By Al Root
DuPont reported better-than-expected earnings and raised full-year financial guidance, overcoming any impacts of higher oil prices.
Investors look pleased.
The company posted first-quarter earnings per share of 55 cents from sales of $1.7 billion. Wall Street was looking for earnings per share (EPS) of 48 cents from sales of $1.7 billion, according to FactSet.
A year ago, DuPont reported EPS of $1.03. That, however, was before the spinoff of its electronics business, Qnity Electronics.
Looking ahead, DuPont expects 2026 EPS of about $2.38 from sales of about $7.2 billion. Prior guidance given in February called for EPS of about $2.28 from sales of about $7.1 billion.
DuPont shares were up 1.6% at $46.15 in premarket trading, while S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were rising 0.4% and 0.3%, respectively.
It looks like a solid start to the year. "Our teams remained focused on our customers and delivered organic growth, margin expansion, and double-digit adjusted EPS growth, along with solid cash flow generation in the quarter," said CEO Lori Koch in a news release. "We remain focused on value creation by serving our customers, driving commercial and operational excellence, and allocating capital thoughtfully to deliver consistent performance to our shareholders."
DuPont also announced a $275 accelerated share repurchase to be launched "immediately."
Sales in DuPont's Healthcare & Water Technologies segment grew 6% year over year. Profit margins expanded by 1.1 percentage points. Sales in the Diversified Industrials segment grew 3% and margins also expanded by 1.1 percentage points.
Coming into Tuesday trading, DuPont stock was up 13% so far this year and up 66% over the past 12 months.
Shares were down about 9% since the start of the Iran war on Feb. 28, amid investor concern about the impact of higher oil prices on costs. Higher prices haven't derailed the year, though.
"Our full year net sales guidance now assumes about 4% organic growth, including about 1% of pricing due to actions taken to fully offset higher input costs related to the Middle East conflict," said CFO Antonella Franzen in a news release.
Write to Al Root at allen.root@dowjones.com
This content was created by Barron's, which is operated by Dow Jones & Co. Barron's is published independently from Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
May 05, 2026 07:15 ET (11:15 GMT)
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