Q1 GAAP Earnings Plunge 40% Amid Restructuring Costs; New Antitrust Lawsuits Disclosed
Summary
Carrier Global reported a sharp decline in Q1 GAAP operating profit and diluted EPS, alongside a significant increase in restructuring costs and the disclosure of new antitrust litigation.
Key Events
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Significant Profitability Decline
Q1 2026 operating profit decreased by 59% to $259 million, and diluted EPS fell by 40.4% to $0.28 compared to Q1 2025. This contrasts with adjusted EPS figures reported earlier today.
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Increased Restructuring Costs
Restructuring costs surged to $108 million in Q1 2026, a substantial increase from $8 million in Q1 2025, impacting overall profitability.
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New Antitrust Litigation
The company disclosed new class-action lawsuits alleging violations of federal and state antitrust laws related to HVAC equipment pricing since January 1, 2020. The company believes these allegations lack merit and cannot estimate a potential loss.
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Reduced Operating Cash Flow
Net cash flows from continuing operating activities decreased significantly to $66 million in Q1 2026, down from $488 million in Q1 2025.
Analysis
Carrier Global's first-quarter 2026 GAAP results reveal a significant decline in profitability and cash flow, contrasting with previously reported adjusted figures. Operating profit fell by 59% and diluted EPS by over 40% year-over-year, driven by increased restructuring costs and lower organic sales. The company also disclosed new antitrust class-action lawsuits, adding a material legal risk. While a substantial tax benefit partially offset the net earnings decline, the underlying operational performance and new litigation present a negative outlook.
At the time of this filing, CARR was trading at $67.23 on NYSE in the Technology sector, with a market capitalization of approximately $56.2B. The 52-week trading range was $50.24 to $81.09. This filing was assessed with negative market sentiment and an importance score of 8 out of 10.