Albany International Reports First-Quarter 2026 ResultsApr 30, 2026
Q1 2026 net revenue of $311.3 million, compared to $288.8 million in Q1 2025. Q1 2026 net income attributable to the Company of $15.3 million, or diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.54, compared to net income of $17.4 million, or diluted EPS of $0.56, in the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA of $48.2 million in Q1 2026 and Adjusted EPS per diluted share of $0.60, compared to $55.7 million and $0.73 in Q1 2025. Paid $7.9 million in dividends and invested $9.3 million in capital in the first quarter, continuing its commitment of balanced capital allocation.
PORTSMOUTH, N.H., April 30, 2026--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Albany International Corp. (NYSE:AIN) today reported operating results for its first quarter of 2026, which ended March 31, 2026.
Gunnar Kleveland, Albany International’s President and Chief Executive Officer said, "Over the past year, we have taken steps to de-risk the business by addressing underperforming areas and sharpening our focus on profitable growth. This has driven a strong start to 2026, with results at the top end of our expectations."
Kleveland continued, "Momentum built throughout the first quarter, with a particularly strong finish in March. Machine Clothing was able to recover a significant portion of lost production related to an equipment failure and Engineered Composites delivered solid performance driven by broad based volume growth across both commercial and defense."
Consolidated Results
The Company’s net revenues were $311.3 million in the first quarter of 2026, compared to $288.8 million in the prior year, or $302.1 million on a same currency basis. The increase was primarily driven by higher volume in the Engineered Composites business, partially offset by softness in the Asia markets and downtime related to an equipment failure in the Machine Clothing business.
Gross profit of $99.8 million in the first quarter of 2026 was 3.4% higher than $96.5 million reported for the same period of 2025, as a result of strong sales in the Engineered Composites business.
Selling, general, and administrative expenses were $58.3 million in the first quarter of 2026, compared to $53.8 million in the same period of 2025, driven primarily by increases in personnel costs as well as costs associated with the planned divestiture of the Amelia Earhart facility.
Operating income was $25.4 million, compared to $28.3 million in the prior year, a decrease of 10.2%, driven by higher selling, general, and administrative expenses, which was partially offset by increased gross profit.
The effective tax rate for the quarter was 33.1% compared to a 26.6% effective tax rate in the first quarter of 2025. The increase in tax rate was largely due to an absence of favorable discrete items, including the release of valuation allowances in the prior period.
Story Continues
The net income attributable to the Company was $15.3 million, or $0.54 per share on a basic and diluted basis, compared to $17.4 million, or $0.56 per share in the first quarter of 2025.
Adjusted diluted earnings per share (or Adjusted EPS, a non-GAAP measure) was $0.60 per share, compared to $0.73 per share for the same period of last year.
Adjusted EBITDA (a non-GAAP measure) was $48.2 million, compared to $55.7 million in the first quarter of 2025, a decrease of 13.6%, due to a higher portion of revenue from Engineered Composites, primarily the CH-53K AFT program, which is now booked at zero margin following the actions taken in the third quarter of 2025, and lost leverage on lower volume in Machine Clothing. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 15.5% and 19.3% in the prior year.
Will Station, Albany International’s Chief Financial Officer, said, "Our continued focus on profitable growth is translating into strong results, with revenue up 7.8% year-over-year, marking the second consecutive quarter of solid top-line performance. We expect to see this strength continue as implied by our guidance, though visibility remains limited in certain areas, particularly in Machine Clothing in China."
Machine Clothing
MC's net revenues decreased 8.5% after adjusting for currency translation, primarily driven by weakness in the Asia markets due to overcapacity, partially offset by continued strength in the tissue market globally.
MC’s adjusted EBITDA margin was 25.9%, compared to 28.4% in the first quarter of 2025. The margin decline is primarily impacted by foreign currency impacts related to a weaker U.S. dollar. On a constant currency basis, margins remained stable at 28.2% despite lower volumes, driven by synergies and efficiency gains across the network.
Engineered Composites
AEC's net revenues increased 24.7% after adjusting for currency translation, driven by strength across commercial and defense programs, most notably on the commercial side of AEC within the LEAP program, and on the defense side under the CH-53K and missile programs.
Adjusted EBITDA margin was 11.7%, compared to 13.5% in the first quarter of 2025. The decline in margin was driven by mix, primarily the impact of CH-53K AFT program revenue.
Capital Allocation Balance Sheet
Capital expenditures were $9.3 million, compared to $15.6 million in the first quarter of 2025, and were driven primarily by facility optimizations. Research and development expenses totaled $13.0 million, compared to $11.9 million in the first quarter of 2025, consistent with the Company’s commitment to advancing proprietary technologies and supporting long-term growth in both Machine Clothing and Engineered Composites.
Albany ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $122.6 million and total debt of $476.5 million, resulting in a net debt position of $354.0 million. The Company maintains significant financial flexibility and liquidity to support ongoing investment initiatives while continuing to return capital to shareholders.
Outlook for the Second Quarter of 2026
Consolidated revenue between $335 million and $345 million Machine Clothing revenue between $180 million and $185 million Engineered Composite revenue between $155 million and $160 million Adjusted EPS between $0.70 and $0.80 Second quarter effective tax rate of 31.5%
First-Quarter 2026 Results Conference Call/Webcast
The Company will host a webcast to discuss results at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, April 30, 2026. Interested parties are encouraged to listen to the live webcast via the Company’s Investor Relations website at investors.albint.com or by registering via the link here. The event can also be accessed by dialing +1 (800) 715-9871 and using the access code 2964255.
An archive of the webcast will be available for replay on the website at approximately noon Eastern Time on Thursday, April 30, 2026.
ALBANY INTERNATIONAL CORP. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (in thousands, except per share amounts) (unaudited) Three Months Ended
March 31, 2026 2025 Net revenues $ 311,333 $ 288,774 Cost of goods sold 211,539 192,288 Gross profit 99,794 96,486 Selling, general, and administrative expenses 58,299 53,812 Technical and research expenses 12,957 11,896 Restructuring expenses, net 3,165 2,515 Operating income 25,373 28,263 Interest expense/(income), net 5,467 3,655 Other expense/(income), net (3,193 ) 983 Income before income taxes 23,099 23,625 Income tax expense 7,650 6,276 Net income 15,449 17,349 Net income/(loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interest 168 (6 ) Net income attributable to the Company $ 15,281 $ 17,355 Earnings per share attributable to Company shareholders - Basic $ 0.54 $ 0.56 Earnings per share attributable to Company shareholders - Diluted $ 0.54 $ 0.56 Shares of the Company used in computing earnings per share: Basic 28,321 30,823 Diluted 28,550 30,984 Dividends declared per Class A share $ 0.28 $ 0.27
ALBANY INTERNATIONAL CORP. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands, except share data) March 31, 2026 December 31, 2025 Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 122,557 $ 112,350 Accounts receivable, net 241,639 235,084 Contract assets, net 80,847 87,102 Inventories 139,833 121,589 Income taxes prepaid and receivable 43,877 43,937 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 40,480 34,990 Assets held for sale 294,020 293,783 Total current assets $ 963,253 $ 928,835 Property, plant and equipment, net 471,966 482,568 Intangibles, net 20,443 21,428 Goodwill 161,119 162,507 Deferred income taxes 64,473 68,499 Other assets 55,533 54,872 Total assets $ 1,736,787 $ 1,718,709 Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity Accounts payable $ 75,170 $ 64,499 Accrued liabilities 143,557 139,385 Income taxes payable 22,819 35,090 Liabilities held for sale 197,068 203,323 Total current liabilities 438,614 442,297 Long-term debt 476,541 455,663 Other noncurrent liabilities 83,871 86,850 Deferred income taxes 2,346 1,797 Total liabilities 1,001,372 986,607 Commitments and Contingencies Shareholders' Equity: Class A Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share; authorized 100,000,000 shares; 41,040,745 issued in 2026 and 40,989,106 in 2025 41 41 Additional paid in capital 460,629 460,472 Retained earnings 983,704 976,373 Accumulated items of other comprehensive income: Translation adjustments (124,214 ) (119,008 ) Pension and postretirement liability adjustments (23,327 ) (23,911 ) Derivative valuation adjustment (293 ) (619 ) Treasury stock (Class A), at cost; 12,685,782 shares in 2026 and 12,685,782 in 2025 (567,139 ) (567,139 ) Total shareholders' equity 729,401 726,209 Noncontrolling interest 6,014 5,893 Total equity 735,415 732,102 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 1,736,787 $ 1,718,709
ALBANY INTERNATIONAL CORP. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (in thousands) (unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, 2026 2025 Cash flows from operating activities: Net income $ 15,449 $ 17,349 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation 16,478 19,585 Amortization 651 1,706 Change in deferred taxes 4,025 3,578 Impairment of property, plant and equipment 127 473 Non-cash interest expense 258 256 Compensation and benefits paid or payable in Class A Common Stock 1,460 2,651 Provision/(recovery) for credit losses from uncollected receivables and contract assets (207 ) 269 Foreign currency remeasurement loss/(gain) on intercompany loans (1,865 ) 2,886 Changes in operating assets and liabilities that provided/(used) cash: Accounts receivable (6,831 ) (20,713 ) Contract assets 5,722 11,421 Inventories (18,466 ) (12,873 ) Prepaid expenses and other current assets (5,398 ) (2,624 ) Income taxes prepaid and receivable (64 ) (70 ) Accounts payable 10,893 17,482 Accrued liabilities (2,103 ) (21,164 ) Income taxes payable (12,659 ) (17,080 ) Noncurrent receivables — (200 ) Other noncurrent liabilities (1,594 ) (1,046 ) Other, net (233 ) 233 Net cash provided by operating activities 5,643 2,119 Cash flows from investing activities: Purchases of property, plant and equipment (9,290 ) (15,597 ) Net cash used in investing activities (9,290 ) (15,597 ) Cash flows from financing activities: Proceeds from borrowings 65,000 96,998 Repayment of borrowings (42,000 ) (3,007 ) Purchase of Treasury shares — (69,153 ) Taxes paid in lieu of share issuance (1,303 ) (1,316 ) Dividends paid (7,928 ) (8,431 ) Net cash provided by financing activities 13,769 15,091 Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 85 2,458 Increase in cash and cash equivalents 10,207 4,071 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 112,350 115,283 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 122,557 $ 119,354 Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: Cash paid for interest, net $ 5,779 $ 3,857 Cash paid for income taxes $ 15,904 $ 16,609
The following table presents the reconciliation of Net revenues to net revenues excluding the effect of changes in currency translation rates, a non-GAAP measure:
(in thousands, except percentages) Net revenues as reported, Q1 2026 (Decrease)/ increase due to changes in currency translation rates Q1 2026 revenues on same basis as Q1 2025 currency translation rates Net revenues as reported, Q1 2025 % Change compared to Q1 2025, excluding currency rate effects Machine Clothing $ 165,952 $ 6,143 $ 159,809 $ 174,697 (8.5 )% Albany Engineered Composites 145,381 3,135 142,246 114,077 24.7 % Consolidated total $ 311,333 $ 9,278 $ 302,055 $ 288,774 4.6 %
The following table presents Gross profit and Gross profit margin:
(in thousands, except percentages) Gross profit,
Q1 2026 Gross profit margin, Q1 2026 Gross profit,
Q1 2025 Gross profit margin, Q1 2025 Machine Clothing $ 75,062 45.2 % $ 79,902 45.7 % Albany Engineered Composites 24,732 17.0 % 16,584 14.5 % Consolidated total $ 99,794 32.1 % $ 96,486 33.4 %
Reconciliation of Net income/(loss) (GAAP) to Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) for the current-year and comparable prior-year periods have been calculated as follows.
Three months ended March 31, 2026 (in thousands) Machine Clothing Albany Engineered
Composites Corporate expenses
and other Total Company Net income/(loss) (GAAP) $ 31,952 $ 8,598 $ (25,101 ) $ 15,449 Interest expense/(income), net — — 5,467 5,467 Income tax expense — — 7,650 7,650 Depreciation and amortization expense 8,302 8,787 40 17,129 EBITDA (non-GAAP) 40,254 17,385 (11,944 ) 45,695 Restructuring costs and other 2,676 — 489 3,165 Foreign currency revaluation (gains)/losses (418 ) (216 ) (2,110 ) (2,744 ) Other transition expenses — — 236 236 Strategic/integration costs 521 — 1,518 2,039 Pre-tax loss/(income) attributable to noncontrolling interest — (231 ) — (231 ) Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) $ 43,033 $ 16,938 $ (11,811 ) $ 48,160 Adjusted EBITDA margin (Adjusted EBITDA divided by net revenues) (non-GAAP) 25.9 % 11.7 % — 15.5 %
Three months ended March 31, 2025 (in thousands) Machine Clothing Albany Engineered
Composites Corporate expenses
and other Total Company Net income/(loss) (GAAP) $ 38,431 $ 1,616 $ (22,698 ) $ 17,349 Interest expense/(income), net — — 3,655 3,655 Income tax expense — — 6,276 6,276 Depreciation and amortization expense 7,706 13,295 290 21,291 EBITDA (non-GAAP) 46,137 14,911 (12,477 ) 48,571 Restructuring costs and other 1,603 1,168 — 2,771 Foreign currency revaluation (gains)/losses 1,692 (165 ) 3,059 4,586 Other transition expenses — (440 ) — (440 ) Strategic/integration costs 182 — 40 222 Pre-tax (income) attributable to noncontrolling interest 79 (71 ) — 8 Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) $ 49,693 $ 15,403 $ (9,378 ) $ 55,718 Adjusted EBITDA margin (Adjusted EBITDA divided by net revenues) (non-GAAP) 28.4 % 13.5 % — 19.3 %
The following table presents the reconciliation of Machine Clothing's Adjusted EBITDA Margin to Adjusted EBITDA Margin excluding the effect of changes in currency translation rates, a non-GAAP measure:
(in thousands, except percentages) As reported, Q1 2026 (Decrease)/ increase due to changes in currency translation rates Q1 2026 on same basis as Q1 2025 currency translation rates As reported, Q1 2025 Machine Clothing Net revenues $ 165,952 $ 6,143 $ 159,809 $ 174,697 Machine Clothing Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) 43,033 (2,064 ) 45,097 49,693 Adjusted EBITDA Margin (Adjusted EBITDA divided by net revenues) (non-GAAP) 25.9 % 28.2 % 28.4 %
Per share impact of the adjustments to earnings per share are as follows:
Three months ended March 31, 2026
(in thousands, except per share amounts) Pre tax
Amounts Tax
Effect After tax
Effect Per share
Effect Restructuring costs and other $ 3,165 $ 1,048 $ 2,117 $ 0.07 Foreign currency revaluation (gains)/losses (2,744 ) (908 ) (1,836 ) (0.06 ) Other transition expenses 236 78 158 0.01 Strategic/integration costs 2,039 675 1,364 0.05
Three months ended March 31, 2025
(in thousands, except per share amounts) Pre tax
Amounts Tax
Effect After tax
Effect Per share
Effect Restructuring costs and other $ 2,771 $ 635 $ 2,136 $ 0.07 Foreign currency revaluation (gains)/losses 4,586 1,477 3,109 0.10 Other transition expenses (440 ) (110 ) (330 ) (0.01 ) Strategic/integration costs 222 67 155 0.01
The following table provides a reconciliation of Earnings per share attributable to the Company shareholders - Diluted (GAAP) to Adjusted earnings per share attributable to the Company shareholders - Diluted (non-GAAP):
Three months ended March 31, Per share amounts (Diluted) 2026 2025 Earnings per share attributable to Company shareholders - Diluted (GAAP) $ 0.54 $ 0.56 Adjustments, after tax: Restructuring costs and other 0.07 0.07 Foreign currency revaluation (gains)/losses (0.06 ) 0.10 Other transition expenses 0.01 (0.01 ) Strategic/integration costs 0.05 0.01 Adjusted earnings per share attributable to Company shareholders - Diluted (non-GAAP) $ 0.60 $ 0.73
The calculations of net debt are as follows:
(in thousands) March 31, 2026 December 31, 2025 March 31, 2025 Long-term debt 476,541 455,663 416,429 Total debt 476,541 455,663 416,429 Cash and cash equivalents 122,557 112,350 119,354 Net debt (non-GAAP) $ 353,984 $ 343,313 $ 297,075
Free cash flow is defined as GAAP "Net cash provided by operating activities" in a period less "Purchases of property, plant and equipment" and "Purchased software" in the same period. Management believes free cash flow provides an important perspective on our ability to generate cash from our business operations and, as such, that it is an important financial measure for use in evaluating the Company's financial performance. Management uses free cash flow internally to assess overall liquidity. The following table illustrates the calculation of free cash flow:
Three Months Ended
March 31, 2026 2025 Net cash provided by operating activities $ 5,643 $ 2,119 Purchases of property, plant and equipment (9,290 ) (15,597 ) Free cash flow $ (3,647 ) $ (13,478 )
About Albany International Corp.
Albany International is a leading developer and manufacturer of engineered components, using advanced materials processing and automation capabilities, with two core businesses.
Machine Clothing is the world’s leading producer of custom-designed, consumable belts essential for the manufacture of paper, paperboard, tissue and towel, pulp, non-wovens and a variety of other industrial applications. Albany Engineered Composites is a growing designer and manufacturer of advanced materials-based engineered components for demanding aerospace applications, supporting both commercial and military platforms.
Albany International is headquartered in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, operates 25 facilities in 12 countries, employs approximately 5,700 people worldwide, and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (Symbol AIN). Additional information about the Company and its products and services can be found at www.albint.com.
Basis of Presentation
Certain amounts in prior year financial statements have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation.
Non-GAAP Measures
This release, including the conference call commentary associated with this release, contains certain non-GAAP measures, that should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the related GAAP measures. Such non-GAAP measures include net revenues and percent change in net revenues, excluding the impact of currency translation effects; adjusted net revenues; Adjusted Gross profit/(loss); Adjusted Operating income/(loss);EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted EBITDA margin; Net debt; Net leverage ratio; Adjusted Net Income; and Adjusted Diluted earnings per share (or Adjusted EPS). Management believes that these non-GAAP measures provide additional useful information to investors regarding the Company’s operational performance.
Presenting Net revenues and change in Net revenues, after currency effects are excluded, provides management and investors insight into underlying revenues trends. Net revenues, or percent changes in net revenues, excluding currency rate effects, are calculated by converting amounts reported in local currencies into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate of a prior period. These current year revenues converted at prior year rates are then compared to the U.S. dollar amount as reported in the prior period.
EBITDA (calculated as net income excluding interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization), Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted EPS are performance measures that relate to the Company’s continuing operations. The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA excluding costs or benefits that are not reflective of the Company’s ongoing or expected future operational performance. Such excluded costs or benefits do not consist of normal, recurring cash items necessary to generate revenues or operate our business. Adjusted EBITDA margin represents Adjusted EBITDA expressed as a percentage of net revenues.
Adjusted Net Income is a supplemental measure of our performance that is not required by, or presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The company defines Adjusted Net Income to exclude costs related to the review of strategic alternatives for its structures assembly business, which could include a potential sale of that portion of the business. Such excluded adjustments to profitability to future contracts do not consist of items that are considered normal or recurring in the course of continued business operations.
The Company defines Adjusted EPS as diluted earnings per share (GAAP), adjusted by the after tax per share amount of costs or benefits not reflective of the Company’s ongoing or expected future operational performance. The income tax effects are calculated using the applicable statutory income tax rate of the jurisdictions where such costs or benefits were incurred or the effective tax rate applicable to total company results.
The Company’s Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, Adjusted Net Income, and Adjusted EPS may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.
Net debt aids investors in understanding the Company’s debt position if all available cash were applied to pay down indebtedness.
We encourage investors to review our financial statements and publicly-filed reports in their entirety and not to rely on any single financial measure.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain statements, estimates, guidance or projections that constitute "forward-looking statements" as defined under U.S. federal securities laws. Generally, the words "believe," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "project," "will," "should," "look for," "guidance," "guide," and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, which generally are not historical in nature. Because forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties (including, without limitation, those set forth in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q), actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements in this release or in the webcast include, without limitation, statements about macroeconomic conditions, including inflationary cost pressures, as well as global events, which include but are not limited to geopolitical events; paper-industry trends and conditions during 2026 and in future years; expectations in 2026 and in future periods of revenues, Adjusted Net Revenues, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA (both in dollars and as a percentage of net revenues), Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted EPS, income, gross profit, gross margin, cash flows and other financial items in each of the Company’s businesses, and for the Company as a whole; the timing and impact of production and development programs in the Company’s AEC business segment and the revenues growth potential of key AEC programs, as well as AEC as a whole; the amount and timing of capital expenditures, future tax rates and cash paid for taxes, depreciation and amortization; future debt and net debt levels and debt covenant ratios; and changes in currency rates and their impact on future revaluation gains and losses. Furthermore, a change in any one or more of the foregoing factors could have a material effect on the Company’s financial results in any period. Such statements are based on current expectations, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.
Statements expressing management’s assessments of the growth potential of its businesses, or referring to earlier assessments of such potential, are not intended as forecasts of actual future growth, and should not be relied on as such. While management believes such assessments to have a reasonable basis, such assessments are, by their nature, inherently uncertain. This release and earlier releases set forth a number of assumptions regarding these assessments, including historical results, independent forecasts regarding the markets in which these businesses operate, and the timing and magnitude of orders for our customers’ products. Historical growth rates are no guarantee of future growth, and such independent forecasts and assumptions could prove materially incorrect in some cases.
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Contacts
Investor Contact
Karen Blomquist
Director, Investor Relations
Tel +1 603.330.2461
EMAILKaren.Blomquist@albint.com
Media Contact
Sheri Tripp
Senior Manager, Corporate Communications and Marketing
Tel +1 603.330.8317 EMAILSheri.Tripp@albint.com
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