Magna Announces Strong First Quarter Results; Maintains Positive Outlook for 2026
Rhea-AI Summary
Magna (NYSE: MGA) reported Q1 2026 results: sales $10.4 billion (up 3% YoY), Adjusted EBIT $558 million (up 58%), and Adjusted EPS $1.38 (up 77%). GAAP net loss was $12 million, including a $485 million pre-tax loss on assets held for sale. Returned $575 million to shareholders.
Management maintained full-year 2026 guidance: $41.5–$43.1B sales, Adjusted EPS $6.25–$7.25, and Free Cash Flow $1.6–$1.8B.
Positive
- Sales of $10.4 billion, a 3% increase year-over-year
- Adjusted EBIT of $558 million, a 58% increase year-over-year
- Adjusted EPS of $1.38, up 77% year-over-year
- Returned $575 million to shareholders via buybacks and dividends
- Maintained 2026 guidance: Adjusted EPS $6.25–$7.25 and Free Cash Flow $1.6–$1.8B
Negative
- GAAP net loss of $12 million in Q1 2026
- Included a $485 million pre-tax loss on assets held for sale in Q1
- Income from operations before tax declined to $87 million, down 61% year-over-year
- Light vehicle production headwinds and net customer price concessions reduced local-currency sales
News Market Reaction – MGA
In the May 1 session, MGA declined 4.46%, reflecting a moderate negative market reaction. Argus tracked a trough of -3.6% from its starting point during tracking. Our momentum scanner triggered 9 alerts that day, indicating moderate trading interest and price volatility.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 13 | Earnings webcast date | Neutral | -0.8% | Set timing and access details for the Q1 2026 results webcast. |
| Apr 09 | Portfolio divestiture | Neutral | +0.8% | Announced sale of Lighting and Rooftop Systems businesses totaling about $1.1B 2025 sales. |
| Mar 27 | Annual report filing | Neutral | -1.8% | Published 2025 Annual Report and scheduled virtual-only AGM for May 4, 2026. |
| Mar 24 | Product technology launch | Positive | +1.9% | Unveiled DHD REX hybrid drive targeting range-extended EVs across B–E segments. |
| Feb 13 | Earnings and outlook | Positive | +18.9% | Reported Q4 2025 beat with higher Adjusted EBIT and EPS and issued 2026 guidance. |
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
When Magna delivers substantive earnings updates or product news, the stock has tended to react in the same direction as the headline tone, with especially strong alignment on earnings releases.
Over the last six months, Magna’s key catalysts have been earnings, portfolio moves and technology launches. The Q4 2025 results and 2026 outlook on Feb 13, 2026 drove a strong 18.87% gain as investors responded to higher Adjusted EBIT and EPS guidance. Smaller, largely informational items like the 2025 Annual Report and the webcast notice produced modest moves. The announced sale of Lighting and Rooftop Systems saw a mild positive reaction, while the DHD REX hybrid drive unveiling also coincided with a gain, framing today’s strong Q1 2026 results within a consistent pattern of positive responses to operational progress.
Key Terms
adjusted ebit financial
adjusted eps financial
free cash flow financial
non-gaap financial measures financial
equity income financial
other expense, net financial
treasury stock method financial
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
Highlights(1)
Delivered strong first-quarter 2026 results, reflecting sales growth, disciplined execution, and improved operating performance.
- Sales increased
3% to$10.4 billion , despite a7% decline in global light vehicle production - Income from operations before income taxes was
$87 million , including a$485 million loss on assets held for sale related to the announced dispositions of our Lighting and Rooftop Systems businesses within Power & Vision - Adjusted EBIT increased
58% to$558 million , with Adjusted EBIT margin expanding 190 basis points to5.4% - Diluted loss per share was
$0.04 ; Adjusted EPS increased77% to$1.38 - Returned
$575 million to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends - 2026 Outlook largely unchanged
AURORA, Ontario, May 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Magna International Inc. (TSX: MG; NYSE: MGA) today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026.
Please click HERE for full first quarter MD&A and Financial Statements.
 | “We delivered a strong start to 2026, driven by disciplined execution, margin expansion and robust free cash flow generation. Our actions to further refine our portfolio, including the announced dispositions within Power & Vision, reinforce our focus on long-term value creation. As we move forward, we are maintaining our positive 2026 outlook, and our priorities remain clear: expanding margins, generating strong free cash flow and returning capital to shareholders, while navigating a dynamic global environment.” - Swamy Kotagiri, Magna’s Chief Executive Officer |
| THREE MONTHS ENDED | ||||||||||
| March 31, 2026 | March 31, 2025 | |||||||||
| Reported | ||||||||||
| Sales | $ | 10,381 | $ | 10,069 | ||||||
| Income from operations before income taxes | 87 | 225 | ||||||||
| Net (loss) income attributable to Magna International Inc. | (12 | ) | 146 | |||||||
| Diluted (loss) earnings per share | (0.04 | ) | 0.52 | |||||||
| Non-GAAP Financial Measures(1) | ||||||||||
| Adjusted EBIT | $ | 558 | $ | 354 | ||||||
| Adjusted EPS | 1.38 | 0.78 | ||||||||
| Free Cash Flow | 372 | (313 | ) | |||||||
| All results are reported in millions of U.S. dollars, except per share figures, which are in U.S. dollars | |
| (1) | Adjusted EBIT, Adjusted EPS, and Free Cash Flow are Non-GAAP financial measures that have no standardized meaning under U.S. GAAP, and as a result may not be comparable to the calculation of similar measures by other companies. Further information and a reconciliation of these Non-GAAP financial measures is included in the back of this press release. |
THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2026
We posted sales of
- the net strengthening of foreign currencies against the U.S. dollar, which increased reported U.S. dollar sales by
$520 million ; and - the launch of new programs during or subsequent to the first quarter of 2025, including complete vehicle programs with value-added contractual arrangements.
These factors were partially offset by:
- the end of production of certain programs;
- lower light vehicle production in North America, Europe and China;
- lower complete vehicle assembly volumes with full-cost contractual arrangements;
- lower engineering revenue, primarily in our Complete Vehicles segment; and
- net customer price concessions subsequent to the first quarter of 2025.
Adjusted EBIT increased to
- productivity and efficiency improvements, including the benefit of operational excellence initiatives and prior restructuring actions;
- higher equity income, including a favourable commercial item in our Power & Vision segment;
- lower warranty costs;
- net transactional foreign exchange gains in the first quarter of 2026, compared to net transactional foreign exchange losses in the first quarter of 2025;
- the net strengthening of foreign currencies against the U.S. dollar, which had a favourable impact on reported U.S. dollar Adjusted EBIT; and
- net commercial items, which had a favourable impact on a year-over-year basis.
These factors were partially offset by:
- higher net tariff costs;
- reduced earnings on lower local currency sales, including engineering revenue; and
- net unfavourable product mix.
Income from operations before income taxes was
Net (loss) income attributable to Magna International Inc. was a loss of
(2) Other expense, net is comprised of loss on assets held for sale, restructuring activities, and (gain) loss on investments, during the three months ended March 31, 2026 & 2025. A reconciliation of these Non-GAAP financial measures is included in the back of this press release.
Diluted (loss) earnings per share was a loss of
In the first quarter of 2026, we generated cash from operations of
RETURN OF CAPITAL TO SHAREHOLDERS AND OTHER MATTERS
We paid dividends of
Our Board of Directors declared a first quarter dividend of
SEGMENT SUMMARY
($Millions) | THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, | ||||||||||||||||||
| Sales | Adjusted EBIT | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2026 | 2025 | Change | 2026 | 2025 | Change | ||||||||||||||
| Body Exteriors & Structures | $ | 4,079 | $ | 3,966 | $ | 113 | $ | 274 | $ | 230 | $ | 44 | |||||||
| Power & Vision | 3,881 | 3,646 | 235 | 252 | 124 | 128 | |||||||||||||
| Seating Systems | 1,340 | 1,312 | 28 | 25 | (30 | ) | 55 | ||||||||||||
| Complete Vehicles | 1,224 | 1,276 | (52 | ) | 32 | 44 | (12 | ) | |||||||||||
| Corporate and Other | (143 | ) | (131 | ) | (12 | ) | (25 | ) | (14 | ) | (11 | ) | |||||||
| Total Reportable Segments | $ | 10,381 | $ | 10,069 | $ | 312 | $ | 558 | $ | 354 | $ | 204 | |||||||
| THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, | |||||||
| Adjusted EBIT as a percentage of sales | |||||||
| 2026 | 2025 | Change | |||||
| Body Exteriors & Structures | 6.7 | % | 5.8 | % | 0.9 | % | |
| Power & Vision | 6.5 | % | 3.4 | % | 3.1 | % | |
| Seating Systems | 1.9 | % | (2.3 | )% | 4.2 | % | |
| Complete Vehicles | 2.6 | % | 3.4 | % | (0.8 | )% | |
| Consolidated Average | 5.4 | % | 3.5 | % | 1.9 | % | |
For further details on our segment results, please see our Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Position and our Interim Financial Statements.
2026 OUTLOOK
Our full year Outlook for 2026 is provided annually, with quarterly updates. The following Outlook is an update to our previous Outlook in February 2026.
Updated 2026 Macro Assumptions
| Current | Previous | ||||
| Light Vehicle Production (millions of units) | |||||
| North America Europe China | 14.9 16.6 32.0 | 15.0 16.8 32.0 | |||
| Average Foreign exchange rates: | |||||
| 1 Canadian dollar equals 1 euro equals | U.S. U.S. | U.S. U.S. | |||
Updated 2026 Outlook
| Current | Previous | ||||
| Segment Sales | |||||
| Body Exteriors & Structures Power & Vision Seating Systems Complete Vehicles | |||||
| Total Sales | |||||
| Adjusted EBIT Margin(3) | |||||
| Adjusted EPS(4) | |||||
| Free Cash Flow(5) | |||||
| Capital Spending | |||||
| Equity Income (included in EBIT) | |||||
| Interest Expense, net | Approximately | Approximately | |||
| Income Tax Rate(6) | Approximately | Approximately | |||
| Weighted average diluted shares outstanding | Approximately 270 million | Approximately 270 million | |||
| Notes: (3) Adjusted EBIT Margin is the ratio of Adjusted EBIT to Total Sales. Refer to the reconciliation of Non-GAAP financial measures in the back of this press release for further information. (4) Adjusted EPS represents Adjusted Net Income attributable to Magna divided by the Diluted weighted average number of Common Shares outstanding during the period. (5) Refer to the reconciliation of Non-GAAP financial measures in the back of this press release for further information on Free Cash Flow. (6) The Income Tax Rate has been calculated using Adjusted EBIT and is based on current tax legislation | |||||
Our Outlook is intended to provide information about management's current expectations and plans and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Although considered reasonable by Magna as of the date of this document, the 2026 Outlook above and the underlying assumptions may prove to be inaccurate. Accordingly, our actual results could differ materially from our expectations as set forth herein. The risks identified in the “Forward-Looking Statements” section below represent the primary factors which we believe could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations.
KEY DRIVERS OF OUR BUSINESS
Our business and operating results are dependent on light vehicle production by our customers in three key regions – North America, Europe, and China. While we supply systems and components to many OEMs globally, we do not supply systems and components for every vehicle, nor is the value of our content consistent from one vehicle to the next. As a result, customer and program mix relative to market trends, as well as the value of our content on specific vehicle production programs, are also important drivers of our results.
Ordinarily, OEM production volumes are aligned with vehicle sales levels and thus affected by changes in such levels. Aside from vehicle sales levels, production volumes are typically impacted by a range of factors, including: geopolitical factors, such as military conflicts and tariffs; supply chains, including disruption to supply of and/or increased costs of steel, aluminum, resin, and energy supplies, as well as semiconductor and memory (DRAM) chips; OEM, supplier or sub-supplier disruptions; relative currency values; commodity prices; labour disruptions, as well as the availability and relative cost of skilled labour; regulatory frameworks; and other factors.
Overall vehicle sales levels are significantly affected by changes in consumer confidence levels, which may in turn be impacted by consumer perceptions and general trends related to the job, housing, and stock markets, as well as other macroeconomic and political factors. Other factors which typically impact vehicle sales levels and thus production volumes include: vehicle affordability; interest rates and/or availability of credit; fuel and energy prices; relative currency values; and considerations applicable to EVs, including EV range, charging infrastructure, and electricity pricing.
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES RECONCILIATION
In addition to the financial results reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP, this press release contains references to the Non-GAAP financial measures reconciled below. We believe the Non-GAAP financial measures used in this press release are useful to both management and investors in their analysis of the Company’s financial position and results of operations, and to improve comparability between fiscal periods. In particular, management believes that Adjusted EBIT and Adjusted diluted earnings per share are useful measures in assessing the Company’s financial performance by excluding certain items that are not indicative of the Company's core operating performance. Management also believes that Free Cash Flow is a useful measure in assessing the Company’s ability to generate cash to maintain operations and repay its debt. The presentation of Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation, or as a substitute for the Company’s related financial results prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
The following table reconciles Net income to Adjusted EBIT:
| Adjusted EBIT | |||||||
| For the three months ended March 31, | |||||||
| 2026 | 2025 | ||||||
| Net (Loss) Income | $ | (1 | ) | $ | 153 | ||
| Add: | |||||||
| Amortization of acquired intangible assets | 19 | 26 | |||||
| Interest expense, net | 37 | 50 | |||||
| Other expense, net | 415 | 53 | |||||
| Income taxes | 88 | 72 | |||||
| Adjusted EBIT | $ | 558 | $ | 354 | |||
| Adjusted EBIT as a percentage of sales ("Adjusted EBIT Margin") | |||||||
| For the three months ended March 31, | |||||||
| 2026 | 2025 | ||||||
| Sales | $ | 10,381 | $ | 10,069 | |||
| Adjusted EBIT | $ | 558 | $ | 354 | |||
| Adjusted EBIT as a percentage of sales | 5.4 | % | 3.5 | % | |||
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES RECONCILIATION (CONTINUED)
| Adjusted EPS | |||||||
| For the three months ended March 31, | |||||||
| 2026 | 2025 | ||||||
| Net (loss) income attributable to Magna International Inc. | $ | (12 | ) | $ | 146 | ||
| Add (deduct): | |||||||
| Amortization of acquired intangible assets | 19 | 26 | |||||
| Tax effect on Amortization of acquired intangible assets | (2 | ) | (5 | ) | |||
| Other expense, net | 415 | 53 | |||||
| Tax effect on Other expense, net | (34 | ) | (1 | ) | |||
| Adjusted net income attributable to Magna International Inc. | $ | 386 | $ | 219 | |||
| Diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period (millions): | 278.1 | 282.0 | |||||
| Adjusted Dilutive impact of stock option and share awards[i] | 1.8 | — | |||||
| Adjusted diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period (millions): | 279.9 | 282.0 | |||||
| Adjusted EPS | $ | 1.38 | $ | 0.78 | |||
| [i] | During the first quarter of 2026, the Company generated Adjusted net Income attributable to Magna International Inc. while reporting a net loss attributable to Magna International Inc. As a result, certain stock-based compensation awards are dilutive for adjusted diluted earnings per share and are included in the adjusted diluted weighted average number of Common Shares outstanding. The dilutive impact was determined using the treasury stock method. |
The following table reconciles Cash provided from operating activities to Free Cash Flow:
| Free Cash Flow | |||||||
| For the three months ended March 31, | |||||||
| 2026 | 2025 | ||||||
| Cash provided from operating activities | $ | 677 | $ | 77 | |||
| Add (deduct): | |||||||
| Fixed asset additions | (219 | ) | (268 | ) | |||
| Increase in investment, other assets, and intangible assets | (168 | ) | (148 | ) | |||
| Proceeds from disposition | 82 | 26 | |||||
| Free Cash Flow | $ | 372 | $ | (313 | ) | ||
Certain of the forward-looking financial measures above are provided on a Non-GAAP basis. We do not provide a reconciliation of such forward-looking measures to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. To do so would be potentially misleading and not practical given the difficulty of projecting items that are not reflective of ongoing operations in any future period. The magnitude of these items, however, may be significant.
This press release, together with our Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Position and our Interim Financial Statements, are available in the Investor Relations section of our website at www.magna.com/company/investors and filed electronically through the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval + (SEDAR+) which can be accessed at www.sedarplus.ca as well as on the United States Securities and Exchange Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (EDGAR), which can be accessed at www.sec.gov.
We will hold a conference call for interested analysts and shareholders to discuss our first quarter ended March 31, 2026 results on Friday, May 1, 2026 at 8:00 a.m. ET. The conference call will be chaired by Swamy Kotagiri, Chief Executive Officer. The number to use for this call from North America is 1-800-715-9871. International callers should use 1-646-307-1963. Please call in at least 10 minutes prior to the call start time. We will also webcast the conference call at www.magna.com. The slide presentation accompanying the conference call as well as our financial review summary will be available on our website Friday prior to the call.
INVESTOR CONTACT
Louis Tonelli, Vice-President, Investor Relations
louis.tonelli@magna.com │ 905.726.7035
MEDIA CONTACT
Tracy Fuerst, Vice-President, Corporate Communications & PR
tracy.fuerst@magna.com │ 248.761.7004
TELECONFERENCE CONTACT
Nancy Hansford, Executive Assistant, Investor Relations
nancy.hansford@magna.com │ 905.726.7108
ABOUT MAGNA
Magna is one of the world’s largest automotive suppliers and a trusted partner to automakers in the industry’s most critical markets—North America, Europe, and China. With a global team and footprint spanning 28 countries, we bring unmatched scale, trusted reliability, and proven execution. Backed by nearly seven decades of experience, we combine deep manufacturing expertise with innovative vehicle system technologies to deliver performance, safety, and quality.
For further information about Magna (NYSE:MGA; TSX:MG), please visit www.magna.com or follow us on social.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements in this press release constitute "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). Any such forward-looking statements are intended to provide information about management's current expectations and plans and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Forward-looking statements may include financial and other projections, as well as statements regarding our future plans, strategic objectives or economic performance, or the assumptions underlying any of the foregoing, and other statements that are not recitations of historical fact. We use words such as "may", "would", "could", "should", "will", "likely", "expect", "anticipate", "assume", "believe", "intend", "plan", "aim", "forecast", "outlook", "project", "potential", "estimate", "target" and similar expressions suggesting future outcomes or events to identify forward-looking statements. The following table identifies the material forward-looking statements contained in this document, together with the material potential risks that we currently believe could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements. Readers should also consider all of the risk factors which follow below the table:
| Material Forward-Looking Statement | Material Potential Risks Related to Applicable Forward-Looking Statement |
| Light Vehicle Production |
|
| Total Sales Segment Sales |
|
| Adjusted EBIT Margin Adjusted Diluted EPS Free Cash Flow |
|
| Equity Income |
|
| Share Repurchases Weighted Average Diluted Shares Outstanding |
|
Forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to us and are based on assumptions and analyses made by us in light of our experience and our perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors we believe are appropriate in the circumstances. While we believe we have a reasonable basis for making any such forward-looking statements, they are not a guarantee of future performance or outcomes. In addition to the factors in the table above, whether actual results and developments conform to our expectations and predictions is subject to a number of risks, assumptions, and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, and the effects of which can be difficult to predict, including, without limitation:
Macroeconomic, Geopolitical and Other Risks
| Pricing Risks
|
In evaluating forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, we caution readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement. Additionally, readers should specifically consider the various factors which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including the risks, assumptions and uncertainties above which are:
- discussed under the “Industry Trends and Risks” heading of our Management’s Discussion and Analysis; and
- set out in our Annual Information Form filed with securities commissions in Canada, our annual report on Form 40-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, and subsequent filings.
Readers should also consider discussion of our risk mitigation activities with respect to certain risk factors, which can be also found in our Annual Information Form. Additional information about Magna, including our Annual Information Form, is available through the System for Electronic Data Analysis and Retrieval + (SEDAR+) at www.sedarplus.ca, as well as on the United States Securities and Exchange Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (EDGAR), which can be accessed at www.sec.gov.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/aae520f0-3636-48b1-a055-ac61096619dc
