STOCK TITAN

Reliance (NYSE: RS) delivers double-digit Q1 2026 growth and big U.S. contracts

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(High)
Filing Sentiment
(Neutral)
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8-K

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Reliance, Inc. reported strong first quarter 2026 results with net sales of $4.03 billion, up 15.5% from Q1 2025, driven by higher volumes and pricing across key metals. Record tons sold reached 1,672.7 thousand, up 9.4% sequentially and 2.7% year-over-year, significantly outperforming industry shipment declines reported by MSCI.

Pretax income rose to $349.5 million, an increase of 33.2% year-over-year, while net income attributable to Reliance grew to $264.9 million. Diluted EPS was $5.10 and non‑GAAP diluted EPS was $5.16, up 36.9% year-over-year and above management’s guidance range of $4.50 to $4.70. Non‑GAAP FIFO gross profit margin was 30.1%, modestly below the prior year but higher than the fourth quarter of 2025.

The company generated $151.4 million of operating cash flow, returned about $301 million to stockholders via dividends and $234.2 million of share repurchases, and ended the quarter with $249.7 million in cash and net debt‑to‑EBITDA of 1.0x. Reliance highlighted two large U.S. government contracts, including a DHS border wall award with a maximum estimated value of up to $2.24 billion and an aluminum plate IDIQ contract for Joint Strike Fighter programs with a maximum estimated value of $654 million. For Q2 2026, the company expects tons sold to increase up to 3.0% sequentially and guides non‑GAAP EPS to $5.15–$5.35, implying year‑over‑year growth of roughly 16–21%.

Positive

  • Strong Q1 performance and margin leverage: Net sales grew 15.5% year-over-year to $4.03 billion, non-GAAP diluted EPS rose 36.9% to $5.16, and pretax income increased 33.2% on higher tons sold and improved non-GAAP FIFO gross margin of 30.1%.
  • Large multi-year government contract wins: AMI secured a DHS border wall contract with a total maximum estimated value of up to $2.24 billion and a Joint Strike Fighter aluminum plate contract with a maximum estimated value of $654 million, providing substantial project visibility.
  • Healthy balance sheet and capital returns: Net debt-to-EBITDA is 1.0x, the company returned about $301 million to stockholders in Q1 2026 via dividends and $234.2 million of share repurchases, and has increased its regular quarterly dividend to $1.25 per share.

Negative

  • None.

Insights

Reliance posts double-digit growth, strong guidance, and secures large U.S. government contracts.

Reliance, Inc. delivered Q1 2026 net sales of $4.03 billion, up 15.5% year-over-year, with record tons sold and higher average selling prices across carbon steel, aluminum and stainless products. Non‑GAAP diluted EPS of $5.16 rose 36.9% and exceeded management’s prior guidance.

Pretax income increased 33.2% to $349.5 million, helped by a 30.1% non‑GAAP FIFO gross margin and operating leverage from higher volumes. Leverage remains modest, with net debt‑to‑EBITDA at 1.0x and total debt‑to‑EBITDA at 1.2x, while the company continues to return capital via dividends and buybacks.

Looking ahead to Q2 2026, management guides tons sold up 1.0–3.0% sequentially and non‑GAAP EPS of $5.15–$5.35, implying mid‑teens to low‑20s percent growth versus Q2 2025. Recently awarded DHS border wall and Joint Strike Fighter contracts, with maximum estimated values of up to $2.24 billion and $654 million, respectively, are expected to support volumes and earnings as shipments ramp through at least 2027–2028.

Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition Financial
Disclosure of earnings results, typically an earnings press release or preliminary financials.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits Exhibits
Financial statements, pro forma financial information, and exhibit attachments filed with this report.
Net sales Q1 2026 $4.03 billion Quarter ended March 31, 2026; up 15.5% year-over-year
Non-GAAP diluted EPS Q1 2026 $5.16 per share Up 36.9% vs Q1 2025 and above guidance of $4.50–$4.70
Pretax income Q1 2026 $349.5 million Increased 33.2% year-over-year with 8.7% pretax margin
Operating cash flow Q1 2026 $151.4 million Quarter ended March 31, 2026; supports capex and returns
Share repurchases Q1 2026 $234.2 million Part of approximately $301 million returned to stockholders
DHS border wall contract value Up to $2.24 billion Total maximum estimated value; Phase 1 about $1.4 billion sales
Joint Strike Fighter contract value Up to $654 million Maximum estimated value for aluminum plate IDIQ contract
Net debt-to-EBITDA 1.0x As of March 31, 2026; leverage metric based on EBITDA
LIFO expense financial
"LIFO expense per diluted share, net of tax | $ | 0.54"
Non-GAAP diluted EPS financial
"Non-GAAP diluted EPS 2 | $ | 5.16 |"
Non-GAAP diluted EPS (Earnings Per Share) is a measure of a company's profit allocated to each share of stock, calculated using adjusted earnings that exclude certain items like one-time expenses or gains. It provides a view of ongoing performance by removing irregular or non-recurring factors. Investors use it to better understand the company's core profitability and compare performance across different periods or companies.
FIFO gross profit margin financial
"Non-GAAP gross profit margin – FIFO 1, 2 | | 30.1%"
net debt-to-EBITDA financial
"Net debt-to-EBITDA 2 | | 1.0x |"
Net debt-to-EBITDA is a financial ratio that compares a company's total debt, minus its cash reserves, to its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA). It shows how many years it would take for the company to pay off its net debt if all its earnings were used for that purpose. Investors use this ratio to assess whether a company has manageable debt levels and its ability to meet its financial obligations.
indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract regulatory
"a five‑year indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract to supply processed aluminum plate"
free cash flow financial
"Free cash flow 2 | $ | 87.2 |"
Free cash flow is the amount of money a company has left over after paying all its expenses and investing in its business, like buying equipment or updating facilities. It shows how much cash is available to reward shareholders, pay down debt, or save for future growth. This helps investors understand if a company is financially healthy and able to grow.
Net sales $4.03 billion 15.5% YoY
GAAP diluted EPS $5.10 36.4% YoY
Non-GAAP diluted EPS $5.16 36.9% YoY
Pretax income $349.5 million 33.2% YoY
Non-GAAP FIFO gross profit margin 30.1% -0.3 pts YoY
Guidance

For Q2 2026, Reliance expects tons sold to increase 1.0–3.0% sequentially, average selling price per ton up 1.5–3.5%, and non‑GAAP diluted EPS in the range of $5.15 to $5.35, implying approximately 16–21% year-over-year growth and including $0.54 per share of LIFO expense.

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

_________________

FORM 8-K

_________________

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  April 22, 2026

_______________________________

RELIANCE, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

_______________________________

Delaware001-1312295-1142616
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)(Commission File Number)(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

735 N. 19th Avenue

Phoenix, AZ 85009

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

(480) 564-5700

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

16100 N. 71st Street, Suite 400
Scottsdale, Arizona 85254

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each classTrading Symbol(s)Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.001 par valueRSNew York Stock Exchange

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 
 
Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

 

On April 22, 2026, the Company issued a press release announcing financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2026.  Attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 is a copy of the Company’s press release dated April 22, 2026 announcing the Company’s financial results for this period.

 

The information contained in this report and the exhibit hereto shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(a)   Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired.

 

        Not Applicable.

 

(b)   Pro Forma Financial Information.

 

        Not Applicable.

 

(c)   Shell Company Transactions.

 

        Not Applicable.

 

(d)   Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No. Description
   
99.1 Press Release dated April 22, 2026 (included herewith).
104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)
 
 

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 RELIANCE, INC.
   
  
Date: April 22, 2026By: /s/ Arthur Ajemyan        
  Arthur Ajemyan
  Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
  

 

EXHIBIT 99.1

Reliance, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2026 Financial Results

  • Net sales of $4 billion, with record tons sold up 9.4% sequentially, exceeding expectations
  • EPS of $5.10; non-GAAP EPS of $5.16, up 37% year-over-year also exceeding expectations
  • Pretax income of $349.5 million, up 33% year-over-year
  • Repurchased $234.2 million of common stock

PHOENIX, April 22, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reliance, Inc. (NYSE: RS) (‘Reliance,’ the ‘Company,’ ‘we,' ‘our,' or ‘us’) today reported its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026.

(in millions, except tons sold in thousands, per ton and per share amounts)
                  
       Sequential Quarter     Year-Over-Year 
 Q1 2026
  Q4 2025
  % Change  Q1 2025
  % Change 
Income Statement Data:            
Net sales$4,026.0  $3,498.6  15.1%  $3,484.7  15.5% 
Gross profit1$1,171.9  $954.7  22.8%  $1,033.3  13.4% 
Gross profit margin1 29.1%   27.3%  1.8%   29.7%  (0.6%)
Non-GAAP gross profit margin1,2 29.1%   27.4%  1.7%   29.7%  (0.6%)
Non-GAAP gross profit margin – FIFO1,2 30.1%   28.5%  1.6%   30.4%  (0.3%)
LIFO expense$37.5  $38.7    $25.0   
LIFO expense as a % of net sales 0.9%   1.1%  (0.2%)  0.7%  0.2% 
LIFO expense per diluted share, net of tax$0.54  $0.56    $0.35   
Non-GAAP pretax expense adjustments2$4.3  $12.1    $2.3   
Pretax income$349.5  $154.8  125.8%  $262.4  33.2% 
Non-GAAP pretax income2$353.8  $166.9  112.0%  $264.7  33.7% 
Non-GAAP pretax income – FIFO2$391.3  $205.6  90.3%  $289.7  35.1% 
Pretax income margin 8.7%   4.4%  4.3%   7.5%  1.2% 
Non-GAAP pretax income margin2 8.8%   4.8%  4.0%   7.6%  1.2% 
Non-GAAP pretax income margin – FIFO2 9.7%   5.9%  3.8%   8.3%  1.4% 
Net income – Reliance$264.9  $116.5  127.4%  $199.7  32.6% 
Diluted EPS$5.10  $2.22  129.7%  $3.74  36.4% 
Non-GAAP diluted EPS2$5.16  $2.40  115.0%  $3.77  36.9% 
Non-GAAP diluted EPS – FIFO2$5.70  $2.96  92.6%  $4.12  38.3% 
             
Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Data:            
Cash provided by operations$151.4  $276.1  (45.2%) $64.5  134.7% 
Free cash flow2$87.2  $202.9  (57.0%) $(22.4)  
Net debt-to-total capital2 16.9%   14.4%     14.4%   
Net debt-to-EBITDA2 1.0x   0.9x     0.9x   
Total debt-to-EBITDA2 1.2x   1.1x     1.1x   
             
Capital Allocation Data:            
Capital expenditures$64.2  $73.2    $86.9   
Dividends$66.6  $63.5    $65.2   
Share repurchases$234.2  $200.1    $253.2   
             
Key Business Metrics:            
Tons sold 1,672.7   1,528.7  9.4%   1,628.9  2.7% 
Average selling price per ton sold$2,414  $2,292  5.3%  $2,143  12.6% 
             
Please refer to the footnotes at the end of this press release for additional information.     


Management Commentary

“Reliance is off to a strong start to 2026, capitalizing on favorable market fundamentals with first quarter volumes, pricing and earnings exceeding our expectations. Strong pricing and demand momentum continued to build throughout the quarter across our diversified product and end market portfolio,” said Karla Lewis, President and Chief Executive Officer of Reliance. “Our teams executed exceptionally well, converting increased shipments and higher prices into outsized earnings contributions, driving year-over-year growth of 37% in non-GAAP earnings per share of $5.16 on a 15% increase in sales. These results demonstrate the strength of our opportunistic and flexible operating model and continued execution of our smart, profitable growth strategy.”

“As previously announced, we also secured two significant government contracts in the first quarter to supply the border wall and Joint Strike Fighter projects through our AMI Metals, Inc. (“AMI”) subsidiary, further reinforcing Reliance’s role as a trusted partner on critical U.S. infrastructure and defense programs. These wins illustrate our ability to support large and complex projects by leveraging the scale, logistics capabilities, processing expertise, deep supply‑chain relationships and existing operating infrastructure of the Reliance Family of Companies. Our diversified platform allows us to concurrently meet the needs of large program partners as well as small-order, quick-turn customers.”

Mrs. Lewis concluded, “Our strong balance sheet and liquidity position remain key competitive advantages, affording us the flexibility to continue to concurrently invest in our business, pursue strategic acquisitions, and return capital to our stockholders while maintaining our disciplined approach to capital deployment. We are encouraged by rising customer optimism and activity across our broad end market exposure, with continued strong and growing momentum in the infrastructure, data center, energy, and defense sectors. Extending lead times at our mill suppliers also bode well for a continued strong pricing environment, where access to metal becomes a strategic advantage. Reliance’s unique scale, diverse portfolio, financial strength, domestic mill relationships and expanding services to support our customers, along with our focus on execution, position us exceptionally well to further capitalize on the opportunities ahead in 2026.”

First Quarter 2026 Financial Highlights
Earnings per share were $5.10; non‑GAAP earnings per diluted share were $5.16, above management’s guidance of $4.50 to $4.70 and up 37% year-over-year. Results included approximately $0.54 per share of LIFO expense compared to management’s expectation of $0.36 per share, representing an incremental $0.18 impact, primarily due to higher-than-anticipated carbon steel and aluminum product cost increases.

Record quarterly tons sold increased 2.7% year-over-year and 9.4% sequentially, exceeding management’s expectation for a 5% to 7% increase. Reliance’s first quarter year-over-year growth in tons sold outperformed the industry-wide decrease of 5.1% reported by the Metals Service Center Institute (“MSCI”) by nearly 8 percentage points. Reliance has now outperformed the MSCI’s quarterly year-over-year shipment results for 13 consecutive quarters.

Average selling price per ton sold increased 5.3% sequentially, also surpassing management’s expectation of a 3% to 5% increase, supported by higher carbon steel, aluminum and stainless steel pricing.

Gross profit margin of 29.1% increased 180 basis points sequentially and decreased 60 basis points from 29.7% in the prior-year quarter. Non‑GAAP FIFO gross profit margin, which excludes LIFO adjustments and represents management’s ongoing assessment of operating performance, increased sequentially to 30.1% from 28.5% in the fourth quarter of 2025 and was slightly lower than 30.4% in the prior-year quarter, which benefited from rapid and significant price increases consequent to new Section 232 tariffs. While gross profit margins for certain products such as aluminum have been impacted by elevated tariffs, Reliance is realizing higher gross profit per ton across the majority of its product categories.

Growth in shipments and gross profit dollars per ton, supported by continued market share gains, provided operating leverage and improved earnings conversion, driving pretax income of $349.5 million, an increase of 33% year-over-year.

End Market Commentary
Non-residential construction demand (including infrastructure), representing Reliance’s largest end market by tons, improved from the first quarter of 2025. The Company expects non-residential construction demand to remain healthy in the second quarter of 2026, supported by strong activity across data centers, energy infrastructure, and public infrastructure.

Demand across the broader manufacturing end market Reliance serves improved compared to the first quarter of 2025, primarily due to growth in the industrial machinery, shipbuilding, military, consumer products and construction machinery sectors. Reliance anticipates that demand for its products across the broader manufacturing sector will remain healthy in the second quarter of 2026.

Demand in aerospace improved compared to the first quarter of 2025. Reliance anticipates commercial aerospace demand to remain steady in the second quarter of 2026 with build-rate increases supporting improvement throughout the year. Demand in the defense and space related portions of Reliance’s aerospace business is expected to remain robust in the second quarter of 2026.

Demand for the toll processing services Reliance provides to the automotive market was stable compared to the first quarter of 2025. The Company expects demand for automotive toll processing to remain relatively steady at healthy levels in the second quarter of 2026. Reliance’s toll processing operations remain flexible and able to quickly adapt to the variable demands of the automotive market.

Demand for certain products Reliance sells into the semiconductor market improved compared to the first quarter of 2025. The Company anticipates stable to improving demand for its semiconductor products in the second quarter of 2026.

Balance Sheet, Cash Flow and Stockholder Returns
As of March 31, 2026, Reliance had $249.7 million of cash and cash equivalents and total debt of $1.7 billion, including $550 million outstanding under its $1.5 billion revolving credit facility. The Company generated $151.4 million of cash flow from operations in the first quarter of 2026, reflecting a typical seasonal working capital increase related to strong shipment volume and higher metals pricing.

The Company returned approximately $301 million to stockholders in the first quarter of 2026 through dividend payments of $67 million and $234 million of share repurchases, at an average price of approximately $299 per share. Reliance’s share repurchase activity reduced outstanding common shares by 3% year-over-year. Since 2021, Reliance has repurchased $3.4 billion of its common stock at an average price of approximately $234 per share, reducing outstanding common shares by 22%.

On February 17, 2026, Reliance increased its regular quarterly dividend by 4.2% to $1.25 per share of common stock (annualized rate of $5.00 per share), marking the 33rd dividend increase since the Company’s 1994 IPO. On April 17, 2026, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.25 per share of common stock, payable on June 5, 2026 to stockholders of record as of May 22, 2026.

Recent Government Contract Awards
As previously announced in March 2026, Reliance’s wholly owned subsidiary, AMI was awarded two significant U.S. government infrastructure and defense contracts that further strengthen the Company’s position as a trusted partner on large‑scale, complex government infrastructure and defense projects.

  • AMI was awarded a multi-year contract by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) with a total maximum estimated value of up to $2.24 billion to provide steel and steel logistics support services for the construction of the border wall along the Southwest U.S. border. Phase 1 of the project, during which Reliance estimates sales of approximately $1.4 billion, commenced in April 2026 and is expected to continue through mid-2027.
  • AMI also won a five‑year indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract to supply processed aluminum plate in support of the Joint Strike Fighter defense platforms, including the F‑35 Lightning II. The contract, which is effective from January 2027 through December 2028, renews AMI’s existing contract and provides for up to three one-year renewal periods. The agreement has a maximum estimated value of $654 million and includes an approximate 10% increase in average volumes from previous targets.

These awards highlight Reliance’s scale, logistics capabilities, and processing expertise across both carbon steel and aluminum, and reinforce the Company’s long‑standing relationships with domestic mills and major defense customers.

Business Outlook
Reliance anticipates both demand and pricing in the second quarter of 2026 will remain generally consistent at healthy levels across the key products and end markets it serves, despite ongoing domestic and international trade policy uncertainty and the conflict in the Middle East which could pose supply availability and macroeconomic risks. With underlying assumptions for ongoing activity in the second quarter generally consistent with the prior quarter and factoring in activity under the DHS border wall contract, the Company expects tons sold to increase 1.0% to 3.0% compared to the first quarter of 2026 and to increase 4.5% to 6.5% compared to the second quarter of 2025. Additionally, Reliance expects its average selling price per ton sold to be up 1.5% to 3.5% compared to the first quarter of 2026 supported by announced mill price increases given healthy underlying demand for those products. Based on these assumptions, the Company anticipates non‑GAAP earnings per diluted share in the range of $5.15 to $5.35 for the second quarter of 2026, representing year‑over‑year growth of approximately 16% to 21% and inclusive of LIFO expense of $37.5 million, or $0.54 per diluted share.

Our second quarter 2026 guidance includes an estimated 3.0% contribution to tons sold, a 1.0% lower consolidated average selling price and approximately $0.15 to $0.20 of earnings per share related to shipments associated with the border wall contract. Although the average selling price and gross profit margins under the border wall contract are below company-wide averages, these shipments are expected to contribute at above average earnings levels through efficient execution within Reliance’s existing operating network, providing significant operating leverage and supporting improved profitability on incremental project volumes. Shipments under this contract began in April 2026 and we anticipate that volumes will increase as we move throughout the year. Many variables may impact the timing of shipments so we will provide impact and earnings contribution guidance from the border wall contract on a quarterly basis.

Conference Call Details
A conference call and simultaneous webcast to discuss Reliance’s first quarter 2026 financial results and business outlook will be held on Thursday, April 23, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time / 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time. To listen to the live call by telephone, please dial (877) 407-0792 (U.S. and Canada) or (201) 689-8263 (International) approximately 10 minutes prior to the start time and use conference ID: 13759369. The call will also be broadcast live over the Internet hosted on the Investors section of the Company's website at investor.reliance.com.

For those unable to participate during the live broadcast, a replay of the call will also be available beginning that same day at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 7, 2026, by dialing (844) 512-2921 (U.S. and Canada) or (412) 317-6671 (International) and entering the conference ID: 13759369. The webcast will remain posted on the Investors section of Reliance’s website at reliance.com for 90 days.

About Reliance, Inc.
Founded in 1939, Reliance, Inc. (NYSE: RS) is a leading global diversified metal solutions provider and the largest metals service center company in North America. Through a network of approximately 310 locations in 41 states and 10 countries outside of the United States, Reliance provides value-added metals processing services and distributes a full-line of over 100,000 metal products to more than 125,000 customers in a broad range of industries. Reliance focuses on small orders with quick turnaround and value-added processing services. In 2025, Reliance’s average order size was $3,120, approximately 49% of orders included value-added processing, and approximately 40% of orders were delivered within 24 hours. Reliance’s press releases and additional information are available on the Company’s website at reliance.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain statements that are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, discussions of Reliance’s: industry and end markets; business strategies; acquisitions; expectations concerning the Company’s future growth and profitability; ability to generate industry leading returns for its stockholders; future demand and metals pricing; results of operations; margins; profitability; taxes; liquidity; cash flows; capital expenditures; expectations for macroeconomic conditions, including inflation and the possibility of an economic recession or slowdown; anticipated effects from regulatory changes, including taxation, tariffs and other trade barriers; litigation matters and capital resources. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “preliminary,” “range,” “intend” and “continue,” the negative of these terms, and similar expressions.

These forward-looking statements are based on management's estimates, projections and assumptions as of today’s date that may not prove to be accurate. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in these forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including, but not limited to, actions taken by Reliance, as well as developments beyond its control, including, but not limited to: changes in domestic and worldwide political and economic conditions; changes in U.S. and foreign trade policies and programs, including tariffs and trade policies and programs specifically affecting metals product markets and pricing; slowing economic growth, inflation, rising unemployment or other macroeconomic factors that could materially impact Reliance, its customers and suppliers; metals pricing; demand for Reliance’s products and services; the possibility that the expected benefits of government contracts, acquisitions and capital expenditures may not materialize as expected; and the impacts of labor constraints and supply chain disruptions. Deteriorations in economic conditions, including as a result of tariffs or trade barriers, economic policies, inflation, economic recession, slowing growth, outbreaks of infectious disease, or geopolitical conflicts such as in Ukraine, Iran and the Middle East, could lead to a decline in demand for the Company’s products and services and negatively impact its business, and may also impact financial markets and corporate credit markets which could adversely impact the Company’s access to financing or the terms of any financing. The Company cannot at this time predict all of the impacts of domestic and foreign tariffs and trade policies, inflation, product price fluctuations, economic recession, outbreaks of infectious disease, or geopolitical conflicts and related economic effects, but these factors, individually or in any combination, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

The statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and Reliance disclaims any and all obligations to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or for any other reason, except as may be required by law. Important risks and uncertainties about Reliance’s business can be found in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 and in other documents Reliance files or furnishes with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

CONTACT:         
(213) 576-2428
investor@reliance.com

or Addo Investor Relations
(310) 829-5400

(Tables to follow)

First Quarter 2026 Major Commodity Metrics
 
                      
 Tons Sold (tons in thousands; % change)  Average Selling Price per Ton Sold (% change)
 Q1 2026
  Q4 2025
  Sequential Quarter Change
  Q1 2025
  Year-Over-Year Change
  Sequential Quarter Change
  Year-Over-Year Change
 
Carbon steel 1,383.9   1,252.9   10.5%   1,344.4   2.9%   4.5%   13.2% 
Aluminum 85.1   77.1   10.4%   84.1   1.2%   9.5%   23.1% 
Stainless steel 78.2   69.8   12.0%   76.0   2.9%   2.9%   4.1% 
Alloy 33.0   27.9   18.3%   31.5   4.8%   (1.8%)  8.8% 
Copper & brass 4.9   4.9      5.0   (2.0%)  8.1%   27.1% 
                            
 Sales ($'s in millions; % change)       
 Q1 2026
  Q4 2025
  Sequential Quarter Change
  Q1 2025
  Year-Over-Year Change
       
Carbon steel$2,218.1  $1,922.3   15.4%  $1,904.2   16.5%       
Aluminum$754.6  $624.5   20.8%  $605.6   24.6%       
Stainless steel$539.0  $467.1   15.4%  $503.2   7.1%       
Alloy$180.6  $155.5   16.1%  $158.4   14.0%       
Copper & brass$101.9  $93.5   9.0%  $81.7   24.7%       
                      
 Sales by Product ($'s as a % of total sales)             
 Q1 2026
  Q4 2025
  Q1 2025
            
Carbon steel structurals 12%   13%   12%              
Carbon steel plate 11%   11%   12%              
Carbon steel tubing 9%   9%   9%              
Hot-rolled steel sheet & coil 9%   8%   8%              
Carbon steel bar 5%   5%   5%              
Galvanized steel sheet & coil 5%   5%   5%              
Cold-rolled steel sheet & coil 2%   2%   2%              
Carbon steel 53%   53%   53%              
                      
Heat-treated aluminum plate 6%   5%   5%              
Aluminum bar & tube 5%   5%   5%              
Common alloy aluminum sheet & coil 5%   5%   5%              
Common alloy aluminum plate 1%   1%   1%              
Heat-treated aluminum sheet & coil 1%   1%   1%              
Aluminum 18%   17%   17%              
                      
Stainless steel bar & tube 6%   6%   7%              
Stainless steel sheet & coil 5%   5%   5%              
Stainless steel plate 2%   2%   2%              
Stainless steel 13%   13%   14%              
                      
Alloy 4%   4%   4%              
                      
Copper & brass 3%   3%   2%              
                      
Miscellaneous* 5%   6%   6%              
Toll processing & logistics 4%   4%   4%              
Other 9%   10%   10%              
                      
Total 100%   100%   100%              
                      
* Includes titanium, fabricated parts, PVC pipe and scrap. 


        
RELIANCE, INC.
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(in millions, except shares in thousands and per share amounts)
        
Three Months Ended March 31,2026  2025 
Net sales$4,026.0  $3,484.7 
        
Costs and expenses:       
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below) 2,854.1   2,451.4 
Warehouse, delivery, selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") 734.8   690.2 
Depreciation and amortization 69.2   68.7 
  3,658.1   3,210.3 
        
Operating income 367.9   274.4 
        
Other (income) expense:       
Interest expense 15.4   11.5 
Other expense, net 3.0   0.5 
Income before income taxes 349.5   262.4 
Income tax provision 83.9   61.9 
Net income 265.6   200.5 
Less: net income – noncontrolling interests 0.7   0.8 
Net income – Reliance$264.9  $199.7 
        
Earnings per share:       
Basic$5.13  $3.76 
Diluted$5.10  $3.74 
        
Weighted average shares outstanding:       
Basic 51,633   53,075 
Diluted 51,974   53,399 
        
Cash dividends declared per common share$1.25  $1.20 


      
RELIANCE, INC.
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in millions, except shares in thousands and par value)
 
 March 31,
  December 31,
 
 2026  2025*
 
Assets
Current assets:     
Cash and cash equivalents$249.7  $216.6 
Accounts receivable, less allowance for credit losses of $22.8 and $22.1 1,953.5   1,539.9 
Inventories 2,234.9   2,187.8 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 135.2   165.6 
Income taxes receivable    31.2 
Total current assets 4,573.3   4,141.1 
Property, plant and equipment, net 2,630.8   2,633.3 
Operating lease right-of-use assets 331.5   315.2 
Goodwill 2,175.4   2,169.9 
Intangible assets, net 953.0   960.1 
Cash surrender value of life insurance policies, net 41.9   48.0 
Other long-term assets 103.4   105.7 
Total assets$10,809.3  $10,373.3 
      
Liabilities and Equity
Current liabilities:     
Accounts payable$552.1  $375.2 
Accrued expenses 152.5   150.0 
Accrued compensation and retirement benefits 171.5   198.1 
Accrued insurance costs 56.4   56.4 
Current maturities of long-term debt    0.7 
Current maturities of operating lease liabilities 69.2   67.7 
Income taxes payable 41.1    
Total current liabilities 1,042.8   848.1 
Long-term debt 1,693.5   1,420.2 
Operating lease liabilities 266.3   250.9 
Long-term retirement benefits 25.3   24.9 
Other long-term liabilities 74.4   74.1 
Deferred income taxes 574.9   575.6 
Total liabilities 3,677.2   3,193.8 
Commitments and contingencies     
Equity:     
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value: 5,000 shares authorized; none issued or outstanding     
Common stock and additional paid-in capital, $0.001 par value and 200,000 shares authorized     
Issued and outstanding shares—51,049 and 51,735 0.1   0.1 
Retained earnings 7,218.5   7,257.6 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (95.7)  (87.6)
Total Reliance stockholders’ equity 7,122.9   7,170.1 
Noncontrolling interests 9.2   9.4 
Total equity 7,132.1   7,179.5 
Total liabilities and equity$10,809.3  $10,373.3 
      
* Derived from audited financial statements.     


      
RELIANCE, INC.
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in millions)
      
Three Months Ended March 31,2026  2025 
Operating activities:     
Net income$265.6  $200.5 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:     
Depreciation and amortization 69.2   68.7 
Stock-based compensation 13.3   12.2 
Other 7.6   6.5 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:     
Accounts receivable (416.2)  (332.1)
Inventories (47.7)  (85.9)
Prepaid expenses and other assets 83.1   80.8 
Accounts payable and other liabilities 176.5   113.8 
Net cash provided by operating activities 151.4   64.5 
      
Investing activities:     
Purchases of property, plant and equipment (64.2)  (86.9)
Other (5.8)  (0.7)
Net cash used in investing activities (70.0)  (87.6)
      
Financing activities:     
Proceeds from long-term debt borrowings 925.0   788.0 
Principal payments on long-term debt (652.7)  (458.0)
Cash dividends and dividend equivalents (66.6)  (65.2)
Share repurchases (234.2)  (253.2)
Taxes paid on net-settled restricted stock units (14.7)  (11.5)
Other (3.4)  (18.7)
Net cash used in financing activities (46.6)  (18.6)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents (1.7)  1.4 
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 33.1   (40.3)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning balance 216.6   318.1 
Cash and cash equivalents, ending balance$249.7  $277.8 
      
Supplemental cash flow information:     
Interest paid$13.2  $10.0 
Income taxes paid, net$12.5  $13.9 


                  
RELIANCE, INC.
NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION
(in millions, except per share amounts)
                  
 Net Income Diluted EPS
 March 31,
  December 31,
  March 31,
  March 31,
  December 31,
  March 31,
 
Three Months Ended2026  2025  2025  2026  2025  2025 
Net income – Reliance$264.9  $116.5  $199.7  $5.10  $2.22  $3.74 
Impairment and restructuring charges 3.8   14.7   2.3   0.07   0.28   0.04 
Non-recurring settlement charges (credits), net 0.5   (1.9)     0.01   (0.04)   
Gains related to sales of non-core assets    (0.7)        (0.01)   
Income tax benefit related to above items (1.1)  (3.1)  (0.6)  (0.02)  (0.05)  (0.01)
Non-GAAP net income – Reliance 268.1   125.5   201.4   5.16   2.40   3.77 
LIFO expense, net of tax 28.1   29.0   18.8   0.54   0.56   0.35 
Non-GAAP net income – Reliance – FIFO$296.2  $154.5  $220.2  $5.70  $2.96  $4.12 
                  
 March 31,
  December 31,
  March 31,
        
Three Months Ended2026  2025  2025        
Pretax income$349.5  $154.8  $262.4          
Impairment and restructuring charges 3.8   14.7   2.3          
Non-recurring settlement charges (credits), net 0.5   (1.9)            
Gains related to sales of non-core assets    (0.7)            
Non-GAAP pretax expense adjustments 4.3   12.1   2.3          
Non-GAAP pretax income 353.8   166.9   264.7          
LIFO expense 37.5   38.7   25.0          
Non-GAAP pretax income – FIFO$391.3  $205.6  $289.7          
                  
 March 31,
  December 31,
  March 31,
        
Three Months Ended2026  2025  2025        
Gross profit – LIFO$1,171.9  $954.7  $1,033.3          
Restructuring charges 1.0   3.0   1.8          
Non-GAAP gross profit 1,172.9   957.7   1,035.1          
LIFO expense 37.5   38.7   25.0          
Non-GAAP gross profit – FIFO$1,210.4  $996.4  $1,060.1          
                  
Gross profit margin – LIFO 29.1%   27.3%   29.7%          
Restructuring charges as a % of sales    0.1%             
Non-GAAP gross profit margin 29.1%   27.4%   29.7%          
LIFO expense as a % of sales 0.9%   1.1%   0.7%          
Non-GAAP gross profit margin – FIFO 30.1%   28.5%   30.4%          
                  
Certain percentages may not calculate due to rounding.
                  
 March 31,
  December 31,
  March 31,
        
 2026  2025  2025        
Total debt$1,700.0  $1,427.7  $1,481.1          
Less: unamortized discounts and costs (6.5)  (6.8)  (8.1)         
Carrying amount of debt 1,693.5   1,420.9   1,473.0          
Less: cash and cash equivalents (249.7)  (216.6)  (277.8)         
Net debt 1,443.8   1,204.3   1,195.2          
Total Reliance stockholders' equity 7,122.9   7,170.1   7,101.8          
Total capital$8,566.7  $8,374.4  $8,297.0          
                  
Net debt-to-total capital 16.9%   14.4%   14.4%          
                  
 March 31,
  December 31,
  March 31,
          
Twelve Months Ended2026  2025  2025          
Net income$806.7  $741.6  $774.7          
Depreciation and amortization 278.7   278.2   273.8          
Impairment 9.9   9.9   11.7          
Interest expense 59.6   55.7   42.1          
Income taxes 249.6   227.6   231.4          
EBITDA$1,404.5  $1,313.0  $1,333.7          
                  
Net debt-to-EBITDA 1.0x   0.9x   0.9x          
Total debt-to-EBITDA 1.2x   1.1x   1.1x          
                  
 March 31,
  December 31,
  March 31,
        
Three Months Ended2026  2025  2025        
Cash provided by operations$151.4  $276.1  $64.5          
Less: capital expenditures (64.2)  (73.2)  (86.9)         
Free cash flow$87.2  $202.9  $(22.4)         


Reliance presents certain non‑GAAP measures, including non‑GAAP gross profit, pretax income, net income and earnings per share, to provide meaningful period-to-period comparisons of its operating performance. These non‑GAAP measures reflect adjustments for certain items, including impairment and restructuring charges related to the closure or reorganization of certain locations, non‑recurring settlement charges and credits, and gains on the sale of non‑core property, plant and equipment, which can reduce the comparability of GAAP results across periods. Reliance uses first‑in, first‑out (“FIFO”) gross profit, margin, and other FIFO-based performance measures to assess its ongoing performance and provide a basis for comparison with competitors that do not use the last-in, last-out (“LIFO”) inventory accounting method. See footnote 1 for additional information regarding the Company’s gross profit and gross profit margin. In addition, Reliance presents net debt‑to‑EBITDA and total debt‑to‑EBITDA as measures of leverage used by management to monitor debt levels relative to operating performance, for which EBITDA is used as a proxy. Free cash flow is presented as a measure of cash generated by operations that may be used to repay scheduled debt maturities, fund additional growth initiatives, or be returned to stockholders.

Footnotes
1 Gross profit (calculated as net sales less cost of sales) and gross profit margin (calculated as gross profit divided by net sales) are non-GAAP financial measures as they exclude depreciation and amortization expense associated with the corresponding sales. About half of Reliance's orders are basic distribution with no processing services performed. For the remainder of its sales orders, Reliance performs “first-stage” processing, which is generally not labor intensive as it is simply cutting the metal to size. Because of this, the amount of related labor and overhead, including depreciation and amortization, is not significant and is excluded from cost of sales. Therefore, Reliance’s cost of sales is substantially comprised of the cost of the material it sells. Reliance uses gross profit and gross profit margin, as shown, as measures of operating performance. Gross profit and gross profit margin are important operating and financial measures, as their fluctuations can have a significant impact on Reliance's earnings. Gross profit and gross profit margin, as presented, are not necessarily comparable with similarly titled measures for other companies.
2 See accompanying Non-GAAP Reconciliation.

FAQ

How did Reliance, Inc. (RS) perform financially in Q1 2026?

Reliance reported net sales of $4.03 billion, up 15.5% year-over-year, and net income attributable to Reliance of $264.9 million. Diluted EPS was $5.10, while non‑GAAP diluted EPS reached $5.16, reflecting 36.9% year-over-year growth on stronger volumes and pricing.

What margins did Reliance, Inc. (RS) achieve in Q1 2026?

Reliance generated GAAP gross profit of $1.17 billion with a gross profit margin of 29.1%. Non‑GAAP FIFO gross profit was $1.21 billion, yielding a non‑GAAP FIFO gross profit margin of 30.1%. Pretax income margin was 8.7%, and non‑GAAP pretax income margin was 8.8%.

What major government contracts did Reliance, Inc. (RS) secure?

Subsidiary AMI won a DHS border wall contract with a total maximum estimated value of up to $2.24 billion and an IDIQ contract for Joint Strike Fighter aluminum plate worth up to $654 million. Border wall Phase 1 is expected to generate about $1.4 billion of sales through mid‑2027.

How much cash flow and leverage did Reliance, Inc. (RS) report?

Reliance generated $151.4 million of cash provided by operations in Q1 2026 and free cash flow of $87.2 million. It ended the quarter with $249.7 million in cash, total debt of $1.7 billion, net debt of $1.44 billion, and a net debt‑to‑EBITDA ratio of 1.0x.

What capital returns did Reliance, Inc. (RS) provide in Q1 2026?

In Q1 2026, Reliance returned approximately $301 million to stockholders, including $67 million of dividends and $234 million of share repurchases at an average price of about $299 per share. The quarterly dividend was increased to $1.25 per share, or $5.00 annualized.

What guidance did Reliance, Inc. (RS) give for Q2 2026?

Reliance expects tons sold to increase 1.0–3.0% sequentially and average selling price per ton to rise 1.5–3.5%. The company anticipates non‑GAAP diluted EPS of $5.15–$5.35, implying approximately 16–21% year-over-year growth and including $0.54 per share of LIFO expense.

How did Reliance, Inc. (RS) perform versus industry shipments?

Reliance’s record quarterly tons sold increased 2.7% year-over-year, while the Metals Service Center Institute reported an industry-wide shipment decrease of 5.1%. This means Reliance outperformed industry shipment trends by nearly 8 percentage points and has beaten MSCI year-over-year shipment results for 13 straight quarters.

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