OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION REPORTS FIRST QUARTER OF FISCAL YEAR 2026 FINANCIAL RESULTS

Optical Cable Corporation (Nasdaq: OCC) reported Q1 fiscal 2026 results for the quarter ended January 31, 2026.

Rhea-AI Summary

Optical Cable Corporation (Nasdaq: OCC) reported Q1 fiscal 2026 results for the quarter ended January 31, 2026. Net sales rose 4.4% to $16.4M, gross profit grew 16.1% to $5.4M and gross margin expanded to 32.7%. Order backlog increased to $10.4M.

OCC recorded a net loss of $398K ($0.05 per share), an improvement versus prior year, while SG&A edged up to $5.6M and cash on hand declined to $126K.

Positive

• Net sales +4.4% to $16.4 million in Q1 FY2026
• Gross profit +16.1% to $5.4 million; gross margin rose to 32.7%
• Order backlog increased to $10.4 million (up from $7.3 million)

Negative

• Net loss of $398,000 (loss of $0.05 per share) despite improvement versus prior year
• SG&A increased to $5.6 million, pressuring operating leverage
• Cash declined to $126,000 as of January 31, 2026

Argus Mar 10 session

+30.61% close to close Open Argus

Details

News Market Reaction – OCC

On Mar 10, the day this news came out, OCC closed 30.61% above the previous close.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus for the Mar 10 session.

Market Context

On Mar 10, the day this news came out, the stock closed 30.6% above the previous close. A strong pos...

Analysis

On Mar 10, the day this news came out, the stock closed 30.6% above the previous close. A strong positive reaction aligns with OCC’s pattern of volatile responses around earnings, where past moves have averaged about 6.31% and have included both sharp rallies and selloffs. The Q1 FY2026 update features higher net sales, stronger gross profit, and a larger backlog, but the company still reported a net loss. Investors reviewing sustainability would typically focus on margin trends, backlog durability, and whether recent profitability improvements in prior quarters can be re-established.

Key Figures

Net sales (Q1 2026): $16.4M Net sales (Q1 2025): $15.7M Gross profit (Q1 2026): $5.4M +5 more

Net sales (Q1 2026)

$16.4M

Three months ended January 31, 2026

Net sales (Q1 2025)

$15.7M

Three months ended January 31, 2025

Gross profit (Q1 2026)

$5.4M

Three months ended January 31, 2026

Gross margin (Q1 2026)

32.7%

Gross profit as % of net sales

Sales backlog

$10.4M

Order backlog/forward load at January 31, 2026

Net loss (Q1 2026)

$398,000

Net loss, three months ended January 31, 2026

EPS (Q1 2026)

($0.05)

Basic and diluted net loss per share

Total assets

$38.8M

Balance sheet at January 31, 2026

Previous Earnings Reports

5 past events · Latest: Dec 18

Same Type 5 events

1. Dec 18

   FY25 results

   24h Move

   -34.4%

   Fiscal 2025 gross margin and loss improvement plus Q4 profitability.

2. Sep 11

   Q3 2025 earnings

   24h Move

   +36.3%

   Strong sales growth, margin expansion, and a move back to net income.

3. Jun 05

   Q2 2025 earnings

   24h Move

   -13.9%

   Higher sales, better margins, and smaller net loss versus prior year.

4. Mar 10

   Q1 2025 earnings

   24h Move

   -14.6%

   Sales and gross margin gains with improved, but still negative, net income.

5. Dec 23

   FY2024 results

   24h Move

   +58.1%

   Strong Q4 performance offset by weaker full-year sales and earnings.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Key Terms

gross profit margin, sg&a expenses, basic and diluted, iso 9001:2015, +2 more

6 terms

gross profit margin financial

"Gross profit margin, or gross profit as a percentage of net sales, increased to 32.7%"

Gross profit margin shows how much money a company keeps from sales after paying for the goods or services it sold. It’s like checking how much profit is left over from each dollar earned before covering other costs. A higher margin indicates the company makes more money from its sales, which helps assess its profitability and efficiency.

sg&a expenses financial

"SG&A expenses increased to $5.6 million in the first quarter of fiscal year 2026"

SG&A expenses are the costs a company spends on things like sales, marketing, and running the business that aren’t directly tied to making products. These expenses matter because they affect how much profit a company can keep after covering all its day-to-day operations. Think of it like the money spent on advertising or paying staff that helps the business grow and stay competitive.

basic and diluted financial

"net loss of $0.05 per basic and diluted share, or $398,000"

Basic and diluted are two ways companies report earnings per share: basic divides a company's profit by the number of shares currently outstanding, while diluted assumes all potential shares from options, warrants or convertible securities are issued and reduces the per-share amount. Investors care because diluted gives a more conservative, 'what-if' view of profit per share if future claims dilute ownership—like comparing cake slices now versus after more people claim pieces—which affects valuation, dividends and comparisons between companies.

iso 9001:2015 technical

"OCC's facilities are ISO 9001:2015 registered and its Dallas facility"

ISO 9001:2015 is an international standard for a company's quality management system, describing a structured set of practices that help organizations consistently meet customer expectations and improve processes. For investors, an ISO 9001:2015 certification is like a verified recipe or checklist showing the company follows disciplined procedures to reduce mistakes, control costs, and protect reputation, which can lower operational risk and support steady performance.

forward-looking information regulatory

"This news release ... may contain certain forward-looking information within the meaning"

Forward-looking information are predictions, plans, estimates or expectations about a company’s future performance, results or events, such as sales forecasts, project timelines, or anticipated costs. It matters to investors because these statements guide expectations but rely on assumptions and uncertain factors—like a weather forecast for a business—so investors should treat them as informed guesses rather than guarantees and consider the risks and possible changes behind the numbers.

net sales financial

"Consolidated net sales for the first quarter of fiscal year 2026 increased 4.4% to $16.4 million"

Net sales is the total money a company earns from selling its goods or services after subtracting returns, discounts, and allowances — like a store counting the cash it actually keeps after refunds and coupons. Investors use net sales to gauge true customer demand and the real size of a business’s revenue stream, since it forms the basis for profit margins, growth trends, and comparisons between companies.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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Net Sales Increased 4.4% and Gross Profit Increased 16.1%
Compared to Same Period in Prior Year

ROANOKE, Va., March 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Optical Cable Corporation (Nasdaq GM: OCC) ("OCC^®" or the "Company") today announced financial results for its first quarter of fiscal year 2026 ended January 31, 2026.

First Quarter 2026 Financial Results

Consolidated net sales for the first quarter of fiscal year 2026 increased 4.4% to $16.4 million, compared to $15.7 million for the same period in the prior year. OCC experienced an increase in net sales in both its enterprise and specialty markets during the first quarter of fiscal year 2026, compared to the first quarter of fiscal year 2025.

Net sales to customers outside of the United States increased 18.0% and net sales to customers in the United States increased less than one percent in the first quarter of fiscal year 2026, compared to the same period last year. At the end of the first quarter of fiscal year 2026, the Company's sales order backlog/forward load increased to $10.4 million when compared to $7.3 million as of October 31, 2025.

Gross profit increased 16.1% to $5.4 million in the first quarter of fiscal year 2026, compared to $4.6 million for the same period in fiscal year 2025, as a result of increased volumes and the resulting positive impact of OCC's manufacturing operating leverage. Gross profit margin, or gross profit as a percentage of net sales, increased to 32.7% in the first quarter of fiscal year 2026, compared to 29.4% in the first quarter of fiscal year 2025.

SG&A expenses increased to $5.6 million in the first quarter of fiscal year 2026, compared to $5.5 million for the first quarter of fiscal year 2025, primarily due to increases in employee and contracted sales personnel-related costs and shipping costs.

For the first quarter of fiscal year 2026, OCC recorded a net loss of $0.05 per basic and diluted share, or $398,000, an improvement compared to a net loss of $0.14 per basic and diluted share, or $1.1 million, for the first quarter of fiscal year 2025.

Management's Comments

Neil Wilkin, President and Chief Executive Officer of OCC, said, "OCC is off to a solid start in fiscal year 2026. During the first quarter, we delivered net sales and gross profit growth, largely driven by increased demand across our enterprise and specialty markets, and the positive impact of our operating leverage."

"As we begin our second quarter, we are seeing growing momentum in our targeted markets, including our data center market. Our sales order backlog and forward load increased more than 50% to $10.4 million compared to the same prior fiscal year period, and we expect to continue to build on this momentum. We are confident that OCC is well positioned for growth during fiscal year 2026 and, as always, we remain focused on disciplined execution to drive value for our customers and shareholders," Mr. Wilkin added.

Conference Call Information

As previously announced, OCC will host a conference call today, March 10, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Individuals wishing to participate in the conference call should call (833) 316-1983 in the U.S. or (785) 838-9310 internationally, Conference ID: OCCQ126. For interested individuals unable to join the call, a replay will be available through Tuesday, March 17, 2026, by dialing (800) 839-8708 or (402) 220-6077. The call will also be broadcast live over the internet and can be accessed by visiting the investor relations section of the Company's website at www.occfiber.com. 

Company Information

Optical Cable Corporation ("OCC^®") is a leading manufacturer of a broad range of fiber optic and copper data communication cabling and connectivity solutions primarily for the enterprise market and data center markets and various harsh environment and specialty markets (collectively, the non-carrier markets) and also the wireless carrier market, offering integrated suites of high-quality products which operate as a system solution or seamlessly integrate with other components.

OCC^® is internationally recognized for pioneering innovative fiber optic and copper communications technologies, including fiber optic cable designs for the most demanding environments and applications, copper connectivity designs to meet the highest data communication industry standards, as well as a broad product offering built on the evolution of these fundamental technologies.

OCC uses its expertise to deliver cabling and connectivity products and integrated solutions that are best suited to the performance requirements of each end-user's application. And OCC's product solutions offerings cover a broad range of applications—from commercial, enterprise network, data center, residential and campus installations to customized products for specialty applications and harsh environments, including military, industrial, mining, petrochemical, renewable energy and broadcast applications.

Founded in 1983, OCC is headquartered in Roanoke, Virginia with offices, manufacturing and warehouse facilities located in Roanoke, Virginia, near Asheville, North Carolina and near Dallas, Texas. OCC's facilities are ISO 9001:2015 registered and its Dallas facility is also MIL-STD-790G certified.

Optical Cable Corporation™, OCC^®, Procyon^®, Superior Modular Products™, SMP Data Communications™, Applied Optical Systems™, and associated logos are trademarks of Optical Cable Corporation.

Further information about OCC^® is available at www.occfiber.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This news release by Optical Cable Corporation and its subsidiaries (collectively, the "Company" or "OCC") may contain certain forward-looking information within the meaning of the federal securities laws. The forward-looking information may include, among other information, (i) statements concerning our outlook for the future, (ii) statements of belief, anticipation or expectation, (iii) future plans, strategies or anticipated events, and (iv) similar information and statements concerning matters that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown variables, uncertainties, contingencies and risks that may cause actual events or results to differ materially from our expectations, and such known and unknown variables, uncertainties, contingencies and risks may also adversely affect Optical Cable Corporation and its subsidiaries, the Company's future results of operations and future financial condition, and/or the future equity value of the Company. A partial list of such variables, uncertainties, contingencies and risks that could cause or contribute to such differences from our expectations or that could otherwise adversely affect Optical Cable Corporation and its subsidiaries is set forth in Optical Cable Corporation's quarterly and annual reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") under the heading "Forward-Looking Information." OCC's quarterly and annual reports are available to the public on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. In providing forward-looking information, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update this information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as required by applicable laws and regulations.

(Financial Tables Follow)

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (thousands, except per share data) (unaudited)
	Three Months Ended
	January 31,
	2026		2025
Net sales	$    16,431		$    15,743
Cost of goods sold	11,061		11,116
Gross profit	5,370		4,627
SG&A expenses	5,558		5,459
Royalty expense, net	6		6
Amortization of intangible assets	14		14
Loss from operations	(208)		(852)
Interest expense, net	(211)		(264)
Other, net	⸺		21
Other expense, net	(211)		(243)
Loss before income taxes	(419)		(1,095)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(21)		12
Net loss	$       (398)		$    (1,107)
Net loss per share:
Basic and diluted	$      (0.05)		$      (0.14)
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic and diluted	8,593		7,815

 

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET DATA (thousands) (unaudited)
	January 31,		October 31,
	2026		2025
Cash	$              126		$              238
Trade accounts receivable, net	8,079		10,281
Inventories	20,894		19,802
Other current assets	544		435
Total current assets	29,643		30,756
Non-current assets	9,132		9,304
Total assets	$         38,775		$         40,060
Current liabilities	$         16,189		$         16,853
Non-current liabilities	1,477		1,633
Total liabilities	17,666		18,486
Redeemable restricted common stock	2,980		5,067
Total shareholders' equity	18,129		16,507
Total liabilities, redeemable restricted common stock
and shareholders' equity	$         38,775		$         40,060

 

AT THE COMPANY:
Neil Wilkin	Tracy Smith
Chairman, President & CEO	Senior Vice President & CFO
(540) 265-0690	(540) 265-0690
investorrelations@occfiber.com	investorrelations@occfiber.com
AT JOELE FRANK, WILKINSON BRIMMER KATCHER:
Aaron Palash	Caroline Felix
(212) 355-4449 ext. 8603	(212) 355-4449 ext. 8980
occ-jfwbk@joelefrank.com	occ-jfwbk@joelefrank.com

 

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SOURCE Optical Cable Corporation

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What were Optical Cable Corporation's (OCC) Q1 FY2026 net sales and growth?

OCC reported Q1 FY2026 net sales of $16.4 million, a 4.4% increase year-over-year. According to the company, both enterprise and specialty market demand contributed and international sales rose about 18% versus prior year.

How did OCC's profitability change in Q1 FY2026 and what drove it?

Gross profit increased to $5.4 million and gross margin expanded to 32.7%. According to the company, higher volumes and manufacturing operating leverage drove the 16.1% gross profit improvement.

What was OCC's reported net loss and per-share impact for Q1 FY2026?

OCC recorded a net loss of $398,000, or $0.05 per share in Q1 FY2026. According to the company, this represents an improvement from a $1.1 million loss in the prior-year quarter.

How did OCC's order backlog change entering Q2 FY2026 and why is it important?

Order backlog increased to $10.4 million, more than a 50% rise from the prior quarter level. According to the company, the higher backlog signals growing momentum in targeted markets including data center demand.

Did OCC report any concerning balance sheet changes in Q1 FY2026?

Cash on hand declined to $126,000 as of January 31, 2026, while inventories rose modestly. According to the company, working capital shifts reflect timing of receipts, shipments and customer receivables.