Select Water (NYSE: WTTR) lifts margins and guidance on Q1 2026 results
Select Water Solutions reported stronger first-quarter 2026 results, with revenue of $366.0 million versus $346.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 and $374.4 million a year earlier. Net income was $9.4 million, reversing a $2.1 million loss in the prior quarter and roughly matching $9.6 million in the prior-year quarter.
Gross margin improved to 17.8% from 13.1% sequentially, while Adjusted EBITDA rose to $77.6 million from $64.2 million. Water Infrastructure delivered record revenue of $96.7 million and management raised its 2026 Water Infrastructure growth outlook to 25–30% year-over-year. Cash from operations was $10.2 million, free cash flow was negative $67.1 million on $78.4 million of capital spending, and liquidity reached $307.7 million, helped by $191.7 million of net proceeds from an underwritten Class A share offering and $70.0 million of debt repayments.
Positive
- Profitability and margins strengthened materially, with Q1 2026 Adjusted EBITDA rising to $77.6 million from $64.2 million sequentially and total gross margin improving to 17.8% from 13.1%, reflecting better performance across Water Infrastructure, Water Services and Chemical Technologies.
- Water Infrastructure delivered record revenue and higher growth outlook, generating $96.7 million of segment revenue and prompting management to raise full-year 2026 segment growth guidance to 25–30% year-over-year, supported by new long-term contracts and Northern Delaware infrastructure additions.
- Liquidity and balance sheet flexibility improved, as total liquidity increased to $307.7 million by March 31, 2026, aided by $191.7 million of net proceeds from an underwritten Class A share offering and $70.0 million of debt repayments under the sustainability-linked credit facility.
Negative
- Free cash flow was significantly negative, at $(67.1) million in Q1 2026, driven by $78.4 million of capital expenditures and a $61.7 million working capital build, and management now expects 2026 net capital expenditures to rise to $200–$250 million.
- Growth is accompanied by equity issuance and higher share count, as the company completed an underwritten public offering of Class A shares generating $191.7 million of net proceeds, contributing to 121,847,518 Class A shares outstanding as of March 31, 2026.
Insights
Q1 showed margin-led growth, record infrastructure revenue and a stronger balance sheet, offset by heavy capex and negative free cash flow.
Select Water Solutions grew Q1 2026 revenue to $366.0 million, up 6% sequentially, and turned a prior-quarter loss into $9.4 million of net income. Gross margin expanded to 17.8%, and Adjusted EBITDA climbed to $77.6 million from $64.2 million, indicating stronger profitability across segments.
The Water Infrastructure segment was the standout, with record revenue of $96.7 million and gross margin before D&A of 56.2%. Management raised 2026 Water Infrastructure growth guidance to 25–30% year-over-year and detailed new long-term contracts and acquisitions in the Permian, Bakken, MidCon and Northeast regions that support long-lived, contracted volumes.
Cash flow was the main trade-off. Operating cash flow was $10.2 million, but free cash flow was negative $67.1 million due to $78.4 million of capital expenditures and infrastructure spending expected to reach $200–$250 million in 2026. An underwritten Class A share offering provided $191.7 million of net proceeds, boosting total liquidity to $307.7 million and allowing repayment of $70.0 million on the sustainability-linked credit facility.
8-K Event Classification
Key Figures
Key Terms
Adjusted EBITDA financial
free cash flow financial
sustainability-linked credit facility financial
minimum volume commitments financial
right-of-first-refusal financial
non-GAAP financial measures financial
Earnings Snapshot
Company anticipates Q2 2026 Adjusted EBITDA of $77–$80 million and raised Water Infrastructure 2026 year-over-year growth guidance to 25–30%.
FAQ
How did Select Water Solutions (WTTR) perform financially in Q1 2026?
What were the key segment results for Select Water Solutions in Q1 2026?
What guidance did Select Water Solutions give for Water Infrastructure growth?
How is Select Water Solutions’ cash flow and capital spending trending?
What is Select Water Solutions’ liquidity and debt position after Q1 2026?
Did Select Water Solutions issue new equity in Q1 2026?
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
|
|
|
|
|
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
|
(Commission
File Number)
|
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
|
|
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))
|
|
Title of each class
|
Ticker symbol(s)
|
Name of each exchange on which
registered
|
||
|
|
|
New York Stock Exchange
|
|
Exhibit No.
|
Description
|
|
|
99.1
|
Press Release, dated May 5, 2026.
|
|
|
104
|
Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).
|
|
SELECT WATER SOLUTIONS, INC.
|
||
|
By:
|
/s/ Christopher K. George
|
|
|
Christopher K. George
|
||
|
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
|
||
|
![]() |
|
|
Contacts:
|
Select Water Solutions, Inc.
|
|
|
Garrett Williams – VP, Corporate Finance & Investor
|
||
|
Relations
|
||
|
(713) 296-1010
|
||
|
IR@selectwater.com
|
||
|
|
||
|
Dennard Lascar Investor Relations
|
||
|
Ken Dennard / Natalie Hairston
|
||
|
(713) 529-6600
|
||
|
WTTR@dennardlascar.com
|
||
|
Three months ended,
|
||||||||||||
|
Mar 31, 2026
|
Dec 31, 2025
|
Mar 31, 2025
|
||||||||||
|
Revenue
|
||||||||||||
|
Water Infrastructure
|
$
|
96,736
|
$
|
81,188
|
$
|
72,391
|
||||||
|
Water Services
|
191,231
|
178,340
|
225,648
|
|||||||||
|
Chemical Technologies
|
77,991
|
86,974
|
76,345
|
|||||||||
|
Total revenue
|
365,958
|
346,502
|
374,384
|
|||||||||
|
Costs of revenue
|
||||||||||||
|
Water Infrastructure
|
42,352
|
37,272
|
33,493
|
|||||||||
|
Water Services
|
149,454
|
143,400
|
181,718
|
|||||||||
|
Chemical Technologies
|
63,130
|
69,319
|
64,728
|
|||||||||
|
Depreciation, amortization and accretion
|
45,742
|
51,190
|
38,675
|
|||||||||
|
Total costs of revenue
|
300,678
|
301,181
|
318,614
|
|||||||||
|
Gross profit
|
65,280
|
45,321
|
55,770
|
|||||||||
|
Operating expenses
|
||||||||||||
|
Selling, general and administrative
|
40,551
|
43,275
|
37,432
|
|||||||||
|
Depreciation, amortization and accretion
|
1,121
|
1,168
|
925
|
|||||||||
|
Impairments and abandonments
|
5,708
|
1,317
|
1,148
|
|||||||||
|
Lease abandonment costs
|
(68
|
)
|
(51
|
)
|
724
|
|||||||
|
Total operating expenses
|
47,312
|
45,709
|
40,229
|
|||||||||
|
Income from operations
|
17,968
|
(388
|
)
|
15,541
|
||||||||
|
Other income (expense)
|
||||||||||||
|
Gain (loss) on sales of property and equipment and divestitures, net
|
405
|
(130
|
)
|
1,365
|
||||||||
|
Interest expense, net
|
(5,907
|
)
|
(6,697
|
)
|
(4,876
|
)
|
||||||
|
Tax receivable agreements expense
|
—
|
(4,995
|
)
|
—
|
||||||||
|
Other
|
(311
|
)
|
715
|
329
|
||||||||
|
Income (loss) before income tax (expense) benefit and equity in (losses) earnings of unconsolidated
entities
|
12,155
|
(11,495
|
)
|
12,359
|
||||||||
|
Income tax (expense) benefit
|
(2,433
|
)
|
9,457
|
(2,894
|
)
|
|||||||
|
Equity in (losses) earnings of unconsolidated entities
|
(290
|
)
|
(20
|
)
|
95
|
|||||||
|
Net income (loss)
|
9,432
|
(2,058
|
)
|
9,560
|
||||||||
|
Less: net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
|
(826
|
)
|
1,712
|
(1,321
|
)
|
|||||||
|
Net income (loss) attributable to Select Water Solutions, Inc.
|
$
|
8,606
|
$
|
(346
|
)
|
$
|
8,239
|
|||||
|
Weighted average shares outstanding
|
||||||||||||
|
Class A—Basic
|
110,145,655
|
102,585,084
|
100,790,931
|
|||||||||
|
Class B—Basic
|
16,221,101
|
16,221,101
|
16,221,101
|
|||||||||
|
Net income (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders:
|
||||||||||||
|
Class A—Basic
|
$
|
0.08
|
$
|
(0.00
|
)
|
$
|
0.08
|
|||||
|
Class B—Basic
|
$
|
—
|
$
|
—
|
$
|
—
|
||||||
|
Weighted average shares outstanding
|
||||||||||||
|
Class A—Diluted
|
112,530,858
|
102,585,084
|
103,313,924
|
|||||||||
|
Class B—Diluted
|
16,221,101
|
16,221,101
|
16,221,101
|
|||||||||
|
Net income (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders:
|
||||||||||||
|
Class A—Diluted
|
$
|
0.08
|
$
|
(0.00
|
)
|
$
|
0.08
|
|||||
|
Class B—Diluted
|
$
|
—
|
$
|
—
|
$
|
—
|
||||||
|
March 31, 2026
|
December 31, 2025
|
March 31, 2025
|
||||||||||
|
Assets
|
||||||||||||
|
Current assets
|
||||||||||||
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
$
|
55,970
|
$
|
18,084
|
$
|
27,892
|
||||||
|
Accounts receivable trade, net of allowance for credit losses
|
317,748
|
263,965
|
338,129
|
|||||||||
|
Accounts receivable, related parties
|
22
|
63
|
194
|
|||||||||
|
Inventories
|
37,313
|
34,278
|
40,795
|
|||||||||
|
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
|
33,357
|
37,996
|
50,840
|
|||||||||
|
Total current assets
|
444,410
|
354,386
|
457,850
|
|||||||||
|
Property and equipment
|
1,672,966
|
1,629,406
|
1,471,791
|
|||||||||
|
Accumulated depreciation
|
(736,935
|
)
|
(717,223
|
)
|
(704,300
|
)
|
||||||
|
Total property and equipment, net
|
936,031
|
912,183
|
767,491
|
|||||||||
|
Right-of-use assets, net
|
32,195
|
28,708
|
33,511
|
|||||||||
|
Goodwill
|
48,485
|
48,485
|
18,215
|
|||||||||
|
Other intangible assets, net
|
101,999
|
106,204
|
119,337
|
|||||||||
|
Deferred tax assets, net
|
48,337
|
48,881
|
43,851
|
|||||||||
|
Investments in unconsolidated entities
|
77,709
|
78,234
|
83,501
|
|||||||||
|
Other long-term assets
|
17,709
|
18,531
|
21,455
|
|||||||||
|
Total assets
|
$
|
1,706,875
|
$
|
1,595,612
|
$
|
1,545,211
|
||||||
|
Liabilities and Equity
|
||||||||||||
|
Current liabilities
|
||||||||||||
|
Accounts payable
|
$
|
55,065
|
$
|
49,682
|
$
|
44,996
|
||||||
|
Accrued accounts payable
|
36,846
|
46,275
|
111,144
|
|||||||||
|
Accounts payable and accrued expenses, related parties
|
3,583
|
3,634
|
5,904
|
|||||||||
|
Accrued salaries and benefits
|
15,772
|
17,702
|
15,345
|
|||||||||
|
Accrued insurance
|
18,722
|
22,272
|
21,698
|
|||||||||
|
Sales tax payable
|
3,142
|
2,435
|
2,139
|
|||||||||
|
Current portion of tax receivable agreements liabilities
|
—
|
—
|
17
|
|||||||||
|
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
|
36,573
|
37,549
|
32,338
|
|||||||||
|
Current operating lease liabilities
|
14,343
|
14,247
|
15,814
|
|||||||||
|
Current portion of long-term debt
|
46,875
|
31,250
|
—
|
|||||||||
|
Current portion of finance lease obligations
|
655
|
650
|
490
|
|||||||||
|
Total current liabilities
|
231,576
|
225,696
|
249,885
|
|||||||||
|
Long-term tax receivable agreements liabilities
|
43,421
|
43,421
|
38,409
|
|||||||||
|
Long-term operating lease liabilities
|
23,724
|
21,533
|
27,952
|
|||||||||
|
Long-term debt, net of deferred debt issuance costs
|
199,645
|
285,043
|
245,888
|
|||||||||
|
Other long-term liabilities
|
88,876
|
92,852
|
66,128
|
|||||||||
|
Total liabilities
|
587,242
|
668,545
|
628,262
|
|||||||||
|
Commitments and contingencies
|
||||||||||||
|
Class A common stock, $0.01 par value
|
1,218
|
1,049
|
1,039
|
|||||||||
|
Class B common stock, $0.01 par value
|
162
|
162
|
162
|
|||||||||
|
Additional paid-in capital
|
1,166,419
|
989,329
|
989,785
|
|||||||||
|
Accumulated deficit
|
(176,318
|
)
|
(184,924
|
)
|
(197,908
|
)
|
||||||
|
Total stockholders’ equity
|
991,481
|
805,616
|
793,078
|
|||||||||
|
Noncontrolling interests
|
128,152
|
121,451
|
123,871
|
|||||||||
|
Total equity
|
1,119,633
|
927,067
|
916,949
|
|||||||||
|
Total liabilities and equity
|
$
|
1,706,875
|
$
|
1,595,612
|
$
|
1,545,211
|
||||||
|
Three months ended
|
||||||||||||
|
March 31, 2026
|
December 31, 2025
|
March 31, 2025
|
||||||||||
|
Cash flows from operating activities
|
||||||||||||
|
Net income (loss)
|
$
|
9,432
|
$
|
(2,058
|
)
|
$
|
9,560
|
|||||
|
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
|
||||||||||||
|
Depreciation, amortization and accretion
|
46,863
|
52,358
|
39,600
|
|||||||||
|
Deferred tax expense (benefit)
|
2,394
|
(8,782
|
)
|
2,486
|
||||||||
|
Tax receivable agreements expense
|
—
|
4,995
|
—
|
|||||||||
|
(Gain) loss on disposal of property and equipment and divestitures
|
(405
|
)
|
130
|
(1,365
|
)
|
|||||||
|
Equity in losses (earnings) of unconsolidated entities
|
290
|
20
|
(95
|
)
|
||||||||
|
Credit loss expense (recovery)
|
737
|
(135
|
)
|
514
|
||||||||
|
Amortization and write off of debt issuance costs
|
413
|
413
|
998
|
|||||||||
|
Inventory adjustments
|
98
|
23
|
(40
|
)
|
||||||||
|
Equity-based compensation
|
5,825
|
5,798
|
3,481
|
|||||||||
|
Impairments and abandonments
|
5,708
|
1,317
|
1,148
|
|||||||||
|
Other operating items, net
|
598
|
669
|
487
|
|||||||||
|
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
|
||||||||||||
|
Accounts receivable
|
(54,479
|
)
|
13,098
|
(57,117
|
)
|
|||||||
|
Prepaid expenses and other assets
|
2,100
|
13,576
|
(8,666
|
)
|
||||||||
|
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
|
(9,332
|
)
|
(15,970
|
)
|
3,948
|
|||||||
|
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
|
10,242
|
65,452
|
(5,061
|
)
|
||||||||
|
Cash flows from investing activities
|
||||||||||||
|
Purchase of property and equipment
|
(78,377
|
)
|
(71,499
|
)
|
(48,427
|
)
|
||||||
|
Purchase of equity-method investments
|
—
|
—
|
(72,059
|
)
|
||||||||
|
Acquisitions, net of cash received
|
(210
|
)
|
(1,251
|
)
|
(13,980
|
)
|
||||||
|
Proceeds received from sales of property and equipment
|
1,056
|
1,494
|
1,944
|
|||||||||
|
Net cash used in investing activities
|
(77,531
|
)
|
(71,256
|
)
|
(132,522
|
)
|
||||||
|
Cash flows from financing activities
|
||||||||||||
|
Borrowings from revolving line of credit
|
43,500
|
26,500
|
40,000
|
|||||||||
|
Payments on revolving line of credit
|
(113,500
|
)
|
(11,500
|
)
|
(125,000
|
)
|
||||||
|
Borrowings from long-term debt
|
—
|
—
|
250,000
|
|||||||||
|
Payments of finance lease obligations
|
(158
|
)
|
(159
|
)
|
(89
|
)
|
||||||
|
Payments of debt issuance costs
|
—
|
—
|
(7,352
|
)
|
||||||||
|
Net proceeds from underwritten offering
|
191,705
|
—
|
—
|
|||||||||
|
Dividends and distributions paid
|
(8,752
|
)
|
(8,405
|
)
|
(8,567
|
)
|
||||||
|
Payments under tax receivable agreement
|
—
|
—
|
(77
|
)
|
||||||||
|
Contributions from noncontrolling interests
|
—
|
—
|
2,875
|
|||||||||
|
Repurchase of common stock
|
(7,618
|
)
|
(377
|
)
|
(6,291
|
)
|
||||||
|
Net cash provided by financing activities
|
105,177
|
6,059
|
145,499
|
|||||||||
|
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
|
(2
|
)
|
1
|
(2
|
)
|
|||||||
|
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
|
37,886
|
256
|
7,914
|
|||||||||
|
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
|
18,084
|
17,828
|
19,978
|
|||||||||
|
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
|
$
|
55,970
|
$
|
18,084
|
$
|
27,892
|
||||||
|
Three months ended
|
||||||||||||
|
March 31, 2026
|
December 31, 2025
|
March 31, 2025
|
||||||||||
|
(unaudited) (in thousands)
|
||||||||||||
|
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
|
$
|
10,242
|
$
|
65,452
|
$
|
(5,061
|
)
|
|||||
|
Purchase of property and equipment
|
(78,377
|
)
|
(71,499
|
)
|
(48,427
|
)
|
||||||
|
Proceeds received from sale of property and equipment
|
1,056
|
1,494
|
1,944
|
|||||||||
|
Free cash flow
|
$
|
(67,079
|
)
|
$
|
(4,553
|
)
|
$
|
(51,544
|
)
|
|||
|
Three months ended,
|
||||||||||||
|
March 31, 2026
|
December 31, 2025
|
March 31, 2025
|
||||||||||
|
(unaudited) (in thousands)
|
||||||||||||
|
Net income (loss)
|
$
|
9,432
|
$
|
(2,058
|
)
|
$
|
9,560
|
|||||
|
Interest expense, net
|
5,907
|
6,697
|
4,876
|
|||||||||
|
Income tax expense (benefit)
|
2,433
|
(9,457
|
)
|
2,894
|
||||||||
|
Depreciation, amortization and accretion
|
46,863
|
52,358
|
39,600
|
|||||||||
|
EBITDA
|
64,635
|
47,540
|
56,930
|
|||||||||
|
Tax receivable agreements expense
|
—
|
4,995
|
—
|
|||||||||
|
Impairments and abandonments
|
5,708
|
1,317
|
1,148
|
|||||||||
|
Non-cash loss on sale of assets or subsidiaries
|
42
|
87
|
173
|
|||||||||
|
Non-cash compensation expenses
|
6,020
|
5,798
|
3,481
|
|||||||||
|
Transaction costs
|
327
|
3,779
|
1,183
|
|||||||||
|
Lease abandonment costs
|
(68
|
)
|
(51
|
)
|
724
|
|||||||
|
Other non-recurring charges
|
670
|
672
|
487
|
|||||||||
|
Equity in losses (earnings) of unconsolidated entities
|
290
|
20
|
(95
|
)
|
||||||||
|
Adjusted EBITDA
|
$
|
77,624
|
$
|
64,157
|
$
|
64,031
|
||||||
|
Three months ended,
|
||||||||||||
|
March 31, 2026
|
December 31, 2025
|
March 31, 2025
|
||||||||||
|
(unaudited) (in thousands)
|
||||||||||||
|
Gross profit by segment
|
||||||||||||
|
Water Infrastructure
|
$
|
26,338
|
$
|
10,970
|
$
|
19,101
|
||||||
|
Water Services
|
25,865
|
18,369
|
26,765
|
|||||||||
|
Chemical technologies
|
13,077
|
15,982
|
9,904
|
|||||||||
|
As reported gross profit
|
65,280
|
45,321
|
55,770
|
|||||||||
|
Plus D&A
|
||||||||||||
|
Water Infrastructure
|
28,046
|
32,946
|
19,797
|
|||||||||
|
Water Services
|
15,912
|
16,571
|
17,165
|
|||||||||
|
Chemical technologies
|
1,784
|
1,673
|
1,713
|
|||||||||
|
Total D&A
|
45,742
|
51,190
|
38,675
|
|||||||||
|
Gross profit before D&A
|
$
|
111,022
|
$
|
96,511
|
$
|
94,445
|
||||||
|
Gross profit before D&A by segment
|
||||||||||||
|
Water Infrastructure
|
54,384
|
43,916
|
38,898
|
|||||||||
|
Water Services
|
41,777
|
34,940
|
43,930
|
|||||||||
|
Chemical technologies
|
14,861
|
17,655
|
11,617
|
|||||||||
|
Total gross profit before D&A
|
$
|
111,022
|
$
|
96,511
|
$
|
94,445
|
||||||
|
Gross margin before D&A by segment
|
||||||||||||
|
Water Infrastructure
|
56.2
|
%
|
54.1
|
%
|
53.7
|
%
|
||||||
|
Water Services
|
21.8
|
%
|
19.6
|
%
|
19.5
|
%
|
||||||
|
Chemical technologies
|
19.1
|
%
|
20.3
|
%
|
15.2
|
%
|
||||||
|
Total gross margin before D&A
|
30.3
|
%
|
27.9
|
%
|
25.2
|
%
|
||||||
