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Chemours' Q1 Earnings Surpass Estimates, Revenues Miss
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Key Takeaways
Chemours posted a wider Q1 loss as lower volumes weighed on key business segments.
CC expects Q2 net sales to rise 15-20% sequentially on favorable seasonal trends.
CC maintained its 2026 outlook for 3-5% sales growth and $800-$900M adjusted EBITDA.
The Chemours Company (CC - Free Report) reported a net loss of $29 million or 19 cents per share for the first quarter of 2026. This compares unfavorably with the year-ago quarter’s net loss of $5 million or 3 cents per share.
Barring one-time items, earnings were 5 cents per share, which topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 5 cents.
The company reported first-quarter net sales of $1,381 million, reflecting a 1% increase from the previous-year quarter. However, the figure missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,402.6 million. Net sales were primarily aided by a 2% increase in price and a 3% favorable currency impact, partly offset by a 4% decrease in volumes.
Adjusted EBITDA rose 2% year over year to $169 million for the quarter. The increase was driven by higher pricing, favorable currency and other income, which more than offset higher costs and lower sales volumes in the Advanced Performance Materials and Titanium Technologies segments.
The Chemours Company Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
The Titanium Technologies division recorded revenues of $559 million in the first quarter, marking a 6% decrease from the previous year. The figure beat our estimate of $543.3 million. This downside was primarily due to a 7% decline in volumes globally and a 2% decrease in pricing, partly offset by a 3% favorable currency impact.
In the Thermal & Specialized Solutions segment, revenues saw a 22% year-over-year increase, reaching $568 million in the reported quarter. The figure was almost in line with our estimate of $568.3 million. Net sales growth was mainly driven by an 11% increase in price and a 9% rise in volume, with a 2% currency tailwind. Increased pricing was primarily driven by automotive Freon Refrigerant sales in North America.
Volume growth was supported by the continued transition to Opteon Refrigerants as well as automotive Freon Refrigerant sales in North America.
Revenues in the Advanced Performance Materials unit amounted to $243 million, which declined 17% year over year. The figure missed our estimate of $256.5 million. The downside was mainly caused by a 19% decrease in volume and a 1% decline in price, partly offset by a 3% favorable currency impact. The volume decline was primarily due to sales constraints from the Washington Works plant outage in the first quarter and the closure of the Advanced Materials SPS Capstone line, completed in the third quarter of 2025.
CC’s Financials
Operating cash usage in the first quarter was $44 million compared with $112 million in the year-ago quarter, reflecting improvements in net working capital performance. Capital expenditures were $49 million compared with $84 million in the prior-year quarter. Free cash flow reflected a usage of $93 million compared with $196 million in the first quarter of 2025.
As of March 31, 2026, Chemours had consolidated gross debt of $4.2 billion. Debt, net of $563 million in unrestricted cash and cash equivalents, was $3.6 billion. Total liquidity was $1.5 billion.
CC’s Q2 & 2026 Outlook
For the second quarter, the company expects consolidated net sales to increase in the range of 15-20% sequentially, driven by favorable seasonal trends. Consolidated adjusted EBITDA is expected to be in the range of $220-$250 million. Corporate expenses are expected to be roughly $45-$50 million. The company also expects capital expenditures of around $50 million and free cash flow of at least $100 million.
CC expects Thermal & Specialized Solutions’ net sales to increase sequentially in the low-to-mid-teens percentage range in the second quarter. Adjusted EBITDA is projected to be between $210 million and $225 million.
Titanium Technologies’ net sales are expected to increase sequentially in the mid-to-high-teens percentage range, driven by seasonal volume strength and a favorable mix for TiO2 pigment. Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be in the range of $40-$50 million.
Advanced Performance Materials’ net sales are expected to rise sequentially in the low-to-high-thirties percentage range, driven by a return to normal operating levels at the Washington Works facility. Adjusted EBITDA for APM is expected to be between $12 million and $18 million.
For 2026, Chemours continues to expect net sales to grow in the range of 3-5% year over year. Adjusted EBITDA is projected in the range of $800-$900 million. Capital expenditures are expected in the range of $275-$325 million, with free cash flow conversion above 20%.
CC’s Price Performance
CC shares have surged 117.1% in the past year compared with an 25.1% rise in the industry.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
CC’s Zacks Rank & Key Picks
CC currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks worth a look in the basic materials space are Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. (SQM - Free Report) , Idaho Strategic Resources, Inc. (IDR - Free Report) and Hawkins, Inc. (HWKN - Free Report) .
Sociedad is slated to report first-quarter 2026 results on May 26. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for loss is pegged at $1.36 per share, indicating 183.3% year-over-year growth. SQM carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present.
Idaho is expected to report first-quarter 2026 results on May 14. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at 43 cents per share, indicating 258.3% year-over-year growth. IDR sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Hawkins is scheduled to report fiscal fourth-quarter results on May 13. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for HWKN’s fourth-quarter earnings is pegged at 77 cents per share. HWKN currently has a Zacks Rank #2.
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Chemours' Q1 Earnings Surpass Estimates, Revenues Miss
Key Takeaways
The Chemours Company (CC - Free Report) reported a net loss of $29 million or 19 cents per share for the first quarter of 2026. This compares unfavorably with the year-ago quarter’s net loss of $5 million or 3 cents per share.
Barring one-time items, earnings were 5 cents per share, which topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 5 cents.
The company reported first-quarter net sales of $1,381 million, reflecting a 1% increase from the previous-year quarter. However, the figure missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,402.6 million. Net sales were primarily aided by a 2% increase in price and a 3% favorable currency impact, partly offset by a 4% decrease in volumes.
Adjusted EBITDA rose 2% year over year to $169 million for the quarter. The increase was driven by higher pricing, favorable currency and other income, which more than offset higher costs and lower sales volumes in the Advanced Performance Materials and Titanium Technologies segments.
The Chemours Company Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
The Chemours Company price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | The Chemours Company Quote
CC’s Segment Highlights
The Titanium Technologies division recorded revenues of $559 million in the first quarter, marking a 6% decrease from the previous year. The figure beat our estimate of $543.3 million. This downside was primarily due to a 7% decline in volumes globally and a 2% decrease in pricing, partly offset by a 3% favorable currency impact.
In the Thermal & Specialized Solutions segment, revenues saw a 22% year-over-year increase, reaching $568 million in the reported quarter. The figure was almost in line with our estimate of $568.3 million. Net sales growth was mainly driven by an 11% increase in price and a 9% rise in volume, with a 2% currency tailwind. Increased pricing was primarily driven by automotive Freon Refrigerant sales in North America.
Volume growth was supported by the continued transition to Opteon Refrigerants as well as automotive Freon Refrigerant sales in North America.
Revenues in the Advanced Performance Materials unit amounted to $243 million, which declined 17% year over year. The figure missed our estimate of $256.5 million. The downside was mainly caused by a 19% decrease in volume and a 1% decline in price, partly offset by a 3% favorable currency impact. The volume decline was primarily due to sales constraints from the Washington Works plant outage in the first quarter and the closure of the Advanced Materials SPS Capstone line, completed in the third quarter of 2025.
CC’s Financials
Operating cash usage in the first quarter was $44 million compared with $112 million in the year-ago quarter, reflecting improvements in net working capital performance. Capital expenditures were $49 million compared with $84 million in the prior-year quarter. Free cash flow reflected a usage of $93 million compared with $196 million in the first quarter of 2025.
As of March 31, 2026, Chemours had consolidated gross debt of $4.2 billion. Debt, net of $563 million in unrestricted cash and cash equivalents, was $3.6 billion. Total liquidity was $1.5 billion.
CC’s Q2 & 2026 Outlook
For the second quarter, the company expects consolidated net sales to increase in the range of 15-20% sequentially, driven by favorable seasonal trends. Consolidated adjusted EBITDA is expected to be in the range of $220-$250 million. Corporate expenses are expected to be roughly $45-$50 million. The company also expects capital expenditures of around $50 million and free cash flow of at least $100 million.
CC expects Thermal & Specialized Solutions’ net sales to increase sequentially in the low-to-mid-teens percentage range in the second quarter. Adjusted EBITDA is projected to be between $210 million and $225 million.
Titanium Technologies’ net sales are expected to increase sequentially in the mid-to-high-teens percentage range, driven by seasonal volume strength and a favorable mix for TiO2 pigment. Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be in the range of $40-$50 million.
Advanced Performance Materials’ net sales are expected to rise sequentially in the low-to-high-thirties percentage range, driven by a return to normal operating levels at the Washington Works facility. Adjusted EBITDA for APM is expected to be between $12 million and $18 million.
For 2026, Chemours continues to expect net sales to grow in the range of 3-5% year over year. Adjusted EBITDA is projected in the range of $800-$900 million. Capital expenditures are expected in the range of $275-$325 million, with free cash flow conversion above 20%.
CC’s Price Performance
CC shares have surged 117.1% in the past year compared with an 25.1% rise in the industry.
CC’s Zacks Rank & Key Picks
CC currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks worth a look in the basic materials space are Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. (SQM - Free Report) , Idaho Strategic Resources, Inc. (IDR - Free Report) and Hawkins, Inc. (HWKN - Free Report) .
Sociedad is slated to report first-quarter 2026 results on May 26. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for loss is pegged at $1.36 per share, indicating 183.3% year-over-year growth. SQM carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present.
Idaho is expected to report first-quarter 2026 results on May 14. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at 43 cents per share, indicating 258.3% year-over-year growth. IDR sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Hawkins is scheduled to report fiscal fourth-quarter results on May 13. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for HWKN’s fourth-quarter earnings is pegged at 77 cents per share. HWKN currently has a Zacks Rank #2.