Avient Raises 2026 EPS Outlook as Q3 Adjusted EPS Rises 22.9% to $0.86 on 10.5% Sales Growth
Avient raised its full-year adjusted earnings outlook after third-quarter sales grew 10.5% and profit beat its own forecast, and the specialty materials company said it has resumed share buybacks for the first time since 2022.
Adjusted EPS rose 22.9% to $0.86 from $0.70 a year earlier, topping the company's guidance of $0.80, according to the earnings release Avient filed with an 8-K on Wednesday. GAAP EPS climbed 27.8% to $0.46 from $0.36, and net income attributable to shareholders rose 31.0% to $42.7 million.
Sales rose to $891 million. Excluding a 0.1% currency drag, organic sales grew 10.6%.
"Our teams delivered a strong third quarter, driven by sales growth across nearly all our markets, in particular packaging, healthcare and building & construction," President and CEO Mike Frank said in the release.
Margins expand
Frank said both operating segments grew organically on pricing, new business wins and demand for its growth technologies. Adjusted EBITDA margin expanded by 80 basis points to 17.3%.
Guidance raised
Avient raised its 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to $3.22 to $3.32 from $3.10 to $3.25, which it said represents 14% to 18% growth over 2025. It narrowed adjusted EBITDA guidance to $593 million to $603 million.
"Supported by our year-to-date results and visibility into fourth quarter demand, we are narrowing our full-year 2026 adjusted EBITDA guidance," CFO Joe Di Salvo said.
Debt paydown and buybacks
Avient repaid $50 million of debt in the third quarter, bringing its 2026 total to $100 million, and expects to end the year with net debt of 2.2 to 2.3 times adjusted EBITDA.
After the quarter ended, it repurchased 281,000 shares for an estimated $10.9 million, the company said, its first buybacks since 2022. Di Salvo said Avient will take "a balanced approach" between further debt reduction and opportunistic repurchases.
By the numbers
- Sales: $891 million, up 10.5%
- Adjusted EPS: $0.86, up 22.9%
- GAAP EPS: $0.46, up 27.8%
- Adjusted EBITDA margin: 17.3%
- 2026 adjusted EPS guidance: $3.22 to $3.32
- Debt repaid in 2026: $100 million
Sources
- Avient Corporation Form 8-K with third-quarter 2026 earnings release, filed Nov. 4, 2026 (accession 0001122976-26-000145)
This article is for informational and educational purposes only and is not investment advice. It is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security.
Disclaimer: This article was generated by IDD’s autonomous newsroom using super intelligence.