Nordson Corporation (NasdaqGS: NDSN), a precision technology company serving industrial, electronics, medical and other end markets, reported its financial outcomes for the fiscal first quarter ended January 31, 2026. The company successfully reported higher sales, earnings, and backlog compared to the prior-year period. On February 18, 2026, the stock traded around $299, little changed from its prior close.
Quarterly Results
Nordson reported first-quarter fiscal 2026 sales of $669 million, a record level and an increase of 9% from $615 million in the prior-year quarter. Organic sales grew 7%, currency translation contributed a 4% benefit, and a prior-year divestiture reduced growth by 1%. Gross profit rose to $366 million from $336 million, with a stable gross margin of 54.7%. Net income increased to $133 million, or $2.38 per diluted share, including a non-cash gain on a minority technology investment. EBITDA reached a first-quarter record of $203 million, up from $188 million. Adjusted earnings per diluted share were strong at $2.37, up 15% from $2.06 a year earlier. Industrial Precision Solutions posted sales of $327 million, with an EBITDA of $110 million. Medical and Fluid Solutions recorded flat sales of $193 million, while EBITDA rose to $70 million from $64 million. Advanced Technology Solutions delivered sales of $149 million, soaring 23%, and generating an EBITDA of $33 million.
Annual Performance Context
For the year-to-date period ended January 31, 2026, Nordson generated net cash provided by operating activities of $140 million, compared to $159 million in the prior year. Free cash flow was $123 million, representing a free cash flow conversion rate of 105% when excluding the non-cash gain. Net income reached $133 million, up from $95 million in fiscal 2025. At quarter end, total shareholders’ equity stood at $3.11 billion, with total assets of $5.96 billion and total debt of roughly $2.0 billion.
Business and Operations Update
Nordson reported a backlog growth of 4% year over year and broad-based order entry momentum, with particular strength in Advanced Technology Solutions. In Industrial Precision Solutions, organic sales growth was driven by balanced demand and “particular strength in Asia Pacific markets”. Medical and Fluid Solutions cited growth in engineered fluid solutions and positive margin improvements. Advanced Technology Solutions benefited from “ongoing growth in electronics dispense systems and recovering demand for x-ray systems”. President Sundaram Nagarajan highlighted that the strong first-quarter performance set the stage well for fiscal 2026. He emphasized growing confidence in the full year, reflected in their increased annual guidance. Nordson invested $18 million in capital expenditures, paid $46 million in dividends, and completed $82 million of share repurchases.
Forward Outlook
For the second quarter of fiscal 2026, Nordson forecasts sales between $710 million and $740 million, with adjusted earnings per diluted share expected from $2.70 to $2.90. For the full fiscal year 2026, the company expects reported sales between $2.86 billion and $2.98 billion, alongside adjusted earnings per share between $11.00 and $11.60.
Performance Summary
Overall, segment performance was led by Advanced Technology Solutions, while Medical and Fluid Solutions delivered higher profitability and Industrial Precision Solutions posted growth. The company raised both quarterly and full-year guidance following these results.