AstroNova Reports Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year Fiscal 2026 Financial Results

WEST WARWICK, R.I.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AstroNova, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALOT), a leading innovator in specialized print technology solutions, today announced financial results for its fiscal 2026 fourth quarter and full-year ended January 31, 2026.

Jorik Ittmann, President and Chief Executive Officer of AstroNova, stated, "The second half of fiscal 2026 was a reset period for AstroNova. As we began the year, we recognized that the changes we were making in the business would begin to be realized with a stronger second half. Our focus was on stabilizing the business and ending the year having generated more cash, reduced debt, and raised accountability across both segments. Our Aerospace business delivered a strong performance, with ToughWriter now representing more than 80% of total flight deck printer shipments, positioning us well as aircraft build rates increase.

“In Product ID, we provide label printing solutions that address the needs of three key verticals: healthcare/life sciences, industrial and chemical industries. In these markets our labels are a component of customers’ products and are critical to their success. Our restructuring efforts are being realized through improving commercial momentum in these verticals. We have employed more robust analytics to understand our customers and markets and are better directing our resources to drive growth. This includes continuing to evolve the team, putting the right talent in the correct roles, and recognizing where and why we can win. We expect this focus of our resources where we have competitive advantages will lead to stronger, more profitable growth."

Mr. Ittmann added, "Looking ahead to fiscal 2027, we expect Aerospace to deliver measured growth, supported by rising aircraft production, a favorable product mix, and the expiration of a major royalty obligation during the third quarter of the year that negatively impacts gross margin on an annualized basis by approximately $2 million. In Product ID, we are focused on converting our commercial pipeline into consistent revenue growth while strengthening operational performance. We believe we can create greater value for our shareholders with our enhanced product offerings, go-to-market strategy and operational restructuring. Importantly, we will evaluate all strategic alternatives to achieve this goal."

Compared with the prior-year period, revenue increased $0.2 million as growth in Product ID slightly exceeded lower Aerospace revenue. Tariff mitigation contributed $0.6 million in revenue and foreign currency translation was a $0.8 million benefit in the quarter.

As a result of lower volume and mix, gross profit decreased $0.9 million, or 7.4%, and gross margin contracted 250 basis points compared with the prior-year period. On an adjusted basis, gross margin contracted 120 basis points from the prior-year period to 32.9%.

Operating expenses in the quarter were $11.3 million down from $25.0 million in the prior-year period. The prior year period included a goodwill impairment charge of $13.4 million. Operating income for the quarter was $56 thousand compared with operating loss of $12.3 million in the prior-year period, while non-GAAP operating income was $1.1 million, down $0.3 million compared with the prior-year period.

Interest expense of $0.9 million was nominally unchanged from the prior-year period. Net loss of $1.1 million, or $0.15 per share, compared with net loss of $15.6 million in the prior-year period, which included a goodwill impairment charge of $13.4 million. Non-GAAP net loss was $0.3 million, or $0.04 per share. Adjusted EBITDA was $3.3 million and Adjusted EBITDA margin was 8.8%.

Beginning in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, the Company revised its segment reporting methodology to allocate related general and administrative expenses directly to the reportable segments, Product Identification and Aerospace. Management believes this change better reflects the true operating performance of each segment. Prior period segment results have been recast to reflect this change. The impact of this reallocation on segment operating income is presented in the segment tables that follow.

Product Identification (Product ID) Segment Review

Product ID revenue was $26.3 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, up 2.5%, or $0.7 million, compared with the prior year. Aftermarket revenue remained strong, representing approximately 80% of total segment sales.

Product ID segment operating loss was $0.2 million, an improvement from the segment operating loss of $13.1 million in the prior-year period which included the previously mentioned goodwill impairment charge. Non-GAAP segment operating loss was $0.1 million, or -0.5% of revenue.

Aerospace Segment Review

Aerospace segment revenue was $11.2 million in the fiscal 2026 fourth quarter, a decrease of 4.1%, or $0.5 million from the prior-year, primarily as a result of the timing of projects.

Despite lower sales, Aerospace segment operating profit was $2.3 million, up $0.5 million, or 24.0%, over the prior-year period as a result of improved mix.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow

Cash from operations in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026 was $3.7 million and was $11.7 million year to date. The improvement in cash generation in the quarter was primarily the result of reduced working capital requirements, primarily due to lower inventory.

Capital expenditures in the quarter were $139 thousand and $332 thousand for fiscal 2026 compared with $79 thousand and $1.2 million, respectively, in the prior year.

Cash at the end of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026 was $4.1 million, down $0.9 million from the end of fiscal 2025. Debt as of January 31, 2026 was $37.6 million compared with $46.7 million as of January 31, 2025.

Bookings and Backlog by Segment

Orders in the quarter for the Product ID segment were $27.5 million, up $2.9 million compared with the prior-year period as the Company’s new go-to-market strategy gained traction. The book-to-bill ratio for the segment was 104% and backlog at the end of fiscal 2026 was $13.5 million.

Orders in the quarter for the Aerospace segment were $13.6 million for a book-to-bill ratio of 122% reflecting demand from OEMs for new-build aircraft. Backlog at the end of fiscal 2026 was $12.0 million.

Fiscal 2027 Outlook

“We are making solid progress with the improvement in our Product ID segment and are delivering on the potential of the Aerospace segment. As noted previously, a major royalty obligation for Aerospace will expire in the third quarter this year that will provide an annualized contribution to gross profit of approximately $2 million beginning in the fourth quarter. We are encouraged with our progress and believe we are creating greater opportunity for the business,” concluded Mr. Ittmann.

For fiscal 2027, AstroNova expects mid-single digit revenue growth and expanded adjusted EBITDA margin.

Earnings Conference Call Information

AstroNova will host a conference call and webcast at 8:30 a.m. ET on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, to review financial and operating results for the fourth quarter and full year of fiscal 2026. A question and answer session will follow.

To access the conference call, please dial (201) 689-8560 or find the webcast and accompanying slide presentation at https://investors.astronovainc.com/investors/events-and-presentations/default.aspx.

A telephonic replay will be available from 12:00 p.m. ET on the day of the call through Tuesday, April 28, 2026. To listen to the archived call, dial (412) 317-6671 and enter a replay PIN 13759000. The webcast replay will be available on the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website where a transcript will be posted once available.

About AstroNova, Inc.

AstroNova (Nasdaq: ALOT) is a global provider of printing technologies serving regulated and industrial markets. The Company designs, manufactures, distributes, and services solutions that enable customers to identify, track, and communicate essential product and safety information across a wide range of applications and media. AstroNova supports customers by enabling safety, accuracy and durability for flight deck communications, medical device and healthcare products, essential chemical products, and mission-critical industrial components, while ensuring compliance with local and regional regulatory requirements.

The Product Identification segment delivers end-to-end marking and identification solutions, including hardware, software, and consumables for OEMs, commercial printers, and brand owners. These solutions are used across labels, flexible packaging, corrugated, and industrial substrates, where durability, traceability, and compliance are essential. The Aerospace segment is a global leader in providing products designed for airborne printing solutions, avionics, and data acquisition, including flight deck printing solutions, networking hardware, and specialized aerospace-grade supplies. For more information please visit: www.astronovainc.com.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In addition to financial measures prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), this news release contains the Non-GAAP financial measures: Non-GAAP gross profit, Non-GAAP gross profit margin, Non-GAAP operating expenses, Non-GAAP operating income, Non-GAAP operating income margin, Non-GAAP net income (loss), Non-GAAP net income per Common Share - diluted, Non-GAAP segment gross profit, Non-GAAP segment gross profit margin, Non-GAAP segment operating income, Non-GAAP segment operating margin, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin. AstroNova believes that the inclusion of these Non-GAAP financial measures helps investors gain a meaningful understanding of changes in the Company’s core operating results and can help investors who wish to make comparisons between AstroNova and other companies on both a GAAP and a Non-GAAP basis. AstroNova’s management uses these Non-GAAP financial measures, in addition to GAAP financial measures, as the basis for measuring its core operating performance and comparing such performance to that of prior periods and to the performance of its competitors. These measures are also used by the Company’s management to assist with their financial and operating decision-making. Please refer to the financial reconciliation table included in this news release for a reconciliation of the Non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures for the three months ended January 31, 2026 and 2025 as well as the years ended January 31, 2026 and 2025.

Forward-Looking Statements
Information included in this news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical fact but rather reflect our current expectations concerning future events and results. These statements may include the use of the words “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “likely,” “continues,” “may,” “will,” and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements, including those concerning the Company’s anticipated performance, involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our control, which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and factors include, but are not limited to, (i) the risk that our efforts to improve sales in our Product Identification segment may not result in the benefits we expect, (ii) the risk that our Aerospace customers may not continue to convert to our ToughWriter® printer in the volumes or on the schedule that we expect; (iii) the risk that we may not realize the anticipated benefits of our next-generation print engine technology; and (iv) those factors set forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2025 and subsequent filings AstroNova makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The reader is cautioned not to unduly rely on such forward-looking statements when evaluating the information presented in this news release.