Strattec Transformation Delivers Margin Improvement and Strong Cash Generation in Fiscal 2026

• Fourth quarter fiscal 2026 sales of $151.8 million was better than expected and relatively unchanged from prior year; achieved sales of $579.4 million for fiscal year 2026
• Reported fourth quarter gross margin of 15.6%; full year gross margin expanded to 16.5%, up from 15.0% in fiscal 2025
• Generated fourth quarter net income attributable to Strattec of $3.9 million, or $0.95 per diluted share; adjusted diluted earnings per share were $2.06, unchanged from the prior-year period
• Fourth quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $12.5 million, or 8.3% of net sales, compared with $13.0 million, or 8.5% of sales in the prior-year period; fiscal 2026 Adjusted EBITDA¹ was $50.5 million, a 15.3% increase over the prior year
• $108.2 million in cash and no debt; returned $7.4 million to shareholders through share repurchases in the fourth quarter and authorized a new $40 million share buyback program

MILWAUKEE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Strattec (Nasdaq: STRT), a global provider of highly engineered access solutions for the automotive and mobility industries, today reported financial results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year 2026, which ended June 28, 2026.

Jennifer Slater, President and CEO of Strattec, said, “Fiscal 2026 was a year of progress and discipline as we continued to reshape Strattec into a more resilient, higher-performing business. While our fourth quarter and full-year results were impacted by foreign exchange pressure and the effect of tariffs, we nonetheless delivered year-over-year growth in sales and gross margin expansion through disciplined pricing, cost actions and operational improvements.”

She added, “We recognize that the near-term environment remains uncertain and we have much work to do to secure future OEM vehicle platforms. We are managing costs and capital prudently, while our strong cash position gives us the flexibility to continue investing in our product technologies, production automation and customer relationships. These investments will better position us to benefit when industry conditions improve. The strength of our balance sheet also allows us to consider opportunities that could enhance scale and diversify our customers, products and programs over time.”

FY 2026 Fourth Quarter Financial Summary

Net sales were $151.8 million, relatively unchanged from $152.0 million in the prior-year period, and reflected better than expected OEM vehicle production volumes relative to industry forecasts. A majority of the volume decline, including $3.2 million related to customer cancelled EV programs, was offset by pricing actions.

Gross profit was $23.6 million, compared with $25.4 million in the prior year while gross margin contracted 110 basis points to 15.6%. Restructuring savings of $0.8 million, a $0.9 million reduction in tariff charges and pricing were more than offset by $1.9 million of higher costs related to unfavorable foreign currency exchange rates and the prior year benefit of $1.3 million of incremental tooling gains.

Selling, administrative and engineering (“SAE”) expenses increased 3%, or $0.6 million, to $17.5 million, or 11.5% of sales, compared with $16.9 million, or 11.1% of sales, in the prior-year period. Higher SAE expenses included $1.4 million in business transformation and executive transition costs. These costs were partially offset by a $0.7 million reduction in engineering and professional fees and $0.2 million of restructuring savings.

Interest income grew $0.1 million on higher cash balances, while interest expenses declined $0.2 million on lower borrowings. Other income increased $1.4 million primarily as a result of changes in foreign currency exchange rates.

Net income attributable to Strattec was $3.9 million, or $0.95 per diluted share, compared with $8.3 million, or $2.01 per diluted share, in the prior-year period. On an adjusted basis, fourth quarter fiscal 2026 net income attributable to Strattec was $8.4 million and adjusted diluted earnings per share1 was $2.06 unchanged from the prior year.

Adjusted EBITDA¹ for the quarter was $12.5 million compared with $13.0 million in the prior-year period. Adjusted EBITDA margin of 8.3%, compared with 8.5% in the fiscal 2025 fourth quarter.

Solid Balance Sheet

Cash from operations in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026 was $9.7 million, compared with $30.2 million in the prior-year period which benefited from a significant reduction in working capital.

At June 28, 2026, Strattec had $108.2 million in cash and cash equivalents, up from $107.0 million at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2026 and $84.6 million at the end of the prior fiscal year. During the quarter, the Company paid down the remaining $1.0 million in outstanding borrowings on the JV credit facility. The Company also repurchased 110,269 shares for $7.4 million for an average price of $67.10. There is $40 million remaining under the current share repurchase authorization.

Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2026 Webcast and Conference Call

Strattec will host a conference call and webcast tomorrow, Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at 8:00 am Central Time/9:00 am Eastern Time to review the financial and operating results for the period ended June 28, 2026, and provide an update on its transformation progress. A question-and-answer session will follow.

You can access the call by phoning +1 (201) 689-8470 or find the webcast and accompanying slide presentation at investors.strattec.com.

A telephonic replay will be available from approximately 11:00 am CT on the day of the call through Wednesday, September 9, 2026. To listen to the archived call, dial +1 (412) 317-6671 and enter replay PIN 13761060. The webcast replay will be available on the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at investors.strattec.com, where a transcript will be posted once available.

About Strattec

Strattec is a global automotive access company that designs and delivers safe, secure, and highly engineered access solutions for the automotive and mobility industries. Built on generations of access and security engineering expertise, Strattec partners closely with OEMs to create differentiated, system‑level access experiences for end consumers. Strattec’s portfolio spans the access journey from Permission, enabling secure vehicle entry through advanced mechanical and electronic systems; to Motion, delivering effortless, reliable powered access that enhances everyday usability; and through to Hold, providing precision‑engineered latching solutions that give drivers confidence through proven strength, safety, and durability trusted by OEMs worldwide.

As access becomes increasingly intelligent, connected, and central to vehicle experience, Strattec’s strategy is to expand its market share, further diversify its customers and geographic reach while becoming the most trusted access partner to drive long‑term growth across global automotive and mobility markets. For more information, visit www.strattec.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

Certain statements contained in this release contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking words or phrases such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “planned,” “potential,” “should,” “will,” and “would.” Such forward-looking statements are inherently subject to many uncertainties in the Company’s operations and business environment. These uncertainties include general economic conditions, in particular, relating to the automotive industry, consumer demand for the Company’s and its customers’ products, competitive and technological developments, customer purchasing actions, changes in warranty provisions and customer product recall policies, work stoppages at the Company or at the location of its key customers as a result of labor disputes, foreign currency fluctuations, uncertainties stemming from U.S. trade policies, tariffs and reactions to the same from foreign countries, matters adversely impacting the timing and availability of component parts and raw materials needed for the production of the Company’s products and the products of its customers and fluctuations in costs of operation. Shareholders, potential investors and other readers are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Such uncertainties and other operational matters are discussed further in the Company’s quarterly and annual filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements made herein are only made as of the date of this press release and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances occurring after the date of this release.

Use of Non-Gaap Financial Metrics and Additional Financial Information

In addition to reporting financial results in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, Strattec provides Adjusted Non-GAAP information as additional information for its operating results. References to Adjusted Non-GAAP information are to non-GAAP financial measures. These measures are not required by, in accordance with, or an alternative for, GAAP and may be different from similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. Strattec’s management uses these measures to make strategic decisions, establish budget plans and forecasts, identify trends affecting Strattec’s business, and evaluate performance. Management believes that providing these non-GAAP financial measures to investors, as a supplement to GAAP financial measures, will help investors evaluate Strattec’s core operating and financial performance and business trends consistent with how management evaluates such performance and trends. Investors are encouraged to review the related GAAP financial measures and the reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.

Investor Contact:
Deborah K. Pawlowski, IRC
Alliance Advisors IR
Phone: 716-843-3908
Email: dpawlowski@allianceadvisors.com