities (B)$126 $77 $75 $―
$278 Less: Additions to property, plant and equipment 69 45 38 — 152 Free cash flow$57 $32 $37 $―
$126 Plus: Additions to property, plant and equipment 69 45 38 — 152 Less: Changes in net working capital (C) 5 (19) (44) — (58)Less: Sustaining and compliance capital expenditures 50 33 28 — 111 Discretionary free cash flow$71 $63 $91 $―
$225 (B) As provided in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.(C) Defined as changes in Accounts and notes receivable, Inventories, and Accounts payable and accrued liabilities as presented on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.