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OEC · 10-Q filed May 6, 2026

OEC earnings analysis

What we found in OEC's 10-Q: the parts that mattered, the offsets in the same document, and what the company said about what comes next.

Our reading of the filing · Free to read, no account needed

Orion S.A. reported weaker Q1 2026 results with a 3.8% decline in revenue to $459.5 million, primarily due to lower prices and unfavorable product mix. Net income loss reached $9.9 million, a significant drop from a profit of $9.1 million a year prior. Despite these challenges, the company raised its full-year adjusted EBITDA guidance to $170-210 million, indicating some optimism in the face of higher demand in certain segments.

What stood out

The parts that mattered.

Pulled out of the filing itself, with the figures the company reported.

Q1 Revenue of $459.5M
This figure exceeded estimates of $439.8 million but represented a 3.8% decline from $477.7 million in the prior year.
Adjusted EBITDA Guidance Increased
Management raised full-year adjusted EBITDA guidance to $170-210 million from $160-200 million, indicating improved operational outlook.
Cash Position Remains Strong
Total liquidity stood at $192.3 million, comprising $50.5 million in cash and $141.8 million available under the revolving credit facility.
Free Cash Flow Improvement
Although negative $48.5 million, it was a higher outflow than the negative $28.8 million in the prior year, indicating ongoing investment efforts.
Segment Growth in Specialty Carbon Black
The Specialty Carbon Black segment saw a revenue increase of 5.6% year-over-year to $169.7 million.
Increase in Sales Volumes
Sales volume increased by 4.8 kmt year-over-year, driven by higher demand particularly in EMEA and APAC regions.
What to watch

And the other side of it.

The offsets in the same document — the things a summary that only listed the good news would have left out.

Significant Net Income Loss
The company reported a net loss of $9.9 million, down from a profit of $9.1 million, indicating major challenges impacting profitability.
High Dependence on Oil Prices
Geopolitical tensions have led to increased volatility in oil prices, which could further strain margins and operational costs.
Increased Working Capital Requirements
Net working capital rose to $353.5 million from $293.9 million due to higher accounts receivable, indicating cash flow pressures.
The numbers

What they reported.

What the company itself reported, taken out of the document.

What survived to operating profit
Of every $100 of revenue Cost of sales $82 Operating expenses $15 Left as operating profit $3
Percentages of revenue, taken from the filing. Drawn this way because it holds whatever scale the company reports in.
Earnings per share
$-0.11
Gross margin
17.2%
Operating margin
2.5%
Segment
Specialty Carbon Black: $169.7 million
Segment
Rubber Carbon Black: $289.8 million
Guidance

What they said about what is next.

Adjusted EBITDA guidance revised to $170-210 million from $160-200 million.

How we read the filing overall

The filing reads worse than the one before it.

One reading of one document. It is not advice, and it is not a forecast.
Earlier filings

What came before.

10-K · February 17, 2026
Orion positions itself as a premium supplier of carbon black with two reportable segments (Specialty and Rubber), a global footprint of 14 wholly owned production facilities (plus an under-construction La Porte site)…
10-Q · November 4, 2025
Orion reported Q3 net sales of $450.9M (vs. $463.4M a year ago) and a larger operating loss of $53.7M, driven by a non‑cash goodwill impairment of $80.8M. The company generated $122.9M of cash from operations in the…
10-Q · November 7, 2024
Orion reported Q3 2024 net sales of $463.4M, roughly flat versus $466.2M a year ago, but recorded a one-time Loss due to misappropriation of assets of $60.7M that pushed operating results into a loss. Income (loss) from…
10-Q · May 2, 2024
Orion reported Q1 2024 net sales of $502.9 million, up $2.2 million (+0.4%) versus Q1 2023, but experienced margin compression and weaker profitability: gross profit fell to $122.2 million and income from operations…

This is our reading of a public filing, not the filing. Read the original on SEC.gov · Educational only. Nothing here is investment advice.

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