Cooper Standard Reports Solid First Quarter 2026 Results and Strong New Business Awards; Remains on Track to Achieve or Exceed Full Year Plans
Rhea-AI Summary
Cooper Standard (NYSE: CPS) reported Q1 2026 sales of $686.4M (+2.9% YoY) and adjusted EBITDA of $51.0M (7.4% of sales). The company posted a net loss of $33.3M including a $24.2M loss on debt refinancing; adjusted net loss was $5.2M.
Net new business awards totaled $127.9M in anticipated annualized sales, including $31.8M tied to battery-electric or full-hybrid platforms. Cash was $118.5M and total liquidity $285.8M at quarter end.
Positive
- Net new business awards of $127.9M in anticipated annualized sales
- $31.8M of new awards tied to battery-electric or full-hybrid platforms
- Cash and cash equivalents of $118.5M and total liquidity of $285.8M
Negative
- Net loss of $33.3M in Q1 2026, including a $24.2M refinancing loss
- Adjusted EBITDA declined to $51.0M from $58.7M in Q1 2025
- Adjusted net loss of $5.2M versus adjusted net income of $3.5M in Q1 2025
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
CPS gained 4.63% ahead of earnings while peers were mixed: AXL +7.27%, ECX +1.36%, SLDP +0.30%, but PLOW -10.85% and SMP -2.39%. The lack of a consistent direction across peers points to a stock-specific reaction to CPS’s results rather than a broad auto-parts sector rotation.
Previous Earnings Reports
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 12 | Q4 & FY 2025 earnings | Positive | +32.4% | Stronger Q4 and full-year margins, cash flow, and initial 2026 guidance. |
| Jul 31 | Q2 2025 earnings | Positive | +9.3% | Q2 beat expectations and management raised full-year adjusted EBITDA guidance. |
| Feb 13 | Q4 & FY 2024 earnings | Neutral | -9.3% | Improved income and cash flow but lower sales and full-year net loss. |
| Oct 31 | Q3 2024 earnings | Negative | +17.5% | Sales and adjusted EBITDA declined and 2024 guidance was reduced. |
| May 06 | Q1 2024 earnings | Positive | -9.8% | Strong margin improvement and optimism about upside to full-year guidance. |
Earnings releases for CPS have produced large and often divergent reactions: some clearly positive reports led to sharp gains, while others with improving metrics still saw notable selloffs, indicating inconsistent alignment between fundamentals and short-term price moves.
Over the last several earnings cycles, CPS has focused on margin expansion, cash generation, and rebuilding growth. Q4 and full year 2025 delivered higher sales and adjusted EBITDA with strong net new business awards and initial 2026 guidance targeting ≥10% adjusted EBITDA margin. Earlier, Q2 2025 and 2024 results showed guidance changes and cost actions driving profitability despite uneven sales. Today’s Q1 2026 update, with modest sales growth, lower adjusted EBITDA, and solid new awards, fits into that broader margin and growth transition story.
Historical Comparison
In the last five earnings releases, CPS moved on average 8.01%. Historically, reactions to earnings have been volatile and often disconnected from whether the update looked fundamentally strong or weak.
Recent earnings show a progression from 2024 margin recovery to 2025 cash generation and guidance raises, culminating in initial 2026 targets for higher adjusted EBITDA margins. The current Q1 2026 report, with modest growth, lower adjusted EBITDA, and strong new business awards, reflects ongoing execution against that multi-year profitability and growth plan.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement details Q1 2026 results with modest sales growth, a larger reported net loss driven partly by refinancing charges, and lower adjusted EBITDA versus the prior year. At the same time, CPS reported strong net new business awards, including exposure to hybrid and battery electric platforms, and ended the quarter with total liquidity of $285.8M. Investors may watch upcoming guidance updates and execution on margin targets set in earlier earnings communications.
Key Terms
adjusted EBITDA financial
non-GAAP financial
u.s. gaap regulatory
restructuring charges financial
asset-based revolving credit facility financial
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
First Quarter 2026 Highlights
- Sales of
, an increase of$686.4 million 2.9% vs. the first quarter of 2025 - Gross profit of
, an increase of$82.4 million 6.8% vs. the first quarter of 2025 - Net loss of
, or$33.3 million per diluted share, including loss on refinancing of debt$(1.85) - Adjusted net loss of
, or$5.2 million per diluted share$(0.29) - Adjusted EBITDA of
, or$51.0 million 7.4% of sales - Net New Business Awards totaled
during the quarter$127.9 million
"Our teams delivered results in the quarter that were consistent with our plans and expectations," said Jeffrey Edwards, chairman and CEO, Cooper Standard. "By maintaining focus on operational excellence and our strategic execution, we are effectively managing current market dynamics and believe we are on track to achieve or exceed our sales and profitability targets for the full year."
Consolidated Results
Three Months Ended March 31, | |||
2026 | 2025 | ||
(Dollar amounts in millions except | |||
Sales | $ 686.4 | $ 667.1 | |
Net (loss) income | $ (33.3) | $ 1.6 | |
Adjusted net (loss) income* | $ (5.2) | $ 3.5 | |
Net (loss) income per diluted share | $ (1.85) | $ 0.09 | |
Adjusted net (loss) income per diluted share* | $ (0.29) | $ 0.19 | |
Adjusted EBITDA* | $ 51.0 | $ 58.7 | |
*Adjusted net (loss) income, adjusted EBITDA, and adjusted net (loss) income per diluted share are non-GAAP measures. Reconciliations to the most directly comparable financial measures, calculated and presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the |
Sales increased by
Net loss for the first quarter of 2026 was
Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter of 2026 was
New Business Awards
The Company continues to leverage its world-class engineering and manufacturing capabilities, its innovation programs and its reputation for quality and service to win new business awards with its OEM customers and capitalize on positive global trends associated with hybrid and battery electric vehicles. During the first quarter of 2026, the Company received net new business awards totaling
Segment Results of Operations
Sales
Three Months Ended March 31, | Variance Due To: | |||||||||
2026 | 2025 | Change | Volume/Mix* | Foreign | ||||||
(Dollar amounts in thousands) | ||||||||||
Sales to external customers | ||||||||||
Sealing systems | $ 348,303 | $ 344,311 | $ 3,992 | $ (14,560) | $ 18,552 | |||||
Fluid handling systems | 317,946 | 303,998 | 13,948 | 8,507 | 5,441 | |||||
* Net of customer price adjustments, including recoveries. |
Adjusted EBITDA
Three Months Ended March 31, | Variance Due To: | |||||||||||
2026 | 2025 | Change | Volume/Mix* | Foreign | Cost Decreases/ | |||||||
(Dollar amounts in thousands) | ||||||||||||
Segment adjusted EBITDA | ||||||||||||
Sealing systems | $ 29,951 | $ 32,312 | $ (2,361) | $ (9,799) | $ 368 | $ 7,070 | ||||||
Fluid handling systems | 23,455 | 20,982 | 2,473 | 2,544 | (4,619) | 4,548 | ||||||
* Net of customer price adjustments, including recoveries. |
** Net of savings from restructuring initiatives. |
Additional detail on our quarterly segment variance analyses is available in our periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Cash and Liquidity
As of March 31, 2026, following the successful refinancing transaction completed during the quarter, Cooper Standard had cash and cash equivalents totaling
Outlook
The Company believes it is well positioned to continue driving sustainable value through profitable growth and margin enhancement. While customer supply chain disruptions, changing trade and tariff policies, geopolitical issues and affordability concerns have impacted and may continue to impact production forecasts, the Company believes that the underlying demand for new light vehicle production in its key operating regions remains strong, supported by the age of the existing fleet, increasing population, increasing numbers of newly licensed drivers, and declining vehicle inventories. The Company remains confident that the continuing successful execution of its plans and strategies, including expanding relationships with new customers and the continued launch of new, innovative programs with enhanced contribution margins and enhanced index-based commercial agreements, will drive increasing profit margins and returns on invested capital over time as markets stabilize.
Following strong actual results in the first three months of the year, the Company believes it is on track to achieve or exceed the targeted ranges for sales and profitability as outlined in its formal guidance for 2026 issued in February. The Company expects to provide a formal update to its full year guidance in conjunction with the release of its second quarter 2026 results.
Conference Call Details
Cooper Standard management will host a conference call and webcast on May 7, 2026 at 9 a.m. ET to discuss its first quarter 2026 results, provide a general business update and respond to investor questions. Investors and other interested parties may listen to the call by accessing the online, real-time webcast at https://ir.cooperstandard.com/events.
To participate by phone, callers in
A replay of the webcast will be available on the investors' portion of the Cooper Standard website (https://ir.cooperstandard.com) shortly after the live event.
About Cooper Standard
Cooper Standard, headquartered in
Forward Looking Statements
This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of
You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or otherwise revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except where we are expressly required to do so by law.
This press release also contains estimates and other information that is based on industry publications, surveys and forecasts. This information involves a number of assumptions and limitations, and we have not independently verified the accuracy or completeness of the information.
Contact for Analysts: | Contact for Media: |
Roger Hendriksen | Chris Andrews |
Cooper Standard | Cooper Standard |
(248) 596-6465 | (248) 596-6217 |
Financial statements and related notes follow:
COOPER-STANDARD HOLDINGS INC. | |||
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS | |||
(Unaudited) | |||
(Dollar amounts in thousands except share and per share amounts) | |||
Three Months Ended March 31, | |||
2026 | 2025 | ||
Sales | $ 686,359 | $ 667,069 | |
Cost of products sold | 603,941 | 589,891 | |
Gross profit | 82,418 | 77,178 | |
Selling, administration & engineering expenses | 52,505 | 51,191 | |
Amortization of intangibles | 1,224 | 1,612 | |
Restructuring charges | 4,632 | 2,111 | |
Operating income | 24,057 | 22,264 | |
Interest expense, net of interest income | (28,308) | (28,619) | |
Equity in earnings of affiliates | 1,449 | 1,776 | |
Loss on refinancing and extinguishment of debt | (24,155) | — | |
Other (expense) income, net | (2,112) | 8,884 | |
(Loss) income before income taxes | (29,069) | 4,305 | |
Income tax expense | 4,197 | 2,703 | |
Net (loss) income | (33,266) | 1,602 | |
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | (37) | (50) | |
Net (loss) income attributable to Cooper-Standard Holdings Inc. | $ (33,303) | $ 1,552 | |
Weighted average shares outstanding: | |||
Basic | 17,969,620 | 17,712,568 | |
Diluted | 17,969,620 | 17,911,855 | |
Net (loss) income per share: | |||
Basic | $ (1.85) | $ 0.09 | |
Diluted | $ (1.85) | $ 0.09 | |
COOPER-STANDARD HOLDINGS INC. | |||
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS | |||
(Dollar amounts in thousands except share amounts) | |||
March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | ||
(unaudited) | |||
Assets | |||
Current assets: | |||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ 118,488 | $ 191,699 | |
Accounts receivable, net | 378,007 | 334,267 | |
Tooling receivable, net | 74,876 | 72,316 | |
Inventories | 185,004 | 154,189 | |
Prepaid expenses | 23,830 | 23,940 | |
Value added tax receivable | 41,103 | 47,329 | |
Other current assets | 81,793 | 57,360 | |
Total current assets | 903,101 | 881,100 | |
Property, plant and equipment, net | 511,744 | 523,508 | |
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net | 93,987 | 83,474 | |
Goodwill | 140,609 | 140,696 | |
Intangible assets, net | 27,851 | 28,978 | |
Other assets | 175,762 | 175,418 | |
Total assets | $ 1,853,054 | $ 1,833,174 | |
Liabilities and Equity | |||
Current liabilities: | |||
Debt payable within one year | $ 44,289 | $ 86,121 | |
Accounts payable | 364,770 | 337,319 | |
Payroll liabilities | 104,189 | 122,395 | |
Accrued liabilities | 112,673 | 114,150 | |
Current operating lease liabilities | 18,715 | 18,412 | |
Total current liabilities | 644,636 | 678,397 | |
Long-term debt | 1,099,887 | 1,018,483 | |
Pension benefits | 89,905 | 91,336 | |
Postretirement benefits other than pensions | 25,845 | 26,461 | |
Long-term operating lease liabilities | 80,340 | 69,806 | |
Other liabilities | 35,925 | 40,268 | |
Total liabilities | 1,976,538 | 1,924,751 | |
Equity: | |||
Common stock, | 18 | 17 | |
Additional paid-in capital | 523,887 | 524,312 | |
Retained deficit | (508,030) | (474,727) | |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (131,193) | (133,090) | |
Total Cooper-Standard Holdings Inc. equity | (115,318) | (83,488) | |
Noncontrolling interests | (8,166) | (8,089) | |
Total equity | (123,484) | (91,577) | |
Total liabilities and equity | $ 1,853,054 | $ 1,833,174 | |
COOPER-STANDARD HOLDINGS INC. | |||
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS | |||
(Unaudited) | |||
(Dollar amounts in thousands) | |||
Three Months Ended March 31, | |||
2026 | 2025 | ||
Operating activities: | |||
Net (loss) income | $ (33,266) | $ 1,602 | |
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash used in operating activities: | |||
Depreciation | 21,796 | 22,216 | |
Amortization of intangibles | 1,224 | 1,612 | |
Share-based compensation expense | 2,610 | 2,199 | |
Equity in losses of affiliates, net of dividends related to earnings | 588 | 193 | |
Loss on refinancing and extinguishment of debt | 24,155 | — | |
Deferred income taxes | 1,037 | 3,929 | |
Other | 969 | 1,257 | |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities | (88,267) | (47,859) | |
Net cash used in operating activities | (69,154) | (14,851) | |
Investing activities: | |||
Capital expenditures | (24,041) | (17,543) | |
Proceeds from sale of businesses | — | 2,377 | |
Other | 4 | 12 | |
Net cash used in investing activities | (24,037) | (15,154) | |
Financing activities: | |||
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt, net of debt issuance costs | 1,090,610 | — | |
Repayment of long-term debt | (1,051,175) | — | |
Principal payments on long-term debt | (523) | (763) | |
Debt issuance costs and other fees | (19,529) | — | |
Taxes withheld and paid on employees' share-based payment awards | (2,936) | (1,678) | |
Other | (8) | (22) | |
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | 16,439 | (2,463) | |
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | (704) | 2,121 | |
Changes in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | (77,456) | (30,347) | |
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period | 199,882 | 178,697 | |
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period | $ 122,426 | $ 148,350 | |
Reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash to the condensed consolidated balance sheets: | |||
Balance as of | |||
March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | ||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ 118,488 | $ 191,699 | |
Restricted cash included in other current assets | 2,882 | 6,581 | |
Restricted cash included in other assets | 1,056 | 1,602 | |
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | $ 122,426 | $ 199,882 | |
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted net income (loss), adjusted earnings (loss) per share, and free cash flow are measures not recognized under
When analyzing the Company's operating performance, investors should use EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted net income (loss), adjusted earnings (loss) per share, free cash flow and net new business as supplements to, and not as alternatives for, net income (loss), operating income, or any other performance measure derived in accordance with
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA (Unaudited) (Dollar amounts in thousands)
| |||
The following table provides a reconciliation of EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA from net (loss) income:
| |||
Three Months Ended March 31, | |||
2026 | 2025 | ||
Net (loss) income attributable to Cooper-Standard Holdings Inc. | $ (33,303) | $ 1,552 | |
Income tax expense | 4,197 | 2,703 | |
Interest expense, net of interest income | 28,308 | 28,619 | |
Depreciation and amortization | 23,020 | 23,828 | |
EBITDA | $ 22,222 | $ 56,702 | |
Restructuring charges | 4,632 | 2,111 | |
Gain on sale of businesses, net (1) | — | (98) | |
Loss on refinancing and extinguishment of debt (2) | 24,155 | — | |
Adjusted EBITDA | $ 51,009 | $ 58,715 | |
Sales | $ 686,359 | $ 667,069 | |
Net (loss) income margin | (4.9) % | 0.2 % | |
Adjusted EBITDA margin | 7.4 % | 8.8 % | |
(1) | Gain on sale of businesses related to divestiture in 2024. |
(2) | Loss on refinancing and extinguishment of debt relating to the Refinancing Transactions during the three months ended March 31, 2026. |
Adjusted Net (Loss) Income and Adjusted Net (Loss) Income Per Share (Unaudited) (Dollar amounts in thousands except share and per share amounts)
| |||
The following table provides a reconciliation of net (loss) income to adjusted net (loss) income and the respective net (loss)
| |||
Three Months Ended March 31, | |||
2026 | 2025 | ||
Net (loss) income attributable to Cooper-Standard Holdings Inc. | $ (33,303) | $ 1,552 | |
Restructuring charges | 4,632 | 2,111 | |
Gain on sale of businesses, net (1) | — | (98) | |
Loss on refinancing and extinguishment of debt (2) | 24,155 | — | |
Tax impact of adjusting items (3) | (731) | (111) | |
Adjusted net (loss) income | $ (5,247) | $ 3,454 | |
Weighted average shares outstanding: | |||
Basic | 17,969,620 | 17,712,568 | |
Diluted | 17,969,620 | 17,911,855 | |
Net (loss) income per share: | |||
Basic | $ (1.85) | $ 0.09 | |
Diluted | $ (1.85) | $ 0.09 | |
Adjusted net (loss) income per share: | |||
Basic | $ (0.29) | $ 0.20 | |
Diluted | $ (0.29) | $ 0.19 | |
(1) | Gain on sale of businesses related to divestiture in 2024. |
(2) | Loss on refinancing and extinguishment of debt relating to the Refinancing Transactions during the three months ended March 31, 2026. |
(3) | Represents the elimination of the income tax impact of the above adjustments by calculating the income tax impact of these adjusting items using the appropriate tax rate for the jurisdiction where the charges were incurred and other discrete tax expense. |
Free Cash Flow (Unaudited) (Dollar amounts in thousands)
| |||
The following table defines free cash flow:
| |||
Three Months Ended March 31, | |||
2026 | 2025 | ||
Net cash used in operating activities | $ (69,154) | $ (14,851) | |
Capital expenditures | (24,041) | (17,543) | |
Free cash flow | $ (93,195) | $ (32,394) | |
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SOURCE Cooper Standard