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Graco beat Q2 earnings estimates as higher margins offset revenues that missed expectations.
GGG saw acquisitions and currency gains offset an organic sales decline, while order backlog climbed 28%.
GGG reaffirmed its 2026 outlook, expecting low-single-digit organic sales growth.
Graco Inc. (GGG - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of 91 cents per share, up 17% from 78 cents in the year-ago quarter. The bottom line surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 81 cents by 12.4%.
The company’s net sales rose 3% year over year to $590.6 million but lagged the consensus estimate of $609 million by 3%. Organic order backlog (excluding acquisitions) rose 28% from the end of 2025.
On a regional basis, quarterly sales generated from the Americas increased 5.5% year over year to $371.4 million. Sales from the Asia Pacific increased 1.6% year over year to $91.4 million. In Europe, the Middle East and Africa, sales fell 1.6% year over year to $127.8 million.
Acquisitions Offset Organic Slide
Graco’s acquired operations had a positive contribution of 3% to sales growth, while currency translation had a favorable impact of 1%. These tailwinds more than offset a 1% organic decline that management tied to softer timing of finishing system sales and certain project-related activities.
Management highlighted that incoming order rates increased as the quarter progressed, and the company exited the quarter with a solid order trend. This supported the increase in organic order backlog relative to 2025-end.
Contractor segment sales increased 4% year over year to $299.4 million, driven by strength in protective coating and spray foam product categories. While acquisitions and currency translation had a positive impact of 3% and 1%, respectively, on sales growth, organic sales were flat.
Industrial segment sales rose 3% to $249.2 million, supported by acquired businesses but were weighed down by powder finishing system completions and other projects. Acquisitions had a positive impact of 5% on sales growth. While currency translation had a favorable impact of 1% on sales, organic sales decreased 3%.
Expansion Markets sales increased 3% to $41.9 million, owing to an increase in semiconductor product application sales in the Americas. While organic sales improved 3% on a year-over-year basis, currency translation and acquisitions did not have any material impact on sales.
Margin Profile of Graco
In the second quarter, Graco’s cost of sales increased 0.5% year over year to $273.6 million. Gross profit increased 5.8% to $316.9 million, while the margin of 53.7% was up 130 basis points (bps) year over year. Margins were supported by the receipt of tariff refunds and disciplined operating expenses.
Adjusted operating income increased 11% year over year to $183.2 million. The operating margin increased 230 bps to 31% from the year-ago quarter. Interest expenses totaled $835 million compared with $655 million in the previous year’s quarter. The adjusted effective tax rate was 20.4% compared with the year-ago quarter’s 20.1%.
Graco’s Balance Sheet and Cash Flow
Graco ended the quarter with $507.6 million in cash and cash equivalents, down from $624.1 million at the end of 2025. It generated net cash of $298 million from operating activities in the first six months of 2026 compared with $308.1 million in the year-ago period. Capital used for purchasing property, plant and equipment totaled $28.6 million compared with $30.2 million in the year-ago period.
Graco paid out dividends worth $97.7 million to its shareholders in the first six months of the year, up 6% from the year-ago period. It repurchased shares worth $331.1 million in the same period.
2026 Outlook
Graco continues to expect organic sales to increase in the low single digits on a constant-currency basis in 2026. Sales are anticipated to grow in mid-single digits, including acquisitions. For third-quarter 2026, it expects sales to be in the range of $580-$600 million (excluding the announced acquisition of Valco Melton).
Zacks Rank and Stocks to Consider
The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks from the same space are discussed below:
Applied Industrial’s earnings surpassed the consensus estimate in each of the trailing four quarters. The average earnings surprise was 4.0%. In the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Applied Industrial’s fiscal 2026 bottom line has inched up 0.1%.
Dover Corporation (DOV - Free Report) presently carries a Zacks Rank of 2. Dover’s earnings surpassed the consensus estimate in each of the trailing four quarters. The average earnings surprise was 2.1%. In the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for DOV’s 2026 earnings has been stable.
Generac Holdings (GNRC - Free Report) currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2. Generac Holdings’ earnings topped the consensus estimate twice and missed on the other two occasions in the trailing four quarters. The average earnings surprise was 7.4%. In the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for GNRC’s 2026 earnings has been stable.
View the Zacks #1 Rank List
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Graco Surpasses Q2 Earnings Estimates, Reaffirms 2026 View
Key Takeaways
Graco Inc. (GGG - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of 91 cents per share, up 17% from 78 cents in the year-ago quarter. The bottom line surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 81 cents by 12.4%.
The company’s net sales rose 3% year over year to $590.6 million but lagged the consensus estimate of $609 million by 3%. Organic order backlog (excluding acquisitions) rose 28% from the end of 2025.
On a regional basis, quarterly sales generated from the Americas increased 5.5% year over year to $371.4 million. Sales from the Asia Pacific increased 1.6% year over year to $91.4 million. In Europe, the Middle East and Africa, sales fell 1.6% year over year to $127.8 million.
Acquisitions Offset Organic Slide
Graco’s acquired operations had a positive contribution of 3% to sales growth, while currency translation had a favorable impact of 1%. These tailwinds more than offset a 1% organic decline that management tied to softer timing of finishing system sales and certain project-related activities.
Management highlighted that incoming order rates increased as the quarter progressed, and the company exited the quarter with a solid order trend. This supported the increase in organic order backlog relative to 2025-end.
Graco Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Graco Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Graco Inc. Quote
Graco Segment Sales
Contractor segment sales increased 4% year over year to $299.4 million, driven by strength in protective coating and spray foam product categories. While acquisitions and currency translation had a positive impact of 3% and 1%, respectively, on sales growth, organic sales were flat.
Industrial segment sales rose 3% to $249.2 million, supported by acquired businesses but were weighed down by powder finishing system completions and other projects. Acquisitions had a positive impact of 5% on sales growth. While currency translation had a favorable impact of 1% on sales, organic sales decreased 3%.
Expansion Markets sales increased 3% to $41.9 million, owing to an increase in semiconductor product application sales in the Americas. While organic sales improved 3% on a year-over-year basis, currency translation and acquisitions did not have any material impact on sales.
Margin Profile of Graco
In the second quarter, Graco’s cost of sales increased 0.5% year over year to $273.6 million. Gross profit increased 5.8% to $316.9 million, while the margin of 53.7% was up 130 basis points (bps) year over year. Margins were supported by the receipt of tariff refunds and disciplined operating expenses.
Adjusted operating income increased 11% year over year to $183.2 million. The operating margin increased 230 bps to 31% from the year-ago quarter. Interest expenses totaled $835 million compared with $655 million in the previous year’s quarter. The adjusted effective tax rate was 20.4% compared with the year-ago quarter’s 20.1%.
Graco’s Balance Sheet and Cash Flow
Graco ended the quarter with $507.6 million in cash and cash equivalents, down from $624.1 million at the end of 2025. It generated net cash of $298 million from operating activities in the first six months of 2026 compared with $308.1 million in the year-ago period. Capital used for purchasing property, plant and equipment totaled $28.6 million compared with $30.2 million in the year-ago period.
Graco paid out dividends worth $97.7 million to its shareholders in the first six months of the year, up 6% from the year-ago period. It repurchased shares worth $331.1 million in the same period.
2026 Outlook
Graco continues to expect organic sales to increase in the low single digits on a constant-currency basis in 2026. Sales are anticipated to grow in mid-single digits, including acquisitions. For third-quarter 2026, it expects sales to be in the range of $580-$600 million (excluding the announced acquisition of Valco Melton).
Zacks Rank and Stocks to Consider
The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks from the same space are discussed below:
Applied Industrial Technologies (AIT - Free Report) carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Applied Industrial’s earnings surpassed the consensus estimate in each of the trailing four quarters. The average earnings surprise was 4.0%. In the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Applied Industrial’s fiscal 2026 bottom line has inched up 0.1%.
Dover Corporation (DOV - Free Report) presently carries a Zacks Rank of 2. Dover’s earnings surpassed the consensus estimate in each of the trailing four quarters. The average earnings surprise was 2.1%. In the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for DOV’s 2026 earnings has been stable.
Generac Holdings (GNRC - Free Report) currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2. Generac Holdings’ earnings topped the consensus estimate twice and missed on the other two occasions in the trailing four quarters. The average earnings surprise was 7.4%. In the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for GNRC’s 2026 earnings has been stable.