Stock Markets February 26, 2026

Fluidra Posts Soft Q4 as Margins Fall Short of Estimates

Top-line broadly as expected but profitability metrics and cash EPS undershoot; company issues 2026 targets excluding FX and launches cost savings plan

By Sofia Navarro
Fluidra Posts Soft Q4 as Margins Fall Short of Estimates

Fluidra reported fourth-quarter revenue of €460 million, essentially matching sales expectations but with margins and cash EPS below consensus. Adjusted EBITDA fell short of estimates and gross margins lagged. The company provided 2026 guidance on an organic basis excluding foreign exchange, outlined a new cost savings program and reported a net debt position of €1.09 billion.

Key Points

  • Revenue of €460 million was roughly in line with expectations; organic growth stood at +4% despite a 1% reported decline.
  • Profitability lagged: adjusted EBITDA (€90 million), EBITDA margin (19.6%) and gross margin (58%) all missed consensus metrics, and cash EPS of €0.19 was 25% below estimates.
  • Company issued 2026 organic guidance excluding FX - calling for 3%-7% growth and mid-single-digit margin improvements - and launched a cost savings program to support mid-term margin targets; outlook notes flat new pool development and remodeling activity.

Quarterly results overview

Fluidra reported fourth-quarter revenue of €460 million, down 1% year-over-year but up 4% on an organic basis once currency effects are removed. Management issued its 2026 guidance on an organic basis, excluding foreign exchange impacts.

Sales for the quarter were broadly in line with expectations. Performance varied by region - North America missed estimates amid tougher year-earlier comparisons, while Southern Europe produced stronger sales that helped offset that weakness. For the full year the company recorded price increases of 2% and volume growth of 4%.

Profitability and margins

Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter reached €90 million, approximately 6% below the consensus estimate of €96 million. Reported EBITDA margins were 19.6%, missing expectations by roughly 120 basis points. Gross profit arrived 3% under analyst estimates, with gross margins of 58%, about 160 basis points shy of the consensus 60% level.

Cash earnings per share for the quarter were €0.19, which is 25% below the consensus estimate of €0.25. Overall, the company delivered results at the lower end of its updated full-year guidance.

2026 outlook

For 2026 Fluidra set organic growth guidance of 3% to 7%; the midpoint of that range aligns with consensus expectations of roughly 5%. The company expects adjusted EBITDA margins between 23.3% and 24.3% - consensus sits at the midpoint of that range, 23.8%. Projected cash EPS organic growth is 4% to 13%, with consensus located at the top of the range.

Fluidra also noted expectations for flat development in new pools and remodeling activity in 2026, together with a low single-digit contribution from price. The company said this outlook is broadly in line with reporting from US pool industry peers.

Cost program, working capital and leverage

To help achieve its mid-term margin targets the company announced a new cost savings program. Operating net working capital over the last twelve months stood at €359 million, down 3% year-over-year and representing 16.4% of sales versus 17.7% in the prior year. Net debt was €1.09 billion, with a net debt to EBITDA ratio of 2.2 times.


Implications

The quarter showed resilient top-line trends on an organic basis but highlighted pressure on margins and cash earnings. Management's 2026 guidance reflects moderate organic growth and margin improvement targets while excluding FX effects, and the cost savings program will be a focal point for investors watching mid-term profitability recovery.

Summary of key figures

  • Revenue: €460 million (down 1% YoY; +4% organic)
  • Adjusted EBITDA: €90 million (consensus €96 million)
  • EBITDA margin: 19.6% (about 120 bps below expectations)
  • Gross margin: 58% (about 160 bps below consensus)
  • Cash EPS: €0.19 (consensus €0.25)
  • Operating net working capital LTM: €359 million (16.4% of sales)
  • Net debt: €1.09 billion; net debt/EBITDA: 2.2x

Risks

  • Margin pressure - lower-than-expected gross and EBITDA margins pose a risk to near-term profitability and investor expectations, affecting sectors tied to pool manufacturing and distribution.
  • Regional variability - tougher comparisons in North America contributed to the revenue miss, creating uncertainty for companies exposed to that market segment.
  • Demand uncertainty - management expects flat development in new pools and remodeling activity in 2026, which could limit top-line upside for pool industry suppliers and related home-improvement markets.

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