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Quanex Building Products (NX)
NYSE:NX

Quanex (NX) AI Stock Analysis

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NX

Quanex

(NYSE:NX)

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Neutral 52 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:52Neutral
Price Target:
$19.00
▲(12.69% Upside)
Action:ReiteratedDate:03/06/26
The score is held back primarily by the sharp swing into operating and net losses alongside higher leverage, despite solid TTM free cash flow. Technicals also lean weak/oversold, indicating limited near-term momentum. Offsetting these risks are management’s FY2026 guidance for meaningful margin expansion and revenue growth, plus a modest dividend and generally stable corporate/governance signals.
Positive Factors
Cash generation
Sustained positive operating cash flow and healthy trailing free cash flow provide a durable internal funding source to support capex, dividend payments and debt reduction. Strong cash conversion preserves optionality during margin recovery and funds strategic initiatives without sole reliance on external financing.
Revenue growth momentum
Robust historical top-line growth and management's explicit guidance for double-digit sales expansion indicate lasting demand for fenestration components. Sustained revenue growth supports scale economies, cross-sell opportunities and the potential to recapture operating leverage as volumes normalize over the medium term.
Product & operational initiatives
Ongoing product relaunches, ERP rationalization and AI-driven process improvements are structural moves to raise margin and operational resilience. Combined with Monterrey plant stabilization, these initiatives should reduce recurring disruption, improve throughput and support sustainable margin expansion over multiple quarters.
Negative Factors
Profitability deterioration
Deep negative operating and net margins signal that recent growth has yet to translate into profitable scale. Persistent margin weakness undermines return on capital and limits retained earnings, meaning management must deliver structural cost or pricing improvements to restore durable profitability and ROIC.
Higher leverage
Marked increase in leverage materially reduces financial flexibility and raises refinancing and interest risks. Until adjusted EBITDA and cash flow sustainably improve and leverage approaches management's ~2.0x target, the balance sheet constrains investments, strategic optionality and increases vulnerability to downturns.
Extended cash conversion cycle
A materially longer working-capital cycle from the Tyman integration forces seasonal borrowing and delays cash realization from sales. This structural drag on liquidity can constrain the pace of deleveraging and requires sustained focus on receivables, inventory and payables optimization to normalize cash flow over several years.

Quanex (NX) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Quanex Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionQuanex Building Products Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides components for the fenestration industry in the United States, Europe, Canada, Asia, and internationally. The company operates through three segments: North American Fenestration, European Fenestration, and North American Cabinet Components. It offers flexible insulating glass spacers, extruded vinyl profiles, window and door screens, and precision-formed metal and wood products, as well as cabinet doors and other components for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the kitchen and bathroom cabinet industry. The company also provides various non-fenestration components and products, including solar panel sealants, trim moldings, vinyl decking, fencing, water retention barriers, and conservatory roof components. It sells its products to OEMs in the building products industry through sales representatives, direct sales force, distributors, and independent sales agents. The company was founded in 1927 and is based in Houston, Texas.
How the Company Makes MoneyQuanex generates revenue primarily through the sale of its manufactured products in the building materials sector. The company operates on a business-to-business model, supplying its products to manufacturers, distributors, and contractors in the construction industry. Key revenue streams include the sale of window and door systems, which benefit from increasing demand for energy-efficient solutions, and cabinetry components that cater to the remodeling and new construction markets. Additionally, Quanex benefits from partnerships with leading building products companies and collaborations that enhance product development and market reach. The company's focus on innovation and sustainability also positions it favorably in an increasingly environmentally conscious market.

Quanex Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Mar 05, 2026
(Q1-2026)
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% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Jun 04, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The call presented a mixed picture: near-term results showed meaningful margin and cash-flow deterioration (notably a ~28.8% drop in consolidated adjusted EBITDA and negative free cash flow), and segments experienced lower volumes and EBITDA declines. Offsetting these near-term headwinds are several positive items — stabilization of the Monterrey plant, solid liquidity, explicit FY2026 guidance calling for meaningful revenue growth (12%–14%) and a material margin expansion (500–550 bps), ongoing product and commercial initiatives, and a plan to reduce leverage toward ~2.0x. Given the balance of significant near-term operational and cash challenges with a credible set of remediation actions and constructive full-year guidance, the overall tone is cautious but constructive.
Q1-2026 Updates
Positive Updates
Consolidated Revenue Increase
Net sales for Q1 FY2026 were $409.1M, up approximately 2.3% year-over-year versus $400.0M, driven primarily by foreign exchange translation and tariff pass-through.
Full-Year Guidance: Top-Line and Margin Improvement
Management provided FY2026 guidance of $1.84B to $1.87B in net sales (implying consolidated revenue growth of ~12%–14% vs FY2025) and adjusted EBITDA of $240M to $245M, with an expected adjusted EBITDA margin expansion of ~500–550 basis points vs FY2025.
Monterrey Plant Stabilized
Operational remediation at the Monterrey, Mexico hardware facility is complete and management reports the plant is now stable; incremental Monterrey-related costs in Q1 were approximately $3.0M but are expected not to recur.
Segment Revenue Strength in Custom Solutions
Custom Solutions revenue grew to $89.1M in Q1, up 4.8% year-over-year (volumes +2.4%), driven by gains in cabinet/wood components market share as customers insource and re-shore production.
Strong Liquidity and Capital Allocation Focus
Liquidity at 01/31/2026 was $331.6M (including $62.3M cash on hand plus revolver availability). Management reiterated disciplined debt reduction, targeting a year-end net leverage closer to ~2.0x from 2.8x currently.
Product and Commercial Initiatives
Company advancing new product development (including Schlagel relaunch), commercialization plans, global pricing strategies, ERP rationalization and AI-led process improvements to drive future revenue growth, margin expansion and ROIC.
Positive End-Market Structural Outlook
Management emphasized constructive long-term fundamentals for residential housing, stabilizing inflation, and expected Fed rate cuts, and noted double-digit growth momentum in IG spacer products driven by energy/code trends.
Negative Updates
Significant Decline in Adjusted EBITDA (Consolidated)
Consolidated adjusted EBITDA for Q1 FY2026 was $27.4M versus $38.5M in Q1 FY2025, a decline of $11.1M or approximately 28.8%, driven by reduced operating leverage from lower volumes and temporary Monterrey costs.
Adjusted EPS Swing and GAAP Losses
On an adjusted basis Q1 reported a net loss of $0.3M (loss of $0.01 per share) versus adjusted net income of $9.0M ($0.19 per share) in the prior year; GAAP net loss improved to $4.1M vs $14.9M prior but remains a loss.
Hardware Segment Profit Pressure
Hardware Solutions sales modestly increased 2.4% to $189.1M, but adjusted EBITDA declined sharply to $4.5M from $8.2M (down ~$3.7M, ~45%), impacted by volume declines (volumes -3.6%), general inflation and ~$3.0M incremental Monterrey costs.
Extruded and Custom Segment EBITDA Declines
Extruded Solutions adjusted EBITDA fell to $20.9M from $24.0M (down ~$3.1M, ~12.9%) with volumes -2.6%; Custom Solutions EBITDA decreased to $4.6M from $6.3M (down ~$1.7M, ~27%), with pricing pressure (pricing -2% in Custom).
Negative Operating Cash Flow and Free Cash Flow
Cash used by operating activities was $20.2M in Q1 FY2026 versus $12.5M prior year; free cash flow was negative $31.5M versus negative $24.1M prior, reflecting seasonality and integration-driven working capital changes.
Working Capital / Cash Conversion Cycle Impact from Tyman
Legacy Quanex historically had a 45–60 day cash conversion; legacy Tyman has roughly double that, causing the company to expect to be a net borrower in the first half of the fiscal year and to see an extended cash conversion cycle until improvements are realized over ~2–3 years.
Near-Term Demand and Geopolitical Risks
Management cited soft market conditions, low end-consumer confidence, and elevated geopolitical tensions (Middle East) that could pressure demand, raw material pricing and shipping rates; first half 2026 expected to be more challenged than 2025, with improvement back half weighted.
Company Guidance
Quanex guided fiscal 2026 consolidated net sales of $1.84–1.87 billion and adjusted EBITDA of $240–245 million (implying consolidated revenue growth of 12–14% vs. 2025 and an adjusted EBITDA margin expansion of ~500–550 basis points year‑over‑year), with modeling assumptions of gross margin of 28.0–28.5%, SG&A of $295–300 million (includes bonus accrual at target), depreciation & amortization of $105–110 million (adjusted D&A excl. intangible amortization $65–70 million for adjusted EPS), interest expense of $50 million, a tax rate of ~24%, CapEx of $70–75 million, and full‑year free cash flow of approximately $100 million; liquidity stood at $331.6 million as of 1/31/2026 (cash $62.3 million plus revolver availability net of LCs), net debt/LTM adjusted EBITDA was 2.8x (expected to tick up in Q2 but to exit 2026 nearer 2.0x), the company expects to be a net borrower in the first half with the majority of cash generation in the second half, and noted Q1 metrics of net sales $409.1 million, adjusted EBITDA $27.4 million, cash used by operations $20.2 million and negative free cash flow of $31.5 million.

Quanex Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Strong TTM revenue growth (+49.2%) and positive cash generation (TTM operating cash flow ~$177M; free cash flow ~$115M) are offsets, but profitability has deteriorated sharply (EBIT margin ~-10%, net margin ~-13.6%) and leverage is meaningfully higher (debt-to-equity ~1.18; ROE about -29% TTM), reducing financial flexibility until margins recover.
Income Statement
28
Negative
TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) revenue is up sharply (+49.2%), but profitability has deteriorated materially: gross margin is steady around ~27%, yet operating results are deeply negative (EBIT margin ~-10%) and net margin is also meaningfully negative (~-13.6%). The company moved from positive earnings in FY2024 (net margin ~2.6%) to sizable losses in FY2025 and TTM, indicating that recent growth has not translated into sustainable profits.
Balance Sheet
40
Negative
Leverage has increased substantially versus prior years, with debt-to-equity rising to ~1.18 in FY2025/TTM from ~0.21–0.25 in FY2021–FY2023, and equity also down versus FY2024. Returns on equity are currently negative (about -29% TTM), reflecting the loss-making profile. While the balance sheet is not extreme for the industry, the combination of higher leverage and negative returns reduces financial flexibility if weak profitability persists.
Cash Flow
66
Positive
Cash generation is a clear bright spot: TTM operating cash flow is solid (~$177M) and free cash flow is positive (~$115M), with strong recent free cash flow growth. However, cash conversion is not fully reassuring given the large net loss—free cash flow is still negative relative to net income in aggregate (i.e., not enough to offset reported losses), and operating cash flow coverage is below 1, suggesting earnings weakness is still pressuring overall financial quality despite positive cash flow.
BreakdownTTMOct 2025Oct 2024Oct 2023Oct 2022Oct 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue1.85B1.84B1.28B1.13B1.22B1.07B
Gross Profit481.19M499.23M305.62M277.52M268.50M240.61M
EBITDA-75.23M-83.34M123.00M148.05M152.43M125.36M
Net Income-239.99M-250.81M33.06M82.50M88.34M56.98M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets1.98B1.97B2.32B831.14M724.62M717.32M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments62.31M76.02M97.74M58.47M55.09M40.06M
Total Debt892.62M853.73M892.98M116.39M87.69M106.50M
Total Liabilities1.25B1.24B1.31B285.59M259.78M297.54M
Stockholders Equity730.35M726.18M1.01B545.55M464.83M419.78M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow94.89M102.25M51.73M109.66M64.84M54.58M
Operating Cash Flow157.20M164.90M88.81M147.05M97.97M78.59M
Investing Cash Flow-61.79M-62.01M-420.59M-128.44M-32.96M-18.71M
Financing Cash Flow-89.59M-127.48M385.16M-16.15M-45.88M-71.86M

Quanex Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price16.86
Price Trends
50DMA
19.22
Negative
100DMA
16.61
Negative
200DMA
17.17
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.89
Positive
RSI
31.40
Neutral
STOCH
19.53
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For NX, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 16.86 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 18.60, below the 50-day MA of 19.22, and below the 200-day MA of 17.17, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -0.89 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 31.40 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 19.53 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for NX.

Quanex Risk Analysis

Quanex disclosed 26 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Quanex reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Quanex Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (63)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
63
Neutral
$10.79B15.437.44%2.01%2.89%-14.66%
62
Neutral
$729.01M17.169.76%-10.84%-53.49%
59
Neutral
$682.52M11.748.07%2.77%1.19%-56.98%
54
Neutral
$1.15B15.149.87%-9.21%-97.43%
52
Neutral
$749.64M-52.26-30.23%2.12%43.81%-584.11%
45
Neutral
$356.68M2,188.092.20%-0.19%-50.51%
41
Neutral
$106.77M-0.34-155.46%-15.28%-350.51%
* Industrials Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
NX
Quanex
16.32
-3.65
-18.27%
APOG
Apogee
31.73
-15.32
-32.56%
BXC
Bluelinx Holdings
45.34
-38.88
-46.16%
ROCK
Gibraltar Industries
38.86
-24.50
-38.67%
JELD
JELD-WEN
1.24
-4.99
-80.10%
JBI
Janus International Group
5.25
-2.73
-34.21%

Quanex Corporate Events

Executive/Board ChangesShareholder Meetings
Quanex Shareholders Back Board, Pay and Auditor Choices
Positive
Mar 3, 2026

On February 26, 2026, Quanex held its Annual Meeting of Stockholders, where 39,532,896 of 45,938,400 eligible shares were represented in person or by proxy. Eight directors were elected to terms expiring at the 2027 Annual Meeting, each receiving strong majority support, with favorable vote percentages generally above 90%, underscoring continued investor confidence in the board’s composition.

Shareholders also approved, on an advisory basis, the compensation of Quanex’s named executive officers, with 97.82% of votes cast in favor. In addition, investors ratified the appointment of KPMG LLP as independent auditor for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2026, with 99.69% support, reinforcing continuity in the company’s executive pay practices and external financial oversight.

The most recent analyst rating on (NX) stock is a Hold with a $22.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Quanex stock, see the NX Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyDividends
Quanex Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend, Signals Ongoing Stability
Positive
Feb 26, 2026

On February 26, 2026, Quanex Building Products Corporation announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.08 per share on its common stock. The dividend will be paid on March 31, 2026, to shareholders of record as of March 17, 2026.

The decision to maintain a regular cash dividend underlines Quanex’s ongoing commitment to returning capital to shareholders and may signal confidence in the company’s cash generation and financial stability. The payout reinforces the company’s role as a steady income vehicle for investors while it continues to pursue growth across its diversified building-products and adjacent markets.

The most recent analyst rating on (NX) stock is a Buy with a $24.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Quanex stock, see the NX Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyExecutive/Board Changes
Quanex investor Teleios ends board observer role
Neutral
Jan 9, 2026

On January 6, 2026, Quanex Building Products Corporation reported that Teleios Global Opportunities Master Fund had notified the company of the resignation of its designated observer to Quanex’s board of directors, effective January 8, 2026. Following this move, Teleios no longer holds any observer rights to the company’s board, signaling a formal step back from direct board-level monitoring that may slightly alter the governance dynamic between the investor and the company.

The most recent analyst rating on (NX) stock is a Hold with a $16.50 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Quanex stock, see the NX Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Mar 06, 2026