Ascent Industries Reports Second Quarter 2026 Results; Year-Over-Year Net Sales Increase 37.6% and Adjusted EBITDA Improves by $1.8 Million
SCHAUMBURG, Ill.--( BUSINESS WIRE)--Ascent Industries Co. (Nasdaq: ACNT) (“Ascent” or the “Company”), a specialty chemicals platform delivering differentiated, performance-driven chemical solutions, is reporting its results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026.
Second Quarter 2026 Summary 1
(in millions, except per share and margin)
Q2 2026
Q2 2025
Change
Net Sales
$25.7
$18.7
37.6%
Gross Profit
$5.5
$4.9
14.0%
Gross Profit Margin
21.6%
26.1%
-447bps
Net Income (Loss)
$0.7
$(2.4)
127.4%
Diluted Income (Loss) per Share
$0.07
$(0.25)
129.3%
Adjusted EBITDA
$1.5
$(0.3)
+$1.8M
Adjusted EBITDA Margin
5.7%
(1.8)%
+745bps
1On May 4, 2026, the Company closed on a transaction to acquire substantially all of the assets of Midwest Graphic Sales, Inc and Sigma Coatings, Inc. (together "Midwest"). The second quarter of 2026 included $1.9 million in net sales, no net income and $0.3 million in Adjusted EBITDA from the acquisition of Midwest.
Management Commentary
“The second quarter was one of the strongest in our recent history, reflecting continued improvement across the business,” said J. Bryan Kitchen, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ascent Industries Co. “Sequentially, legacy net sales increased approximately 22% and gross margin expanded approximately 710 basis points, while volume, average selling price, gross profit and Adjusted EBITDA also improved. Despite a specialty chemicals market that remains soft, year over year net sales increased approximately 28%, total gross profit increased 14%, and Adjusted EBITDA improved by $1.8 million. On a trailing-twelve-month basis, the company saw record highs for volume, net sales, gross profit and Adjusted EBITDA from Continuing Operations.”
"The sequential improvement in gross margin demonstrates that our optimization initiatives are beginning to translate growth into stronger earnings," Kitchen added. "Although gross margin remains below both the prior-year level and our long-term expectations, our priorities remain unchanged. Commercial execution is creating profitable growth opportunities, while our operations teams apply the same standardize, simplify and optimize playbook that transformed our operating foundation over the past two years. Growth creates the opportunity. Optimization converts that opportunity into earnings. As reported last quarter, our platform-wide optimization initiative remains on track to achieve a run-rate improvement of approximately $3 million to $5 million in annualized gross profit improvement by the end of 2026. As we continue to grow, each operational improvement expands the earnings power of the platform and compounds long-term shareholder returns."
“The successful integration of the Midwest Graphic Sales acquisition further reinforces our disciplined acquisition strategy,” Kitchen continued. “In the first two months since we closed, the business performed in line with our expectations, positively contributing to gross profit and Adjusted EBITDA. Back-office integration was completed a full quarter ahead of our original commitment, the manufacturing transition remains on schedule, and our teams are already developing opportunities beyond the original underwriting case. We are building a combined business that is more capable and more valuable than either company could have become independently.”
Kitchen concluded, “Our strategy remains unchanged. What has changed is the evidence that it is delivering the outcomes we envisioned. Over the past two years, we have systematically improved the quality of our portfolio, strengthened our commercial execution, enhanced our operational excellence and applied disciplined capital allocation. Together, these capabilities are reinforcing one another, creating a higher-quality business capable of delivering consistent growth, higher returns on invested capital and greater long-term shareholder value across market cycles.”
Second Quarter 2026 Financial Results
Net sales from continuing operations were $25.7 million compared to $18.7 million in the second quarter of 2025. The increase was a result of increases in volume and average selling prices.
Gross profit from continuing operations increased 14.0% to $5.5 million, or 21.6% of net sales, compared to $4.9 million, or 26.1% of net sales, in the second quarter of 2025. The increase in dollars was primarily driven by increases in cost recovery in the period due to increased production, reductions in utilities, and repairs and maintenance partially offset by increases in labor and overhead.
Net income from continuing operations increased to $0.7 million compared to a net loss of ($2.4) million in the second quarter of 2025. Diluted earnings per share increased to $0.07 in the second quarter of 2026 compared to a diluted loss per share of ($0.25) in the second quarter of 2025.
Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations increased to $1.5 million in the second quarter of 2026, with adjusted EBITDA margin increasing to 5.7% compared to (1.8)% in the prior year period. The increase was primarily driven by the aforementioned increase in gross profit as well as reductions in SG&A in the current year.
Liquidity
As of June 30, 2026, the Company had $28.1 million in cash and cash equivalents, no debt outstanding under its revolving credit facilities and had $17.9 million in availability under its revolving credit facility.
For the quarter ended June 30, 2026, the Company repurchased 209,868 shares at an average cost of $13.80 per share for approximately $2.9 million.
Conference Call
Ascent will hold a conference call today at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time to discuss its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026.
Ascent management will host the conference call, followed by a question-and-answer period.
Date: Tuesday, August 4, 2026
Time: 5:00 p.m. Eastern time
Live Call Registration Link: Here
Webcast Registration Link: Here
Please call the conference telephone number 5-10 minutes prior to the start time. An operator will register your name and organization. If you have any difficulty connecting with the conference call, please contact Investor Relations at 1-630-884-9181.
The conference call will also be broadcast live and available for replay via the webcast registration link above. The webcast will be archived for one year in the investor relations section of the Company’s website at www.ascentco.com.
About Ascent Industries Co.
Ascent Industries Co. (Nasdaq: ACNT) is a specialty chemicals platform delivering differentiated, performance-driven chemical solutions. For more information about Ascent, please visit its website at www.ascentco.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may include "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other applicable federal securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements can be identified through the use of words such as "estimate," "project," "intend," "expect," "believe," "should," "anticipate," "hope," "optimistic," "plan," "outlook," "should," "could," "may" and similar expressions. The forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and to review the risks as set forth in more detail in Ascent Industries Co.’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K, which filings are available from the SEC or on our website. Ascent Industries Co. assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information included in this release.
Non-GAAP Financial Information
Financial statement information included in this earnings release includes non-GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) measures and should be read along with the accompanying tables which provide a reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to GAAP measures.
We define "EBITDA" as earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization. We define "Adjusted EBITDA" as EBITDA further adjusted for the impact of non-cash and other items we do not consider in our evaluation of ongoing performance. These items include: goodwill impairment, asset impairment, gain on lease modification, stock-based compensation, non-cash lease cost, acquisition costs and other fees, shelf registration costs, loss on extinguishment of debt, retention costs and restructuring and severance costs from net income. We caution investors that amounts presented in accordance with our definitions of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similar measures disclosed by other companies because not all companies calculate EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA in the same manner. We present EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA because we consider them to be important supplemental measures of our performance and investors' understanding of our performance is enhanced by including these non-GAAP financial measures as a reasonable basis for comparing our ongoing results of operations.
Ascent Industries Co.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except par value and share data)
(Unaudited)
June 30, 2026
December 31, 2025
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$
28,069
$
57,606
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for credit losses of $119 and $1,004, respectively
18,642
10,040
Advances and other receivables
5,406
5,389
Inventories
10,488
8,742
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
2,115
1,243
Total current assets
64,720
83,020
Property, plant and equipment, net
15,693
15,762
Right-of-use assets, operating leases, net
9,074
9,368
Goodwill
4,735
—
Intangible assets, net
10,008
2,833
Deferred income taxes
279
—
Deferred charges, net
301
401
Other non-current assets, net
1,506
553
Total assets
$
106,316
$
111,937
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable
$
9,125
$
5,490
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
3,689
5,389
Deferred revenue
34
—
Current portion of note payable
997
433
Current portion of operating lease liabilities
754
712
Current portion of finance lease liabilities
340
331
Total current liabilities
14,939
12,355
Long-term portion of operating lease liabilities
11,105
11,496
Long-term portion of finance lease liabilities
635
808
Deferred income taxes
—
241
Other long-term liabilities
41
45
Total non-current liabilities
11,781
12,590
Total liabilities
$
26,720
$
24,945
Commitments and contingencies
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock, par value $1 per share; 24,000,000 shares authorized; 9,009,453 and 9,400,898 shares outstanding as of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively
$
11,085
$
11,085
Capital in excess of par value
47,791
48,276
Retained earnings
44,476
45,786
103,352
105,147
Less: cost of common stock in treasury - 2,075,650 and 1,684,205 shares, respectively
(23,756
)
(18,155
)
Total shareholders' equity
79,596
86,992
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
$
106,316
$
111,937
Note: The condensed consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2025 have been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at that date.
Ascent Industries Co.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss)
($ in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
June 30,
Six Months Ended
June 30,
2026
2025
2026
2025
Net sales
$
25,667
$
18,652
$
45,083
$
36,486
Cost of sales
20,119
13,786
36,723
28,553
Gross profit
5,548
4,866
8,360
7,933
Selling, general and administrative
5,527
6,444
10,650
11,315
Research and development
107
—
170
—
Acquisition costs and other
176
31
177
268
Asset impairments
—
1,622
—
1,622
Gain on lease modification
—
(544
)
—
(544
)
Operating loss from continuing operations
(262
)
(2,687
)
(2,637
)
(4,728
)
Other expense (income)
Interest (income) expense, net
(155
)
(15
)
(448
)
99
Other, net
(176
)
(136
)
(392
)
(285
)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes
69
(2,536
)
(1,797
)
(4,542
)
Income tax benefit
(601
)
(89
)
(487
)
(89
)
Income (loss) from continuing operations
670
(2,447
)
(1,310
)
(4,453
)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax
—
8,733
—
8,446
Net income (loss)
$
670
$
6,286
$
(1,310
)
$
3,993
Net income (loss) per common share from continuing operations:
Basic
$
0.07
$
(0.25
)
$
(0.14
)
$
(0.45
)
Diluted
$
0.07
$
(0.25
)
$
(0.14
)
$
(0.45
)
Net income per common share from discontinued operations:
Basic
$
—
$
0.90
$
—
$
0.85
Diluted
$
—
$
0.90
$
—
$
0.85
Net income (loss) per common share:
Basic
$
0.07
$
0.65
$
(0.14
)
$
0.40
Diluted
$
0.07
$
0.65
$
(0.14
)
$
0.40
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic
9,047
9,751
9,232
9,913
Diluted
9,114
9,751
9,232
9,913
Adjusted EBITDA 1
$
1,451
$
(335
)
$
489
$
(802
)
1We define "EBITDA" as earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization. We define "Adjusted EBITDA" as EBITDA further adjusted for the impact of non-cash and other items we do not consider in our evaluation of ongoing performance. These items include: goodwill impairment, asset impairment, gain on lease modification, stock-based compensation, non-cash lease cost, acquisition costs and other fees, shelf registration costs, loss on extinguishment of debt, retention costs and restructuring and severance costs from net income. We caution investors that amounts presented in accordance with our definitions of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similar measures disclosed by other companies because not all companies calculate EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA in the same manner. We present EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA because we consider them to be important supplemental measures of our performance and investors' understanding of our performance is enhanced by including these non-GAAP financial measures as a reasonable basis for comparing our ongoing results of operations.
Ascent Industries Co.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
($ in thousands)
(Unaudited)
Six Months Ended June 30,
2026
2025
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)
$
(1,310
)
$
3,993
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax
—
8,446
Net loss from continuing operations
(1,310
)
(4,453
)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation expense
1,737
1,870
Amortization expense
490
306
Amortization of debt issuance costs
100
179
Asset impairments
—
1,622
Deferred income taxes
(487
)
(90
)
Reduction of losses on accounts receivable
(961
)
(506
)
Non-cash lease expense
(51
)
(1
)
Stock-based compensation expense
366
222
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable and advances
(6,458
)
(4,908
)
Inventories
(1,134
)
(939
)
Other assets and liabilities
(783
)
(1,937
)
Accounts payable
2,584
(1,712
)
Accrued expenses
(2,006
)
1,387
Accrued income taxes
189
19
Net cash used in operating activities - continuing operations
(7,724
)
(8,941
)
Net cash provided by operating activities - discontinued operations
—
6,845
Net cash used in operating activities
(7,724
)
(2,096
)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment
(1,176
)
(466
)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired
(13,536
)
—
Net cash used in investing activities - continuing operations
(14,712
)
(466
)
Net cash provided by investing activities - discontinued operations
—
54,425
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
(14,712
)
53,959
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings from credit facilities
54,850
89,670
Proceeds from note payable
997
1,085
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
398
—
Payments on credit facilities
(54,850
)
(89,670
)
Payments on note payable
(433
)
(370
)
Principal payments on finance lease obligations
(163
)
(144
)
Repurchase of common stock
(6,850
)
(8,044
)
Net cash used in financing activities - continuing operations
(6,051
)
(7,473
)
Net cash used in financing activities - discontinued operations
—
(19
)
Net cash used in financing activities
(6,051
)
(7,492
)
Increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
(28,487
)
44,371
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period
57,606
16,108
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period
$
29,119
$
60,479
Ascent Industries Co.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciliation
Reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) to Adjusted EBITDA
($ in thousands)
(Unaudited)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
June 30,
Six Months Ended
June 30,
($ in thousands)
2026
2025
2026
2025
Consolidated
Net income (loss) from continuing operations
$
670
$
(2,447
)
$
(1,310
)
$
(4,453
)
Adjustments:
Interest (income) expense, net
(155
)
(15
)
(448
)
99
Income taxes
(601
)
(89
)
(487
)
(89
)
Depreciation
877
893
1,737
1,870
Amortization
373
153
490
306
EBITDA
1,164
(1,505
)
(18
)
(2,267
)
Acquisition costs and other
176
31
177
268
Shelf registration costs
—
—
14
—
Asset impairments
—
1,622
—
1,622
Gain on lease modification
—
(544
)
—
(544
)
Stock-based compensation
137
86
270
120
Non-cash lease expense
(26
)
(25
)
(51
)
(1
)
Restructuring and severance costs
—
—
97
—
Adjusted EBITDA
$
1,451
$
(335
)
$
489
$
(802
)
% sales
5.7
%
(1.8
)%
1.1
%
(2.2
)%
Specialty Chemicals
Net income (loss)
$
656
$
1,499
$
(1,486
)
$
2,237
Adjustments:
Interest expense, net
13
15
25
32
Depreciation
835
878
1,652
1,840
Amortization
373
153
490
306
EBITDA
1,877
2,545
681
4,415
Acquisition costs and other
—
—
—
92
Stock-based compensation
24
—
54
—
Non-cash lease expense
(15
)
(5
)
(30
)
3
Restructuring and severance costs
—
—
38
—
Specialty Chemicals Adjusted EBITDA
$
1,886
$
2,540
$
743
$
4,510
% segment sales
7.3
%
13.6
%
1.6
%
12.4
%