Quanex’s second quarter performance was met with a significant negative market reaction, as the company’s non-GAAP earnings fell short of Wall Street’s expectations despite a notable increase in revenue. Management attributed these results largely to operational challenges at its Mexico hardware facility and the impact of resegmentation, including a noncash goodwill impairment. CEO George Wilson highlighted that, while the Tyman acquisition contributed to revenue growth, persistent macroeconomic headwinds and inefficiencies in certain manufacturing operations weighed on profitability. The company’s efforts to address tooling and equipment issues in Mexico, combined with softer demand and delayed procurement synergies, were key themes discussed by leadership.
Is now the time to buy NX? Find out in our full research report (it’s free).
Quanex (NX) Q2 CY2025 Highlights:
- Revenue: $495.3 million vs analyst estimates of $492.6 million (76.7% year-on-year growth, 0.5% beat)
- Adjusted EPS: $0.69 vs analyst expectations of $0.84 (18.1% miss)
- Adjusted EBITDA: $70.3 million vs analyst estimates of $80.57 million (14.2% margin, 12.7% miss)
- The company dropped its revenue guidance for the full year to $1.82 billion at the midpoint from $1.85 billion, a 1.6% decrease
- EBITDA guidance for the full year is $235 million at the midpoint, below analyst estimates of $270.8 million
- Operating Margin: -54.7%, down from 8.4% in the same quarter last year
- Market Capitalization: $693.4 million
While we enjoy listening to the management's commentary, our favorite part of earnings calls are the analyst questions. Those are unscripted and can often highlight topics that management teams would rather avoid or topics where the answer is complicated. Here is what has caught our attention.
Our Top 5 Analyst Questions From Quanex’s Q2 Earnings Call
-
Steven Ramsey (Thompson Research Group) asked whether competitive dynamics or macro trends were responsible for volume softness. CEO George Wilson responded that market weakness was broad-based and tied to macroeconomic factors, not competitive losses.
-
Steven Ramsey (Thompson Research Group) inquired about the timeline and magnitude of operational recovery in Mexico. CFO Scott Zuehlke indicated that similar EBITDA headwinds are expected in the next quarter, with improvements anticipated early in 2026.
-
Reuben Garner (Benchmark) sought clarification on the drivers behind lower-than-expected profitability. Zuehlke cited a combination of Mexico operations, lower market volumes, and delayed procurement synergies as key contributors.
-
Adam Thalhimer (Thompson, Davis) questioned the sequential revenue drop forecast for next quarter. Zuehlke emphasized that the guidance reflects current market demand, not one-time factors like tariff-related prebuys.
-
Julio Romero (Sidoti & Company) pressed for details on the Mexico facility’s challenges and whether the labor-intensive nature affected remediation. Wilson explained the issues stemmed from underinvestment in tooling and equipment, not from the manual assembly process itself.
Catalysts in Upcoming Quarters
As we track Quanex into the coming quarters, our team will be watching (1) the progress of operational recovery at the Mexico hardware facility, (2) the pace and effectiveness of cost synergy realization from the Tyman integration, and (3) changes in end-market demand as interest rate policy and consumer confidence evolve. Successful execution on these fronts will be critical for restoring margins and supporting growth.
Quanex currently trades at $15.20, down from $20.88 just before the earnings. In the wake of this quarter, is it a buy or sell? The answer lies in our full research report (it’s free).
High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions
Donald Trump’s April 2025 "Liberation Day" tariffs sent markets into a tailspin, but stocks have since rebounded strongly, proving that knee-jerk reactions often create the best buying opportunities.
The smart money is already positioning for the next leg up. Don’t miss out on the recovery - check out our Top 5 Growth Stocks for this month. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025).
Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-micro-cap company Tecnoglass (+1,754% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.
StockStory is growing and hiring equity analyst and marketing roles. Are you a 0 to 1 builder passionate about the markets and AI? See the open roles here.
