Key Highlights

  • CBT's fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 Top Line came to $1,009 million, versus $899 million in the same period a year before.
  • Diluted EPS was $1.25 against $0.79 previously, but adjusted EPS fell to $1.61 from $1.70.
  • Full-year adjusted EPS registered $6.42, compared with $7.25, and diluted EPS $4.02 compared with $6.02.
  • Performance Chemicals EBIT stood at $60 million in the quarter, and Reinforcement Materials EBIT at $87 million.
  • Looking ahead, fiscal 2027 adjusted EPS should land between $6.15 and $6.75.

Quarterly Profit Reaches $66 Million as Adjusted Earnings Per Share Dip

Cabot (NYSE:CBT) released fourth-quarter and full fiscal 2026 numbers on Nov 2, 2026, for the period that ended Sep 30, 2026. Quarterly Revenue totaled $1,009 million, a rise of about 12.2% (calculated) from $899 million. Net Income attributable to the company climbed to $66 million from $43 million, or $1.25 a diluted share versus $0.79.

Adjusted EPS slipped to $1.61 from $1.70. Restructuring costs chiefly accounted for a $0.36-per-share drag on earnings, versus $0.91 a year prior. Gross Profit contracted to $204 million (down from $220 million), while cost of sales expanded to $805 million compared with $679 million.

Based in Boston, Cabot works in specialty chemicals and performance materials. Its offerings include aerogel, reinforcing carbons, specialty carbons, battery materials and fumed metal oxides.

Performance Chemicals EBIT Climbs $18 Million as Reinforcement Materials Loses $32 Million

Performance Chemicals generated $60 million of EBIT, up $18 million from the prior-year fourth quarter. According to management, product mix and reduced costs lifted gross profit per ton, while battery materials and specialty carbons posted higher volumes.

Reinforcement Materials EBIT dropped $32 million to $87 million. Weaker gross profit per ton, linked to how calendar 2026 customer agreements turned out and to a less advantageous regional mix, offset a 5% increase in volumes.

Regionally, Reinforcement Materials Volume was up 10% in Asia Pacific and up 3% in the Americas, yet declined 7% across Europe, Middle East and Africa combined.

Annual Net Income Declines to $213 Million, With Battery Materials EBITDA at a $43 Million High

Fiscal 2026 revenue came in at $3,744 million, slightly above the $3,713 million reported the prior year. Net income attributable to the company declined to $213 million from $331 million, while diluted EPS of $4.02 trailed the earlier $6.02. Adjusted EPS stood at $6.42 versus $7.25 in fiscal 2025.

Performance Chemicals contributed $235 million of EBIT over the year and Reinforcement Materials $379 million. The battery materials line reached a fresh high with $43 million of EBITDA. A $50 million Department of Energy grant, secured through an agreement, will support enlarging domestic conductive additive capacity at the company's Louisiana and Texas plants.

Operating cash flow reached $421 million over the year. Capital investments totaled $207 million, dividends paid were $97 million, and share repurchases came to $146 million.

Liquidity and Leverage Heading Into Fiscal 2027 Under a New Chief Executive

September closed with cash of $254 million, available Liquidity of $1.5 billion and a 1.4 times net debt-to-EBITDA multiple. Operating Cash Flow for the fourth quarter reached $143 million. Tax expense amounted to $38 million, a 34% effective rate, while the full-year operating rate was 29%.

The incoming chief executive put fiscal 2027 adjusted EPS within $6.15 to $6.75. Planned volume growth in battery materials and electronics, margins that hold up despite unstable energy prices, and the restructuring steps already announced are the points management highlighted. Investors will track restructuring milestones and the battery expansion.