Garrett Motion Beats EPS but Misses Revenue; Raises 2026 Outlook as Shares Slip 1.4% After Hours
Garrett Motion (NASDAQ:GTX) posted a stellar GAAP EPS of $2.53 for Q1 2026, crushing the $0.41 consensus by $2.62, but revenue of $985 million fell short of the $914.4 million forecast. The company lifted its full‑year 2026 outlook on the back of new turbo and e‑powertrain wins, yet the stock slipped 1.41% to $25.25 in after‑hours trading.
Earnings Highlights
- GAAP EPS: $2.53 vs. $0.41 estimate (beat by $2.62).
- Non‑GAAP EPS: $3.03, also well above expectations.
- Revenue: $985 million, up 12% YoY but $58 million below the $1.02 billion consensus.
- Margins: Gross margin slipped to 19.9% from 20.4% a year ago; Adjusted EBIT margin expanded to 15.3% on $151 million of Adjusted EBIT.
- Cash Flow: $98 million of operating cash, $49 million of Adjusted free cash flow, and a $0.08 per share dividend declared.
Guidance & Outlook
Garrett Motion’s board raised its 2026 full‑year outlook, citing the "strong start to 2026" and a pipeline of new light‑vehicle turbo programs, an award for range‑extended electric vehicles, and a volume extension for a European OEM’s light‑commercial diesel application. While the press release did not disclose specific revenue or EPS targets, management emphasized continued growth in both turbo and zero‑emission technology lines and reaffirmed confidence in hitting a 6% organic growth trajectory for the year.
Conference Call Takeaways
- CEO Olivier Rabiller highlighted a 6% organic growth rate and stressed that the company “continued to secure new business across both our turbo and zero‑emission technology portfolios.”
- New high‑speed E‑Powertrain award for commercial vehicles and expanding E‑Cooling compressor sales for battery‑energy‑storage systems were flagged as key growth engines.
- The firm repurchased $87 million of common shares and returned over $100 million to shareholders, underscoring a shareholder‑friendly capital allocation stance.
Market Reaction & Analyst Views
Despite the earnings beat, GTX stock fell 1.41% to $25.25 in after‑hours trading, reflecting investor concern over the revenue miss and a slight gross‑margin compression.
- MarketBeat noted the revenue shortfall and pointed to the margin dip as the primary driver of the modest sell‑off, even as analysts praised the raised outlook and robust program wins.
- Benzinga’s earnings call transcript captured analyst questions around the sustainability of the new EV‑focused programs and the impact of foreign‑currency headwinds on future sales.
- Yahoo Finance reported that several mid‑tier auto‑components analysts upgraded GTX to a "Buy" after the call, citing the company's expanding electrification portfolio, but warned that the market may price in the revenue gap over the next few weeks.
Outlook for Investors
Garrett Motion’s earnings narrative is a classic case of strong earnings per share versus a modest revenue miss. The company’s ability to raise its full‑year outlook and secure high‑value EV and commercial‑vehicle contracts should support longer‑term upside, but short‑term price pressure may linger until the revenue trajectory aligns with consensus expectations.
---
Investor Takeaways
- EPS beat was dramatic; GAAP EPS of $2.53 dwarfs the $0.41 consensus.
- Revenue missed by roughly $58 million, prompting a modest after‑hours sell‑off.
- Gross margin slipped to 19.9%; however, Adjusted EBIT margin improved to 15.3%.
- Management raised the 2026 outlook, driven by new turbo and e‑powertrain wins.
- Analysts remain cautiously optimistic, upgrading to "Buy" for the longer term while monitoring near‑term revenue guidance.
Key Takeaways
- Garrett Motion delivered a GAAP EPS of $2.53, beating consensus by $2.62, while revenue of $985 million missed estimates by $58 million.
- The company raised its full‑year 2026 outlook on the back of new turbo and electric‑powertrain contracts, despite a slight dip in gross margin to 19.9%.
- After‑hours trading saw the stock fall 1.41% to $25.25, reflecting investor focus on the revenue shortfall and margin pressure.
- CEO Olivier Rabiller highlighted a 6% organic growth rate, new EV vehicle awards, and expanding E‑Cooling business as key growth drivers.
- Analysts upgraded GTX to "Buy" for its electrification pipeline but caution that the revenue gap may keep the stock under pressure in the short term.