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Stella-Jones Announces First Quarter Results

May 6, 2026 6:00 AM

MONTREAL, May 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stella-Jones Inc. (TSX: SJ) (“Stella-Jones” or the “Company”) today announced financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2026.

“We are pleased with the strong performance of Utility Products, driven by sustained demand for wood utility poles, as we successfully execute on our secured contractual commitments,” said Eric Vachon, President and Chief Executive Officer of Stella-Jones. “Our performance continues to be supported by disciplined operations. As part of our commitment to continuous improvement, we are advancing targeted initiatives across the business, with a current focus on optimizing our Railway Ties production network, enhancing efficiency and supporting future growth. We are also progressing our strategic growth priorities, notably with the finalization of the site selection for our new U.S. steel lattice manufacturing facility. Backed by a solid financial position and the profitable contribution from our recent acquisitions, we are well positioned to continue delivering value to our infrastructure partners and shareholders,” he concluded.

Financial Highlights
(in millions of Canadian dollars, except ratios and per share data)

Three-month periods
ended March 31,
2026 2025
Sales791 773
Gross profit(1)155 168
Gross profit margin(1)19.6%21.7%
Adjusted EBITDA(1)136 141
Adjusted EBITDA margin(1)17.2%18.2%
Net income60 93
Earnings per share (“EPS”) – basic and diluted1.10 1.67
Adjusted EPS – basic and diluted(1)1.12 1.15
As atMarch 31,
2026
December 31,
2025
Net debt-to-adjusted EBITDA(1)2.6x2.6x
(1)These indicated terms have no standardized meaning under GAAP and are not likely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. For more information, please refer to the section entitled “Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures” of this press release for an explanation of the non-GAAP and other financial measures used and presented by the Company and a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures.


First Quarter Results

Sales for the first quarter reached $791 million, versus sales of $773 million in the corresponding period last year. Excluding the impact of 2025 acquisitions of $42 million and the unfavourable currency conversion effect of $30 million, pressure-treated wood sales increased by $10 million, or 1%, largely driven by an increase in wood utility poles volumes. This increase was offset in part by a less favourable product mix for wood utility poles, when compared to the same period last year, and a decline in sales for residential lumber. The decrease in logs and lumber sales compared to the corresponding period last year was largely attributable to less lumber activity.

Pressure-treated wood products:

Logs and lumber:

Gross profit was $155 million in 2026, compared to $168 million in 2025, representing a margin of 19.6% and 21.7% respectively. The decrease reflected a less favourable product mix for wood utility poles, the negative impact of the currency conversion and the impact of a $10 million insurance recovery for business interruption losses recognized in the first quarter of 2025 following a 2023 facility fire, offset in part by the incremental gross profit contribution from 2025 acquisitions.

Operating income for the first quarter of 2026 was $97 million, compared to $143 million in the same period last year. On an adjusted basis, operating income(1) declined to $99 million from $105 million in the prior-year period, as the incremental earnings from the 2025 acquisitions were outweighed by a less favourable product mix for wood utility poles and higher costs. The latter was largely driven by a five million dollars mark-to-market impact of stock-based compensation resulting from the appreciation of the Company's share price. Correspondingly, adjusted EBITDA was $136 million, or 17.2% of sales, compared to $141 million, or 18.2% of sales, in the first quarter of 2025.

Net income for the first quarter of 2026 was $60 million, or $1.10 per share, compared to $93 million, or $1.67 per share, in the same quarter of 2025. On an adjusted basis, net income was $61 million, or $1.12 per share, compared to $64 million, or $1.15 per share, in the first quarter of 2025.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

During the quarter ended March 31, 2026, Stella-Jones used its liquidity to support the seasonal increase in working capital requirements, invest in capital expenditures, and repurchase $15 million of shares. The Company also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.34 per common share totaling $18 million.

During the quarter, the Company finalized the site selection for its new U.S. steel lattice manufacturing facility in Fayetteville, Tennessee. While the project is underway, no capital expenditures were incurred during the first quarter of 2026.

As at March 31, 2026, the Company maintained a healthy financial position. It had available liquidity(2) of $646 million and its net debt-to-adjusted EBITDA stood at 2.6x, reflecting the typical seasonal build in working capital in the first quarter of the year.

(1) This indicated term has no standardized meaning under GAAP and is not likely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. For more information, please refer to the section entitled “Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures” of this press release for an explanation of the non-GAAP and other financial measures used and presented by the Company and a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures.
(2) Sum of cash and cash equivalents and undrawn credit facilities net of outstanding letters of credit and certain guarantees.


Financial Objectives

The financial objectives set for 2026-2028 were included in the Company's press release issued on November 20, 2025, in connection with its 2025 Investor Day. As further described below under the section entitled “Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures” of this press release, beginning in the first quarter of 2026, the Company has elected to make adjustments to the presentation of certain of its non-GAAP financial measures and non-GAAP ratios, including the Company’s EBITDA margin and EPS (basic and diluted), which are now presented as adjusted EBITDA margin and adjusted EPS (basic and diluted), respectively. As a result of such changes, the financial objectives relating to the Company’s EBITDA margin and EPS (basic and diluted) should now be deemed to refer to adjusted EBITDA margin and adjusted EPS (basic and diluted), respectively. The foregoing changes do not impact the underlying objectives, which remain at 17.5-18.5% and > 10% CAGR for the adjusted EBITDA margin and adjusted EPS (basic and diluted), respectively.

Quarterly Dividend

On May 5, 2026, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.34 per common share payable on June 19, 2026 to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 2, 2026. This dividend is designated to be an eligible dividend.

Conference Call

Stella-Jones will hold a conference call to discuss these results on May 6, 2026, at 8:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time (“EDT”). Interested parties can join the call by dialing 1-800 990 2777 (Conference ID 85640). A live audio webcast of the conference call will be available on the Company’s website, on the Investor relations section’s home page or here: https://meetings.lumiconnect.com/400-925-467-567. This recording will be available on Wednesday, May 6, 2026 as of 1:00 PM EDT until 11:59 PM EDT on Wednesday, May 13, 2026.

Annual Meeting of Shareholders

Stella-Jones will hold its Annual Meeting of Shareholders on May 6, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. EDT. Interested parties may attend in-person at: 1250 René-Lévesque Blvd. West, suite 3610, Montréal, Québec or virtually by webcast at: https://meetings.lumiconnect.com/400-859-260-305, entering the password: stella2026 (case-sensitive).

About Stella-Jones

Stella-Jones Inc. (TSX: SJ) is a leading North American manufacturer of products focused on supporting infrastructure essential to the electrical distribution and transmission network, and the operation and maintenance of railway transportation systems. It supplies the continent’s major electrical utility companies with treated wood poles and crossarms, steel lattice towers and steel transmission poles, as well as North America’s Class 1, short line and commercial railroad operators with treated wood railway ties and timbers. It also supports infrastructure with industrial products, namely timbers for railway bridges, crossings and construction, marine and foundation pilings, and coal tar-based products. Additionally, the Company manufactures and distributes premium treated residential lumber and accessories to Canadian and American retailers for outdoor applications, with a significant portion of the business devoted to servicing Canadian customers through its national manufacturing and distribution network.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws (“forward-looking statements”). The words “may”, “could”, “should”, “would”, “assumptions”, “plan”, “strategy”, “believe”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend”, “objective”, the use of the future and conditional tenses, and words and expressions of similar nature are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, among others, statements about our current and future plans, expectations and intentions, results, levels of activity, performance, goals or achievements or any other future events or developments, including the statements relating to the Company's 2026-2028 financial objectives, the Company's targeted initiatives to optimize our production network, including within our Railway Ties business and to enhance efficiency and support future growth and the statements relating to the Company's plans to expand its steel lattice structure business in the U.S. with the construction of a new manufacturing facility. Such statements are based upon a number of estimates and assumptions and are made by the Company in light of the experience of management and their perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors believed to be appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances. However, there can be no assurance that such estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future. Such risks and uncertainties may relate to, among other things, the Company’s dependence on major customers, the availability and cost of raw materials, operational disruption, climate change, reliance on key personnel, information technology, cybersecurity and data protection incidents, global economic conditions, geopolitical uncertainty, the Company’s acquisition strategy, the Company’s future plant expansion, the Company’s ability to raise capital, environmental compliance and litigation, and factors and assumptions referenced herein and in the Company’s continuous disclosure filings. These and other risks and uncertainties related to the business of the Company are described in greater detail in the section entitled “Risks and Uncertainties” of the Company’s management discussion and analysis (MD&A) for the year ended December 31, 2025. Many of these risks are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict. Because of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, readers should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Furthermore, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. This press release reflects information available to the Company as of May 5, 2026. Unless required to do so under applicable securities legislation, the Company’s management does not assume any obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect new information, future events or other changes after the date hereof.

Note to readers: The condensed interim unaudited consolidated financial statements as well as management’s discussion and analysis for the quarter ended March 31, 2026 are available on Stella-Jones’ website at www.stella-jones.com.

Contact

Investor Relations
David Galison
Vice-President, Investor Relations
Tel.: (647) 618-2709
[email protected]
Media
Stephanie Corrente
Director, Corporate Communications
Tel.: (514) 934-8666
[email protected]
Stella-Jones – Head Office
3100 de la Côte-Vertu Blvd., # 300
Saint-Laurent, Québec H4R 2J8
Tel.: (514) 934-8666


Stella-Jones Inc.
Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited)
For the three-month periods ended March 31, 2026 and 2025
______________________________________________________
(in millions of Canadian dollars, except earnings per common share)

2026 2025
Sales791 773
Expenses
Cost of sales (including depreciation and amortization of $34 (2025 - $32))636 605
Selling and administrative (including depreciation and amortization of $5
(2025 - $4))
62 50
Other (gains) losses, net(4)3
Gain on insurance settlement (28)
694 630
Operating income97 143
Financial expenses17 20
Income before income taxes80 123
Income tax expense
Current27 28
Deferred(7)2
20 30
Net income60 93
Basic and diluted earnings per common share1.10 1.67


Stella-Jones Inc.
Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Financial Position
(Unaudited)
______________________________________________________
(in millions of Canadian dollars)

As atAs at
March 31, 2026December 31, 2025
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents9444
Accounts receivable341262
Inventories1,6861,653
Income taxes receivable1119
Other current assets3941
2,1712,019
Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment1,1271,116
Right-of-use assets286288
Intangible assets239243
Goodwill441434
Other non-current assets2217
4,2864,117
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Current liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities180153
Income taxes payable12
Deferred revenue15
Current portion of long-term debt14237
Current portion of lease liabilities6563
Current portion of provisions and other long-term liabilities2420
438273
Non-current liabilities
Long-term debt1,2501,302
Lease liabilities237240
Deferred income taxes213218
Provisions and other long-term liabilities4945
2,1872,078
Shareholders’ equity
Capital stock188187
Contributed surplus45
Retained earnings1,7081,681
Accumulated other comprehensive income199166
2,0992,039
4,2864,117


Stella-Jones Inc.
Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
For the three-month periods ended March 31, 2026 and 2025
______________________________________________________
(in millions of Canadian dollars)

2026 2025
Cash flows from (used in)
Operating activities
Net income 60 93
Adjustments for
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 14 14
Depreciation of right-of-use assets 18 17
Amortization of intangible assets 7 5
Stock-based compensation 9 3
Financial expenses 17 20
Income tax expense 20 30
Gain on insurance settlement (28)
Business interruption insurance recovery (10)
Other (1)(7)
144 137
Changes in non-cash working capital components
Accounts receivable (77)(77)
Inventories (14)(41)
Other current assets (1)3
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 11 (11)
Deferred revenue 15
(66)(126)
Interest paid (23)(25)
Income taxes paid (8)(2)
47 (16)
Financing activities
Net change in revolving credit facilities 50 137
Repayment of long-term debt (9)(36)
Repayment of lease liabilities (17)(17)
Repurchase of common shares (15)(15)
9 69
Investing activities
Acquisition of other investments (4)
Purchase of property, plant and equipment (12)(20)
Property insurance proceeds 2
Additions of intangible assets (1)(2)
(15)(22)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents during the period 41 31
January 1, 2026 opening balance prior to restatement for amendments to IFRS 9 44
Adjustment on adoption for 2025 outstanding cheques on January 1, 2026 9
Cash and cash equivalents – Beginning of period 53 50
Cash and cash equivalents – End of period 94 81


Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures

This section includes information required by National Instrument 52-112 – Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures Disclosure in respect of “specified financial measures” (as defined therein).

The below-described non-GAAP financial measures and non-GAAP ratios, as well as the other financial measures (namely gross profit and gross profit margin, which are presented as supplementary financial measures) have no standardized meaning under GAAP and are not likely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. The Company’s method of calculating these measures may differ from the methods used by others, and, accordingly, the definition of these measures may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. In addition, non-GAAP financial measures, non-GAAP ratios and other financial measures should not be viewed as a substitute for the related financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. Management considers the below-described non-GAAP and specified financial measures to be useful information to assist knowledgeable investors to understand the Company’s financial position, operating results and cash flows as they provide a supplemental measure of its performance.

Beginning in the first quarter of 2026, the Company has elected to make adjustments to the presentation of certain of its non-GAAP financial measures and non-GAAP ratios. As a result, operating income, operating income margin, EBITDA, EBITDA margin, net income, EPS (basic and diluted), return on average capital employed and net debt-to-EBITDA are now presented as adjusted operating income, adjusted operating income margin, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted net income, adjusted EPS (basic and diluted), adjusted return on average capital employed (“Adjusted ROCE”) and net debt-to-adjusted EBITDA, respectively. Please refer to the discussion below for the definition of each measure and a reconciliation to the most comparable GAAP measure. In the context of historical events such as the insurance settlement that occurred in 2025 and strategic opportunities and transactions, including acquisitions and restructuring initiatives that occurred or may occur in the future, management believes that such presentation will facilitate the evaluation of the Company’s core operational performance and enhance period-over-period comparability.

Organic sales growth and organic sales growth percentage

The Company uses these non-GAAP measures to analyze the level of activity excluding the effect of acquisitions and the impact of foreign exchange fluctuations, in order to facilitate period-to-period comparisons. Management believes these measures are used by investors and analysts to evaluate the Company's performance.

The following table presents the reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to their most comparable GAAP measures:

(in millions of dollars,
except percentages)
Utility
Products
Railway
Ties
Residential
Lumber
Industrial
Products
Total
Pressure-
Treated
Wood
Logs &
Lumber
Consolidated
Sales
Sales Q1-25419 208 88 39 754 19 773
Acquisitions42 42 42
FX impact(18)(8)(2)(2)(30) (30)
Organic sales growth26 (2)(10)(4)10 (4)6
Sales Q1-26469 198 76 33 776 15 791
Organic sales growth %6%(1%)(11%)(10%)1%(21%)1%


Gross profit and gross profit margin

The Company uses these supplementary financial measures to evaluate its ongoing operational performance.

Adjusted operating income, adjusted operating income margin, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin

The Company uses these non-GAAP measures to evaluate the operational and financial performance. In addition, the Company believes adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin provide investors with useful information because they are common industry measures used by investors and analysts to measure a company’s ability to service debt and meet other payment obligations, or as a common valuation measurement.

The following table presents the reconciliation of above non-GAAP financial measures to their most comparable GAAP measures:

(in millions of dollars)Three-month periods ended March 31,
20262025
Operating income97143
Reconciling items:
Insurance settlement(38)
Gain on insurance settlement(28)
Business interruption insurance recovery(10)
Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles2
Adjusted operating income99105
Depreciation and amortization excluding the amortization of
acquisition-related intangibles
3736
Adjusted EBITDA136141


Adjusted net income and adjusted EPS - basic and diluted

The Company uses these non-GAAP measures to evaluate its ongoing operational performance.
The following table presents the reconciliation of above non-GAAP financial measures to their most comparable GAAP measures:

(in millions of dollars, except per share data)Three-month periods ended March 31,
2026 2025
Net income 60 93
Reconciling items:
Insurance settlement (38)
Gain on insurance settlement (28)
Business interruption insurance recovery (10)
Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles 2
Income taxes related to above items(1) (1) 9
Adjusted net income 61 64
Adjusted EPS- basic and diluted$1.12 $1.15

(1) Calculated using the effective tax rate of the period

Net debt and net debt-to-adjusted EBITDA

The Company believes these non-GAAP measures are indicators of the financial leverage of the Company.

The following table presents the reconciliation of above non-GAAP financial measures to their most comparable GAAP measures:

(in millions of dollars)As at
March 31, 2026
As at
December 31, 2025
Long-term debt, including current portion1,392 1,339
Lease liabilities, including current portion302 303
Cash and cash equivalents(94)(44)
Net debt1,600 1,598
Adjusted EBITDA (TTM)618 623
Net debt-to-adjusted EBITDA2.6x2.6x



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Source: Stella-Jones Inc.

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